原文
"I never would have thought she'd have turned out so well that first day
I was here three years ago," said Mrs. Rachel. "Lawful heart, shall I
ever forget that tantrum of hers! When I went home that night I says to
Thomas, says I, 'Mark my words, Thomas, Marilla Cuthbert'll live to
rue the step she's took.' But I was mistaken and I'm real glad of it. I
ain't one of those kind of people, Marilla, as can never be brought to
own up that they've made a mistake. No, that never was my way, thank
goodness. I did make a mistake in judging Anne, but it weren't no
wonder, for an odder, unexpecteder witch of a child there never was in
this world, that's what. There was no ciphering her out by the rules
that worked with other children. It's nothing short of wonderful how
she's improved these three years, but especially in looks. She's a real
pretty girl got to be, though I can't say I'm overly partial to that
pale, big-eyed style myself. I like more snap and color, like Diana
Barry has or Ruby Gillis. Ruby Gillis's looks are real showy. But
somehow--I don't know how it is but when Anne and them are together,
though she ain't half as handsome, she makes them look kind of common
and overdone--something like them white June lilies she calls narcissus
alongside of the big, red peonies, that's what."
語彙など
- lawful heart:驚きなどを表す言葉
- tantrum:かんしゃく
- mark my words:いいかい,よく聞きなさい
- rue:後悔する
- mistake:間違える
- own up:素直に認める
- thank goodness:有り難い
- judge:判断する
- odd:奇妙な
- unexpected:予期しない
- witch:魔女
- cipher:計算する
- nothing short of:〜に他ならない
- look:外観,見た目
- overly:過度に
- partial:えこひいきする
- snap:元気
- color:顔色,血色
- showy:人目を引く
- handsome:顔立ちが美しい
- kind of:多少
- common:平凡な
- overdone:やり過ぎの
- narcissus:スイセン
- peony:ピオニー,ボタン