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Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery, XXIII Miss Lavendar's Romance

XXIII Miss Lavendar's Romance

"I think I'll take a walk through to Echo Lodge this evening," said Anne, one Friday afternoon in December. "It looks like snow," said Marilla dubiously. "I'll be there before the snow comes and I mean to stay all night. Diana can't go because she has company, and I'm sure Miss Lavendar will be looking for me tonight. It's a whole fortnight since I was there." Anne had paid many a visit to Echo Lodge since that October day. Sometimes she and Diana drove around by the road; sometimes they walked through the woods. When Diana could not go Anne went alone. Between her and Miss Lavendar had sprung up one of those fervent, helpful friendships possible only between a woman who has kept the freshness of youth in her heart and soul, and a girl whose imagination and intuition supplied the place of experience. Anne had at last discovered a real "kindred spirit," while into the little lady's lonely, sequestered life of dreams Anne and Diana came with the wholesome joy and exhilaration of the outer existence, which Miss Lavendar, "the world forgetting, by the world forgot," had long ceased to share; they brought an atmosphere of youth and reality to the little stone house. Charlotta the Fourth always greeted them with her very widest smile . and Charlotta's smiles WERE fearfully wide . loving them for the sake of her adored mistress as well as for their own. Never had there been such "high jinks" held in the little stone house as were held there that beautiful, late-lingering autumn, when November seemed October over again, and even December aped the sunshine and hazes of summer. But on this particular day it seemed as if December had remembered that it was time for winter and had turned suddenly dull and brooding, with a windless hush predictive of coming snow. Nevertheless, Anne keenly enjoyed her walk through the great gray maze of the beechlands; though alone she never found it lonely; her imagination peopled her path with merry companions, and with these she carried on a gay, pretended conversation that was wittier and more fascinating than conversations are apt to be in real life, where people sometimes fail most lamentably to talk up to the requirements. In a "make believe" assembly of choice spirits everybody says just the thing you want her to say and so gives you the chance to say just what YOU want to say. Attended by this invisible company, Anne traversed the woods and arrived at the fir lane just as broad, feathery flakes began to flutter down softly.

At the first bend she came upon Miss Lavendar, standing under a big, broad-branching fir. She wore a gown of warm, rich red, and her head and shoulders were wrapped in a silvery gray silk shawl.

"You look like the queen of the fir wood fairies," called Anne merrily. "I thought you would come tonight, Anne," said Miss Lavendar, running forward. "And I'm doubly glad, for Charlotta the Fourth is away. Her mother is sick and she had to go home for the night. I should have been very lonely if you hadn't come . even the dreams and the echoes wouldn't have been enough company. Oh, Anne, how pretty you are," she added suddenly, looking up at the tall, slim girl with the soft rose-flush of walking on her face. "How pretty and how young! It's so delightful to be seventeen, isn't it? I do envy you," concluded Miss Lavendar candidly. "But you are only seventeen at heart," smiled Anne. "No, I'm old . or rather middle-aged, which is far worse," sighed Miss Lavendar. "Sometimes I can pretend I'm not, but at other times I realize it. And I can't reconcile myself to it as most women seem to. I'm just as rebellious as I was when I discovered my first gray hair. Now, Anne, don't look as if you were trying to understand. Seventeen CAN'T understand. I'm going to pretend right away that I am seventeen too, and I can do it, now that you're here. You always bring youth in your hand like a gift. We're going to have a jolly evening. Tea first . what do you want for tea? We'll have whatever you like. Do think of something nice and indigestible." There were sounds of riot and mirth in the little stone house that night. What with cooking and feasting and making candy and laughing and "pretending," it is quite true that Miss Lavendar and Anne comported themselves in a fashion entirely unsuited to the dignity of a spinster of forty-five and a sedate schoolma'am. Then, when they were tired, they sat down on the rug before the grate in the parlor, lighted only by the soft fireshine and perfumed deliciously by Miss Lavendar's open rose-jar on the mantel. The wind had risen and was sighing and wailing around the eaves and the snow was thudding softly against the windows, as if a hundred storm sprites were tapping for entrance.

"I'm so glad you're here, Anne," said Miss Lavendar, nibbling at her candy. "If you weren't I should be blue . very blue . almost navy blue. Dreams and make-believes are all very well in the daytime and the sunshine, but when dark and storm come they fail to satisfy. One wants real things then. But you don't know this . seventeen never knows it. At seventeen dreams DO satisfy because you think the realities are waiting for you further on. When I was seventeen, Anne, I didn't think forty-five would find me a white-haired little old maid with nothing but dreams to fill my life." "But you aren't an old maid," said Anne, smiling into Miss Lavendar's wistful woodbrown eyes. "Old maids are BORN . they don't BECOME." "Some are born old maids, some achieve old maidenhood, and some have old maidenhood thrust upon them," parodied Miss Lavendar whimsically. "You are one of those who have achieved it then," laughed Anne, "and you've done it so beautifully that if every old maid were like you they would come into the fashion, I think." "I always like to do things as well as possible," said Miss Lavendar meditatively, "and since an old maid I had to be I was determined to be a very nice one. People say I'm odd; but it's just because I follow my own way of being an old maid and refuse to copy the traditional pattern. Anne, did anyone ever tell you anything about Stephen Irving and me?" "Yes," said Anne candidly, "I've heard that you and he were engaged once." "So we were . twenty-five years ago . a lifetime ago. And we were to have been married the next spring. I had my wedding dress made, although nobody but mother and Stephen ever knew THAT. We'd been engaged in a way almost all our lives, you might say. When Stephen was a little boy his mother would bring him here when she came to see my mother; and the second time he ever came . he was nine and I was six . he told me out in the garden that he had pretty well made up his mind to marry me when he grew up. I remember that I said 'Thank you'; and when he was gone I told mother very gravely that there was a great weight off my mind, because I wasn't frightened any more about having to be an old maid. How poor mother laughed!" "And what went wrong?" asked Anne breathlessly.

