‘What in the world are you going to do now, Jo?’ asked Meg, one snowy afternoon, as her sister came tramping through the hall, in rubber boots, old sack and hood, with a broom in one hand and a shovel in the other.
“乔，你究竟打算现在干什么呢？”梅格问道。一个下雪的下午，她的姐姐穿着橡胶靴、破麻袋和头巾，手里拿着一把扫帚，另一只手拿着一把铲子，大步走过大厅。

‘Going out for exercise,’ answered Jo, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“出去锻炼身体。”乔回答，眼睛里闪着调皮的光芒。

‘I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough! —
“我认为今天早上两次长时间的散步已经足够了！ —

It’s cold and dull out; —
外面又冷又无聊； —

and I advise you to stay warm and dry, by the fire, as I do,’ said Meg, with a shiver.
我劝你呆在火炉旁保持温暖和干燥，就像我一样。” 梅格打了个寒颤说道。

‘Never take advice! Can’t keep still all day, and, not being a pussy-cat, I don’t like to doze by the fire. —
“我从不听别人的建议！我一整天都无法保持静止不动，而且我不是一只猫咪，我不喜欢在火炉旁打盹。 —

I like adventures, and I’m going to find some.’
我喜欢冒险，我要去找一些冒险。”

Meg went back to toast her feet and read Ivanhoe; —
梅格回去烤脚并读《艾凡赫》； —

an Jo began to dig paths with great energy. —
乔开始用极大的精力挖掘小径。 —

The snow was light, and with her broom she soon swept a path all round the garden, for Beth to walk in when the sun came out; —
雪很轻，乔用扫帚很快就在花园周围扫了一条路径，给贝丝晒太阳的时候走路用； —

and the invalid dolls needed air. —
病弱的玩偶需要新鲜空气。 —

Now the garden separated the Marches’ house from that of Mr. Laurence. —
花园把马奇一家的房子和劳伦斯先生的房子分开。 —

Both stood in a suburb of the city, which was still country-like, with groves and lawns, large gardens, and quiet streets. —
两者站在城市的郊区，这个地方仍然像乡村一样，有树林、草坪、大花园和宁静的街道。 —

A low hedge parted the two estates. On one side was an old, brown house, looking rather bare and shabby, robbed of the vines that in summer covered its walls, and the flowers which then surrounded it. —
一道低矮的树篱将两个房产隔开。其中一边是一座旧旧的棕色房子，看起来相当光秃和破旧，夏天爬满墙壁的藤蔓和周围环绕的花朵都被剥夺了。 —

On the other side was a stately stone mansion, plainly betokening every sort of comfort and luxury, from the big coach-house and well-kept grounds to the conservatory and the glimpses of lovely things one caught between the rich curtains. —
另一边是一座庄严的石头建筑，从大马房和精心修剪的庭院到温室和丰富窗帘间隙所呈现的美好事物，明显显示出各种舒适和奢华。 —

Yet it seemed a lonely, lifeless sort of house; —
然而，这座房子看起来孤寂而无生气； —

for no children frolicked on the lawn, no motherly face ever smiled at the windows, and few people went in and out, except the old gentleman and his grandson.
草坪上没有孩子们嬉戏，窗户上没有母亲般的微笑，除了老绅士和他的孙子之外，很少有人进出。

To Jo’s lively fancy, this fine house seemed a kind of enchanted palace, full of splendours and delights, which no one enjoyed. —
对于乔活泼的想象力来说，这座漂亮的房子仿佛是一个充满辉煌和乐趣的魔法宫殿，而却没有人能够享受其中的美景。 —

She had long wanted to behold these hidden glories, and to know the ‘Laurence boy’, who looked as if he would like to be known, if he only knew how to begin. —
她长期以来一直想一睹这些隐藏的荣耀之美，并想认识“劳伦斯男孩”，他看起来似乎想被人了解，只是不知如何开始。 —

Since the party, she had been more eager than ever, and had planned many ways of making friends with him; —
自那次派对以来，她比以往更渴望结交他，并计划了许多方法来与他交朋友； —

but he had not been seen lately, and Jo began to think he had gone away, when she one day spied a brown face at an upper window, looking wistfully down into their garden, where Beth and Amy were snowballing one another.
但是她最近没有见到他，乔开始想他可能已经离开了，直到有一天她在一扇上窗户看到一个棕色的脸，渴望地望着他们的花园，贝丝和艾米正在互相扔雪球。

‘That boy is suffering for society and fun,’ she said to herself. ‘His grandpa does not know what’s good for him, and keeps him shut up all alone. —
那个男孩渴望社交和娱乐，她对自己说。他的爷爷不知道什么对他有好处，总是把他关起来独自待着。 —

He needs a party of jolly boys to play with, or somebody young and lively. —
他需要一群开心的男孩一起玩，或者有些年轻有活力的人陪伴。 —

I’ve a great mind to go over and tell the old gentleman so!’
我正打算去告诉老爷子！乔觉得这个主意很有趣，她喜欢做大胆的事情，总是因为奇怪行为而让梅格感到震惊。

The idea amused Jo, who liked to do daring things, and was always scandalizing Meg by her queer performances. —
这个想法让乔觉得好笑，她喜欢做大胆的事情，总是因为奇怪的行动让梅格感到不解。 —

The plan of ‘going over’ was not forgotten; —
“忘记了‘去看望’的计划； —

and when the snowy afternoon came, Jo resolved to try what could be done. —
当下雪的下午到来时，乔决定试试能做到什么。” —

She saw Mr. Laurence drive off, and then sallied out to dig her way down to the hedge, where she paused and took a survey. —
“她看见劳伦斯先生开车离开，于是走出去挖出一条通往篱笆的路。她停下来环顾四周。” —

