‘Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,’ grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.
“没有任何礼物的圣诞节就不是圣诞节，”乔躺在地毯上抱怨道。

‘It’s so dreadful to be poor!’ sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.
“穷真是太可怕了！”梅格叹了口气，看着她的旧裙子。

‘I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,’ added little Amy, with an injured sniff.
“我不认为这对有些女孩拥有漂亮的东西，而其他女孩一无所有是公平的。”小艾米委屈地嗅了嗅。

‘We’ve got father and mother and each other,’ said Beth, contentedly, from her corner.
“我们有爸爸和妈妈，还有彼此。”贝丝从她的角落里满足地说道。

The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly:
火光映照下的四张年轻的脸在这快乐的话语下变得光彩熠熠，但在乔悲伤地说道之后又变暗了。

‘We haven’t got father, and shall not have him for a long time.’ She didn’t say ‘perhaps never’, but each silently added it, thinking of father far away, where the fighting was.
“我们没有爸爸了，而且很长一段时间都不会有他。”她没有说“也许永远不会有”，但每个人心里都默默加入了这句话，想着远在战场上的爸爸。

Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone:
大家沉默了一分钟，然后梅格用一种不同的语气说道：

‘You know the reason mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for everyone; —
“你们知道，妈妈提议不在这个圣诞节上准备任何礼物，是因为这将是对每个人来说都将是一个严冬。” —

and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure when our men are suffering so in the army. —
“而且她认为，当我们的男人在部队受苦时，我们不应该为了消遣而花钱。” —

We can’t do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. —
我们能做的事情不多，但我们可以做出一点点牺牲，并且应该乐意去做。 —

But I am afraid I don’t’; —
但是我担心我不会… —

and Meg shook her head, and she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted.
梅格摇了摇头，她惋惜地想起自己想要的漂亮东西。

‘But I don’t think the little we should spend would do any good. —
“但我认为我们花出去的那一点钱不会有任何帮助。 —

We’ve each got a dollar, and the army wouldn’t be much helped by our giving that. —
我们每个人都有一美元，我们把它给了军队也不会有太大帮助。 —

I agree not to expect anything from mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintram for myself; —
我同意不再寄望于妈妈或你们，但我真的想给自己买那本《乌汀和辛特拉姆》。 —

I’ve wanted it so long,’ said Jo, who was a bookworm.
我一直想要那本书，”书呆子”乔说道。

‘I planned to spend mine on new music,’ said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth-brush and kettle-holder.
“我计划用我的钱买新音乐，” 贝丝轻声叹息道，只有炉刷和壶夹听得见。

‘I shall get a nice box of Faber’s drawing pencils; —
“我会买一盒好用的法伯画笔， —

I really need them,’ said Amy, decidedly.
我真的需要它们，”艾米坚定地说道。

‘Mother didn’t say anything about our money, and she won’t wish us to give up everything. —
“妈妈没有提及我们的钱，她也不会希望我们放弃一切。 —

Let’s each buy what we want, and have a little fun; —
我们每个人都买自己想要的东西，好好玩乐； —

I’m sure we work hard enough to earn it,’ cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner.
我确信我们工作已经足够辛苦来赚取它，” 乔以一位绅士的方式检查着鞋跟。

‘I know I do - teaching those tiresome children nearly all day when I am longing to enjoy myself at home,’ began Meg, in the complaining tone again.
“我知道，当我渴望在家里享受的时候，我却要整天教这些令人厌烦的孩子们，” 梅格再次以抱怨的语调开始说道。

‘You don’t have half such a hard time as I do,’ said Jo. ‘How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotting, is never satisfied, and worries you till you’re ready to fly out of the window or cry?’
“你的处境可没有我这么艰难，”乔说道。 “你要是被关在屋子里几个小时，陪着一个神经兮兮、易怒的老太太，她总是让你忙来忙去，永远满意不了，催你到站点要么让你准备好逃离窗外，要么哭出声来，你会怎么样？”

‘It’s naughty to fret; but I do think washing dishes and keeping things tidy is the worst work in the world. —
“抱怨会被认为是调皮的，但我觉得洗碗和保持屋子整洁是世界上最糟糕的工作。 —

It makes me cross; —
这让我发脾气；” —

and my hands get so stiff, I can’t practice well at all’; —
“我的手会变得僵硬，我就完全不能好好练习了。” —

and Beth looked at her rough hands with a sigh that anyone could hear that time.
贝丝看着她粗糙的双手叹了口气，那次任何人都能听到。

‘I don’t believe any of you suffer as I do.’ cried Amy; —
“我不相信你们有任何人像我一样遭受痛苦。” —

‘for you don’t have to go to school with impertinent girls, who plague you if you don’t know your lessons, and laugh at your dresses, and label your father if he isn’t rich, and insult you when your nose isn’t nice.’
艾米喊道；” 因为你们不用和无礼的女孩一起上学，她们如果你不会功课就捉弄你、嘲笑你的裙子、嘲弄你的父亲如果他不富有、当你的鼻子不漂亮时侮辱你。”

‘If you mean libel, I’d say so, and not talk about labels, as if papa was a pickle-bottle,’ advised Jo, laughing.
“如果你是指诽谤，我会这么说，而不是谈论标签，就好像爸爸是一个泡菜瓶子一样，” 乔嘲笑道。

