The big house did prove a Palace Beautiful, though it took some time for all to get in, and Beth found it very hard to pass the lions. —
这座大房子确实是座美丽的宫殿，尽管进去花了一些时间，贝丝觉得很难走过那些狮子。 —

Old Mr. Laurence was the biggest one; —
老洛伦斯先生是最大的狮子； —

but after he had called, said something funny or kind to each one of the girls, and talked over old times with their mother, nobody felt much afraid of him, except timid Beth. The other lion was the fact that they were poor and Laurie rich; —
但是在他召唤之后，对每个女孩说了些有趣或亲切的话，和她们的母亲聊了一些旧日往事后，除了胆小的贝丝，没有人感到害怕他。另一个狮子就是她们贫穷而劳瑞富有； —

for this made them shy of accepting favours which they could not return. —
因为这使得她们不好意思接受无法回报的恩惠。 —

But, after a while they found that he considered them the benefactors, and could not do enough to show how grateful he was for Mrs. March’s motherly welcome, their cheerful society, and the comfort he took in that humble home of theirs. —
但是，过了一段时间，她们发现他认为她们是恩人，无论如何都不够来表达他对于马奇夫人亲切的欢迎，她们愉快的陪伴和他在那个谦卑之家里得到的舒适之情的感激之情。 —

So they soon forgot their pride, and interchanged kindnesses without stopping to think which was the greater.
所以，她们很快忘记了她们的骄傲，并且毫不犹豫地互相友好，不去思考哪个恩惠更大。

All sorts of pleasant things happened about that time; —
那个时候发生了各种愉快的事情； —

for the new friendshipourished like grass in spring. —
因为这个新的友谊像春天的草一样茁壮生长。 —

Everyone liked Laurie, and he privately informed his tutor that ‘the Marches were regular splendid girls’. —
每个人都喜欢劳里，他私下告诉他的导师：“马奇家的女孩们真是一群了不起的姑娘。” —

With the delightful enthusiasm of youth they took the solitary boy into their midst, and made much of him, and he found something very charming in the innocent companionship of these simple-hearted girls. —
年轻人充满了喜悦的热情，他们将这个孤独的男孩纳入他们的圈子，对他关爱备至。他发现在与这些纯真的女孩们一起的无邪的伴侣关系中有着令人迷人的魅力。 —

Never having known mother or sisters, he was quick to feel the influences they brought about him; —
他从未有过母亲或姐妹，所以对她们带给他的影响非常敏感； —

and their busy, lively ways made him ashamed of the indolent life he led. —
她们忙碌、活泼的方式使他为自己懒散的生活感到羞愧。 —

He was tired of books, and found people so interesting now that Mr. Brooke was obliged to make very unsatisfactory reports; —
他已经厌倦了书本，而且现在他发现人们很有趣，所以布鲁克先生不得不给出很不满意的报告； —

for Laurie was always playing truant and running over to the Marches’.
因为劳里总是逃课跑去马奇家。

‘Never mind; let him take a holiday, and make it up afterwards,’ said the old gentleman. —
“别担心，让他放个假，然后补回来。”老先生说道。 —

‘The good lady next door says he is studying too hard, and needs young society, amusement, and exercise. —
“隔壁的好太太说他学习太辛苦了，需要年轻人的社交、娱乐和锻炼。” —

I suspect she is right, and that I’ve been coddling the fellow as if I’d been his grandmother. —
我怀疑她是对的，我一直像他的祖母一样纵容他。 —

Let him do what he likes, as long as he is happy. —
让他随心所欲，只要他开心就好。 —

He can’t get into mischief in that little nunnery over there; —
他在那边的小修道院不会惹麻烦； —

and Mrs. March is doing more for him than we can.’
而且马奇夫人对他的帮助比我们更多。

What good times they had, to be sure! —
多么美好的时光啊！ —

Such plays and tableaux, such sleigh-rides and skating frolics, such pleasant evenings in the old parlour, and now and then such gay little parties at the great house. —
这样的游戏和画面，这样的雪橇和溜冰，这样愉快的夜晚在旧的客厅里，还有这样开心的聚会在大房子里。 —