All quiet - curtains down at the lower windows; —
“一切都很安静 - 下层窗帘拉下来， —

servants out of sight, and nothing human visible but a curly black head leaning on a thin hand at the upper window.
仆人们不见了踪影，只有上层窗户上倚着一颗卷曲的黑头发伏在纤细手上的人。”

‘There he is,’ thought Jo, ‘poor boy! —
“‘他在那里，’乔心想，‘可怜的孩子！ —

all alone and sick this dismal day. —
一个人病在这阴沉的日子里。 —

It’s a shame! —
真是太可悲了！’” —

I’ll toss up a snowball, and make him look out, and then say a kind word to him.’
“‘我要扔一个雪球，引起他的注意，然后对他说一句好话。’”

Up went a handful of soft snow, and the head turned at once, showing a face which lost its listless look in a minute, as the big eyes brightened and the mouth began to smile. —
“一把柔软的雪飞了起来，头立刻转过来，露出一张脸，转瞬间失去了倦怠的神情，大眼睛变得明亮，嘴角开始微笑。” —

Jo nodded and laughed, and flourished her broom as she called out:
“乔点了点头，笑了笑，手舞足蹈地喊道：”

‘How do you do? Are you sick?’
“‘你好吗？你病了吗？’”

Laurie opened the window, and croaked out as hoarsely as a raven:
“劳里打开窗户，沙哑地像乌鸦一样嘶哑地回答道：”

‘Better, thank you. I’ve had a bad cold, and been shut up a week.’
“‘好一点了，谢谢。我感冒了，关在屋里一个星期了。’”

‘I’m sorry. What do you amuse yourself with?’
“对不起。你经常找什么来自娱？”

‘Nothing; it’s as dull as tombs up here.’
“没有什么；这里实在是太无聊了。”

‘Don’t you read?’
“你不读书吗？”

‘Not much; they won’t let me.’
“不怎么读，他们不让我读。”

‘Can’t somebody read to you?’
“难道没有人可以给你读书吗？”

‘Grandpa does, sometimes; —
“有时候爷爷会给我读， —

but my books don’t interest him and I hate to ask Brooke all the time.’
但他对我的书不感兴趣，而且我不想总是麻烦布鲁克。”

‘Have someone come and see you, then.’
“那就请人来看看你吧。”

‘There isn’t anyone I’d like to see. —
“我不想见任何人。男孩子们总是吵吵闹闹的， —

Boys make such a row, and my head is weak.’
而且我的头脑很脆弱。”

‘Isn’t there some nice girl who’d read and amuse you? —
“没有一个喜欢读书和逗你开心的好女孩吗？ —

Girls are quiet, and like to play nurse.’
女孩子们安静又喜欢玩护士。”

‘Don’t know any.’
“不认识任何一个。”

‘You know us,’ began Jo, then laughed, and stopped.
“你认识我们啊，”乔开始说，然后笑着停了下来。

‘So I do! Will you come, please?’ cried Laurie.
“对呀！请你们来，好吗？”劳里兴奋地说。

‘I’m not quiet and nice; but I’ll come, if Mother will let me. I’ll go ask her. —
“我不安静也不乖，但如果妈妈允许的话，我会来的。 —

Shut that window, like a good boy, and wait till I come.’
我去问问她。乖乖关上窗子，等我回来。”

With that, Jo shouldered her broom and marched into the house, wondering what they would all say to her. —
于是，乔拿起扫帚， march 进屋里，想着他们看到她会有什么反应。 —

Laurie was in a flutter of excitement at the idea of having company, and flew about to get ready; —
劳里为有客人来的想法兴奋不已，忙着准备。 —

for, as Mrs. March said, he was ‘a little gentleman’, and did honour to the coming guest by brushing his curly pate, putting on a fresh collar, and trying to tidy up the room, which, in spite of half a dozen servants, was anything but neat. —
正如March太太所说，他是一个”小绅士”，通过梳理他的卷发，换上一条新领子，并试图整理这个房间来欢迎即将到来的客人，尽管有六名仆人，房间仍然一团糟。 —

Presently there came a loud ring, then a decided voice, asking for ‘Mr. Laurie’, and a surprised-looking servant came running up to announce a young lady.
不一会儿，传来一声响亮的铃声，然后是一个很明显的声音，问道”劳瑞先生在吗？” 一个满脸惊讶的仆人跑上来，宣布一个年轻女士。

‘All right, show her up, it’s Miss Jo,’ said Laurie, going to the door of his little parlour to meet Jo, who appeared, looking rosy and kind and quite at her ease, with a covered dish in one hand and Beth’s three kittens in the other.
“好吧，带她上来吧，是乔小姐，” 劳瑞说着，走到他的小客厅的门前迎接乔。乔表情自然，面色红润，一只手拿着一个盖着的菜肴，另一只手抱着贝丝的三只小猫。

‘Here I am, bag and baggage,’ she said briskly. —
“我带着行李过来了。” —

‘Mother sent her love, and was glad if I could do anything for you. —
她精神焕发地说道，”妈妈问候你，并乐意帮助你。 —

Meg wanted me to bring some of her blancmange; —
梅格希望我带一些她做的莫氏糕； —

she makes it very nicely, and Beth thought her cats would be comforting. —
她做得很好吃，贝丝觉得养猫会让人感到宽慰。 —

I knew you’d laugh at them, but I couldn’t refuse, she was so anxious to do something.’
我知道你会对它们笑的，但我无法拒绝，她非常渴望能为你做些什么。

It so happened that Beth’s funny loan was just the thing; —
碰巧贝丝搞笑的贷款正合适； —

for, in laughing over the kits, Laurie forgot his bashfulness, and grew sociable at once.
因为当拉里在嘲笑这些小工具时，他忘记了害羞，并立刻变得善于社交。

