原文
Anne took Davy on her knee and did her best to straighten out this
theological tangle also. She was much better fitted for the task than
Marilla, for she remembered her own childhood and had an instinctive
understanding of the curious ideas that seven-year-olds sometimes get
about matters that are, of course, very plain and simple to grown up
people. She had just succeeded in convincing Davy that heaven was NOT in
Simon Fletcher's garret when Marilla came in from the garden, where she
and Dora had been picking peas. Dora was an industrious little soul and
never happier than when "helping" in various small tasks suited to her
chubby fingers. She fed chickens, picked up chips, wiped dishes, and ran
errands galore. She was neat, faithful and observant; she never had
to be told how to do a thing twice and never forgot any of her little
duties. Davy, on the other hand, was rather heedless and forgetful; but
he had the born knack of winning love, and even yet Anne and Marilla
liked him the better.
語彙など
- knee:ひざ
- do one's best:精一杯やる
- straighten out:〜の考えを正す
- theological:神学の
- tangle:混乱
- fit for:〜向きの
- task:課題
- instinctive:本能的な
- plain and simple:単純明白な
- convince:説得する
- garret:屋根裏部屋
- pea:エンドウ豆
- industrious:勤勉な
- suit:〜に適する
- chubby:丸ぽちゃの
- feed:〜に食物を与える
- pick up:拾い上げる
- chip:切り屑
- run errands:使い走りをする
- galore:たくさん
- neat:巧みな
- faithful:信頼できる
- observant:厳守する人,観察力が鋭い
- duty:務め
- on the other hand:これにひきかえ
- heedless:不注意な
- born:生まれながらの
- knack:特技