牛津書蟲系列 小婦人 中英雙語 14

14 Happier days

14 快樂的日子

Christmas Day was very different that year.Beth felt much better and was carried to the window to see the snowman which Jo and Laurie had made.It had a basket of fruit and flowers in one hand and a new piece of music in the other.Laurie ran up and down，bringing in the presents， and Jo sang a funny song.

那年的圣誕節(jié)非同尋常。白絲感覺好多了，她被抬到窗前看瓊和羅瑞堆起的雪人。它一只手拿著一籃水果和鮮花，另一只手拿著一張新歌譜。羅瑞跑上跑下地送來禮物，瓊唱著一首有意思的歌。

'I'm so happy!'laughed Beth，as Jo carried her back to the other room to rest after the fun.'Oh，I do wish that Father was here too!'

“我真高興!”玩樂過后、瓊把白絲抱到另一個房間休息時白絲笑著說。“噢，我真希望爸爸也在這兒!”

Half an hour later，Laurie came to the house and opened the door quietly.'Here's another Christmas present for the March family!'he called out.

半個小時以后，羅瑞來到屋里，靜悄悄地打開門。“這兒有給馬奇一家的另一份圣誕禮物!”他喊道。

He moved away，and in his place appeared a tall man holding the arm of another tall man，who tried to say something but couldn't.

他挪開了，在他的位子上出現(xiàn)了一個高大的男人，他扶著另一個高大的男人，這個人試圖說些什么，但沒有說出來。

'Father!'cried Meg and Jo together-and Mr March disappeared under lots of loving arms and kisses.Mr Brooke kissed Meg-by mistake，as he tried to explain.

“爸爸!”麥格和瓊同聲喊道——然后馬奇先生就沉浸在許多愛的擁抱和親吻中了。布魯克先生吻了麥格——是個誤會，他試圖這樣解釋。

Suddenly， the door to the other room opened， and there was Beth， running straight into her father's arms.There were tears of happiness on many faces before all the excitement died down.Then Mrs March thanked Mr Brooke for taking care ofher husband，and he and Laurie left the family to themselves.

突然，另一個房間的門打開了，是白絲，她徑直奔向了父親的懷抱。興奮消散之前，許多人臉上都淌下了歡樂的眼淚。馬奇太太感謝布魯克先生照顧了她丈夫，然后他和羅瑞就離開了，剩下了一家人在一起。

Mr March and Beth sat in one big armchair， and the others sat around them.'I wanted to surprise you all，and the doctor let Mr Brooke bring me home，'said Mr March.'John has been so good to me.He is an excellent young man.'Mr March looked at Meg， who was staring at the fire， then he smiled at his wife.She smiled back.Jo understood exactly what the smiles were saying， and went out to the kitchen complaining to herself about 'excellent young men with brown eyes!'

馬奇先生和白絲坐在一張大椅子上，其他人圍坐在他們身邊。“我想讓你們所有人都吃一驚，醫(yī)生讓布魯克先生帶我回家了，”馬奇先生說。“約翰一直對我很好。他是個很出色的人。”馬奇先生看了看麥格，她正盯著爐火，于是他對妻子笑了笑。她也笑了。瓊十分明白這微笑的含義，她走出來往廚房去，一邊對自己抱怨著那“有著出色的棕色眼睛的年輕人”。

There never was a Christmas dinner like the one they had that day. Mr Laurence and his grandson ate with them， and so did Mr Brooke.Jo gave the tutor many black looks and would not speak to him， which amused Laurie.

往年的圣誕節(jié)晚餐從來都沒有像他們那天吃過的那樣。勞倫斯先生和他的孫子同他們一起吃的飯，布魯克先生也去了。瓊給了這位家庭教師許多的白眼，不肯跟他講話，這讓羅瑞覺得很有意思。

The guests left early and the happy family sat together around the fire.

客人們很早就離開了，快樂的一家圍坐在爐火邊。

'A year ago we were complaining about the awful Christmas we expected to have，do you remember?'said Jo.

“一年以前我們曾抱怨我們將要度過的那個糟糕的圣誕節(jié)，你們還記得嗎?”瓊說。

'It's been quite a good year，'said Meg， thinking about Mr Brooke.