‘I know what I mean, and you needn’t be satirical about it. —
“我知道我是什么意思，你不必讽刺。 —

It’s proper to use good words, and improve your vocabulary,’ returned Amy, with dignity.
使用好词汇是正确的，可以提高你的词汇量，” 艾米带着尊严回答道。

‘Don’t peck at one another, children. —
“孩子们不要互相吵架。乔， —

Don’t you wish we had the money papa lost when we were little, Jo? Dear me! —
你不是否希望我们小时候爸爸丢失的钱还在呢？天哪！ —

how happy and good we’d be, if we had no worries!’ said Meg, who could remember better times.
如果没有烦恼，我们会多么幸福和善良！”梅格说道，她能记得更好的时光。

‘You said, the other day, you thought we were a deal happier than the King children, for they were fighting and fretting all the time, in spite of their money.’
“你之前说过，你认为我们比国王的孩子们更快乐，因为尽管他们有钱，他们却经常争吵和发脾气。”

‘So I did, Beth. Well, I think we are; for, though we do have to work, we make fun for ourselves, and are a pretty jolly set, as Jo would say.’
“我也这么认为，贝丝。啊，我觉得我们是的；虽然我们必须工作，但我们可以自己找乐子，我们是一个相当快乐的团队，就像乔会说的那样。”

‘Jo does use such slang words!’ observed Amy, with a reproving look at the long figure stretched on the rug. —
“乔用了那么多俚语！”，艾米说着，责备地看着躺在地毯上的高个子。 —

Jo immediately sat up, put her hands in her pockets, and began to whistle.
乔立刻坐起来，把手放进口袋里，开始吹口哨。

‘Don’t, Jo; it’s so boyish!’
“别这样，乔，那么像个男孩子！”，艾米说道。

‘That’s why I do it.’
“这就是为什么我这么做的。”

‘I detest rude, unlady-like girls!’
“我讨厌粗鲁、不像个淑女的女孩！”

‘I hate affected, niminy-piminy chits!’
“我讨厌做作、娇嗔小女生！”

‘Birds in their little nests agree’ sang Beth, the peace maker, with such a funny face that both sharp voice softened to a laugh, and the ‘pecking’ ended for that time.
“小鸟在小窝里快乐地相处。”白丝帽的贝丝唱着，那尖利的声音带着有趣的表情变成了笑声，而“争吵”在那一刻结束了。

‘Really, girls, you are both to be blamed,’ said Meg, beginning to lecture in her elder-sisterly fashion. —
“真的，姑娘们，你们两个都要负责任，”梅格开始以她长姐般的方式进行训诫。 —

‘You are old enough to leave off boyish tricks, and to behave better Josephine. —
“你已经长大了，应该戒掉男孩子的把戏，表现得更好一些，约瑟芬。” —

It didn’t matter so much when you were a little girl; —
“不过你还小的时候也不是很重要， —

but now you are so tall, and turn up your hair, you should remember that you are a young lady.’
但是现在你这么高，留起发来，应该记住自己是个年轻淑女。”

‘I’m not! and if turning up my hair mikes me one, I’ll wear it in two tails till I’m twenty.’ cried Jo, pulling off he net, and shaking down her chestnut mane. —
“我才不是呢！如果留起发让我变得像一个，那我就把头发分成两束到我二十岁。”约翰尼把网脱下来，摇下她的栗色秀发，大喊道。 —

‘I hate to think I’ve got to grow up, and he Miss March and wear long gowns, and look as prim as a China-aster! —
“我讨厌想到我必须长大，成为马奇小姐，穿长袍子，看上去跟牵牛花一样庄重！” —

It’s bad enough to be a girl, anyway, when I like boys’ games and work an manners! —
就算只是个女孩，喜欢男孩的游戏和有礼貌也不算坏。 —

I can’t get over my disappointment in not being boy; —
但是我无法克服对自己不是个男孩的失望。 —

and it’s worse than ever now, for I’m dying to go and fight with papa, and I can only stay at home and knit, like a poky old woman!’ And Jo shook the blue army sock till the needles rattled like castanets, and her ball bounded across the room.
现在比以往任何时候都更糟，因为我渴望与父亲一起战斗，但我只能待在家里织毛衣，就像一个无聊的老太太！乔把蓝色的军用袜子摇晃得像两块打击乐器一样，她的线球跳过整个房间。

‘Poor Jo! It’s too had, hut It can’t he helped; —
“可怜的乔！太糟糕了，但是没办法； —

so you must try to be contented with making your name boyish, and playing brother to us girls,’ said Beth, stroking the rough head at her knee with a hand that all the dish-washing and dusting in the world could not make ungentle in it touch.
所以你必须努力满足于让你的名字看起来像男孩的名字，给我们女孩当个兄弟。” 白丝边轻轻地拍动着她膝盖上粗糙的头发，她的手不管怎么洗碗擦灰，都带着一种温柔的触感。

‘As for you, Amy,’ continued Meg, ‘you are altogether too particular and prim. Your airs are funny now; —
“至于你，艾米，你太过挑剔和拘谨了。现在你的架子还好笑，但如果你不注意，长大后就会变成一个做作的小傻瓜。” —

but you’ll grow up an affected little goose, if you don’t take care.
梅格继续说：”我喜欢你有礼貌和讲 refined ways of speaking 的时候，但你那些荒谬的话和乔的俚语一样糟糕。”

