Le Petit Chose - BestLightNovel.com
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8. qui depa.s.se, 'overhanging.'
plus . . plus: see note, p. 13 l. 9.
(chapter iv. full=v)
17. que la montagne enserre de partout, 'which is closed in on all sides by the mountains.'
21. tramontane, 'north wind. A term used along the French Mediterranean. It comes from the Italian _tramontana_, 'on the other side the Alps.'
25. place d'armes, 'parade-ground.'
Page 30.
3. imperiale, 'seat behind the driver.' The stage-coach of olden times in France was divided into four compartments-(1) _le coupe_ 'the seat facing the horses,' and hence the most expensive; (2) _l'interieur_, the seat inside'; (3) _la rotonde_, 'the back seat'; (4) _l'imperiale_, a word now used for the top of an omnibus or tramway.
29. pour le quart d'heure, 'at present,' just now.'
M. le princ.i.p.al. 'the headmaster.' In French it is usual to prefix _monsieur, madame, mademoiselle_, etc., when speaking of a person to whom respect is due. Thus _Monsieur votre pere, Madame votre mere_, but of course you would not say _Monsieur mon pere_.
Page 31.
9. Monsieur, 'the young gentleman.'
11. le fait est que: see note, p. 14 l. 31.
14. Veillon l'aine, 'Veillon major.'
30. avant 89: i.e. before the French Revolution of 1789.
Page 32.
6. matela.s.see, 'padded.'
10. tout au fond, 'right at the end.'
22. palotte et seche, 'rather pale and wizen.'
27. pour le coup: see note, p. 5 l. 19.
Page 33.
2. finit par: see note, p. 14 l. 29.
16. surveillant general: the duty of this official is not to teach but to supervise, i.e. to go round the school and see that masters and boys are doing their respective duties.
21. grincaient, 'jingled.' Lit. _grincer_='to grind,'
'gnash.' frinc! 'clink!'
26. s'agiterent, 'rattled.'
28. allons donc! 'nonsense!'
Page 34.
3. veut bien, 'will be kind enough.' Cf. note, p. 12 l. 29.
4. tutelle, 'protection.' _Tuteur, tutrice_='guardian'; 'tutor'=_precepteur_.
8. sa bienveillance m'etait acquise, 'I could certainly rely upon his kindness.'
11. il fallait les entendre, 'you should have heard them.'
avec frenesie, 'frantically.'
15. couchiez: note _coucher_, 'to spend the night'; _se coucher_, 'to go to bed.'
21. le reglement de la maison, 'a copy of the school rules.'
28. un peu de lune, 'a moonbeam.'
29. s'orienter, 'to find one's bearings'; lit. to find out where you are in relation to the 'orient' or 'east' and the other cardinal points.
Page 35.
1. a mes cotes, 'beside me.' See note, p. 11 l. 3.
3. si rapide qu'elle eut ete: note this use of _si . . que_ instead of _quelque . . que_, 'however.' In all such concessive sentences the subjunctive is necessary.
7. lunettes, 'spectacles'; _la lunette_=telescope.'
23. mince affaire, 'easy matter.'
26. disposition, 'disposal,' _not_ 'disposition,' which in French is generally rendered by _le caractere_ or _le naturel_.
29. avait l'air tres bon enfant, 'looked a very good fellow.'
Distinguish-
_il a l'air bon_, 'he looks kind.'
_il a bon air_, 'he looks gentlemanly.'
30. chemin faisant, 'on the way.'
Page 36.
2. cha.s.seurs d'Afrique, 'African light cavalry.'
Cf. note, p. 85 l. 18.
acheva de: trans. by an adverb, 'completely.'
