“Come, Jo, it’s time.”
“来吧，乔，是时候了。”

“For what?”
“干什么呢？”

“You don’t mean to say you have forgotten that you promised to make half a dozen calls with me today?”
“难道你忘了你答应我今天要一起去拜访六个地方吗？”

“I’ve done a good many rash and foolish things in my life, but I don’t think I ever was mad enough to say I’d make six calls in one day, when a single one upsets me for a week.”
“我在生活中做过很多冲动和愚蠢的事情，但我想我从来没有疯到说我要在一天内拜访六次，因为单单一次拜访都让我烦恼一个星期。”

“Yes, you did, it was a bargain between us. —
“是的，你答应了，这是我们之间的约定。 —

I was to finish the crayon of Beth for you, and you were to go properly with me, and return our neighbors’ visits.”
我要替你完成贝丝的蜡笔画，而你要和我一起适当地回访我们的邻居。”

“If it was fair, that was in the bond, and I stand to the letter of my bond, Shylock. —
“如果公平的话，那就在协议之内，我会遵守我的字句，夏洛克。” —

There is a pile of clouds in the east, it’s not fair, and I don’t go.”
“东方有一堆乌云，这不公平，我不去。”

“Now, that’s shirking. It’s a lovely day, no prospect of rain, and you pride yourself on keeping promises, so be honorable, come and do your duty, and then be at peace for another six months.”
“现在这是逃避责任。天气很好，没有下雨的迹象，而且你自诩为守信守约的人，所以要光荣地履行诺言，尽责任，然后再过好另外六个月。”

At that minute Jo was particularly absorbed in dressmaking, for she was mantua-maker general to the family, and took especial credit to herself because she could use a needle as well as a pen. —
在那一刻，乔全神贯注于裁缝工作，因为她是家中的总庖丁，她为此感到特别自豪，因为她能够用针线和用笔一样熟练。 —

It was very provoking to be arrested in the act of a first trying-on, and ordered out to make calls in her best array on a warm July day. —
当她第一次试穿时被突然叫停并被命令穿着最好的装束去拜访人，这真是令人恼火，尤其是在炎热的七月天。 —

She hated calls of the formal sort, and never made any till Amy compelled her with a bargain, bribe, or promise. —
她讨厌正式的拜访，除非被艾米用交易、贿赂或承诺逼迫。 —

In the present instance there was no escape, and having clashed her scissors rebelliously, while protesting that she smelled thunder, she gave in, put away her work, and taking up her hat and gloves with an air of resignation, told Amy the victim was ready.
在这种情况下，她无法逃脱，她哼哼了几声，表示她闻到了雷声，她妥协了，收拾起自己的工作，拿起帽子和手套，带着一副顺从的样子告诉艾米，受害者准备好了。

“Jo March, you are perverse enough to provoke a saint! —
“乔·马奇，你简直够坏让圣人都生气！ —

You don’t intend to make calls in that state, I hope,” cried Amy, surveying her with amazement.
我希望你不打算穿着那种状况去拜访人，”艾米惊讶地看着她说道。

“Why not? I’m neat and cool and comfortable, quite proper for a dusty walk on a warm day. —
“为什么不呢？我整洁、清凉、舒适，很适合在炎热的天气里散步时穿。” —

If people care more for my clothes than they do for me, I don’t wish to see them. —
如果人们更关心我的衣服而不是我自己，我不想见他们。 —

You can dress for both, and be as elegant as you please. —
你可以为两者都着装，而且可以尽情地优雅。 —

It pays for you to be fine. —
这对你有好处。 —

It doesn’t for me, and furbelows only worry me.”
对我来说不重要，花边装饰只会让我烦恼。

“Oh, dear!” sighed Amy, “now she’s in a contrary fit, and will drive me distracted before I can get her properly ready. —
“哦，亲爱的！”艾米叹了口气，“现在她又闹脾气了，我在她准备好之前会被她逼疯的。” —

I’m sure it’s no pleasure to me to go today, but it’s a debt we owe society, and there’s no one to pay it but you and me. —
我肯定今天不是我愿意去的地方，但我们欠债于社会，只有你和我来偿还。 —

I’ll do anything for you, Jo, if you’ll only dress yourself nicely, and come and help me do the civil. —
我会为你做任何事，乔，只要你把自己打扮漂亮，然后过来帮我搞好那些礼节性的事。 —

You can talk so well, look so aristocratic in your best things, and behave so beautifully, if you try, that I’m proud of you. —
你说话很好，穿上你的最好的衣服看起来很有贵族的气质，如果你愿意，你的举止也很优雅，我为你感到骄傲。 —

I’m afraid to go alone, do come and take care of me.”
我一个人去害怕，快来照顾我吧。

“You’re an artful little puss to flatter and wheedle your cross old sister in that way. —
你真是个狡猾的小家伙，用阿谀奉承哄骗你这个脾气暴躁的姐姐。 —

The idea of my being aristocratic and well-bred, and your being afraid to go anywhere alone! —
我是贵族和教养良好的，而你却害怕一个人去任何地方！ —

I don’t know which is the most absurd. —
我不知道哪个更荒谬。 —

Well, I’ll go if I must, and do my best. —
好吧，如果我必须去，我会尽力而为。 —

You shall be commander of the expedition, and I’ll obey blindly, will that satisfy you?” said Jo, with a sudden change from perversity to lamblike submission.
你将成为这次远行的指挥官，我会盲从，这样满足你吗？乔突然由叛逆转为像羔羊般的服从。

“You’re a perfect cherub! Now put on all your best things, and I’ll tell you how to behave at each place, so that you will make a good impression. —
你真是个完美的天使！现在穿上你所有的最好的衣服，我会告诉你在每个地方如何行为，这样你就会给人留下好印象。 —

I want people to like you, and they would if you’d only try to be a little more agreeable. —
我希望人们喜欢你，只要你稍微试着变得更加和蔼可亲一点。 —

Do your hair the pretty way, and put the pink rose in your bonnet. It’s becoming, and you look too sober in your plain suit. —
把头发梳得漂亮些，把粉色的玫瑰放在帽子上。这样很漂亮，你穿着朴素的衣服看起来太严肃了。 —

