In France the young girls have a dull time of it till they are married, when ‘Vive la liberte!’ becomes their motto. —
在法国，年轻的女孩在结婚前都过着无聊的日子，而一旦结婚，“自由万岁！”就成了她们的座右铭。 —

In America, as everyone knows, girls early sign the declaration of independence, and enjoy their freedom with republican zest, but the young matrons usually abdicate with the first heir to the throne and go into a seclusion almost as close as a French nunnery, though by no means as quiet. —
在美国，众所周知，女孩们在早期就签署了独立宣言，并以共和主义的热情享受着自由，但年轻的妈妈们通常会随着第一个继承人的诞生而退位，陷入几乎和法国修道院一样封闭的生活，虽然并不那么安静。 —

Whether they like it or not, they are virtually put upon the shelf as soon as the wedding excitement is over, and most of them might exclaim, as did a very pretty woman the other day, “I’m as handsome as ever, but no one takes any notice of me because I’m married.”
不管她们喜欢与否，一旦婚礼兴奋过去，她们实际上被当作摆设，大部分时间可能会像一位非常漂亮的女人前不久所说的那样：“我还是一样漂亮，但是现在没人注意我了，因为我结婚了。

Not being a belle or even a fashionable lady, Meg did not experience this affliction till her babies were a year old, for in her little world primitive customs prevailed, and she found herself more admired and beloved than ever.
由于梅格并不是一位美人或者时尚女士，所以直到她的孩子满一岁之前，她没有经历过这种痛苦，因为在她的小世界里，原始的习俗盛行，她发现自己比以往更受人欢迎和爱戴。

As she was a womanly little woman, the maternal instinct was very strong, and she was entirely absorbed in her children, to the utter exclusion of everything and everybody else. —
作为一个妇女般的小女人，母性本能非常强烈，她完全沉浸在孩子们之中，对其他一切人和事都毫不在意。 —

Day and night she brooded over them with tireless devotion and anxiety, leaving John to the tender mercies of the help, for an Irish lady now presided over the kitchen department. —
她日夜照料着他们，无微不至地关心，满心焦虑，给约翰留下照顾的任务交给了帮佣，因为现在爱尔兰女士负责厨房工作。 —

Being a domestic man, John decidedly missed the wifely attentions he had been accustomed to receive, but as he adored his babies, he cheerfully relinquished his comfort for a time, supposing with masculine ignorance that peace would soon be restored. —
作为一个家庭主夫，约翰确实错过了妻子以往给予他的关切，但是因为他十分爱他的孩子们，他愿意乐观地暂时放弃自己的舒适，以为男性的无知会很快恢复平静。 —

But three months passed, and there was no return of repose. —
然而三个月过去了，恢复宁静的迹象一点也没有。 —

Meg looked worn and nervous, the babies absorbed every minute of her time, the house was neglected, and Kitty, the cook, who took life ‘aisy’, kept him on short commons. —
梅格看起来疲惫而紧张，孩子们占据了她所有的时间，家务被忽视了，而厨师凯蒂，过着”容易”的生活，让他吃的很少。 —

When he went out in the morning he was bewildered by small commissions for the captive mamma, if he came gaily in at night, eager to embrace his family, he was quenched by a “Hush! —
当他早上出门时，对于为被囚禁的妈妈处理小事情感到困惑，如果他晚上快乐地回家，急于拥抱家人，他会被一个“嘘！”给扑灭。 —

They are just asleep after worrying all day.” If he proposed a little amusement at home, “No, it would disturb the babies.” If he hinted at a lecture or a concert, he was answered with a reproachful look, and a decided - “Leave my children for pleasure, never!” His sleep was broken by infant wails and visions of a phantom figure pacing noiselessly to and fro in the watches of the night. —
他们只是在整天的烦恼后睡着了。“如果他提出在家玩一点，”“不，会吵醒宝宝们。”如果他暗示要去听讲座或音乐会，他会接到一个责备的眼神和明确的回答：“为了享受而离开我的孩子，决不！” 夜晚，他的睡眠被婴儿的哭声和一个幽灵般的身影在静谧的黑夜中无声地踱步的幻觉打破。 —

His meals were interrupted by the frequent flight of the presiding genius, who deserted him, half-helped, if a muffled chirp sounded from the nest above. —
他的用餐被主持人的频繁离场打断，如果从上面的窝里传来一声低沉的鸟鸣，她会半助他一臂之力就离开了。 —

And when he read his paper of an evening, Demi’s colic got into the shipping list and Daisy’s fall affected the price of stocks, for Mrs. Brooke was only interested in domestic news.
当他晚上读报纸时，Demi的肠绞痛会进入船只清单，而Daisy的跌倒会影响股票价格，因为布鲁克太太只对家庭新闻感兴趣。

The poor man was very uncomfortable, for the children had bereft him of his wife, home was merely a nursery and the perpetual ‘hushing’ made him feel like a brutal intruder whenever he entered the sacred precincts of Babyland. —
这个可怜的男人非常不舒服，因为孩子们夺走了他的妻子，家里只是个托儿所，而持续不断的“轻声唤静”让他觉得每次进入宝宝们的圣地都像是一个残暴的闯入者。 —

He bore it very patiently for six months, and when no signs of amendment appeared, he did what other paternal exiles do–tried to get a little comfort elsewhere. —
他忍耐了六个月，当没有好转的迹象出现时，他做了其他父亲般的流亡者做的事情–试图在其他地方获得一点安慰。 —

Scott had married and gone to housekeeping not far off, and John fell into the way of running over for an hour or two of an evening, when his own parlor was empty, and his own wife singing lullabies that seemed to have no end. —
斯科特已经结婚并在附近生活，约翰慢慢养成了到那里过来度过一个晚上或两个小时的习惯，尤其当他自己的起居室空荡荡时，而他自己的妻子在唱着似乎没完没了的摇篮曲。 —

Mrs. Scott was a lively, pretty girl, with nothing to do but be agreeable, and she performed her mission most successfully. —
斯科特太太是个活泼、漂亮的姑娘，除了讨人喜欢，她没有其他的事情要做，而她的使命她完成得非常成功。 —

