Jo was alone in the twilight, lying on the old sofa, looking at the fire, and thinking. —
乔独自一人处在黄昏时分，躺在旧沙发上，望着火焰思考着。 —

It was her favorite way of spending the hour of dusk. —
这是她最喜欢度过黄昏的方式。 —

No one disturbed her, and she used to lie there on Beth’s little red pillow, planning stories, dreaming dreams, or thinking tender thoughts of the sister who never seemed far away. —
没有人打扰她，她常常躺在贝丝的小红枕头上，策划着故事，梦想着，或者深情地思念着那位似乎永远不远的姐姐。 —

Her face looked tired, grave, and rather sad, for tomorrow was her birthday, and she was thinking how fast the years went by, how old she was getting, and how little she seemed to have accomplished. —
她的脸看起来疲倦、严肃，有些悲伤，因为明天是她的生日，她在想时间过得多快，她变得多老，她似乎没有什么成就。 —

Almost twenty-five, and nothing to show for it. —
几乎25岁了，没有什么可展示的。 —

Jo was mistaken in that. —
乔在这一点上是错误的。 —

There was a good deal to show, and by-and-by she saw, and was grateful for it.
有很多可展示的，她渐渐意识到，并为此感激。

“An old maid, that’s what I’m to be. A literary spinster, with a pen for a spouse, a family of stories for children, and twenty years hence a morsel of fame, perhaps, when, like poor Johnson, I’m old and can’t enjoy it, solitary, and can’t share it, independent, and don’t need it. —
“一个老姑娘，这就是我将成为的。一个有字为配偶的文学老处女，一家子儿童故事，再过20年，也许会有点名声，可我像可怜的约翰逊一样老了无法享受它，孤独无法分享它，独立无需它。” —

Well, I needn’t be a sour saint nor a selfish sinner, and, I dare say, old maids are very comfortable when they get used to it, but . —
嗯，我不必成为一个酸涩的圣徒，也不必成为一个自私的罪人，而且，我敢说，老处女们习惯后是很舒服的，但是… —

. .” and there Jo sighed, as if the prospect was not inviting.
…而乔叹了口气，仿佛前景并不诱人。

It seldom is, at first, and thirty seems the end of all things to five-and-twenty. —
在开始时，很少有人愿意这样，而五十岁的时候，二十五岁似乎是无边无际的尽头。 —

But it’s not as bad as it looks, and one can get on quite happily if one has something in one’s self to fall back upon. —
但事实并没有看上去那么糟糕，如果人内心有所倚靠的话，就可以过得很幸福。 —

At twenty-five, girls begin to talk about being old maids, but secretly resolve that they never will be. —
二十五岁的时候，女孩子开始谈论成为老处女，但暗下决心她们永远不会成为老处女。 —

At thirty they say nothing about it, but quietly accept the fact, and if sensible, console themselves by remembering that they have twenty more useful, happy years, in which they may be learning to grow old gracefully. —
三十岁的时候，她们对此不再提及，而是静静地接受这个事实，如果明智的话，会安慰自己，记住她们还有二十个更有用、更幸福的年头，可以在其中学会优雅地变老。 —

Don’t laugh at the spinsters, dear girls, for often very tender, tragic romances are hidden away in the hearts that beat so quietly under the sober gowns, and many silent sacrifices of youth, health, ambition, love itself, make the faded faces beautiful in God’s sight. —
亲爱的女孩们，不要嘲笑那些未婚女子，因为在那些低调朴素的服装下，往往隐藏着非常温柔而悲壮的浪漫故事，在上帝眼中，许多青春、健康、抱负甚至爱情都被默默地舍弃，使那些苍白的面庞在神的眼中变得美丽动人。 —

Even the sad, sour sisters should be kindly dealt with, because they have missed the sweetest part of life, if for no other reason. —
即使是那些悲伤而乖戾的姐妹们也应该受到友善对待，因为如果没有其他的理由，她们已经错过了人生最甜蜜的部分。 —

And looking at them with compassion, not contempt, girls in their bloom should remember that they too may miss the blossom time. —
看着她们，我们应该怀着同情而非轻视的眼光，年轻的女子们也应该记住，她们自己也可能会错过花季。 —

That rosy cheeks don’t last forever, that silver threads will come in the bonnie brown hair, and that, by-and-by, kindness and respect will be as sweet as love and admiration now.
红润的脸颊不会永远持续下去，棕色秀发上将会渐现银丝，所以不久之后，善良和尊重将变得像现在的爱情和仰慕一样珍贵。

Gentlemen, which means boys, be courteous to the old maids, no matter how poor and plain and prim, for the only chivalry worth having is that which is the readiest to pay deference to the old, protect the feeble, and serve womankind, regardless of rank, age, or color. —
绅士们，也就是男孩们，无论那些老处女贫穷、朴实还是拘谨，都应该彬彬有礼地对待她们，因为唯一真正值得拥有的骑士精神就是对老人恭敬、保护弱者并为妇女服务，不分等级、年龄或肤色。 —

Just recollect the good aunts who have not only lectured and fussed, but nursed and petted, too often without thanks, the scrapes they have helped you out of, the tips they have given you from their small store, the stitches the patient old fingers have set for you, the steps the willing old feet have taken, and gratefully pay the dear old ladies the little attentions that women love to receive as long as they live. —
只要回想起那些好的姑姑们，她们不仅仅是说教和唠叨，还会护理和宠爱，经常在没有感谢的情况下帮助你摆脱困境，给你一些小贴士，那些耐心的久经沙场的手指为你缝合的伤口，那愿意迈出那些勤奋的老步伐，对这些亲爱的老太太们给予一点关心是女人们一生都喜欢的。 —

The bright-eyed girls are quick to see such traits, and will like you all the better for them, and if death, almost the only power that can part mother and son, should rob you of yours, you will be sure to find a tender welcome and maternal cherishing from some Aunt Priscilla, who has kept the warmest corner of her lonely old heart for ‘the best nevvy in the world’.
这些聪明的姑娘们很快就能看出这些品质，她们会因此更喜欢你，如果死亡，几乎是唯一能够分开母子的力量，抢走了你的母亲，你一定会在一些像普丽西拉姑姑这样的人那里找到温柔的欢迎和母性的呵护，她一直在她孤独的内心保留着“世界上最好的外甥”的最温暖的角落。

Jo must have fallen asleep (as I dare say my reader has during this little homily), for suddenly Laurie’s ghost seemed to stand before her, a substantial, lifelike ghost, leaning over her with the very look he used to wear when he felt a good deal and didn’t like to show it. —
乔一定是睡着了（我敢说我的读者也在这段小讲过程中睡着了），因为突然劳瑞的幽灵仿佛站在她面前，一个实实在在、栩栩如生的鬼魂，像以前在感到很多但不愿表现出来时那样俯身在她面前。 —

But, like Jenny in the ballad …
但是，就像歌谣中的珍妮一样。。。

She could not think it he
她无法相信是他

and lay staring up at him in startled silence, till he stooped and kissed her. —
她惊讶地望着他，一言不发，直到他弯下腰吻了她。 —

Then she knew him, and flew up, crying joyfully …
然后她认出了他，欢喜地飞扑过去喊道。。。

“Oh my Teddy! Oh my Teddy!”
“哦，我的泰迪！哦，我的泰迪！”

“Dear Jo, you are glad to see me, then?”
“亲爱的乔，你很高兴见到我吗？”

“Glad! My blessed boy, words can’t express my gladness. —
“高兴！我亲爱的孩子，言语无法表达我有多高兴。 —

Where’s Amy?”
艾米在哪里？”

“Your mother has got her down at Meg’s. We stopped there by the way, and there was no getting my wife out of their clutches.”
“你妈妈带她去梅格家了。我们路上顺便去了那里，可是无法让我妻子从她们那些人手中抽身。”