“這一年真好，”麥格說道，心里想著布魯克先生。

'I think it's been a hard one，'said Amy.

“我覺得這一年過得很艱辛，”艾米說。

'I'm glad it's over， because we've got Father back，'whispered Beth，who was sitting on his knee.

“我很高興它終于結(jié)束了，因?yàn)楦赣H回來了，”白絲輕聲說，她坐在他的膝頭。

'I've discovered several things about you young ladies today，'said Mr March.

“今天我發(fā)現(xiàn)了你們這些年輕姑娘的一些事。”馬奇先生說。

'Oh，tell us what they are!'cried Meg.

“噢，告訴我們是什么?”麥格喊道。

'Here's one，'he said， taking her hand. It had a small burnon the back and two or three little hard places on the front.'I remember when this hand was white and smooth.It was pretty then， but to me it's much prettier now.I'm proud of this hard-working hand，Meg.'

“這兒有一個，”他說，說著拿起她的手。那手背上有一小塊燙痕，手心上有兩三塊硬塊。“我記得這手曾經(jīng)又白又嫩。它那時很美，可對我來說它現(xiàn)在更美，我為這雙勞動的手而感到驕傲，麥格。”

'What about Jo?'whispered Beth.'She's tried so hard，and has been very， very good to me.'

“瓊怎么樣?”白絲輕聲問道。“她那么努力，還對我非常非常好。”

He smiled and looked at Jo sitting opposite.'Her hair maybe short，but I see a young lady now. Her face is thin and white from worrying， but it has grown gentler.Perhaps I'll miss my wild girl，but I'm sure I'll love the warm-hearted woman who has taken her place.'

他笑了笑，看著坐在對面的瓊。“她的頭發(fā)可能是短了些，可我現(xiàn)在看到了一位年輕的淑女。她的臉削瘦，因?yàn)榻箲]而蒼白，可它變得更溫柔了。也許我會想念我那個愛瘋跑的孩子，可我肯定會愛這個取而代之的熱心的婦人。”

Jo's face was red in the firelight as she listened.

瓊聽著，臉色在火光中變紅了。

'Now Beth，'said Amy.

“該說白絲了，”艾米說。

'She's not as shy as she used to be，'said her father lovingly，and he held Beth close when he remembered how near they had come to losing her. Then he looked down at Amy by his feet.'I've noticed today that Amy has helped everyone patiently and with a smile.She's learned to think more about other people，and less about herself.'

“她不像從前那么害羞了，”她的父親充滿愛意地說，當(dāng)他想起他們差點(diǎn)失去她時，他把白絲摟得很緊。然后他看了看坐在他腳邊的艾米。“我今天注意到艾米耐心地、面帶微笑地幫助每個人。她已經(jīng)學(xué)會了多為別人著想，少想些自己。”

Beth moved out of her father's arms and went to the piano.She touched the keys softly and began to sing.Soon， the others joined her in a happy Christmas song.

白絲從父親懷里下來，來到鋼琴旁邊。她輕輕地觸動了琴鍵，開始唱歌。不久，其他人就跟她一起唱起了一支圣誕歌。

The next afternoon，Jo and Meg were sitting at the window when Laurie went by. When he saw Meg， he fell on one knee in the snow， beat his chest， and put out his arms towards her.When Meg told him to go away，he pretended to cry before walking away looking miserable.

第二天下午，瓊和麥格正坐在窗邊時，羅瑞正好路過。當(dāng)他看見麥格的時候，他單膝跪倒在雪地里，捶打自己的胸口，并向她伸出雙臂。當(dāng)麥格告訴他走開時，他假裝哭泣，然后面帶痛苦地走了。

Meg laughed.'What was he doing?'she said.

麥格笑了。“他在干什么?”她問。

'He was showing you how your John will act，'answered Jo，crossly.

“他在向你演示你的約翰會對你怎么樣。”瓊面帶怒氣地說。

'Don't say my John，it isn't right.'But Meg said the words again silently inside her head.

“別說'我的約翰'，這不對，”可麥格在腦海里默默地又重復(fù)了那句話。

'If he asks yon to marry him，you'll cry or look stupid，in-stead of saying a loud No，'said Jo.