The parlor was always bright and attractive, the chessboard ready, the piano in tune, plenty of gay gossip, and a nice little supper set forth in tempting style.
起居室总是明亮和有吸引力的，象棋盘摆好了，钢琴调好了，有很多愉快的闲谈，还有一份以诱人的方式准备好的美味小宵夜。

John would have preferred his own fireside if it had not been so lonely, but as it was he gratefully took the next best thing and enjoyed his neighbor’s society.
如果自己的壁炉不那么孤独的话，约翰会更喜欢自己的壁炉，但是现在他很感激地选择了次好的，享受着邻居的陪伴。

Meg rather approved of the new arrangement at first, and found it a relief to know that John was having a good time instead of dozing in the parlor, or tramping about the house and waking the children. —
梅格起初对这个新安排非常赞成，她觉得约翰能好好玩一下，而不是在客厅里打瞌睡或者跺着脚在屋子里走来走去，吵醒孩子们，这让她松了一口气。 —

But by-and-by, when the teething worry was over and the idols went to sleep at proper hours, leaving Mamma time to rest, she began to miss John, and find her workbasket dull company, when he was not sitting opposite in his old dressing gown, comfortably scorching his slippers on the fender. —
但是，等到孩子们的长牙问题解决了，偶像们按时睡觉，让妈妈有时间休息时，她开始想念约翰，觉得自己的针线篮子很无聊，如果没有他穿着旧浴袍坐在对面，在壁炉边舒服地烤着他的拖鞋。 —

She would not ask him to stay at home, but felt injured because he did not know that she wanted him without being told, entirely forgetting the many evenings he had waited for her in vain. —
她不会要求约翰留在家里，却感到委屈，因为他竟然不知道她在没有告诉他的情况下想要他，完全忘记了在过去的许多个晚上，他都白白地等待着她。 —

She was nervous and worn out with watching and worry, and in that unreasonable frame of mind which the best of mothers occasionally experience when domestic cares oppress them. —
她紧张不安，因为她一直在观察和担心，处在那种无理的心情中，即使是最好的母亲有时候也会有这种感受，当家务压得她们喘不过气来时。 —

Want of exercise robs them of cheerfulness, and too much devotion to that idol of American women, the teapot, makes them feel as if they were all nerve and no muscle.
缺乏锻炼使她们失去了快乐，而过度追求美国女性的偶像茶壶，让她们觉得自己只有神经没有力量。

“Yes,” she would say, looking in the glass, “I’m getting old and ugly. —
“是的，”她会对着镜子说，” 我变老了，变丑了。 —

John doesn’t find me interesting any longer, so he leaves his faded wife and goes to see his pretty neighbor, who has no incumbrances. —
约翰不再觉得我有趣，所以他离开了他那个已经衰老的妻子，去找他那个漂亮的邻居，她没有负担。 —

Well, the babies love me, they don’t care if I am thin and pale and haven’t time to crimp my hair, they are my comfort, and some day John will see what I’ve gladly sacrificed for them, won’t he, my precious?”
“好吧，孩子们喜欢我，他们不在乎我是否苗条苍白，是否没有时间打理头发，他们是我的安慰，总有一天约翰会明白我为他们乐意付出的一切，对吧，我亲爱的？”

To which pathetic appeal Daisy would answer with a coo, or Demi with a crow, and Meg would put by her lamentations for a maternal revel, which soothed her solitude for the time being. —
对于这悲怆的呼吁，黛西会用咕噜的声音回答，或者迪迈会发出一声叫喊，梅格则会在哀叹中收起她的悲痛情绪，为了一段时间内减轻她的孤独，她会尽情享受母爱。 —

But the pain increased as politics absorbed John, who was always running over to discuss interesting points with Scott, quite unconscious that Meg missed him. —
但是当政治吸引了约翰的注意力时，痛苦感增加了，他总是忙着去找斯科特交流有趣的观点，完全没有意识到梅格想念他。 —

Not a word did she say, however, till her mother found her in tears one day, and insisted on knowing what the matter was, for Meg’s drooping spirits had not escaped her observation.
然而，直到有一天母亲发现她哭泣时，她才说出任何一个字，坚持要知道发生了什么事情，因为梅格的低落精神并没有逃过她的观察。

“I wouldn’t tell anyone except you, Mother, but I really do need advice, for if John goes on much longer I might as well be widowed,” replied Mrs. Brooke, drying her tears on Daisy’s bib with an injured air.
“除了你以外，我真的不会告诉任何人，但我真的需要建议，因为如果约翰再继续下去，我可能就和寡了。”布鲁克夫人回答道，用泪水擦干黛西的围兜，带着一种受伤的态度。

“Goes on how, my dear?” asked her mother anxiously.
“怎么了，亲爱的？”她妈妈焦虑地问道。

“He’s away all day, and at night when I want to see him, he is continually going over to the Scotts’. —
“他整天都不在家，晚上当我想见他的时候，他老是跑去斯科特家。” —

It isn’t fair that I should have the hardest work, and never any amusement. —
“我做最辛苦的工作，却从不得到任何娱乐，这不公平。” —

Men are very selfish, even the best of them.”
“男人都很自私，哪怕是最好的男人。”

“So are women. Don’t blame John till you see where you are wrong yourself.”
“女人也是。在责怪约翰之前，不要忽视你自己的问题。”

“But it can’t be right for him to neglect me.”
“但是他忽视我肯定不对。”

“Don’t you neglect him?”
“你有没有忽视他呢？”

“Why, Mother, I thought you’d take my part!”
“为什么，妈妈，我以为你会支持我！”

“So I do, as far as sympathizing goes, but I think the fault is yours, Meg.”
“当然，我会在同情方面支持你，但我认为这是你的错，梅格。”

“I don’t see how.”
“我不明白为什么。”