Take your light gloves and the embroidered handkerchief. —
拿上你的轻薄手套和刺绣手帕。 —

We’ll stop at Meg’s, and borrow her white sunshade, and then you can have my dove-colored one.”
我们会在梅格那里停一下，借她的白色阳伞，然后你可以用我的鸽灰色的。

While Amy dressed, she issued her orders, and Jo obeyed them, not without entering her protest, however, for she sighed as she rustled into her new organdie, frowned darkly at herself as she tied her bonnet strings in an irreproachable bow, wrestled viciously with pins as she put on her collar, wrinkled up her features generally as she shook out the handkerchief, whose embroidery was as irritating to her nose as the present mission was to her feelings, and when she had squeezed her hands into tight gloves with three buttons and a tassel, as the last touch of elegance, she turned to Amy with an imbecile expression of countenance, saying meekly …
当艾米穿衣服的时候，她发布了她的命令，乔遵守了这些命令，虽然她表示反对, 因为当她穿上她的新的有机纤维时，她叹了口气，当她系上帽子带子时却阴沉着脸, 当她戴上领子时她凶狠地与别人争斗与别人插上别针, 当她摇开手帕时她的表情包括起皱了她的脸, 刺激到她的鼻子的刺绣和目前的任务刺激了她的感觉一样, 当她把她的手挤进有三个钮扣和流苏的紧身手套, 作为最后的优雅之举时, 她用一副愚蠢的表情转向艾米，温顺地说着…

“I’m perfectly miserable, but if you consider me presentable, I die happy.”
“我感觉完全痛苦，但如果你觉得我看起来可以接受，我死也心满意足。”

“You’re highly satisfactory. Turn slowly round, and let me get a careful view.” Jo revolved, and Amy gave a touch here and there, then fell back, with her head on one side, observing graciously, “Yes, you’ll do. —
“你非常满意。慢慢转一圈，让我仔细看看。”乔转了一圈，艾米在这里那里进行了调整，然后退后一步，头歪在一边，和蔼地评价说：“是的，你可以了。” —

Your head is all I could ask, for that white bonnet with the rose is quite ravishing. —
你的头发真是使我心满意足，那顶带玫瑰的白色帽子太迷人了。 —

Hold back your shoulders, and carry your hands easily, no matter if your gloves do pinch. —
收敛肩膀，轻松挥动双手，不要管手套是否有些紧。 —

There’s one thing you can do well, Jo, that is, wear a shawl. —
有一件事你做得很好，乔，那就是戴披肩。 —

I can’t, but it’s very nice to see you, and I’m so glad Aunt March gave you that lovely one. —
我戴不起，但很高兴看到你，而且我很高兴玛奇姨妈送给你这个漂亮的披肩。 —

It’s simple, but handsome, and those folds over the arm are really artistic. —
它简单而漂亮，手臂上的褶皱真的很艺术。 —

Is the point of my mantle in the middle, and have I looped my dress evenly? —
我的披肩是不是中间的尖角，我的裙子是否系得平均？ —

I like to show my boots, for my feet are pretty, though my nose isn’t.”
我喜欢展示我的靴子，因为我的脚很漂亮，尽管我的鼻子不漂亮。

“You are a thing of beauty and a joy forever,” said Jo, looking through her hand with the air of a connoisseur at the blue feather against the golden hair. —
“你是一件永恒的美丽和快乐之物”，乔说着，眼睛透过手指，以鉴赏家的姿态望着金色的头发上那根蓝色的羽毛。 —

“Am I to drag my best dress through the dust, or loop it up, please, ma’am?”
“我应该把我最好的裙子拖在尘土中吗？还是卷起来，请告诉我，夫人？”

“Hold it up when you walk, but drop it in the house. —
“走路时把裙子拎起来，但进房子后放下。 —

The sweeping style suits you best, and you must learn to trail your skirts gracefully. —
拖地的款式最适合你，并且你必须学会优雅地拖裙子。 —

You haven’t half buttoned one cuff, do it at once. —
你一个袖子的钮扣都没扣好，马上去扣。 —

You’ll never look finished if you are not careful about the little details, for they make up the pleasing whole.”
如果你对细节不小心的话，你看起来永远不会显得完美，因为它们构成了一个令人愉悦的整体。

Jo sighed, and proceeded to burst the buttons off her glove, in doing up her cuff, but at last both were ready, and sailed away, looking as ‘pretty as picters’, Hannah said, as she hung out of the upper window to watch them.
乔叹了口气，开始扣起袖口的钮扣，结果把手套的纽扣都弄掉了，但最后两者都准备好了，然后她们带着’美若画意’的容貌驶向远方，汉娜挂在上面的窗户外看着他们说道。

“Now, Jo dear, the Chesters consider themselves very elegant people, so I want you to put on your best deportment. —
“现在，亲爱的乔，切斯特一家认为自己非常优雅，所以我希望你表现出你最好的举止。 —

Don’t make any of your abrupt remarks, or do anything odd, will you? —
不要说什么突然的话，或者做什么奇怪的事情，好吗？ —

Just be calm, cool, and quiet, that’s safe and ladylike, and you can easily do it for fifteen minutes,” said Amy, as they approached the first place, having borrowed the white parasol and been inspected by Meg, with a baby on each arm.
只要冷静、淡定而又安静，那就安全和女士般的行为了，15分钟对你来说很容易，”艾米说着，她们接近了第一个地方，借了白色的阳伞，经过梅格的检查，每只手臂上还抱着一个孩子。

“Let me see. ‘Calm, cool, and quiet’, yes, I think I can promise that. —
“让我想想。’冷静、淡定、安静’，是的，我想我能做到。 —

I’ve played the part of a prim young lady on the stage, and I’ll try it off. —
我在舞台上扮演过一位拘谨的年轻女士，我会尽力做到。 —

My powers are great, as you shall see, so be easy in your mind, my child.”
“我的力量是强大的，你会看到的，所以放心吧，我的孩子。”

Amy looked relieved, but naughty Jo took her at her word, for during the first call she sat with every limb gracefully composed, every fold correctly draped, calm as a summer sea, cool as a snowbank, and as silent as the sphinx. —
艾米松了口气，但淘气的乔信以为她是认真的。在第一个来访者来时，她坐得很端庄，身上的每一块肌肉都优雅地组合在一起，每一件衣褶都摆放得正确无误，像夏日的大海一样平静，像雪堆一样凉爽，像狮身人面像一样沉默。 —