‘That looks too pretty to eat,’ he said, smiling with pleasure, as Jo uncovered the dish, and showed the blancmange, surrounded by a garland of green leaves, and the scarlet flowers of Amy’s pet geranium.
“这看起来太漂亮了，都不忍心吃了，” 他笑着说，当乔揭开盘子，露出由绿叶和艾米宠物天竺葵的鲜红花朵环绕的奶冻时，他一脸高兴的样子。

‘It isn’t anything, only they all felt kindly, and wanted to show it. Tell the girl to put it away for your tea; —
“这没什么，只是大家都心怀善意，想要表示出来。告诉女孩把它放在一边作为你的茶点； —

it’s so simple, you can eat it; and, being soft it will slip down without hurting your sore throat. —
“它很简单，你可以吃下去；而且又软又滑，不会刺激你发炎的喉咙。 —

What a cosy room this is!’
这个房间多舒适啊！”

‘It might be if it was kept nice; but the maids are lazy, and I don’t know how to make them mind. It worries me, though.’
“如果保持整洁的话，可能会更好；可是女仆们很懒，我不知道怎么让她们听话。这件事让我烦心。”

‘I’ll right it up in two minutes; —
“我只需要两分钟就能整理好； —

for it only needs to have the hearth brushed, so - and the things made straight on the mantelpiece, so - and the books put here and the bottles there, and your sofa turned from the light, and the pillows plumped up a bit. —
只需要把壁炉刷一下，这样-然后把物品整齐地放在壁炉上，这样-把书放在这里，瓶子放在那里，把沙发转离光线，把枕头稍微垫高一点。现在， —

Now, then, you’re fixed.’
你就安顿下来了。”

And so he was; for, as she laughed and talked, Jo had whisked things into place, and given quite a different air to the room. —
所以他的确是这样；因为在她笑着聊天的同时，乔把东西整理好了，并且给房间带来了完全不同的气氛。 —

Laurie watched her in respectful silence; —
劳里以尊敬的沉默观察着她； —

and when she beckoned him to his sofa, he sat down with a sigh of satisfaction, saying gratefully:
当她示意他去沙发上坐下时，他满意地叹了口气，感激地说道：

‘How kind you are! Yes, that’s what it wanted. —
“你真好！是的，房间正是需要这样。 —

Now please take the big chair, and let me do something to amuse my company.
现在请坐在大椅子上，让我来做些能娱乐我的客人的事情。”

‘No. I came to amuse you. Shall I read aloud?’ and Jo looked affectionately towards some inviting books near by.
“不，我是来娱乐你的。我朗读一下吧？”乔亲切地看着附近诱人的书籍。

‘Thank you; I’ve read all those, and if you don’t mind I’d rather talk,’ answered Laurie.
“谢谢你，我已经读过所有这些书了，如果你不介意的话，我宁愿聊天。”劳里回答道。

‘Not a bit; I’ll talk all day if you’ll only set me going. —
“一点都不介意；只要你给我一个话题，我就能一直聊天。 —

Beth says I never know when to stop.’
贝丝说我从不知道何时停下来。”

‘Is Beth the rosy one, who stays at home a good deal, and sometimes goes out with a little basket?’ asked Laurie, with interest.
“贝丝是那个面色红润的，经常在家里待着，有时带着个小篮子出去的人吗？”劳里兴趣盎然地问道。

‘Yes, that’s Beth; she’s my girl, and a regular good one she is, too.’
“是的，那就是贝丝；她是我的女孩，而且是一个真正优秀的人。”

‘The pretty one is Meg, and the curly-haired one is Amy, I believe?’
“漂亮的是梅格，卷发的是艾米，对吗？”

‘How did you find that out?’
“你是怎么知道的？”

Laurie coloured up, but answered frankly, ‘Why, you see, I often hear you calling to one another, and when I’m alone up here, I can’t help looking over at your house, you always seem to be having such good times. —
劳瑞的脸红了，但他坦率地回答道：“嗯，你们经常互相喊叫，当我一个人在这里的时候，我忍不住望着你们的房子，你们似乎总是过得很愉快。” —

I beg your pardon for being so rude, but sometimes you forget to put down the curtain at the window where the flowers are; —
很抱歉我这么粗鲁，但有时你们忘记放下窗户上的窗帘，花儿就从窗户外面看进来； —

and when the lamps are lighted, it’s like looking at a picture to see the fire, and you all round the table with your mother; —
当灯光亮起来的时候，看着火炉和你们都围在桌子旁边和你们的妈妈在一起，就像看一幅画一样； —

her face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the flowers, I can’t help watching it. —
她的脸正对着我，花儿后面看起来很温柔，我禁不住对它进行观察。 —

I haven’t got any mother, you know,’ and Laurie poked the fire to hide a little twitching of the lips that he could not control.
我没有妈妈，你们知道的，” 劳瑞戳了戳火炉，掩饰住了他无法控制的嘴唇的抽搐。

The solitary, hungry look in his eyes went straight to Jo’s warm heart. —
他眼中那种孤独而渴望的表情深深触动了乔的热忱之心。 —

She had been so simply taught that there was no nonsense in her head, and at fifteen she was as innocent and frank as any child. —
她接受了如此简单的教育，脑子里没有任何虚假的想法，十五岁的她像孩子一样天真和坦率。 —

Laurie was sick and lonely; and, feeling how rich she was in home-love and happiness, she gladly tried to share it with him. —
劳丽生病孤独，她意识到自己在家庭的爱和幸福中是多么富有，因此乐意与他分享。 —

Her face was very friendly and her sharp voice unusually gentle as she said:
她的脸非常友好，声音异常柔和，她说道：

