よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 2: An Unexpected Visitor
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Notes on this scene
A veiled woman bursts into the sitting room, apologizes for calling so late, and suddenly collapses against Watson's wife in tears. Mrs. Watson recognizes Kate Whitney beneath the veil and gently asks why her old friend has come in such distress.
Japanese in this scene
- 少し助けていただきたくて
- 〜ていただきたい is a humble way to ask someone to do something. 〜たくて gives the reason for Kate's visit: she wants their help.
- こらえきれなくなり
- きれない after a verb means being unable to do it completely. Kate can no longer hold back her emotion and starts crying.
- 誰だか全然分からなかった
- 誰だか embeds the question 'who it was.' With 全然 and the negative, Mrs. Watson says she did not recognize the visitor at all.
- びっくりしたわ
- びっくりした means 'you startled me.' The sentence-ending わ gives Mrs. Watson's reaction a gentle, conversational tone.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room.
玄関の戸が開き、慌ただしい言葉が二言三言聞こえ、続いてリノリウムの上を急ぐ足音がした。居間の戸が勢いよく開き、暗い色の服に黒いベールを着けた女性が入ってきた。
"You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help."
「こんなに遅くに伺ってごめんなさい」と話し始めたかと思うと、突然こらえきれなくなり、駆け寄って妻の首に両腕を回し、その肩で泣きじゃくった。「ああ、困り果てているの」と彼女は叫んだ。「どうしても少し助けていただきたくて」
"Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when you came in."
「まあ」と妻はベールを上げながら言った。「ケイト・ホイットニーじゃない。びっくりしたわ、ケイト。入ってきたときは誰だか全然分からなかったの」
"I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds to a lighthouse.
「どうすればいいか分からなくて、まっすぐあなたの所へ来たの」いつもそうだった。悲しむ人々は、灯台へ向かう鳥のように妻のもとへ集まってきた。