I don’t think I have any words in which to tell the meeting of the mother and daughters; —
我觉得我没有任何话可以描述母亲和女儿们的会面； —

such hours are beautiful to live, but very hard to describe, so I will leave it to the imagination of my readers, merely saying that the house was full of genuine happiness, and that Meg’s tender hope was realized; —
这些时刻美丽而难以形容，所以我将把它留给读者的想象，只是简单地说，家里充满了真正的幸福，而梅格温柔的期望得到了实现； —

for when Beth woke from that long, healing sleep, the first objects on which her eyes fell were the little rose and Mother’s face. —
当贝丝从那个长时间的治愈睡眠中醒来时，她视线所及的第一件事就是那朵小玫瑰和妈妈的脸； —

Too weak to wonder at anything, she only smiled, and nestled close into the loving arms about her, feeling that the hungry longing was satisfied at last. —
她太虚弱了，无力去想任何事情，她只是微笑着，亲近地依偎在爱她的怀抱中，感觉到那种饥渴的渴望终于得到了满足； —

Then she slept again, and the girls waited upon their mother; —
然后她再次入睡，而姑娘们照料着她们的母亲； —

for she would not unclasp the thin hand which clung to hers even in sleep.
因为即使在睡梦中，她也不会松开那只纤细的手，紧紧地抓住妈妈的手；

Hannah had “dished up” an astonishing breakfast for the traveller, finding it impossible to vent her excitement in any other way; —
汉娜为旅行者准备了一顿令人惊讶的早餐，她找不到其他的发泄方式来宣泄自己的兴奋。 —

and Meg and Jo fed their mother like dutiful young storks, while they listened to her whispered account of Father’s state, Mr. Brooke’s promise to stay and nurse him, the delays which the storm occasioned on the homeward journey, and the unspeakable comfort Laurie’s hopeful face had given her when she arrived, worn out with fatigue, anxiety, and cold.
梅格和乔像孝顺的小白鹳一样喂着母亲，一边听她低声讲述父亲的情况，布鲁克先生留下来照顾他的承诺，暴风雨对回家途中的延误以及劳瑞充满希望的脸给她带来的难以言喻的安慰，那时她已经疲惫不堪，焦虑不安，身体冰冷。

What a strange, yet pleasant day that was! —
那是多么奇妙、又愉快的一天啊！ —

so brilliant and gay without, for all the world seemed abroad to welcome the first snow; —
外面光明熙熙，全世界似乎都出来迎接初雪。 —

so quiet and reposeful within, for everyone slept, spent with watching, and a sabbath stillness reigned through the house, while nodding Hannah mounted guard at the door. —
家里则是那般安静而宁谧，所有人都累得昏昏欲睡，屋内弥漫着安息的安息日的宁静。而打瞌睡的汉娜站在门口守卫。 —

With a blissful sense of burdens lifted off, Meg and Jo closed their weary eyes, and lay at rest, like storm-beaten boats, safe at anchor in a quiet harbour. —
梅格和乔一起闭上疲惫的眼睛，像受过风暴打击的船只一样安全地停泊在宁静的港湾，享受着解脱的幸福感。 —

Mrs. March would not leave Beth’s side, but rested in the big chair, waking often to look at, touch, and brood over her child, like a miser over some recovered treasure.
马奇夫人始终不离开贝丝的身边，坐在大椅子上休息，经常醒来看着、触摸着、沉思着她的孩子，就像一个宝贝似的宝贝一样。

Laurie, meanwhile, posted off to comfort Amy, and told his story so well that Aunt March actually “sniffed” herself, and never once said, “I told you so”. —
而同时，劳瑞快速离开去安慰艾米，讲述了他的故事，讲得如此出色，以至于玛奇姑姑实际上被自己感动了，从未说过一次“我早就告诉过你”。 —

Amy came out so strong on this occasion that I think the good thoughts in the little chapel really began to bear fruit. —
艾米在这个场合表现得如此坚强，以至于我觉得教堂里的美好思想真的开始见到成果了。 —