“如果他讓你嫁給他，你會哭，或者看上去很蠢，而不會大聲說不。”瓊說。

'No，I won't，'said Meg.'I'll say，“Thank you，Mr Brooke，you are very kind，but I am too young to marry you.Please let us be friends，as we were.”'

“不，我不會的，”麥格說。“我會說，'謝謝你，布魯克先生，你很好，可我太年輕了，不能嫁給你。讓我們做朋友吧，就像從前那樣。'”

'I don't believe it，'said Jo.

“我不相信，”瓊說。

'It's true.Then I'll walk out of the room with my head high.'Meg got up and pretended to do it-but ran back to her seat when she heard someone knock on the door.

“是真的。我會高高地抬起頭走出房間。”麥格站起來假裝那樣做——可當(dāng)她聽到有人敲門時她就跑回了座位。

Jo opened it with an angry look.

瓊帶著怒容打開了門。

'Good afternoon，'said Mr Brooke.'I came to get my umbrella，which I left behind yesterday.'

“下午好，”布魯克先生說。“我來取我的傘，我昨天落在這兒了。”

'I'll get it，'said Jo，pushing past him.'Now Meg can tell him，'she thought.

“我去拿來，”瓊說，趕快走過他。“現(xiàn)在麥格可以跟他講了。”她想。

But Meg was moving to the door.'I expect Mother will want to see you，'she said.'I'll call her.'

可麥格正朝門走過來。“我想媽媽一定想見你，”她說。“我去叫她。”

'Don't go，'he said.'Are you afraid of me，Meg?''How can I be afraid when you've been so kind to Father，said Meg.'I wish I could thank you for it.''You can，'he said. And he took Meg's small hand in his and looked at her lovingly.

“別走，”他說。“你是不是怕我，麥格?”“你對父親這么好，我怎么會怕你呢，”麥格說。“我想我要為此感謝你。”“你可以，”他說。他把麥格的小手放在他的手里，面帶愛意。

'Oh，please don't，'she said，looking frightened.

“噢，請別這樣，”她說，面帶懼色。

'I only want to know if you love me a little，Meg，'he said gently.'I love you so much.'

“我想知道你是不是愛我一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)，麥格，”他溫柔地說，“我太愛你了。”

This was the moment to repeat the words she had told Jo，but Meg forgot them all.'I don't know，'she said，so softly that John had to move closer to hear her reply.

此時正是她重復(fù)她剛才跟瓊講的話之時，可麥格把它們都忘了。“我不知道，”她說，她的聲音太輕，以至于約翰得湊得更近一些，才能聽見她的回答。

He smiled gratefully.'Will you try to find out?'

他感激地笑了。“你會試著弄明白嗎?”

'I'm too young，'she said， hesitating but feeling her heart beating rather fast.

“我太年輕了，”她猶豫不決地說，可她感到自己的心跳得非?？?。

'I'll wait while you learn to like me，'he said.'Will it be very difficult?'

“我會等著你學(xué)會喜歡我，”他說。“那會很困難嗎?”

'Not if I choose to learn，'she said.

“如果我選擇學(xué)就不難，”她說。

'Please choose，Meg.I love to teach，and this is easier than German，'said John， taking her other hand.

“那你就選擇學(xué)吧，麥格，我喜歡教你，教這個比教德語容易，”約翰說著把她的另一只手也拿起來。

She looked at him and saw that he was smiling.He seemed so sure of success that Meg became a little annoyed.She felt excited and strange，and taking her hands away from his， she said，' I don't choose.Please go away!'

她看看他，見到他在微笑。他看上去必勝的樣子使麥格感到有些生氣。她感到激動和陌生，把她的手從他的手里抽回，她說：“我不選擇。請走吧!”

Poor Mr Brooke looked shocked.'Do you mean that?'

可憐的布魯克先生看上去很震驚。“你是當(dāng)真?”

'Yes，'she said，rather enjoying the game she was playing.'I don't want to think about these things. It's to soon.''I'll wait until you've had more time，'he said，and looked so unhappy that Meg began to feel sorry for him.

“是的，”她說，對她玩的游戲感覺很有意思。“我不想想這些事。這來得太快了。”“我會等到你有更多的時間，”他說。他看上去那么不開心，麥格開始為他感到難過。

It was at this moment that Aunt March came in.She hadcome to see Mr March and was hoping to surprise the family.She did surprise two of them.Meg，with her face bright red，just stared at her aunt，while Mr Brooke hurried into another room.