“Your what?” cried Jo, for Laurie uttered those two words with an unconscious pride and satisfaction which betrayed him.
“你的什么？”乔叫道，因为劳瑞说出那两个词时掩饰不住的自豪和满足背叛了他。

“Oh, the dickens! Now I’ve done it,” and he looked so guilty that Jo was down on him like a flash.
“哦，就该死了！我糟糕透了。”他看起来那么有罪恶感，乔立刻发飙。

“You’ve gone and got married!”
“你去结婚了！”

“Yes, please, but I never will again,” and he went down upon his knees, with a penitent clasping of hands, and a face full of mischief, mirth, and triumph.
“是的，但我永远不会再这样做了。”他跪在地上，双手虔诚地合十，脸上满是淘气、欢乐和胜利的表情。

“Actually married?”
“真的结婚了吗？”

“Very much so, thank you.”
“非常是，谢谢。”

“Mercy on us. What dreadful thing will you do next?” and Jo fell into her seat with a gasp.
“天哪，你下一步会做什么可怕的事情？”乔吃惊地坐回座位上。

“A characteristic, but not exactly complimentary, congratulation,” returned Laurie, still in an abject attitude, but beaming with satisfaction.
“这是一种特点，但并不完全恭维的祝贺，”劳里回答道，仍保持一种屈服的姿态，但脸上满是满足的表情。

“What can you expect, when you take one’s breath away, creeping in like a burglar, and letting cats out of bags like that? —
“当你像小偷一样偷偷溜进来，又把底细揭露出来，你还能期待什么呢？ —

Get up, you ridiculous boy, and tell me all about it.”
站起来吧，你可笑的孩子，告诉我一切。”

“Not a word, unless you let me come in my old place, and promise not to barricade.”
“除非你让我回到我以前的位置，并答应不再设防。”

Jo laughed at that as she had not done for many a long day, and patted the sofa invitingly, as she said in a cordial tone, “The old pillow is up garret, and we don’t need it now. So, come and ‘fess, Teddy.”
乔乐呵呵地笑了，这是她很久没有笑过的样子，她友好地拍着沙发，用亲切的口气说道：“旧的枕头放在阁楼上，我们现在不需要它了。所以，来吧，忏悔吧，泰迪。”

“How good it sounds to hear you say ‘Teddy’! —
“听你叫我‘泰迪’，感觉多温暖啊！ —

No one ever calls me that but you,” and Laurie sat down with an air of great content.
没人会叫我这个，只有你。”劳里坐下来，满脸满足的神情。

“What does Amy call you?”
“艾米怎么称呼你？”

“My lord.”
“我的主。”

“That’s like her. Well, you look it,” and Jo’s eye plainly betrayed that she found her boy comelier than ever.
“她就是这样。看来你真的很符合她的要求。”乔明显地眼巴巴地望着她的那位男孩，觉得他比以往更帅气了。

The pillow was gone, but there was a barricade, nevertheless, a natural one, raised by time, absence, and change of heart. —
虽然枕头不见了，但是有一道屏障，一个自然而然的屏障，是时间、分离和心意改变所形成的。 —

Both felt it, and for a minute looked at one another as if that invisible barrier cast a little shadow over them. —
两人都能感受到，他们互相看了一会儿，仿佛那无形的屏障在他们之间投下了一丝阴影。 —

It was gone directly however, for Laurie said, with a vain attempt at dignity …
然而那一瞬间就过去了，劳里带着一种徒劳的尊严说道…

“Don’t I look like a married man and the head of a family?”
“难道我看上去像一个已婚男人和一个家庭的领导吗？”

“Not a bit, and you never will. —
“一点也不，而且你永远也不会。 —

You’ve grown bigger and bonnier, but you are the same scapegrace as ever.”
你长得更高更帅了，但你还是个顽皮捣蛋鬼。”

“Now really, Jo, you ought to treat me with more respect,” began Laurie, who enjoyed it all immensely.
“乔，你真该给我更多的尊重，”劳里开始说，他非常享受这一切。

“How can I, when the mere idea of you, married and settled, is so irresistibly funny that I can’t keep sober!” answered Jo, smiling all over her face, so infectiously that they had another laugh, and then settled down for a good talk, quite in the pleasant old fashion.
“当我一想到你结婚安定，就觉得太好笑了，让我忍不住笑出声！”“回答着乔笑道，她的笑容瞬间感染了众人，他们又笑了起来，然后安静下来好好聊天，像以前一样愉快。”

“It’s no use your going out in the cold to get Amy, for they are all coming up presently. —
“你去冷天里找艾米也没用，他们马上就要到了。我等不及了。 —

I couldn’t wait. —
” —

I wanted to be the one to tell you the grand surprise, and have ‘first skim’ as we used to say when we squabbled about the cream.”
“我想要亲自告诉你这个大惊喜，去‘first skim’，就像我们过去为了争奶油而闹腾。”

“Of course you did, and spoiled your story by beginning at the wrong end. —
“当然是了，你搞砸了故事，从错误的地方开始。现在， —

Now, start right, and tell me how it all happened. —
你重新开始，告诉我一切的发生， —

I’m pining to know.”
我渴望知道。”

“Well, I did it to please Amy,” began Laurie, with a twinkle that made Jo exclaim …
“好吧，我为了取悦艾米而做的。”劳里开始说，配合着让乔惊呼的闪光……

“Fib number one. Amy did it to please you. Go on, and tell the truth, if you can, sir.”
“第一个谎言。是艾米为了取悦你才这样的。继续吧，如果你能讲出真话的话，先生。”

“Now she’s beginning to marm it. Isn’t it jolly to hear her?” said Laurie to the fire, and the fire glowed and sparkled as if it quite agreed. —
“现在她开始大惊小怪了。听她说话真开心。”劳里对着火光说道，火光闪耀着，仿佛完全赞同他的话语。 —

“It’s all the same, you know, she and I being one. —
你知道的，我们俩是一样的。 —

We planned to come home with the Carrols, a month or more ago, but they suddenly changed their minds, and decided to pass another winter in Paris. But Grandpa wanted to come home. —
一个多月以前，我们计划跟卡罗夫人一起回家，但他们突然改变主意，决定在巴黎再过一个冬天。但是爷爷想回家。 —

He went to please me, and I couldn’t let him go alone, neither could I leave Amy, and Mrs. Carrol had got English notions about chaperons and such nonsense, and wouldn’t let Amy come with us. —
他去是为了取悦我，我不能让他一个人去，我也不能离开艾米，而且卡罗夫人有些英国观念，关于监护人之类的废话，不让艾米跟我们一起来。 —

So I just settled the difficulty by saying, ‘Let’s be married, and then we can do as we like’.”
所以我只是解决了这个难题，说：“让我们结婚吧，然后我们可以随心所欲。”

“Of course you did. You always have things to suit you.”
当然是了。你总是想尽办法让事情适合你。

“Not always,” and something in Laurie’s voice made Jo say hastily …
并不总是。劳瑞的声音里有些东西让乔匆忙地说…

“How did you ever get Aunt to agree?”
你是怎么说服姑姑同意的？

“It was hard work, but between us, we talked her over, for we had heaps of good reasons on our side. —
那是个艰苦的工作，但是我们俩说服了她，因为我们有很多有利的理由。 —

There wasn’t time to write and ask leave, but you all liked it, had consented to it by-and-by, and it was only ‘taking time by the fetlock’, as my wife says.”
没时间写信请假，但是你们都喜欢，以后也同意了，这只是“趁热打铁”，正如我的妻子所说的。

