原文
Matthew Cuthbert and the sorrel mare jogged comfortably over the eight
miles to Bright River. It was a pretty road, running along between
snug farmsteads, with now and again a bit of balsamy fir wood to drive
through or a hollow where wild plums hung out their filmy bloom. The air
was sweet with the breath of many apple orchards and the meadows sloped
away in the distance to horizon mists of pearl and purple; while
"The little birds sang as if it were
The one day of summer in all the year."
Matthew enjoyed the drive after his own fashion, except during the moments when he met women and had to nod to them--for in Prince Edward island you are supposed to nod to all and sundry you meet on the road whether you know them or not.
語彙など
- sorrel:栗色の
- mare:雌馬
- jog:ゆっくり走る
- snug:居心地のよい,こぢんまりとした
- farmstead:農場
- now and again:時折
- balsamy:バルサムのような,芳香のある
- fir:モミ
- hollow:くぼ地,谷間
- plum:プラム,西洋スモモ
- filmy:透けて見えるほど薄い
- meadow:牧草地
- mist:もや、霞
- after:〜にならって
- fashion:やり方
- be supposed to:することになっている
- all and sundry:誰も彼も皆
the one day:一年の夏の、この日だけと言わんばかりに、ぐらいの意味になるのかな。