原文
"I feel just like studying with might and main," she declared as she
brought her books down from the attic. "Oh, you good old friends, I'm
glad to see your honest faces once more--yes, even you, geometry. I've
had a perfectly beautiful summer, Marilla, and now I'm rejoicing as a
strong man to run a race, as Mr. Allan said last Sunday. Doesn't Mr.
Allan preach magnificent sermons? Mrs. Lynde says he is improving every
day and the first thing we know some city church will gobble him up
and then we'll be left and have to turn to and break in another green
preacher. But I don't see the use of meeting trouble halfway, do you,
Marilla? I think it would be better just to enjoy Mr. Allan while we
have him. If I were a man I think I'd be a minister. They can have
such an influence for good, if their theology is sound; and it must be
thrilling to preach splendid sermons and stir your hearers' hearts. Why
can't women be ministers, Marilla? I asked Mrs. Lynde that and she was
shocked and said it would be a scandalous thing. She said there might
be female ministers in the States and she believed there was, but thank
goodness we hadn't got to that stage in Canada yet and she hoped we
never would. But I don't see why. I think women would make splendid
ministers. When there is a social to be got up or a church tea or
anything else to raise money the women have to turn to and do the work.
I'm sure Mrs. Lynde can pray every bit as well as Superintendent Bell
and I've no doubt she could preach too with a little practice."
語彙など
- feel like:〜したい気分である
- with might and main:思い切り
- declare:宣言する
- attic:屋根裏部屋
- geometry:幾何学
- rejoice:喜ぶ
- preach:説教,法話
- magnificent:格調高い,崇高な
- sermon:(教会での)説教
- gobble up:吸収する
- turn to:〜に取り掛かる
- break in:訓練する
- green:経験の浅い
- meet trouble halfway:取り越し苦労をする
- minister:牧師
- theology:神学
- sound:健全な,しっかりした
- stir:感動させる
- hearer:聴聞者,聞き手
- scandalous:不面目な,恥ずべき
- thank goodness:有り難い,よかった
- social:懇親[親睦]会,社交クラブ
- raise money:募金する
- pray:祈る