‘Girls, where are you going?’ asked Amy, coming into their room one Saturday afternoon, and finding them getting ready to go out, with an air of secrecy, which excited her curiosity.
‘你们这些女孩子，要去哪里？’ 艾米进来时问道，她发现她们正准备外出，一种神秘的氛围引起了她的好奇心。

‘Never mind; little girls shouldn’t ask questions,’ returned Jo, sharply.
‘别管了，小女孩不应该问问题。’ 乔生硬地回答道。

Now if there is anything mortifying to our feelings, when we are young, it is to be told that; —
当我们年轻时，有些事情令我们感到羞辱，是被告知“滚开，亲爱的”，对我们来说更加难以忍受。 —

and to be bidden to ‘run away, dear’, is still more trying to us. —
艾米对这种侮辱感到愤怒，并决定花一个小时纠缠着找出这个秘密。 —

Amy bridled up at this insult, and determined to find out the secret, if she teased for an hour. —
艾米转向从不拒绝她很久的梅格，撒娇地说道：“告诉我吧！ —

Turning to Meg, who never refused her anything very long, she said coaxingly, ‘Do tell me! —
我想你应该让我也去，因为贝丝正忙着弹奏钢琴，而我没事可做，感到很孤独。” —

I should think you might let me go too; —
‘我不能，亲爱的，因为你没有被邀请，’ —

for Beth is fussing over her piano, and I haven’t got anything to do, and am so lonely.’
梅格开始说，但乔不耐烦地打断道：’ 现在闭嘴，梅格，否则就全毁了。

‘I can’t, dear, because you aren’t invited,’ began Meg; —
你不能去，艾米， —

but Jo broke in impatiently, ‘Now, Meg, be quiet, or you will spoil it all. —
所以不要像个孩子一样抱怨。 —

You can’t go, Amy; so don’t be a baby and whine about it.’

‘You are going somewhere with Laurie, I know you are; —
‘我知道你和劳里要去某个地方； —

you were whispering and laughing together, on the sofa, last night, and you stopped when I came in. Aren’t you going with him?’
昨晚你们在沙发上窃窃私语，开心地笑着，我进来的时候你们停了下来。你们是不是要和他一起去?’

‘Yes, we are; now do be still and stop bothering.’ Amy held her tongue, but used her eyes, and saw Meg slip a fan into her pocket.
‘是的，我们要去；现在老实点别再烦了。’ 艾米闭上了嘴，但用眼睛看到梅格把一个扇子放进了口袋里。

‘I know! I know! you’re going to the hall to see “The Seven Castles”!’ she cried, adding resolutely, ‘and I shall go, for Mother said I might see it; —
‘我知道！我知道！你们要去大厅看《七个城堡》！’ 她喊道，坚决地补充道，’而且我会去的，妈妈说我可以去看； —

and I’ve got my rag-money, and it was mean not to tell me in time.’
我已经有我的零花钱了，没提前告诉我真是太小气了。’

‘Just listen to me a minute, and be a good child,’ said Meg, soothingly. —
‘请听我说一分钟，做个好孩子，’梅格劝说道。 —

‘Mother doesn’t wish you to go this week, because your eyes are not well enough yet to bear the light of this fairy piece. —
‘妈妈不希望你这周去，因为你的眼睛还没好到能承受这个童话剧的光线。 —

Next week you can go with Beth and Hannah, and have a nice time.’
下周你可以和贝丝、汉娜一起去，度过一个愉快的时光。’

‘I don’t like that half as well as going with you and Laurie. —
‘我不喜欢那个，我更愿意和你、劳里一起去。 —

Please let me; —
请让我去； —

I’ve been sick with this cold so long, and shut up, I’m dying for some fun. Do, Meg! —
我这个感冒已经病了很久了，一直都被关着，我渴望有些乐趣。拜托了，梅格！ —

I’ll be ever so good,’ pleaded Amy, looking as pathetic as she could.
“我会非常乖的，”艾米恳求道，尽量表现得可怜。

‘Suppose we take her. I don’t believe Mother would mind, if we bundle her up well,’ began Meg.
“如果我们好好地包裹她，我觉得妈妈不会介意带上她的，” 梅格开始说。

‘If she goes I shan’t; and if I don’t, Laurie won’t like it; —
“如果她去了，我就不去；如果我不去， —

and it will be very rude, after he invited only us, to go and drag in Amy. I should think she’d hate to poke herself where she isn’t wanted,’ said Jo, crossly, for she disliked the trouble of overseeing a fidgety child, when she wanted to enjoy herself. —
劳里也不会喜欢的；而且，他只邀请我们去，我们带上艾米很不礼貌。我想她应该不愿意去一个她不受欢迎的地方，” 乔生气地说道，她不喜欢在想要享受自己的时候还要照看一个爱动的孩子。 —

Her tone and manner angered Amy, who began to put her boots on, saying, in her most aggravating way, ‘I shall go; —
她的语气和态度激怒了艾米，她开始穿上她的靴子，以最激怒人的方式说道：”我要去；梅格说我可以去；而且如果我自己付钱，劳里与此无关。” —

Meg says I may; and if I pay for myself, Laurie hasn’t anything to do with it.’
“你不能和我们一起坐，因为我们的座位是留着的，而你又不能独自坐，所以劳里会让你坐他的位置，这会破坏我们的乐趣；或者他会给你找一个新的座位，但是那样是不合适的，因为你并没有被邀请。你一步都不能走；”

‘You can’t sit with us, for our seats are reserved, and you mustn’t sit alone; —
“Meg’ses的意思是，劳里送你的情，可能会破坏我们的情或者者， —

so Laurie will give you his place, and that will spoil our pleasure; —
如果你愿意的话，我们必须等到破界工作完成之后再走呢哩。” —

or he’ll get another seat for you, and that isn’t proper, when you weren’t asked. You shan’t stir a step; —
“我们回将就他了吧。He’ll的自己的虚弱点。” —

so you may just stay where you are,’ scolded Jo, crosser than ever, having just pricked her finger in her hurry.
“你就呆在原地吧！”乔生气地斥责道，因为她匆忙的时候刚刺破了手指。

Sitting on the floor, with one boot on, Amy began to cry, and Meg to reason with her, when Laurie called from below, and the two girls hurried down, leaving their sister wailing; —
艾米坐在地板上，一个脚穿着靴子开始哭泣，梅格则试图和她理论着。就在这时，劳里从楼下呼喊，两个姐妹匆忙下楼，留下姐姐痛哭不已。 —

for now and then she forgot her grown-up ways, and acted like a spoilt child. —
感到委屈的时候，她有时也会忘记自己的成年人的方式，表现出像个被宠坏的孩子一样的样子。 —

Just as the party were setting out, Amy called over the bannisters, in a threatening voice, ‘You’ll be sorry for this, Jo March; see if you ain’t.’
正在大家准备出发的时候，艾米用一种威胁的语气从楼上喊道：“你会为此后悔的，乔·马奇，等着瞧吧。”

‘Fiddlesticks!’ returned Jo, slamming the door.
“胡扯！”乔回敬道，砰地关上了门。

They had a charming time, for “The Seven Castles of the Diamond Lake” was as brilliant and wonderful as heart could wish. —
他们度过了愉快的时光，因为《钻石湖的七座城堡》如此绚丽而奇妙，让人心满意足。 —

But, in spite of the comical red imps, sparkling elves, and gorgeous princes and princesses, Jo’s pleasure had a drop of bitterness in it; —
但尽管有滑稽的红色小鬼，闪烁的精灵，华丽的王子和公主，乔的愉悦中也带着一丝苦涩。仙后的金色鬈发让她想起了艾米，于是在剧场幕间，她一边想着妹妹会怎么做来“让她后悔”，一边自娱自乐。 —

the fairy queen’s yellow curls reminded her of Amy; —
—

and between the acts she amused herself with wondering what her sister would do to make her “sorry for it”. —
—