正在這時，馬奇姑媽走了進(jìn)來。她來看馬奇先生，希望使這家人大吃一驚。她確實(shí)使這兩人吃了一驚。麥格臉漲得通紅，只是瞪著她的姑媽，而布魯克先生則趕緊走進(jìn)了另一個房間。

'Goodness me， what's all this?'cried Aunt March.'It's Father's friend，said Meg hurriedly.'I'm so surprised to see you，Aunt March.'

“天哪，這都是怎么回事?”馬奇姑媽喊道。“是爸爸的朋友，”麥格很快地說，“看見您真讓我吃驚，馬奇姑媽。”

'I can see that，'said Aunt March，sitting down.'What has he said to make your face turn pink?'

“我看得出來，”馬奇姑媽說，邊說邊坐下來。“他說了些什么，讓你的臉變紅了?”

'Mr Brooke and I were just…talking，'said Meg.

“布魯克先生和我只是在……談話。”麥格說。

'Brooke?The boy's tutor?I understand now.I know all about it because I made Jo tell me.You haven't promised to marry him，have you，Meg?If you have，you won't get one bit of my money，do you hear?'

“布魯克?那男孩的家庭教師?我現(xiàn)在明白了。我知道所有的一切，因?yàn)槲易尛偢嬖V我了。你沒答應(yīng)嫁給他，是吧，麥格?如果你答應(yīng)了，你就不會從我這兒得到一點(diǎn)錢了，聽到了嗎?”

It was exactly the wrong thing to say.When Meg was ordered not to marry John Brooke，she immediately decided that She would.'I'll marry whoever I want to，Aunt March，and you can give your money to anyone you like!'she said.'You'll be sorry!'said Aunt March.'Why don't you mar-ry a rich man to help your family?'

那話恰恰說得不對。當(dāng)麥格被命令不許嫁給約翰·布魯克時，她立即決定她要嫁給他。“我想嫁給誰就嫁給誰，馬奇姑媽，你可以把你的錢給任何你喜歡的人!”她說。“你會后悔的!”馬奇姑媽說。“你為什么不嫁給一個富人，幫幫你的家人?”

'Father and Mother like John，although he's poor，'said Meg.

“爸爸和媽媽喜歡約翰，雖然他窮。”麥格說。

'Be sensible，Meg，'said her aunt.'He knows I have money，and that's why he likes you，I suspect.'

“理智點(diǎn)，麥格，”她的姑媽說，“他知道我有錢，我懷疑他正是為此而喜歡你。”

'Don't say that!'said Meg.'My John wouldn't marry for money any more than I would!We'll work and wait，and I'll132be happy with him because he loves me，and Meg stopped as she remembered that she had told'her John'to go away.

“不許那么說，”麥格說。“我的約翰不會為錢而結(jié)婚，我也不會!我們會工作，會等待，我和他在一起會感覺很幸福，因?yàn)樗麗畚?，還有——”麥格停了下來，因?yàn)樗肫鹚呀?jīng)告訴“她的約翰”走開了。

Aunt March was very angry.'Just don't expect anything from me when you are married!'she said.And she went out of the room，banging the door behind her.

馬奇姑媽非常生氣。“等你結(jié)婚時別想從我這兒得到任何東西!”她說，然后摔門而去。

Meg didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Before she could decide，Mr Brooke came back in from the next room and puthis arms around her.'Oh Meg，I could hear your voices，'he said.'Thank you for proving that you do love me a little.''I didn't know how much until she said those things about you，'said Meg.

麥格不知道該笑還是該哭。在她做出決定之前，布魯克先生從隔壁房間走回來，用雙臂摟住她。“噢，麥格，我能聽到你的聲音，”他說。“謝謝你證明了你確實(shí)有一點(diǎn)愛我。”“在她說那些關(guān)于你的話之前我不知道有多少，”麥格說。

'So I can stay， and be happy?' he said.

“那么我能留下來高興高興了?”他說。

'Yes，John，'she whispered，and hid her face on John's chest.

“是的，約翰，”她輕聲說，將她的臉埋在約翰胸前。

Jo returned and found them like that.Meg jumped and turned round，but John Brooke laughed and kissed the shocked Jo，saying，'Sister Jo.Wish us luck!'