"We had just a stupid, silly, commonplace quarrel. So commonplace that, if you'll believe me, I don't even remember just how it began. I hardly know who was the more to blame for it. Stephen did really begin it, but I suppose I provoked him by some foolishness of mine. He had a rival or two, you see. I was vain and coquettish and liked to tease him a little. He was a very high-strung, sensitive fellow. Well, we parted in a temper on both sides. But I thought it would all come right; and it would have if Stephen hadn't come back too soon. Anne, my dear, I'm sorry to say" . Miss Lavendar dropped her voice as if she were about to confess a predilection for murdering people, "that I am a dreadfully sulky person. Oh, you needn't smile, . it's only too true. I DO sulk; and Stephen came back before I had finished sulking. I wouldn't listen to him and I wouldn't forgive him; and so he went away for good. He was too proud to come again. And then I sulked because he didn't come. I might have sent for him perhaps, but I couldn't humble myself to do that. I was just as proud as he was . pride and sulkiness make a very bad combination, Anne. But I could never care for anybody else and I didn't want to. I knew I would rather be an old maid for a thousand years than marry anybody who wasn't Stephen Irving. Well, it all seems like a dream now, of course. How sympathetic you look, Anne . as sympathetic as only seventeen can look. But don't overdo it. I'm really a very happy, contented little person in spite of my broken heart. My heart did break, if ever a heart did, when I realized that Stephen Irving was not coming back. But, Anne, a broken heart in real life isn't half as dreadful as it is in books. It's a good deal like a bad tooth . though you won't think THAT a very romantic simile. It takes spells of aching and gives you a sleepless night now and then, but between times it lets you enjoy life and dreams and echoes and peanut candy as if there were nothing the matter with it. And now you're looking disappointed. You don't think I'm half as interesting a person as you did five minutes ago when you believed I was always the prey of a tragic memory bravely hidden beneath external smiles. That's the worst . or the best . of real life, Anne. It WON'T let you be miserable. It keeps on trying to make you comfortable . and succeeding...even when you're determined to be unhappy and romantic. Isn't this candy scrumptious? I've eaten far more than is good for me already but I'm going to keep recklessly on." After a little silence Miss Lavendar said abruptly,

"It gave me a shock to hear about Stephen's son that first day you were here, Anne. I've never been able to mention him to you since, but I've wanted to know all about him. What sort of a boy is he?" "He is the dearest, sweetest child I ever knew, Miss Lavendar . and he pretends things too, just as you and I do." "I'd like to see him," said Miss Lavendar softly, as if talking to herself. "I wonder if he looks anything like the little dream-boy who lives here with me . MY little dream-boy." "If you would like to see Paul I'll bring him through with me sometime," said Anne. "I would like it . but not too soon. I want to get used to the thought. There might be more pain than pleasure in it . if he looked too much like Stephen . or if he didn't look enough like him. In a month's time you may bring him." Accordingly, a month later Anne and Paul walked through the woods to the stone house, and met Miss Lavendar in the lane. She had not been expecting them just then and she turned very pale.

"So this is Stephen's boy," she said in a low tone, taking Paul's hand and looking at him as he stood, beautiful and boyish, in his smart little fur coat and cap. "He . he is very like his father." "Everybody says I'm a chip off the old block," remarked Paul, quite at his ease. Anne, who had been watching the little scene, drew a relieved breath. She saw that Miss Lavendar and Paul had "taken" to each other, and that there would be no constraint or stiffness. Miss Lavendar was a very sensible person, in spite of her dreams and romance, and after that first little betrayal she tucked her feelings out of sight and entertained Paul as brightly and naturally as if he were anybody's son who had come to see her. They all had a jolly afternoon together and such a feast of fat things by way of supper as would have made old Mrs. Irving hold up her hands in horror, believing that Paul's digestion would be ruined for ever. "Come again, laddie," said Miss Lavendar, shaking hands with him at parting. "You may kiss me if you like," said Paul gravely. Miss Lavendar stooped and kissed him.

"How did you know I wanted to?" she whispered.

"Because you looked at me just as my little mother used to do when she wanted to kiss me. As a rule, I don't like to be kissed. Boys don't. You know, Miss Lewis. But I think I rather like to have you kiss me. And of course I'll come to see you again. I think I'd like to have you for a particular friend of mine, if you don't object." "I . I don't think I shall object," said Miss Lavendar. She turned and went in very quickly; but a moment later she was waving a gay and smiling good-bye to them from the window.

