原文
She knew Paul was ten but he looked no more than eight. He had the most
beautiful little face she had ever seen in a child . . . features of
exquisite delicacy and refinement, framed in a halo of chestnut curls.
His mouth was delicious, being full without pouting, the crimson lips
just softly touching and curving into finely finished little corners
that narrowly escaped being dimpled. He had a sober, grave, meditative
expression, as if his spirit was much older than his body; but when
Anne smiled softly at him it vanished in a sudden answering smile, which
seemed an illumination of his whole being, as if some lamp had suddenly
kindled into flame inside of him, irradiating him from top to toe. Best
of all, it was involuntary, born of no external effort or motive, but
simply the outflashing of a hidden personality, rare and fine and sweet.
With a quick interchange of smiles Anne and Paul were fast friends
forever before a word had passed between them.
語彙など
- feature of:〜の特徴
- exquisite:優美な,絶妙な
- delicacy:繊細さ
- refinement:上品
- frame:構成する
- halo:後光,神々しさ
- chestnut:栗毛色
- curl:巻き毛
- pout:口をとがらす
- crimson:深紅の
- lip:唇
- curve:曲線を描く
- dimple:えくぼ
- sober:まじめな
- grave:厳粛な,深刻な
- meditative:瞑想にふける
- expression:表情
- vanish:消える
- illumination:照明
- kindle:火をおこす
- flame:炎
- irradiate:照らす
- from top to toe:頭のてっぺんからつま先まで,体中
- best of all:第一に,何よりも
- involuntary:無意識の
- external:外部の
- motive:動機
- flash:きらめく
- personality:個性,人格
- rare:まれな
- fine:素晴らしい
- sweet:魅惑的な,ほれぼれする
- interchange:交換
- fast friend:親友
- forever:永久に