‘We’ll never draw that curtain any more, and I give you leave to look as much as you like. —
“我们再也不会拉那道帘子，你尽管看吧。” —

I just wish, though, instead of peeping, you’d come over and see us. —
“我只是希望你不要偷看，而是过来看看我们。 —

Mother is so splendid, she’d do you heaps of good, and Beth would sing to you if I begged her to, and Amy would dance; —
妈妈非常棒，她会给你带来很多好处，贝丝会给你唱歌，只要我恳求她，艾米会跳舞； —

Meg and I would make you laugh over our funny stage properties, and we’d have jolly times. —
梅格和我会让你因我们滑稽的舞台道具而笑，我们会度过快乐的时光。 —

Wouldn’t your grandpa let you?’
你的爷爷会让你来的吧？”

‘I think he would, if your mother asked him. —
“如果你妈妈问他的话，我想他会的。 —

He’s very kind, though he does not look so; —
尽管他看起来不那么友善； —

and he lets me do what I like, pretty much, only he’s afraid I might be a bother to strangers,’ began Laurie, brightening more and more.
他几乎让我做我想做的事，只是担心我对陌生人会有些困扰。”劳瑞越来越高兴地说道。

‘We are not strangers, we are neighbours, and you needn’t think you’d be a bother. —
“我们不是陌生人，我们是邻居，你不必担心自己会让别人困扰。” —

We want to know you, and I’ve been trying to do it this ever so long. —
我们想要了解你，我一直在尝试很久了。 —

We haven’t been here a great while, you know, but we have got acquainted with all our neighbours but you.’
你知道，我们在这里还不久，但是我们已经认识了所有的邻居，只有你还不熟悉。

‘You see grandpa lives among his books, and doesn’t mind much what happens outside. —
你看，爷爷住在书堆里，对外面发生的事情并不在意。 —

Mr. Brooke, my tutor, doesn’t stay here, you know, and I have no one to go about with me, so I just stop at home and get on as I can.’
我的家庭教师布鲁克先生不在这里住，你知道的，我没有人陪我外出，所以我就呆在家里，按自己的办法努力。

‘That’s bad. You ought to make an effort, and go visiting everywhere you are asked; —
那太糟糕了。你应该努力一点，到每个邀请你去的地方做客；这样你就会有很多朋友和愉快的去处。 —

then you’ll have plenty of friends, and pleasant places to go to. —
别介意害羞；如果你继续去的话，害羞也不会持续太久。 —

Never mind being bashful; —
罗瑞又红了，但他并不介意被指责害羞； —

it won’t last long if you keep going.’
因为乔对他充满了善意，不可能不把她直接的话当作是善意的。

Laurie turned red again, but wasn’t offended at being accused of bashfulness; —
“你喜欢你的学校吗？”男孩在一小段停顿后改变了话题，他盯着火焰，乔环顾四周，心满意足地说。 —

for there was so much goodwill in Jo, it was impossible not to take her blunt speeches as kindly as they were meant.

‘Do you like your school?’ asked the boy, changing the subject, after a little pause, during which he stared at the fire, and Jo looked about her, well pleased.

‘Don’t go to school; I’m a business man - girl, I mean. —
“不要去上学了，我是个商人呢，女生的话。 —

I go to wait on my great-aunt, and a dear, cross old soul she is, too,’ answered Jo.
我得去照顾我那位伟大的姑婆，她可是个脾气古怪的老灵魂，”乔回答道。

Laurie opened his mouth to ask another question; —
拉里忍不住要问另一个问题， —

but remembering just in time that it wasn’t manners to make too many inquiries into people’s affairs, he shut it again, and looked uncomfortable. —
但他突然想到问别人太多关于个人事务的问题是不礼貌的，于是他又闭上了嘴，显得不自在。 —

Jo liked his good breeding, and didn’t mind having a laugh at Aunt March, so she gave him a lively description of the fidgety old lady, her fat poodle, the parrot that talked Spanish, and the library where she revelled. —
乔喜欢他的好教养，也不介意取笑玛奇姑婆。于是她生动地描述了那个爱烦恼的老太太、她的肥胖贵宾犬、会说西班牙语的鹦鹉以及她沉迷其中的图书馆。 —

Laurie enjoyed that immensely; —
拉里非常喜欢听， —

and when she told about the prim old gentleman who came once to woo Aunt March, and in the middle of a fine speech, how Polly had tweaked his wig off, to his great dismay, the boy lay back and laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks, and a maid popped her head in to see what was the matter.
当她讲述一个一度前来求婚玛奇姑婆的正派绅士在演讲中被波利暗中拔掉假发时，使其大感困惑时，这个男孩躺在椅子上笑得肚子疼，眼泪都流下来了，一个女佣端着头进来看发生了什么事情。

‘Oh! that does me no end of good. Tell on, please,’ he said, taking his face out of the sofa cushions, red and shining with merriment.
‘哦！这让我感觉很好。请继续说，’他说着，把脸从沙发垫子里探了出来，红扑扑的，笑容满面。

Much elated with her success, Jo did ‘tell on’, all about their plays and plans, their hopes and fears for father, and the most interesting events of the little world in which the sisters lived. —
乔兴高采烈地继续说下去，讲述她们的戏剧和计划，她们对父亲的期望和担忧，以及姐妹们生活的小世界中最有趣的事件。 —

Then they got to talking about books; and to Jo’s delight, she found that Laurie loved them as well as she did, and had read even more than herself.
然后她们开始谈论书籍；令乔高兴的是，她发现劳瑞和她一样热爱书籍，甚至读得比她还多。

