‘Oh, dear, how hard it does seem to take up our packs and jog on,’ sighed Meg, the morning after the party; —
“哦，亲爱的，拿起我们的行囊并继续前进真是有点艰难了，” 派对结束后的早晨，梅格叹息着说； —

for, now the holidays were over, the week of merry-making did not fit her for going on easily with the task she never liked.
因为现在假期已经结束，一周的欢乐活动并不能使她更容易地完成她从不喜欢的任务。

‘I wish it was Christmas or New Year all the time; —
“我希望一直是圣诞节或新年， —

wouldn’t it be fun?’ answered Jo, yawning dismally.
那不是很有趣吗？”乔慢悠悠地打着哈欠回答。

‘We shouldn’t enjoy ourselves half so much as we do now. —
“我们不会像现在这样享受得那么开心。 —

But it does seem so nice to have little suppers and bouquets, and go to parties, and drive home, and read and rest, and not work. —
但是这样小型的晚餐和花束，参加派对，坐车回家，读书休息，不工作，真是很惬意。 —

It’s like other people, you know, and I always envy girls who do such things; —
就像其他人一样，你知道，我一直羡慕那些做这些事情的女孩； —

I’m so fond of luxury,’ said Meg, trying to decide which of two shabby gowns was the least shabby.
“我是那么喜欢奢侈品，”梅格说着，试图决定两件破旧连衣裙中哪一件更不破旧。

‘Well, we can’t have it, so don’t let us grumble, but shoulder our bundles and trudge along as cheerfully as Marmee does.
“嗯，我们不能有这些，所以不要抱怨，让我们像妈妈一样带上行囊愉快地行进。

‘I’m sure Aunt March is a regular Old Man of the Sea to me, but I suppose when I’ve learnt to carry her without complaining, she will tumble off, or get so light that I shan’t mind her.’ This idea tickled Jo’s fancy, and put her in good spirits; —
‘我确定奥叔一直是我沉重的众海老人，但我想当我学会不抱怨地承担她的时候，她会跌倒或者变得如此轻盈，以至于我不在乎她。’ 这个想法让乔感到有趣，让她心情好起来。 —

but Meg didn’t brighten, for her burden, consisting of four spoilt children, seemed heavier than ever. —
但是梅格没有变得开心，因为她的负担，包括四个被宠坏的孩子，似乎比以往更重了。 —

She hadn’t heart enough even to make herself pretty, as usual, by putting on a blue neck-ribbon, and dressing her hair in the most becoming way.
她没有足够的心情将自己打扮得漂亮，比如系上一条蓝色的领带，并将头发整理得最漂亮的方式。

‘Where’s the use of looking nice, when no one sees me but those cross midgets, and no one cares whether I’m pretty or not?’ she muttered, shutting her drawer with a jerk. —
‘当没有人看到我时，好看有什么用，除了那些脾气不好的小家伙，没有人在乎我是不是漂亮。’ 她嘟囔着，用力关上抽屉。 —

‘I shall have to toil and moil all my days, with only little bits of fun now and then, and get old and ugly and sour, because I’m poor, and can’t enjoy my life as other girls do. —
‘我将不得不终身劳作，偶尔只有一些小乐趣，因为我穷，不能像其他女孩一样享受生活。真是太不公平了！’ —

It’s a shame!’

So Meg went down, wearing an injured look, and wasn’t at all agreeable at breakfast-time. —
梅格低着头走了下去，脸上带着伤心的表情，早餐时并不合群。 —

Everyone seemed rather out of sorts, and inclined to croak. —
每个人似乎都有些心烦意乱，愿意发牢骚。 —

Beth had a headache, and lay on the sofa, trying to comfort herself with the cat and three kittens; —
贝丝头疼，躺在沙发上，试图用猫和三只小猫宝宝来安慰自己。 —

Amy was fretting because her lessons were not learned, and she couldn’t find her rubbers; —
艾米因为功课没学会而苦恼，也找不到她的橡胶鞋套； —

Jo would whistle and make a great racket getting ready; —
乔则吹口哨，准备时制造很大的噪音。 —

Mrs. March was very busy trying to finish a letter which must go at once; —
玛奇太太忙着尽快写完一封必须立即寄出的信。 —

and Hannah had the grumps, for being up late didn’t suit her.
而汉娜脾气暴躁，因为晚睡对她来说并不适合。

‘There never was such a cross family!’ cried Jo, losing her temper when she had upset an inkstand, broken both bootlacings, and sat down upon her hat.
“从来没有这么脾气暴躁的家庭！”乔大喊道，她席地而坐，不小心打翻了墨水瓶，扯断了鞋带，还坐到了自己的帽子上。

‘You’re the crossest person in it!’ returned Amy, washing out the sum, that was all wrong, with the tears that had fallen on her slate.
“你是最脾气坏的人！”艾米回答道，她一边用眼泪洗掉那道全错的数学题，一边说着。

‘Beth, if you don’t keep these horrid cats down cellar I’ll have them drowned,’ exclaimed Meg, angrily, as she tried to get rid of the kitten, which had scrambled up her back, and stuck like a burr just out of reach.
“伯丝，如果你不把这些可怕的猫关进地下室，我就要让它们淹死了！”梅格生气地说道，她正试图摆脱那只小猫，它已经爬到她的背上，像刺一样粘在她身上，她无法够到。

Jo laughed, Meg scolded, Beth implored, and Amy wailed, because she couldn’t remember how much nine times twelve was.
乔笑了，梅格责骂她，贝丝恳求着，艾米则哭了起来，因为她记不住九乘以十二等于多少。

‘Girls, girls, do be quiet one minute! —
“女孩们，女孩们，给我安静一分钟！ —

I must get this off by the early mail, and you drive me distracted with your worry,’ cried Mrs. March, crossing out the third spoilt sentence in her letter.
我必须赶在早邮递出去，你们这样烦人，让我心烦意乱。”玛奇夫人大声说道，她在信中删去了第三个错误句子。