‘I like your nice manners and refined ways of speaking when you don’t try to he elegant; —
“你们俩都太好了！”梅格说完， —

but your absurd words are as bad as Jo’s slang.’
扮了一个鬼脸。

‘If Jo is a tomboy and Amy a goose, what am I, please?’ asked Beth, ready to share the lecture.
“我是什么，请问？”贝丝问道，准备分享演讲内容。

‘You’re a dear, and nothing else,’ answered Meg, warmly; —
梅格热情地回答道：“你是我们的亲爱之物， —

and no one contradicted her, for the ‘Mouse’ was the pet of the family.
别无他物。”没有人反驳她，因为“小老鼠”是家里的宠物。

As young readers like to know ‘how people look’, we will take this moment to give them a little sketch of the four sisters, who sat knitting away in the twilight, while the December snow fell quietly without, and the fire crackled cheerfully within. —
由于年轻的读者喜欢了解“人们的长相”，我们趁此机会为他们简要介绍一下四个姐妹。他们坐在暮色中边编织着，十二月的雪静悄悄地落下，火炉里欢快地噼啪作响。 —

It was a comfortable old room, though the carpet was faded and the furniture very plain; —
这是一个舒适的旧房间，虽然地毯已经褪色，家具也很朴素。 —

for a good picture or two hung on the walls, books filled the recesses, chrysanthemums and Christmas roses bloomed in the windows, and a pleasant atmosphere of home-peace pervaded it.
墙上挂着几幅不错的画，书填满了墙壁上的凹处，窗台上盛开着菊花和圣诞玫瑰，一种愉快的家庭和平的氛围弥漫在室内。

Margaret, the eldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft, brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which she was rather vain. —
四姐妹中最大的玛格丽特今年十六岁，非常漂亮，她长得丰满而白皙，有着一双大眼睛，浓密的棕色头发，甜美的嘴唇和白皙的手，她对自己的手颇为自豪。 —

Fifteen-year-old Jo was very tall, thin, and brown, and reminded one of a colt; —
十五岁的乔非常高、瘦、棕色，让人想起小马； —

for she never seemed to know what to do with her long limbs, which were very much in her way. —
因为她似乎永远不知道该怎么处理她那又长又碍事的四肢。 —

She had a decided mouth, a comical nose, and sharp, grey eyes, which appeared to see everything, and were by turns fierce, funny, or thoughtful. —
她有一张独特的嘴巴，一个滑稽的鼻子，和锐利的灰色眼睛，似乎可以看到一切，时而凶猛，时而滑稽，时而认真。 —

Her long, thick hair was her one beauty; —
她的长长的、浓密的头发是她唯一的美丽； —

but it was usually bundled in a net, to be out of her way. —
但通常都扎在发网里，以避免妨碍她。 —

Round shoulders had Jo, big hands and feet, a fly-away look to her clothes, and the uncomfortable appearance of a girl who was rapidly shooting up into a woman, and didn’t like it. —
乔有着圆圆的肩膀，大大的手和脚，衣服看起来有些蓬乱，她给人一种不舒服的感觉，好像一个正在迅速发展成女人并不喜欢的姑娘。 —

Elizabeth - or Beth, as everyone called her - was a rosy, smooth-haired, bright-eyed girl of thirteen, with a shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression, which was seldom disturbed. —
伊丽莎白 - 或者大家都叫她贝丝 - 是一个脸色红润、头发光滑、眼睛明亮的十三岁女孩，她的举止害羞，声音怯怯的，面带和平的表情，很少受到打扰。 —

Her father called her ‘Little Tranquillity’, and the name suited her excellently; —
她的父亲称她为“小安宁”，这个名字很适合她。 —

for she seemed to live in a happy world of her own, only venturing out to meet the few whom she trusted and loved. —
因为她似乎生活在自己幸福的世界里，只在遇到少数她信任和爱的人时才会冒险外出。 —

Amy, though the youngest, was a most important person - -in her own opinion at least. —
艾米，虽然最小，但至少在她自己看来是最重要的人。 —

A regular snow-maiden, with blue eyes, and yellow hair, curling on her shoulders, pale and slender, and always carrying herself like a young lady mindful of her manners. —
她是一个常见的雪女，蓝眼睛，金色的卷发垂在肩上，苍白修长，总是像一个小姐一样注重自己的举止。 —

What the characters of the four sisters were we will leave to he found out.
四个姐妹的性格我们就不详细介绍了，读者可以自己发现。

The clock struck six; and, having swept up the hearth, Beth put a pair of slippers down to warm. —
钟敲六下；贝丝清扫了壁炉，放了一双拖鞋来取暖。 —

Somehow the sight of the old shoes had a good effect upon the girls; —
不知怎么回事，那双旧鞋的样子让女孩们心情好起来了； —

for mother was coming, and everyone brightened to welcome her. —
因为妈妈要来了，大家都变得开心起来。 —

Meg stopped lecturing, and lighted the lamp, Amy got out of the easy-chair without being asked, and Jo forgot how tired she was as she sat up to hold the slippers nearer to the blaze.
梅格停止了说教，并点燃了灯，艾米甚至不用别人说她也站起来离开了舒适的椅子，乔忘记了自己有多累，只因为她坐起身子把拖鞋靠近炉火。

