Cat in the Rain
Cat in the Rain
There were only two Americans stopping at the hotel. They did not know any of the people they passed on the stairs on their way to and from their room. Their room was on the second floor facing the sea. It also faced the public garden and the war monument. There were big palms and green benches in the public garden. In the good weather there was always an artist with his easel. Artists liked the way the palms grew and the bright colors of the hotels facing the gardens and the sea. Italians came from a long way off to look up at the war monument. It was made of bronze and glistened in the rain. It was raining. The rain dripped from the palm trees. Water stood in pools on the gravel paths. The sea broke in a long line in the rain and slipped back down the beach to come up and break again in a long line in the rain. The motor cars were gone from the square by the war monument. Across the square in the doorway of the café a waiter stood looking out at the empty square.
The American wife stood at the window looking out. Outside right under their window a cat was crouched under one of the dripping green tables. The cat was trying to make herself so she would not be dripped on.
“I’m going down and get that kitty,” the American wife said.
“I’ll do it,” her husband offered from the bed.
“No, I’ll get it. The poor kitty out trying to keep dry under a table.”
The husband went on reading, lying propped up with the two pillows at the foot of the bed.
“Don’t get wet,” he said.
The wife went downstairs and the hotel owner stood up and bowed to her as she passed the office. His desk was at the far end of the office. He was an old man and very tall.
“Il piove,” the wife said. She liked the hotel-keeper.
“Si, si, Signora, brutto tempo. It is very bad weather.”
He stood behind his desk in the far end of the dim room. The wife liked him. She liked the deadly serious way he received any complaints. She liked his dignity. She liked the way he wanted to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper. She liked his old, heavy face and big hands.
Liking him she opened the door and looked out. It was raining harder. A man in a rubber cape was crossing the empty square to the café. The cat would be around to the right. Perhaps she could go along under the eaves. As she stood in the doorway an umbrella opened behind her. It was the maid who looked after their room.
“You must not get wet,” she smiled, speaking Italian. Of course, the hotel-keeper had sent her.
With the maid holding the umbrella over her, she walked along the gravel path until she was under their window. The table was there, washed bright green in the rain, but the cat was gone. She was suddenly disappointed. The maid looked up at her.
“Ha perduto qualche cosa, Signora?”
“There was a cat,” said the American girl.
“A cat?”
“Si, il gatto.”
“A cat?” the maid laughed. “A cat in the rain?”
“Yes,” she said, “under the table.” Then, “Oh, I wanted it so much. I wanted a kitty.”
When she talked English the maid’s face tightened.
“Come, Signora,” she said. “We must get back inside. You will be wet.”
“I suppose so,” said the American girl.
They went back along the gravel path and passed in the door. The maid stayed outside to close the umbrella. As the American girl passed the office, the padrone bowed from his desk. Something felt very small and tight inside the girl. The padrone made her feel very small and at the same time really important. She had a momentary feeling of being of supreme importance. She went on up the stairs. She opened the door of the room. George was on the bed, reading.
“Did you get the cat?” he asked, putting the book down.
“It was gone.”
“Wonder where it went to,” he said, resting his eyes from reading.
She sat down on the bed.
“I wanted it so much,” she said. “I don’t know why I wanted it so much. I wanted that poor kitty. It isn’t any fun to be a poor kitty out in the rain.”
George was reading again.
She went over and sat in front of the mirror of the dressing table looking at herself with the hand glass. She studied her profile, first one side and then the other. Then she studied the back of her head and her neck.
“Don’t you think it would be a good idea if I let my hair grow out?” she asked, looking at her profile again.
George looked up and saw the back of her neck, clipped close like a boy’s.
“I like it the way it is.”
“I get so tired of it,” she said. “I get so tired of looking like a boy.”
George shifted his position in the bed. He hadn’t looked away from her since she started to speak.
“You look pretty darn nice,” he said.
She laid the mirror down on the dresser and went over to the window and looked out. It was getting dark.
“I want to pull my hair back tight and smooth and make a big knot at the back that I can feel,” she said. “I want to have a kitty to sit on my lap and purr when I stroke her.”
“Yeah?” George said from the bed.
“And I want to eat at a table with my own silver and I want candles. And I want it to be spring and I want to brush my hair out in front of a mirror and I want a kitty and I want some new clothes.”
“Oh, shut up and get something to read,” George said. He was reading again.
His wife was looking out of the window. It was quite dark now and still raining in the palm trees.