There was a momentary lull, broken by Hannah, who stalked in, laid two hot turnovers on the table, and stalked out again. —
片刻的寂静被汉娜打破了，她大步走进来，将两个热酥皮馅饼放在桌子上，然后又大步走出去了。 —

These turnovers were an institution; —
这些馅饼是一种传统； —

and the girls called them ‘muffs’, for they had no others, and found the hot pies very comforting to their hands on cold mornings. —
姑娘们称它们为“手套”，因为她们没有其他的手套，在寒冷的早晨里，觉得那些热乎乎的馅饼非常温暖。 —

Hannah never forgot to make them, no matter how busy or grumpy she might be, for the walk was long and bleak; —
无论汉娜有多忙碌或者脾气不好，她永远不会忘记做这些馅饼，因为要走很长很冷的路程。 —

the poor things got no other lunch, and were seldom home before two.
这些可怜的孩子们没有别的午餐，常常两点钟才回到家里。

‘Cuddle your cats, and get over your headache, Bethy. Good-bye, Marmee; —
“抱抱你的猫，摆脱你的头疼， Bethy。再见，妈妈； —

we are a set of rascals this morning, but we’ll come home regular angels. Now then, Meg!’ and Jo tramped away, feeling that the pilgrims were not setting out as they ought to do.
我们今天早上都是一群恶棍，但我们会回家变成乖巧的天使。现在，轮到你了， Meg！ Jo 走开了，感觉这些朝圣者没有按照应该的方式出发。

They always looked back before turning the corner, for their mother was always at the window, to nod and smile, and wave her hand to them. —
他们在拐角之前总是回头看一眼，因为他们的母亲总是在窗户那里，向他们点头微笑，挥手致意。 —

Somehow it seemed as if they couldn’t have got through the day without that; —
不知怎的，好像他们没有看到那个母性的脸孔，一天也度过不了。 —

for, whatever their mood might be, the last glimpse of that motherly face was sure to affect them like sunshine.
因为无论他们的情绪如何，那个慈母的面庞的最后一瞥总能像阳光一样影响他们。

‘If Marmee shook her fist instead of kissing her hand to us, it would serve us right, for more ungrateful wretches than we are were never seen,’ cried Jo, taking a remorseful satisfaction in the snowy walk and bitter wind.
“如果妈妈不是亲吻我们的手而是对我们挥拳头，那就是我们活该，因为再没有比我们更忘恩负义的家伙了，” Jo 痛快地说着，在雪地里感到了悔过的满足和刺骨的风寒。

‘Don’t use such dreadful expressions,’ said Meg, from the depths of the veil in which she had shrouded herself like a nun sick of the world.
“别使用那么可怕的表达方式，”Meg从她就像一个对世界厌倦的修女般打扮的面纱中说道。

‘I like good strong words that mean something,’ replied Jo, catching her hat as it took a leap off her head, preparatory to flying away altogether.
“我喜欢有意义的有力的词语，”Jo回答道，她迅速抓住脱下头的帽子，以免它完全飞走。

‘Call yourself any names you like; —
“你可以用任何你喜欢的称呼来称呼你自己， —

but I am neither a rascal nor a wretch, and I don’t choose to be called so.’
但我既不是流氓也不是恶棍，我不愿意被这样称呼。”

‘You’re a blighted being, and decidedly cross today, because you can’t sit in the lap of luxury all the time. —
“你是个倒霉的家伙，今天明显心情糟透了，因为你不能一直享受奢侈。 —

Poor dear, just wait till I make my fortune, and you shall revel in carriage and ice-cream and high-heeled slippers and posies carriages and red-headed boys to chat with.’
“可怜的亲爱的，等我发财了，你就能尽情享受马车、冰淇淋、高跟拖鞋和花车以及有红头发的男孩们的陪伴了。”

‘How ridiculous you are, Jo!’ but Meg laughed at the nonsense, and felt better in spite of herself.
“你太可笑了，Jo！”但是Meg对这些胡话笑了起来，自己也感觉好些了。

‘Lucky for you I am; for if I put on crushed airs, and tried to be dismal, as you do, we should be in a nice state. —
“幸亏我不是像你那样装腔作势，试图变得沮丧，要不然我们会糟糕透了。 —

Thank goodness, I can always find something funny to keep me up. —
“谢天谢地，我总能找到一些有趣的事情让我保持乐观。” —

Don’t croak any more but come home jolly, there’s a dear.’
别再抱怨了，快回家高高兴兴的，亲爱的。

Jo gave her sister an encouraging pat on the shoulder as they parted for the day, each going a different way, each hugging her little warm turnover, and each trying to be cheerful in spite of wintry weather, hard work, and the unsatisfied desires of pleasure-loving youth.
当她们分开走向不同的道路时，乔轻拍着她妹妹的肩膀鼓励她们，每个人都带着一个温暖的小烤饼，努力克服寒冷的天气、艰苦的工作和不满足的享乐青年的愿望，努力保持快乐。

When Mr. March lost his property in trying to help an unfortunate friend, the two oldest girls begged to be allowed to do something towards their own support, at least. —
当马奇先生在试图帮助一个不幸的朋友时失去了财产时，两个大姐妹请求允许自己做一些对自己的生活支持的事情，至少。 —

Believing that they could not begin too early to cultivate energy, industry, and independence, their parents consented, and both fell to work with the hearty goodwill which, in spite of all obstacles, is sure to succeed at last. —
他们的父母相信他们不能太早培养精力、勤劳和独立精神，同意了他们的请求，两姐妹都全身心地投入到这项充满热心的工作中，尽管遇到了各种困难，但最终肯定会成功。 —

Margaret found a place as nursery governess, and felt rich with her small salary. —
玛格丽特找了一份作为保姆教师的工作，她觉得自己的小薪水很富足。 —

As she said, she was ‘fond of luxury’, and her chief trouble was poverty. —
正如她所说，她是“对奢侈品着迷的”，她最大的麻烦是贫困。 —

She found it harder to bear than the others, because she could remember a time when home was beautiful, life full of ease and pleasure, and want of any kind unknown. —
她发现比其他人更难忍受，因为她还记得以前家是多么美丽，生活是多么轻松愉快，而任何一种贫困都是未知的。 —