"I like Miss Lavendar," announced Paul, as they walked through the beech woods. "I like the way she looked at me, and I like her stone house, and I like Charlotta the Fourth. I wish Grandma Irving had a Charlotta the Fourth instead of a Mary Joe. I feel sure Charlotta the Fourth wouldn't think I was wrong in my upper story when I told her what I think about things. Wasn't that a splendid tea we had, teacher? Grandma says a boy shouldn't be thinking about what he gets to eat, but he can't help it sometimes when he is real hungry. YOU know, teacher. I don't think Miss Lavendar would make a boy eat porridge for breakfast if he didn't like it. She'd get things for him he did like. But of course" . Paul was nothing if not fair-minded . "that mightn't be very good for him. It's very nice for a change though, teacher. YOU know."

XXIII Miss Lavendar's Romance XXIII El romance de Miss Lavendar XXIII O romance de Miss Lavendar 第二十三 拉文達小姐的浪漫史

"I think I'll take a walk through to Echo Lodge this evening," said Anne, one Friday afternoon in December. 12月の金曜日の午後、アン氏は、次のように述べています。 "It looks like snow," said Marilla dubiously. « On dirait de la neige », dit Marilla d'un ton dubitatif. 「雪のようだ」とMarillaは疑い深く言った。 "I'll be there before the snow comes and I mean to stay all night. "Je serai là avant l'arrivée de la neige et je veux rester toute la nuit. 「私は雪が降る前にそこにいるでしょう、そして私は一晩中いることを意味します。 Diana can't go because she has company, and I'm sure Miss Lavendar will be looking for me tonight. ダイアナは会社を持っているので行けないし、ラベンダー嬢が今夜私を探してくれると確信しています。 It's a whole fortnight since I was there." 私がそこにいたので、それはまる2週間です。」 Anne had paid many a visit to Echo Lodge since that October day. アンはその10月の日以来エコーロッジへの多くの訪問を払っていました。 Sometimes she and Diana drove around by the road; sometimes they walked through the woods. Parfois, Diana et elle se promenaient en voiture le long de la route, parfois elles marchaient dans les bois. 時々彼女とダイアナは道を走り回った。時には彼らは森を通って歩いた。 When Diana could not go Anne went alone. ダイアナが行けなかったとき、アンは一人で行きました。 Between her and Miss Lavendar had sprung up one of those fervent, helpful friendships possible only between a woman who has kept the freshness of youth in her heart and soul, and a girl whose imagination and intuition supplied the place of experience. Entre elle et Mlle Lavendar s'était nouée une de ces amitiés ferventes et utiles qui ne sont possibles qu'entre une femme qui a gardé la fraîcheur de la jeunesse dans son cœur et dans son âme, et une jeune fille dont l'imagination et l'intuition ont pris la place de l'expérience. 彼女とMiss Lavendarの間には、若者の新鮮さを心と魂の中に保っている女性と、想像力と直感が経験の場を与えてくれた女性との間でのみ可能な、熱心な友情の一つが生まれました。 Anne had at last discovered a real "kindred spirit," while into the little lady's lonely, sequestered life of dreams Anne and Diana came with the wholesome joy and exhilaration of the outer existence, which Miss Lavendar, "the world forgetting, by the world forgot," had long ceased to share; they brought an atmosphere of youth and reality to the little stone house. Anne avait enfin découvert une véritable "âme sœur", tandis que dans la vie solitaire et séquestrée de la petite dame, Anne et Diana arrivaient avec la joie saine et l'exaltation de l'existence extérieure, que Miss Lavendar, "le monde oubliant, par le monde oublié", avait cessé de partager depuis longtemps ; elles apportaient une atmosphère de jeunesse et de réalité à la petite maison de pierre. アンがダイアナの寂しい孤独な夢の人生に入っている間、アンはやっと本当の「家系の精神」を発見した。忘れていた、「共有することを長い間やめた。彼らは小さな石造りの家に若さと現実の雰囲気をもたらしました。 Charlotta the Fourth always greeted them with her very widest smile . Charlotta the Fourthは常に彼女の最も幅広い笑顔で彼らを迎えました。 and Charlotta's smiles WERE fearfully wide . loving them for the sake of her adored mistress as well as for their own. les aimer pour sa maîtresse adorée aussi bien que pour eux-mêmes. Never had there been such "high jinks" held in the little stone house as were held there that beautiful, late-lingering autumn, when November seemed October over again, and even December aped the sunshine and hazes of summer. Jamais la petite maison de pierre n'avait été le théâtre d'autant de réjouissances que lors de ce bel automne tardif, alors que novembre semblait être à nouveau octobre, et que même décembre ressemblait au soleil et à la brume de l'été. 11月が再び10月になり、そして12月でさえ夏の日差しと曇りを和らげたそのような、美しい、遅く残る秋にそこに保持されていたような小さな石造りの家で開催されたそのような「ハイジンク」は決してありませんでした。 But on this particular day it seemed as if December had remembered that it was time for winter and had turned suddenly dull and brooding, with a windless hush predictive of coming snow. Mais ce jour-là, on aurait dit que le mois de décembre s'était souvenu que c'était l'heure de l'hiver et qu'il était devenu soudainement terne et sombre, avec un silence sans vent qui laissait présager la neige à venir. しかし、この特定の日には、まるで12月が冬の時期であることを思い出し、突然雪が降ることを予測する風のない静けさを見せて、鈍くて泣きそうになったようでした。 Nevertheless, Anne keenly enjoyed her walk through the great gray maze of the beechlands; though alone she never found it lonely; her imagination peopled her path with merry companions, and with these she carried on a gay, pretended conversation that was wittier and more fascinating than conversations are apt to be in real life, where people sometimes fail most lamentably to talk up to the requirements. それにもかかわらず、アンはブナの大灰色の迷路を歩いていることを熱心に楽しんでいました。一人では彼女はそれを寂しがらなかった。彼女の想像力は陽気な仲間と彼女の道を歩みました、そして、これらで彼女は会話よりも気が利いていて魅力的な同性愛者のふりをした会話を続けました。 In a "make believe" assembly of choice spirits everybody says just the thing you want her to say and so gives you the chance to say just what YOU want to say. Dans une assemblée d'esprits de choix, chacun dit exactement ce que vous voulez qu'il dise et vous donne ainsi la possibilité de dire exactement ce que VOUS voulez dire. 「信じさせなさい」という選択の集まりでは、誰もがあなたが彼女に言いたいことだけを言うので、あなたが言いたいことだけを言う機会を与えます。 Attended by this invisible company, Anne traversed the woods and arrived at the fir lane just as broad, feathery flakes began to flutter down softly. この目に見えない会社が出席して、アンは森を横切って、広くて羽毛状の薄片がそっと羽ばたき始めたようにモミのレーンに到着しました。