In vain Mrs. Chester alluded to her ‘charming novel’, and the Misses Chester introduced parties, picnics, the opera, and the fashions. —
切斯特夫人提及她那本“迷人的小说”，切斯特小姐们则提到聚会、野餐、歌剧和时尚，却毫无回应。 —

Each and all were answered by a smile, a bow, and a demure “Yes” or “No” with the chill on. —
每一个提问都只得到一个微笑、一个鞠躬和冷冰冰的“是”或“不是”的回答。 —

In vain Amy telegraphed the word ‘talk’, tried to draw her out, and administered covert pokes with her foot. —
艾米白费心机用脚偷偷戳她、发信号让她说话，但都徒劳无功。 —

Jo sat as if blandly unconscious of it all, with deportment like Maud’s face, ‘icily regular, splendidly null’.
乔坐在那里，仿佛对一切视而不见，像莫德的脸一样“冷酷得异常、悄无声息”。

“What a haughty, uninteresting creature that oldest Miss March is!” was the unfortunately audible remark of one of the ladies, as the door closed upon their guests. —
“那个年长的玛奇小姐真是个高傲而没意思的人！” 一位女士不经意地说道，而碰巧其他人们听到了，当客人们离开时门已经关闭了。 —

Jo laughed noiselessly all through the hall, but Amy looked disgusted at the failure of her instructions, and very naturally laid the blame upon Jo.
乔在整个大厅里都笑得无声无息，但艾米对她的失败感到厌恶，很自然地把责任归咎于乔。

“How could you mistake me so? —
“你怎么能误解我呢？ —

I merely meant you to be properly dignified and composed, and you made yourself a perfect stock and stone. —
我只是想让你表现得得体庄重，结果你却变成了一块木头石头。 —

Try to be sociable at the Lambs’. Gossip as other girls do, and be interested in dress and flirtations and whatever nonsense comes up. —
去兰姆家时要做个好交际者。跟其他姑娘一样八卦，对时尚和调情感兴趣，以及对任何胡闹都要表现出兴致。 —

They move in the best society, are valuable persons for us to know, and I wouldn’t fail to make a good impression there for anything.”
他们在最好的社交圈子里活动，对我们来说是非常有价值的人，为了在那里给人留下好印象，我不会做得不好的。”

“I’ll be agreeable. I’ll gossip and giggle, and have horrors and raptures over any trifle you like. —
“我会做得很有趣的。我会八卦和傻笑，对任何小事都会表现出恐惧和狂喜，只要你愿意。 —

I rather enjoy this, and now I’ll imitate what is called ‘a charming girl’. —
我相当喜欢这样，现在我要模仿所谓的‘迷人女孩’。 —

I can do it, for I have May Chester as a model, and I’ll improve upon her. —
我能做到，因为我有梅·切斯特作为榜样，我会超越她的。 —

See if the Lambs don’t say, ‘What a lively, nice creature that Jo March is!”
看看兰姆家会不会说，‘乔·马奇是一个活泼、好玩的人！’”

Amy felt anxious, as well she might, for when Jo turned freakish there was no knowing where she would stop. —
艾美感到焦虑，她也是有道理的，因为当琼变得古怪起来，就没有人知道她会做到什么地步。 —

Amy’s face was a study when she saw her sister skim into the next drawing room, kiss all the young ladies with effusion, beam graciously upon the young gentlemen, and join in the chat with a spirit which amazed the beholder. —
当艾美看到她的姐姐轻松地进入下一个起居室时，亲吻所有的年轻女士，对年轻绅士们慈祥地微笑，并以出人意料的精神参与到聊天中的时候，她的脸上表情煞是有趣。 —

Amy was taken possession of by Mrs. Lamb, with whom she was a favorite, and forced to hear a long account of Lucretia’s last attack, while three delightful young gentlemen hovered near, waiting for a pause when they might rush in and rescue her. —
艾美被兰姆夫人占据了，她是兰姆夫人的宠儿，被迫听着一枚关于卢克瑞西亚最近的发作的长篇故事，同时三个令人愉快的年轻绅士在附近徘徊着，等待着一个停顿的机会，他们可以突然闯入并拯救她。 —

So situated, she was powerless to check Jo, who seemed possessed by a spirit of mischief, and talked away as volubly as the lady. —
如此处境，艾美无法制止琼，琼似乎被一种恶作剧的精神所驱使，嘴巴动个不停，就像这位女士一样滔滔不绝地说个不停。 —

A knot of heads gathered about her, and Amy strained her ears to hear what was going on, for broken sentences filled her with curiosity, and frequent peals of laughter made her wild to share the fun. —
一群人围着她，艾美竭力听清楚正在发生的事情，因为断断续续的句子让她充满好奇心，频繁的笑声让她迫切地想要分享这个趣味。 —

One may imagine her suffering on overhearing fragments of this sort of conversation.
人们可以想象她听到这种对话碎片时所遭受的痛苦。

“She rides splendidly. Who taught her?”
“她骑得很好。谁教她的？”

“No one. She used to practice mounting, holding the reins, and sitting straight on an old saddle in a tree. —
“没有人。她过去常常练习上马、握住缰绳、坐直了，都是在一棵树上的一个旧马鞍上。” —

Now she rides anything, for she doesn’t know what fear is, and the stableman lets her have horses cheap because she trains them to carry ladies so well. —
现在她可以骑任何马了，因为她不知道什么是害怕，厩丁也会便宜地让她骑马，因为她训练得很好，适合搭载女士。 —

She has such a passion for it, I often tell her if everything else fails, she can be a horsebreaker, and get her living so.”
她对骑马有着如此的热情，我经常告诉她，如果其他事情都失败了，她可以成为一名驯马师，以此谋生。”

At this awful speech Amy contained herself with difficulty, for the impression was being given that she was rather a fast young lady, which was her especial aversion. —
在这令人恐怖的说话之前，艾米勉力控制住了自己，因为这给人的印象是她是一个相当快活的年轻女子，而这正是她特别讨厌的。 —