She and Amy had had many lively skirmishes in the course of their lives, for both had quick tempers, and were apt to be violent when fairly roused. —
她和艾米在生活中经历了许多激烈的冲突，因为两人脾气都很急躁，一旦被激怒就容易发火。 —

Amy teased Jo, Jo irritated Amy, and semi-occasional explosions occurred, of which both were much ashamed afterwards. —
艾米逗弄乔，乔惹恼了艾米，偶尔会发生爆炸，之后两人都感到很丢脸。 —

Although the oldest, Jo had the least self-control, and had hard times trying to curb the fiery spirit which was continually getting her into trouble; —
尽管是最大的那个，但乔最没有自控力，常常努力控制自己那燃烧不止的激情，总是把自己弄进麻烦； —

her anger never lasted long, and having humbly confessed her fault she sincerely repented and tried to do better. —
她的愤怒从来不持久，坦诚地承认过错，她真心懊悔并试图变得更好。 —

Her sisters used to say that they rather liked to get Jo into a fury because she was such an angel afterwards. —
她的姐妹们说他们其实挺喜欢让乔生气的，因为之后她会变得像个天使。 —

Poor Jo tried desperately to be good, but her bosom enemy was always ready to flame up and defeat her; —
可怜的乔拼命地想要做到善良，但她的内心敌人总是随时准备燃烧使她失败； —

and it took years of patient effort to subdue it.
而平息它却需要多年的耐心努力。

When they got home they found Amy reading in the parlour. —
他们回到家时发现艾米正在客厅里看书。 —

She assumed an injured air as they came in; —
她表现得受伤了； —

never lifted her eyes from her book, or asked a single question. —
从书中没有抬起眼睛，也没有问一个问题。 —

Perhaps curiosity might have conquered resentment, if Beth had not been there to inquire, and receive a glowing description of the play. —
也许好奇心可能战胜了怨恨，如果没有白丝在那里询问并得到了一番光辉的描述。 —

On going up to put away her best hat, Jo’s first look was towards the bureau; —
朝着梳妆台走去收好她最好的帽子，乔的第一眼是朝着梳妆台。 —

for, in their last quarrel, Amy had soothed her feelings by turning Jo’s top drawer upside down on the floor. —
因为在他们最后一次争吵中，艾美通过将乔的顶部抽屉倒在地板上来安抚她的情绪。 —

Everything was in its place, however, and after a hasty glance into her various closets, bags, and boxes, Jo decided that Amy had forgiven and forgotten her wrongs.
不过一切都井然有序，匆匆瞥了一眼她的各种衣橱、袋子和盒子后，乔认定艾美已经原谅并忘记了她的过错。

There Jo was mistaken; for next day she made a discovery which produced a tempest. —
乔错了，因为第二天她发现了一件引起了一场风暴的事情。 —

Meg, Beth, and Amy were sitting together, late in the afternoon, when Jo burst into the room, looking excited, and demanding breathlessly, ‘Has anyone taken my book?’
在下午晚些时候，梅格、贝丝和艾米正坐在一起时，乔冲进房间，看上去很兴奋，喘着气问道：“有人拿走了我的书吗？”

Meg and Beth said ‘No,’ at once, and looked surprised; —
梅格和贝丝立刻说：“没有”，并露出惊讶的表情； —

Amy poked the fire, and said nothing. —
艾米拨动着火，什么也没说。 —

Jo saw her colour rise, and was down upon her in a minute.
乔看到她的脸色变红，一分钟之内就冲向她。

‘Amy, you’ve got it.’
“艾米，你拿了它。”

‘No, I haven’t.’
“没有，我没有。”

‘You know where it is, then!’
“那你知道它在哪里！”

‘No, I don’t.’
“不，我不知道。”

‘That’s a fib!’ cried Jo, taking her by the shoulders and looking fierce enough to frighten a much braver child than Amy.
“那是个谎言！”乔猛地拍着她的肩膀，目光凶狠得足以吓到比艾米勇敢得多的孩子。

‘It isn’t. I haven’t got it, don’t know where it is now, and don’t care.’
“不是的。我没拿到它，也不知道现在在哪里，也不在乎。”

‘You know something about it, and you’d better tell at once, or I’ll make you,’ and Jo gave her a slight shake.
“你知道一些事情，最好马上告诉我，否则我会逼你说出来。”乔稍微摇了摇她。

‘Scold as much as you like, you’ll never see your silly old book again,’ cried Amy, getting excited in her turn.
“你爱怎么责骂就怎么责骂吧，你再也见不到你那愚蠢的旧书了！”艾米尽情激动起来。

‘Why not?’
“为什么不行？”

‘I burnt it up.’
“我把它烧了。”

‘What! my little book I was so fond of, and worked over, and meant to finish before Father got home! —
“什么！我那本我如此喜欢、辛苦创作却没等我爸爸回家就要完成的小书！你真的烧了它？ —

Have you really burnt it?’ said Jo, turning very pale, while her eyes kindled and her hands clutched Amy nervously.
”乔脸色变得苍白，眼睛燃烧起来，紧张地抓住艾米的手，说道。

‘Yes, I did! I told you I’d make you pay for being so cross yesterday, and I have, so——’
“是的，我就是！我告诉过你，我会让你为昨天那么发火付出代价，现在我做到了，所以——”

Amy got no further, for Jo’s hot temper mastered her, and she shook Amy till her teeth chattered in her head; crying in a passion of grief and anger:
艾米没能继续说下去，因为乔的脾气火爆大过她，她猛地摇晃着艾米，导致她的牙齿在脑袋里格格作响；愤怒和悲伤交织着，她哭着喊道：

‘You wicked, wicked girl! —
‘你这个坏女孩！ —

I never can write it again and I’ll never forgive you as long as I live.’
我再也写不出来了，只要我活着一天，我永远不会原谅你。’

Meg flew to rescue Amy, and Beth to pacify Jo, but Jo was quite beside herself; —
梅格飞奔去救艾米，而贝丝去安抚乔，但乔已经完全失控了； —

and with a parting box on her sister’s ear, she rushed out of the room up to the old sofa in the garret, and finished her fight alone.
她给了妹妹一个耳光后，冲出房间，跑到阁楼上的老沙发上，独自完成了她的战斗。

The storm cleared up below, for Mrs. March came home, and, having heard the story, soon brought Amy to a sense of the wrong she had done her sister. —
下面的风暴过去了，因为马奇夫人回家了，听完了故事后，很快让艾米意识到她对姐姐所做的错误。 —

Jo’s book was the pride of her heart, and was regarded by her family as a literary sprout of great promise. —
乔的书是她内心的骄傲，被她的家人看作是一个非常有前途的文学之芽。 —

It was only half a dozen little fairy tales, but Jo had worked over them patiently, putting her whole heart into her work, hoping to make something good enough to print. —
这只是半打小小的童话故事，但乔耐心地努力工作，全心全意地倾注在她的工作上，希望创作出足够好的东西来印刷出版。 —

She had just copied them with great care, and had destroyed the old manuscript, so that Amy’s bonfire had consumed the loving work of several years. —
她刚刚认真地抄写了它们，并销毁了旧的手稿，所以艾米的篝火摧毁了数年的辛勤创作。 —

It seemed a small loss to others, but to Jo it was a dreadful calamity, and she felt that it never could be made up to her. —
对别人来说，这只是一个小损失，但对乔来说，这是一场可怕的灾难，她觉得这永远无法弥补。 —

Beth mourned as for a departed kitten, and Meg refused to defend her pet; —
贝丝为失去的小猫哀悼，梅格却拒绝为她的宠物辩护； —

Mrs. March looked grave and grieved, and Amy felt that no one would love her till she had asked pardon for the act which she now regretted more than any of them.
玛奇夫人看起来神情庄重而悲伤，艾米觉得除非她为这次她比其他人更后悔的行为寻求原谅，否则没有人会爱她了。