“Aren’t we proud of those two words, and don’t we like to say them?” interrupted Jo, addressing the fire in her turn, and watching with delight the happy light it seemed to kindle in the eyes that had been so tragically gloomy when she saw them last.
“我们难道不为这两个词感到骄傲吗？难道我们不喜欢说出来吗？”“乔打断道，轮到她向火盯了一眼，并高兴地看到眼睛里那股曾经是如此忧郁的光芒如今看起来点燃了。”

“A trifle, perhaps, she’s such a captivating little woman I can’t help being proud of her. —
“‘或许只是小事情，她是如此迷人的小女人，我忍不住为她感到骄傲。’他说道，‘嗯， —

Well, then Uncle and Aunt were there to play propriety. —
然后叔叔和阿姨在那里充当了规矩的角色。’” —

We were so absorbed in one another we were of no mortal use apart, and that charming arrangement would make everything easy all round, so we did it.”
“‘我们两个人彼此如此沉迷，离不开对方，这种美好的安排会让一切都变得容易，满足所有人的需求，所以我们就这样做了。’”

“When, where, how?” asked Jo, in a fever of feminine interest and curiosity, for she could not realize it a particle.
“‘什么时候，哪里，怎么样？’乔兴奋地问道，对于她来说，这一切似乎一点也不真实。”

“Six weeks ago, at the American consul’s, in Paris, a very quiet wedding of course, for even in our happiness we didn’t forget dear little Beth.”
“‘六周前，在巴黎的美国领事馆，一个非常简单的婚礼，当然了，在我们的幸福中，我们没有忘记亲爱的小贝丝。’”

Jo put her hand in his as he said that, and Laurie gently smoothed the little red pillow, which he remembered well.
来到那一刻，乔把手放在劳里的手上，劳里温柔地抚摸着他还记得很清楚的那个红色小枕头。

“Why didn’t you let us know afterward?” asked Jo, in a quieter tone, when they had sat quite still a minute.
“为什么你事后没有通知我们？”乔问道，声音安静了下来，当他们静静地坐了一分钟。

“We wanted to surprise you. —
“我们想给你们一个惊喜。 —

We thought we were coming directly home, at first, but the dear old gentleman, as soon as we were married, found he couldn’t be ready under a month, at least, and sent us off to spend our honeymoon wherever we liked. —
起初，我们本来打算直接回家的，但是亲爱的老先生在我们结婚后发现他至少需要一个月的准备时间，就把我们送到了我们喜欢的蜜月度假地。 —

Amy had once called Valrosa a regular honeymoon home, so we went there, and were as happy as people are but once in their lives. —
艾米曾经称Valrosa为一个真正的蜜月之家，所以我们去了那里，我们像人们一生中只有一次那样快乐。 —

My faith! Wasn’t it love among the roses!”
“天哪！那简直是玫瑰中的爱情！”

Laurie seemed to forget Jo for a minute, and Jo was glad of it, for the fact that he told her these things so freely and so naturally assured her that he had quite forgiven and forgotten. —
劳瑞似乎忘记了乔一会儿，而乔为此感到高兴，因为劳瑞如此自由自在、自然地告诉她这些事情，使她确信他已经完全原谅和忘记了。 —

She tried to draw away her hand, but as if he guessed the thought that prompted the half-involuntary impulse, Laurie held it fast, and said, with a manly gravity she had never seen in him before …
她试图抽回手，但好像他猜到了那个引发半自发冲动的思想，劳瑞紧紧地握住了她的手，以她以前从未见过的男子般的庄重说道…

“Jo, dear, I want to say one thing, and then we’ll put it by forever. —
“乔，亲爱的，我想说一件事，然后我们就永远结束这个话题。 —

As I told you in my letter when I wrote that Amy had been so kind to me, I never shall stop loving you, but the love is altered, and I have learned to see that it is better as it is. —
正如我在信中告诉你的那样，当我写道艾米对我非常好时，我永远不会停止爱你，但是这种爱已经改变了，而我已经学会了理解这样更好。 —

Amy and you changed places in my heart, that’s all. —
艾米和你在我心中交换了位置，仅此而已。 —

I think it was meant to be so, and would have come about naturally, if I had waited, as you tried to make me, but I never could be patient, and so I got a heartache. —
我觉得这是命中注定的，如果我按照你的建议等待，这种情况自然会发生，但我从来就没有耐心，所以我才会心痛。 —

I was a boy then, headstrong and violent, and it took a hard lesson to show me my mistake. —
当时我还只是个脾气暴躁且冲动的小孩，为了让我认识到我的错误，我必须经历一次痛苦的教训。 —

For it was one, Jo, as you said, and I found it out, after making a fool of myself. —
因为正如你所说的，乔，的确是一个错误，而我在闹了笑话之后才明白这一点。 —

Upon my word, I was so tumbled up in my mind, at one time, that I didn’t know which I loved best, you or Amy, and tried to love you both alike. —
我真的很困扰，有一段时间我甚至不知道我更爱你还是艾米，我试着同等地爱你们两个。 —

But I couldn’t, and when I saw her in Switzerland, everything seemed to clear up all at once. —
但我做不到，当我在瑞士见到她时，一切似乎一下子变得清晰起来了。 —

You both got into your right places, and I felt sure that it was well off with the old love before it was on with the new, that I could honestly share my heart between sister Jo and wife Amy, and love them dearly. —
你们俩都找到了合适的位置，我深信在与新的爱情开始之前，旧的爱情已经很好地结束了，我可以真心地在乔姐姐和妻子艾米之间分享我的心，深深地爱着她们。 —

Will you believe it, and go back to the happy old times when we first knew one another?”
你会相信吗，我们能回到我们初相识时的幸福时光吗？

“I’ll believe it, with all my heart, but, Teddy, we never can be boy and girl again. —
我会全心全意地相信，但是，泰迪，我们永远无法再次成为男孩和女孩了。 —

The happy old times can’t come back, and we mustn’t expect it. —
那些快乐的过去不会再回来，我们也不应该期待。 —

We are man and woman now, with sober work to do, for playtime is over, and we must give up frolicking. —
我们现在是成年男女了，有着沉重的工作要做，游戏的时光已经结束了，我们必须放弃嬉戏。 —

I’m sure you feel this. —
我相信你也有这样的感受。 —

I see the change in you, and you’ll find it in me. —
我看到你的改变，你也会看到我的。 —

I shall miss my boy, but I shall love the man as much, and admire him more, because he means to be what I hoped he would. —
我会想念我的男孩，但我会更加深爱这个男人，因为他打算成为我所希望的那样。 —

We can’t be little playmates any longer, but we will be brother and sister, to love and help one another all our lives, won’t we, Laurie?”
我们不能再是小小的玩伴了，但我们将成为兄妹，共同相爱、相助一生，不是吗，劳里？

He did not say a word, but took the hand she offered him, and laid his face down on it for a minute, feeling that out of the grave of a boyish passion, there had risen a beautiful, strong friendship to bless them both. —
他没有说一句话，但接过她递给他的手，将脸靠在上面一分钟，感受到从一个少年时的激情中，崛起了一段美丽而强大的友谊，给他们两个带来了祝福。 —

Presently Jo said cheerfully, for she didn’t want the coming home to be a sad one, “I can’t make it true that you children are really married and going to set up housekeeping. —
过了一会儿，乔开心地说道，因为她不想回家变成一个悲伤的事情，“我无法相信你们孩子们真的结婚并且要开始过家家了。 —

Why, it seems only yesterday that I was buttoning Amy’s pinafore, and pulling your hair when you teased. —
唉呀，就好像昨天我还在系艾米的围裙，而当你们讨厌我时我还会拉你的头发。 —