Meg could walk in the conservatory whenever she liked, and revel in bouquets; —
梅格可以随意走进温室，独享花束。 —

Jo browsed over the new library voraciously, and convulsed the old gentleman with her criticisms. —
乔贪婪地在新图书馆里搜索，并通过她的评论使老先生捧腹大笑。 —

Amy copied pictures and enjoyed beauty to her heart’s content; —
艾米抄画，并尽情享受美的乐趣。 —

and Laurie played ‘lord of the manor’ in the most delightful style.
劳里以最令人愉快的方式扮演着“领主”的角色。

But Beth, though yearning for the grand piano, could not pluck up courage to go to the ‘Mansion of Bliss’, as Meg called it. —
但是贝丝虽然渴望弹奏那架顶级钢琴，却没有勇气去“幸福之屋”，正如梅格所说的那样。 —

She went once with Jo; —
她和乔去过一次。 —

but the old gentleman, not being aware of her infirmity, stared at her so hard from under his heavy eyebrows, and said ‘Hey!’ so loud, that he frightened her so much her ‘feet chattered on the floor’, she told her mother; —
但是这位老绅士并不知道她的残疾，在他浓密的眉毛下盯着她看，然后大声说道：“嘿！”声音如此之大，以至于把她吓得“脚在地板上打颤”，她告诉她的母亲； —

and she ran away, declaring she would never go there any more, not even for the dear piano. —
她跑开了，宣称再也不去那里，甚至不为了心爱的钢琴。 —

No persuasions or enticements could overcome her fears, till the fact coming to Mr. Laurence’s ear in some mysterious way, he set about mending matters. —
没有劝说或引诱能够克服她的恐惧，直到某种神秘方式把这一事实告诉了劳伦斯先生，他开始修补事情。 —

During one of the brief calls he made, he artfully led the conversation to music, and talked away about great singers whom he had seen, fine organs he had heard, and told such charming anecdotes that Beth found it impossible to stay in her distant comer, but crept nearer and nearer, as if fascinated. —
在他的一次短暂访问中，他巧妙地把谈话引向音乐，并滔滔不绝地讲述他所见过的伟大歌手、他曾听过的优美风琴，还讲了一些迷人的轶事，使贝丝觉得无法再待在她那遥远的角落里，而是越来越靠近，仿佛被吸引着一样。 —

At the back of his chair she stopped, and stood listening, with her great eyes wide open, and her cheeks red with the excitement of this unusual performance. —
她站在他椅子的后面，寂静地听着，大大的眼睛睁得圆圆的，脸颊因这个不同寻常的表演而红润兴奋。 —

Taking no more notice of her than if she had been a fly, Mr. Laurence talked on about Laurie’s lessons and teachers; —
对她的注意力毫不在意，就好像她是一只苍蝇一样，劳伦斯先生继续谈论劳里的课程和老师；突然，似乎这个想法刚刚闯入他的脑海，他对玛奇夫人说： —

and presently, as if the idea had just occurred to him, he said to Mrs. March:
“这孩子现在不再重视音乐了，我很高兴，因为他对音乐太着迷了。但是钢琴因为缺乏使用而受损。”

‘The boy neglects his music now, and I’m glad of it, for he was getting too fond of it. —
玛奇夫人还没有回答，贝丝向前迈了一步，紧紧地握着双手，以免拍手，因为这是一个无法抗拒的诱惑; —

But the piano suffers for want of use. —
而能在那个华丽的乐器上练习的想法简直让她无法呼吸。 —

Wouldn’t some of your girls like to run over, and practise on it now and then, just to keep it in tune, you know, ma’am?’
贝丝的眼睛亮了起来，她望着玛奇夫人，心中充满了希望。