When the tea-bell rang Jo appeared, looking so grim and unapproachable, that it took all Amy’s courage to say meekly:
茶钟响时，乔出现了，神情严肃而难以接近，艾米必须鼓起勇气温顺地说：“请原谅我，乔；我非常，非常抱歉。”

‘Please forgive me, Jo; I’m very, very sorry.’
“我永远不会原谅你，”乔严厉地回答道，从那一刻起，她完全不理睬艾米。

‘I never shall forgive you,’ was Jo’s stern answer; —
没有人提起这个巨大的困扰，甚至是玛奇夫人也没有， —

and from that moment she ignored Amy entirely.
因为他们都已经通过经验学到，当乔处于那种心情时，讲话是浪费的。

No one spoke of the great trouble - not even Mrs. March - for all had learned by experience that when Jo was in that mood words were wasted; —
最明智的做法是等到一些小意外或乔自己慷慨的天性软化了她的怨恨，修复这个裂痕。 —

and the wisest course was to wait till some little accident, or her own generous nature, softened Jo’s resentment, and healed the breach. —
所以他们等待着，等到乔心情好转，怨恨消散。 —

It was not a happy evening; for though they sewed as usual, while their mother read aloud from Bremer, Scott, or Edgeworth, something was wanting and the sweet home peace was disturbed. —
这是一个不愉快的晚上；虽然她们像往常一样缝纫，母亲在读着布雷默、斯科特或者埃奇沃思的书，但缺少了一些东西，温馨的家庭和平也被打破了。 —

They felt this most when singing time came; —
她们在唱歌的时候感受到最深， —

for Beth could only play, Jo stood dumb as a stone, and Amy broke down, so Meg and Mother sang alone. —
因为贝丝只能弹琴，乔却像石头一样哑言无声，艾米则崩溃了，所以梅格和妈妈只能独自唱。 —

But in spite of their efforts to be as cheery as larks, the flute-like voices did not seem to chord as well as usual, and all felt out of tune.
尽管她们努力像云雀一样愉快，但那优美如长笛的声音似乎不再和谐，大家都感觉不对劲。

As Jo received her good-night kiss, Mrs. March whispered gently:
在乔收到晚安吻时，马奇夫人轻声说道：

‘My dear, don’t let the sun go down upon your anger; —
“亲爱的，不要让太阳落在你们的愤怒之上； —

forgive each other, help each other, and begin again tomorrow.’
彼此原谅，互相帮助，明天重新开始。”

Jo wanted to lay her head down on that motherly bosom, and cry her grief and anger all away, but tears were an unmanly weakness, and she felt so deeply injured that she really couldn’t quite forgive yet. —
乔想把头放在母亲慈爱的胸膛上，尽情地哭泣她的悲伤和愤怒，但眼泪是不男子汉的弱点，她感到自己受到了深深的伤害，所以她实在无法完全原谅。 —

So she winked hard, shook her head, and said gruffly, because Amy was listening: —
所以她用力眨了眨眼，摇了摇头，因为艾米在听着，她粗声地说道： —

‘It was an abominable thing, and she don’t deserve to be forgiven.’
这真是个可恶的事情，她不配被原谅。

With that she marched off to bed, and there was no merry or confidential gossip that night.
她一走，晚上就没有快乐或私密的闲聊了。

Amy was much offended that her overtures of peace had been repulsed, and began to wish she had not humbled herself, to feel more injured than ever, and to plume herself on her superior virtue in a way which was particularly exasperating. —
艾米非常生气她的和解姿态被拒绝，开始后悔自己屈服，感到更受伤，并倚仗自己的高尚品德，这一点特别恼人。 —

Jo still looked like a thundercloud, and nothing went well all day.
乔依然愁眉苦脸，整天都不顺利。

It was bitter cold in the morning, she dropped her precious turnover in the gutter, Aunt March had an attack of fidgets, Meg was pensive, Beth would look grieved and wistful when she got home, and Amy kept making remarks about people who were always talking about being good, and yet wouldn’t try, when other people set them a virtuous example.
早晨天气寒冷，她把心爱的糕点掉进了水沟里，玛奇得神伤，贝丝回到家会显得忧伤和渴望，艾米则一直在议论那些总是说要做好人却从不努力的人，当其他人给予他们善良的榜样时，他们就不屑一顾。

‘Everybody is so hateful, I’ll ask Laurie to go skating. —
“每个人都那么讨厌，我要叫劳瑞陪我去滑冰。 —

He is always kind and jolly, and will put me to rights, I know,’ said Jo to herself, and off she went.
他总是友善和快乐，我知道他会帮我恢复正常的。”乔自言自语地说道，然后她走了。

Amy heard the clash of skates, and looked out with an impatient exclamation: —
艾米听到冰刀的碰撞声，不耐烦地喊道：“她们在那儿！ —

‘There! —
—

she promised I should go next time, for this is the last ice we shall have. —
她答应我下次要让我去，因为这是我们最后一次滑冰了。 —

But it’s no use to ask such a cross-patch to take me.’
可是要让这个脾气不好的人带我是没用的。”

‘Don’t say that; you were very naughty, and it is hard to forgive the loss of her precious little book; —
“别这样说；你非常顽皮，我们很难原谅你弄丢她珍贵的小书； —

but I think she might do it now, and I guess she will, if you try her at the right minute,’ said Meg. ‘Go after them; —
但我觉得现在她可能会原谅你，如果你在对的时刻试一下，我猜她肯定会，只要你做出一些好事来，比如亲吻她，或者做一些友善的举动，我肯定她会全心全意地重新与你和好。” —

don’t say anything till Jo has got good-natured with Laurie, then take a quiet minute, and just kiss her, or do some kind thing, and I’m sure she’ll be friends again with all her heart.’
“我会试试的。”艾米说，因为这个建议适合她。匆忙准备好后，她追着朋友们跑去，他们正好消失在山坡后面。到河边并不远，但艾米赶到他们的时候他们俩已经准备好了。

‘I’ll try,’ said Amy, for the advice suited her; and, after a flurry to get ready, she ran after the friends, who were just disappearing over the hill. —
艾米跑过去。 —

It was not far to the river, but both were ready before Amy reached them. —
—

Jo saw her coming, and turned her back; Laurie did not see, for he was carefully skating along the shore, sounding the ice, for a warm spell had preceded the cold snap.
乔看到她走了过来，转过了身去；劳里没有看见，因为他正小心地沿着岸边滑冰，探测着冰层是否坚固，因为冷天之前还有一段暖和的天气。

‘I’ll go on to the first bend, and see if it’s all right, before we begin to race,’ Amy heard him say, as he shot away, looking like a young Russian, in his fur-trimmed coat and cap. —
“我会滑到第一个弯处，看看是否安全，然后我们再开始比赛吧，”艾米听到他说，他一溜烟地冲走了，看起来像个年轻的俄罗斯人，身穿毛皮装饰的大衣和帽子。 —

Jo heard Amy panting after her run, stamping her feet and blowing her fingers, as she tried to put her skates on; —
乔听到艾米跑着气喘吁吁地赶上来，跺着脚，吹着手指，试着穿上滑冰鞋。 —

but Jo never turned, and went slowly zigzagging down the river, taking a bitter, unhappy sort of satisfaction in her sister’s troubles. —
但乔从未回头，继续在河上慢慢地穿梭着，对妹妹的困扰感到苦涩和不快。 —

She had cherished her anger till it grew strong, and took possession of her, as evil thoughts and feelings always do, unless cast out at once. —
她培养着怒火，直到它变得强大并占据了她的心灵，就像邪恶的思想和情绪一样，除非立即排除出去。 —

As Laurie turned the bend, he shouted back: —
当劳里转过弯去时，他大声喊道：” —

‘Keep near the shore, it isn’t safe in the middle.’
靠近岸边，中间不安全。”

Jo heard, but Amy was just struggling to her feet, and did not catch a word. —
乔听到了，但艾米正挣扎着站起来，一句话也没听到。 —