She tried not to be envious or discontented but it was very natural that the young girl should long for pretty things, gay friends, accomplishments, and a happy life. —
她努力不嫉妒或不满足，但年轻女孩渴望漂亮的东西，快乐的朋友，才艺，以及幸福的生活是非常自然的。 —

At the Kings’ she daily saw all she wanted, for the children’s older sisters were just out, and Meg caught frequent glimpses of dainty party-dresses and bouquets, heard lively gossip about theatres, concerts, sleighing parties, and merry-makings of all kinds, and saw money lavished on trifles which would have been so precious to her. —
在国王家里，她每天都看到她想要的一切，因为孩子们的姐姐们刚刚成年，梅格常常瞥见漂亮的晚礼服和花束，听到关于剧院、音乐会、雪橇派对以及各种欢乐活动的生动闲谈，并看到金钱被浪费在对她来说如此珍贵的琐事上。 —

Poor Meg seldom complained, but a sense of injustice made her feel bitter towards everyone sometimes, for she had not yet learned to know how rich she was in the blessings which alone can make life happy.
可怜的梅格很少抱怨，但正义感让她有时对每个人都感到愤怒，因为她还没有学会了解自己在那些可以让生活快乐的祝福中有多么富有。

Jo happened to suit Aunt March, who was lame, and needed an active person to wait upon her. —
乔碰巧适合奥叔，奥叔因为腿脚不便，需要一个活跃的人来照顾她。 —

The childless old lady had offered to adopt one of the girls when the troubles came, and was much offended because her offer was declined. —
当困难来临时，这位无儿女的老妇人提出要收养其中一个女孩，但她的提议被婉拒了，使她非常生气。 —

Other friends told the Marches that they had lost all chance of being remembered in the rich old lady’s will; —
其他朋友告诉马奇一家，他们已经失去了在这位富有的老妇人的遗嘱中被记住的机会； —

but the unworldly Marches only said:
但这对世俗无知的马奇夫妇只是说：

‘We can’t give up our girls for a dozen fortunes. —
“不管贫穷还是富有，我们都不会为了一大笔财富而放弃我们的女孩们。 —

Rich or poor, we will keep together and be happy in one another.’
我们会团结一致，相互快乐。”

The old lady wouldn’t speak to them for a time, but, happening to meet Jo at a friend’s, something in her comical face and blunt manners struck the old lady’s fancy, and she proposed to take her for a companion. —
一段时间里，老妇人都不肯跟他们说话，但偶然在朋友家遇到了乔，她滑稽的面容和直率的举止给老妇人留下了深刻的印象，于是她提议将乔作为她的伴侣。 —

This did not suit Jo at all; —
这对乔来说一点也不合适， —

but she accepted the place since nothing better appeared, and, to everyone’s surprise, got on remarkably well with her irascible relative. —
但她接受了这个职位，因为没有更好的选择，并且让所有人惊讶的是，她与她暴躁的亲戚相处得非常好。 —

There was an occasional tempest, and once Jo had marched home, declaring she couldn’t bear it any longer; —
偶尔会有爆发的风暴，有一次乔发起了火，宣称她再也受不了了； —

but Aunt March always cleared up quickly, and sent for her back again with such urgency that she could not refuse, for in her heart she rather liked the peppery old lady.
但玛奇姨妈总是很快就消除了烦恼，然后又紧急地派人把她叫回去，她不能拒绝，因为她心里其实挺喜欢这个急性子的老太太。

I suspect that the real attraction was a large library of fine books, which was left to dust and spiders since Uncle March died. —
我怀疑真正吸引她的是一间装满精美书籍的大图书馆，自从玛奇叔叔去世后就一直被尘土和蜘蛛占据。 —

Jo remembered the kind old gentleman, who used to let her build railroads and bridges with his big dictionaries, tell her stories about the queer pictures in his Latin books, and buy her cards of gingerbread whenever he met her in the street. —
乔记得那位友善的老绅士，曾经让她用他的大字典盖铁路和桥梁，给她讲他拉丁书里奇怪图片的故事，在街上遇到她时给她买姜饼卡片。 —

The dim, dusty room, with the busts staring down from the tall bookcases, the cosy chairs, the globes, and, best of all, the wilderness of books, in which she could wander where she liked,, made the library a region of bliss to her. —
那间昏暗尘土飞扬的房间，高高的书架上凝视下来的胸像，舒适的椅子，地球仪和最重要的是无尽的书籍，让她可以随心所欲地在其中漫游，使这个图书馆成为她的一片快乐之地。 —

The moment Aunt March took her nar was busy with company Jo hurried to this quiet place, and curling herself up in the easy-chair, devoured poetry, romance, history, travels, and pictures, like a regular book-worm. —
当Aunt March带着她的狗去陪客人的时候，Jo急忙赶到这个安静的地方，瘫在舒适的椅子上，像一个真正的书虫一样痴迷于诗歌、浪漫、历史、旅行和图片。 —

But, like all happiness, it did not last long; —
但是，就像所有的幸福一样， —

for as sure as she had just reached the heart of the story, the sweetest verse of the song, or the most perilous adventure of her traveller, a shrill voice called, ‘Josy-phine! —
它并没有持续很久；因为几乎确定她刚刚沉浸在故事的核心，甜蜜的歌词，或者她旅行者的最危险的冒险中，一个尖声的声音喊道，“乔小吉！ —

Josy-phine!’ and she had to leave her paradise to wind yarn, wash the poodle, or read Belsham’s Essays by the hour together.
乔小吉！”她不得不离开她的天堂，去梳理纱线，洗贵宾犬，或者连续几个小时读贝尔沙姆的论文。

Jo’s ambition was to do something very splendid; —
乔的抱负是要做一件非常辉煌的事情； —

what it was she had no idea, as yet, but left it for time to tell her; —
她暂时还不知道是什么，但是把它留给时间告诉她； —

and, meanwhile, found her greatest affliction in the fact that she couldn’t read, run, and ride as much as she liked. —
与此同时，她最大的痛苦是不能像她喜欢的那样阅读、奔跑和骑马。 —