At the first bend she came upon Miss Lavendar, standing under a big, broad-branching fir. 最初の曲がり角で彼女はミス・ラベンダーにやって来て、大きくて広い枝分かれしたモミの下に立っていました。 She wore a gown of warm, rich red, and her head and shoulders were wrapped in a silvery gray silk shawl. 彼女は暖かくて濃い赤のガウンを着ていて、頭と肩は銀色の灰色の絹のショールで包まれていました。

"You look like the queen of the fir wood fairies," called Anne merrily. 「あなたはモミの木の妖精の女王のように見えます」とアンは嬉しく思いました。 "I thought you would come tonight, Anne," said Miss Lavendar, running forward. "Je pensais que vous viendriez ce soir, Anne, dit Mlle Lavendar en s'avançant. 「きみは今夜来ると思った、アン」とラベンダー嬢は言った。 "And I'm doubly glad, for Charlotta the Fourth is away. 「そして、私は二重に嬉しく思います。4番目のCharlottaは去りました。 Her mother is sick and she had to go home for the night. 彼女の母親は病気で、彼女はその夜家に帰らなければなりませんでした。 I should have been very lonely if you hadn't come . あなたが来ていなかったら私はとても孤独だったはずです。 even the dreams and the echoes wouldn't have been enough company. 夢と響きさえ、十分な会社ではなかったでしょう。 Oh, Anne, how pretty you are," she added suddenly, looking up at the tall, slim girl with the soft rose-flush of walking on her face. ああ、アン、お元気ですか」と彼女は突然付け加えました。 "How pretty and how young! It's so delightful to be seventeen, isn't it? 17歳になるのはとても楽しいですね。 I do envy you," concluded Miss Lavendar candidly. うらやましいです」とLavendar氏は率直に結論付けました。 "But you are only seventeen at heart," smiled Anne. 「しかし、あなたはたった17歳です」とアンは微笑んだ。 "No, I'm old . 「いいえ、私は歳です。 or rather middle-aged, which is far worse," sighed Miss Lavendar. それともはるかにひどい、中年である」とミスラベンダーはため息をついた "Sometimes I can pretend I'm not, but at other times I realize it. 「自分ではないふりをすることができますが、それ以外の時には気付きます。 And I can't reconcile myself to it as most women seem to. そしてほとんどの女性がそうであるように私は自分自身をそれと調和させることはできません。 I'm just as rebellious as I was when I discovered my first gray hair. 初めての白髪を発見したときと同じくらい反抗的です。 Now, Anne, don't look as if you were trying to understand. 今、アン、あなたが理解しようとしているかのように見ないでください。 Seventeen CAN'T understand. 17人は理解できません。 I'm going to pretend right away that I am seventeen too, and I can do it, now that you're here. 私は17歳であるとすぐにふりをするつもりです。 You always bring youth in your hand like a gift. あなたはいつも贈り物のようにあなたの手に若者をもたらします。 We're going to have a jolly evening. 私たちは陽気な夜を過ごすつもりです。 Tea first . お茶が一番。 what do you want for tea? お茶に何が欲しいですか? We'll have whatever you like. 私たちはあなたが好きなものは何でも持っています Do think of something nice and indigestible." Pensez à quelque chose d'agréable et d'indigeste." 素敵で分かりにくいものについて考えてください。」 There were sounds of riot and mirth in the little stone house that night. その夜、小さな石造りの家で暴動の音がした。 What with cooking and feasting and making candy and laughing and "pretending," it is quite true that Miss Lavendar and Anne comported themselves in a fashion entirely unsuited to the dignity of a spinster of forty-five and a sedate schoolma'am. Entre la cuisine, le festin, la fabrication de bonbons, les rires et les "simulacres", il est tout à fait vrai que Mlle Lavendar et Anne se sont comportées d'une manière tout à fait contraire à la dignité d'une vieille fille de quarante-cinq ans et d'une maîtresse d'école sédentaire. 料理やごちそう、お菓子作り、笑い、そして「ふり」など、LavendarさんとAnneさんは、45人の紡績工と落ち着いた学園の尊厳にまったくふさわしくない方法で自分たちを仕立てたのは間違いありません。 Then, when they were tired, they sat down on the rug before the grate in the parlor, lighted only by the soft fireshine and perfumed deliciously by Miss Lavendar's open rose-jar on the mantel. Puis, lorsqu'elles furent fatiguées, elles s'assirent sur le tapis devant la grille du salon, éclairé seulement par la douce lueur du feu et délicieusement parfumé par le pot de roses ouvert de Mlle Lavendar sur la cheminée. それから彼らが疲れたとき、彼らはパーラーの中の格子の前に敷物の上に座りました。 The wind had risen and was sighing and wailing around the eaves and the snow was thudding softly against the windows, as if a hundred storm sprites were tapping for entrance. Le vent s'était levé, soupirant et gémissant autour des avant-toits, et la neige claquait doucement contre les fenêtres, comme si une centaine de lutins de la tempête cherchaient à entrer. 風が上がり、ひさしとひさしの周りを襲っていて、まるで百の嵐のスプライトが入り口を叩いているかのように、雪が窓に向かってそっと滑っていた。