‘They are quite worn out; Marmee must have a new pair.’
“它们已经磨损了，玛米需要一双新的。”

‘I thought I’d get her some with my dollar,’ said Beth.
“我想用我的一美元给她买一双，”贝丝说。

‘No, I shall!’ cried Amy.
“不行，我要!” 阿米大声喊道。

‘I’m the oldest,’ began Meg, hut Jo cut in with a decided:
“我是最大的,” 梅格开始说，但是乔断然插嘴道:

‘I’m the man of the family now papa is away, and I shall provide the slippers, for he told me to take special care of mother while he was gone.’
“爸爸不在，现在家里只有我一个男人了，他让我在他离开的时候照顾好妈妈，所以我要为她准备一双拖鞋。”

‘I’ll tell you what we’ll do,’ said Beth; —
贝丝说：“我告诉你们我们该怎么办吧。 —

‘let’s each get her something for Christmas, and not get anything for ourselves.’
我们每个人都给妈妈准备一份礼物，不给自己买东西。”

‘That’s like you, dear! What will we get?’ exclaimed Jo. Everyone thought soberly for a minute; —
“你真是个好孩子！那我们给她买什么？”乔兴奋地问道。大家静静地思考了一分钟； —

then Meg announced as if the idea was suggested by the sight of her own pretty hands, ‘I shall give her a nice pair of gloves.’
接着梅格说，好像她自己漂亮的手推荐了这个想法， “我要送她一双漂亮的手套。”

‘Army shoes, best to be had,’ cried Jo.
“军靴，最好的那种，”乔叫道。

‘Some handkerchiefs, all hemmed,’ said Beth.
贝丝说：“一些已经缝边的手帕。”

‘I’ll get a little bottle of cologne; she likes it, and it won’t cost much, so I’ll have some left to buy my pencils,’ added Amy.
“我要买一小瓶香水；她喜欢的，而且不会太贵，所以我还有剩下的可以用来买铅笔，”阿米补充道。

‘How will we give the things?’ asked Meg.
“我们怎么给她东西？”梅格问道。

‘Put them on the table, and bring her in and see her open the bundles. —
“把它们放在桌子上，然后把她带进来，看她打开包裹。 —

Don’t you remember how we used to do on our birthdays?’ answered Jo.
你难道不记得我们过生日时是怎么做的吗？”乔回答道。

‘I used to be so frightened when it was my turn to sit in the big chair with the crown on, and see you all come marching round to give the presents, with a kiss. —
‘当轮到我坐在带皇冠的大椅子上，看着你们团团走来送礼物和亲吻时，我曾经非常害怕。’ —

I liked the things and the kisses, but it was dreadful to have you sit looking at me while I opened the bundles,’ said Beth, who was toasting her face and the bread for tea, at the same time.
“我喜欢礼物和亲吻，但是当我打开包裹时，你们坐在那里看着我真的很可怕。” 贝丝一边烤面包一边烤脸，为茶准备晚餐。

‘Let Marmee think we are getting things for ourselves, and then surprise her. We must go shopping tomorrow afternoon, Meg; —
‘让妈妈认为我们是自己买东西，然后给她一个惊喜。我们明天下午去购物，梅格； —

there is so much to do about the play for Christmas night,’ said Jo, marching up and down, with her hands behind her back and her nose in the air.
关于圣诞节晚上的表演还有很多事情要做，’ 乔边走边来回踱步，双手放在背后，鼻子朝天。

‘I don’t mean to act any more after this time; —
‘我以后不打算再演了；我已经太老了， —

I’m getting too old for such things,’ observed Meg, who was as much a child as ever about ‘dressing-up’ frolics.
不适合这种事情了，’梅格说道，对于‘装扮’游戏还是像个孩子一样。

‘You won’t stop, I know, as long as you can trail round in a white gown with your hair down, and wear gold-paper jewellery. —
‘我知道只要你能穿着白色长袍，散着头发，戴着金纸珠宝在周围晃悠，你就不会停下来。’ —

You are the best actress we’ve got, and there’ll be an end of everything if you quit the boards,’ said Jo. ‘We ought to rehearse tonight. —
“你是我们最好的女演员，如果你退出演出，一切都将结束。”乔说。“我们应该今晚排练。” —

Come here, Amy, and do the fainting scene, for you are as stiff as a poker in that.’
“来这里，艾米，演那个晕倒的场景，因为你现在僵硬得像个扑克牌一样。”

‘I can’t help it; I never saw anyone faint, and I don’t choose to make myself all black and blue, tumbling flat as you do. —
“我没办法，我从来没见过有人晕倒，而且我也不想把自己弄得青一块紫一块地摔倒那样。” —

If I can go down easily, I’ll drop: if I can’t, I shall fall into a chair and be graceful; —
“如果我能轻松地下去，我会摔倒的；如果不能，我会坐在椅子上展示优雅的。” —

I don’t care if Hugo does come at me with a pistol,’ returned Amy, who was not gifted with dramatic power but was chosen because she was small enough to be borne out shrieking by the villain of the piece.
“我不在乎雨果会拿着枪对着我。”艾米回答道，她的戏剧天赋不高，但之所以选她是因为她身材比较小，足够被这个故事中的坏人抱起尖叫着拖走。