A quick temper, sharp tongue, and restless spirit were always getting her into scrapes, and her life was a series of ups and downs, which were both comic and pathetic. —
易怒的脾气、尖刻的舌头和不安定的精神总是让她陷入困境，她的生活充满了喜剧和悲剧的起伏。 —

But the training she received at Aunt March’s was just what she needed; —
但她在奥尔特·马奇姨妈那里接受的训练正是她所需要的； —

and the thought that she was doing something to support herself made her happy, in spite of the perpetual ‘Josy-phine!’
尽管总是有“乔西芬！”的唤喊声，但她知道自己正在做一些自己能够维持生计的事情，这使她感到快乐；

Beth was too bashful to go to school; it had been tried., but she suffered so much that it was given up, and she did her lessons at home with her father. —
贝丝太害羞了，无法去上学；虽然试过，但她的痛苦非常严重，所以放弃了，她在家里跟爸爸一起学习； —

Even when he went away, and her mother was called to devote her skill and energy to Soldiers’ Aid Societies, Beth went faithfully on by herself, and did the best she could. —
即使爸爸离开了，妈妈被要求全身心投入到士兵援助团体中，贝丝仍然坚持自己继续学习，尽力而为； —

She was a housewifely little creature, and helped Hannah keep home neat and comfortable for the workers, never thinking of any reward but to be loved. Long, quiet days she spent, not lonely nor idle, for her little world was peopled with imaginary friends, and she was by nature a busy bee. —
她是一个像家庭主妇一样的小家伙，帮助汉娜让家里干净舒适供工作的人们使用，从来不指望任何回报，只希望被爱着。她度过了漫长而安静的日子，她并不孤独也不闲散，因为她的小世界里住着想象的朋友，而她本性就是个忙碌的蜜蜂； —

There were six dolls to be taken up and dressed every morning, for Beth was a child still, and loved her pets as well as ever. —
每天早上要给六个娃娃穿衣服，因为贝丝仍然是个孩子，和以往一样爱她的玩具宠物们。 —

Not one whole or handsome one among them all were outcasts till Beth took them in; —
他们全部都是被遗弃的，Beth收留了他们，没有一个完整或者漂亮的。 —

for, when her sisters outgrew these idols, they passed to her, because Amy would have nothing old or ugly. —
当她的姐妹们长大了不玩这些玩偶时，这些玩偶就传给了她，因为Amy不想要旧的或者丑陋的。 —

Beth cherished them all the more tenderly for that very reason, and set up a hospital for infirm dolls. —
Beth因为这个原因更加温柔地珍视着他们，并为有缺陷的玩偶建立了一个医院。 —

No pins were ever stuck into their cotton vitals; —
他们的棉质内脏从来没有被别针刺过； —

no harsh words or blows were ever given them; —
他们从来没有受到过严厉的话语或打击； —

no neglect ever saddened the heart of the most repulsive: —
没有一只玩偶受到任何忽视而感到伤心； —

but all were fed and clothed, nursed and caressed, with an affection which never failed.
他们都被喂养、穿着、照顾和宠爱，这份爱从未间断。

One forlorn fragment of dollanity had belonged to Jo; and, having led a tempestuous life, was left a wreck in the ragbag, from which dreary poor-house it was rescued by Beth, and taken to her refuge. —
有一个可怜的玩偶残骸曾属于Jo；它曾经经历了风雨，最后在抹布袋中成为一具残破的废物，被Beth救出并带到她的避难所。 —

Having no top to its head, she tied on a neat little cap, and, as both arms and legs were gone, she hid those deficiencies by folding it in a blanket, and devoting her best bed to this chronic invalid. —
由于头部没有盖子，她系上了一顶整洁的小帽子；由于两只手臂和两只腿都不见了，她用毯子包裹着隐藏了这些缺陷，并为这个慢性病患者奉献了她最好的床位。 —

If anyone had known the care lavished on that dolly, I think it would have touched their hearts, even while they laughed. —
如果有人知道对那个洋娃娃的精心呵护，我想他们的心会被感动，即使同时他们也会笑。 —

She brought it bits of bouquets; she read to it, took it out to breathe the air, hidden under her coat; —
她给它带来花束的碎片；她给它读书，带它出去呼吸空气，藏在外套里； —

she sang it lullabies, and never went to bed without kissing its dirty face, and whispering tenderly, ‘I hope you’ll have a good night, my poor dear.’
她给它唱摇篮曲，从不就寝前不吻它那脏脏的脸蛋，悄声细语地说：“亲爱的，希望你晚上睡得好。”

Beth had her troubles as well as the others; —
贝丝也有自己的烦恼，虽然她不是天使， —

and not being an angel, but a very human little girl, she often ‘wept a little weep’, as Jo said, because lessons and have a fine piano. —
而是一个非常人性化的小女孩，像乔说的那样，她经常“哭了一会儿泪”，因为要上课和没有好钢琴。 —

She loved music so dearly, tried so hard to learn, and practised away so patiently at the jingling old instrument, that it did seem as if someone (not to hint Aunt March) ought to help her. —
她非常热爱音乐，努力学习，耐心地练习那台不停响的破旧乐器，因此似乎应该有人（不是姨妈马奇的意思）能帮助她。 —

Nobody did, however, and nobody saw Beth wipe the tears off the yellow keys, that wouldn’t keep in tune, when she was all alone. —
然而，没有人这样做，没有人看到贝丝擦拭黄色琴键上的泪水，这琴键总是走调，而她独自一人的时候。 —

She sang like a little lark about her work, never was too tired to play for Marmee and the girls, and day after day said hopefully to herself, ‘I know I’ll get my music some time, if I’m good.’
她像只小云雀一样欢快地唱着自己的工作，从不觉得太累，总是为马密和姐妹们弹奏乐曲，每天都对自己充满希望地说：“我知道，只要我好好地做人，总有一天会实现我的音乐梦。”

There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.
世界上有许多贝丝，害羞而安静，总是坐在角落里等待着他人的需要，愉快地为别人生活，以至于直到小炉子上的小蟋蟀停止鸣叫、阳光般可爱的存在消失时，才有人看到她所做出的牺牲，留下了寂静和阴影。