"I'm so glad you're here, Anne," said Miss Lavendar, nibbling at her candy. 「あなたがここにいらっしゃったこと、Anne、」とLavendar嬢は彼女のお菓子をつついて言った。 "If you weren't I should be blue . "Si tu ne l'étais pas, je serais bleu. 「あなたがそうでなかったら私は青になるべきです。 very blue . とても青い almost navy blue. ほぼネイビーブルー。 Dreams and make-believes are all very well in the daytime and the sunshine, but when dark and storm come they fail to satisfy. 夢と思い込みはすべて日中と日差しの中で非常に順調ですが、暗くて嵐が来ると彼らは満足することができません。 One wants real things then. その時、本物が欲しいのです。 But you don't know this . しかし、あなたはこれを知りません。 seventeen never knows it. 17人はそれを知りません。 At seventeen dreams DO satisfy because you think the realities are waiting for you further on. あなたは現実があなたをさらに待っていると思うので、17の夢で満足してください。 When I was seventeen, Anne, I didn't think forty-five would find me a white-haired little old maid with nothing but dreams to fill my life." 私が17歳の時、アン、私は45歳で私の人生を埋める夢しかない白髪の小さなメイドだとは思わなかった」 "But you aren't an old maid," said Anne, smiling into Miss Lavendar's wistful woodbrown eyes. "Mais vous n'êtes pas une vieille fille", dit Anne en souriant aux yeux mélancoliques de Miss Lavendar. 「しかし、あなたは年老いたメイドではありません」と、Lavendar嬢の機敏なウッドブラウンの目に微笑んでAnneが言った。 "Old maids are BORN . "Les vieilles filles sont NÉES. they don't BECOME." ils ne DEVIENNENT PAS." "Some are born old maids, some achieve old maidenhood, and some have old maidenhood thrust upon them," parodied Miss Lavendar whimsically. "Certaines naissent vieilles filles, d'autres atteignent le statut de vieille fille, et d'autres encore se voient imposer le statut de vieille fille", a parodié Miss Lavendar avec fantaisie. 「何人かは古いメイドで生まれ、いくつかは古い乙女を成し遂げ、そしていくつかはそれらに突き刺さる古い乙女を持っている」とラベンダー嬢は気まぐれに言った。 "You are one of those who have achieved it then," laughed Anne, "and you've done it so beautifully that if every old maid were like you they would come into the fashion, I think." "Vous êtes l'une de celles qui y sont parvenues", dit Anne en riant, "et vous l'avez fait si joliment que si toutes les vieilles filles étaient comme vous, elles deviendraient à la mode, je pense". "I always like to do things as well as possible," said Miss Lavendar meditatively, "and since an old maid I had to be I was determined to be a very nice one. 「私はいつもできるだけ可能な限り物事をやりたいのです」とLavendar氏は瞑想的に述べました。 People say I'm odd; but it's just because I follow my own way of being an old maid and refuse to copy the traditional pattern. 人々は私が変だと言う。しかし、それは私が私自身の古いメイドである方法を守り、伝統的なパターンをコピーすることを拒んだからです。 Anne, did anyone ever tell you anything about Stephen Irving and me?" Anne, est-ce que quelqu'un t'a déjà parlé de Stephen Irving et de moi ?" アン、スティーブン・アーヴィングと私について何か誰かに話したことはありませんか?」 "Yes," said Anne candidly, "I've heard that you and he were engaged once." 「はい、」とアンは率直に言った、「私はあなたと彼が一度従事していたと聞いた」 "So we were . "Nous étions donc... twenty-five years ago . a lifetime ago. And we were to have been married the next spring. I had my wedding dress made, although nobody but mother and Stephen ever knew THAT. J'ai fait faire ma robe de mariée, mais personne ne l'a jamais su, à l'exception de ma mère et de Stephen. 私は私のウェディングドレスを作ってもらいましたが、母親もスティーブンも誰もそのことを知りませんでした。 We'd been engaged in a way almost all our lives, you might say. Nous avons été engagés d'une certaine manière presque toute notre vie, pourrait-on dire. 私達は私達の生活のほとんどすべての方法で従事していたとあなたは言うかもしれません。 When Stephen was a little boy his mother would bring him here when she came to see my mother; and the second time he ever came . Lorsque Stephen était un petit garçon, sa mère l'amenait ici lorsqu'elle venait voir ma mère ; et la deuxième fois qu'il est venu . スティーブンが小さな男の子だったとき、彼女が私の母親に会いに来たとき、彼の母親は彼をここに連れて行ってくれました。そして彼が二度目に来た。 he was nine and I was six . he told me out in the garden that he had pretty well made up his mind to marry me when he grew up. il m'a dit dans le jardin qu'il avait bien décidé de m'épouser quand il serait grand. 彼は庭で私が彼が育ったときに彼が私と結婚することを決心していたことをかなりよくしたと私に言った。 I remember that I said 'Thank you'; and when he was gone I told mother very gravely that there was a great weight off my mind, because I wasn't frightened any more about having to be an old maid. Je me souviens que j'ai dit "Merci" ; et quand il est parti, j'ai dit très sérieusement à ma mère que j'étais soulagée d'un grand poids, parce que je n'avais plus peur d'être une vieille fille. 「ありがとう」と言ったのを覚えています。そして彼がいなくなったとき、私は私の心に大きな重みがあることをとても深く母親に話した。 How poor mother laughed!" "And what went wrong?" 「そして何が悪かったのですか?」 asked Anne breathlessly. 息を切らしてアンに尋ねた。

