よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 3: A Friend's Trouble
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Notes on this scene
Mrs. Watson offers Kate wine, water, and a comfortable seat, then asks whether Watson should leave. Kate insists that she needs the doctor's advice as well. Her trouble concerns her husband, Isa, who has not returned home for two days.
Japanese in this scene
- 助けていただきたい
- Kate uses the humble request 〜ていただきたい to ask Watson, a doctor, for his advice and assistance.
- 連れ戻してやれないだろうか
- 〜てやる presents bringing Isa back as help done for Kate. 〜ないだろうか makes Watson's suggestion tentative.
- ジェームズには寝てもらった方がいい
- 〜てもらう views an action as something another person does. 方がいい turns it into Mrs. Watson's suggestion that James should go to bed.
- もう二日も帰ってこない
- The counter 二日も emphasizes the unexpectedly long period. 帰ってこない means that Isa has not come back home.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or should you rather that I sent James off to bed?"
「来てくれてうれしいわ。さあ、ワインを水で割ったものを飲んで、ここに楽に座って、何もかも話してちょうだい。それとも、ジェームズには寝てもらった方がいいかしら」
"Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about him!"
「いいえ、そんな。先生にも相談して、助けていただきたいの。アイザのことなの。もう二日も帰ってこないのよ。あの人のことが心配でたまらないわ」
It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it possible that we could bring him back to her?
夫の問題について彼女から相談を受けるのは、初めてではなかった。私は医師として、妻は昔からの友人で同窓生として話を聞いていた。私たちは言葉を探しながら彼女をなだめ、慰めた。夫の居場所に心当たりはあるのか。私たちで彼を連れ戻してやれないだろうか。