If anybody had asked Amy what the greatest trial of her life was, she would have answered at once, ‘My nose’. —
如果有人问艾米一生中最大的磨难是什么，她会立刻回答：“我的鼻子。” —

When she was a baby, Jo had accidentally dropped her into the coal-hod, and Amy insisted that the fall had ruined her nose for ever. —
当她还是个婴儿时，乔不小心把她从煤熔炉中掉了下去，艾米坚称这次摔倒永远毁了她的鼻子。 —

It was not big, nor red, like poor ‘Petrea’s’, it was only rather flat, and all the pinching in the world could not give it an aristocratic point. —
她的鼻子不大，也不像可怜的“彼崔亚”那样红，只是有点扁平，无论多么捏捏，也无法给它一个高贵的尖峰。 —

No one minded it but herself, and it was doing its best to grow, but Amy felt deeply the want of a Grecian nose, and drew whole sheets of handsome ones to console herself.
除了她自己，没有人介意这件事，它正在尽力生长，但是艾米非常渴望一个希腊式的鼻子，她画了整张整张的漂亮的鼻子来安慰自己。

‘Little Raphael’, as her sisters called her, had a decided talent for drawing, and was never so happy as when copying flowers, designing fairies, or illustrating stories with queer specimens of art. —
她的姐妹们称她为“小拉斐尔”，她在绘画方面有着明显的天赋，当她模仿花朵、设计仙女或用奇特的艺术作品来插图故事时，她最开心了。 —

Her teachers complained that, instead of doing her sums, she covered her slate with animals; —
她的老师们抱怨说，她在做算术题的时候，会在算盘上画动物； —

the blank pages of her atlas were used to copy maps on; —
她的地图集的空白页被用来复制地图； —

and caricatures of the most ludicrous description came fluttering out of all her books at unlucky moments. —
在不幸的时刻，各种滑稽可笑的漫画从她的书里飞出来。 —

She got through her lessons as well as she could, and managed to escape reprimands by being a model of deportment. —
她尽力完成自己的功课，并通过表现模范成功地避免了被责备。 —

She was a great favourite with her mates, being good-tempered and possessing the happy art of pleasing without effort. —
她是同学们的宠儿，她性情温和，拥有无功而返的讨人喜欢的本事。 —

Her little airs and graces were much admired, so were her accomplishments; —
她的一些小动作和姿态备受赞赏，她的才艺也备受称赞。 —

for beside her drawing, she could play twelve tunes, crochet, and read French without mispronouncing more than two-thirds of the words. —
除了画画之外，她还能弹奏十二支曲子，钩编，而且能够读法语而且不会发音错误的单词不超过三分之二。 —

She had a plaintive way of saying ‘When Papa was rich we did so-and-so,’ which was very touching; —
她说“爸爸富有的时候，我们做了这样那样的事情”的方式让人感动。 —

and her long words were considered ‘perfectly elegant’ by the girls.
她的长词被女孩们认为是“非常优雅的”。

Amy was in a fair way to be spoilt; for everyone petted her, and her small vanities and selfishness were growing nicely. —
艾米正走向变得被宠坏的路上；因为每个人都宠着她，而她的小虚荣和自私也在不断增长。 —

One thing, however, rather quenched the vanities; —
然而有一件事让她的虚荣心受到了压制； —

she had to wear her cousin’s clothes. —
她不得不穿她表姐的衣服。 —

Now Florence’s mamma hadn’t a particle of taste, and Amy suffered deeply at having to wear a red instead of a blue bonnet, unbecoming gowns, and fussy aprons that did not fit. —
现在佛罗伦萨的妈妈一点品味都没有，而艾米很痛苦地不得不戴红色的帽子，穿着不适合的礼服和变态的围裙。 —

Everything was good, well made, and little worn; —
一切都是好的、做工精良、几乎没怎么穿过； —

but Amy’s artistic eyes were much afflicted, especially this winter, when her school dress was a dull purple, with yellow dots, and no trimming.
但是艾米的艺术眼睛颇受折磨，尤其这个冬天，她的校服是一身暗紫色的，带有黄点的，而且没有装饰。

‘My only comfort,’ she said to Meg, with tears in her eyes, ‘is that Mother doesn’t take tucks in my dresses whenever I’m naughty, as Maria Park’s mother does. —
她含着泪对梅格说：“我唯一的安慰是，妈妈不会像玛丽亚·帕克的妈妈那样在我调皮的时候把我的裙子缝褶。” —

My dear, it’s really dreadful; for sometimes she is so bad, her frock is up to her knees, and she can’t come to school. —
亲爱的，真是太可怕了，有时候她非常调皮，裙子扯到膝盖上，不能上学。 —

When I think of this deggerredation, I feel that I can bear even my flat nose and purple gown, with yellow sky-rockets on it.’
每当我想到这种沦落，我就觉得即使是自己那扁平的鼻子和紫色的连衣裙上还绣着黄色的天空礼花也可以忍受。

Meg was Amy’s confidante and monitor, and, by some strange attraction of opposites, Jo was gentle Beth’s. —
梅格是艾米的知心朋友和监督人，而乔则是善良的贝丝的。 —

To Jo alone did the shy child tell her thoughts; —
只有向乔一个人，这个胆怯的孩子才会诉说她的心事； —

and over her big harum-scarum sister Beth unconsciously exercised more influence than anyone in the family. —
在家庭中，贝丝无意识地对她那个大大咧咧、粗心大意的姐姐乔有着更多的影响。 —

The two elder girls were a great deal to one another, but each took one of the younger into her keeping, and watched over her in her own way; —
两个姐姐对彼此来说都很重要，但每个人都要照顾一位年幼的姐妹，并以自己的方式保护她们； —

‘playing mother’ they called it, and put their sisters in the places of discarded dolls, with the maternal instincts of little women.
“假扮妈妈”他们这样称呼，并把自己的姐妹放在被丢弃的玩偶位置上，表现出了小女人般的母性本能。