Beth took a step forward, and pressed her hands tightly together to keep from clapping them, for this was an irresistible temptation; —
劳伦斯先生笑着点了点头：“他们不必见到或和任何人说话，随时进来就好；就像一只可爱的小鸟飞进来一样。” —

and the thought of practising on that splendid instrument quite took her breath away. —
贝丝几乎跳起来，她兴奋地问：“真的吗，真的可以吗？我会保持钢琴的调音的，喜欢弹奏的时候？” —

Before Mrs. March could reply, Mr. Laurence went on with an odd little nod and smile:
玛奇夫人微笑着点点头，感激地说：“这真是太好了，我们非常感激。”

‘They needn’t see or speak to anyone, but run in at any time; —
劳伦斯先生非常满意地点了点头，他知道他的提议得到了接受，而且他注意到贝丝的喜悦，这让他感到愉快。 —

for I’m shut up in my study at the other end of the house, Laurie is out a great deal, and the servants are never near the drawing room after nine o’clock.’
因为我关在房子的另一头的书房里，劳瑞经常外出，佣人们在晚上九点后就离开了客厅。

Here he rose, as if going, and Beth made up her mind to speak, for that last arrangement left nothing to be desired. —
他起身要走，伯丝下定决心要讲话了， because最后的安排无懈可击。 —

‘Please tell the young ladies what I say; —
请告诉姑娘们我说的话, —

and if they don’t care to come, why, never mind.’ Here a little hand slipped into his, and Beth looked up at him with a face full of gratitude, as she said, in her earnest, yet timid way:
如果她们不愿意来，也没关系。这时，一个小手滑进了他的手里，伯丝满怀感激地抬头看着他，用一种真诚而胆怯的方式说道:

‘Oh, sir, they do care, very, very much!’
哦，先生，她们在乎，非常非常在乎！

‘Are you the musical girl?’ he asked, without any startling ‘Hey!’ as he looked down at her very kindly.
你是音乐女孩吧？他友善地看着她，毫不惊讶地问道。

‘I’m Beth. I love it dearly, and I’ll come, if you are quite sure nobody will hear me - and be disturbed,’ she added, fearing to be rude, and trembling at her own boldness as she spoke.
我是伯丝。我非常喜欢音乐，如果您确定没有人会听到我演奏而被打扰的话，我会来的，她说得提心吊胆，担心自己的大胆会失礼。

‘Not a soul, my dear. The house is empty half the day; —
亲爱的孩子，一个人都没有。 —

so come and drum away as much as you like, and I shall be obliged to you.’
这个房子一半的时间是空的，所以你想怎么练都可以，我会感激你的。

‘How kind you are, sir!’
您真是太好了，先生！

Beth blushed like a rose under the friendly look he wore; —
贝丝像一朵玫瑰一样红着脸，面对他友好的眼神； —

but she was not frightened now, and gave the big hand a grateful squeeze, because she had no words to thank him for the precious gift he had given her. —
但此刻她并不害怕，紧紧握住他那大手，表示感激，因为她无法用言语来感谢他给予她的珍贵礼物。 —

The old gentleman softly stroked the hair of her forehead, and stooping down, he kissed her, saying, in a tone few people ever heard:
那位老绅士轻轻抚摸着她额前的头发，弯下腰来亲吻她，以一个很少有人听到的语气说道：

‘I had a little girl once, with eyes like these. —
“我曾经有一个拥有这样眼睛的小姑娘。 —

God bless you, my dear! Good day, madam’; —
上帝保佑你，亲爱的！再见，夫人。 —

and away he went, in a great hurry.
”然后他匆忙离开了。

Beth had a rapture with her mother, and then rushed up to impart the glorious news to her family of invalids, as the girls were not at home. —
贝丝同母亲分享了喜悦，然后迫不及待地冲上楼去将这个好消息告诉她那些身体欠佳的亲人，因为姐妹们不在家。 —

How blithely she sang that evening, and how they all laughed at her, because she woke Amy in the night by playing the piano on her face in her sleep. —
那个晚上，她欢快地唱歌，大家都被她逗笑了，因为她在睡梦中用脸蹭着琴键把艾米吵醒了。 —