"We had just a stupid, silly, commonplace quarrel. 「愚かで馬鹿げた、当たり前のことだけだった。 So commonplace that, if you'll believe me, I don't even remember just how it began. あなたが私を信じるならば、私はそれがどのように始まったかについてさえ思い出しさえしないので、ごく普通のことです。 I hardly know who was the more to blame for it. 誰が責任があるのか私にはほとんどわかりません。 Stephen did really begin it, but I suppose I provoked him by some foolishness of mine. スティーブンは本当にそれを始めました、しかし私は私が私のある愚かさによって彼を挑発したと思います。 He had a rival or two, you see. 彼には1、2人のライバルがいましたね。 I was vain and coquettish and liked to tease him a little. 私は無駄でこだわりがあり、彼を少しからかうのが好きでした。 He was a very high-strung, sensitive fellow. C'était un type très nerveux et sensible. 彼は非常に強い、敏感な仲間でした。 Well, we parted in a temper on both sides. Eh bien, nous nous sommes séparés en colère des deux côtés. さて、私たちは両側で気分を分けました。 But I thought it would all come right; and it would have if Stephen hadn't come back too soon. Mais je pensais que tout s'arrangerait, et ce serait le cas si Stephen n'était pas revenu trop tôt. しかし、私はそれがすべてうまくいくと思いました。そしてスティーブンがあまりにも早く戻ってこなかったならそれはあるでしょう。 Anne, my dear, I'm sorry to say" . アン、私の親愛なる、と言って申し訳ない。 Miss Lavendar dropped her voice as if she were about to confess a predilection for murdering people, "that I am a dreadfully sulky person. ラベンダー嬢はあたかも彼女が人々を殺害することを好むことを告白しようとしているかのように彼女の声を落とした。 Oh, you needn't smile, . ああ、あなたは笑う必要はない、。 it's only too true. それはあまりにも本当です。 I DO sulk; and Stephen came back before I had finished sulking. 私はしゃべります。そして私がやめなさい前にスティーブンは戻ってきた。 I wouldn't listen to him and I wouldn't forgive him; and so he went away for good. He was too proud to come again. And then I sulked because he didn't come. それから私は彼が来なかったので言った。 I might have sent for him perhaps, but I couldn't humble myself to do that. 私は彼に送ったのかもしれませんが、謙虚にできませんでした。 I was just as proud as he was . 私は彼と同じくらい誇りに思っていました。 pride and sulkiness make a very bad combination, Anne. 誇りと不気味さは非常に悪い組み合わせになります、アン。 But I could never care for anybody else and I didn't want to. しかし、私は他の誰かを気にすることはできませんでした、そして私はしたくありませんでした。 I knew I would rather be an old maid for a thousand years than marry anybody who wasn't Stephen Irving. Je savais que je préférerais être une vieille fille pendant mille ans plutôt que d'épouser quelqu'un qui ne soit pas Stephen Irving. 私はスティーブン・アーヴィング以外の誰かと結婚するよりも、むしろ千年の間古いメイドになることを知っていました。 Well, it all seems like a dream now, of course. Bien sûr, tout cela ressemble maintenant à un rêve. How sympathetic you look, Anne . どう思いますか、アン。 as sympathetic as only seventeen can look. 17人しか見ることができないのと同じように同情的。 But don't overdo it. 無理をしないでください。 I'm really a very happy, contented little person in spite of my broken heart. 私は私の失恋にもかかわらず、本当にとても幸せで満足している小さな人です。 My heart did break, if ever a heart did, when I realized that Stephen Irving was not coming back. Mon cœur s'est brisé, si jamais un cœur s'est brisé, lorsque j'ai réalisé que Stephen Irving ne reviendrait pas. スティーブン・アーヴィングが帰ってこないことに気づいたとき、私の心は壊れました。 But, Anne, a broken heart in real life isn't half as dreadful as it is in books. しかし、実生活の中で失恋したアンは、本の中でそれほど恐ろしいことではありません。 It's a good deal like a bad tooth . それは悪い歯のようにかなりのことです。 though you won't think THAT a very romantic simile. même si vous ne trouverez pas CELA très romantique. あなたはそれが非常にロマンチックな類似物だとは思わないけれど It takes spells of aching and gives you a sleepless night now and then, but between times it lets you enjoy life and dreams and echoes and peanut candy as if there were nothing the matter with it. Il provoque des douleurs et des nuits blanches de temps en temps, mais entre-temps, il vous laisse profiter de la vie, des rêves, des échos et des bonbons à la cacahuète comme si de rien n'était. And now you're looking disappointed. そして今、あなたはがっかりしています。 You don't think I'm half as interesting a person as you did five minutes ago when you believed I was always the prey of a tragic memory bravely hidden beneath external smiles. Tu ne me trouves pas à moitié aussi intéressante qu'il y a cinq minutes, quand tu croyais que j'étais toujours la proie d'un souvenir tragique courageusement caché sous des sourires extérieurs. あなたは私がいつも外の笑顔の下に勇敢に隠されている悲劇的な記憶の餌食であるとあなたが信じていたときあなたが私があなたが5分前にしたのと同じくらい面白くないと思います。 That's the worst . それが最悪です。 or the best . of real life, Anne. It WON'T let you be miserable. It keeps on trying to make you comfortable . Il continue d'essayer de vous mettre à l'aise. それはあなたを快適にしようとし続けます。 and succeeding...even when you're determined to be unhappy and romantic. あなたが不幸でロマンチックであると決心している時でさえ…そして成功しています。 Isn't this candy scrumptious? このキャンディーは美味しくないですか? I've eaten far more than is good for me already but I'm going to keep recklessly on." J'ai déjà mangé beaucoup plus que ce qui est bon pour moi, mais je vais continuer à faire preuve d'insouciance". 私はすでに私には良い以上のものを食べてきましたが、無謀に続けていくつもりです」 After a little silence Miss Lavendar said abruptly, 少し沈黙した後、ラベンダー嬢は突然言った