Jo glanced over her shoulder, and the little demon she was harbouring said in her ear: —
乔扭头看了一眼，她耳边的小恶魔说道： —

‘No matter whether she heard or not, let her take care of herself.’ Laurie had vanished round the bend; —
“无论她听到还是没听到，让她自己小心吧。” 劳瑞已经绕过弯角消失了； —

Jo was just at the turn, and Amy, far behind, striking out towards the smoother ice in the middle of the river. —
乔刚好在拐弯处，而艾米远远落后，向河中间的更平滑的冰面走去。 —

For a minute Jo stood still, with a strange feeling at her heart; —
乔站在原地，心中产生一种奇怪的感觉； —

then she resolved to go on, but something held and turned her round, just in time to see Amy throw up her hands and go down, with a sudden crash of rotten ice, the splash of water, and a cry that made Jo’s heart stand still with fear. —
然后她下定决心继续前进，但有些东西阻止住她并转身，正好看到艾米举起手，随着脆弱冰块的猛烈碎裂、水花四溅的声音以及一声让乔心都停止了的尖叫，艾米正倒下。 —

She tried to call Laurie, but her voice was gone; —
她试图呼喊劳瑞，但声音却消失了， —

she tried to rush forward, but her feet seemed to have no strength in them; —
她试图冲过去，但脚似乎一点力气都没有； —

and, for a second, she could only stand motionless, staring, with a terror-stricken face, at the little blue hood above the black water. —
而且，一瞬间，她只能呆站着，目瞪口呆，带着惊恐的表情盯着黑水上方的小蓝帽子。 —

Something rushed swiftly by her, and Laurie’s voice cried out: —
有什么东西迅速从她身边掠过，劳瑞的声音大喊道： —

‘Bring a rail; quick, quick!’
“拿根栏杆，快，快！”

How she did it, she never knew; —
她自己也不知道她是怎么做到的， —

but for the next few minutes she worked as if possessed, blindly obeying Laurie, who was quite self-possessed, and, lying flat, held Amy up by his arm and hockey stick till Jo dragged a rail from the fence, and together they got the child out, more frightened than hurt.
但接下来的几分钟里，她像被鬼附身一样工作，盲目地听从着冷静自持的劳里，他躺平在地上，用胳膊和曲棍球棍子撑住艾米，直到乔从篱笆上拖了一根木轨，他们一起把孩子救了出来，她比受伤更害怕。

‘Now then, we must walk her home as fast as we can; —
‘现在我们必须尽快把她送回家； —

pile our things on her, while I get off these confounded skates,’ cried Laurie, wrapping his coat round Amy, and tugging away at the straps, which never seemed so intricate before.
把我们的东西堆在她身上，等我把这些该死的冰鞋脱下来，’劳里喊道，他把外套裹在艾米身上，费力地解开以前从未觉得复杂的鞋带。

Shivering, dripping, and crying, they got Amy home; and, after an exciting time of it, she fell asleep, rolled in blankets, before a hot fire. —
浑身发抖、湿透和哭泣的他们把艾米带回家；经历了一段激动人心的时刻，她包在毛毯里，在炉火旁睡着了。 —

During the bustle Jo had scarcely spoken, but flown about looking pale and wild, with her things half off, her dress torn, and her hands cut and bruised by ice and rails and refractory buckles. —
冲动中乔几乎没说过话，但她四处飞奔，脸色苍白而狂野，她的衣服半脱着，裙子破了，双手被冰和木轨以及固执的扣环割伤和擦伤了。 —

When Amy was comfortably asleep, the house quiet, and Mrs. March sitting by the bed, she called Jo to her, and began to bind up the hurt hands.
当艾米舒舒服服地睡着时，屋里安静，三月夫人坐在床边，她叫来了乔，开始给受伤的手包扎。

‘Are you sure she is safe?’ whispered Jo, looking remorsefully at the golden head, which might have been swept away from her sight for ever under the treacherous ice.
“你确定她安全吗？”乔低声问道，悔恨地望着那金色的头发，她差点永远看不见了。

‘Quite safe, dear; she is not hurt, and won’t even take cold, I think, you were so sensible in covering her and getting her home quickly,’ replied her mother, cheerfully.
“非常安全，亲爱的，她没有受伤，也不会感冒，我想你非常明智地给她盖上了被子，快速地把她带回家，”她的母亲愉快地回答道。

‘Laurie did it all; I only let her go. Mother, if she should de, it would be my fault’; —
“是劳瑞做的一切，我只是让她走了。妈妈，如果她真的死了，那将是我的错。” —

and Jo dropped down beside the bed, in a passion of penitent tears, telling all that had happened, bitterly condemning her hardness of heart, and sobbing out her gratitude for being spared the heavy punishment which might have come upon her.
乔跪在床边，痛哭流涕，述说了所有发生的事情，痛苦地谴责自己的冷漠，哽咽地表达了对被免除的重罚的感激之情。

‘It’s my dreadful temper! I try to cure it; —
“这是我的可怕脾气！我试图治愈它， —

I think I have, and then it breaks out worse than ever. —
我以为我已经成功了，然后它比以往更加糟糕地爆发出来。 —

Oh, Mother, what shall I do? —
“噢，妈妈，我该怎么办？ —

what shall I do?’ cried poor Jo, in despair.
我该怎么办？”可怜的乔绝望地哭喊着。

‘Watch and pray, dear; never get tired of trying; —
“观察和祈祷，亲爱的；永远不要厌倦尝试； —

and never think it is impossible to conquer your fault,’ said Mrs. March, drawing the blowzy head to her shoulder, and kissing the wet cheek so tenderly that Jo cried harder than ever.
永远不要认为征服你的缺点是不可能的。”玛奇夫人说着，将她那卷乱的头抵在肩上，温柔地亲吻着湿漉漉的脸颊，让乔比以往哭得更厉害了。

‘You don’t know, and you can’t guess how bad it is! —
“你不知道，也猜不到这有多糟糕！ —

It seems as if I could do anything when I’m in a passion; —
当我生气的时候，好像可以做任何事情； —

I get so savage, I could hurt anyone, and enjoy it. —
我会变得暴躁，可以伤害任何人，而且乐此不疲。 —

I’m afraid I shall do something dreadful some day, and spoil my life, and make everybody hate me. —
我担心有一天我会做出可怕的事情，毁了自己的一生，让所有人都恨我。 —

Oh, Mother, help me, do help me!’
哦，妈妈，帮帮我，求求你帮帮我！

‘I will, my child, I will. Don’t cry so bitterly, but remember this day, and resolve, with all your soul, that you will never know another like it. —
“我会的，孩子，我会的。不要哭得这么伤心，但要记住今天，全心全意下定决心，再也不要有类似的日子了。 —

Jo, dear, we all have our temptations, some far greater than yours, and it often takes us all our lives to conquer them. —
乔，亲爱的，我们每个人都有自己的诱惑，有些甚至比你的更大，而且往往需要我们一生的时间来征服它们。 —

You think your temper is the worst in the world; —
你觉得你的脾气是世界上最糟糕的， —

but mine used to be just like it.’
但我的脾气以前和你的一样。”

‘Yours, Mother? Why, you are never angry!’ and, for the moment, Jo forgot remorse in surprise.
“你的，妈妈？为什么，你从来不生气！”这一刻，乔忘记了忏悔，只感到惊讶。

‘I’ve been trying to cure it for forty years, and have only succeeded in controlling it. —
“我已经努力治疗它四十年了，只成功控制了它。我几乎每天都生气，乔；但我学会了不表现出来；我仍然希望能学会不去感受它， —

I am angry nearly every day of my life, Jo; —
尽管可能还需要我另外四十年的时间。” —

but I have learned not to show it; —
—

and I still hope to learn not to feel it, though it may take me another forty years to do so.’
但愿虽然可能还需要我另外四十年的时间。”