Mercy me, how time does fly!”
天哪，时间过得真快！

“As one of the children is older than yourself, you needn’t talk so like a grandma. —
“既然有一个孩子比你还大，你不用说话听起来像一个奶奶。 —

I flatter myself I’m a ‘gentleman growed’ as Peggotty said of David, and when you see Amy, you’ll find her rather a precocious infant,” said Laurie, looking amused at her maternal air.
我觉得我已经长大成人了，就像佩吉蒂说的关于大卫一样，并且当你见到艾米时，你会发现她是个相当早熟的婴儿，”劳里看着她母性的样子，觉得很有趣。

“You may be a little older in years, but I’m ever so much older in feeling, Teddy. Women always are, and this last year has been such a hard one that I feel forty.”
“你可能年纪稍大一些，但我在感受上要比你大很多，泰迪。女人们总是如此，而这最后一年对我来说非常艰难，让我感觉到像四十岁一样。”

“Poor Jo! We left you to bear it alone, while we went pleasuring. You are older. —
“可怜的乔！我们让你独自承受，而我们去寻欢作乐。你已经长大了， —

Here’s a line, and there’s another. —
这是一句，那是另一句。” —

Unless you smile, your eyes look sad, and when I touched the cushion, just now, I found a tear on it. —
“除非你微笑，否则你的眼睛显得忧伤，刚才我碰到靠垫时发现了一滴泪。” —

You’ve had a great deal to bear, and had to bear it all alone. —
“你承受了很多，而且必须独自承受。” —

What a selfish beast I’ve been!” and Laurie pulled his own hair, with a remorseful look.
“我真是个自私的家伙！”劳里悔过地拉着自己的头发，一脸懊悔的表情。

But Jo only turned over the traitorous pillow, and answered, in a tone which she tried to make more cheerful, “No, I had Father and Mother to help me, and the dear babies to comfort me, and the thought that you and Amy were safe and happy, to make the troubles here easier to bear. —
但乔只是翻过了这个背叛她的枕头，试图让自己的语气更加愉快地回答道：“不，我有父亲和母亲来帮助我，还有可爱的孩子们来安慰我，而且你和艾米都安全和幸福，这让我更容易忍受这里的困难。” —

I am lonely, sometimes, but I dare say it’s good for me, and …”
“有时候我会感到孤独，但我敢说这对我来说是件好事，而且……”

“You never shall be again,” broke in Laurie, putting his arm about her, as if to fence out every human ill. —
“你再也不会孤独了。”劳里插话说道，伸出手臂围住她，仿佛要抵挡一切人间苦难。 —

“Amy and I can’t get on without you, so you must come and teach ‘the children’ to keep house, and go halves in everything, just as we used to do, and let us pet you, and all be blissfully happy and friendly together.”
“艾米和我没有你在身边就无法过下去，所以你必须来教育‘孩子们’如何打理家务，并且与我们分担一切，就像我们以前常做的那样，让我们宠爱你，我们大家一起幸福友好地生活在一起。”

“If I shouldn’t be in the way, it would be very pleasant. —
“如果我不会成为你们的负担，那就非常愉快了。 —

I begin to feel quite young already, for somehow all my troubles seemed to fly away when you came. —
当你来的时候，我感觉自己已经年轻起来了，好像所有的烦恼都飞走了。” —

You always were a comfort, Teddy,” and Jo leaned her head on his shoulder, just as she did years ago, when Beth lay ill and Laurie told her to hold on to him.
“你一直是我的安慰，泰迪。”乔将头靠在他的肩膀上，就像多年前贝丝病倒时，劳里告诉她要依靠他一样。

He looked down at her, wondering if she remembered the time, but Jo was smiling to herself, as if in truth her troubles had all vanished at his coming.
他俯视着她，好奇她是否还记得那个时候，但乔面露微笑，仿佛她的烦恼都在他的到来时消失了。

“You are the same Jo still, dropping tears about one minute, and laughing the next. You look a little wicked now. —
“你还是那个乔，一会儿掉眼泪，一会儿笑。你现在看起来有点顽皮。怎么了， —

What is it, Grandma?”
奶奶？”

“I was wondering how you and Amy get on together.”
“我在想你和艾米是如何相处的。”

“Like angels!”
“像天使一样！”

“Yes, of course, but which rules?”
“是的，当然，但谁来做主？

“I don’t mind telling you that she does now, at least I let her think so, it pleases her, you know. —
“我无所谓告诉你，至少我让她认为我无所谓，这样会让她开心，你知道的。” —

By-and-by we shall take turns, for marriage, they say, halves one’s rights and doubles one’s duties.”
“过一段时间我们会轮流，因为他们说婚姻既削弱了一方的权利，也加倍了一方的责任。”

“You’ll go on as you begin, and Amy will rule you all the days of your life.”
“你从一开始就会这样，艾米将统治你一生的每一天。”

“Well, she does it so imperceptibly that I don’t think I shall mind much. —
“她做得如此不可察觉，我觉得我不会太介意。 —

She is the sort of woman who knows how to rule well. —
她是那种善于统治的女人。” —

In fact, I rather like it, for she winds one round her finger as softly and prettily as a skein of silk, and makes you feel as if she was doing you a favor all the while.”
“事实上，我相当喜欢这样，因为她像一根丝线一样柔软而美丽地把你牵制住，让你觉得她一直在帮你个忙。”

“That ever I should live to see you a henpecked husband and enjoying it!” cried Jo, with uplifted hands.
“真没想到我会看到你成为一个被老婆掌控的丈夫，并且还乐此不疲！”乔高举双手大声喊道。

It was good to see Laurie square his shoulders, and smile with masculine scorn at that insinuation, as he replied, with his “high and mighty” air, “Amy is too well-bred for that, and I am not the sort of man to submit to it. —
看到劳里挺直了肩膀，挑衅地笑了起来，回答道：“艾米太有教养了，我可不是那种会屈服的人。” —

My wife and I respect ourselves and one another too much ever to tyrannize or quarrel.”
我和妻子彼此非常尊重，从不争吵或施加暴政。

Jo liked that, and thought the new dignity very becoming, but the boy seemed changing very fast into the man, and regret mingled with her pleasure.
乔喜欢这样，觉得这种新的尊严非常合适，但这个小男孩似乎在迅速变成一个成年人，她的高兴中夹杂着遗憾。

“I am sure of that. Amy and you never did quarrel as we used to. —
“我相信这一点。艾米和你们从来没有像我们以前那样吵架过。 —

She is the sun and I the wind, in the fable, and the sun managed the man best, you remember.”
她是寓言中的太阳，而我是风，你还记得吗？太阳最善于驾驭人。”

“She can blow him up as well as shine on him,” laughed Laurie. “such a lecture as I got at Nice! —
劳瑞笑着说：”她不仅可以夸夸其谈，还可以照耀他。” 我在尼斯听到的演讲可比你所有的训斥加在一起还要厉害，真是煞风景。 —

I give you my word it was a deal worse than any of your scoldings, a regular rouser. —
我向你发誓，那比你对我说的任何话都糟糕，完全是一次激起人心的训斥。 —

I’ll tell you all about it sometime, she never will, because after telling me that she despised and was ashamed of me, she lost her heart to the despicable party and married the good-for-nothing.”
我会有时间告诉你所有的事情，她从未如此做过，因为在告诉我她鄙视和羞耻于我之后，她爱上了那个卑劣的家伙并嫁给了那个毫无用处的人。

“What baseness! Well, if she abuses you, come to me, and I’ll defend you.”
“真可耻！如果她辱骂你，来找我，我会保护你。”

“I look as if I needed it, don’t I?” said Laurie, getting up and striking an attitude which suddenly changed from the imposing to the rapturous, as Amy’s voice was heard calling, “Where is she? Where’s my dear old Jo?”
“看上去好像我需要吗？”劳里说着，站起身摆姿势，突然从威严变得欣喜，因为艾米的声音传来，“她在哪儿？我的亲爱的乔在哪里？”