She dried her tears quickly, restrained her impatience to see her mother, and never even thought of the turquoise ring, when the old lady heartily agreed in Laurie’s opinion, that she behaved “like a capital little woman”. —
她很快擦干了眼泪，控制住了见到母亲的不耐心，甚至从未考虑过那个绿松石戒指，当老太太全心全意赞同劳瑞的观点，并称赞她“真是一个了不起的小女人”的时候。 —

Even Polly seemed impressed, for he called her “good girl”, blessed her buttons, and begged her to ‘come and take a walk, dear!’ in his most affable tone. —
连莉莉似乎也对此印象深刻，因为他称她为“好孩子”，祝福她的纽扣，并恳求她“来散散步，亲爱的！”，用他最可亲的语气。她非常愿意出去享受明亮的冬日天气， —

She would very gladly have gone out to enjoy the bright wintry weather; —
但发现劳瑞虽然竭力掩饰，但却已经疲倦得几乎要睡着了，于是她说服他在沙发上休息，同时给母亲写了一封便条。 —

but, discovering that Laurie was dropping with sleep in spite of manful efforts to conceal the fact, she persuaded him to rest on the sofa, while she wrote a note to her mother. —
同时找到了她要找的东西后，她转身看到劳瑞已经疲倦得几乎要睡着了，于是她说服他在沙发上休息，同时给母亲写了一封便条。 —

She was a long time about it, and, when she returned, he was stretched out, with both arms under his head, sound asleep, while Aunt March had pulled down the curtains, and sat doing nothing in an unusual fit of benignity.
她花了很长时间，当她回来时，他躺在那里，双手枕在头下，熟睡着，而玛奇姨妈拉下窗帘，坐在那里无所事事，表现出不寻常的仁慈之情。

After a while, they began to think he was not going to wake till night, and I’m not sure that he would, had he not been effectually roused by Amy’s cry of joy at sight of her mother. —
过了一会儿，他们开始以为他要一直睡到晚上了，如果不是艾米兴奋地看到妈妈而大叫起来，我不确定他是否会醒过来。 —

There probably were a good many happy little girls in and about the city that day, but it is my private opinion that Amy was the happiest of all, when she sat in her mother’s lap and told her trials, receiving consolation and compensation in the shape of approving smiles and fond caresses. —
那一天，城市里可能有很多快乐的小女孩，但我私下认为艾米是最快乐的，当她坐在母亲的膝上诉说她的困境时，她得到了安慰和补偿，以赞许的微笑和深情的爱抚的形式。 —

They were alone together in the little room, to which her mother did not object when its purpose was explained to her.
他们独自一起在这个小房间里，她的母亲对此并没有异议，当解释了它的用途后。

On the contrary, I like it very much, dear,’ looking from the footstool to the well-worn little book, and the lovely picture with its garland of evergreen. —
相反，我非常喜欢它，亲爱的，’ 她看着脚凳，那本破烂的小书和那幅美丽的画，带着常青的花环。 —

‘It is an excellent plan to have some place where we can go to be quiet, when things vex or grieve us. —
‘有一个安静的地方是一个很好的计划，当事情困扰或伤害我们时，我们可以去那里。 —

There are a good many hard times in this life of ours, but we can always bear them if we ask help in the right way. —
在我们的生命中有很多困难时期，但是如果我们以正确的方式寻求帮助，我们总是能够承受它们。 —

I think my little girl is learning this?’
我觉得我的小女儿正在学会这一点。

Yes, Mother; and when I go home I mean to have a corner in the big closet to put my books, and the copy of that picture which I’ve tried to make. —
是的，妈妈；当我回家时，我打算在大衣橱里挑一个角落放置我的书，还有我试图画的那副图的副本。 —

The woman’s face is not good - it’s too beautiful for me to draw - but the baby is done better, and I love it very much. —
这个女人的脸不好 - 它对我来说太美了，我画不好 - 但是宝宝画得更好，我非常喜欢它。 —