‘Do it this way; clasp your hands so, and stagger across the room, crying frantically, “Roderigo! —
“用这种方式做，双手紧紧地抱着这样，摇摇晃晃地穿过房间，歇斯底里地喊道，‘罗德里戈！救救我！ —

save me! save me!” ’ and away went Jo, with a melodramatic scream which was truly thrilling. —
救救我！’”乔接着说，一边发出真正扣人心弦的悲叫。 —

Amy followed, but she poked her hands out stiffly before her, and jerked herself along as if she went by machinery; —
艾米跟着走了，但她僵硬地伸出双手，像机器一样颤抖着前进，然后发出“Ow！ —

and her ‘Ow!’ was more suggestive of pins being run into her than of fear and anguish. —
”的声音。这更暗示着她被针刺的感觉，而不是恐惧和痛苦。 —

Jo gave a despairing groan, and Meg laughed outright, while Beth let her bread burn as she watched the fun with interest.
乔绝望地呻吟，梅格大声笑了起来，而贝丝则看着有趣地让她的面包烧焦。

‘It’s no use! Do the best you can when the time comes, and if the audience laugh, don’t blame me. Come on, Meg.’
“没用了！等时机成熟时尽力而为吧，如果观众笑了，不要怪我。走吧，梅格。”

Then things went smoothly, for Don Pedro defied the world in a speech of two pages without a single break; —
然后一切顺利进行，Don Pedro一个长达两页的演讲毫无间断地进行着。 —

Hagar, the witch, chanted an awful incantation over her kettleful of simmering toads, with weird effect; —
女巫哈加在她满满一锅正在煮的蟾蜍上唱着可怕的咒语，效果奇异。 —

Roderigo rent his chains asunder manfully, and Hugo died in agonies of remorse and arsenic, with a wild ‘Ha! ha!’
罗德里戈英勇地撕碎了他的铁链，而雨果却在痛苦和砒霜中死去，发出野性的“哈！哈！”

‘It’s the best we’ve had yet,’ said Meg, as the dead villain sat up and rubbed his elbows.
“这是我们到目前为止表演的最好的，”死去的恶棍坐起来搓着胳膊说。

‘I don’t see how you can write and act such splendid things, Jo. You’re a regular Shakespeare!’ exclaimed Beth, who firmly believed that her sisters were gifted with wonderful genius in all things.
“我不明白你怎么能写出这么精彩的东西，然后还能演得这么好，乔。你简直是个莎士比亚！”贝丝惊呼道，她坚信姐妹俩在所有事情上都有惊人的天赋。

‘Not quite,’ replied Jo modestly. —
“不完全是的，”乔谦虚地回答道。 —

I do think “The Witch’s Curse, an Operatic Tragedy”, is rather a nice thing; —
“我认为《女巫的诅咒，一部歌剧悲剧》挺不错的； —

but I’d like to try Macbeth, if we only had a trap-door for Banquo I always wanted to do the killing part. —
“但是我也想尝试《麦克白》，如果我们有一个给班库托用的活板门，我一直想演杀人的那一部分。 —

“Is that a dagger I see before me?”’ muttered Jo, rolling her eyes and clutching at the air, as she had seen a famous tragedian do.
“‘这是一把匕首吗？’”乔咕哝着，转动着眼珠，立即攥紧空气，正如她曾见过一位著名的悲剧演员所做的那样。

‘No, it’s the toasting fork, with mother’s shoe on it instead of the bread. —
“不，那是烤面包叉，上面插着妈妈的鞋而不是面包。贝丝热衷于舞台！”梅格大叫道， —

Beth’s stage-struck!’ cried Meg, and the rehearsal ended in a general burst of laughter.
演练结束时全场爆发出一阵笑声。“很高兴看到你们这么开心，我的女儿们，”门口传来一个愉快的声音，演员和观众转身欢迎一个高大而温柔的女士，她带着一种“我可以帮助你”的神情，真是令人愉悦。

‘Glad to find you so merry, my girls,’ said a cheery voice at the door, and actors and audience turned to welcome a tall, motherly lady, with a ‘can-I-help-you’ look about her which was truly delightful. —
她的穿着并不典雅，但她是个威严的女人，女孩们觉得那件灰色的披风和过时的帽子遮住了世界上最华丽的母亲。 —

She was not elegantly dressed but a noble-looking woman, and tire girls thought the grey cloak and unfashionable bonnet covered the most splendid mother in the world.
女孩们用心迎接着她，她们认为这位母亲真是最出色的。

‘Well, dearies, how have you got on today? —
‘亲爱的， —

There was so much to do, getting the boxes ready to go tomorrow, that I didn’t come home to dinner. —
你们今天过得怎么样？明天要准备装箱子，我没回家吃晚饭。 —

Has anyone called, Beth? How is your cold, Meg? Jo, you look tired to death. —
有人给你打电话了吗，贝丝？梅格，你感冒好些了吗？乔，你看起来累得要死。 —