In trooped the whole family, and everyone was hugged and kissed all over again, and after several vain attempts, the three wanderers were set down to be looked at and exulted over. —
全家人成群结队地走进来，每个人都再次被拥抱和亲吻了一遍，在几次徒劳的尝试之后，三个游荡者被放下来，让大家观看并为之欢欣鼓舞。 —

Mr. Laurence, hale and hearty as ever, was quite as much improved as the others by his foreign tour, for the crustiness seemed to be nearly gone, and the old-fashioned courtliness had received a polish which made it kindlier than ever. —
劳伦斯先生和其他人一样，经过国外旅行后也焕然一新，那种粗鲁的态度几乎消失了，老派的彬彬有礼也更加文雅，使人感到更亲切。 —

It was good to see him beam at ‘my children’, as he called the young pair. —
看到他笑盈盈地对待“我的孩子们”，他称呼这对年轻夫妇，真是太好了。 —

It was better still to see Amy pay him the daughterly duty and affection which completely won his old heart, and best of all, to watch Laurie revolve about the two, as if never tired of enjoying the pretty picture they made.
更好的是看到艾米对他表现出女儿般的责任和深情，这完全赢得了他老人家的心，最重要的是，看到劳里围绕着这两个人转，似乎永远都享受不够他们构成的美丽画面。

The minute she put her eyes upon Amy, Meg became conscious that her own dress hadn’t a Parisian air, that young Mrs. Mofffat would be entirely eclipsed by young Mrs. Laurence, and that ‘her ladyship’ was altogether a most elegant and graceful woman. —
当她将目光投向艾米时，梅格意识到自己的服装没有巴黎风，年轻的莫费特夫人将完全被劳伦斯夫人所遮盖，而“女士”则是一个非常优雅和优雅的女人。 —

Jo thought, as she watched the pair, “How well they look together! —
乔看着这对夫妇想着：“他们看起来如此般配！ —

I was right, and Laurie has found the beautiful, accomplished girl who will become his home better than clumsy old Jo, and be a pride, not a torment to him.” Mrs. March and her husband smiled and nodded at each other with happy faces, for they saw that their youngest had done well, not only in worldly things, but the better wealth of love, confidence, and happiness.
我是对的，劳伦斯已经找到了那位美丽、有才华的女孩，她将对他的家庭更好，而不是那个笨拙的乔，她将是他的自豪，而不是他的折磨。三月夫人和她的丈夫相互微笑点头，脸上洋溢着幸福的表情，因为他们看到他们最小的孩子不仅在世俗事务上做得很好，而且在爱情、信心和幸福的更好财富方面也是如此。

For Amy’s face was full of the soft brightness which betokens a peaceful heart, her voice had a new tenderness in it, and the cool, prim carriage was changed to a gentle dignity, both womanly and winning. —
因为艾米的脸上充满了柔和的光辉，显示出一个平静的心；她的声音中有一种新的温柔，而那冷静而正常的举止变得温和而有尊严，既有女人味又有吸引力。 —

No little affectations marred it, and the cordial sweetness of her manner was more charming than the new beauty or the old grace, for it stamped her at once with the unmistakable sign of the true gentlewoman she had hoped to become.
没有任何小的做作折磨她，她亲切的甜美举止比她的新美貌或旧风采更迷人，因为它一下子标志着她真正渴望成为的真正的绅士夫人。

“Love has done much for our little girl,” said her mother softly.
“爱情给我们的小女孩带来了很多好处，”她的母亲轻声说道。

“She has had a good example before her all her life, my dear,” Mr. March whispered back, with a loving look at the worn face and gray head beside him.
“亲爱的，她的一生都有一个良好的榜样。”三月先生轻声回答道，一边对着他旁边那张疲惫的脸庞和灰发流露出爱意。

Daisy found it impossible to keep her eyes off her ‘pitty aunty’, but attached herself like a lap dog to the wonderful chatelaine full of delightful charms. —
戴茜发现自己无法把眼睛从她那”可爱的阿姨”身上移开，就像小型狗一样亲近那个装满了令人愉快魅力的挂饰。 —

Demi paused to consider the new relationship before he compromised himself by the rash acceptance of a bribe, which took the tempting form of a family of wooden bears from Berne. A flank movement produced an unconditional surrender, however, for Laurie knew where to have him.
迪米停下来考虑一下这个新关系，然后才冲动地接受了一个贿赂的冒险，这个贿赂以伯尔尼的一个家庭木熊的形式出现。然而，一次侧面的行动导致了无条件的投降，因为劳里知道该怎么得到他。

“Young man, when I first had the honor of making your acquaintance you hit me in the face. —
“年轻人，当我第一次有幸认识你时，你打了我一巴掌。 —

Now I demand the satisfaction of a gentleman,” and with that the tall uncle proceeded to toss and tousle the small nephew in a way that damaged his philosophical dignity as much as it delighted his boyish soul.
现在我要求一个绅士的满足，“这位高个子的叔叔开始摔打那个小侄子，这种方式既损害了他的哲学尊严，又让他的孩子气的灵魂感到愉快。

“Blest if she ain’t in silk from head to foot; —
“看她从头到脚都是丝绸， —

ain’t it a relishin’ sight to see her settin’ there as fine as a fiddle, and hear folks calling little Amy ‘Mis. Laurence!’ ” muttered old Hannah, who could not resist frequent “peeks” through the slide as she set the table in a most decidedly promiscuous manner.
真是一道令人赏心悦目的风景，听着人们把小埃米称为劳伦斯太太，多么美妙啊！”哈纳老太太嘀咕道，她无法抗拒不时”窥视”滑槽，同时在摆放餐具时显然采用了非常杂乱的方式。

Mercy on us, how they did talk! first one, then the other, then all burst out together–trying to tell the history of three years in half an hour. —
“天哪，他们交谈得真多！前一个，后一个，然后所有人都一起爆发出来 –试图在半小时内讲述三年的历史。 —

It was fortunate that tea was at hand, to produce a lull and provide refreshment–for they would have been hoarse and faint if they had gone on much longer. —
幸运的是，茶来了，带来了短暂的宁静和提供了刷新 –因为如果他们继续下去，他们会变得嘶哑和虚弱。 —

Such a happy procession as filed away into the little dining room! —
这样一个幸福的队伍排列进了小餐厅！ —

Mr. March proudly escorted Mrs. Laurence. —
马奇先生自豪地陪同劳伦斯太太。 —

Mrs. March as proudly leaned on the arm of ‘my son’. —
马夫人自豪地依偎在“我的儿子”的臂膀上。 —

The old gentleman took Jo, with a whispered, “You must be my girl now,” and a glance at the empty corner by the fire, that made Jo whisper back, “I’ll try to fill her place, sir.”
老绅士轻声说着，带着一个眼神指向炉边的空角落，让琼儿低声回答：“我会尽力填补她的位置，先生。”

The twins pranced behind, feeling that the millennium was at hand, for everyone was so busy with the newcomers that they were left to revel at their own sweet will, and you may be sure they made the most of the opportunity. —
双胞胎在后面扭动着，觉得千禧年即将到来，因为每个人都忙着照顾新来的孩子，他们有时间尽情玩耍，你可以确信他们会利用这个机会。 —

Didn’t they steal sips of tea, stuff gingerbread ad libitum, get a hot biscuit apiece, and as a crowning trespass, didn’t they each whisk a captivating little tart into their tiny pockets, there to stick and crumble treacherously, teaching them that both human nature and a pastry are frail? —
他们不是偷喝茶，狼吞虎咽地吃姜饼，每个人都有一个热饼干，而且作为最气人的窃事，他们还各自偷偷拿了一个迷人的小馅饼放进他们微小的口袋里，那些饼干背叛性地粘在口袋里并且破碎了，教会了他们人性和糕点的脆弱。 —