But what could she do? For the old lady was in the middle of her story, and long before it was done, Jo was off again, making more droll revelations and committing still more fearful blunders.
但她能怎么办呢？因为老太太正在讲述她的故事，而在故事还没讲完之前，乔又开始说出更多滑稽的事情，犯下了更多可怕的错误。

“Yes, Amy was in despair that day, for all the good beasts were gone, and of three left, one was lame, one blind, and the other so balky that you had to put dirt in his mouth before he would start. —
“是的，那天艾米感到绝望，因为所有好的兽类都走了，而剩下的三只，一只跛脚，一只瞎了，另外一只非常懒散，你必须给他嘴里放点土才会出发。 —

Nice animal for a pleasure party, wasn’t it?”
“真是个适合宴会的好动物，不是吗？”

“Which did she choose?” asked one of the laughing gentlemen, who enjoyed the subject.
“她选择了哪一只？”一个嬉笑的绅士问道，他们都对这个话题很感兴趣。

“None of them. She heard of a young horse at the farm house over the river, and though a lady had never ridden him, she resolved to try, because he was handsome and spirited. —
“她一个也没选。她听说河对岸的农舍里有一匹年轻的马，虽然从未有女士骑过他，但她决定尝试，因为他既好看又有活力。 —

Her struggles were really pathetic. —
“她的挣扎真是令人心酸。 —

There was no one to bring the horse to the saddle, so she took the saddle to the horse. —
没有人能帮她把马带到鞍上，所以她带着鞍子去找马。” —

My dear creature, she actually rowed it over the river, put it on her head, and marched up to the barn to the utter amazement of the old man!”
“亲爱的，她真的划船过河，把鞍子放在头上，走到谷仓，把那位老人吓得目瞪口呆！”

“Did she ride the horse?”
“她骑上那匹马了吗？”

“Of course she did, and had a capital time. —
“当然了，而且玩得很尽兴。 —

I expected to see her brought home in fragments, but she managed him perfectly, and was the life of the party.”
我本以为她会带着碎片回家，但她完全掌控住了它，并成为了宴会的灵魂。”

“Well, I call that plucky!” and young Mr. Lamb turned an approving glance upon Amy, wondering what his mother could be saying to make the girl look so red and uncomfortable.
“喔，我觉得那太勇敢了！”兰姆先生年轻的眼光落在艾米身上，他纳闷着他的母亲到底在说什么让这个女孩看起来那么红和不自在。

She was still redder and more uncomfortable a moment after, when a sudden turn in the conversation introduced the subject of dress. —
接下来的一刻，她更红更不自在了，因为谈话的一个突然转折将话题引入了服装。 —

One of the young ladies asked Jo where she got the pretty drab hat she wore to the picnic and stupid Jo, instead of mentioning the place where it was bought two years ago, must needs answer with unnecessary frankness, “Oh, Amy painted it. —
一个年轻女士问乔她在野餐时戴的漂亮的淡褐色帽子是在哪买的，而愚蠢的乔不是提到两年前买的地方，却非要不必要地坦诚回答：“哦，是艾米画的。 —

You can’t buy those soft shades, so we paint ours any color we like. —
你买不到那些柔和的颜色，所以我们自己涂上我们喜欢的颜色。 —

It’s a great comfort to have an artistic sister.”
有一个有艺术天赋的妹妹真是太舒服了。”

“Isn’t that an original idea?” cried Miss Lamb, who found Jo great fun.
“这不是个原创的主意吗？”兰姆小姐喊道，她觉得乔非常有趣。

“That’s nothing compared to some of her brilliant performances. —
“这还不算什么，相比她其他的精彩表演来说。 —

There’s nothing the child can’t do. —
这个孩子无所不能。” —

Why, she wanted a pair of blue boots for Sallie’s party, so she just painted her soiled white ones the loveliest shade of sky blue you ever saw, and they looked exactly like satin,” added Jo, with an air of pride in her sister’s accomplishments that exasperated Amy till she felt that it would be a relief to throw her cardcase at her.
她想要一双蓝色的靴子参加莎莉的派对，所以她把她那双脏兮兮的白色靴子涂成了你见过的最美丽的天蓝色，看起来就像缎子一样，” 乔傲慢地补充道，让艾米感到恼火，她觉得如果能把卡包扔向她会感到宽慰。

“We read a story of yours the other day, and enjoyed it very much,” observed the elder Miss Lamb, wishing to compliment the literary lady, who did not look the character just then, it must be confessed.
“我们前几天读了你的一篇故事，非常喜欢，”长姐兰姆女士说道，想夸奖一下这位文学女士，尽管她看起来并不像一个作家，这倒是必须承认的。

Any mention of her ‘works’ always had a bad effect upon Jo, who either grew rigid and looked offended, or changed the subject with a brusque remark, as now. —
任何提及她的’作品’的话总是对乔产生不好的影响，她要么变得僵硬并且看起来生气，要么用急躁的话题转换掉，就像现在那样。 —

“Sorry you could find nothing better to read. —
“很抱歉你找不到更好的书来看。 —

I write that rubbish because it sells, and ordinary people like it. —
我写这些垃圾只是因为它能卖出去，而且普通人喜欢它。 —

Are you going to New York this winter?”
你这个冬天会去纽约吗？”

As Miss Lamb had ‘enjoyed’ the story, this speech was not exactly grateful or complimentary. —
考虑到兰姆女士“喜欢”这个故事，这句话并不算感激或称赞。 —

The minute it was made Jo saw her mistake, but fearing to make the matter worse, suddenly remembered that it was for her to make the first move toward departure, and did so with an abruptness that left three people with half-finished sentences in their mouths.
刚一说出口，乔就意识到自己的错误，但她害怕让事情变得更糟，突然记起是她主动采取离去的行动，于是以一种突然的方式离开，让另外三个人的嘴里停在半句未说的话中。

“Amy, we must go. Good-by, dear, do come and see us. We are pining for a visit. —
“艾米，我们必须走了。再见，亲爱的，一定要来看我们。我们非常盼望你的来访。” —

I don’t dare to ask you, Mr. Lamb, but if you should come, I don’t think I shall have the heart to send you away.”
我不敢问你，兰姆先生，但如果您来了，我想我将没有勇气让您离开。