I like to think he was a little child once, for then I don’t seem so far away, and that helps me.’
我喜欢想象他曾经是一个小孩，因为那样我就不觉得离他太远了，这对我有帮助。

As Amy pointed to the smiling Christ-child on His mother’s knee, Mrs. March saw something on the lifted hand that made her smile. —
当艾米指着那位微笑的基督婴孩坐在母亲膝上时，马奇夫人看到了他举起的手上有些东西，这让她笑了起来。 —

She said nothing, but Amy understood the look, and, after a minute’s pause, she added, gravely:
她什么也没说，但是艾米明白了这个表情，经过片刻的停顿后，她庄重地补充道：

I wanted to speak to you about this, but I forgot it. Aunt gave me the ring today; —
我想和你谈谈这个，但是我忘了。姑姑今天给了我这个戒指； —

she called me to her and kissed me, and put it on my finger, and said I was a credit to her, and she’d like to keep me always. —
她叫我去她那里，亲了我一口，把它放在我的手指上，说我是她的骄傲，她想永远留住我。 —

She gave me that funny guard to keep the turquoise on, as it’s too big. —
她给我那个有趣的挡板，用来保护那个绿松石，因为它太大了。 —

I’d like to wear them, Mother; can I?’
妈妈，我想戴上它们，可以吗？

They are very pretty, but I think you’re rather too young for such ornaments, Amy,’ said Mrs. March, looking at the plump little hand, with the band of sky-blue stones on the forefinger, and the quaint guard, formed of two tiny golden hands clasped together.
它们很漂亮，但我觉得你还太小戴这样的饰品，艾米，”玛琦夫人看着那只丰满的小手，上面带着一条天蓝宝石的银戒指，还有那个由两个小金手牵在一起的古怪挡板。

I’ll try not to be vain,’ said Amy. ‘I don’t think I like it only because it’s so pretty; —
“我会努力不虚荣的，” 艾米说道。”我不只是因为它很漂亮才喜欢它； —

but I want to wear it as the girl in the story wore her bracelets, to remind me of something.’
但我想戴它就像故事里的那个女孩戴着手镯一样，提醒我某件事情。

Do you mean Aunt March?’ asked her mother, laughing.
你是指玛琦姨吗？”她妈妈笑着问道。

No, to remind me not to be selfish.’ Amy looked so earnest and sincere about it, that her mother stopped laughing, and listened respectfully to the little plan.
不，是提醒我不要自私。” 艾米看起来非常认真和真诚，她妈妈停止了笑声，尊重地听着这个小计划。

I’ve thought a great deal lately about my “bundle of naughties”, and being selfish is the largest one on it; —
我最近思考了很多关于我自己的“恶习束缚”，其中最大的一个是自私； —

so I’m going to try hard to cure it, if I can. —
所以我要努力克服它，如果可以的话。 —

Beth isn’t selfish, and that’s the reason everyone loves her and feels so bad at the thought of losing her. —
贝丝不自私，这就是为什么每个人都爱她，也为她的离去感到如此难过的原因。 —

People wouldn’t feel half so bad about me if I was sick, and I don’t deserve to have them; —
如果我生病了，人们就不会那么难过，而我不值得他们这样做； —

but I’d like to be loved and missed by a great many friends, so I’m going to try and be like Beth all I can. —
但我想要很多朋友爱我、想念我，所以我要尽量像贝丝一样。 —

I’m apt to forget my resolutions; —
我往往会忘记我的决心； —

but if I had something always about me to remind me, I guess I should do better. —
但是如果我身边有一个不时提醒我的东西，我想我会做得更好。 —

May I try this way?’
我能试试这种方法吗？

Yes; but I have more faith in the corner of the big closet. Wear your ring, dear, and do your best; —
是的；但我更相信藏在大衣橱的角落。戴着你的戒指，亲爱的，尽力而为； —