The patience and the humility of the face she loved so well was a better lesson to Jo than the wisest lecture, the sharpest reproof. —
“她深爱的那张脸上所展现出的耐心和谦卑给乔带来了一种更加有力的教训，比起最明智的演讲或最尖锐的责备都更好。 —

She felt comforted at once by the sympathy and confidence given her; —
“母亲给予她的同情和信任让她感到安慰； —

the knowledge that her mother had a fault like hers, and tried to mend it, made her own easier to bear and strengthened her resolution to care it; —
“她知道自己的母亲也有和她一样的过错，并且试图改正它，这让她更容易忍受自己的过错，并加深了她的改正决心；尽管对一个十五岁的女孩来说，四十年似乎是很长一段时间来观察和祈祷。 —

though forty years seemed rather a long time to watch and pray, to a girl of fifteen.
“妈妈，当你紧紧闭上嘴唇，有时走出房间，当奥尔特姨婆责备你或别人使你烦恼时，你是生气的吗？”

‘Mother, are you angry when you fold your lips tight together, and go out of the room sometimes, when Aunt March scolds, or people worry you?’ asked Jo, feeling nearer and dearer to her mother than ever before.
问乔，觉得自己比以往任何时候都更亲近和亲密于母亲。“是的，我学会了控制冲动地脱口而出的话；

‘Yes, I’ve learned to check the hasty words that rise to my lips; —
“希望，乔，你也能够控制它。” —

and when I feel that they mean to break out against my will, I just go away a minute, and give myself a little shake for being so weak and wicked,’ answered Mrs. March, with a sigh and a smile, as she smoothed and fastened up Jo’s dishevelled hair.
当我感到他们有意违背我的意愿时，我就会离开一会儿，给自己一个小摇晃，为自己的软弱和邪恶感到遗憾，’ 玛奇夫人回答道，她一边整理和束起乔蓬乱的头发，一边叹息着微笑。

‘How did you learn to keep still? —
“你是怎么学会保持沉默的？ —

That is what troubles me - for the sharp words fly out before I know what I’m about; —
这让我很烦恼 - 因为我总是在不知不觉中说出尖锐的话语。 —

and the more I say the worse I get, till it’s a pleasure to hurt people’s feelings, and say dreadful things. —
我越说越糟，直到伤害别人的感情和说出令人毛骨悚然的话语成了一种乐趣。 —

‘Tell me how you do it, Marmee dear.’
“告诉我你是怎么做到的，亲爱的妈妈。”

‘My good mother used to help me——’
“我的好母亲曾经帮助过我——”

‘As you do us——’ interrupted Jo, with a grateful kiss.
“就像你帮助我们一样——”乔打断道，带着感激之情亲吻了她一下。

‘But I lost her when I was a little older than you are, and for years had to struggle on alone, for I was too proud to confess my weakness to anyone else. —
“但是我在比你大一点的时候失去了她，多年来只能独自奋斗，因为我太自豪了，不愿向其他人坦白自己的弱点。 —

I had a hard time, Jo, and shed a good many bitter tears over my failures; —
我经历了很艰难的时期，为自己的失败流过很多苦涩的眼泪； —

for, in spite of my efforts, I never seemed to get on. —
尽管努力了，但似乎一直没有进展。 —

Then your father came, and I was so happy that I found it easy to be good. —
然后你父亲出现了，我很幸福，所以变得容易做好人了。 —

But by and by, when I had four little daughters round me, and we were poor, then the old trouble began again; —
然而，不久之后，当我身边有四个小女儿而我们又贫穷时，那个老问题又开始了； —

for I am not patient by nature, and it tried me very much to see my children wanting anything.’
因为我天生不耐烦，看到我的孩子们需要什么就让我非常不安。

‘Poor Mother! What helped you then?’
可怜的妈妈！那时候是什么帮助了你？

‘Your father, Jo. He never loses patience - never doubts or complains - but always hopes and works and waits so cheerfully that one is ashamed to do otherwise before him. —
是你爸爸，乔。他从不失去耐心——从不怀疑或抱怨——而是总是充满希望、努力和耐心地等待，以至于在他面前做出其他样子就感到羞愧。 —

He helped and comforted me, and showed me that I must try to practise all the virtues I would have my little girls possess, for I was their example. —
他给了我帮助和慰藉，并告诉我我必须努力实践我希望我的小女儿们拥有的美德，因为我是她们的榜样。 —

It was easier to try for your sakes than for my own; —
为了你们，我比为了自己更容易尝试； —

a startled or surprised look from one of you, when I spoke sharply, rebuked me more than any words could have done; —
当我说话尖刻时，你们中的一人惊讶或震惊的表情比任何言辞都更能斥责我。 —

and the love, respect, and confidence of my children was the sweetest reward I could receive for my efforts to be the woman I would have them copy.
孩子们对我的爱、尊重和信任是我努力成为我希望她们模仿的女人所获得的最甜美的回报。

‘Oh Mother, if I’m ever half as good as you, I shall be satisfied,’ cried Jo, much touched.
哦，妈妈，如果我能够有你的一半好，我就满足了，乔感动地说道。

‘I hope you will be a great deal better, dear; —
“亲爱的，我希望你能变得更好， —

but you must keep watch over your “bosom enemy” as Father calls it, or it may sadden, if not spoil your life. —
但你必须时刻注意你内心的敌人，正如父亲所说，否则它可能会让你的生活变得沉重甚至毁了它。 —

You have had a warning; remember it, and try with heart and soul to master this quick temper, before it brings you greater sorrow and regret than you have known today.’
“你已经得到了警告，记住它，并全心全意地掌控这种易怒的脾气，在它给你带来更大的悲伤和遗憾之前。

‘I will try, Mother: I truly will. But you must help me, remind me, and keep me from flying out. —
“母亲，我会尽力的，真的。但你必须帮助我，提醒我，并防止我发脾气。 —

I used to see Father sometimes put his finger on his lips, and look at you with a very kind but sober face, and you always folded your lips tight or went away: —
“爸爸有时会把手指放在嘴唇上，用一种很友善但严肃的表情看着你，你总是紧紧地闭上嘴唇或者离开。 —

was he reminding you then?’ asked Jo, softly.
“是他在提醒你吗？”乔轻声问道。

‘Yes; I asked him to help me so, and he never forgot it, but saved me from many a sharp word by that little gesture and kind look.’
“是的，我曾要求他这样帮助我，他从未忘记，通过那个小手势和友善的眼神，他让我免受很多尖锐的话伤害。”

Jo saw that her mother’s eyes filled and her lips trembled as she spoke; —
乔看到母亲的眼睛湿润了，嘴唇颤抖着说话。 —

and, fearing that she had said too much, she whispered, anxiously, ‘Was it wrong to watch you, and to speak of it! —
担心自己说得太多，她焦虑地低声说，“我观察你，还有说出来，这样做是错的吗？” —

I didn’t mean to be rude, but it’s so comfortable to say all I think if you, and feel so safe and happy here.’
我不是故意粗鲁的，但是能够毫无保留地说出我对你的一切想法，感觉在这里既舒适又安全，让我感到快乐。

‘My Jo, you may say anything to your mother, for it is my greatest happiness and pride to feel that my girls confide in me, and know how much I love them.’
“乔，你可以对你妈妈说任何事情，因为我最大的幸福和骄傲就是知道我的女儿们对我坦诚相信，知道我对她们有多么的爱。”

‘I thought I’d grieved you.’
“我以为我伤害了你。”

‘No, dear; but speaking of Father reminded me how much I miss him, how much I owe him, and how faithfully I should watch and work to keep his little daughters safe and good for him.’
“不，亲爱的，但是提到爸爸让我想起了我有多么想念他，因为我欠他太多了，所以我要忠实地看护和努力使他的小女儿们安全和善良。

‘Yet you told him to go, Mother, and didn’t cry when he went, and never complain now, or seem as if you needed any help,’ said Jo, wondering.
“可是，妈妈，你告诉他离开，他走时你没有哭，现在也从没抱怨过，也没有看起来需要任何帮助，” 乔疑惑地说。

