原文
"Guess there's some mistake," he said. "Mrs. Spencer came off the train
with that girl and gave her into my charge. Said you and your sister
were adopting her from an orphan asylum and that you would be along for
her presently. That's all I know about it--and I haven't got any more
orphans concealed hereabouts."
"I don't understand," said Matthew helplessly, wishing that Marilla was at hand to cope with the situation.
"Well, you'd better question the girl," said the station-master carelessly. "I dare say she'll be able to explain--she's got a tongue of her own, that's certain. Maybe they were out of boys of the brand you wanted."
He walked jauntily away, being hungry, and the unfortunate Matthew was left to do that which was harder for him than bearding a lion in its den--walk up to a girl--a strange girl--an orphan girl--and demand of her why she wasn't a boy. Matthew groaned in spirit as he turned about and shuffled gently down the platform towards her.
語彙など
- guess:推測する
- charge:監督,責任
- adopt:〜を養子にする
- orphan asylum:孤児院
- be along:来る
- presently:やがて,間もなく
- conceal:隠す
- hereabouts:この辺に
- at hand:すぐ手の届く所に
- cope with the situation:事態を収拾する
- station master:駅長
- carelessly:ぞんざいに
- dare say:たぶん〜だと思う
- tongue:舌,言語能力
- out of:〜がなくて,〜を切らしていて(theyは孤児院)
- brand:品種(マシューたちが望んでいる類の)
- jauntily:快活に,さっそうと
- beard:ひげを引き抜く
- beard the lion in his den:手ごわい相手と大胆に対決する
- demand A of B:BからAを要求する
- groan:うめく
- in spirit:心の中で,内心
- turn about:ぐるりと向きを変える,振り向く
- shuffle:足を引きずって歩く
whichの先行詞がthatで、--以下はthatの内容