‘Has anybody got anything to tell? —
“有人有什么要说的吗？ —

It’s been such a dismal day I’m really dying for some amusement,’ said Meg, as they sat sewing together that evening.
今天实在太糟糕了，我真的渴望一些娱乐。”梅格说道，她们当晚一起坐着缝纫。

‘I had a queer time with aunt today, and, as I got the best of it, I’ll tell you about it,’ began Jo, who dearly loved to tell stories, was reading that everlasting Belsham, and droning away as I always do, for aunt soon drops off, and then I take out some nice book, and read like fury till she wakes up. —
“今天我和姑姑过了一段奇怪的时光，而且，由于我处于上风，我要告诉你们。”喬说道，她非常喜欢讲故事，当时她一直在读着那本永不完结的贝尔绍姆，嗡嗡地说个不停，因为姑姑很快就睡着了，然后我就拿出一本有趣的书，狂读起来。 —

I actually made myself sleepy; and, before she began to nod, I gave such a gape that she asked me what I meant by opening my mouth wide enough to take the whole book in at once.
我实际上让自己打了个哈欠，并且，在她开始打瞌睡前，我故意张大嘴巴，仿佛要一口把整本书吞下去。

‘I wish I could and be done with it,’ said I, trying not to be saucy.
“我希望我能这样做并告一段落。”我试着不要太嚣张地说道。

‘Then she gave me a long lecture on my sins, and told me to sit and think them over while she just “lost” herself for a moment. —
“然后她对我的罪过进行了漫长的道德训诫，并告诉我坐下来反思一下，而她只是短暂地’失神’一会儿。” —

She never finds herself very soon; —
她总是迷失自我得很快， —

so the minute her cap began to bob, like a top-heavy dahlia, I whipped the Vicar of Wakefield out of my pocket, and read away, with one eye on him, and one on aunt. —
所以当她的帽子开始晃动，就像一个顶重的大黄花一样，我迅速从口袋里掏出了《韦克菲尔德牧师》的书开始读起，一只眼睛看着她，一只眼睛看着姑姑。 —

I’d just got to where they all tumbled into the water, when I forgot, and laughed out loud. —
我刚刚读到他们都跌入水中的时候，我忘了自己，开怀大笑起来。 —

Aunt woke up; —
姑姑醒了过来。 —

and, being more good-natured after her nap, told me to read a bit, and show what frivolous work I preferred to the worthy and instructive Belsham. —
经过小睡后，姑姑好心些，告诉我继续读，让她看看我喜欢的轻浮的作品相较值得推崇和有教育意义的贝尔沙姆。 —

I did my very best, and she liked it, though she only said:
我尽了最大努力，她也很喜欢，尽管她只是说：

‘I don’t understand what it’s all about. —
“我不明白这是怎么回事。孩子， —

Go back and begin it, child.’
重新开始读吧。”

‘Back I went, and made the Primroses as interesting as ever I could. —
“我又重新回去，尽我所能让《草莓花》变得有趣。 —

Once I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place, and say meekly, “I’m afraid it tires you, ma’am; —
有一次我足够邪恶，停在一个紧张的地方，谦虚地说：“我担心这让您疲劳了，夫人； —

shan’t I stop now?”
我应该停下来吗？”

‘She caught up her knitting, which had dropped out of her hands, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her short way:
“她拿起落在地上的编织物，带着银镜狠狠地看了我一眼，以她那种简短的口气说道：

‘Finish the chapter, and don’t be impertinent, miss.’
“念完这一章，别无礼，小姐。”

‘Did she own she liked it?’ asked Meg.
“她承认她喜欢它吗？”梅格问道。

‘Oh, bless you, no! but she let old Belsham rest; and, when I ran back after my gloves this afternoon, there she was, so hard at the Vicar that she didn’t hear me laugh as I danced a jig in the hall, because of the good time coming. —
“哦，天哪，没有！但是她让老贝尔沙姆休息了；今天下午我回去找我的手套，她在那儿这么用力地对待教区牧师，她没听到我在门厅跳着欢快的三步舞，为即将到来的美好时光而开心。” —

What a pleasant: life she might have, if she only chose. —
“如果她愿意的话，她本可以过上多么愉快的生活啊。 —

I don’t envy her much, in spite of her money, for after all, rich people have about as many worries as poor ones, think,’ added Jo.
我并不太羡慕她，尽管她有钱，毕竟，富人和穷人一样有许多烦恼，我想。”乔补充道。

‘That reminds me,’ said Meg, ‘that I’ve got something to tell. It isn’t funny, like Jo’s story, but I thought about it a good deal as I came home. —
“这提醒了我，”梅格说，“我有些事情要告诉大家。虽然不像乔的故事那样有趣，但我一路回家都想了很多。” —

At the Kings’ today I found everybody in a flurry, and one of the children said that her oldest brother had done something dreadful, and papa had sent him away. —
“今天在国王家，我发现每个人都很忙乱，一个孩子说她哥哥做了一些可怕的事情，爸爸把他赶走了。” —

I heard Mrs. King crying and Mr. King talking very loud, and Grace and Ellen turned away their faces when they passed me, so I shouldn’t see how red their eyes were. —
“我听到国王夫人在哭，国王先生说话声音很大，格雷斯和埃伦路过时都掩饰住了他们的脸，好让我看不到他们眼睛红肿。” —

I didn’t ask any questions, of course; —
当然，我没有问过任何问题； —

but I felt so sorry for them, and was rather glad I hadn’t any wild brothers to do wicked things and disgrace the family.’
但我为他们感到非常难过，我倒庆幸自己没有任何放荡不羁的兄弟来做坏事，给家族抹黑。

‘I think being disgraced in school is a great deal tryinger than anything bad boys can do,’ said Amy, shaking her head, as if her experience of life had been a deep one. —
‘我觉得在学校受到耻辱要比坏孩子做的任何事都要难受得多，’ 艾米摇了摇头，仿佛她对生活的经验很深刻。 —

‘Susie Perkins came to school today with a lovely red carnelian, ring; —
‘苏茜·帕金斯今天带了一枚漂亮的红玛瑙戒指来学校； —