“Let me show you. Did John ever neglect you, as you call it, while you made it a point to give him your society of an evening, his only leisure time?”
“让我告诉你。约翰是否曾经忽视过你，就像你所说的，而你却一直把你的陪伴放给他，他唯一的空闲时间？”

“No, but I can’t do it now, with two babies to tend.”
“没有，但现在我有两个孩子要照顾，我不能这样做。”

“I think you could, dear, and I think you ought. —
“亲爱的，我认为你可以，也认为你应该。 —

May I speak quite freely, and will you remember that it’s Mother who blames as well as Mother who sympathizes?”
我可以坦诚地说话吗，请记住，不仅是同情你的母亲，也是批评你的母亲。”

“Indeed I will! Speak to me as if I were little Meg again. —
“当然可以！请像对待小梅格一样对我说话。 —

I often feel as if I needed teaching more than ever since these babies look to me for everything.”
因为现在这些孩子全部依靠我，我常常感觉我更需要教导。”

Meg drew her low chair beside her mother’s, and with a little interruption in either lap, the two women rocked and talked lovingly together, feeling that the tie of motherhood made them more one than ever.
梅格将她的低矮椅子移动到妈妈旁边，并且双方都坐下来亲切地摇着椅子，边摇边聊，感觉到作为母亲的纽带使她们比以往更加亲密。

“You have only made the mistake that most young wives make–forgotten your duty to your husband in your love for your children. —
“你只犯了大多数年轻妻子犯的错误 - 在对孩子的爱中忘记了对丈夫的责任。” —

A very natural and forgivable mistake, Meg, but one that had better be remedied before you take to different ways, for children should draw you nearer than ever, not separate you, as if they were all yours, and John had nothing to do but support them. —
梅格，这是一个非常自然而可以原谅的错误，但是在你走上不同的道路之前，最好能解决这个问题，因为孩子应该让你们更亲近，而不是让你们分开，好像他们都是你的，而约翰只是支撑起他们的存在。 —

I’ve seen it for some weeks, but have not spoken, feeling sure it would come right in time.”
我已经看到这个问题几个星期了，但是没有说出来，因为我相信它会随着时间解决的。

“I’m afraid it won’t. If I ask him to stay, he’ll think I’m jealous, and I wouldn’t insult him by such an idea. —
我担心它不会解决。如果我让他留下来，他会认为我嫉妒，而我不会冒犯他，有这样的想法。 —

He doesn’t see that I want him, and I don’t know how to tell him without words.”
他没有看到我想要他，而我不知道怎么用言语告诉他。

“Make it so pleasant he won’t want to go away. My dear, he’s longing for his little home, but it isn’t home without you, and you are always in the nursery.”
让他觉得这里很愉快，他就不会想要离开。亲爱的，他渴望着他的小家，但是没有你，那不是家，而你总是在儿房里。

“Oughtn’t I to be there?”
我应该一直在那里吗？

“Not all the time, too much confinement makes you nervous, and then you are unfitted for everything. —
不要一直在那里，太多的限制会让你紧张，然后你什么都做不了。 —

Besides, you owe something to John as well as to the babies. —
而且，你不仅欠孩子，也欠约翰一些。 —

Don’t neglect husband for children, don’t shut him out of the nursery, but teach him how to help in it. —
不要为了孩子忽视丈夫，不要把他拒之门外，而是教他如何在其中帮忙。 —

His place is there as well as yours, and the children need him. —
他的位置和你的位置一样，孩子们需要他。 —

Let him feel that he has a part to do, and he will do it gladly and faithfully, and it will be better for you all.”
让他感到自己有份工作要做，他会乐意并忠诚地去做，这对大家都会更好。

“You really think so, Mother?”
“你真的这么认为，妈妈？”

“I know it, Meg, for I’ve tried it, and I seldom give advice unless I’ve proved its practicability. —
“我相信，梅格，因为我已经尝试过了，并且我很少给出未经实践的建议。” —

When you and Jo were little, I went on just as you are, feeling as if I didn’t do my duty unless I devoted myself wholly to you. —
当你和乔还小的时候，我就像你一样，觉得我如果不全心全意地照顾你们，就没有尽到我的责任。 —

Poor Father took to his books, after I had refused all offers of help, and left me to try my experiment alone. —
贫困的父亲在我拒绝了所有的帮助后转而埋头于书，让我独自去尝试我的实验。 —

I struggled along as well as I could, but Jo was too much for me. —
我尽力支撑着过来，但乔对我来说是太困难了， —

I nearly spoiled her by indulgence. —
我差点把她宠坏了。 —

You were poorly, and I worried about you till I fell sick myself. —
你生病了，我对你的担心让我自己也生病了。 —

Then Father came to the rescue, quietly managed everything, and made himself so helpful that I saw my mistake, and never have been able to got on without him since. —
然后父亲来支援，安静地把一切都安排好，他帮了这么多忙以至于让我看到了我的错误，从那以后我再也离不开他了。 —

That is the secret of our home happiness. —
这是我们家庭幸福的秘诀。 —

He does not let business wean him from the little cares and duties that affect us all, and I try not to let domestic worries destroy my interest in his pursuits. —
他不让工作让他离开我们一家人的小事和责任，而我也努力不让家务烦恼影响我对他的事业的兴趣。 —

Each do our part alone in many things, but at home we work together, always.”
在许多事情上，我们各自承担自己的角色，但在家里，我们一直合作共事。

“It is so, Mother, and my great wish is to be to my husband and children what you have been to yours. —
“确实是这样，妈妈，我最大的愿望就是成为我的丈夫和孩子们身边的人，就像您对您的家庭一样。 —

Show me how, I’ll do anything you say.”
告诉我该怎么做，我会照您的说法办。”

“You always were my docile daughter. Well, dear, if I were you, I’d let John have more to do with the management of Demi, for the boy needs training, and it’s none too soon to begin. —
“你一直是我的听话女儿。嗯，亲爱的，如果我是你的话，我会让约翰多参与德米的管教，因为孩子需要训练，现在开始并不算太早。” —

