原文
"Long ago," began Diana, "this farm belonged to old Mr. David Gray. He
didn't live on it . . . he lived where Silas Sloane lives now. He had one
son, Jordan, and he went up to Boston one winter to work and while
he was there he fell in love with a girl named Hester Murray. She
was working in a store and she hated it. She'd been brought up in the
country and she always wanted to get back. When Jordan asked her to
marry him she said she would if he'd take her away to some quiet spot
where she'd see nothing but fields and trees. So he brought her to
Avonlea. Mrs. Lynde said he was taking a fearful risk in marrying a
Yankee, and it's certain that Hester was very delicate and a very poor
housekeeper; but mother says she was very pretty and sweet and Jordan
just worshipped the ground she walked on. Well, Mr. Gray gave Jordan
this farm and he built a little house back here and Jordan and Hester
lived in it for four years. She never went out much and hardly anybody
went to see her except mother and Mrs. Lynde. Jordan made her this
garden and she was crazy about it and spent most of her time in it. She
wasn't much of a housekeeper but she had a knack with flowers. And then
she got sick. Mother says she thinks she was in consumption before she
ever came here. She never really laid up but just grew weaker and weaker
all the time. Jordan wouldn't have anybody to wait on her. He did it all
himself and mother says he was as tender and gentle as a woman. Every
day he'd wrap her in a shawl and carry her out to the garden and she'd
lie there on a bench quite happy. They say she used to make Jordan kneel
down by her every night and morning and pray with her that she might die
out in the garden when the time came. And her prayer was answered. One
day Jordan carried her out to the bench and then he picked all the roses
that were out and heaped them over her; and she just smiled up at him
. . . and closed her eyes . . . and that," concluded Diana softly, "was
the end."
語彙など
- fall in love with:〜に恋する
- brought up in:〜で育てられて
- nothing but:〜だけ
- take a risk:危険を冒す
- Yankee:ヤンキー,米国人
- delicate:身体が弱い
- housekeeper:家事をする人
- worship:〜を崇拝する
- crazy:熱狂する
- knack:才覚,特技
- consumption:肺病
- laid up:病床について
- wait on:〜の世話をする
- tender:優しい
- wrap:〜を包む
- shawl:ショール
- kneel down:ひざまずく
- pray:祈る
- prayer:祈り
- heap:積み上げる
- conclude:話を結ぶ