原文
Anne was back in Avonlea with the luster of the Thorburn Scholarship
on her brow. People told her she hadn't changed much, in a tone which
hinted they were surprised and a little disappointed she hadn't. Avonlea
had not changed, either. At least, so it seemed at first. But as Anne
sat in the Green Gables pew, on the first Sunday after her return, and
looked over the congregation, she saw several little changes which, all
coming home to her at once, made her realize that time did not quite
stand still, even in Avonlea. A new minister was in the pulpit. In the
pews more than one familiar face was missing forever. Old "Uncle Abe,"
his prophesying over and done with, Mrs. Peter Sloane, who had sighed,
it was to be hoped, for the last time, Timothy Cotton, who, as Mrs.
Rachel Lynde said "had actually managed to die at last after practicing
at it for twenty years," and old Josiah Sloane, whom nobody knew in his
coffin because he had his whiskers neatly trimmed, were all sleeping in
the little graveyard behind the church. And Billy Andrews was married
to Nettie Blewett! They "appeared out" that Sunday. When Billy, beaming
with pride and happiness, showed his be-plumed and be-silked bride into
the Harmon Andrews' pew, Anne dropped her lids to hide her dancing eyes.
She recalled the stormy winter night of the Christmas holidays when Jane
had proposed for Billy. He certainly had not broken his heart over his
rejection. Anne wondered if Jane had also proposed to Nettie for him, or
if he had mustered enough spunk to ask the fateful question himself. All
the Andrews family seemed to share in his pride and pleasure, from
Mrs. Harmon in the pew to Jane in the choir. Jane had resigned from the
Avonlea school and intended to go West in the fall.
語彙など
- luster:栄光
- brow:まゆ,額
- pew:信者席
- congregation:信徒
- stand still:静止する
- pulpit:説教壇
- prophesy:予言する
- sigh:ため息をつく,嘆く
- coffin:棺
- whiskers:頬髭
- neatly:小ざっぱりと
- trim:整える
- graveyard:墓地
- beam with pride:誇りで顔を輝かせる
- plume:羽毛で飾る
- bride:花嫁
- lid:ふた
- muster:奮い起こす
- spunk:勇気
- fateful:運命を決する
- choir:聖歌隊
- resign from:〜を辞職する