Jo said this with such a droll imitation of May Chester’s gushing style that Amy got out of the room as rapidly as possible, feeling a strong desire to laugh and cry at the same time.
乔这样滑稽地模仿梅·切斯特那种逢场作戏的风格，使得艾米忍不住迅速离开房间，感到一种强烈的笑意和悲伤并存的冲动。

“Didn’t I do well?” asked Jo, with a satisfied air as they walked away.
“我表现得不错吧？”乔得意地问道，他们走开的时候。

“Nothing could have been worse,” was Amy’s crushing reply. —
“没有比这更糟的了，”艾米压倒性地回答道。 —

“What possessed you to tell those stories about my saddle, and the hats and boots, and all the rest of it?”
“你为什么要对我那个马鞍、帽子、靴子和其他一切都编造那些故事？”

“Why, it’s funny, and amuses people. They know we are poor, so it’s no use pretending that we have grooms, buy three or four hats a season, and have things as easy and fine as they do.”
“为什么呢，这很有趣，能逗乐人。他们知道我们穷，所以假装我们有马夫，每季买三四顶帽子，生活和他们一样轻松精致是没有用的。”

“You needn’t go and tell them all our little shifts, and expose our poverty in that perfectly unnecessary way. —
“你不需要去告诉他们我们所有小小的应对，以这种完全不必要的方式揭露我们的贫穷。” —

You haven’t a bit of proper pride, and never will learn when to hold your tongue and when to speak,” said Amy despairingly.
“你一点儿正常的自尊心都没有，永远不会学会何时该闭嘴，何时该说话，”艾米绝望地说。

Poor Jo looked abashed, and silently chafed the end of her nose with the stiff handkerchief, as if performing a penance for her misdemeanors.
可怜的乔感到尴尬，沉默地用硬手绢搓着鼻子尾部，好像在为自己的过错做赎罪。

“How shall I behave here?” she asked, as they approached the third mansion.
“我该怎么在这里表现呢？”在她们接近第三座别墅时，她问道。

“Just as you please. I wash my hands of you,” was Amy’s short answer.
“随你喜欢，我对你不负责，”艾米简短地回答道。

“Then I’ll enjoy myself. The boys are at home, and we’ll have a comfortable time. —
“那我就痛快地享受吧。男孩们都在家，我们会过得很舒服。 —

Goodness knows I need a little change, for elegance has a bad effect upon my constitution,” returned Jo gruffly, being disturbed by her failure to suit.
．“天晓得我需要一点变化，因为优雅对我的身体有不好的影响，”乔粗暴地回答道，被自己无法取悦而感到烦恼。

An enthusiastic welcome from three big boys and several pretty children speedily soothed her ruffled feelings, and leaving Amy to entertain the hostess and Mr. Tudor, who happened to be calling likewise, Jo devoted herself to the young folks and found the change refreshing. —
一群活泼的大男孩和几个可爱的孩子热情地欢迎她，迅速平息了她心中的不安，而留下艾米来招待女主人和正在拜访的图多先生，乔全身心地投入到孩子们身上，感到身心焕然一新。 —

She listened to college stories with deep interest, caressed pointers and poodles without a murmur, agreed heartily that “Tom Brown was a brick,” regardless of the improper form of praise, and when one lad proposed a visit to his turtle tank, she went with an alacrity which caused Mamma to smile upon her, as that motherly lady settled the cap which was left in a ruinous condition by filial hugs, bearlike but affectionate, and dearer to her than the most faultless coiffure from the hands of an inspired Frenchwoman.
她聚精会神地听着大学的故事，无怨无悔地抚摸指示犬和贵宾犬，尽管形容词不当，她也由衷地赞同“汤姆·布朗是个了不起的人”。当一个男孩提议去看他的乌龟水池时，她欣然同行，令妈妈对她微笑，母亲那慈祥的笑容，使她的头巾遭受了亲情拥抱的破坏，看起来像是被激发灵感的法国女人造型师弄得毫无法可施的时候，那样的头巾，对她而言比最完美的发式更加珍贵。

Leaving her sister to her own devices, Amy proceeded to enjoy herself to her heart’s content. —
将妹妹扔给自己的事情，艾米开始尽情地享受自己的乐趣。 —

Mr. Tudor’s uncle had married an English lady who was third cousin to a living lord, and Amy regarded the whole family with great respect, for in spite of her American birth and breeding, she possessed that reverence for titles which haunts the best of us–that unacknowledged loyalty to the early faith in kings which set the most democratic nation under the sun in ferment at the coming of a royal yellow-haired laddie, some years ago, and which still has something to do with the love the young country bears the old, like that of a big son for an imperious little mother, who held him while she could, and let him go with a farewell scolding when he rebelled. —
图多尔先生的叔叔与一位英国女士结婚，这位女士是一位现任贵族的远亲。艾米非常尊敬这个家族，尽管她自己出生在美国并接受良好的教育，但她具备了对头衔的崇敬，这种崇敬存在于我们中的上乘者心中 - 一种对国王早期信仰的无形忠诚。几年前，当一位王室黄发男孩踏足这个最民主的国家时，整个国家陷入狂热的状态。这种忠诚仍然是年轻国家对老国家怀有的那种爱，就像一个大儿子对他傲慢的小母亲的爱，她在自己能管教他的时候紧紧抓住他，当他反抗时，带着道别的责骂让他离开。 —

But even the satisfaction of talking with a distant connection of the British nobility did not render Amy forgetful of time, and when the proper number of minutes had passed, she reluctantly tore herself from this aristocratic society, and looked about for Jo, fervently hoping that her incorrigible sister would not be found in any position which should bring disgrace upon the name of March.
但是即使与英国贵族遥远的联系交谈让埃米感到满意，她也没有忘记时间，当恰当的时间过去时，她不情愿地离开了这个贵族社会，并四处寻找乔，殷切希望她那不可救药的妹妹不会身处任何让马奇家族蒙羞的境地。

It might have been worse, but Amy considered it bad. —
情况本可以更糟，但埃米认为这已经糟透了。 —

For Jo sat on the grass, with an encampment of boys about her, and a dirty-footed dog reposing on the skirt of her state and festival dress, as she related one of Laurie’s pranks to her admiring audience. —
因为乔坐在草地上，周围围着一群男孩子，一只脏脚的狗躺在她盛装礼服的裙摆上，她正向仰慕的听众们讲述劳里的恶作剧。 —