“Anyway, I want a cat,” she said, “I want a cat. I want a cat now. If I can’t have long hair or any fun, I can have a cat.”
George was not listening. He was reading his book. His wife looked out of the window where the light had come on in the square.
Someone knocked at the door.
“Avanti,” George said. He looked up from his book.
In the doorway stood the maid. She held a big tortoise-shell cat pressed tight against her and swung down against her body.
“Excuse me,” she said, “the padrone asked me to bring this for the Signora.”
本文 加工
Cat in the Rain
(1)
There were only two Americans stopping at the hotel. They did not know any of the people / they passed / on the stairs / on their way / to and from their room. Their room was on the second floor / facing the sea. It also faced the public garden and the war monument. There were big palms and green benches / in the public garden. In the good weather / there was always an artist / with his easel. Artists liked the way / the palms grew / and the bright colors / of the hotels / facing the gardens and the sea. Italians came from a long way off / to look up at the war monument. It was made of bronze and glistened / in the rain. It was raining. The rain dripped / from the palm trees. Water stood / in pools / on the gravel paths. The sea broke / in a long line / in the rain and slipped back / down the beach / to come up and break again / in a long line / in the rain. The motor cars were gone / from the square / by the war monument. Across the square in the doorway of the café / a waiter stood looking out at the empty square.
(2) 0:59
The American wife stood at the window looking out. Outside right under their window a cat was crouched under one of the dripping green tables. The cat was trying to make herself so she would not be dripped on.
“I’m going down and get that kitty,” the American wife said.
“I’ll do it,” her husband offered from the bed.
“No, I’ll get it. The poor kitty out trying to keep dry under a table.”
The husband went on reading, lying propped up with the two pillows at the foot of the bed.
“Don’t get wet,” he said.
(3) 1:30
The wife went downstairs and the hotel owner stood up and bowed to her as she passed the office. His desk was at the far end of the office. He was an old man and very tall.
“Il piove,” the wife said. She liked the hotel-keeper.
“Si, si, Signora, brutto tempo. It is very bad weather.”
He stood behind his desk in the far end of the dim room. The wife liked him. She liked the deadly serious way he received any complaints. She liked his dignity. She liked the way he wanted to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper. She liked his old, heavy face and big hands.
Liking him she opened the door and looked out. It was raining harder. A man in a rubber cape was crossing the empty square to the café. The cat would be around to the right. Perhaps she could go along under the eaves. As she stood in the doorway an umbrella opened behind her. It was the maid who looked after their room.
“You must not get wet,” she smiled, speaking Italian. Of course, the hotel-keeper had sent her.
With the maid holding the umbrella over her, she walked along the gravel path until she was under their window. The table was there, washed bright green in the rain, but the cat was gone. She was suddenly disappointed. The maid looked up at her.
“Ha perduto qualche cosa, Signora?”
“There was a cat,” said the American girl.
“A cat?”
“Si, il gatto.”
“A cat?” the maid laughed. “A cat in the rain?”
“Yes,” she said, “under the table.” Then, “Oh, I wanted it so much. I wanted a kitty.”
When she talked English the maid’s face tightened.
“Come, Signora,” she said. “We must get back inside. You will be wet.”
“I suppose so,” said the American girl.
They went back along the gravel path and passed in the door. The maid stayed outside to close the umbrella. As the American girl passed the office, the padrone bowed from his desk. Something felt very small and tight inside the girl. The padrone made her feel very small and at the same time really important. She had a momentary feeling of being of supreme importance. She went on up the stairs. She opened the door of the room. George was on the bed, reading.
“Did you get the cat?” he asked, putting the book down.
“It was gone.”
“Wonder where it went to,” he said, resting his eyes from reading.
She sat down on the bed.
“I wanted it so much,” she said. “I don’t know why I wanted it so much. I wanted that poor kitty. It isn’t any fun to be a poor kitty out in the rain.”
George was reading again.
She went over and sat in front of the mirror of the dressing table looking at herself with the hand glass. She studied her profile, first one side and then the other. Then she studied the back of her head and her neck.
“Don’t you think it would be a good idea if I let my hair grow out?” she asked, looking at her profile again.
George looked up and saw the back of her neck, clipped close like a boy’s.
“I like it the way it is.”
“I get so tired of it,” she said. “I get so tired of looking like a boy.”
George shifted his position in the bed. He hadn’t looked away from her since she started to speak.
“You look pretty darn nice,” he said.