‘I gave my best to the country I love, and kept my tears till he was gone. —
“我尽我最大的努力为我所爱的国家奉献了一切，把眼泪都留给他离开后。 —

Why should I complain, when we both have merely done our duty, and will surely be the happier for it in the end? —
“我们为何抱怨呢，我们只是尽了我们的职责，最终我们肯定会因此更加幸福。 —

If I don’t seem to need help, it is because I have a better friend even than Father to comfort and sustain me. —
“如果我看起来不需要帮助，那是因为我有一个比爸爸还好的朋友来安慰和支持我。 —

My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; —
我的孩子，你的生活中的困扰和诱惑即将开始，可能会很多； —

but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. —
但是如果你学会感受到你天父的力量和温柔，就能克服并战胜它们。 —

The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. —
你越是爱他并信任他，你就会感到离他更近，而不再依赖人类的力量和智慧。 —

His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. —
他的爱和关怀从不疲倦或改变，永远不会被夺走，但可能成为终身平安、幸福和力量的源泉。 —

Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother.’
坚信这一点，把你所有的小烦恼、希望、罪恶和悲伤都带到上帝面前，像你来找你母亲一样自由和信任。

Jo’s only answer was to hold her mother close, and, in the silence which followed, the sincerest prayer she had ever prayed left her heart without words; —
乔的唯一回答就是紧紧拥抱她的母亲，在随后的寂静中，她的心里默默地祈祷，这是她曾经默默祈祷的最真诚的一次； —

for in that sad yet happy hour she had learned not only the bitterness of remorse and despair, but the sweetness of self-denial and self-control; —
因为在那悲伤但快乐的时刻，她不仅学会了懊悔和绝望的苦涩，也学会了自我克制和自我控制的甜美。 —

and, led by her mother’s hand, she had drawn nearer to the friend who welcomes every child with a love stronger than that of any father, tenderer than that of any mother.
在她母亲的引导下，她走近了一个朋友，这个朋友对每个孩子都有着比任何父亲更强大的爱，比任何母亲更温柔。

Amy stirred, and sighed in her sleep; and, as if eager to begin at once to mend her fault, Jo looked up with an expression on her face which it had never worn before.
艾米动了动，叹了口气，好像渴望立刻纠正自己的错误一样，乔抬起头，脸上带着前所未有的表情。

‘I let the sun go down on my anger; I wouldn’t forgive her, and today, if it hadn’t been for Laurie, it might have been too late! —
“我让太阳在我的愤怒中落下；我不原谅她，而今天，如果不是劳瑞，可能已经太迟了！ —

How could I be so wicked?’ said Jo, half aloud, as she leaned over her sister, softly stroking the wet hair scattered on the pillow.
乔低声说道：“我怎么会这么邪恶呢？”她俯身靠在妹妹身上，轻轻地抚摸着铺散在枕头上的湿发。

As if she heard, Amy opened her eyes, and held out her arms, with a smile that went straight to Jo’s heart. —
仿佛听见了一样，艾米睁开了眼睛，伸出双臂，带着一个直达乔内心的微笑。 —

Neither said a word, but they hugged one another close, in spite of the blankets, and everything was forgiven and forgotten in one hearty kiss.
两人都没有说话，但他们紧紧地拥抱在一起，尽管在被子的束缚下，所有的过错和争吵都在一个真诚的吻中被原谅和忘记。

‘Girls, where are you going?’ asked Amy, coming into their room one Saturday afternoon, and finding them getting ready to go out, with an air of secrecy, which excited her curiosity.
“亲爱的女孩们，你们要去哪里？” 艾米问道，一周六的下午走进她们的房间，发现她们正在偷偷地准备外出，这让她充满了好奇心。

‘Never mind; little girls shouldn’t ask questions,’ returned Jo, sharply.
“别管了，小女孩不应该问问题。” 乔尖锐地回答道。

Now if there is anything mortifying to our feelings, when we are young, it is to be told that; —
当我们年轻时，如果有什么让我们感到羞愧的事情，那就是被告知； —

and to be bidden to ‘run away, dear’, is still more trying to us. —
而被命令“离开，亲爱的”对我们来说更是一种折磨。 —

Amy bridled up at this insult, and determined to find out the secret, if she teased for an hour. —
艾米对这个侮辱感到愤怒，决心不论烦扰了一个小时，也要找出这个秘密。 —

Turning to Meg, who never refused her anything very long, she said coaxingly, ‘Do tell me! —
转向从不拒绝她太久的梅格，她娇声地说：“告诉我吧！ —

I should think you might let me go too; —
我觉得你可以让我一起去； —

for Beth is fussing over her piano, and I haven’t got anything to do, and am so lonely.’
因为贝丝正在琴前忙活，而我没事可做，感到很孤独。”

‘I can’t, dear, because you aren’t invited,’ began Meg; —
“亲爱的，我不能，因为你没有被邀请，”梅格开始说道； —

but Jo broke in impatiently, ‘Now, Meg, be quiet, or you will spoil it all. —
但是乔不耐烦地插嘴道：“现在闭嘴，梅格，不然就全毁了。 —

You can’t go, Amy; so don’t be a baby and whine about it.’
你不能去，艾米；所以别像个孩子一样哭闹了。”

‘You are going somewhere with Laurie, I know you are; —
“你和Laurie要去某个地方，我知道你们要去； —

you were whispering and laughing together, on the sofa, last night, and you stopped when I came in. Aren’t you going with him?’
昨晚你们在沙发上低声嘀咕、开心地笑，我进来的时候你们还停下了。你们是不是要跟他一起去？”

‘Yes, we are; now do be still and stop bothering.’ Amy held her tongue, but used her eyes, and saw Meg slip a fan into her pocket.
“是的，我们要去；你安静点，别烦我。” Amy闭上嘴，但用眼睛看到Meg把一个扇子塞进了口袋里。

‘I know! I know! you’re going to the hall to see “The Seven Castles”!’ she cried, adding resolutely, ‘and I shall go, for Mother said I might see it; —
“我知道！我知道！你们要去剧院看《七座城堡》！” 她大声喊道，下定决心说：“我要去，因为妈妈说我可以去看；我有我的饭钱，不提前告诉我真是太过分了。” —

and I’ve got my rag-money, and it was mean not to tell me in time.’
“先安静听我说一会儿，做个好孩子，” Meg安抚地说。

‘Just listen to me a minute, and be a good child,’ said Meg, soothingly. —
“因为你的眼睛还不够好，不能承受这部童话剧的光线，妈妈不希望你这周去。下周你可以跟Beth和Hannah一起去玩，会很开心的。” —

‘Mother doesn’t wish you to go this week, because your eyes are not well enough yet to bear the light of this fairy piece. —
“我不喜欢那个，和你和Laurie一起去我更喜欢。求求你让我去吧，我这个感冒病得这么久，一直都被关在家里，我都快被无聊死了。拜托了，Meg！” —

Next week you can go with Beth and Hannah, and have a nice time.’
“Just listen to me a minute, and be a good child,” Meg, soothingly.