‘If you like them so much, come down and see ours. —
‘如果你这么喜欢，就下来看看我们的书吧。 —

Grandpa is out, so you needn’t be afraid,’ said Laurie, getting up.
祖父外出了，你不用担心。’ 劳瑞起身说道。

‘I’m not afraid of anything,’ returned Jo, with a toss of the head.
‘我对任何事都不害怕。’ 乔翻了个白眼回答道。

‘I don’t believe you are!’ exclaimed the boy, looking at her with much admiration, though he privately thought she would have good reason to be a trifle afraid of the old gentleman, if she met him in some of his moods.
‘我不相信你会害怕！’ 男孩惊叹道，虽然他暗自觉得，如果她遇到祖父在情绪不好的时候，她有理由害怕一点。

The atmosphere of the whole house being summer-like, Laurie led the way from room to room, letting Jo stop to examine whatever struck her fancy; —
整个房子的气氛像夏天一样，劳伦斯带着琳，从一个房间到另一个房间，让琳停下来观察她喜欢的东西； —

and so at last they came to the library, where she clapped her hands, and pranced, as she always did when especially delighted. —
最后他们来到了图书馆，琳拍着手蹦蹦跳跳，因为她总是在特别高兴的时候这样做。 —

It was lined with books, and there were pictures and statues and distracting little cabinets full of coins and curiosities, and sleepy-hollow chairs and queer tables, and bronzes; —
图书馆里摆满了书籍，还有画作、雕塑、分散注意力的小柜子里装满了硬币和古玩品，以及沉睡的、奇怪的椅子和桌子，还有青铜文物； —

and, best of all, a great open fireplace, with quaint tiles all round it.
而且最棒的是，这里有一个巨大的敞开式壁炉，周围都是奇特的瓷砖。

‘What richness!’ sighed Jo, sinking into the depth of a velvet chair, and gazing about her with an air of intense satisfaction. —
“多么丰富！”琳叹息着，沉入一把天鹅绒椅子的深处，满意地四处张望着。 —

‘Theodore Laurence, you ought to be the happiest boy in the world,’ she added impressively.
“西奥多·劳伦斯，你应该是世界上最幸福的男孩，”她铿锵有力地补充道。

‘A fellow can’t live on books,’ said Laurie, shaking his head, as he perched on a table opposite.
“一个人不能只靠书过活，”劳伦斯说着，摇了摇头，从对面的桌子上坐下来。

Before he could say more, a bell rang, and Jo flew up, exclaiming with alarm, ‘Mercy me! —
还没等他说完，铃声响了，琳惊恐地跳起来，惊叫道：“天啊！ —

it’s your grandpa!’
是你的爷爷！”

‘Well, what if it is? You are not afraid of anything, you know,’ returned the boy, looking wicked.
‘好吧，如果是的话又怎样？你可什么都不怕，知道吧，’男孩回答道，一脸邪恶的表情。

‘I think I am a little bit afraid of him, but I don’t know why I should be. —
‘我想我有一点害怕他，但我不知道为什么要害怕他。 —

Marmee said I might come, and I don’t think you’re any the worse for it,’ said Jo, composing herself, though she kept her eyes on the door.
‘妈妈说我可以来，我觉得你并没有因此变得更差，’ 乔说着，尽管她的眼睛一直盯着门。

‘I’m a great deal better for it, and ever so much obliged. —
‘我因此好多了，而且非常感激。 —

I’m only afraid you are very tired talking to me; —
你与我聊天一定很累了吧；话题如此有趣， —

it was so peasant, I couldn’t bear to stop,’ said Laurie, gratefully.
我舍不得停下来，’ 劳里感激地说着。

‘The doctor to see you, sir,’ and the maid beckoned as she spoke.
‘医生来看您了，先生，’ 女仆一边说一边招手示意。

‘Would you mind if I left you for a minute? —
‘你介意我离开一会吗？ —

I suppose I must see him,’ said Laurie.
我想我必须去接待他，’ 劳里说。

‘Don’t mind me. I’m as happy as a cricket here,’ answered Jo.
‘别关心我。我在这里像只快乐的蟋蟀一样，’ 乔回答道。

Laurie went away, and his guest amused herself in her own way. —
劳里离开了，让他的客人自己玩乐。 —

She was standing before a fine portrait of the old gentleman, when the door opened again, and without turning, she said decidedly, ‘I’m sure now that I shouldn’t be afraid of him, for he’s got kind eyes, though his mouth is grim, and he looks as if he had a tremendous will of his own. —
她站在那位老绅士的一幅精美肖像前，门又打开了，她没有转身，坚定地说道：“现在我确定我不会害怕他了，因为他有善良的眼睛，尽管他的嘴角紧闭，看起来好像有着强大的意志。” —

He isn’t as handsome as my grandfather, but I like him.’
他不像我的祖父那样英俊，但我喜欢他。

‘Thank you, ma’am,’ said a gruff voice behind her; —
她背后传来一阵粗鲁的声音，“谢谢您， —

and there, to her great dismay, stood old Mr. Laurence.
夫人。”她吃惊地发现老劳伦斯站在那里。

Poor Jo blushed till she couldn’t blush any redder, and her heart began to beat uncomfortably fast as she thought what she had said. —
可怜的乔红得再也红不过，她的心开始快速不安地跳动，想到自己说了些什么。 —

For a minute a wild desire to run away possessed her; —
一阵想要逃走的冲动涌上她心头； —

but that was cowardly, and the girls would laugh at her; —
但那样太懦弱了，而且女孩们会笑话她的。 —

so she resolved to stay, and get out of the scrape if she could.
所以她决定留下来，尽力从这个窘境中摆脱出来。