Burdened with the guilty consciousness of the sequestered tarts, and fearing that Dodo’s sharp eyes would pierce the thin disguise of cambric and merino which hid their booty, the little sinners attached themselves to ‘Dranpa’, who hadn’t his spectacles on. —
负着罪恶感，藏匿着点心，担心Dodo敏锐的眼睛会看穿她们薄薄的府绸和黑毛衣的伪装，这些小罪人们依附在不戴眼镜的“Dranpa”身上。 —

Amy, who was handed about like refreshments, returned to the parlor on Father Laurence’s arm. —
拿着饮料被人携着，艾米牵着劳伦斯神父的手臂回到了客厅。 —

The others paired off as before, and this arrangement left Jo companionless. —
其余人如前一样两两成对，这样的安排让乔无伴侣。 —

She did not mind it at the minute, for she lingered to answer Hannah’s eager inquiry.
她一时倒是不介意，因为她徘徊着回答汉娜渴望知道的问题。

“Will Miss Amy ride in her coop (coupe), and use all them lovely silver dishes that’s stored away over yander?”
“艾米小姐会坐在她的豪华马车里，会使用那些存放在那边的可爱白银餐具吗？”

“Shouldn’t wonder if she drove six white horses, ate off gold plate, and wore diamonds and point lace every day. —
“她应该会驱驰着六匹白马，用金碟子吃饭，每天身上都穿着钻石和镶边花边。” —

Teddy thinks nothing too good for her,” returned Jo with infinite satisfaction.
“泰迪认为没有什么是对她太好的，”乔带着无限的满足回答道。

“No more there is! Will you have hash or fishballs for breakfast?” asked Hannah, who wisely mingled poetry and prose.
“是的，没有什么是对她太好的！你早餐要吃炖菜还是鱼丸？”汉娜问道，她明智地结合了诗歌和散文。

“I don’t care,” and Jo shut the door, feeling that food was an uncongenial topic just then. —
“我不在乎，”乔关上了门，感觉食物是一个不合适的话题。 —

She stood a minute looking at the party vanishing above, and as Demi’s short plaid legs toiled up the last stair, a sudden sense of loneliness came over her so strongly that she looked about her with dim eyes, as if to find something to lean upon, for even Teddy had deserted her. —
她站了一会儿看着派对在她上面消失，当黛米短短的方格裤腿艰难地爬上最后一层楼时，一种突然的孤独感猛然袭上她的心头，以至于她用朦胧的眼睛四处打量，好像要找个东西依靠一样，因为就连泰迪也离开了她。 —

If she had known what birthday gift was coming every minute nearer and nearer, she would not have said to herself, “I’ll weep a little weep when I go to bed. —
如果她知道每过一分钟都会有生日礼物靠近她，她以前就不会对自己说，“我要在睡觉时哭一哭。 —

It won’t do to be dismal now.” Then she drew her hand over her eyes, for one of her boyish habits was never to know where her handkerchief was, and had just managed to call up a smile when there came a knock at the porch door.
现在不能沮丧。”然后她用手抹了抹眼睛，因为她的一个男孩子气的习惯就是永远不知道手帕在哪里，她刚刚设法露出了一个微笑，这时门廊的门响了。

She opened with hospitable haste, and started as if another ghost had come to surprise her, for there stood a tall bearded gentleman, beaming on her from the darkness like a midnight sun.
她迅速打开，热情地让客人进来，但当她看到那个高大留着胡须的绅士站在黑暗中满脸笑容地朝她走来时，她像被另一个鬼魂惊到了一样。

“Oh, Mr. Bhaer, I am so glad to see you!” cried Jo, with a clutch, as if she feared the night would swallow him up before she could get him in.
“哦，巴尔先生，我真高兴见到您！”乔大声喊道，紧紧地抓住他，仿佛害怕黑夜会在她把他带进去之前把他吞没。

“And I to see Miss Marsch, but no, you haf a party,” and the Professor paused as the sound of voices and the tap of dancing feet came down to them.
“我也很高兴见到玛什小姐，但不，你们正在开派对，”教授停顿了一下，因为他们听到了声音和跳舞的脚步声。

“No, we haven’t, only the family. —
“不，我们没有开派对， —

My sister and friends have just come home, and we are all very happy. —
只是家人而已。我妹妹和朋友们刚刚回来，我们都很开心。 —

Come in, and make one of us.”
进来，加入我们吧。”

Though a very social man, I think Mr. Bhaer would have gone decorously away, and come again another day, but how could he, when Jo shut the door behind him, and bereft him of his hat? —
虽然巴尔先生是一个非常善于社交的人，但是我认为他应该得体地离开，另找机会再来。但乔关上了他身后的门，夺走了他的帽子，他不知道该如何离开。 —

Perhaps her face had something to do with it, for she forgot to hide her joy at seeing him, and showed it with a frankness that proved irresistible to the solitary man, whose welcome far exceeded his boldest hopes.
也许乔的脸有些影响，因为她忘记了隐藏自己对他的喜悦，以坦率的方式展示出来，这对于这位孤独的男士来说无法抗拒，他的欢迎远远超出了他最大胆的希望。

“If I shall not be Monsieur de Trop, I will so gladly see them all. —
“如果我不会成为多余的人，我会非常高兴见到他们所有人。 —

You haf been ill, my friend?”
你病过了，我的朋友吗？”

He put the question abruptly, for, as Jo hung up his coat, the light fell on her face, and he saw a change in it.
当乔帮他脱下外套时，灯光照在她的脸上，他看到了她的脸上有所变化，于是他突然问了这个问题。

“Not ill, but tired and sorrowful. —
“不是生病，而是疲惫和悲伤。 —

We have had trouble since I saw you last.”
我们自从上次见面以来一直有麻烦。”

“Ah, yes, I know. My heart was sore for you when I heard that,” and he shook hands again, with such a sympathetic face that Jo felt as if no comfort could equal the look of the kind eyes, the grasp of the big, warm hand.
“啊，是的，我知道。当我听到那个消息时，我的心为你而痛。”他再次握手，脸上带着如此同情的表情，以至于乔感觉再没有什么比这样的目光和大温暖的手握更能给她安慰了。

“Father, Mother, this is my friend, Professor Bhaer,” she said, with a face and tone of such irrepressible pride and pleasure that she might as well have blown a trumpet and opened the door with a flourish.
“爸爸，妈妈，这是我的朋友，贝尔教授。”她脸上露出无法掩饰的骄傲和愉悦之情，说话的语气也如同吹起了一声号角，打开了门。

If the stranger had any doubts about his reception, they were set at rest in a minute by the cordial welcome he received. —
如果这个陌生人对自己的接待还有任何疑虑，一分钟的时间就足够了让他对于自己的热烈欢迎信以为真了。 —

Everyone greeted him kindly, for Jo’s sake at first, but very soon they liked him for his own. —
一开始大家都是因为乔才对他友好，但很快大家就因为他本身而喜欢他了。 —

They could not help it, for he carried the talisman that opens all hearts, and these simple people warmed to him at once, feeling even the more friendly because he was poor. —
他们无法控制自己，因为他带着一块打开所有心扉的护身符，这些简单的人立刻对他友善起来，甚至感到更加友好，因为他贫穷。 —

For poverty enriches those who live above it, and is a sure passport to truly hospitable spirits. —
因为贫穷使那些生活在其上方的人们变得富有，并且是真正好客的灵魂的确切通行证。 —