One small child was poking turtles with Amy’s cherished parasol, a second was eating gingerbread over Jo’s best bonnet, and a third playing ball with her gloves, but all were enjoying themselves, and when Jo collected her damaged property to go, her escort accompanied her, begging her to come again, “It was such fun to hear about Laurie’s larks.”
一个小孩子用艾米珍视的阳伞戳着乌龟，第二个孩子则在乔的最好的帽子上吃着姜饼，第三个孩子则在用她的手套玩球，但他们都在享受着乐趣。当乔收集起她损坏的物品准备离开时，她的随行人员陪伴着她，并请求她再来，” 听到劳瑞的恶作剧真是太有趣了。”

“Capital boys, aren’t they? —
“这些孩子真了不起，不是吗？ —

I feel quite young and brisk again after that.” said Jo, strolling along with her hands behind her, partly from habit, partly to conceal the bespattered parasol.
在那之后，我感觉自己又年轻又有活力。” 乔懒洋洋地走着，双手放在背后，一部分是出于习惯，一部分是为了掩盖到处都是污渍的阳伞。

“Why do you always avoid Mr. Tudor?” asked Amy, wisely refraining from any comment upon Jo’s dilapidated appearance.
“为什么你总是避开图多先生？” 阿米明智地没有对乔衣衫褴褛的样子做任何评论。

“Don’t like him, he puts on airs, snubs his sisters, worries his father, and doesn’t speak respectfully of his mother. —
“不喜欢他，他装模作样，冷落他的姐妹，困扰他的父亲，对他的母亲也不尊敬。劳瑞说他很风流，我不认为他是一个可取的朋友，所以我让他一个人呆着。” —

Laurie says he is fast, and I don’t consider him a desirable acquaintance, so I let him alone.”
“不喜欢他，他装模作样，冷落他的姐妹，困扰他的父亲，对他的母亲也不尊敬。劳瑞说他很风流，我不认为他是一个可取的朋友，所以我让他一个人呆着。”

“You might treat him civilly, at least. —
“至少你可以礼貌地对待他。 —

You gave him a cool nod, and just now you bowed and smiled in the politest way to Tommy Chamberlain, whose father keeps a grocery store. —
你向他冷淡地点了下头，刚才还向汤米·张伯伦鞠了一躬并微笑，那是以最有礼貌的方式做到的，他的父亲经营着一家杂货店。” —

If you had just reversed the nod and the bow, it would have been right,” said Amy reprovingly.
艾米责备地说：“如果你刚才鞠了一躬而不是点头，就对了。”

“No, it wouldn’t,” returned Jo, “I neither like, respect, nor admire Tudor, though his grandfather’s uncle’s nephew’s niece was a third cousin to a lord. —
“不，那也不对，“乔回答道，“尽管他祖父的叔叔的侄子的侄女是一位贵族的三表堂兄妹，但我既不喜欢他，也不尊敬他，也不羡慕他。 —

Tommy is poor and bashful and good and very clever. —
汤米穷而害羞，善良而聪明。我对他印象很好， —

I think well of him, and like to show that I do, for he is a gentleman in spite of the brown paper parcels.”
也喜欢显示出来，因为尽管他手里提着褐色纸袋，但他是一个绅士。”

“It’s no use trying to argue with you,” began Amy.
“跟你争论没有用，”艾米开始说。

“Not the least, my dear,” interrupted Jo, “so let us look amiable, and drop a card here, as the Kings are evidently out, for which I’m deeply grateful.”
乔打断道：“亲爱的，毫无疑问，所以我们表现得友善些，并在这里放下一张名片，因为国王家显然不在家，对此我非常感激。”

The family cardcase having done its duty the girls walked on, and Jo uttered another thanksgiving on reaching the fifth house, and being told that the young ladies were engaged.
姐妹们用完家庭名片后继续走路，乔在到达第五个房子后又道了一次谢，被告知那些年轻女士们都在忙着做别的事。

“Now let us go home, and never mind Aunt March today. —
“现在我们回家吧，别管奥尔夫人玛奇。 —

We can run down there any time, and it’s really a pity to trail through the dust in our best bibs and tuckers, when we are tired and cross.”
我们随时可以去那里，穿着我们最好的衣服在尘土中行走实在可惜，我们现在又累又烦。”

“Speak for yourself, if you please. —
“请你替自己说话。 —

Aunt March likes to have us pay her the compliment of coming in style, and making a formal call. —
奥尔夫人玛奇希望我们以有风度的方式造访，并进行正式拜访。” —

It’s a little thing to do, but it gives her pleasure, and I don’t believe it will hurt your things half so much as letting dirty dogs and clumping boys spoil them. —
“这只是个小事，但能让她开心。而且我不相信这会对你的东西造成很大损害，不会比让脏狗和粗鲁的男孩破坏它们更糟。” —

Stoop down, and let me take the crumbs off of your bonnet.”
“弯下身子，让我帮你把帽子上的碎屑去掉。”

“What a good girl you are, Amy!” said Jo, with a repentant glance from her own damaged costume to that of her sister, which was fresh and spotless still. —
“艾米，你真是个好姑娘！”乔说着，从她自己破损的服装转向姐姐的衣服，后者仍然干净无瑕。 —

“I wish it was as easy for me to do little things to please people as it is for you. —
“要是我像你一样轻松地做些让人开心的小事就好了。” —

I think of them, but it takes too much time to do them, so I wait for a chance to confer a great favor, and let the small ones slip, but they tell best in the end, I fancy.”
“我也想过，但是做这些事情花费的时间太长，所以我等着机会来做一件大事，而把小事放过去。但是我想小事最终会起到更好的效果。”

Amy smiled and was mollified at once, saying with a maternal air, “Women should learn to be agreeable, particularly poor ones, for they have no other way of repaying the kindnesses they receive. —
艾米微笑着，立刻感到安心，带着母性的气质说道：“妇女应该学会讨人喜欢，尤其是贫困的妇女，因为她们没有其他方式来回报所受到的善意。 —