‘I don’t like that half as well as going with you and Laurie. —
“母亲不希望你本周去，因为你的眼睛还不够好，不能承受这部童话剧的光线。下周你可以跟Beth和Hannah一起去玩， —

Please let me; —
会很开心的。” —

I’ve been sick with this cold so long, and shut up, I’m dying for some fun. Do, Meg! —
“我不喜欢那个，和你和Laurie一起去我更喜欢。求求你让我去吧，我这个感冒病得这么久，一直都被关在家里，我都快被无聊死了。拜托了，Meg！” —

I’ll be ever so good,’ pleaded Amy, looking as pathetic as she could.
“我会非常乖的，”艾米恳求道，她做出了尽可能可怜的样子。

‘Suppose we take her. I don’t believe Mother would mind, if we bundle her up well,’ began Meg.
“我们带她走怎么样。如果我们把她好好裹起来，我相信妈妈不会介意，”梅格说道。

‘If she goes I shan’t; and if I don’t, Laurie won’t like it; —
“如果她去，我就不去；如果我不去，劳瑞也不会喜欢。 —

and it will be very rude, after he invited only us, to go and drag in Amy. I should think she’d hate to poke herself where she isn’t wanted,’ said Jo, crossly, for she disliked the trouble of overseeing a fidgety child, when she wanted to enjoy herself. —
而且，在他只邀请我们两个的情况下，我们去拉着艾米进去是非常不礼貌的。我想她肯定不想把自己插进一个不需要她的地方，” 乔埋怨道，她不喜欢在想要好好享受的时候，照顾一个坐立不安的孩子给她带来的麻烦。 —

Her tone and manner angered Amy, who began to put her boots on, saying, in her most aggravating way, ‘I shall go; —
她的语气和态度激怒了艾米，艾米开始穿上鞋子，用最烦人的口气说道，”我要去；梅格说我可以去；而且如果我自己付钱，劳瑞就没什么可说的了。” —

Meg says I may; and if I pay for myself, Laurie hasn’t anything to do with it.’
“你不能和我们坐在一起，因为我们的座位是有预定的，而且你也不能独自坐；所以劳瑞会把他的座位让给你，这会破坏我们的快乐；或者他会给你找另一个座位，这样做是不合适的，因为你并没有被邀请。你不能一步也不能动。”

‘You can’t sit with us, for our seats are reserved, and you mustn’t sit alone; —
“你停在这里的座位是有预定的，劳瑞会给你他的座位，这样会破坏我们的快乐； —

so Laurie will give you his place, and that will spoil our pleasure; —
或者他会给你找另一个座位，这并不合适，因为你没有被邀请。你一步都不能动。” —

or he’ll get another seat for you, and that isn’t proper, when you weren’t asked. You shan’t stir a step; —
“不管怎么样，我要去，”艾米生气地说道，同时开始穿上自己的鞋子。 —

so you may just stay where you are,’ scolded Jo, crosser than ever, having just pricked her finger in her hurry.
乔生气得更厉害了，她刚才急匆匆地扎破了手指，“那你就呆在原地吧。”

Sitting on the floor, with one boot on, Amy began to cry, and Meg to reason with her, when Laurie called from below, and the two girls hurried down, leaving their sister wailing; —
艾米坐在地上，一只靴子还没穿好，开始哭了起来，梅格跟她说道理，这时劳里从下面喊道，两个女孩急忙下楼，撇下妹妹痛哭。 —

for now and then she forgot her grown-up ways, and acted like a spoilt child. —
尽管德行时不时地让她忘了成年人的礼貌，像个被宠坏的小孩一样。 —

Just as the party were setting out, Amy called over the bannisters, in a threatening voice, ‘You’ll be sorry for this, Jo March; see if you ain’t.’
就在他们出门的时候，艾米用威胁的口吻从楼上的栏杆处喊道：“乔·马奇，你会后悔的，等着瞧。”

‘Fiddlesticks!’ returned Jo, slamming the door.
“胡说八道！”乔回答道，砰地一声关上了门。

They had a charming time, for “The Seven Castles of the Diamond Lake” was as brilliant and wonderful as heart could wish. —
他们玩得很愉快，“钻石湖的七座城堡”如此光辉璀璨，令人惊叹。 —

But, in spite of the comical red imps, sparkling elves, and gorgeous princes and princesses, Jo’s pleasure had a drop of bitterness in it; —
但尽管有滑稽可爱的红精灵、闪闪发光的小精灵、华丽的王子和公主，乔的愉快里夹杂着一丝苦涩。 —

the fairy queen’s yellow curls reminded her of Amy; —
仙后金色的卷发让她想起了艾米， —

and between the acts she amused herself with wondering what her sister would do to make her “sorry for it”. —
每一幕之间，她都在琢磨着妹妹会怎么做才能“让她后悔”。 —

She and Amy had had many lively skirmishes in the course of their lives, for both had quick tempers, and were apt to be violent when fairly roused. —
她和艾米在生活中曾发生过许多激烈的争论，因为两人都脾气急躁，一旦激怒就很容易发火。 —

Amy teased Jo, Jo irritated Amy, and semi-occasional explosions occurred, of which both were much ashamed afterwards. —
艾米取笑乔，乔惹急了艾米，然后偶尔会发生爆发，事后两人都很羞愧。 —

Although the oldest, Jo had the least self-control, and had hard times trying to curb the fiery spirit which was continually getting her into trouble; —
尽管乔是姐姐，但她的自控力最差，经常难以控制那个容易引发麻烦的激动的精神； —

her anger never lasted long, and having humbly confessed her fault she sincerely repented and tried to do better. —
她的愤怒不会持续太久，诚恳地承认了自己的错误后，她会真心悔过并试图变得更好。 —

Her sisters used to say that they rather liked to get Jo into a fury because she was such an angel afterwards. —
她的姐妹们常说，她们宁愿让乔勃发怒，因为她之后会变得像个天使。 —

Poor Jo tried desperately to be good, but her bosom enemy was always ready to flame up and defeat her; —
可怜的乔拼命努力做好，但她的敌人始终准备好燃烧她，并打败她； —

and it took years of patient effort to subdue it.
需要多年的耐心努力来控制它。

When they got home they found Amy reading in the parlour. —
当她们回到家时，发现艾米正在客厅里看书。她故意装得受伤， —

She assumed an injured air as they came in; —
当他们进来时没有抬起眼睛，也没有问一个问题。 —

never lifted her eyes from her book, or asked a single question. —
她们回来后发现艾米正在客厅看书，她装出一副受伤的样子；一直没有抬起书，也没有问一个问题。 —

Perhaps curiosity might have conquered resentment, if Beth had not been there to inquire, and receive a glowing description of the play. —
也许如果贝丝没有在那儿询问并得到一则炽热的戏剧描述，好奇心也许会征服怨恨。 —

On going up to put away her best hat, Jo’s first look was towards the bureau; —
当上楼去收起她最好的帽子时，乔首先看向了书桌。 —

for, in their last quarrel, Amy had soothed her feelings by turning Jo’s top drawer upside down on the floor. —
因为在她们最后一次争吵中，艾米通过把乔的上衣抽屉颠倒在地上来平息了她的情绪。 —

Everything was in its place, however, and after a hasty glance into her various closets, bags, and boxes, Jo decided that Amy had forgiven and forgotten her wrongs.
然而一切都还在原位，乔匆忙地瞥了一眼她各种各样的衣橱、包和盒子，她决定艾米已经原谅并忘记了她的过错。

There Jo was mistaken; for next day she made a discovery which produced a tempest. —
乔是错误的；因为第二天她发现了一件引发了一场风暴的事情。 —

Meg, Beth, and Amy were sitting together, late in the afternoon, when Jo burst into the room, looking excited, and demanding breathlessly, ‘Has anyone taken my book?’
当午后深坐在一起的时候，梅格、贝丝和艾米看到乔激动地闯进房间，喘不过气地问：“有没有人拿了我的书？”

Meg and Beth said ‘No,’ at once, and looked surprised; —
梅格和贝丝立刻说：“没有”，并且表示惊讶； —

Amy poked the fire, and said nothing. —
艾米拨弄着火，却一言不发。 —

Jo saw her colour rise, and was down upon her in a minute.
乔看到艾米脸色涨红，一下子就冲上去了。

‘Amy, you’ve got it.’
“艾米，你拿了它。”

‘No, I haven’t.’
“没有。”

‘You know where it is, then!’
“那你知道它在哪儿！”

‘No, I don’t.’
“不知道。”

‘That’s a fib!’ cried Jo, taking her by the shoulders and looking fierce enough to frighten a much braver child than Amy.
“这是撒谎！”乔大声喊道，她抓住她的肩膀，露出凶猛的表情，足以吓坏一个比艾米更勇敢的孩子。