A second look showed her that the living eyes, under the bushy grey eyebrows, re kinder even than the painted ones; —
第二次看时，她发现老眼睛下的灰色浓眉比画像中的还要亲切； —

and there was a sly twinkle in them which lessened her fear a good deal. —
他们闪烁着一丝诡秘的光芒，这减轻了她的恐惧。 —

The gruff voice was gruffer than ever, as the old gentleman said abruptly, after that dreadful pause, ‘So you’re not afraid of me, hey?’
那个喉音更加沉闷的声音突然打断了可怕的沉默，老绅士粗暴地问道：“所以你不怕我，是吗？”

‘Not much, sir.’
”不太怕，先生。“

‘And you don’t think me as handsome as your grandfather?’
”你不觉得我比你爷爷帅吗？“

‘Not quite, sir.’
”不完全是，先生。“

‘And I’ve got a tremendous will, have I?’
”而且我有坚定的意志，是吗？“

‘I only said I thought so.’
”我只是觉得是这样，先生。“

‘But you like me, in spite of it?’
”但是尽管如此，你仍然喜欢我？“

‘Yes, I do, sir.’
”是的，我喜欢，先生。“

That answer pleased the old gentleman; —
这个回答让老绅士很满意， —

he gave a short laugh, shook hands with her, and, putting his fingers under her chin, turned up her face, examined it gravely, and let it go, saying, with a nod, ‘You’ve got your grandfather’s spirit, if you haven’t his face. —
他发出了一声短笑，与她握了握手，然后把手指放在她的下巴下方，抬起她的脸，认真地检查了一番，然后放手说：“如果你不长得像你爷爷，你就继承了他的精神。” —

He was a fine man, my dear; but, what is better, he was a brave and honest one, and I was proud to be his friend.’ ‘Thank you, sir’; and Jo was quite comfortable after that, for it suited her exactly.
”他是个好男人，亲爱的；但更重要的是，他是一个勇敢和诚实的人，我为能成为他的朋友而感到自豪。“”谢谢，先生。“乔听后感到很舒服，因为这正合她的意。

‘What have you been doing to this boy of mine, hey?’ was the next question, sharply put.
”你对我的儿子做了什么？“下一个问题突然而严厉地提出。

‘Only trying to be neighbourly, sir’; —
”只是想要和邻居来往，先生。 —

and Jo told how her visit came about.
“乔讲述了她如何来访的事情。

‘You think he needs cheering up a bit, do you?’
“你认为他需要一些鼓励吗？”

‘Yes, sir; he seems a little lonely, and young folks would do him good, perhaps. —
“是的，先生；他似乎有些孤单，年轻人也许会对他有好处。 —

We are only girls, but we should be glad to help if we could, for we don’t forget the splendid Christmas present you sent us,’ said Jo, eagerly.
“我们只是些女孩，但如果可能的话，我们会很乐意帮忙，毕竟您给我们寄来了那份精美的圣诞礼物，” 乔急切地说道。

‘Tut, tut, tut! that was the boy’s affair. —
“嘘，那是男孩的事情。 —

How is the poor woman?’
那位可怜的女人怎么样了？”

‘Doing nicely, sir’; and off went Jo, talking very fast, as she told all about the Hummels, in whom her mother had interested richer friends than they were.
“她好得很，先生”，乔说着匆匆忙忙，向他讲述了关于Hummels一家的事情，他们是她母亲让更富有的朋友感兴趣的对象。

‘Just her father’s way of doing good. —
“这只是她父亲做善事的方式罢了。 —

I shall come and see your mother some fine day. —
我将来会去看望你母亲的，一天美好的时候告诉她这个。 —

Tell her so. —
—

There’s the tea-bell; we have it early, on the boy’s account. —
“茶铃响了，我们为了男孩的缘故喝得早一点。 —

Come down, and go on being neighbourly.’
“下来，继续像邻居一样相处。

‘If you’d like to have me, sir.’
“如果您想让我来的话，先生。

‘Shouldn’t ask you if I didn’t’; —
“如果我不想要你的话就不会邀请你了”， —

and Mr. Laurence offered her his arm with old-fashioned courtesy.
劳伦斯先生以老式的礼貌给她搀扶起了手臂。

‘What would Me say to this?’ thought Jo, as she was marched away, while her eyes danced with fun as she imagined herself telling the story at home.
“梅听到这个会怎么说呢？”乔心想着，当她被押走时，眼中充满了乐趣，她想象着回家后如何讲述这个故事。

‘Hey! Why, what the dickens has come to the fellow?’ said the old gentleman, as Laurie came running downstairs, and brought up with a start of surprise at the astonishing sight of Jo arm-in-arm with his redoubtable grandfather.
“嘿！为什么，那家伙怎么了？” 老爷子说道，当劳瑞跑下楼梯时，看到乔和他可敬的祖父手挽着手臂，他吃惊地停住了。

‘I didn’t know you’d come, sir,’ he began, as Jo gave him a triumphant little glance.
“我不知道您来了，先生，”他开始说，乔得意地瞥了一眼他。

‘That’s evident, by the way you racket downstairs. —
“这是显而易见的，看你刚才在楼下吵闹的样子。 —

Come to your tea, sir, and behave like a gentleman’; —
来喝茶吧，先生，表现得像个绅士”。 —

and having pulled the boy’s hair by way of a caress, Mr. Laurence walked on, while Laurie went through a series of comic evolutions behind their backs, which nearly produced an explosion of laughter from Jo. The old gentleman did not say much as he drank his four cups of tea, but he watched the young people, who soon chatted away like old friends, and the change in his grandson did not escape him. —
拉夫先生边用拔动男孩头发的方式表示亲昵，边继续走着。劳瑞在他们背后做了一系列滑稽动作，差点引发乔的笑声爆发。老爷子喝着四杯茶时并没有说什么，但他注视着这些年轻人，他们很快像老朋友一样聊得起劲，他孙子的变化并没有逃过他的眼睛。 —

