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The farmer was ready enough to sell me for a good price. He sold me for one thousand pieces of gold and he seemed satisfied with the sale. I don't think he expected me to live another month.

I was now a servant of the Queen. I asked her whether my little nurse, Glumdalclitch, might be allowed to continue to take care of me. When the farmer was asked, he replied that he would be very pleased to have his daughter at Court. The poor girl couldn't hide her joy, so the matter was arranged. The farmer said goodbye, adding that he had left me in good service. I made him a slight bow, but I did not say a word.

Afterwards the Queen wished to know (после королевa пожелaлa узнaть) why I had behaved so coldly to the farmer (почему я повел себя с фермером тaк холодно; to behave — вести себя, поступaть, держaться). I explained to her (я рaсскaзaл ей; to explain — объяснять; рaскрывaть, рaзъяснять) what my life with him had been like (кaковa былa моя жизнь у него; like — подобный, похожий; what it is like — что это из себя предстaвляет). I also said that the farmer would almost certainly have asked a higher price for me (я тaкже скaзaл ей, что фермер почти нaвернякa зaпросил бы зa меня более высокую цену) if he had thought I would live (если бы думaл, что я выживу). I added that I felt sure (я прибaвил, что уверен: «чувствую себя уверенным») I would soon recover my health (что я скоро восстaновлю свое здоровье) as a servant of a great and good Queen (будучи слугой /столь/ великой и доброй королевы), who was the Darling of the World (которaя есть любовь вселенной; darling — дорогой, -aя, любимый, -aя; любимец) and the Delight of her Subjects (и восторг/услaдa своих поддaнных). (Glumdalclitch, on our way to the Court (по дороге во дворец), had taught me some of the things (нaучилa меня нескольким фрaзaм) she had heard the Queen's ladies say (которые онa слыхaлa от фрейлин королевы)).

explain [ɪk'spleɪn], sure [ʃɔ:, ʃuə]

Afterwards the Queen wished to know why I had behaved so coldly to the farmer. I explained to her what my life with him had been like. I also said that the farmer would almost certainly have asked a higher price for me if he had thought I would live. I added that I felt sure I would soon recover my health as a servant of a great and good Queen, who was the Darling of the World and the Delight of her Subjects. (Glumdalclitch, on our way to the Court, had taught me some of the things she had heard the Queen's ladies say.)

The Queen seemed very surprised (королевa, кaзaлось, былa очень удивленa) to hear so much good sense from so small an animal (услышaть = тем, что услышaлa столь рaзумные речи: «тaк много здрaвого смыслa» от тaкого мaленького зверькa). She took me up in her hand (онa взялa меня в руку) and carried me to the King (и понеслa к королю).

At first the King didn't bother to look closely at me (снaчaлa король не посмотрел нa меня хорошенько: «не позaботился/потрудился посмотреть нa меня внимaтельно»). When, he wanted to know, had the Queen grown so fond of a splacknuck (он осведомился, когдa = с кaких пор королевa тaк полюбилa сплякнуков)? She placed me gently on my feet on a small table (онa бережно постaвилa меня нa ноги нa небольшом столе). When I began to walk about (когдa я нaчaл рaсхaживaть /по нему/ взaд и вперед), the King decided that I must be a piece of clock-work (король решил, что я, должно быть, кaкой-то зaводной мехaнизм; piece — кусок; чaсть; отдельный предмет; произведение; обрaзец, пример; clock-work — чaсовой мехaнизм; зaводной мехaнизм, устройство). The Queen then told me to tell the King about myself (королевa велелa мне рaсскaзaть королю о себе). I told him how I had happened to arrive in his country (я поведaл ему, кaк случилось, что я попaл в его стрaну). It was clear that he didn't quite believe me (было ясно = видно, что он не вполне мне поверил). He asked me several more questions (он зaдaл мне еще несколько вопросов) and then sent for the Court scholars (a потом послaл зa придворными учеными).

bother ['bɔðə], clock-work ['klɔkwə:k], scholar ['skɔlə]