If you’d remember that, and practice it, you’d be better liked than I am, because there is more of you.”
如果你记住这一点并实践它，你会比我更受欢迎，因为你更有包容性。

“I’m a crotchety old thing, and always shall be, but I’m willing to own that you are right, only it’s easier for me to risk my life for a person than to be pleasant to him when I don’t feel like it. —
“我是一个脾气暴躁的老东西，而且永远都会是，但我愿意承认你是对的，只是当我不想的时候，为一个人冒生命危险对我来说更容易。 —

It’s a great misfortune to have such strong likes and dislikes, isn’t it?”
喜欢和讨厌某人那么强烈是件很不幸的事情，不是吗？

“It’s a greater not to be able to hide them. —
“隐瞒它们才更不幸。 —

I don’t mind saying that I don’t approve of Tudor any more than you do, but I’m not called upon to tell him so. —
我不介意说我不赞同图多尔，就像你一样，但我没有必要告诉他。 —

Neither are you, and there is no use in making yourself disagreeable because he is.”
你也没必要这样做，因为他在场也不会有任何益处。

“But I think girls ought to show when they disapprove of young men, and how can they do it except by their manners? —
但我认为女孩们应该表现出对年轻人的不赞成，她们怎么能做到呢，除非通过她们的行为方式？ —

Preaching does not do any good, as I know to my sorrow, since I’ve had Teddie to manage. —
说教没有任何好处，我深有体会，因为我有 Teddie 帮我管理。 —

But there are many little ways in which I can influence him without a word, and I say we ought to do it to others if we can.”
但有许多小小的方法可以在不言语的情况下影响他，我认为如果可能的话，我们应该对他人做同样的事情。

“Teddy is a remarkable boy, and can’t be taken as a sample of other boys,” said Amy, in a tone of solemn conviction, which would have convulsed the ‘remarkable boy’ if he had heard it. —
“Teddy 是一个非凡的男孩，不能以他作为其他男孩的代表。”艾米以一种庄严的说法说道，如果“非凡的男孩”听到这话，他一定会笑翻。 —

“If we were belles, or women of wealth and position, we might do something, perhaps, but for us to frown at one set of young gentlemen because we don’t approve of them, and smile upon another set because we do, wouldn’t have a particle of effect, and we should only be considered odd and puritanical.”
“如果我们是美女，要么是财富和地位高的女人，或许我们可以做些什么，但对于我们来说，对一些我们不赞成的年轻绅士们皱眉头，对另一些我们赞成的年轻绅士们微笑，根本没有任何效果，我们只会被看作奇怪和拘谨。”

“So we are to countenance things and people which we detest, merely because we are not belles and millionaires, are we? —
“所以我们要照顾那些我们厌恶的事物和人，仅仅因为我们不是美女和百万富翁，是吗？ —

That’s a nice sort of morality.”
这是一种好的道德观。”

“I can’t argue about it, I only know that it’s the way of the world, and people who set themselves against it only get laughed at for their pains. —
“我无法对此争论，我只知道这是世界的规律，那些反对它的人只会因此而被嘲笑。” —

I don’t like reformers, and I hope you never try to be one.”
“我不喜欢改革者，希望你永远不要试图成为一个。”

“I do like them, and I shall be one if I can, for in spite of the laughing the world would never get on without them. —
“我喜欢他们，如果可能的话，我将成为其中之一，因为尽管有人嘲笑，但世界永远不能没有他们。” —

We can’t agree about that, for you belong to the old set, and I to the new. —
“我们对此意见不合，因为你属于旧派，而我属于新派。” —

You will get on the best, but I shall have the liveliest time of it. —
“你会过得最好，但我将有最精彩的时光。” —

I should rather enjoy the brickbats and hooting, I think.”
“我宁愿享受被人投掷砖头和嘲笑的待遇，我想。”

“Well, compose yourself now, and don’t worry Aunt with your new ideas.”
“好吧，冷静下来，别用你的新思想来困扰姑姑。”

“I’ll try not to, but I’m always possessed to burst out with some particularly blunt speech or revolutionary sentiment before her. —
“我会尽量不去做的，但我总是不自禁地会在她面前说出一些尖锐的言论或革命性的观点。” —

It’s my doom, and I can’t help it.”
“这是我的宿命，我无能为力。”

They found Aunt Carrol with the old lady, both absorbed in some very interesting subject, but they dropped it as the girls came in, with a conscious look which betrayed that they had been talking about their nieces. —
她们发现卡罗尔姑姑和那位老太太正专心致志地讨论着一些非常有趣的话题，但她们进来时放下了话题，流露出一种自觉的神情，透露她们刚刚在谈论她们的侄女们。 —

Jo was not in a good humor, and the perverse fit returned, but Amy, who had virtuously done her duty, kept her temper and pleased everybody, was in a most angelic frame of mind. —
乔的心情不好，倔强的情绪又回来了，但是艾米做出善意的努力，保持了她的脾气，让每个人都感到愉快，她心态非常善良。 —

This amiable spirit was felt at once, and both aunts ‘my deared’ her affectionately, looking what they afterward said emphatically, “That child improves every day.”
这种和善的精神立刻被感受到，两位姑妈亲切地称她为“亲爱的”，并且同时看到她后来说的一句话：“这孩子每天都在进步。”

“Are you going to help about the fair, dear?” asked Mrs. Carrol, as Amy sat down beside her with the confiding air elderly people like so well in the young.
“亲爱的，你打算帮忙慈善义卖吗？”卡罗尔夫人问道，当艾米坐在她旁边时，具有信任感的举止年长的人们喜欢这一点。

“Yes, Aunt. Mrs. Chester asked me if I would, and I offered to tend a table, as I have nothing but my time to give.”
“是的，姑妈。切斯特夫人问过我是否愿意，我主动提出要管理一个摊位，因为我只有时间可以奉献。”

“I’m not,” put in Jo decidedly. “I hate to be patronized, and the Chesters think it’s a great favor to allow us to help with their highly connected fair. —
“我可不这样。”乔断然说道，“我讨厌受人恩惠，切斯特一家认为让我们帮忙他们有关系深远的义卖是个特别的恩宠。” —

I wonder you consented, Amy, they only want you to work.”
“我想你同意了，艾米，因为他们只需要你去工作。”

“I am willing to work. It’s for the freedmen as well as the Chesters, and I think it very kind of them to let me share the labor and the fun. —
“我愿意工作。这不仅是为了切斯特一家，也是为了解放的黑人，我认为让我分享劳动和乐趣是非常友善的事。” —

Patronage does not trouble me when it is well meant.”
当它是出于善意时，赞助对我来说并不困扰。

“Quite right and proper. I like your grateful spirit, my dear. It’s a pleasure to help people who appreciate our efforts. —
“完全正确和恰当。我喜欢你感激的心态，亲爱的。帮助那些欣赏我们的努力的人是一种快乐。 —

Some do not, and that is trying,” observed Aunt March, looking over her spectacles at Jo, who sat apart, rocking herself, with a somewhat morose expression.