Next day, having seen both the old and the young gentlemen out of the house, Beth, after two or three retreats, fairly got in at the side-door and made her way, as noiselessly as any mouse, to the drawing room where her idol stood. —
第二天，看到年轻的绅士和老绅士都离开了房子后，贝丝在经过两三次后退之后，终于通过侧门悄无声息地进入了绘画室，她在那里看到了她崇拜的偶像。 —

Quite by accident of course, some pretty, easy music lay on the piano; —
当然是偶然的，钢琴上放着一些漂亮而简单的音乐。 —

and, with trembling fingers, and frequent stops to listen and look about, Beth at last touched the great instrument, and straightaway forgot her fear, herself, and everything else but the unspeakable delight which the music gave her, for it was like the voice of a beloved friend.
贝丝战战兢兢地用颤抖的手指演奏起了那台伟大的乐器，频繁地停下来聆听并四处张望，但她完全忘记了自己的恐惧、自己，以及任何其他事情，只专注于音乐带给她无法言喻的快乐，因为它就像是心爱的朋友的声音。

She stayed till Hannah came to take her home to dinner; —
她待到汉娜来接她回家吃午餐； —

but she had no appetite, and could only sit and smile upon everyone in a general state of beatitude.
但她一点食欲也没有，只能坐着对每个人微笑，身处一种极度幸福的状态之中。

After that, the little brown hood slipped through the hedge nearly every day, and the great drawing room was haunted by a tuneful spirit that came and went unseen. —
此后，那只棕色小兜帽几乎每天都从篱笆缝中溜过去，而宽敞的绘画室则被一个无形的悦耳精灵所笼罩，它来了又去，无影无踪。 —

She never knew that Mr. Laurence often opened his study door to hear the old-fashioned airs he liked; —
她从来不知道劳伦斯先生经常打开书房的门听他喜欢的老式音乐。 —

she never saw Laurie mount guard in the hall to warn the servants away; —
她从来没有看到劳伦斯在大厅里守卫，警告佣人不要靠近。 —

she never suspected that the exercise-books and new songs which she found in the rack were put there for her especial benefit; —
她从来没有怀疑过放在架子上的练习本和新歌是专门为她准备的。 —

and when he talked to her about music at home, she only thought how kind he was to tell things that helped her so much. —
当他在家里跟她谈论音乐时，她只是觉得他多么善良，告诉了她这么多有用的东西。 —

So she enjoyed herself heartily, and found, what isn’t always the case, that her granted wish was all she had hoped. —
所以她尽情享受，发现实现了她所希望的，这并不常见。 —

Perhaps it was because she was so grateful for this blessing that a greater was given her; —
也许是因为她对这个祝福如此感激，她得到了更大的奖赏； —

at any rate she deserved both.
无论如何，她都应该得到两个。

‘Mother, I’m going to work Mr. Laurence a pair of slippers. —
“妈妈，我要给劳伦斯先生织一双拖鞋。 —

He is so kind to me, I must thank him, and I don’t know any other way. —
他对我很好，我必须感谢他，我不知道其他办法。” —

Can I do it?’ asked Beth, a few weeks after that eventful call of his.
“是的，亲爱的。这会让他非常高兴，也会成为一种很好的感谢方式。”

‘Yes, dear. It will please him very much, and be a nice way of thanking him. —
’ —

The girls will help you about them, and I will pay for the making up,’ replied Mrs. March, who took peculiar pleasure in granting Beth’s requests, because she so seldom asked anything for herself.
“女孩们会帮你化妆的，而我会支付费用，” 欣然答道 Mrs. March，她很少向别人要求任何东西，所以对于 Beth 的请求，她特别喜欢满足。

After many serious discussions with Meg and Jo, the pattern was chosen, the materials bought, and the slippers begun. —
经过与 Meg 和 Jo 多次严肃讨论后，确定了图案、购买了材料，开始制作拖鞋。 —

A cluster of grave yet cheerful pansies on a deeper purple ground was pronounced very appropriate and pretty; —
深紫色底上一簇严肃而愉快的三色堇被认为非常适合和漂亮； —

and Beth worked away early and late, with occasional lifts over hard parts. —
Beth 早早晚晚辛勤工作，偶尔在难处得到一点帮助。 —

