よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 31: The Open Door
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Notes on this scene
The dogcart turns through the gates of the Cedars, where lamps still burn despite the late hour. Holmes admits that bringing no good news troubles him. A woman's figure waits in the open doorway and hurries forward as they arrive.
Japanese in this scene
- 屋敷へ続く曲がりくねった細い砂利道
- 曲がりくねった is a past-form modifier describing a path with repeated bends as it leads toward the house.
- 頭と顔を前へ差し出していた
- 差し出していた describes Mrs. St. Clair leaning her head and face forward in an ongoing posture of urgent expectation.
- 良い知らせはない
- The topic marker は makes good news the specific thing being asked about; the negative answer confirms Holmes has none.
- 屋敷の前に止まった
- The particle に marks the endpoint where the carriage comes to a stop, in front of the large house.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing question.
馬車は、広い敷地に建つ大きな屋敷の前に止まった。厩番の少年が馬の頭の所へ走ってきた。私は飛び降り、屋敷へ続く曲がりくねった細い砂利道を、ホームズについて上った。近づくと戸が勢いよく開き、小柄な金髪の女性が現れた。軽い絹モスリンのような服を着て、首元と手首にはふわふわしたピンクのシフォンが少し飾られていた。あふれる光を背に姿を浮かび上がらせ、片手を戸に置き、もう一方を待ちかねたように半ば上げ、少し身をかがめ、頭と顔を前へ差し出していた。切実な目と開いた唇、その立ち姿全体が問いそのものだった。
"Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
「どうでしたか」と彼女は叫んだ。「どうでしたか」私たちが二人いるのを見ると希望の声を上げたが、友人が首を振って肩をすくめるのを見て、それはうめき声に変わった。
"No good news?"
「良い知らせはないのですか」
"None."
「ありません」