Come and kiss me, baby.’
过来亲我一下，宝贝。

While making these maternal inquiries, Mrs. March got her wet things off, her warm slippers on, and sitting down in the easy-chair, drew Amy to her lap, preparing to enjoy the happiest hour of her busy day. —
当她询问这些母性话语的时候，马奇夫人脱下了湿漉漉的衣物，换上了温暖的拖鞋，坐在舒适的椅子上，把艾米抱在膝上，准备享受一天里最快乐的时光。 —

The girls flew about, trying to make things comfortable, each in her own way. Meg arranged the tea-table; —
姐妹们四处忙碌，各自用自己的方式让事情变得舒适。梅格布置了茶几； —

Jo brought wood and set chairs, dropping, overturning, and clattering everything she touched; —
乔给搬来木柴并摆放椅子，碰到什么就掉落、倾倒和发出响声； —

Beth trotted to and fro between parlour and kitchen, quiet and busy; —
贝丝在客厅和厨房之间来回跑，安静且忙碌； —

while Amy gave directions to everyone, as she sat with her hands folded.
同时，艾米坐在那里，双手叠在一起，给每个人吩咐着。

As they gathered about the table, Mrs. March said, with a particularly happy face, ‘I’ve got a treat for you after supper.’
当她们围在餐桌旁时，马奇夫人笑容满面地说：“晚饭后，我有个惊喜给你们。”

A quick, bright smile went round like a streak of sunshine. —
一个快速、明亮的微笑像一道阳光般传遍了四周。 —

Beth clapped her ds, regardless of the biscuit she held, and Jo tossed up her napkin, crying, ‘A letter! —
贝丝捏着她的饼干，鼓掌欢呼，而乔则抛起餐巾，喊道：“一封信！ —

a letter! Three cheers for father!’
“一封信！为父亲三声欢呼！”

‘Yes, a nice long letter. He is well, and thinks he shall get through the cold season better than we feared. —
“是的，一封漫长而美好的信。他身体健康，认为他将度过这个寒冷的季节比我们担心的要好。 —

He sends all sorts of loving wishes for Christmas, and an especial message to you girls,’ said Mrs. March, patting her pocket as if she had got a treasure there.
他给大家带来了诸般关爱和圣诞节的祝福，还特别留言给你们，”玛奇夫人说着，拍了拍口袋，仿佛那里藏着一个宝物。

‘Hurry and get done! Don’t stop to quirk your little finger, and simper over your plate, Amy,’ cried Jo, choking in her tea, and dropping her bread, butter side down, on the carpet in her haste to get at the treat. —
“快点吃完！别耍小聪明，也别在盘子上嬉皮笑脸了，艾米，”乔在茶中呛住了，匆忙中把面包丢在了地毯上，以便快点享用这份美食。 —

Beth ate no more, but crept away, to sit in her shadowy corner and brood over the delight to come, till the others were ready.
贝丝不再进食，而是悄悄溜到阴暗角落坐下，陶醉在即将到来的喜悦中，直到其他人准备好。

‘I think it was so splendid of father to go as chaplain when he was too old to be drafted, and not strong enough for a soldier,’ said Meg, warmly.
“我认为父亲在年纪太大不能被征召，体力又不足以作战的情况下，去当军师是多么辉煌的事情，”梅格热情地说道。

‘Don’t I wish I could go as a drummer, a vivan - what’s its name? or a nurse, so I could be near him and help him,’ exclaimed Jo, with a groan.
“别提了，我真希望自己能成为一个鼓手，或者叫什么生动的职业？或者一个护士，这样我就可以靠近他并帮助他了。”乔叹息着说道。

‘It must be very disagreeable to sleep in a tent, and eat all sorts of bad-tasting things, and drink out of a tin mug,’ sighed Amy.
“睡在帐篷里，吃各种难吃的东西，用锡杯喝水，一定很讨厌吧。”艾米叹了口气说道。

‘When will he come home, Marmee?’ asked Beth, with a little quiver in her voice.
“马米，他什么时候回家？”贝丝声音有些颤抖地问道。

‘Not for many months, dear, unless he is sick. —
“亲爱的，要是他身体好的话， —

He will stay and do his work faithfully as long as he can, and we won’t ask for him back a minute sooner than he can be spared. —
将会有好几个月才能回来。他会尽职尽责地留下来工作，我们不会比他在能腾出来的时间早一分钟让他回来。” —

Now come and hear the letter.’
“现在来听信吧。”

They all drew to the fire, mother in the big chair, with Beth at her feet, Meg and Amy perched on either arm of the chair, and Jo leaning on the back, where no one would see any sign of emotion if the letter should happen to be touching. —
他们都围到火炉旁边，母亲坐在大椅子上， 贝丝坐在她脚边，梅格和艾米分别坐在椅子扶手上，乔则倚在椅背上，这样如果信碰巧很感人的话，就不会有人看到她流露出的情感。 —

Very few letters were written in those hard times that were not touching, especially those which fathers sent home. —
在那个艰难时期，很少有信件写得不感人，尤其是父亲寄回家的信件。 —

In this one little was said of the hardships endured, the dangers faced, or the home-sickness conquered; —
在这封信中很少提到忍受的艰辛、面临的危险或者克服的思乡之苦； —

it was a cheerful, hopeful letter, full of lively descriptions of camp life, marches, and military news; —
这是一封充满希望和喜悦的信，充满了营地生活、行军和军事新闻的生动描述； —

and only at the end did the writer’s heart overflow with fatherly love and longing for the little girls at home.
直到最后，才有写信人父愛和对家里的小姑娘们的思念溢于言表。