She was a nimble little needle-woman, and they were finished before anyone got tired of them. —
她是一个灵巧的缝纫工，拖鞋在大家还没有厌倦之前已经完成了。 —

Then she wrote a very short, simple note, and, with Laurie’s help, got them smuggled on to the study-table one morning before the old gentleman was up.
然后她写了一张非常简短、简单的便条，并在劳里的帮助下，在老绅士起床之前的一个早晨把它们偷偷塞到了书桌上。

When this excitement was over, Beth waited to see what would happen. —
当这种激动过后，Beth 等待着看会发生什么。 —

All that day passed, and a part of the next, before any acknowledgement arrived, and she was beginning to fear she had offended her crotchety friend. —
整整一天过去了，接下来的一部分时间过去了，仍然没有收到任何回应，她开始担心自己冒犯了她那古怪的朋友。 —

On the afternoon of the second day, she went out to do an errand, and give poor Joanna, the invalid doll, her daily exercise. —
在第二天下午，她出去跑腿，并给可怜的病弱娃娃乔安娜进行每日运动。 —

As she came up the street, on her return, she saw three, yes, four, heads popping in and out of the parlour windows, and the moment they saw her, several hands were waved, and several joyful voices screamed:
当她回到街上时，她看见有三个，不，四个头在客厅窗户中冒出冒进，一看见她，几只手挥动起来，几个喜悦的声音尖叫着说道：

‘Here’s a letter from the old gentleman! —
“老人寄来了一封信！快过来， —

Come quick, and read it!’
读一读！”

‘Oh, Beth, he’s sent you——’ began Amy, gesticulating with unseemly energy; —
“喔, 贝丝，他送给你. ..”艾米开始用不礼貌的力气做手势。 —

but she got no further, for Jo quenched her by slamming down the window.
但她还没说完，乔安娜一下子就重重地关上了窗户。

Beth hurried on in a flutter of suspense. At the door, her sisters seized and bore her to the parlour in a triumphal procession, all pointing, and all saying at once, ‘Look there! —
贝丝充满悬念地匆忙走上前。在门口，她的姐妹们抓住她，抬着她得意洋洋地来到客厅，所有人都指着东西，同时说着，“看那里！看那里！”贝丝看了过去，高兴而惊讶地脸色苍白。 —

look there!’ Beth did look, and turned pale with delight and surprise; —
形容词短语（delight and surprise）使她的脸色发白。 —

for there stood a little cabinet piano, with a letter lying on the glossy lid, directed, like a signboard, to ‘Miss Elizabeth March’.
在那里放着一个小柜式钢琴，钢琴盖上放着一封信，上面写着“伊丽莎白·马奇小姐”这样的字样，就像一个招牌一样。

‘For me?’ gasped Beth, holding on to Jo, and feeling as if she should tumble down, it was such an overwhelming thing altogether.
‘是给我的吗？’贝丝喘着气，抓住乔，感觉自己会摔倒，这一切都太震撼了。

‘Yes; all for you, my precious! Isn’t it splendid of him? —
‘是的；都是给你的，我亲爱的！他真是太棒了吧？ —

Don’t you think he’s the dearest old man in the world? —
你觉得他是世界上最可爱的老人吗？ —

Here’s the key in the letter. —
信里有钥匙。 —

We didn’t open it, but we are dying to know what he says,’ cried Jo, hugging her sister, and offering the note.
我们没有打开它，但是我们非常想知道他写了什么，’ 乔喊道，拥抱着妹妹，递过了那封信。

‘You read it! I can’t! I feel so queer! Oh, it is too lovely!’ and Beth hid her face in Jo’s apron, quite upset by her present.
‘你来读！我读不了！我感觉好奇怪！哦，太美妙了！’贝丝把脸埋在乔的围裙里，被这份礼物完全搞翻了。