Then I’d do what I have often proposed, let Hannah come and help you. —
“然后我会做我经常建议的，让汉娜来帮你一个忙。她是个出色的保姆，你可以把宝贵的孩子交给她照顾，而你可以做更多家务。” —

She is a capital nurse, and you may trust the precious babies to her while you do more housework. —
“你需要锻炼，汉娜会享受这个休息时间，而约翰也会找回他的妻子。” —

You need the exercise, Hannah would enjoy the rest, and John would find his wife again. —
“我认为这个计划很好，亲爱的。希望你会采纳，因为这对我们全家来说都是有好处的。” —

Go out more, keep cheerful as well as busy, for you are the sunshine-maker of the family, and if you get dismal there is no fair weather. —
多出去走走，保持愉快和忙碌，因为你是家庭的阳光制造者，如果你变得消沉，就没有好天气了。 —

Then I’d try to take an interest in whatever John likes–talk with him, let him read to you, exchange ideas, and help each other in that way. —
然后，我会试着对约翰喜欢的事情产生兴趣-和他交谈，听他读书，交换想法，相互帮助。 —

Don’t shut yourself up in a bandbox because you are a woman, but understand what is going on, and educate yourself to take your part in the world’s work, for it all affects you and yours.”
不要因为你是一个女人而把自己关在一个小盒子里，而是要理解发生的事情，并教育自己参与到世界的工作中，因为这一切都会影响到你和你的生活。

“John is so sensible, I’m afraid he will think I’m stupid if I ask questions about politics and things.”
“约翰很明智，我担心如果我问政治等问题会让他觉得我很愚蠢。”

“I don’t believe he would. Love covers a multitude of sins, and of whom could you ask more freely than of him? —
“我不相信他会这样想。爱能掩盖许多过错，你为谁能比他更自由地问呢?” —

Try it, and see if he doesn’t find your society far more agreeable than Mrs. Scott’s suppers.”
“试试看，看他是否会发现你的陪伴比斯科特夫人的晚餐更愉快。”

“I will. Poor John! I’m afraid I have neglected him sadly, but I thought I was right, and he never said anything.”
“我会的。可怜的约翰!我恐怕我疏忽了他，但是我认为我是对的，他也从未说过什么。”

“He tried not to be selfish, but he has felt rather forlorn, I fancy. —
“他试图不自私，但他感到有点孤独，我猜想。 —

This is just the time, Meg, when young married people are apt to grow apart, and the very time when they ought to be most together, for the first tenderness soon wears off, unless care is taken to preserve it. —
这只是年轻夫妻开始疏远的时候，而他们应该是最亲密在一起的时候，因为最初的那份温柔很快就会消失，除非我们努力保护它。 —

And no time is so beautiful and precious to parents as the first years of the little lives given to them to train. —
对父母来说，孩子最初的几年是如此美好而珍贵，这些孩子是赐予他们教育培养之用的。 —

Don’t let John be a stranger to the babies, for they will do more to keep him safe and happy in this world of trial and temptation than anything else, and through them you will learn to know and love one another as you should. —
不要让约翰对孩子们成为陌生人，因为他们会通过孩子们在这个充满试炼和诱惑的世界上保护他的安全和幸福，而且通过孩子们你们会互相了解和爱护对方。 —

Now, dear, good-by. Think over Mother’s preachment, act upon it if it seems good, and God bless you all.”
现在，亲爱的，再见。仔细思考母亲的劝告，如果它听起来不错就付诸行动，愿上帝保佑你们。

Meg did think it over, found it good, and acted upon it, though the first attempt was not made exactly as she planned to have it. —
梅格确实考虑了这个劝告，发现它很好，并采取了行动，尽管第一次尝试并不完全按照她计划的那样进行。 —

Of course the children tyrannized over her, and ruled the house as soon as they found out that kicking and squalling brought them whatever they wanted. —
当然，孩子们对她进行了专制统治，他们一旦发现踢和哭闹能让他们得到想要的东西，他们就会统治整个家庭。 —

Mamma was an abject slave to their caprices, but Papa was not so easily subjugated, and occasionally afflicted his tender spouse by an attempt at paternal discipline with his obstreperous son. —
妈妈完全被他们的任性所奴役，但爸爸并不容易被征服，偶尔会试图对顽皮的儿子采取父权式的约束，给他年幼的妻子带来困扰。 —

For Demi inherited a trifle of his sire’s firmness of character, we won’t call it obstinacy, and when he made up his little mind to have or to do anything, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men could not change that pertinacious little mind. —
德米继承了他父亲坚定性格的一部分，我们不称之为固执，而是当他下定决心去得到或做某件事时，所有的马和所有的王子都无法改变这个固执的小心思。 —

Mamma thought the dear too young to be taught to conquer his prejudices, but Papa believed that it never was too soon to learn obedience. —
妈妈认为宝贝太小了，还不足以教导他克服偏见，但爸爸相信学习服从从来不会太早。 —

So Master Demi early discovered that when he undertook to ‘wrastle’ with ‘Parpar’, he always got the worst of it, yet like the Englishman, baby respected the man who conquered him, and loved the father whose grave “No, no,” was more impressive than all Mamma’s love pats.
因此小主人德米很早就发现，当他和“爸爸”搏斗时，总是吃亏，然而像英国人一样，宝宝尊敬征服他的人，并且爱慕那位严肃的父亲，他的庄重的“不行，不行”比妈妈的爱的轻拍更令人印象深刻。

A few days after the talk with her mother, Meg resolved to try a social evening with John, so she ordered a nice supper, set the parlor in order, dressed herself prettily, and put the children to bed early, that nothing should interfere with her experiment. —
在与母亲的交谈几天后，梅格决定尝试与约翰共度一个社交晚上，于是她订了一顿美味的晚餐，整理了客厅，打扮得漂漂亮亮的，早早把孩子们放到床上，以免干扰她的实验。 —

But unfortunately Demi’s most unconquerable prejudice was against going to bed, and that night he decided to go on a rampage. —
但不幸的是，德米最难以克服的偏见就是不愿上床睡觉，那天晚上他决定闹腾一番。 —

