原文
"I felt sorrier than ever for the poor man. He didn't seem to be in his
proper sphere at all. I had heard of henpecked husbands and now I felt
that I saw one. It was on my lips to say, 'Mr. Blair, if you'll give
us a subscription for the hall I'll mix up your cake for you.' But I
suddenly thought it wouldn't be neighborly to drive too sharp a bargain
with a fellow creature in distress. So I offered to mix the cake for him
without any conditions at all. He just jumped at my offer. He said he'd
been used to making his own bread before he was married but he feared
cake was beyond him, and yet he hated to disappoint his wife. He got me
another apron, and Diana beat the eggs and I mixed the cake. Mr. Blair
ran about and got us the materials. He had forgotten all about his apron
and when he ran it streamed out behind him and Diana said she thought
she would die to see it. He said he could bake the cake all right . . . he
was used to that . . . and then he asked for our list and he put down four
dollars. So you see we were rewarded. But even if he hadn't given a cent
I'd always feel that we had done a truly Christian act in helping him."
語彙など
- proper:適切な
- sphere:分野,領分
- henpecked husband:かかあ天下,恐妻家
- lip:唇
- subscription:寄付(金)
- mix up:よく混ぜ合わせて作る
- neighborly:隣人にふさわしい
- drive a bargain:自分に有利な取引をする
- sharp:厳しい
- in distress:困って
- condition:条件
- jump at:飛びつく,喜んで応じる
- offer:申入れ
- beyond:〜には歯が立たない
- disappoint:落胆させる,失望させる
- beat the eggs:卵を強くかき混ぜる
- run about:走り回る
- material:材料
- reward:報酬を与える,〜に報いる