‘Give them all my dear love and a kiss. —
“把我深深的爱和一个吻送给她们。 —

Tell them I think of them by day, pray for them by night, and find my best comfort in their affection at all times. —
告诉她们我白天都在想她们，晚上为她们祈祷，在她们的情感中找到我最好的安慰。 —

A year seems very long to wait before I see them, but remind them that while we wait we may all work, so that these hard days need not be wasted. —
一年看起来很长，但提醒她们，在我们等待的时候，我们都可以工作，这样这些艰难的日子就不会被浪费。 —

I know they will remember all I said to them, that they will be loving children to you, will do their duty faithfully, fight their bosom enemies bravely and conquer themselves so beautifully, that when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women.’
我知道她们会记住我对她们说的一切，她们会对你展示出爱心，忠实地履行自己的职责，勇敢地与内心的敌人战斗，美丽地战胜自己，这样当我回到她们身边时，我会比以往更喜欢她们，更为她们自豪。”

Everybody sniffed when they came to that part; —
当他们听到这部分时，每个人都嗅了一下; —

Jo wasn’t ashamed of the great tear that dropped off the end of her nose, and Amy never minded the rumpling of her curls as she hid her face on her mother’s shoulder and sobbed out, ‘I am a selfish girl! —
乔并不为她鼻子尽头掉下来的一滴泪感到羞耻，艾米也不介意凤姐把她的脸藏在母亲的肩膀上抽泣着，“我是个自私的女孩！ —

but I’ll truly try to be better, so he mayn’t be disappointed in me by and by.’
但我真的会努力变得更好，这样他将来不会对我失望。

‘We all will!’ cried Meg. ‘I think too much of my looks, and hate to work, but won’t any more, if I can help it.’
‘我们所有人都会的!‘梅格喊道。’我太在意我的样子了，讨厌工作，但如果可以的话，我不会再这样了！’

‘I’ll try and be what he loves to call me, “a little woman”, and not be rough and wild; —
‘我会尽力成为他喜欢称呼我的“小女人”，而不是粗鲁和野蛮的; —

but do my duty here instead of wanting to be somewhere else,’ said Jo, thinking that keeping her temper at home was a much harder task than facing a rebel or two down South.
‘而是在这里尽责，而不是渴望去别的地方，’ 乔想，在家保持脾气比面对南方的叛军还困难多了。

Beth said nothing, but wiped away her tears with the blue army sock, and began to knit with all her might, losing no time in doing the duty that lay nearest her, while she resolved in her quiet little soul to be all that father hoped to find her when the year brought round the happy coming home.
贝丝什么也没说，但用蓝军队袜子擦拭着她的眼泪，全力以赴地织着毛衣，毫不耽误地履行着自己的责任。她在平静的心灵深处决心，在一年后充满喜悦的归家时，成为父亲所希望的人。

Mrs. March broke the silence that followed Jo’s words, by saying in her cheery voice, ‘Do you remember how you used to play Pilgrim’s Progress when you were little things? —
马琼思夫人打破了乔话后的沉默，用欢快的声音说道：“你还记得小时候我们玩《天路历程》吗？ —

Nothing delighted you more than to have me tie my piece-bags on your backs for burdens, give you hats and sticks and rolls of paper, and let you travel through the house from the cellar, which was the City of Destruction, up, up, to the housetop, where you had all the lovely things you could collect to make a Celestial City.’
没有什么比你们兴奋更让我高兴的了，我会把小袋子绑在你们的背上，给你们帽子、棍子和一卷卷纸，让你们从地下室，也就是毁灭之城，一直往上爬，到达屋顶，那儿有你们能收集的所有美好事物，可以组建一个天堂城市。”

‘What fun it was, especially going by the lions, fighting Apollyon, and passing through the Valley where the hobgoblins were!’ said Jo.
乔说：“那真有趣，尤其是经过狮子、与亚波利亚战斗，穿过鬼怪出没的山谷！”

‘I liked the place where the bundles fell off and tumbled downstairs,’ said Meg.
“‘我喜欢束缚掉下来摔下楼梯的地方，’梅格说。”

‘My favourite part was when we came out on the flat roof where our flowers and arbours and pretty things were, and all stood and sang for joy up there in the sunshine,’ said Beth, smiling, as if that pleasant moment had come back to her.
“‘我最喜欢的部分是当我们走出阳台，看到我们的花朵、葡萄架和漂亮的东西，大家都站在上面，在阳光下欢唱，’贝丝笑着说，仿佛那个愉快的瞬间又回到了她身边。”

‘I don’t remember much about it, except that I was afraid of the cellar and the dark entry, and always liked the cake and milk we had up at the top. —
“‘我不太记得，除了我害怕地下室和黑暗的入口，总是喜欢我们在顶楼享用的蛋糕和牛奶。’” —

If I wasn’t too old for such things, I’d rather like to play it Over again,’ said Amy, she began to talk of renouncing childish things at the mature age of twelve.
“‘如果我还不到玩这个游戏的年龄，我真想再玩一次，’艾米说，她在十二岁那个成熟的年纪就开始谈论放弃孩子气的事情。”