So poor Meg sang and rocked, told stories and tried every sleep-prevoking wile she could devise, but all in vain, the big eyes wouldn’t shut, and long after Daisy had gone to byelow, like the chubby little bunch of good nature she was, naughty Demi lay staring at the light, with the most discouragingly wide-awake expression of countenance.
于是可怜的梅格唱歌、摇摇晃晃、讲故事，尽一切努力让他入睡，但都徒劳无功，那双大眼睛就是不愿闭上，就连小黛西早早进入梦乡，像一团天真善良的小家伙一样，淘气的德米还躺在那里凝视着灯光，脸上带着令人沮丧的惊人清醒神情。

“Will Demi lie still like a good boy, while Mamma runs down and gives poor Papa his tea?” asked Meg, as the hall door softly closed, and the well-known step went tip-toeing into the dining room.
“德米会像个乖孩子一样躺着不动吗，妈妈下楼给可怜的爸爸端茶？”梅格问道，当大厅门轻轻关上，那熟悉的步伐小心翼翼地走进餐厅。

“Me has tea!” said Demi, preparing to join in the revel.
“我也要喝茶！”德米说着，准备加入狂欢。

“No, but I’ll save you some little cakies for breakfast, if you’ll go bye-bye like Daisy. Will you, lovey?”
“不，但我会给你留一些小蛋糕作为早餐，如果你能像Daisy一样离开。亲爱的，你愿意吗？”

“Iss!” and Demi shut his eyes tight, as if to catch sleep and hurry the desired day.
“好的！”戴米闭紧眼睛，仿佛要迅速入睡，希望那一天快点到来。

Taking advantage of the propitious moment, Meg slipped away and ran down to greet her husband with a smiling face and the little blue bow in her hair which was his especial admiration. —
在这个适当的时刻，梅格趁机溜走，跑下楼迎接丈夫，脸上带着微笑，头发上扎着他最爱的小蓝蝴蝶结。 —

He saw it at once and said with pleased surprise, “Why, little mother, how gay we are tonight. Do you expect company?”
他立刻注意到了，并惊喜地说：“小妈咪，我们今晚怎么这么开心。你期待有客人吗？”

“Only you, dear.”
“只有你，亲爱的。”

“Is it a birthday, anniversary, or anything?”
“是不是生日，纪念日或者什么特别的日子？”

“No, I’m tired of being dowdy, so I dressed up as a change. —
“不，我厌倦了平淡无味的生活，所以特意打扮一下。 —

You always make yourself nice for table, no matter how tired you are, so why shouldn’t I when I have the time?”
不管你多么疲惫，你总是会为餐桌礼仪而打扮得漂漂亮亮的，所以我也为自己争取点时间打扮打扮。”

“I do it out of respect for you, my dear,” said old-fashioned John.
“我这样做是出于对你的尊重，亲爱的，”老派的约翰说道。

“Ditto, ditto, Mr. Brooke,” laughed Meg, looking young and pretty again, as she nodded to him over the teapot.
“你也是一样，布鲁克先生，”梅格笑着对着他招手，她看起来又年轻又漂亮，正坐在茶壶旁边。

“Well, it’s altogether delightful, and like old times. —
“哎呀，这太美好了，就像以前一样。味道正宗。 —

This tastes right. I drink your health, dear.” and John sipped his tea with an air of reposeful rapture, which was of very short duration however, for as he put down his cup, the door handle rattled mysteriously, and a little voice was heard, saying impatiently …
亲爱的，为了你的健康，我干杯。”约翰静静地品味着茶，表现出沉浸其中的喜悦，然而这喜悦很短暂，因为当他放下茶杯时，门把手神秘地响了起来，一个小声音不耐烦地说着……

“Opy doy. Me’s tummin!”
“爸爸，我来了！”

“It’s that naughty boy. I told him to go to sleep alone, and here he is, downstairs, getting his death a-cold pattering over that canvas,” said Meg, answering the call.
“这就是那个淘气的孩子。我告诉他要自己去睡觉，结果他还是下楼来了，捣腾着那块油画，差点要把自己冻着。”梅格回应着喊声说。

“Mornin’ now,” announced Demi in joyful tone as he entered, with his long nightgown gracefully festooned over his arm and every curl bobbing gayly as he pranced about the table, eyeing the ‘cakies’ with loving glances.
“现在早上了！”迪米兴高采烈地宣布着，他的长睡袍优雅地搭在手臂上，每一缕卷发都欢快地弯曲着，他跳来跳去地围着桌子，眼神里充满了对”蛋糕”的爱慕之情。

“No, it isn’t morning yet. You must go to bed, and not trouble poor Mamma. Then you can have the little cake with sugar on it.”
“不，现在还没有到早上。你必须去睡觉，不要给妈妈添麻烦。然后你就能吃到有糖的小蛋糕。”

“Me loves Parpar,” said the artful one, preparing to climb the paternal knee and revel in forbidden joys. —
“我爱爸爸。”这个狡猾的小家伙说着，准备爬上父亲的膝盖，陶醉在被禁止的乐趣中。 —

But John shook his head, and said to Meg …
但是约翰摇摇头，对梅格说…

“If you told him to stay up there, and go to sleep alone, make him do it, or he will never learn to mind you.”
“如果你告诉他待在那儿，单独睡觉，就让他这么做，否则他永远不会听你的话。”

“Yes, of course. Come, Demi,” and Meg led her son away, feeling a strong desire to spank the little marplot who hopped beside her, laboring under the delusion that the bribe was to be administered as soon as they reached the nursery.
“好的，当然。来，迪米，”梅格牵着她的儿子走开，内心强烈地想给这个混乱制造者一记打屁股，他在旁边蹦跶着，以为这次贿赂会在他们到达儿童房后立即执行。

Nor was he disappointed, for that shortsighted woman actually gave him a lump of sugar, tucked him into his bed, and forbade any more promenades till morning.
他并没有失望，因为那个短视的女人竟然给了他一块糖，把他塞进床里，并禁止他到早上再散步。