I wanted it dreadfully, and wished I washer with all my might.
我非常想要它，然后我全力祈祷自己能拥有它。

‘Well, she drew a picture of Mr. Davis, with a monstrous nose and a hump, and the words, ‘Young ladies, my eye is upon you! —
‘她画了一个大鼻子和驼背的戴维斯先生的画像，还用一个气球形状的气泡里写着’小姐们，我的眼睛盯着你们！’ —

,/q> coming out of his mouth in a balloon thing. —
忽然他看见了我们， —

We were laughing over it, when all of a sudden his eye was on us, and he ordered Susie to bring up her slate. —
就命令苏茜把她的板擦拿过来。 —

She was parrylized with fright, but she went, and oh, what do you think he did? —
她吓得呆若木鸡，但她还是走过去了，噢，你猜他干了什么？ —

He took her by the ear - the ear, just fancy how horrid! —
他拧住了她的耳朵 - 耳朵，想象一下有多可怕！ —

• and led her to the recitation platform, and made her stand there half an hour, holding that slate so everyone could see it.’
  “她将該石板塞进汤姆的怀中，然后带他站到讲台上，让他拿着那块石板整整半小时，让大家都能看到。”
  

‘Didn’t the girls laugh at the picture?’ asked Jo, who relished the scrape.
“乔问道：‘女孩们不会因为那张图而笑吗？’她喜欢看到别人陷入困境。”

‘Laugh! Not one! They sat as still as mice; —
“‘笑？一个也没笑！她们安静得像老鼠一样， —

and Susie cried quarts, I know she did. —
并且苏茜肯定哭了一场。 —

I didn’t envy her then; —
那时候我可没羡慕她；’” —

for I felt that millions of carnelian rings wouldn’t have made me happy after that. —
在那之后，我感觉再多几百万颗红玉戒指都不能让我快乐。 —

I never, never should have got over such an agonizing mortification.’ And Amy went on with her work, in the proud consciousness of virtue, and the successful utterance of two long words in a breath.
我永远不应该克服这样一种痛苦的屈辱。艾米自豪地意识到自己的美德，并成功地一口气说出了两个长单词。

‘I saw something that I liked this morning, and I meant to tell it at dinner, but I forgot,’ said Beth, putting Jo’s topsy-turvy basket in order as she talked.
“我今早看到了一样我喜欢的东西，本来打算在晚饭时告诉大家，但是我忘记了，” 贝丝一边说一边整理着乔混乱的篮子。

‘When I went to get some oysters for Hannah, Mr. Laurence was in the fish-shop; —
“当我去给汉娜买牡蛎的时候，劳伦斯先生在鱼店里，”她接着说。 —

but he didn’t see me, for I kept behind a barrel, and he was busy with Mr. Cutter, the fishman. —
“但是他没看见我，因为我躲在一个桶后面，他正忙着和鱼贩卡特先生谈生意。 —

A poor woman came in, with a pail and a mop, and asked Mr. Cutter if he would let her do some scrubbing for a bit of fish, because she hadn’t any dinner for her children, and had being disappointed of a day’s work. —
“有一个穷妇人拿着桶和拖把进来，问卡特先生是否可以让她做一些擦洗工作来换一点鱼，因为她的孩子没有午饭吃，还被拒绝了一天的工作。 —

Mr. Cutter was in a hurry, and said “No,” rather crossly; —
卡特先生匆忙地说道：“不，”并且语气有些生气； —

so she was going away, looking hungry and sorry, when Mr. Laurence hooked up a big fish with the crooked end of his cane, and held it out to her. —
于是她望着饥饿而懊悔的样子离开，这时劳伦斯先生用他的拐杖的弯曲一端钩住了一条大鱼，递给了她。 —

She was so glad and surprised, she took it right in her arms, and thanked him over and over. —
她非常高兴和惊讶，立刻将鱼抱在怀里，并且一再地感谢他。 —

He told her to “go along and cook it”, and she hurried off, so happy! —
他告诉她“去煮吧”，她赶紧走开了，心情非常开心！ —

Wasn’t it good of him? —
他真是好心人！ —

Oh, she did look so funny, hugging the big, slippery, fish, and hoping Mr. Laurence’s bed in heaven would be ‘aisy”.’
噢，她看起来真好笑，紧紧地抱住那条又大又滑的鱼，祈祷劳伦斯先生在天堂的床“舒服”。

When they had laughed at Beth’s story, they asked their mother for one; and, after a moment’s thought, she said soberly: —
当她们笑完贝丝的故事后，她们向母亲要了一个故事；经过一会儿思考，她认真地说道： —

‘As I sat cutting out blue flannel jackets today, at the rooms, I felt very anxious about Father, and thought how lonely and helpless we should be if anything happened to him. —
“今天在房间里剪制蓝色法兰绒夹克时，我感到对父亲非常担心，想到如果发生了什么事情，我们会感到孤单和无助。” —

It, was not a wise thing to do; —
这不是一个明智的行为； —

but I kept on worrying till an old man came in, with an order for some clothes. —
但我继续担忧，直到一个老人进来订了一些衣服。 —

He sat down near me, and I began to talk to him; —
他坐在我附近，我开始和他交谈， —

for he looked poor and tired and anxious.
因为他看起来贫穷、疲倦和焦虑。

‘Have you sons in the army?’ I asked; —
“您在军队中有儿子吗？”我问道， —

for the note he brought was not to me.
因为他带来的便条不是给我的。

‘Yes, ma’am. I had four, but two were killed, one is a prisoner, and I’m going to the other, who is very sick in a Washington hospital,’ he answered, quietly.
“是的，夫人。我有四个儿子，但两个被杀了，一个被囚禁，我正要去看另一个在华盛顿医院里病得很重的儿子。”他平静地回答道。

‘You have done a great deal for your country, sir,’ I said, feeling respect now instead of pity.
“先生，您为国家做了很多事情。”我感到尊敬，不再是同情。