‘We never are too old for this, my clear, because it is a play we are playing all the time in one way or another. —
“‘我们永远不会太老玩这个，亲爱的，因为我们一直在以一种或另一种方式玩这个游戏。” —

Our burdens are here, our road is before us, and the longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through many troubles and mistakes to the peace which is a true Celestial City. Now, my little pilgrims, suppose you begin again, not in play, but in earnest, and see how far on you can get before Father comes home.’
我们的负担就在这里，我们的道路就在我们面前，对美好和幸福的渴望是我们通过许多困难和错误前往真正的天堂之城的指南。现在，我的小朋友们，假设你们重新开始，认真对待，看看在爸爸回家之前能走多远吧。

‘Really, Mother? Where are our bundles?’ asked Amy, who was a very literal young lady.
“真的吗，妈妈？我们的包裹在哪里？” 非常字面的艾米问道。

‘Each of you told what your burden was just now, except Beth; I rather think she hasn’t got any,’ said her mother.
“你们刚才都说了自己的负担，除了贝丝，我想她可能没有。” 她的妈妈说。

‘Yes, I have; mine is dishes and clusters, and envying girls with nice pianos, and being afraid of people.’
“是的，我有；我的负担是洗碗，羡慕有漂亮钢琴的女孩，还有害怕人。” 贝丝的负担很有趣，每个人都想笑，但没有人笑，因为那会伤害她的感情。

Beth’s bundle was such a funny one that everybody wanted to laugh; —
“我们来做吧。” 梅格思考着说。“这只是另一个试着做好的名字，这个故事可能会帮助我们； —

but nobody did, for it would have hurt her feelings very much.
虽然我们确实想做得好，但这是很辛苦的，我们会忘记，也不会尽全力。”

‘Let us do it,’ said Meg, thoughtfully. —
— —

‘It is only another name for trying to be good, and the story may help us; —

for though we do want to be good, it’s hard work, and we forget, and don’t do our best.’

‘We were in the Slough of Despond tonight, and Mother came and pulled us out as Help did in the book. —
今晚我们像书里的Help一样陷入了绝望之地，但妈妈来了把我们拉了出来。 —

We ought to have our roll of directions like Christian. —
我们应该像克里斯蒂安一样有一张指南卷。 —

What shall we do about that?’ asked Jo, delighted with the fancy which lent a little romance to the very dull task of doing her duty.
对此我们要怎么办呢？ 乔兴奋地表示赞同，这个幻想让一项很乏味的任务——履行自己的责任——也变得有了一丝浪漫。

‘Look under your pillows, Christmas morning, and you will find your guide-book’ replied Mrs. March.
在圣诞早上，你们看看你们的枕头底下，就能找到你们的指南书了。回答道，马奇太太。

They talked over the new plan while old Hannah cleared the table; —
哈娜清理桌子的时候，她们讨论着这个新计划。 —

then out came tie four little work-baskets, and the needles flew as the girls made sheets for Aunt March. It was uninteresting sewing, but tonight no one grumbled. —
然后四个小手工篮子出来，女孩们开始为玛奇姨妈做床单。虽然缝纫很乏味，但今晚没有人抱怨。 —

They adopted Jo’s plan of dividing the long seams into four parts, and calling the quarters Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and in that way got on capitally, especially when they talked about the different countries, as they stitched their way through them.
他们采纳了乔的计划，将长线分成四段，并以欧洲、亚洲、非洲和美洲来称呼这四个季度，这样做得很顺利，尤其是当他们一边缝一边谈论不同的国家时。

At nine they stopped work, and sang, as usual, before they went to bed.
九点钟时，工作停下来，她们像往常一样唱歌，然后上床睡觉。

No one but Beth could get much music out of the old piano; —
除了贝丝之外，没有人能从这架旧钢琴中发出如此美妙的音乐； —

but she had a way of softly touching the yellow keys, and making a pleasant accompaniment to the simple songs they sang. —
但她有一种轻柔地触摸那些黄色琴键的方式，她能给他们唱的简单曲调伴上悦耳的伴奏。 —

Meg had a voice like a flute, and she and her mother led the little choir. —
梅格的嗓音如同长笛，她和她的母亲带领着这个小合唱团。 —

Amy chirped like a cricket, and Jo wandered through the airs at her own sweet will, always coming out at the wrong place with a croak or a quaver that spoilt the most pensive tune. —
艾米的声音像蟋蟀一样，而乔则随心所欲地在空气中游荡，总是在错误的位置上发出一声嘶哑或颤音，破坏了最悲伤的旋律。 —

They had always done this from the time they could lisp:
从她们开始学说话的时候，她们就一直这样做：

‘Crinkle, crinkle, ‘ittle ‘tar.’
“皱皱，皱小星。”

and it had become a household custom, for the mother was a born singer. —
这已经成为了家里的一项传统习俗，因为母亲是个天生的歌手。 —

The first sound in the morning was her voice, as she went about the house singing like a lark; —
早上的第一个声音是她的歌声，她哼着歌在家里四处走动，就像一只云雀； —

and the last sound at night was the same cheery sound, for the girl never grew too old for that familiar lullaby.
而夜晚的最后一个声音也是同样欢快的声音，因为这个女孩永远不会因为那首熟悉的摇篮曲而感到太老了。