“Iss!” said Demi the perjured, blissfully sucking his sugar, and regarding his first attempt as eminently successful.
“是的!“说着，撒谎的迪米愉快地吮着糖，认为他的第一次尝试非常成功。

Meg returned to her place, and supper was progressing pleasantly, when the little ghost walked again, and exposed the maternal delinquencies by boldly demanding, “More sudar, Marmar.”
梅格回到她的位置，晚餐进展得很愉快，当这个小鬼再次出现时，他大胆地要求：”更多糖，妈妈。”

“Now this won’t do,” said John, hardening his heart against the engaging little sinner. —
“现在这样不行，” 约翰决然地对这个迷人的小罪人硬起了心。 —

“We shall never know any peace till that child learns to go to bed properly. —
“只有那个孩子学会好好上床睡觉，我们才能享受到真正的宁静。 —

You have made a slave of yourself long enough. —
你已经让自己成为奴隶太久了。” —

Give him one lesson, and then there will be an end of it. —
“给他上一堂课，然后就结束了。把他放到床上， —

Put him in his bed and leave him, Meg.”
离开他，梅格。”

“He won’t stay there, he never does unless I sit by him.”
“他不会呆在那儿，除非我坐在他旁边。”

“I’ll manage him. Demi, go upstairs, and get into your bed, as Mamma bids you.”
“我来处理他。迪米，去楼上，按妈妈说的，上床去。”

“S’ant!” replied the young rebel, helping himself to the coveted ‘cakie’, and beginning to eat the same with calm audacity.
“才不呢！” 年幼的叛逆者回答道，毫不客气地拿起了令人垂涎的“小蛋糕”，开始自信地吃着。

“You must never say that to Papa. I shall carry you if you don’t go yourself.”
“你不能对爸爸说那样的话。如果你不自己去，我会背着你走的。”

“Go ‘way, me don’t love Parpar.” and Demi retired to his mother’s skirts for protection.
“走开，我不爱爸爸。” 迪米退到妈妈的裙子下寻求庇护。

But even that refuge proved unavailing, for he was delivered over to the enemy, with a “Be gentle with him, John,” which struck the culprit with dismay, for when Mamma deserted him, then the judgment day was at hand. —
但即便是那个避难所也无济于事，因为他被交给了敌人，伴随着一句“对他温和些，约翰”，这句话让罪犯感到恐惧，因为当妈妈抛弃他时，审判日就降临了。 —

Bereft of his cake, defrauded of his frolic, and borne away by a strong hand to that detested bed, poor Demi could not restrain his wrath, but openly defied Papa, and kicked and screamed lustily all the way upstairs. —
在失去蛋糕、被欺骗的快乐和被强力带到那张被憎恶的床上后，可怜的迪米无法控制自己的愤怒，公然挑衅爸爸，脚踢着并大声尖叫着一路上楼。 —

The minute he was put into bed on one side, he rolled out on the other, and made for the door, only to be ignominiously caught up by the tail of his little toga and put back again, which lively performance was kept up till the young man’s strength gave out, when he devoted himself to roaring at the top of his voice. —
一放进床上，他立刻从另一边滚了出来，向门口跑去，可惜被他的小长袍尾巴无情地抓了回来，这个活跃的表演一直持续到小伙子力气用尽时，然后他便全情投入尽情大声哭嚎。 —

This vocal exercise usually conquered Meg, but John sat as unmoved as the post which is popularly believed to be deaf. —
这种声音练习通常能使梅格屈服，但约翰坐得像是众所周知的聋子一样无动于衷。 —

No coaxing, no sugar, no lullaby, no story, even the light was put out and only the red glow of the fire enlivened the ‘big dark’ which Demi regarded with curiosity rather than fear. —
不管是哄骗、糖果、摇篮曲还是故事，甚至连灯光都被关掉，只有火堆那红光在这个“大黑暗”中闪烁，而迪米对此感到好奇，而不是恐惧。 —

This new order of things disgusted him, and he howled dismally for ‘Marmar’, as his angry passions subsided, and recollections of his tender bondwoman returned to the captive autocrat. —
这种新的秩序令他感到恶心，愤怒的情感消退后，对他那温柔的奴隶女回忆涌上心头，他绝望地嚎叫着要“玛玛”。 —

The plaintive wail which succeeded the passionate roar went to Meg’s heart, and she ran up to say beseechingly …
激情的吼叫声过后，那悲伤的哀嚎让梅格心碎，她跑上前恳求地说…

“Let me stay with him, he’ll be good now, John.”
“让我陪着他，他现在会听话的，约翰。”

“No, my dear. I’ve told him he must go to sleep, as you bid him, and he must, if I stay here all night.”
“不行，亲爱的。我告诉他你让他睡觉，如果我整夜在这里陪着他，他必须遵守。”

“But he’ll cry himself sick,” pleaded Meg, reproaching herself for deserting her boy.
“但他会哭得生病呀”，梅格乞求着，自责地舍弃了她儿子。

“No, he won’t, he’s so tired he will soon drop off and then the matter is settled, for he will understand that he has got to mind. —
“不，他不会，他太累了，很快就会睡着，然后问题就解决了，因为他会明白他必须听话。” —

Don’t interfere, I’ll manage him.”
“不要干预，我来处理他。”

“He’s my child, and I can’t have his spirit broken by harshness.”
“他是我的孩子，我不能让他的精神被严厉伤害。”

“He’s my child, and I won’t have his temper spoiled by indulgence. —
“他是我的孩子，我不能让他的脾气被放纵损坏。去楼下， —

Go down, my dear, and leave the boy to me.”
亲爱的，把孩子交给我。”

When John spoke in that masterful tone, Meg always obeyed, and never regretted her docility.
当约翰用那种强势的口气回话时，梅格总是顺从，从未后悔过她的顺从。

“Please let me kiss him once, John?”
“约翰，请让我亲吻他一次，好吗？”