She laid the mirror down on the dresser and went over to the window and looked out. It was getting dark.
“I want to pull my hair back tight and smooth and make a big knot at the back that I can feel,” she said. “I want to have a kitty to sit on my lap and purr when I stroke her.”
“Yeah?” George said from the bed.
“And I want to eat at a table with my own silver and I want candles. And I want it to be spring and I want to brush my hair out in front of a mirror and I want a kitty and I want some new clothes.”
“Oh, shut up and get something to read,” George said. He was reading again.
His wife was looking out of the window. It was quite dark now and still raining in the palm trees.
“Anyway, I want a cat,” she said, “I want a cat. I want a cat now. If I can’t have long hair or any fun, I can have a cat.”
George was not listening. He was reading his book. His wife looked out of the window where the light had come on in the square.
Someone knocked at the door.
“Avanti,” George said. He looked up from his book.
In the doorway stood the maid. She held a big tortoise-shell cat pressed tight against her and swung down against her body.
“Excuse me,” she said, “the padrone asked me to bring this for the Signora.”
英単語・英語表現の解説
(1)
stopping at
- 発音記号: /ˈstɑː.pɪŋ.æt/
- フォニックス表記: stop-ping-at
- 英和辞典の定義: （ホテルなどに）滞在している。
- 英英辞典の定義: Staying temporarily at a place.
- 語源: stop（止まる）+ at（地点）。
- 解説: 根を下ろしていない一時的で浮遊感のある状態を暗示する熟語。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: ingの /ŋ/ と /æ/ を連結。
passed
- 発音記号: /pæst/
- フォニックス表記: passed
- 英和辞典の定義: すれ違った、通り過ぎた。
- 英英辞典の定義: Moved past someone or something.
- 語源: ラテン語の「歩み（passus）」に由来。
- 解説: 他者との交流の欠如を暗示する描写。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 語尾は軽い /t/。
stairs
- 発音記号: /sterz/
- フォニックス表記: stairs
- 英和辞典の定義: 階段。
- 英英辞典の定義: A set of steps leading between floors.
- 語源: 古英語の「登るための段（stæger）」に由来。
- 解説: 他者との交差点でありながら、孤独を際立たせる場所。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /st/ から滑らかに繋ぐ。
on their way to
- 発音記号: /ɑːn.ðer.weɪ.tuː/
- フォニックス表記: on-their-way-to
- 英和辞典の定義: 〜へ行く途中で。
- 英英辞典の定義: While traveling to a destination.
- 語源: on（〜の上に）+ way（道）+ to（〜へ）。
- 解説: 場所を移動している時間経過を示す熟語。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 各単語をなめらかに連結させる。
facing
- 発音記号: /ˈfeɪ.sɪŋ/
- フォニックス表記: fac-ing
- 英和辞典の定義: 〜に面している。
- 英英辞典の定義: Positioned towards a direction.
- 語源: ラテン語の「顔（facies）」に由来。
- 解説: 部屋の視覚的な位置関係を示す重要動詞。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 第1音節の二重母音 /eɪ/ を明瞭に。
public garden
- 発音記号: /ˈpʌb.lɪk.ˈɡɑːr.dn/
- フォニックス表記: pub-lic gar-den
- 英和辞典の定義: 公共庭園。
- 英英辞典の定義: A park open to the public.
- 語源: public（人民の）+ garden（囲い）。
- 解説: 孤独を際立たせる背景として機能する場所。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: gardenの /dn/ を鼻腔破裂で発音。
war monument
- 発音記号: /ˈwɔːr.ˈmɑːn.jə.mənt/
- フォニックス表記: war mon-u-ment
- 英和辞典の定義: 戦争記念碑。
- 英英辞典の定義: A structure honoring those who died in war.
- 語源: ラテン語の「思い出させるもの（monere）」に由来。
- 解説: 物語の時代背景を示す象徴。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 第1音節を強め、末尾はストップT。
palms
- 発音記号: /pɑːmz/
- フォニックス表記: palms
- 英和辞典の定義: ヤシの木。
- 英英辞典の定義: Tropical trees with a straight trunk.
- 語源: ラテン語の「手のひら（palma）」に由来。
- 解説: 暗い雨の質感を与える対象。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 「l」は発音しない黙字。
easel
- 発音記号: /ˈiː.zl/
- フォニックス表記: ea-sel
- 英和辞典の定義: 画架、イーゼル。
- 英英辞典の定義: A frame for an artist’s canvas.