"It gave me a shock to hear about Stephen's son that first day you were here, Anne. 「あなたがここにいた最初の日、スティーブンの息子について聞いてショックを受けました。 I've never been able to mention him to you since, but I've wanted to know all about him. Je n'ai jamais pu te parler de lui depuis, mais je voulais tout savoir sur lui. 私はそれ以来あなたに彼について言及することができませんでした、しかし私は彼についてすべてを知りたかったです。 What sort of a boy is he?" 彼はどんな男の子ですか?」 "He is the dearest, sweetest child I ever knew, Miss Lavendar . 「彼は私が今まで知っていた最も愛らしい、甘い子です、ミス・ラベンダー。 and he pretends things too, just as you and I do." あなたと私がそうであるように、彼も物事のふりをしている。」 "I'd like to see him," said Miss Lavendar softly, as if talking to herself. 「彼に会いたいのですが」とLavendar氏は、まるで自分と話をしているかのようにそっと言った。 "I wonder if he looks anything like the little dream-boy who lives here with me . 「彼は私と一緒にここに住んでいる小さな夢のような少年のように見えるのだろうか。 MY little dream-boy." 私の小さな夢見る少年。」 "If you would like to see Paul I'll bring him through with me sometime," said Anne. 「あなたがポールに会いたいのなら、いつか私と一緒に連れて行ってあげる」とアンは言った。 "I would like it . 「お願いします。 but not too soon. I want to get used to the thought. 私はその考えに慣れたいのです。 There might be more pain than pleasure in it . 喜び以上の痛みがあるかもしれません。 if he looked too much like Stephen . もし彼がスティーブンのように見えすぎたら。 or if he didn't look enough like him. または彼が彼のように十分に見えなかったならば。 In a month's time you may bring him." 一ヶ月以内にあなたは彼を連れて行くことができる」 Accordingly, a month later Anne and Paul walked through the woods to the stone house, and met Miss Lavendar in the lane. She had not been expecting them just then and she turned very pale. Elle ne s'y attendait pas et devint très pâle. 彼女はその時だけ彼らを期待していなかった、そして彼女は非常に青白くなった。

