原文
"It'll be a real satisfaction to see that poor child wearing something
decent for once. The way Marilla dresses her is positively ridiculous,
that's what, and I've ached to tell her so plainly a dozen times. I've
held my tongue though, for I can see Marilla doesn't want advice and she
thinks she knows more about bringing children up than I do for all
she's an old maid. But that's always the way. Folks that has brought up
children know that there's no hard and fast method in the world that'll
suit every child. But them as never have think it's all as plain and
easy as Rule of Three--just set your three terms down so fashion, and
the sum'll work out correct. But flesh and blood don't come under the
head of arithmetic and that's where Marilla Cuthbert makes her mistake.
I suppose she's trying to cultivate a spirit of humility in Anne by
dressing her as she does; but it's more likely to cultivate envy and
discontent. I'm sure the child must feel the difference between her
clothes and the other girls'. But to think of Matthew taking notice of
it! That man is waking up after being asleep for over sixty years."
語彙など
- satisfaction:満足,喜び
- decent:見苦しくない,立派な
- for once:今度ばかりは,たまには
- positively:絶対に
- ridiculous:おかしい
- that's what it is:まさにそのとおり
- ache:〜したくてたまらない
- plainly:はっきりと
- hold one's tongue:言いたいことを我慢する
- bring up:育てる
- for all:〜にもかかわらず
- old maid:オールドミス
- folks:人々
- hard and fast:厳しい,例外を許さない
- method:方法
- suit:〜に適する
- plain:平易な
- rule of three:三数法, 三の法則(比例の外項の積は内項の積に等しいという法則)
- set down:〜を書き留める,書き入れる
- term:項
- fashion:やり方
- sum:算数
- work out:解ける
- correct:正確な
- flesh and blood:人間性,人情
- come under:〜の下に置かれる
- arithmetic:算数
- cultivate:育む
- humility:謙虚
- envy:ねたみ
- discontent:不満
- take notice of:〜を気に留める