I think you will prosper, for the sincere wish to be good is half the battle. —
我觉得你会成功的，因为真诚地希望变好已经成功了一半。 —

Now I must go back to Beth. Keep up your heart, little daughter, and we will soon have you home again.’
现在我必须回去看贝丝了。坚持下去，我的小女儿，我们很快就能把你带回家了。”

That evening, while Meg was writing to her father, to report the traveller’s safe arrival, Jo slipped upstairs into Beth’s room, and, finding her mother in her usual place, stood a minute twisting her fingers in her hair, with a worried gesture and an undecided look.
那天晚上，当梅格给父亲写信，汇报旅客的安全到达时，乔溜上楼来到贝丝的房间，发现母亲照常坐在那里，她扭动着头发，有些担忧的表情和犹豫的眼神。

What is it, deary?’ asked Mrs. March, holding out her hand, with a face which invited confidence.
亲爱的，怎么了？’玛奇夫人问道，伸出手，脸上带着希望听到真话的表情。

I want to tell you something, Mother.’
我想告诉你一件事，妈妈。

About Meg?’
关于梅格吗？

How quickly you guessed! Yes, it’s about her, and though it’s a little thing, it fidgets me.’
你猜得真快！是的，是关于她的，尽管这只是一个小事，但它让我坐立不安。

Beth is asleep; speak low, and tell me all about it. —
贝丝在睡觉，轻声说，告诉我所有的事情。 —

That Moffat hasn’t been here, I hope?’ asked Mrs. March, rather sharply.
那个莫法特没有来，希望他没有来？’ 玛奇夫人有点生气地问道。

No, I should have shut the door in his face if he had,’ said Jo, settling herself on the floor at her mother’s feet. —
没有，如果他来了，我会把门关在他面前的，’ 乔说着，在母亲的脚边坐下。 —

‘Last summer Meg left a pair of gloves over at the Laurences’, and only one was returned. —
‘去年夏天，梅格把一双手套落在了劳伦斯家里，结果只有一只还给了她。 —

We forgot all about it, till Teddy told me that Mr. Brooke had it. —
我们完全忘记了这件事，直到泰迪告诉我，布鲁克先生拿到了那只手套。 —

He kept it in his waistcoat pocket, and once it fell out, and Teddy joked him about it, and Mr. Brooke owned that he liked Meg, but didn’t dare say so, she was so young and he so poor. —
他把它放在马甲口袋里，有一次掉出来了，Teddy拿它开玩笑，而布鲁克先生承认他喜欢梅格，但不敢说出口，因为她太年轻而他太穷。 —

Now, isn’t it a dreadful state of things?’
现在，这难道不是一种可怕的状况吗？

Do you think Meg cares for him?’ asked Mrs. March, with an anxious look.
你认为梅格在乎他吗？’ 玛奇太太问道，脸上带着焦虑的表情。

Mercy me! I don’t know anything about love and such nonsense!’ cried Jo, with a funny mixture of interest and contempt. —
天哪！我对爱情和这种傻话一无所知！乔滑稽地说道，兴趣和轻蔑的感觉交织在一起。 —

‘In novels, the girls show it by starting and blushing, fainting away, growing thin, and acting like fools. —
在小说里，女孩们会惊起、脸红、晕倒、消瘦，表现得像个傻瓜。 —

Now Meg does not do anything of the sort; —
现在梅格一点都不这样； —

she eats and drinks and sleeps, like a sensible creature; —
她吃喝睡觉，像个明智的生物一样； —

she looks straight in my face when I talk about that man, and only blushes a little bit when Teddy jokes about lovers. —
每当我谈起那个男人时，她直视着我，只有在Teddy开玩笑说爱人时稍微有点脸红。 —

I forbid him to do it, but he doesn’t mind me as he ought.’
我禁止他这么做，但他并不像他应该那样听我的。

