原文
Marilla spoke rather bitterly. She was grievously disappointed. She knew
Anne had refused Gilbert Blythe. Avonlea gossip buzzed over the fact,
which had leaked out, nobody knew how. Perhaps Charlie Sloane had
guessed and told his guesses for truth. Perhaps Diana had betrayed it
to Fred and Fred had been indiscreet. At all events it was known; Mrs.
Blythe no longer asked Anne, in public or private, if she had heard
lately from Gilbert, but passed her by with a frosty bow. Anne, who
had always liked Gilbert's merry, young-hearted mother, was grieved in
secret over this. Marilla said nothing; but Mrs. Lynde gave Anne many
exasperated digs about it, until fresh gossip reached that worthy lady,
through the medium of Moody Spurgeon MacPherson's mother, that Anne had
another "beau" at college, who was rich and handsome and good all in
one. After that Mrs. Rachel held her tongue, though she still wished in
her inmost heart that Anne had accepted Gilbert. Riches were all very
well; but even Mrs. Rachel, practical soul though she was, did not
consider them the one essential. If Anne "liked" the Handsome Unknown
better than Gilbert there was nothing more to be said; but Mrs. Rachel
was dreadfully afraid that Anne was going to make the mistake of
marrying for money. Marilla knew Anne too well to fear this; but she
felt that something in the universal scheme of things had gone sadly
awry.
語彙など
- grievously:ひどく
- buzz:噂が飛ぶ
- leak out:漏れる
- betray:(うっかり)漏らす
- indiscreet:口が軽い
- at all events:いずれにしても
- in public:人前で
- in private:二人だけのときに
- frosty:凍りつくような
- bow:会釈
- grieve:悲しませる
- exasperated:いら立って,腹を立てて
- worthy:価値のある
- beau:恋人
- all in one:すべて一体になって
- hold one's tongue:言いたいことを我慢する
- inmost:心の奥の
- universal:普遍的な
- scheme:仕組み
- awry:間違って