- 語源: オランダ語の「ロバ（ezel）」に由来。
- 解説: 晴天時の活気と雨天時の対比。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 末尾はダークL。
from a long way off
- 発音記号: /frəm.ə.lɔːŋ.weɪ.ɔːf/
- フォニックス表記: from-a-long-way-off
- 英和辞典の定義: 遠く離れた所から。
- 英英辞典の定義: From a great distance.
- 語源: from + long + way + off（副詞）。
- 解説: 物理的・心理的な隔たりを強調する熟語的副詞句。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 各単語を連結して発音。
look up at
- 発音記号: /lʊk.ʌp.æt/
- フォニックス表記: look-up-at
- 英和辞典の定義: 〜を見上げる。
- 英英辞典の定義: To direct one’s eyes towards something high.
- 語源: look + up + at。
- 解説: 記念碑の崇高さを身体動作として示す熟語。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /k/ と /ʌ/ を連結。
glistened
- 発音記号: /ˈɡlɪs.nd/
- フォニックス表記: glis-tened
- 英和辞典の定義: （濡れて）輝いた。
- 英英辞典の定義: Shone with light when wet.
- 語源: 古英語の「輝く（glisnian）」に由来。
- 解説: 光を反射する雨の情景。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 「t」は発音しない。
dripped
- 発音記号: /drɪpt/
- フォニックス表記: dripped
- 英和辞典の定義: 滴った。
- 英英辞典の定義: Fell in small drops.
- 語源: 中英語の「滴る（dryppen）」に由来。
- 解説: 静かな雨の音を想起させる動詞。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 語尾は /t/。
broke
- 発音記号: /broʊk/
- フォニックス表記: broke
- 英和辞典の定義: （波が）砕けた。
- 英英辞典の定義: Of a wave, to collapse or crash.
- 語源: 古英語の「壊す（brecan）」に由来。
- 解説: 波の反復を力学的に表現。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 語末の /k/ はストップ音。
slipped back
- 発音記号: /slɪpt.bæk/
- フォニックス表記: slipped back
- 英和辞典の定義: （波が）引き返した。
- 英英辞典の定義: Moved back smoothly.
- 語源: slip（滑る）+ back。
- 解説: 自然の反復運動。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /pt/ から /b/ へ移行。
come up
- 発音記号: /ˈkʌm.ʌp/
- フォニックス表記: come up
- 英和辞典の定義: （波が）押し寄せる。
- 英英辞典の定義: To move towards the shore.
- 語源: come + up。
- 解説: 波のサイクルの繋ぎとなる動作。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /m/ と /ʌ/ を連結。
square
- 発音記号: /skwer/
- フォニックス表記: square
- 英和辞典の定義: 広場。
- 英英辞典の定義: An open, four-sided area in a town.
- 語源: ラテン語の「正方形にする（exquadrare）」に由来。
- 解説: 人々が集う場所でありながら、今は空っぽであるという対比。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /skw/ の子音連結に注意。
doorway
- 発音記号: /ˈdɔːr.weɪ/
- フォニックス表記: door-way
- 英和辞典の定義: 出入り口、戸口。
- 英英辞典の定義: The opening in a wall.
- 語源: door（門）+ way（道）。
- 解説: 内部と外部の中間地点で世界を観察する位置。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /dɔːr/ の /r/ は軽く巻く。
empty square
- 発音記号: /ˈemp.ti.skwer/
- フォニックス表記: emp-ty square
- 英和辞典の定義: 空っぽの広場。
- 英英辞典の定義: A deserted or unoccupied open town area.
- 語源: empty（古英語：空の）+ square（広場）。
- 解説: 物理的な広場の空虚さと、内面の満たされない欲求を象徴する複合表現。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /mp/ の後に軽いTを入れ、squareの /skw/ を続けて発音する。
(2)
crouched
- 発音記号: /kraʊtʃt/
- フォニックス表記: crouched
- 英和辞典の定義: しゃがみ込んだ、うずくまった。
- 英英辞典の定義: To stoop or bend low with the limbs close to the body.
- 語源: 古フランス語の「曲げる（crochir）」に由来。
- 解説: 猫が雨を避けようと小さくなっている様子。雨に濡れるのを防ぐための防御的な姿勢を強調しています。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 語尾の /ed/ は無声子音 /tʃ/ の直後なので、はっきりとした /t/ の音になります。
dripping
- 発音記号: /ˈdrɪp.ɪŋ/
- フォニックス表記: drip-ping
- 英和辞典の定義: 滴り落ちる。
- 英英辞典の定義: Falling in small drops of liquid.