Mr. Bhaer sat looking about him with the air of a traveler who knocks at a strange door, and when it opens, finds himself at home. —
布尔先生坐在那里环视四周，像一个敲开陌生门的旅行者一样，在它打开时发现自己回到了家。 —

The children went to him like bees to a honeypot, and establishing themselves on each knee, proceeded to captivate him by rifling his pockets, pulling his beard, and investigating his watch, with juvenile audacity. —
孩子们像蜜蜂一样飞快地来到他身边，并在他的每一条腿上安顿下来，接着用幼稚的大胆行为——翻弄他的口袋，拉扯他的胡须，调查他的手表——赢得了他的欢心。 —

The women telegraphed their approval to one another, and Mr. March, feeling that he had got a kindred spirit, opened his choicest stores for his guest’s benefit, while silent John listened and enjoyed the talk, but said not a word, and Mr. Laurence found it impossible to go to sleep.
女人们之间相互示意，而马奇先生感到他找到了一个类似的灵魂，于是为了让客人过得舒适，给他开了他最好的东西，而默默无语的约翰则静静地聆听并享受着这次谈话，而劳伦斯先生则发现不可能入睡。

If Jo had not been otherwise engaged, Laurie’s behavior would have amused her, for a faint twinge, not of jealousy, but something like suspicion, caused that gentleman to stand aloof at first, and observe the newcomer with brotherly circumspection. —
如果乔没有其他事情，劳里的行为会让她觉得好笑，因为一种微弱的不是嫉妒而是怀疑的感觉让那位男士一开始保持距离，以兄长般的谨慎观察这位新来的人。 —

But it did not last long. —
但这种感觉没有持续很久。 —

He got interested in spite of himself, and before he knew it, was drawn into the circle. —
他不知不觉地感兴趣起来，然后就被吸引到了这个圈子里。 —

For Mr. Bhaer talked well in this genial atmosphere, and did himself justice. —
在这种友好的氛围中，巴爵先生表现得很出色。 —

He seldom spoke to Laurie, but he looked at him often, and a shadow would pass across his face, as if regretting his own lost youth, as he watched the young man in his prime. —
他很少和劳里说话，但他经常看着他，他的脸上会掠过一丝阴影，仿佛对他自己失去的青春感到遗憾，同时观察着这位年轻人正值壮年。 —

Then his eyes would turn to Jo so wistfully that she would have surely answered the mute inquiry if she had seen it. —
然后他的目光渴望地转向乔，如果她看见了，她肯定会回答这个无言的询问。 —

But Jo had her own eyes to take care of, and feeling that they could not be trusted, she prudently kept them on the little sock she was knitting, like a model maiden aunt.
但乔有她自己的眼睛需要照顾，明智地将它们保持在她正在编织的小袜子上，像一个模范的姑姑。

A stealthy glance now and then refreshed her like sips of fresh water after a dusty walk, for the sidelong peeps showed her several propitious omens. —
偶尔的一瞥让她感觉仿佛尘封的步行之后喝到了一口清水，因为这些斜眼的窥视带给她一些吉利的征兆。 —

Mr. Bhaer’s face had lost the absent-minded expression, and looked all alive with interest in the present moment, actually young and handsome, she thought, forgetting to compare him with Laurie, as she usually did strange men, to their great detriment. —
巴尔先生的脸上失去了一贯的恍惚表情，变得活泼起来，对眼前的事物感兴趣，实际上年轻英俊，她甚至没有再拿他和劳瑞进行对比，通常她会给陌生人带来很大的打击。 —

Then he seemed quite inspired, though the burial customs of the ancients, to which the conversation had strayed, might not be considered an exhilarating topic. —
然后他显得非常有灵感，尽管谈话涉及到古人的葬礼习俗，这或许不能算是一个令人振奋的话题。 —

Jo quite glowed with triumph when Teddy got quenched in an argument, and thought to herself, as she watched her father’s absorbed face, “How he would enjoy having such a man as my Professor to talk with every day!” Lastly, Mr. Bhaer was dressed in a new suit of black, which made him look more like a gentleman than ever. —
在泰迪在一场争论中被扑灭时，乔满怀得意地发光，心里想着，看着父亲专注的脸，” 如果我的教授每天都能和这样的人交流，他会有多么享受啊！” 最后，巴尔先生穿着一套新的黑色西服，使他看起来比以往更像一个绅士。 —

His bushy hair had been cut and smoothly brushed, but didn’t stay in order long, for in exciting moments, he rumpled it up in the droll way he used to do, and Jo liked it rampantly erect better than flat, because she thought it gave his fine forehead a Jove-like aspect. —
他那一头浓密的头发被剪整了并且梳得很顺滑，但很快就会乱起来，因为在激动的时刻，他总是会以滑稽的方式将头发弄乱，乔喜欢它疯狂地竖立起来，因为她认为这样使他美丽的额头有了宙斯般的风采。 —

Poor Jo, how she did glorify that plain man, as she sat knitting away so quietly, yet letting nothing escape her, not even the fact that Mr. Bhaer actually had gold sleeve-buttons in his immaculate wristbands.
可怜的乔，她如此静静地坐在那里编织，但没有让任何事情逃过她的眼睛，甚至包括贝尔先生那根本没有任何瑕疵的袖扣上竟然镶着金子。

“Dear old fellow! He couldn’t have got himself up with more care if he’d been going a-wooing,” said Jo to herself, and then a sudden thought born of the words made her blush so dreadfully that she had to drop her ball, and go down after it to hide her face.
“亲爱的老朋友！他如果去谈恋爱，不能再打扮得更认真了。”乔自言自语道，然后突然想到了这句话的含义，让她害羞得脸都红了起来，不得不把球放下去躲起来。

The maneuver did not succeed as well as she expected, however, for though just in the act of setting fire to a funeral pyre, the Professor dropped his torch, metaphorically speaking, and made a dive after the little blue ball. —
然而，这个策略并没有像她预期的那样成功，因为尽管教授正在点燃一个葬礼火堆，但在修辞上，他像掉球一样地向下扑去，追逐着那个小小的蓝球。 —

Of course they bumped their heads smartly together, saw stars, and both came up flushed and laughing, without the ball, to resume their seats, wishing they had not left them.
当然，他们猛烈地撞头在一起，眼冒金星，两人都面红耳赤地笑着，没有拿到球，回到座位上，希望他们没有离开自己的座位。

Nobody knew where the evening went to, for Hannah skillfully abstracted the babies at an early hour, nodding like two rosy poppies, and Mr. Laurence went home to rest. —
大家都不知道晚上去了哪里，因为汉娜巧妙地在早些时候抱走了两个像胭脂一样红的宝贝，劳伦斯先生则回家休息。 —

The others sat round the fire, talking away, utterly regardless of the lapse of time, till Meg, whose maternal mind was impressed with a firm conviction that Daisy had tumbled out of bed, and Demi set his nightgown afire studying the structure of matches, made a move to go.
其他人坐在火炉旁边，毫不关心时间的流逝，直到梅格，那个母性的心灵深信黛西已经从床上摔下来了，小迪研究火柴盒结构时把睡袍点着了火，才动身离去。

“We must have our sing, in the good old way, for we are all together again once more,” said Jo, feeling that a good shout would be a safe and pleasant vent for the jubilant emotions of her soul.
“我们必须以好旧日子的方式唱歌，因为我们又都聚在一起了。”乔说道，觉得大声喊叫会是她灵魂里欢乐的情感的一个安全而愉快的宣泄出口。

They were not all there. But no one found the words thougtless or untrue, for Beth still seemed among them, a peaceful presence, invisible, but dearer than ever, since death could not break the household league that love made disoluble. —
他们并没有全部在这里。但没有人认为这些话是考虑不周或不真实的，因为贝丝似乎仍然在他们中间，一个平和的存在，虽然无形，但比以往更为亲切，因为死亡无法打破爱所构成的家庭联盟。 —