“Certainly. Demi, say good night to Mamma, and let her go and rest, for she is very tired with taking care of you all day.”
“当然可以。黛米，和妈妈说晚安，让她去休息吧，因为她一整天都在照顾你们，已经很累了。”

Meg always insisted upon it that the kiss won the victory, for after it was given, Demi sobbed more quietly, and lay quite still at the bottom of the bed, whither he had wriggled in his anguish of mind.
梅格一直坚持认为是那个吻赢得了胜利，因为在吻过后，黛米哭得更安静，安静地躺在床底，他在心灵的痛苦中翻滚着。

“Poor little man, he’s worn out with sleep and crying. —
“可怜的小家伙，他已经因为睡觉和哭泣而精疲力尽了。 —

I’ll cover him up, and then go and set Meg’s heart at rest,” thought John, creeping to the bedside, hoping to find his rebellious heir asleep.
我要给他盖上被子，然后去安抚梅格的心情，” 约翰想着，悄悄走到床边，希望能找到他那个反叛的继承人已经睡着了。

But he wasn’t, for the moment his father peeped at him, Demi’s eyes opened, his little chin began to quiver, and he put up his arms, saying with a penitent hiccough, “Me’s dood, now.”
但他没睡着，因为他爸爸刚一瞥见他，黛米的眼睛就睁开了，他的下巴开始颤抖，他抬起手臂说着一个悔过的打嗝声：“现在我乖了。”

Sitting on the stairs outside Meg wondered at the long silence which followed the uproar, and after imagining all sorts of impossible accidents, she slipped into the room to set her fears at rest. —
坐在梅格外面的楼梯上，她对这次喧嚣之后漫长的寂静感到困惑。她想象了所有各种不可能的意外情况，然后悄悄走进房间，以消除她的担忧。 —

Demi lay fast asleep, not in his usual spreadeagle attitude, but in a subdued bunch, cuddled close in the circle of his father’s arm and holding his father’s finger, as if he felt that justice was tempered with mercy, and had gone to sleep a sadder and wiser baby. —
德米熟睡着，不像平常那样铺开四肢，而是蜷缩在他父亲的臂弯中，紧紧握住他父亲的手指，好像他觉得正义带着怜悯，入睡时是一个更为忧伤和明智的婴儿。 —

So held, John had waited with a womanly patience till the little hand relaxed its hold, and while waiting had fallen asleep, more tired by that tussle with his son than with his whole day’s work.
这样握着，约翰像一个女人一样耐心地等待着，直到小手松开了，而在等待的过程中，他已经累得睡着了，和儿子激烈的争斗比起来，一整天的工作更让他疲惫。

As Meg stood watching the two faces on the pillow, she smiled to herself, and then slipped away again, saying in a satisfied tone, “I never need fear that John will be too harsh with my babies. —
梅格站在床边注视着枕头上的两张脸，她满意地笑了笑，然后又悄悄离开了，满意地说道：“我从不担心约翰对我的孩子们会太严厉。他确实知道如何操纵他们，并且会很有帮助，因为德米已经对我来说太难应付了。” —

He does know how to manage them, and will be a great help, for Demi is getting too much for me.”
他确实知道如何管理他们，将会给予很大帮助，因为德米已经对我来说太过于棘手了。

When John came down at last, expecting to find a pensive or reproachful wife, he was agreeably surprised to find Meg placidly trimming a bonnet, and to be greeted with the request to read something about the election, if he was not too tired. —
约翰最后下楼时期望看到一个忧郁或责备的妻子，但惊喜地发现梅格正在平静地修整一顶帽子，并且她请求他念点选举相关的东西，如果他不太疲倦的话。 —

John saw in a minute that a revolution of some kind was going on, but wisely asked no questions, knowing that Meg was such a transparent little person, she couldn’t keep a secret to save her life, and therefore the clue would soon appear. —
约翰立刻发现一场革命正在进行，但他明智地没有问问题，因为他知道梅格是一个如此透明的人，她根本不能保守秘密，所以线索很快就会出现。 —

He read a long debate with the most amiable readiness and then explained it in his most lucid manner, while Meg tried to look deeply interested, to ask intelligent questions, and keep her thoughts from wandering from the state of the nation to the state of her bonnet. —
他愉快地阅读了一场漫长的辩论，并用自己最清晰的方式解释，而梅格则试图看上去深表关注，提出聪明的问题，并尽量让思绪不从国家状况转移到帽子的状态。 —

In her secret soul, however, she decided that politics were as bad as mathematics, and that the mission of politicians seemed to be calling each other names, but she kept these feminine ideas to herself, and when John paused, shook her head and said with what she thought diplomatic ambiguity, “Well, I really don’t see what we are coming to.”
在她内心深处，她认为政治和数学一样糟糕，而政治家的使命似乎是互相攻击，但她把这些女性的想法深埋在心里，当约翰停下来时，她摇了摇头，带着她认为具有外交的模棱两可性的口气说：“嗯，我真的不知道我们到底要怎样。”

John laughed, and watched her for a minute, as she poised a pretty little preparation of lace and flowers on her hand, and regarded it with the genuine interest which his harangue had failed to waken.
约翰笑了笑，他观察她一分钟，当她将一小块蕾丝和花朵精心摆在手上，并真正感兴趣地看着它时，他刚才的演讲无法唤起她的兴趣。

“She is trying to like politics for my sake, so I’ll try and like millinery for hers, that’s only fair,” thought John the Just, adding aloud, “That’s very pretty. —
“她为了我而试图喜欢政治，所以我也会为了她而试图喜欢女帽，这是公平的。”公正的约翰心想，然后大声说道：“这样很漂亮。这是你所说的早餐帽吗？” —

Is it what you call a breakfast cap?”
“亲爱的，这是个帽子！是我最好的参加音乐会和剧院用的帽子。”

“My dear man, it’s a bonnet! —
“请原谅，它太小了， —

My very best go-to-concert-and-theater bonnet.”
我自然会把它误认为你有时候戴的会飞的东西之一。你是怎么固定它的？”

“I beg your pardon, it was so small, I naturally mistook it for one of the flyaway things you sometimes wear. —

How do you keep it on?”

