解説　場面 6「昼食の席で」

On our way back we stayed for lunch at Merripit House, and it was there that Sir Henry made the acquaintance of Miss Stapleton. From the first moment that he saw her he appeared to be strongly attracted by her, and I am much mistaken if the feeling was not mutual. He referred to her again and again on our walk home, and since then hardly a day has passed that we have not seen something of the brother and sister. They dine here tonight, and there is some talk of our going to them next week. One would imagine that such a match would be very welcome to Stapleton, and yet I have more than once caught a look of the strongest disapprobation in his face when Sir Henry has been paying some attention to his sister. He is much attached to her, no doubt, and would lead a lonely life without her, but it would seem the height of selfishness if he were to stand in the way of her making so brilliant a marriage. Yet I am certain that he does not wish their intimacy to ripen into love, and I have several times observed that he has taken pains to prevent them from being tête-à-tête. By the way, your instructions to me never to allow Sir Henry to go out alone will become very much more onerous if a love affair were to be added to our other difficulties. My popularity would soon suffer if I were to carry out your orders to the letter.

帰りにメリピット荘へ寄って昼食をとり、そこでヘンリー卿はステイプルトン嬢と知り合った。初めて目にした瞬間から彼は強く引かれたようで、私が大いに見誤っているのでなければ、その思いは互いに通じていた。帰り道で彼は何度も彼女の話をし、それ以来、兄妹にまったく会わずに過ごした日は、ほとんどない。今夜は二人がこちらへ夕食に来るし、来週はこちらが訪ねるという話も出ている。そのような縁談はステイプルトンにとって大歓迎だろうと思われるが、それでも私は、ヘンリー卿が妹へ気を配っているときに、彼がひどく不満そうな顔をするのを、一度ならず見ている。確かに彼は妹をとても大切にしており、いなくなれば寂しく暮らすことになるだろうが、こんなに立派な結婚の妨げをするなら、それはあまりにも身勝手に思える。それでも、二人の親しさが恋愛へ育つのを彼が望んでいないことは確かで、二人きりにさせまいと気を配っているのを、私は幾度も見ている。ところで、ほかの難題に恋愛まで加わるとすれば、ヘンリー卿を決して一人で外出させるなという、きみの私への指示は、はるかに重い負担になるだろう。きみの命令を一字一句そのまま守っていたら、私はたちまち嫌われてしまうだろう。