Then you fancy that Meg is not interested in John?’
那么你认为梅格对约翰没兴趣？

Who?’ cried Jo, staring.
谁？’乔大吃一惊地问道。

Mr. Brooke. I call him “John” now; —
布鲁克先生。我现在叫他”约翰”； —

we fell into the way of doing so at the hospital, and he likes it.’
我们在医院的时候养成了这种称呼的习惯，而他喜欢这样。

Oh, dear! I know you’ll take his part: —
哦，亲爱的！我知道你会帮他说话： —

he’s been good to Father, and you won’t send him away, but let Meg marry him, if she wants to. —
他对爸爸很好，你不会把他赶走，但是如果梅格想嫁给他，就让她嫁， —

Mean thing! —
真是气人！ —

to go petting Papa and helping you, just to wheedle you into liking him’; —
为了讨好你，他跑去哄爸爸，帮助你，简直是卑鄙无耻； —

and Jo pulled her hair again with a wrathful tweak.
乔气得又一把抓住她的头发。

My dear, don’t get angry about it, and I will tell you how it happened. —
亲爱的，别生气，我会告诉你发生了什么。 —

John went with me at Mr. Laurence’s request, and was so devoted to poor Father that we couldn’t help getting fond of him. —
约翰是应劳伦斯先生的要求和我一起去的，他对可怜的爸爸非常照顾，我们忍不住喜欢上了他。 —

He was perfectly open and honourable about Meg, for he told us he loved her, but would earn a comfortable home before he asked her to marry him. —
他光明正大地表达了对梅格的爱，他告诉我们他会在向她求婚前先赚到一个舒适的家。 —

He only wanted our leave to love her and work for her, and the right to make her love him if he could. —
他只是想得到我们的许可来爱她并且为她工作，如果能的话赢得她的爱情。 —

He is a truly excellent young man, and we could not refuse to listen to him; —
他是一个真正优秀的年轻人，我们不能拒绝听他说。 —

but I will not consent to Meg engaging herself so young.’
但我不会同意梅格这么年轻就订婚。

Of course not; it would be idiotic! —
当然不会，那会太蠢了！ —

I knew there was mischief brewing; —
我就知道有乱子要出，我感觉到了。 —

I felt it; —
—

and now it’s worse than I imagined. —
现在情况比我想象的更糟了。 —

I just wish I could marry Meg myself, and keep her safe in the family.’
我真希望能娶梅格自己，并让她在家庭中安全地生活。

This odd arrangement made Mrs. March smile; —
这种奇怪的安排让玛琪夫人笑了， —

but she said gravely, ‘Jo, I confide in you, and don’t wish you to say anything to Meg yet. —
但她严肃地说：“乔，我对你有信心，希望你暂时不要告诉梅格。 —

When John comes back, and I see them together, I can judge better of her feelings towards him.’
等约翰回来，我看到他们在一起的时候，我才能更好地判断她对他的感情。

She’ll see his in those handsome eyes that she talks about, and then it will be all up with her. —
她会从他那双她所说的英俊眼睛中看到他的情感，然后她就完了。 —

She’s got such a soft heart, it will melt like butter in the sun if anyone looks sentimentally at her. —
她心地太软了，如果有人以感伤的眼神看着她，她会像阳光下的黄油一样融化。 —

She read the short reports he sent more than she did your letters, and pinched me when I spoke of it, and likes brown eyes, and doesn’t think John an ugly name, and she’ll go and fall in love, and there’s an end of peace and fun, and cosy times together. —
她更喜欢阅读他发来的简短报道，而不是你的信，我一提到这个就被她捏了一下，她喜欢棕色的眼睛，她觉得约翰不是一个丑陋的名字，她会去陷入爱河，然后我们的平静、欢乐和温馨时光就结束了。 —

I see it all! they’ll go lovering around the house, and we shall have to dodge; —
我全都看透了！他们会在屋子里恋爱，而我们只能躲避； —