Jo opened the paper, and began to laugh, for the first words she saw were:
乔打开了信纸，开始笑了起来，因为她看到的第一句话是：

‘MISS MARCH:
‘马奇小姐：

‘Dear Madam’ -
‘尊敬的夫人’ -

‘How nice it sounds! I wish someone would write to me so!’ said Amy, who thought the old-fashioned address very elegant.
‘这听起来真好！我希望有人给我写信！’ 艾米说，觉得这种老式的称呼非常优雅。

‘I have had many pairs of slippers in my life, but I never had any that suited me so well as yours,’ continued Jo. ‘Heart’s ease is my favourite flower, and these will always remind me of the gentle giver. —
“我一生中有许多双拖鞋，但没有一双像你的那样适合我，”乔继续说道。” 牵牛花是我最喜欢的花，这些将永远让我想起这位慈爱的赠送者。 —

I like to pay my debts; so I know you will allow ‘the old gentleman’ to send you something which once belonged to the little granddaughter he lost. —
“我喜欢偿还债务，所以我知道你会允许那位’老绅士’送你一些曾经属于他失去的小孙女的东西。 —

With hearty thanks and best wishes, I remain, your grateful friend and humble servant,
在此，我衷心感谢并致以最好的祝愿，我将永远是你的感激的朋友和谦卑的仆人，

‘JAMES LAURENCE.’
“詹姆斯·劳伦斯。

‘There, Beth, that’s an honour to be proud of, I’m sure. —
“贝丝，这是一种值得自豪的荣誉，我敢肯定。 —

Laurie told me how fond Mr. Laurence used to be of the child who died, and how he kept all her little things carefully. —
劳伦斯先生告诉我他曾经是那个去世的孩子的喜爱者，他一直小心地保存着她的小东西。 —

Just think, he’s given you her piano. —
“想想看，他送给你她的钢琴。 —

That comes of having big blue eyes, and loving music,’ said Jo, trying to soothe Beth, who trembled, and looked more excited than she had ever been before.
这都是因为你有一双大大的蓝眼睛，还热爱音乐，”乔说着试图安抚贝丝，她颤抖着，看起来比以往任何时候都更激动。

‘See the cunning brackets to hold candles, and the nice green silk, puckered up, with a gold rose in the middle, and the pretty rack and stool, all complete,’ added Meg, opening the instrument and displaying its beauties.
“看这些精巧的蜡烛架，还有漂亮的绿色丝绸，中间还有一个金色玫瑰，以及美丽的钢琴架和凳子，一应俱全。” 梅格打开乐器展示着它的美丽。

’“Your humble servant, James Laurence”; —
“‘你的谦虚仆人，詹姆斯·劳伦斯’， —

only think of his writing that to you. —
想想他竟然给你写了这样的话。 —

I’ll tell the girls. —
我要告诉姑娘们。” —

They’ll think it’s splendid,’ said Amy, much impressed by the note.
“她们会觉得太棒了，”艾米说道，对这封信非常得印象深刻。

‘Try it, honey. Let’s hear the sound of the baby pianny,’ said Hannah, who always took a share in the family joys and sorrows.
“尝试一下吧，亲爱的。让我们听听这架小型钢琴的声音，”汉娜说道，她总是参与到家庭的喜怒哀乐之中。

So Beth tried it; and everyone pronounced it the most remarkable piano ever heard. —
于是贝丝试着弹奏，每个人都说这是他们听过的最出色的琴声。 —

It had evidently been newly tuned and put in apple-pie order; —
显然，这架琴刚刚调好，摆放整齐。 —

but perfect as it was, I think the real charm of it lay in the happiest of all happy faces which leaned over it, as Beth lovingly touched the beautiful black and white keys and pressed the bright pedals.
但是琴声再完美，我认为它真正的魅力在于快乐的面庞，贝丝倾注着爱意地触碰着那美丽的黑白琴键，轻按着鲜亮的踏板。

‘You’ll have to go and thank him,’ said Jo, by way of a joke; for the idea of the child’s really going never entered her head.
“你得去感谢他，”乔开玩笑地说道；因为她从未想过孩子真的会去感谢他。

