よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 19: The Little Manager
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Notes on this scene
A small, intensely red-haired man controls the interview and quickly rejects every applicant before Wilson. Once Wilson enters, however, the interviewer shuts the door and studies his hair at length. He then seizes Wilson’s hand with delight and announces that the coveted place is his.
Japanese in this scene
- ように
- ように can express a goal, an intended result, or resemblance, depending on the words around it. With a verb of request, it can also report what someone was told to do.
- ほど
- ほど expresses degree or an approximate extent: “to the point that; as much as; about.” The comparison in the sentence determines its natural English rendering.
- は
- は marks the topic of a sentence and can also set up a contrast with another item.
- が
- が marks the grammatical subject or newly focused information. It can also link clauses with a mild contrast.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he might have a private word with us.
「事務所には木の椅子が二脚と白木のテーブルがあるきりで、そのテーブルの向こうに、私よりさらに赤い頭をした小柄な男が座っていました。男は、応募者が前に出るたびに二言三言話しかけ、毎回なにかしら難点を見つけては不合格にしていくんです。結局のところ、空きに入るのはそう簡単なことではなさそうでした。ところが、私たちの番が来ると、その小男はほかの誰よりもずっと私に好意的で、私たちが入るとドアを閉めて、内々に話ができるようにしたんです。
"'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is willing to fill a vacancy in the League.'
「『こちらはジェイベズ・ウィルソンさんです』と私の助手が言いました。『組合の空きに入りたいとおっしゃっています』
"'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my success.
「『しかも、じつにうってつけの方だ』と相手は答えました。『条件をすべて満たしておられる。これほど見事なものは、いつ見たか思い出せないほどです』男は一歩下がり、首をかしげて、私がすっかり照れくさくなるまで、私の髪をじっと見つめていました。それから急に飛びつくように前に出てきて、私の手をぎゅっと握り、合格を心から祝ってくれたんです。