Meg will be absorbed, and no good to me any more; —
梅格会全神贯注于他，对我再没有什么好处了。 —

Brooke will scratch up a fortune somehow, carry her off, and make a hole in the family; —
布鲁克总能靠某种方式获得一大笔财富，把她带走，并在家庭中留下一些麻烦； —

and I shall break my heart, and everything will be abominably uncomfortable. Oh, dear me! why weren’t we all boys, then there wouldn’t be any bother.’ Jo leaned her chin on her knees, in a disconsolate attitude, and shook her fist at the represhensible John. Mrs. March sighed, and Jo looked up with an air of relief.
而我会伤透心，一切都会变得非常不舒服。唉，天啊！如果我们都是男孩就好了，那就不会有任何麻烦了。”乔无助地将下巴搁在膝盖上，愤怒地朝这个可恶的约翰摆了摆拳头。玛奇太太叹了口气，乔松了一口气。

You don’t like it, Mother? I’m glad of it. —
你不喜欢这个主意，妈妈？我很高兴。 —

Let’s send him about his business, and not tell Meg a word of it, but all be happy together as we always have been.’
让我们把他赶走，不告诉梅格一句话，但我们还可以一如既往地幸福在一起。”

I did wrong to sigh, Jo. It is natural and right you should all go to homes of your own, in time; but I do want to keep my girls as long as I can; —
我错了，叹气了，乔。你们离开家去建立自己的家庭是自然而合理的，但我想尽可能地保持我女儿的陪伴； —

and I am sorry that this happened so soon, for Meg is only seventeen, and it will be some years before John can make a home for her. —
我很抱歉这个事情发生得这么早，因为梅格才17岁，约翰要多年后才能为她建立一个家。 —

Your father and I have agreed that she shall not bind herself in any way, nor be married, before twenty. —
你父亲和我已经决定在梅格满二十岁之前，她不会与任何人结婚或受到任何束缚。 —

If she and John love one another, they can wait, and test the love by doing so. —
如果她和约翰彼此相爱，他们可以等待，并通过这样做来测试爱情。 —

She is conscientious, and I have no fear of her treating him unkindly. —
她有良心，我不担心她对待他不好。 —

My pretty, tender-hearted girl! —
我可爱、柔情的女孩！ —

I hope things will go happily with her.’
我希望她一切都幸福。

Hadn’t you rather have her marry a rich man?’ asked Jo, as her mother’s voice faltered a little over the last words.
你宁愿她嫁给一个富有的人吗？’ 乔问道，她母亲最后几个字有点结巴。

Money is a good and useful thing, Jo; —
金钱是一件好事，也是一种有用的东西， —

and I hope my girls will never feel the need of it too bitterly, nor be tempted by too much. —
乔；我希望我的女儿们永远不会对它有太深的需求，也不会受到太多的诱惑。 —

I should like to know that John was firmly established in some good business, which gave him an income large enough to keep free from debt and make Meg comfortable. —
我想知道约翰是否在一家好的公司安定下来，有足够的收入来摆脱债务，并让梅格舒适。 —

I’m not ambitious for a splendid fortune, a fashionable position, or a great name for my girls. —
我不渴望为我的女儿们要有一个辉煌的财富、时尚的地位或伟大的名声。 —

If rank and money come with love and virtue, also, I should accept them gratefully, and enjoy your good fortune; —
如果地位和金钱伴随爱和美德而来，我将感激地接受它们，并享受你的好运； —

but I know, by experience, how much genuine happiness can be had in a plain little house, where the dally bread is earned, and some privations give sweetness to the few pleasures. —
但是我知道，通过经验，一个普通小房子里可以享受到多少真正的幸福，在那里，所赚的面包和一些牺牲会给寥寥无几的快乐增添甜蜜。 —

I am content to see Meg begin humbly, for, if I am not mistaken, she will be rich in the possession of a good man’s heart, and that is better than a fortune.’
我愿意看到梅格从谦卑开始，因为，如果我没有搞错的话，她会因拥有一个好男人的心而富有，这比财富更好。