- 語源: 中英語の「滴る（dryppen）」に由来。
- 解説: 雨の多さと、湿り気を帯びた環境の不快感を物理的に表す重要な形容詞です。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /p/ の音が二重になるため、一度口を閉じてから再び開く動作が必要です。
going down and get
- 発音記号: /ˈɡoʊ.ɪŋ.daʊn.ən.ɡet/
- フォニックス表記: go-ing-down-and-get
- 英和辞典の定義: 下へ行って〜を連れてくる。
- 英英辞典の定義: To go to a lower level and retrieve something.
- 語源: go + down + and + get。
- 解説: 階上の部屋から、猫のいる地面へ移動するという空間的な変化を示す熟語的表現。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 各単語を連結し「ゴーインダウナゲッ」と流れるように発音します。
kitty
- 発音記号: /ˈkɪt.i/
- フォニックス表記: kit-ty
- 英和辞典の定義: 子猫（愛称）。
- 英英辞典の定義: A small or young cat.
- 語源: kit（子猫）の愛称形。
- 解説: 妻が猫に対して抱いている親密な感情や、保護したいという欲求を反映しています。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 中間の /t/ はフラップTとなり、軽やかな「ラ行」の音で発音します。
offered
- 発音記号: /ˈɒf.ərd/
- フォニックス表記: of-fered
- 英和辞典の定義: （〜しようと）申し出た。
- 英英辞典の定義: To express a willingness to do something.
- 語源: ラテン語の「差し出す（offerre）」に由来。
- 解説: 夫の受動的な関わり方を象徴する動詞。妻の熱意と対照的に、ベッドから動こうとしない彼の態度が示されています。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /f/ の音をしっかりと摩擦させ、/ər/ で軽く終わります。
poor
- 発音記号: /pʊr/
- フォニックス表記: poor
- 英和辞典の定義: かわいそうな。
- 英英辞典の定義: Deserving of pity or sympathy.
- 語源: ラテン語の「貧しい（pauper）」に由来。
- 解説: 猫に対する同情心。妻が猫に自分を投影し、現状への不満や孤独感を解消しようとしていることが読み取れます。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /ʊ/ から /r/ へ、唇を丸めてから引きながら発音します。
keep dry
- 発音記号: /ˈkiːp.draɪ/
- フォニックス表記: keep-dry
- 英和辞典の定義: 濡れないようにしておく。
- 英英辞典の定義: To remain in a state not covered in water.
- 語源: keep（保つ）+ dry（乾いた）。
- 解説: 雨から身を守ろうとする猫の生存本能と、妻の保護衝動が重なる表現です。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /p/ の音をしっかり止め、直後の /d/ と繋げます。
went on reading
- 発音記号: /went.ɒn.ˈriːd.ɪŋ/
- フォニックス表記: went-on-read-ing
- 英和辞典の定義: 読み続けた。
- 英英辞典の定義: To continue with an activity without stopping.
- 語源: goの過去形 + on（継続）+ read（読む）。
- 解説: 妻が猫を助けに行こうとする中で、夫が読書を中断しない様子を強調する熟語。夫婦の意識の断絶を表現しています。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 各単語を連結させ、「ウェントゥオンリーディング」のようなリズムになります。
lying propped up
- 発音記号: /ˈlaɪ.ɪŋ.prɒpt.ʌp/
- フォニックス表記: ly-ing-propped-up
- 英和辞典の定義: 支えられて寝そべっている。
- 英英辞典の定義: Resting in a reclining position with support.
- 語源: lie（横たわる）+ prop（支える）+ up（上に）。
- 解説: 夫の寝室での怠惰な、しかし優雅な姿勢。物理的に高い位置（ベッドの頭側）にいることで、彼が状況を支配しているかのような心理的な距離感が描かれています。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: /pt/ と /ʌ/ の連続を滑らかに処理します。
pillows
- 発音記号: /ˈpɪl.oʊz/
- フォニックス表記: pil-lows
- 英和辞典の定義: 枕。
- 英英辞典の定義: A rectangular cloth bag stuffed with soft material.
- 語源: ラテン語の「クッション（pulvinus）」に由来。
- 解説: 夫が読書をするために積み重ねたアイテム。快適さを確保するための小道具として登場します。
- リンキングとリダクションのポイント: 語末の /z/ を濁らせ、軽く響かせます。
