よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 23: A Daughter's Hesitation
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Notes on this scene
Alice says Charles McCarthy repeatedly urged James to marry her, causing disagreements between father and son. She describes their affection as that of brother and sister, then hesitates over James's reluctance. Asked about her own father, she says he also opposed the marriage. A searching look from Holmes brings a blush to her face.
Japanese in this scene
- 隠している場合ではありません
- 〜場合ではない means ‘this is no time to…’ or ‘the situation does not allow….’ Alice puts the need for openness ahead of her embarrassment about the subject.
- 結婚させたい
- 結婚させる is causative: to make or have someone marry. Adding たい expresses the father's wish. を marks the people he wants to bring into the marriage, rather than his own partner.
- 兄と妹のように
- Noun + のように means ‘like’ or ‘in the manner of.’ Alice describes their affection by comparison with siblings; the phrase does not say they are actually related.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young and has seen very little of life yet, and—and—well, he naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them."
「何かを隠している場合ではありません。ジェームズとお父様は、私のことで何度も意見が合いませんでした。マッカーシーさんは、私たちを結婚させたいと、とても強く望んでいらしたのです。ジェームズと私は、ずっと兄と妹のように愛し合ってきました。でも、もちろん彼はまだ若く、世の中もほとんど知りませんし、それに、それに、その、まだそんなことはしたくないと思うのも、当然でした。それで口論が起きたのです。今度もきっと、その一つだったと思います」
"And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a union?"
「では、あなたのお父様は」とホームズは尋ねた。「その結婚には賛成だったのですか」
"No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her.
「いいえ、父も反対でした。賛成していたのは、マッカーシーさんだけです」ホームズが鋭く問いかけるような視線を一つ投げると、彼女の若々しくみずみずしい顔に、さっと赤みが差した。