I understand, Mother, and quite agree; —
我知道，妈妈，完全同意， —

but I’m disappointed about Meg, for I’d planned to have her marry Teddy by and by, and sit in the lap of luxury all her days. —
但我对梅格感到失望，因为我计划她以后嫁给泰迪，过上奢华的生活。 —

Wouldn’t it be nice?’ asked Jo, looking up, with a brighter face.
那不是挺好的吗？’乔问道，脸上露出更加明亮的表情。

He is younger than she, you know,’ began Mrs. March; —
他比她年轻，你知道的，’玛琳娜开始说， —

but Jo broke in: ‘Only a little; —
但乔插话说：’只是有点； —

he’s old for his age, and tall; —
他年龄大了，个子也高； —

and can be quite grown-up in his manners if he likes. —
如果他愿意，他的举止可以很成熟。 —

Then he’s rich and generous and good, and loves us all; —
然后他又富有，慷慨，善良，爱我们所有人； —

and I say it’s a pity my plan is spoilt.’
我说我的计划被破坏了，真是可惜。

I’m afraid Laurie is hardly grown up enough to Meg, and altogether too much of a weathercock, just now, for anyone to depend on. —
我担心劳瑞还不够成熟，无法与梅格相提并论，也太不可靠了，现在任何人都不能依赖他。乔， —

Don’t make plans, Jo; —
不要制定计划； —

but let time and their own hearts mate your friends. —
但是，让时间和他们自己的心灵来选择朋友。 —

We can’t meddle safely in such matters, and had better not get “romantic rubbish”, as you call it, into our heads, lest it spoil our friendship.’
我们不能干预这种事情，最好不要把“浪漫的废话”，你所说的，放进我们的脑子里，以免影响我们的友谊。”

Well, I won’t; but I hate to see things going all criss-cross and getting snarled up, when a pull here and a snip there would straighten it out. —
好吧，我不会；但是当看到事情变得交错混乱，就像缠在一起，只需在这里拉一下，在那里剪一下，就可以把它弄直。 —

I wish wearing flat-irons on our heads would keep us from growing up. —
我希望把熨斗戴在头上能让我们不再长大。 —

But buds will be roses, and kittens, cats - more’s the pity!’
但花蕾会开成玫瑰，小猫会长成猫——真可惜！

What’s that about flat-irons and cats?’ asked Meg, as she crept into the room, with the finished letter in her hand.
“关于戴熨斗和猫是什么?’ 梅格问道，她手里拿着完成的信。

Only one of my stupid speeches. I’m going to bed; come, Peggy,’ said Jo, unfolding herself, like an animated puzzle.
这只是我一个愚蠢的说法。我要睡觉了，来吧，佩吉。”乔像一个活动的拼图一样展开身体。

Quite right, and beautifully written. —
“很对，而且写得很美。 —

Please add that I send my love to John,’ said Mrs. March, as she glanced over the letter, and gave it back.
”玛奇斯夫人边看完信边说道，“请代我向约翰问好。”

Do you call him “John”?’ asked Meg, smiling, with her innocent eyes looking down into her mother’s.
“你称他为‘约翰’吗？”梅格问道，含笑地将那双天真的眼睛低垂在母亲身上。

Yes; he has been like a son to us, and we are very fond of him,’ replied Mrs. March, returning the look with a keen one.
“是的，他对我们而言就像儿子一样，我们很喜欢他。”玛奇斯夫人回答，用一种敏锐的目光回望着她。

I’m glad of that, he is so lonely. Good night, Mother dear. —
“我很高兴那样，他太孤单了。晚安，亲爱的妈妈。 —

It is so inexpressibly comfortable to have you here,’ was Meg’s quiet answer.
你在这儿陪着实在太舒服了。”梅格平静地回答道。

The kiss her mother gave her was a very tender one; and, as she went away, Mrs. March said, with a mixture of satisfaction and regret, ‘She does not love John yet, but will soon learn to.’
母亲给她一个十分温情的吻；而玛奇斯夫人离开时，满意和遗憾交织地说道，“她还不爱约翰，但她很快就会学会爱。”