There was colour, light, and life in the boy’s face now, vivacity in his manner, and genuine merriment in his laugh.
这个男孩的脸上现在有了颜色、光亮和生气，他的举止充满活力，他的笑声是真正愉快的。

‘She’s right; the lad is lonely. —
“她说得对，这个小伙子很孤独。 —

I’ll see what these little girls can do for him,’ thought Mr. Laurence, as he looked and listened. —
我要看看这些小女孩能为他做些什么。”劳伦斯先生心想，他眼观六路，耳听八方。 —

He liked Jo, for her odd, blunt ways suited him; —
他喜欢乔，因为她那古怪且直接的方式很适合他， —

and she seemed to understand the boy almost as well as if she had been one herself.
而且她似乎几乎像自己一样了解这个孩子。

If the Laurences had been what Jo called ‘prim and poky’ she would not have got on at all, for such people always made her shy and awkward; —
如果劳伦斯一家是乔所说的“拘谨古板”的人，她将完全无法融入，因为这种人总是让她感到害羞和笨拙。 —

but finding them free and easy, she was so herself, and made a good impression. —
但是发现他们自由随和，她也变得随和了，并给予了好印象。 —

When they rose, she proposed to go, but Laurie said he had something more to show her, and took her away to the conservatory, which had been lighted for her benefit. —
当他们起身时，她提议离开，但劳里说他还有更多东西要给她看，然后带她去了为她准备的温室。 —

It seemed quite fairylike to Jo, as she went up and down the walks, enjoying the blooming walls on either side, the soft light, the damp, sweet air, and the wonderful vines and trees that hung above her - while her new friend cut the finest flowers till his hands were full; —
对于乔来说，这似乎像仙境一样，她走在路径上，享受着两侧盛开的花墙、柔和的灯光、潮湿而甜美的空气以及悬挂在她上方的奇妙的藤蔓和树木 - 而她的新朋友一直剪着最好的花，直到他的手满了为止。 —

then he tied them up, saying, with the happy look Jo liked to see, ‘Please give these to your mother, and tell her I like the medicine she sent me very much.’
然后他把它们绑起来，开心地对乔说：“请把这些交给你妈妈，并告诉她我非常喜欢她给我送来的药。”

They found Mr. Laurence standing before the fire in the great drawing room, but Jo’s attention was entirely absorbed by a grand piano, which stood open.
他们发现劳伦斯先生站在大客厅里的壁炉前，但乔完全被一架打开的大钢琴吸引住了。

‘Do you play?’ she asked, turning to Laurie with a respectful expression.
“你会弹吗？”她转向劳瑞，并带着敬意的表情问道。

‘Sometimes,’ he answered, modestly.
“有时候。”他谦虚地回答道。

‘Please do now. I want to hear it so I can tell Beth.’
“那请你现在弹一下吧。我想听一下，这样我就可以告诉贝丝了。”

‘Won’t you first?’
“你不先弹吗？”

‘Don’t know how; too stupid to learn, but I love music dearly.’
“不会，太笨学不会，但我非常喜欢音乐。”

So Laurie played, and Jo listened, with her nose luxuriously buried in heliotrope and tea-roses. —
于是劳瑞开始演奏，乔听着，鼻子舒服地埋在馥郁的香根草和茶花中。 —

Her respect and regard for the ‘Laurence boy’ increased very much, for he played remarkably well, and didn’t put on any airs. —
她对“劳伦斯小伙子”的尊敬和喜爱大大增加，因为他的演奏非常出色，而且一点架子都没有。 —

She wished Beth could hear him, but she did not say so; —
她希望贝丝能听到他的演奏，但她没有说出来， —

only praised him till he was quite abashed and his grandfather came to the rescue. —
只是赞美他，直到他感到很尴尬，他的爷爷才出来解围。 —

‘That will do, that will do, young lady. —
“行了，行了，小姑娘。 —

Too many sugar-plums are not good for him. —
吃太多糖果对他不好。” —

His music isn’t bad, but I hope he will do as well in more important things. Going? —
“他的音乐还不错，但我希望他在更重要的事情上也能做得好。走吧？” —

Well, I’m much obliged to you, and I hope you’ll come again. —
“嗯，非常感谢你，希望你能再来。” —

My respects to your mother. Good night, Doctor Jo.’
“向你妈妈问好。晚安，乔士医生。”

He shook hands kindly, but looked as if something did not please him. —
他友好地握手，但看起来好像有些不高兴。 —

When they got into the hall, Jo asked Laurie if she had said anything amiss. —
当他们走进大厅时，乔问劳里是否有说错话。 —

He shook his head.
劳里摇了摇头。

‘No, it was me; he doesn’t like to hear me play.’
“不，是我，他不喜欢听我演奏。”

‘Why not?’
“为什么？”

‘I’ll tell you some day. John is going home with you, as I can’t.’
“我有一天会告诉你的。约翰会陪你回家，因为我不能去。”

‘No need of that; I am not a young lady, and it’s only a step. Take care of yourself, won’t you?’
“不用了，我不是小姑娘，而且那只是一小段路。照顾好自己，好吗？”

‘Yes; but you will come again, I hope?’
“是的，但你会再来的，希望吗？”

‘If you promise to come and see us after you are well.’
“如果你答应病好后来看我们。”

‘I will.’
“我会的。”

‘Good night, Laurie!’
“晚安，劳里！”

‘Good night, Jo, good night!’
“晚安，乔，晚安！”

When all the afternoon’s adventures had been told, the family felt inclined to go visiting in a body, for each found something very attractive in the big house on the other side of the hedge: —
当下午所有的冒险都被讲述完之后，全家人都有些倾向于一起去拜访，因为每个人对篱笆那边的大房子都很感兴趣： —