"So this is Stephen's boy," she said in a low tone, taking Paul's hand and looking at him as he stood, beautiful and boyish, in his smart little fur coat and cap. "C'est donc le fils de Stephen", dit-elle à voix basse, en prenant la main de Paul et en le regardant, beau et jeune, dans son élégant manteau de fourrure et son bonnet. 「だから、これはスティーブンの男の子だ」と彼女はパウロの手を取って彼が立っているように彼を見て、彼の賢い小さな毛皮のコートと帽子で、低音で言った。 "He . "彼 。 he is very like his father." 彼は父親のようだ。」 "Everybody says I'm a chip off the old block," remarked Paul, quite at his ease. 「誰もが私は古いブロックから切り離したチップだと言っています」とポールは非常に安心して述べた。 Anne, who had been watching the little scene, drew a relieved breath. Anne, qui avait assisté à la petite scène, respire avec soulagement. その小さな光景を見ていたアンは、ほっと息を吐いた。 She saw that Miss Lavendar and Paul had "taken" to each other, and that there would be no constraint or stiffness. Miss Lavendar was a very sensible person, in spite of her dreams and romance, and after that first little betrayal she tucked her feelings out of sight and entertained Paul as brightly and naturally as if he were anybody's son who had come to see her. Mlle Lavendar était une personne très sensée, malgré ses rêves et son romantisme, et après cette première petite trahison, elle a mis ses sentiments à l'abri des regards et a reçu Paul avec autant d'éclat et de naturel que s'il était le fils de n'importe qui venu la voir. They all had a jolly afternoon together and such a feast of fat things by way of supper as would have made old Mrs. Irving hold up her hands in horror, believing that Paul's digestion would be ruined for ever. Ils passèrent tous ensemble un après-midi joyeux et eurent en guise de souper un tel festin de choses grasses que la vieille Mme Irving aurait levé les mains en signe d'horreur, croyant que la digestion de Paul serait à jamais ruinée. "Come again, laddie," said Miss Lavendar, shaking hands with him at parting. "You may kiss me if you like," said Paul gravely. Miss Lavendar stooped and kissed him. ラベンダー嬢は彼を詮索してキスしました。

"How did you know I wanted to?" 「私がやりたかったことをどうやって知ったの?」 she whispered. 彼女はささやきました。

"Because you looked at me just as my little mother used to do when she wanted to kiss me. As a rule, I don't like to be kissed. 原則として、私はキスをするのは好きではありません。 Boys don't. 男の子は違います。 You know, Miss Lewis. ルイスさん、知っていますか。 But I think I rather like to have you kiss me. Mais je crois que j'aime bien que tu m'embrasses. しかし、私はあなたが私にキスをしてもらうのが好きだと思います。 And of course I'll come to see you again. そしてもちろん、また会いましょう。 I think I'd like to have you for a particular friend of mine, if you don't object." Je pense que j'aimerais vous avoir pour un de mes amis, si vous n'y voyez pas d'inconvénient." 異議を唱えないのであれば、私はあなたを私の特定の友人のために持って行きたいと思います。」 "I . "私 。 I don't think I shall object," said Miss Lavendar. 私は異議を唱えるとは思わない」とLavendar氏は述べた。 She turned and went in very quickly; but a moment later she was waving a gay and smiling good-bye to them from the window. 彼女はすぐに向きを変え、すぐに入りました。しかししばらくして彼女はゲイを振って窓から彼らに別れを告げて笑っていた。

"I like Miss Lavendar," announced Paul, as they walked through the beech woods. 彼らがブナの森を通って歩いたので、「私はミスLavendarが好きです」とポールが発表しました。 "I like the way she looked at me, and I like her stone house, and I like Charlotta the Fourth. 「私は彼女が私を見た方法が好き、そして私は彼女の石造りの家が好き、そして私はCharlotta the Fourthが好きです。 I wish Grandma Irving had a Charlotta the Fourth instead of a Mary Joe. I feel sure Charlotta the Fourth wouldn't think I was wrong in my upper story when I told her what I think about things. Wasn't that a splendid tea we had, teacher? Grandma says a boy shouldn't be thinking about what he gets to eat, but he can't help it sometimes when he is real hungry. Grand-mère dit qu'un garçon ne devrait pas penser à ce qu'il va manger, mais il ne peut pas s'en empêcher parfois quand il a vraiment faim. YOU know, teacher. I don't think Miss Lavendar would make a boy eat porridge for breakfast if he didn't like it. Je ne pense pas que Mlle Lavendar obligerait un garçon à manger du porridge au petit déjeuner s'il n'aimait pas ça. 私は彼がそれを好まなかったらミスLavendarが男の子に朝食のためにお粥を食べるようになるとは思わない。 She'd get things for him he did like. 彼女は彼が好きだった彼のために物事を手に入れたいのです。 But of course" . しかし、もちろん" 。 Paul was nothing if not fair-minded . Paul n'était rien d'autre que juste. 公平ではないにしても、ポールは何もしませんでした。 "that mightn't be very good for him. 「それは彼にとってあまり良くないかもしれない。 It's very nice for a change though, teacher. それは変更のためにそれは非常にいいです、先生。 YOU know." ええと。"