‘Not a mite more than I ought, ma’am. I’d go myself, if I was any use; as I ain’t, I give my boys, and give ‘em free.’
“一点儿也不比我该做的多，夫人。如果我还有用处，我会亲自去的，但我没有，所以我把我儿子们都送了出去，而且是免费的。”

‘He spoke so cheerfully, looked so sincere, and seemed so glad to give his all, that I was ashamed of myself. —
“他说话那么开朗，看起来那么真诚，对于奉献自己的一切他似乎如此高兴，我感到很羞愧。” —

I’d given one man, and thought it too much, while he gave four without grudging them. —
“我只给了一个男人而已，觉得太多了，而他却毫不吝惜地送出了四个。 —

I had all my girls to comfort me at home; —
我家里有我所有的女儿来陪伴我。” —

and his last son was waiting, miles away, to say “good-bye” to him, perhaps! —
他的大儿子远在几里之外等着和他告别，也许是要对他说“再见”！ —

I felt so rich, so happy, thinking of my blessings, that I made him a nice bundle, gave him some money, and thanked him heartily for the lesson he had taught me.’
我感到非常富有、幸福，想着我的福气，于是将一大束东西给了他一些钱，并衷心感谢他给我上的一课。

‘Tell another story, Mother - one with a moral to it, like this. —
“妈妈，再讲一个故事，类似这样有寓意的。” —

I like, to think about them afterwards, if they are real, and not too preachy,’ said Jo, after a minute’s silence.
“如果故事是真实的，而又不过分说教的话，我喜欢事后细想。”沉默片刻后，乔说道。

Mrs. March smiled, and began at once; —
母亲微笑着，立刻开始讲故事； —

for she had told stories to this little: —
因为多年来她一直给这个小观众团体讲故事， —

audience for many years, and knew how to please them.
知道如何取悦他们。

‘Once upon a time, there were four girls, who had enough to eat and drink and wear, a good many comforts and pleasures, kind friends and parents, who loved them dearly, and yet they were not contented.’ (Here the listeners stole sly look at one another, and began to sew diligently. —
“从前有四个女孩，她们有足够的食物、饮料和衣服，许多舒适和娱乐，亲切的朋友和疼爱她们的父母，可是她们却不满足。”（这时候，听众们偷偷看了一眼，开始努力地缝纫。） —

) ‘These girls were anxious to be good, and made many excellent resolutions; —
“这些女孩渴望变好，制定了许多优秀的决心； —

but they did not keep them very well, and were constantly saying, “If we only had this,” or “If we could only do that,” quite forgetting how much they already had, and how many pleasant things they actually could do. —
但他们并没有好好珍惜它们，经常说，“如果我们只有这个”，或者，“如果我们只能做那个”，完全忘记了他们已经拥有了多少，以及他们实际上可以做的多少愉快的事情。 —

So they asked an old woman what spell they could use to make them happy, and she said, ‘When you feel discontented, think over your blessings and be grateful.’ (Here Jo looked up quickly, as if about to speak, but changed her mind, seeing that the story was not done yet. —
所以他们问了一个老妇人可以用什么咒语使他们幸福，她说，“当你感到不满时，想想你的祝福并心存感激。”（这时乔迅速抬起头，似乎要说话，但看到故事还没有结束，她改变了主意。 —

) ‘Being sensible girls, they decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were. —
）“作为明智的女孩，她们决定尝试她的建议，很快就惊讶地发现自己过得很好。 —

One discovered that money couldn’t keep shame and sorrow out of rich people’s houses; —
其中一个发现金钱不能阻止富人家中的羞耻和悲伤； —

another that, though she was poor, she was a great deal happier, with her youth, health, and good spirits, than a certain fretful, feeble old lady, who couldn’t enjoy her comforts; —
另一个发现尽管她很穷，但拥有青春、健康和良好的精神状态使她比一个脾气坏、虚弱的老太太更快乐，后者无法享受她的舒适； —

a third, that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still to have to go begging for it; —
第三个人发现，尽管帮助准备晚餐很讨厌，但去乞讨晚餐更加困难； —

and the fourth, that even carnelian rings were not so valuable as good behaviour. —
而第四个，红玛瑙戒指甚至都不如良好的行为宝贵。 —

So they agreed to stop complaining, to enjoy the blessings already possessed, and try to deserve them, lest they should be taken away entirely, instead of increased; —
所以他们决定停止抱怨，享受已经拥有的祝福，并努力去值得它们，以免它们被完全夺走，而不是增加； —

and I believe they were never disappointed, or sorry that they took the old woman’s advice.’
我相信他们从未失望过，也从未因为采取了老妇人的建议而感到遗憾。

‘Now, Marmee, that is very cunning of you to turn our own stories against us, and give us a sermon instead of a romance!’ cried Meg.
‘现在，马米，你把我们自己的故事用来反驳我们，给我们一个布道而不是一个浪漫故事，真是聪明得很！’梅格喊道。

‘I like that kind of sermon. —
‘我喜欢那种布道。 —

It’s the sort Father used to tell us,’ said Beth, thoughtfully, putting the needles straight on Jo’s cushion.
这是父亲过去告诉我们的那种，’贝丝说着，认真地把针放到乔的垫子上整齐。

‘I don’t complain near as much as the others do, and I shall be more careful than ever now; —
‘我抱怨的次数远远不如其他人多，现在我会比以往更加小心； —

for I’ve had warning from Susie’s downfall,’ said Amy, morally.
因为苏茜的失败，我已经得到了警告，’艾米道德地说道。

‘We needed that lesson, and we won’t forget it. If we do, you just say to us, as old Chloe did in Uncle Tom, “Tink ob yer marcie, chillen! —
‘我们需要那个教训，我们不会忘记它。如果我们忘记了，你就像叔叔汤姆中的老克洛伊一样对我们说：“为了上帝的怜悯，孩子们！ —

tink ob yer marcies!”’ added Jo, who could not for the life of her help getting a morsel of fun out of the little! —
“快看看你的收获！”乔开玩笑地说道，她无论如何也控制不住自己从这件小事中得到一些乐趣！ —

sermon, though she took it to heart as much as any of them.
尽管乔将它当作一个严肃的说教，她也同样对此深表关切。