Mrs. March wanted to talk of her father with the old man who had not forgotten him; —
妈妈想和那位没有忘记她父亲的老人聊聊； —

Meg longed to walk in the conservatory; —
梅格渴望在温室里散步； —

Beth sighed for the grand piano; —
贝丝渴望弹奏那架宏伟的钢琴； —

and Amy was eager to see the fine pictures and statues.
艾米急于看到那些精美的画作和雕塑。

‘Mother, why didn’t Mr. Laurence like to have Laurie play?’ asked Jo, who was of an inquiring disposition.
‘妈妈，为什么劳伦斯先生不喜欢劳里弹奏呢？’ 琼是一个好奇的孩子，她问道。

‘I am not sure, but I think it was because his son, Laurie’s father, married an Italian lady, a musician, which displeased the old man, who is very proud. —
‘我不太确定，但我认为可能是因为劳里的父亲娶了一位意大利女士，她是一位音乐家，这让老人很不高兴。 —

The lady was good and lovely and accomplished, but he did not like her, and never saw his son after he married. —
那位女士很好、很可爱、很有才华，但他不喜欢她，儿子结婚后他再也没有见过他。 —

They both died when Laurie was a little child, and then his grandfather took him home. —
他们俩在劳里还是一个小孩的时候就去世了，然后他的祖父带他回家。 —

I fancy the boy, who was born in Italy, is not very strong, and the old man is afraid of losing him, which makes him so careful. —
我喜欢这个男孩，他在意大利出生，不是很强壮，老人家害怕失去他，所以对他很小心。 —

Laurie comes naturally by his love of music, for he is like his mother, and I dare say his grandfather fears that he may want to be a musician; —
劳里天生就热爱音乐，因为他像他的母亲，我敢说他的祖父担心他可能会想成为一名音乐家。 —

at any rate, his skill reminds him of the woman he did not like, and so he “glowered”, as Jo said.’
无论如何，他的技艺让他想起了他不喜欢的那个女人，所以他“怒目而视”，就像乔说的那样。

‘Dear me, how romantic!’ exclaimed Meg.
“天哪，多么浪漫！”梅格惊叹道。

‘How silly!’ said Jo. ‘Let him be a musician, if he wants to, and not plague his life out sending him to college, when he hates to go.’
“多傻啊！”乔说道。” 让他做他想做的音乐家，不要逼他去上大学，他讨厌上学。”

“That’s why he has such handsome black eyes and pretty manners, I suppose. Italians are always nice,’ said Meg, who was a little sentimental.
“这就是他为什么有这么漂亮的黑眼睛和可爱的举止，我想。意大利人总是很好的，” 有点多愁善感的梅格说道。

‘What do you know about his eyes and his manners? —
“你知道他的眼睛和举止什么？ —

You never spoke to him, hardly,’ cried Jo, who was not sentimental.
你几乎没和他说过话，” 乔不多愁善感。

‘I saw him at the party, and what you tell shows that he knows how to behave. —
“我在派对上看到过他，你说的表明他知道如何行为得体。 —

That was a nice little speech about the medicine Mother sent him.’
他关于妈妈给他寄的药的那段话很好听。”

‘He meant the blancmange, I suppose.’
“他可能是指的布朗满奇吧。”

‘How stupid you are, child! He meant you, of course.’
“孩子，你是多么愚蠢啊！他当然是在说你。”

‘Did he?’ and Jo opened her eyes as if it had never occurred to her before.
“他是吗？” 而乔像从未想过一样睁开了眼睛。

‘I never saw such a girl! —
“我从没见过这样的女孩！ —

You don’t know a compliment when you get it,’ said Meg, with the air of a young lady who knew all about the matter.
你根本就不懂得夸奖是什么意思。” 梅格带着那种对这件事完全了解的年轻女士的神态说道。

‘I think they are great nonsense, and I’ll thank you not to be silly, and spoil my fun. —
“我觉得那些都是胡扯，我希望你别傻乎乎的，破坏了我的乐趣。 —

Laurie’s a nice boy, and I like him, and I won’t have any sentimental stuff about compliments and such rubbish. —
“劳里是个好孩子，我喜欢他，我可不想听到什么夸奖和废话的感伤之类的东西。 —

We’ll all be good to him, because he hasn’t got any mother, and he may come over and see us, mayn’t he, Marmee?’
“我们都会对他好的，因为他没有妈妈，他能过来看我们吗，妈妈？

‘Yes, Jo, your little friend is very welcome, and I hope Meg will remember that children should be children as long as they can.’
“是的，乔，你的小朋友非常受欢迎，我希望梅格记住儿童应该尽可能保持童心。

‘I don’t call myself a child, and I’m not in my teens yet,’ observed Amy. ‘What do you say, Beth?’
“我不称自己为孩子，我还没有十几岁呢。” 艾米说道。 “伯西，你说呢？

‘I was thinking about our Pilgrim’s Progress,’ answered Beth, who had not heard a word. —
“我在思考我们的《天路历程》，” 伯西回答说，她根本没听见其他人说的话。 —

‘How we got out of the Slough and through the Wicket Gate by resolving to be good, and up the steep hill by trying; —
‘我们通过决心要做好人，从泥潭中走出并通过篱门，然后尝试征服陡峭的山坡； —

and that maybe the house over there full of splendid things, is going to be our Palace Beautiful.’
‘也许那座装满精美物品的房子就是我们美丽的宫殿。’

‘We have got to get by the lions, first,’ said Jo, as if she rather liked the prospect.
‘但是首先我们必须经过那些狮子，’乔说着，似乎对这个前景很感兴趣。