‘Yes, I mean too. I guess I’ll go now, before I get frightened thinking about it.’ And, to the utter amazement of the assembled family, Beth walked deliberately down the garden, through the hedge, and in at the Laurences’ door.
‘是的，我也是这么觉得。我想我现在该走了，免得想起来后吓到自己。’ 奇迹般地，贝丝径直走过花园，穿过树篱，走进劳伦斯家的门口，令全家人惊讶不已。

‘Well, I wish I may die if it ain’t the queerest thing I ever see. —
‘唉呀，这可真是我见过的最奇怪的事情了。 —

The pianny has turned her head! —
这张钢琴彻底把她迷住了！’ —

She’d never have gone in her right mind,’ cried Hannah, staring after her, while the girls were rendered quite speechless by the miracle.
‘她要是有正常理智的话，绝对不会进去的。’ 汉娜大声说道，而三个女孩则被这个奇迹惊得说不出话来。

They would have been still more amazed if they had seen what Beth did afterwards. —
如果她们还看见了后来贝丝所做的事情，那她们会更加吃惊的。 —

If you will believe me, she went and knocked at the study door before she gave herself time to think; —
你要相信我，她上去敲了敲书房的门，甚至没有给自己留时间思考； —

and when a gruff voice called out, ‘Come in!’ she did go in, right up to Mr. Laurence, who looked quite taken aback, and held out her hand, saying, with only a small quaver in her voice, ‘I came to thank you, sir, for——’ But she didn’t finish; —
当一个粗声粗气的声音喊道，’ 进来吧！’ 她真的进去了，走到劳伦斯先生面前，看起来他非常吃惊，伸出手来，贝丝只有声音微微颤抖地说道：’ 我来感谢您，先生，我. …..‘但她没有说完。 —

for he looked so friendly, that she forgot her speech, and, only remembering that he had lost the little girl he loved, she put both arms round his neck, and kissed him.
因为他看起来很友善，她忘记了自己的演讲，只记得他失去了他所爱的小女孩，于是她双臂搂住他的脖子，亲吻了他。

If the roof of the house had suddenly flown off, the old gentleman wouldn’t have been more astonished; —
如果房子的屋顶突然掀开了，这位老绅士也不会更惊讶； —

but he liked it - oh, dear, yes, he liked it amazingly! —
但他喜欢这样 - 哦，亲爱的，是的， —

• and was so touched and pleased by that confiding little kiss, that all his crustiness vanished; —
  他非常喜欢！他被这个信任的小吻感动和高兴，所有的刻薄都消失了； —
  

and he just set her on his knee, and laid his wrinkled cheek against her rosy one, feeling as if he had got his own little granddaughter back again. —
他只把她放在膝盖上，把自己皱皱的脸颊靠在她红润的脸上，感觉就像他重新得到了自己的小外孙女一样。 —

Beth ceased to fear him from that moment and sat there talking to him as cosily as if she had known him all her life; —
从那一刻起，贝丝不再害怕他，坐在那里像认识他一辈子一样和他交谈； —

for love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride. —
因为爱能消除恐惧，感激可以克服骄傲。 —

When she went home, he walked with her to her own gate, shook hands cordially, and touched his hat as he marched back again, looking very stately and erect, like a handsome, soldierly old gentleman, as he was. —
当她回家的时候，他陪着她走到她自家的大门口，热情地握手，摸摸帽子，然后昂首挺胸地重新回去，看起来非常高大威严，就像他本来就是一位英俊、有血性的老绅士。 —

When the girls saw that performance, Jo began to dance a jig, by way of expressing her satisfaction; —
当女孩们看到那个演出时，乔开始跳起了踢踏舞，以表达她的满意； —

Amy nearly fell out of the window in her surprise; —
艾米差点从窗户上掉下去因为惊讶； —

and Meg exclaimed, with uplifted hands, ‘Well, I do believe the world is coming to an end!’
梅格举起双手大叫：“哎呀，我真的相信世界要末日来临了！”