The Gift of the Magi

One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting.
Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looking the "Sofronie."
"Will you buy my hair ?" asked Della.
"I buy hair," said Madame.
"Take yer hat off and let's have a sight at the looks of it."
Down rippled the brown cascade.
"Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand.

one flight up Della ran : デラは一気に階段を駆け上がった
collected herself : 気を落ち着かせた
hardly looking the "Sofronie" :
とても「ソフロニィ」という優雅な名前に相応しくは見えない
yer = your
ripple : ウェーブをつける
cascade : 滝状のもの
the mass : 髪の房
practised : わざとらしい、たくみな