scold [skquld], worse [wWs], exquisite ['ekskwIzIt]
Besides giving short answers all morning, she had ticked off several of the sales girls and even permitted herself to scold Natasha, the star model of the house, for being late for a fitting, when, as she knew well, the Metro and the buses were engaging in a slow-down strike. What made it worse was that the exquisite Natasha had responded to the sharp words in a most un-prima-donna-like manner: she didn't argue or snap back, only two large tears formed at her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
And then besides (и потом, кроме того), Mme. Colbert was not at all sure (мадам Кольбер совсем не была уверена) that she had not muddled the invitations and seating for the afternoon's review of the collection (что она не перепутала приглашения и размещение для дневного просмотра коллекции). As head of the department (как глава отдела) she was an important and all-powerful person (она была важным и всемогущим человеком). It was she who issued or denied invitations (это была она, кто = именно она давала или отказывала в приглашении) to see the collection (посмотреть коллекцию), sorted out spies and curiosity seekers and barred the undesirables (отделяла = не допускала шпионов и зевак: «искателей любопытного» и препятствовала /появлению/ нежелательных лиц; bar — брусок, блок, кусок; полено; препятствие; to bar — запирать на засов, запираться; преграждать путь). She was in charge of the seating arrangements (она была ответственной за размещения кресел), as complicated as faced any headwaiter of a fashionable restaurant (настолько же непростые /размещения/, как в случае: «с чем приходится сталкиваться» с метрдотелем модного ресторана), as clients must be placed in accordance with importance (потому что клиенты должны были быть размещены в соответствии с влиятельностью: «важностью»), rank (рангом), title and bank roll (титулом и /толщиной/ кошелька: «пачки банкнот»).
review [rI'vjH], curiosity ["kjuqrI'OsItI], undesirable ['AndI'zaIqrqbl]
And then besides, Mme. Colbert was not at all sure that she had not muddled the invitations and seating for the afternoon's review of the collection. As head of the department she was an important and all-powerful person. It was she who issued or denied invitations to see the collection, sorted out spies and curiosity seekers and barred the undesirables. She was in charge of the seating arrangements, as complicated as faced any headwaiter of a fashionable restaurant, as clients must be placed in accordance with importance, rank, title and bank roll.