“These bits of lace are fastened under the chin with a rosebud, so,” and Meg illustrated by putting on the bonnet and regarding him with an air of calm satisfaction that was irresistible.
“这些蕾丝边系在下巴下面，还有一朵小玫瑰，这样，”梅格戴上了帽子，用一副平静满足的神情展示给约翰看，这神情令人难以抗拒。

“It’s a love of a bonnet, but I prefer the face inside, for it looks young and happy again,” and John kissed the smiling face, to the great detriment of the rosebud under the chin.
“这是一顶可爱的帽子，不过我更喜欢里面那张年轻而幸福的脸，” 约翰亲吻着笑得合不拢嘴的脸庞，不料破坏了下巴上的小玫瑰。

“I’m glad you like it, for I want you to take me to one of the new concerts some night. —
“我很高兴你喜欢它，因为我希望你能带我去听一场新的音乐会。 —

I really need some music to put me in tune. —
我真的需要一些音乐来让我心情愉悦。 —

Will you, please?”
你能帮我实现吗？”

“Of course I will, with all my heart, or anywhere else you like. —
“当然，我会全心全意地帮你实现，不论是在哪里。 —

You have been shut up so long, it will do you no end of good, and I shall enjoy it, of all things. —
你被困在家里太久了，这对你会非常有益，而我会特别享受。 —

What put it into your head, little mother?”
你是怎么想到这个主意的，亲爱的妈妈？”

“Well, I had a talk with Marmee the other day, and told her how nervous and cross and out of sorts I felt, and she said I needed change and less care, so Hannah is to help me with the children, and I’m to see to things about the house more, and now and then have a little fun, just to keep me from getting to be a fidgety, broken-down old woman before my time. —
“嗯，我前几天和马妈妈谈了谈，告诉她我感到紧张、脾气暴躁和不舒服，她说我需要改变和少一些照顾，所以汉娜会帮我照顾孩子，而我要多关注家务事，并偶尔去享受一下，就是为了让我不会过早变成一个焦躁、垮掉的老太太。 —

It’s only an experiment, John, and I want to try it for your sake as much as for mine, because I’ve neglected you shamefully lately, and I’m going to make home what it used to be, if I can. You don’t object, I hope?”
这只是一个实验，约翰，我想为了你和我自己的缘故试一试，因为我最近对你太疏忽了，我要尽力让家变成过去那样。你不反对吧？”

Never mind what John said, or what a very narrow escape the little bonnet had from utter ruin. —
别管约翰说了什么，或者小帽子险些完全毁了的事实。 —

All that we have any business to know is that John did not appear to object, judging from the changes which gradually took place in the house and its inmates. —
我们唯一需要知道的是，从房子和住户逐渐发生的变化来看，约翰似乎并不反对。 —

It was not all Paradise by any means, but everyone was better for the division of labor system. —
这并不是天堂，但每个人因为分工的系统都变得更好了。 —

The children throve under the paternal rule, for accurate, stedfast John brought order and obedience into Babydom, while Meg recovered her spirits and composed her nerves by plenty of wholesome exercise, a little pleasure, and much confidential conversation with her sensible husband. —
这些孩子在父权制下茁壮成长，因为准确而坚定的约翰带来了秩序和服从，而梅格则通过充足的健康锻炼、一点点快乐和与她聪明的丈夫的密切交谈来恢复精神和舒缓神经。 —

Home grew homelike again, and John had no wish to leave it, unless he took Meg with him. —
家园又变得温馨起来，约翰没有离开的愿望，除非他带着梅格一起走。 —

The Scotts came to the Brookes’ now, and everyone found the little house a cheerful place, full of happiness, content, and family love. —
斯科特一家现在来布鲁克斯家，每个人都觉得这个小房子是一个充满幸福、满足和家庭之爱的愉快之地。 —

Even Sallie Moffatt liked to go there. —
甚至莎莉·莫法特也喜欢去那里。 —

“It is always so quiet and pleasant here, it does me good, Meg,” she used to say, looking about her with wistful eyes, as if trying to discover the charm, that she might use it in her great house, full of splendid loneliness, for there were no riotous, sunny-faced babies there, and Ned lived in a world of his own, where there was no place for her.
“这里总是那么宁静和愉快，对我很有好处，梅格，”她常常说，用渴望的眼神四处寻找魅力，好像试图在她那座充满辉煌孤寂的大房子里使用它，因为那里没有喧闹、阳光灿烂的孩子们，而内德生活在他自己的世界里，她在那里没有位置。

This household happiness did not come all at once, but John and Meg had found the key to it, and each year of married life taught them how to use it, unlocking the treasuries of real home love and mutual helpfulness, which the poorest may possess, and the richest cannot buy. —
这种家庭的幸福并非一蹴而就，但是约翰和梅格已经找到了钥匙，并且每一年的婚姻生活教会了他们如何使用它，打开着真正的家庭爱和相互帮助的宝库，这是最贫穷的人也能拥有的，最富有的人也无法购买。 —

This is the sort of shelf on which young wives and mothers may consent to be laid, safe from the restless fret and fever of the world, finding loyal lovers in the little sons and daughters who cling to them, undaunted by sorrow, poverty, or age, walking side by side, through fair and stormy weather, with a faithful friend, who is, in the true sense of the good old Saxon word, the ‘house-band’, and learning, as Meg learned, that a woman’s happiest kingdom is home, her highest honor the art of ruling it not as a queen, but as a wise wife and mother.
这就是年轻妻子和母亲们愿意靠在上面的那种架子，远离世界的不安和烦忧，发现自己在那些依偎着她们的小儿女身上拥有忠实的爱人，不畏忧伤、贫困或老去，在风和雨中肩并肩地走，与一个忠诚的朋友共度，正如那个古老而美好的萨克森词所描述的，他是”房屋的联带”，学习，就像梅格一样学习，一个女人最幸福的领域就是家庭，她最高贵的荣誉就是以聪明的妻子和母亲的身份统治，而不是作为一个女王。