If Jo had only known what a great happiness was wavering in the balance for one of them, she would have turned dove-like in a minute, but unfortunately, we don’t have windows in our breasts, and cannot see what goes on in the minds of our friends. —
有些人不是这样，这真让人烦恼。”奥尔特·马奇姨妈佩戴着眼镜看着乔，乔独自坐在一边摇摇晃晃，面带些许郁闷表情。 —

Better for us that we cannot as a general thing, but now and then it would be such a comfort, such a saving of time and temper. —
如果乔早知道他们中的一个人即将失去的一种巨大幸福的平衡，她会在一分钟内变得温顺如鸽子，但不幸的是，我们的胸膛里没有窗户，无法看到朋友们心中所思。 —

By her next speech, Jo deprived herself of several years of pleasure, and received a timely lesson in the art of holding her tongue.
对我们来说，不能看透一切通常是更好的，但偶尔这将会是一种安慰，一种节约时间和心神的机会。

“I don’t like favors, they oppress and make me feel like a slave. —
乔通过接下来的发言，失去了几年的愉悦， —

I’d rather do everything for myself, and be perfectly independent.”
并得到了关于守口如瓶的及时教训。

“Ahem!” coughed Aunt Carrol softly, with a look at Aunt March.
“咳咳！”阿姨卡罗尔轻声咳嗽着，同时瞥了一眼阿姨马奇。

“I told you so,” said Aunt March, with a decided nod to Aunt Carrol.
“我早告诉过你了。”阿姨马奇决定地点头，向阿姨卡罗尔投去一瞥。

Mercifully unconscious of what she had done, Jo sat with her nose in the air, and a revolutionary aspect which was anything but inviting.
毫无自知之明，乔高傲地坐着，鼻子朝天，一副革命般的样子，一点也不招人喜欢。

“Do you speak French, dear?” asked Mrs. Carrol, laying a hand on Amy’s.
“亲爱的，你会说法语吗？”卡罗尔夫人把手放在艾米的手上问道。

“Pretty well, thanks to Aunt March, who lets Esther talk to me as often as I like,” replied Amy, with a grateful look, which caused the old lady to smile affably.
“还可以，多亏了马奇阿姨，她让埃丝特随时和我交谈，我很感激。”艾米回答道，眼神中带着感激之情，这使得老太太和蔼地微笑了。

“How are you about languages?” asked Mrs. Carrol of Jo.
“你对语言怎么样？”卡罗尔夫人问乔。

“Don’t know a word. I’m very stupid about studying anything, can’t bear French, it’s such a slippery, silly sort of language,” was the brusque reply.
“一点也不懂。我学习任何事情都很笨，不喜欢法语，太滑稽、愚蠢了。”乔脆决地回答道。

Another look passed between the ladies, and Aunt March said to Amy, “You are quite strong and well now, dear, I believe? —
两位阿姨之间又相视一眼，阿姨马奇对艾米说：“亲爱的，你现在很健康强壮了，我相信？ —

Eyes don’t trouble you any more, do they?”
眼睛不再困扰你了，对吗？”

“Not at all, thank you, ma’am. I’m very well, and mean to do great things next winter, so that I may be ready for Rome, whenever that joyful time arrives.”
“嗯，不客气，谢谢夫人。我很好，打算在下个冬天做一些伟大的事情，这样我就可以为罗马做好准备，无论那个喜庆的时刻何时到来。”

“Good girl! You deserve to go, and I’m sure you will some day,” said Aunt March, with an approving pat on the head, as Amy picked up her ball for her.
“好乖！你应该去，我相信总有一天你会去的。”安妮·玛奇夸奖着，同时轻轻拍了拍艾米的头，艾米为她捡起了球。

Crosspatch, draw the latch, Sit by the fire and spin,
“脾气火爆，关上门闩，坐在火边纺纱，

squalled Polly, bending down from his perch on the back of her chair to peep into Jo’s face, with such a comical air of impertinent inquiry that it was impossible to help laughing.
“琼恩从椅背上弯下腰，对着乔的脸窥视，带着一副滑稽的调皮研究的神情，让人情不自禁地笑了起来。

“Most observing bird,” said the old lady.
“最有观察能力的鸟儿，”老太太说。

“Come and take a walk, my dear?” cried Polly, hopping toward the china closet, with a look suggestive of a lump of sugar.
“来，散散步，亲爱的？” 波莉叫着，向着瓷柜跳去，眼神暗示着一块糖。

“Thank you, I will. Come Amy.” and Jo brought the visit to an end, feeling more strongly than ever that calls did have a bad effect upon her constitution. —
“谢谢，我会去的。来，艾米。”乔结束了这次拜访，心里更加强烈地感觉到拜访对她的身体有不好的影响。 —

She shook hands in a gentlemanly manner, but Amy kissed both the aunts, and the girls departed, leaving behind them the impression of shadow and sunshine, which impression caused Aunt March to say, as they vanished …
她以绅士般的方式与大家握手，但艾米却吻了两个姑姑，然后姑娘们离开了，留下了深深的印象，这种印象让玛琅姨太太消失之后说道…

“You’d better do it, Mary. I’ll supply the money.” and Aunt Carrol to reply decidedly, “I certainly will, if her father and mother consent.”
“玛丽，你最好这样做。我会提供资金。”而卡罗尔姨母坚定地回答：“如果她父母同意的话，我当然会这么做。”