瓊回來了，發(fā)現(xiàn)他們在那樣。麥格跳起來轉(zhuǎn)過身，可約翰·布魯克笑了，他吻了吻受了驚嚇的瓊，說：“瓊妹妹，祝我們好運(yùn)吧!”

Jo ran upstairs to find her parents.'Go down quickly!'she said.'John Brooke is behaving terribly and Meg likes it!'Mr and Mrs March left the room in a hurry，while Jo threw herself on the bed and told the awful news to Beth and Amy.But the little girls thought it was all most interesting and delightful.

瓊跑上樓找到她的父母。“快下樓去!”她說，“約翰·布魯克表現(xiàn)很不好，麥格卻很喜歡!”馬奇先生和馬奇太太趕緊離開了房間，瓊撲倒在床上，又把這糟糕的消息告訴了白絲和艾米?？尚∨冇X得這很是有趣和令人高興。

Nobody knew what was said that afternoon，but a lot of talking was done. The quiet Mr Brooke managed to persuadehis friends that his plans were good and sensible，then he proudly took Meg in to supper.Everyone looked so happy that Jo tried to look pleased too.

沒人知道那天下午都有些什么談話，可大家談了許多。文靜的布魯克先生成功地說服了他的朋友，他的計(jì)劃是很好的，有理智的，然后他驕傲地把麥格帶進(jìn)來吃晚飯。每個人看上去都很高興，瓊也盡力看上去很高興。

After supper， Laurie arrived with some flowers for'Mrs John Brooke'，then he followed Jo into the corner of the room while the others went to welcome old Mr Laurence.

晚飯后，羅瑞帶著給“約翰·布魯克太太”的鮮花來了。當(dāng)其他人去迎接勞倫斯先生的時候，他跟著瓊來到屋子的一個角落。

'What's the matter，Jo?' said Laurie.'You don't look very happy.'

“出什么事了，瓊?”羅瑞說。“你看上去不太高興。”

'Nothing will ever be the same again，'said Jo sadly.'I've lost my dearest friend.'

“一切都跟從前不再相同了，”瓊悲傷地說。“我失去了最好的朋友。”

'You've got me，'said Laurie.'I'm not good for much，but I promise I'll always be your friend，Jo.'

“你有我呢，”羅瑞說。“我不一定很好，可我發(fā)誓我會永遠(yuǎn)是你的朋友，瓊。”

'I know you will，'answered Jo，gratefully.

“我知道你會的，”瓊感激地說。

'Then don't be sad，'he said.'I'll be back from college in three years time， and then we'll go abroad，or on a nice trip somewhere.Wouldn't that cheer you up?'

“那別傷心了，”他說。“我三年之后就會大學(xué)畢業(yè)，然后我們就出國，或者去什么地方好好旅行一番。那會讓你高興一點(diǎn)嗎?”

'Anything can happen in three years，'said Jo.

“三年里什么都會發(fā)生，”瓊說。

'That's true，'said Laurie.'Don't you wish you knew what was going to happen?'

“是的，”羅瑞說。“你希望知道將會發(fā)生什么嗎?”

'I don't think so，'said Jo.'It may be something sad，and everyone looks so happy now.'As she spoke，she looked round the room，and her face brightened at the sight.

“我不希望，”瓊說。“可能會是傷心的事，現(xiàn)在每個人看上去都很高興。”當(dāng)她說這話時，她環(huán)顧屋內(nèi)，她看到的景象使她高興起來。

Father and Mother sat happily together.Amy was drawing a picture of Meg and John， who were looking lovingly at each other.Beth lay on the floor，talking to her old friend，Mr Laurence.Jo sat in her favourite chair with a serious，quietlook on her face . Laurie smiled at her in the long mirror that was opposite them both . And Jo smiled back.

爸爸和媽媽快樂地坐在一起。艾米在為麥格和約翰畫畫，那兩個人相互愛戀地對望著。白絲躺在地板上和她的老朋友勞倫斯先生聊天。瓊在她最喜歡的椅子上坐下，面帶嚴(yán)肅安靜的表情。羅瑞從他們對面的長鏡中對她微笑，瓊也朝他微笑。