The little chair stood in its old place. The tidy basket, with the bit of work she left unfinished when the needle grew ‘so heavy’, was still on its accustomed shelf. —
那把小椅子还放在原来的地方。整洁的篮子上还放着她离世前未完成的那一小段手工。 —

The beloved instrument, seldom touched now had not been moved, and above it Beth’s face, serene and smiling, as in the early days, looked down upon them, seeming to say, “Be happy. I am here.”
心爱的乐器，如今很少被用到，也没有被移动，而贝丝的面容，宁静而微笑，就像在早些时候一样，俯瞰着他们，似乎在说：“快乐吧。我在这里。”

“Play something, Amy. Let them hear how much you have improved,” said Laurie, with pardonable pride in his promising pupil.
“弹点什么，艾米。让他们听听你的进步有多大”，劳里夸奖他有前途的学生道，引以为傲。

But Amy whispered, with full eyes, as she twirled the faded stool, “Not tonight, dear. I can’t show off tonight.”
但艾米轻声说着，眼中充满泪水，手拧着褪色的凳子，“今晚不行，亲爱的。我今晚不能表演了。”

But she did show something better than brilliancy or skill, for she sang Beth’s songs with a tender music in her voice which the best master could not have taught, and touched the listener’s hearts with a sweeter power than any other inspiration could have given her. —
但她展示出了比才华和技巧更好的东西，因为她用柔和的音乐唱着贝丝的歌曲，这是任何最好的导师都无法教授的，她用比任何其他灵感更甜美的力量触动着听众的心。 —

The room was very still, when the clear voice failed suddenly at the last line of Beth’s favorite hymn. —
当清晰的声音在贝丝最喜欢的圣歌的最后一句突然失去了时，房间里一片寂静。 —

It was hard to say …
很难说……

Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal;
地球上没有天堂无法治愈的悲痛。

and Amy leaned against her husband, who stood behind her, feeling that her welcome home was not quite perfect without Beth’s kiss.
艾米依靠在站在她身后的丈夫身上，感觉没有贝丝的亲吻，她的欢迎回家并不完美。

“Now, we must finish with Mignon’s song, for Mr. Bhaer sings that,” said Jo, before the pause grew painful. —
“现在，我们必须以米尼翁的歌结束，因为布耶先生会唱那首歌，” 在沉默变得尴尬之前，乔说。 —

And Mr. Bhaer cleared his throat with a gratified “Hem!” as he stepped into the corner where Jo stood, saying …
并且布耶先生走到乔站的角落，清了清嗓子，说道……

“You will sing with me? We go excellently well together.”
“你会和我一起唱吗？我们合唱得相当好。”

A pleasing fiction, by the way, for Jo had no more idea of music than a grasshopper. —
这其实是一个令人愉悦的幻想，因为乔对音乐一窍不通。 —

But she would have consented if he had proposed to sing a whole opera, and warbled away, blissfully regardless of time and tune. —
如果他向她求婚唱了整个歌剧，她会同意的，而他会兴高采烈地唱下去，不顾时间和调子。 —

It didn’t much matter, for Mr. Bhaer sang like a true German, heartily and well, and Jo soon subsided into a subdued hum, that she might listen to the mellow voice that seemed to sing for her alone.
这并不重要，因为巴尔先生唱得像个地道的德国人，充满热情而出色，乔很快就安静下来，低声哼唱，倾听着这动人的声音，似乎它只是为她一人而唱。

Know’st thou the land where the citron blooms,
你知道那片橘子飘香的土地吗，

used to be the Professor’s favorite line, for ‘das land’ meant Germany to him, but now he seemed to dwell, with peculiar warmth and melody, upon the words …
这曾经是教授最喜欢的一句诗，因为对他来说，“那片土地”代表着德国，但现在他似乎特别热爱地、以独特的热情和旋律念念不忘这几个字. ..

There, oh there, might I with thee, O, my beloved, go
啊，我心爱的人，如果我能和你一起去那里

and one listener was so thrilled by the tender invitation that she longed to say she did know the land, and would joyfully depart thither whenever he liked.
一位听众被这温柔的邀请深深打动，她渴望说她知道那个地方，只要他愿意，她会欣然前往。

The song was considered a great success, and the singer retired covered with laurels. —
这首歌被认为非常成功，歌手满身是荣耀地退下了台。 —

But a few minutes afterward, he forgot his manners entirely, and stared at Amy putting on her bonnet, for she had been introduced simply as ‘my sister’, and no one had called her by her new name since he came. —
但是几分钟之后，他完全忘记了自己的礼貌，盯着艾米戴上帽子的样子看，因为她只被介绍为“我的妹妹”，自从他来了以后没有人叫她新名字。 —

He forgot himself still further when Laurie said, in his most gracious manner, at parting …
当劳里在告别时以他最亲切的态度说：“我妻子和我很高兴见到您，先生，请记住，我们随时欢迎您过来。”

“My wife and I are very glad to meet you, sir. —
然后教授衷心感谢他，显得如此满意， —

Please remember that there is always a welcome waiting for you over the way.”
以至于劳里认为他是自己见过的最愉快表达情感的老人。

Then the Professor thanked him so heartily, and looked so suddenly illuminated with satisfaction, that Laurie thought him the most delightfully demonstrative old fellow he ever met.
“我也会走了，但如果您允许的话，我将非常乐意再次来访，亲爱的女士，因为我在城里还有一些事情要做，会耽搁我几天。”

“I too shall go, but I shall gladly come again, if you will gif me leave, dear madame, for a little business in the city will keep me here some days.”
他对着玛奇太太说话，但是他看着乔，母亲的声音给了他热烈的同意，就像女儿的眼神一样，因为玛奇太太并不像莫法特夫人以为的那样对自己孩子的利益视而不见。

He spoke to Mrs. March, but he looked at Jo, and the mother’s voice gave as cordial an assent as did the daughter’s eyes, for Mrs. March was not so blind to her children’s interest as Mrs. Moffat supposed.
“I too shall go, but I shall gladly come again, if you will gif me leave, dear madame, for a little business in the city will keep me here some days.” (原文未更改)

“I suspect that is a wise man,” remarked Mr. March, with placid satisfaction, from the hearthrug, after the last guest had gone.
“我觉得他是个聪明人，”三月先生从炉边地毯上满意地说道，最后一个客人离开后。

“I know he is a good one,” added Mrs. March, with decided approval, as she wound up the clock.
“我知道他是一个好人，”三月夫人坚定地赞同道，她一边给钟上发条一边说。

“I thought you’d like him,” was all Jo said, as she slipped away to her bed.
“我知道你会喜欢他的，”乔悄悄地走开去睡觉了。

She wondered what the business was that brought Mr. Bhaer to the city, and finally decided that he had been appointed to some great honor, somewhere, but had been too modest to mention the fact. —
她在想迈克尔·拜尔先生来城市是因为什么事情，最后终于猜想他可能被任命到某个很重要的职位，但是他太谦虚没有提及这个事实。 —

If she had seen his face when, safe in his own room, he looked at the picture of a severe and rigid young lady, with a good deal of hair, who appeared to be gazing darkly into futurity, it might have thrown some light upon the subject, especially when he turned off the gas, and kissed the picture in the dark.
如果她看到了他的脸，当他安全地回到自己的房间里看着一张严肃和刚正的年轻女士的照片时，可能会对这个问题有所启示，照片里的女士有着丰富的头发，似乎在深沉地凝望着未来。尤其是当他关闭了煤气灯，在黑暗中亲吻了照片时，这可能为问题带来一些启示。