原文
"Dear old Jane is a jewel," agreed Anne, "but," she added, leaning
forward to bestow a tender pat on the plump, dimpled little hand hanging
over her pillow, "there's nobody like my own Diana after all. Do
you remember that evening we first met, Diana, and 'swore' eternal
friendship in your garden? We've kept that 'oath,' I think . . . we've
never had a quarrel nor even a coolness. I shall never forget the thrill
that went over me the day you told me you loved me. I had had such a
lonely, starved heart all through my childhood. I'm just beginning to
realize how starved and lonely it really was. Nobody cared anything for
me or wanted to be bothered with me. I should have been miserable if
it hadn't been for that strange little dream-life of mine, wherein I
imagined all the friends and love I craved. But when I came to Green
Gables everything was changed. And then I met you. You don't know what
your friendship meant to me. I want to thank you here and now, dear, for
the warm and true affection you've always given me."
語彙など
- lean forward:身を乗り出す
- bestow:与える
- plump:ふっくらした
- dimple:えくぼ
- hang over:〜の上に突き出る
- pillow:まくら
- swear:誓う
- eternal:永遠の
- oath:誓い
- coolness:冷淡
- starved:飢えた
- bother with:〜で面倒な思いをする
- wherein:その中に
- crave:切望する
- affection:愛情