‘It isn’t. I haven’t got it, don’t know where it is now, and don’t care.’
“不是这样。我没有拿到它，不知道它在哪里，也不在意。”

‘You know something about it, and you’d better tell at once, or I’ll make you,’ and Jo gave her a slight shake.
“你知道一些关于它的事情，最好立即告诉我，否则我会迫使你说出来。”乔给了她一点摇晃。

‘Scold as much as you like, you’ll never see your silly old book again,’ cried Amy, getting excited in her turn.
“你尽管责骂，你永远也见不到你那愚蠢的破书了！”艾米高兴地说道，她也变得兴奋起来。

‘Why not?’
“为什么不行？”

‘I burnt it up.’
“我把它烧掉了。”

‘What! my little book I was so fond of, and worked over, and meant to finish before Father got home! —
“什么！那本我那么喜欢，花了很多时间努力工作的书，本想在爸爸回家之前完成的书！ —

Have you really burnt it?’ said Jo, turning very pale, while her eyes kindled and her hands clutched Amy nervously.
你真的烧掉了它？”乔脸色变得苍白，眼睛发亮，手紧紧抓住了艾米，说道。

‘Yes, I did! I told you I’d make you pay for being so cross yesterday, and I have, so——’
“没错，我就是这么做的！我告诉过你，我会让你为昨天的脾气付出代价，我做到了。”

Amy got no further, for Jo’s hot temper mastered her, and she shook Amy till her teeth chattered in her head; crying in a passion of grief and anger:
艾米没说完，因为乔的火爆脾气控制了她，她把艾米摇得牙齿嘎嘎直响。愤怒和悲伤交织在一起的情绪中，她哭着喊道。

‘You wicked, wicked girl! —
‘你这个坏女孩！ —

I never can write it again and I’ll never forgive you as long as I live.’
我再也写不出来了，这辈子我永远不能原谅你。’

Meg flew to rescue Amy, and Beth to pacify Jo, but Jo was quite beside herself; —
梅格飞快地去救艾米，贝丝去安抚乔，但乔已经完全失控了； —

and with a parting box on her sister’s ear, she rushed out of the room up to the old sofa in the garret, and finished her fight alone.
她把最后一拳打在妹妹耳光上，冲出房间冲上阁楼的旧沙发，独自完成她的争斗。

The storm cleared up below, for Mrs. March came home, and, having heard the story, soon brought Amy to a sense of the wrong she had done her sister. —
楼下的风暴平息了，因为马奇夫人回来了，听完故事后，很快让艾米意识到她对妹妹的伤害。 —

Jo’s book was the pride of her heart, and was regarded by her family as a literary sprout of great promise. —
乔的书是她自豪的心头之物，并被她的家人视为有巨大潜力的文学新星。 —

It was only half a dozen little fairy tales, but Jo had worked over them patiently, putting her whole heart into her work, hoping to make something good enough to print. —
这仅仅是六个小童话故事，但乔耐心地改写它们，全身心地投入到工作中，希望能创作出足够好的作品。 —

She had just copied them with great care, and had destroyed the old manuscript, so that Amy’s bonfire had consumed the loving work of several years. —
她刚刚认真地抄写了它们，并销毁了旧手稿，所以艾米的篝火毁掉了数年心血的爱的作品。 —

It seemed a small loss to others, but to Jo it was a dreadful calamity, and she felt that it never could be made up to her. —
对别人来说，这似乎只是一个小小的损失，但对乔来说，这是个可怕的灾难，她觉得这永远也无法弥补。 —

Beth mourned as for a departed kitten, and Meg refused to defend her pet; —
像为一只离世的小猫咪哀悼一样，贝丝为自己的宠物感到伤心； —

Mrs. March looked grave and grieved, and Amy felt that no one would love her till she had asked pardon for the act which she now regretted more than any of them.
玛奇夫人神情严肃而悲伤，艾米感到在她为这次行为感到的后悔背后，没有人会爱她。

When the tea-bell rang Jo appeared, looking so grim and unapproachable, that it took all Amy’s courage to say meekly:
当茶钟声响起时，乔出现了，看起来那么的冷酷和令人难以接近，以至于艾米暗自鼓起勇气谦和地说道：

‘Please forgive me, Jo; I’m very, very sorry.’
“请原谅我，乔；我非常、非常地抱歉。”

‘I never shall forgive you,’ was Jo’s stern answer; —
“我永远不会原谅你，”乔严厉地回答道； —

and from that moment she ignored Amy entirely.
从那一刻起，她完全忽视艾米。

No one spoke of the great trouble - not even Mrs. March - for all had learned by experience that when Jo was in that mood words were wasted; —
没有人谈论这个巨大的麻烦——甚至玛奇夫人也没有——因为大家都通过经验学到，当乔处于那种心情时，言语都是浪费的； —

and the wisest course was to wait till some little accident, or her own generous nature, softened Jo’s resentment, and healed the breach. —
最明智的办法是等待一些小意外或乔慷慨的天性，软化她的怨恨，修复这个裂痕。 —

It was not a happy evening; for though they sewed as usual, while their mother read aloud from Bremer, Scott, or Edgeworth, something was wanting and the sweet home peace was disturbed. —
这个晚上并不开心；虽然她们像往常一样缝纫，母亲则边读着布雷默、斯科特或爱奇华丝沃思的书，但有什么东西似乎缺失了，甜蜜的家庭和平被打破了。 —

They felt this most when singing time came; —
当唱歌时间到来时，她们感到最明显； —

for Beth could only play, Jo stood dumb as a stone, and Amy broke down, so Meg and Mother sang alone. —
因为贝丝只能弹琴，乔像石头一样沉默不语，艾米则放弃了，所以梅格和妈妈只能两人合唱。 —

But in spite of their efforts to be as cheery as larks, the flute-like voices did not seem to chord as well as usual, and all felt out of tune.
尽管她们努力像云雀一样快乐，但银铃般的声音似乎不像平常那样和谐，大家都感到心不在焉。

As Jo received her good-night kiss, Mrs. March whispered gently:
当乔收到晚安吻时，玛奇太太轻声说道：

‘My dear, don’t let the sun go down upon your anger; —
“亲爱的，不要在气头上睡觉； —

forgive each other, help each other, and begin again tomorrow.’
互相原谅，互相帮助，明天重新开始。”

Jo wanted to lay her head down on that motherly bosom, and cry her grief and anger all away, but tears were an unmanly weakness, and she felt so deeply injured that she really couldn’t quite forgive yet. —
乔想把头靠在那母性的胸膛上，把所有的伤心和愤怒都哭出来，但眼泪是不男子汉的软弱，而她感到受伤太深，可能还不能完全原谅。 —

So she winked hard, shook her head, and said gruffly, because Amy was listening: —
所以她拼命眨眼，摇了摇头，因为艾米正在听着，她咕哝着说： —

‘It was an abominable thing, and she don’t deserve to be forgiven.’
“这太可恶了，她不值得被原谅。”

With that she marched off to bed, and there was no merry or confidential gossip that night.
说完她就气冲冲地走去睡觉了，那晚没有什么快乐或私密的闲聊。

Amy was much offended that her overtures of peace had been repulsed, and began to wish she had not humbled herself, to feel more injured than ever, and to plume herself on her superior virtue in a way which was particularly exasperating. —
艾米非常生气，她的和平姿态遭到了回绝，开始后悔自己的屈服，感到更加受委屈，还自以为比别人更有高尚品德，这种态度令人特别恼火。 —

Jo still looked like a thundercloud, and nothing went well all day.
琼仍然一脸忧郁，整天都不顺利。

It was bitter cold in the morning, she dropped her precious turnover in the gutter, Aunt March had an attack of fidgets, Meg was pensive, Beth would look grieved and wistful when she got home, and Amy kept making remarks about people who were always talking about being good, and yet wouldn’t try, when other people set them a virtuous example.
早上天气非常寒冷，她把心爱的糕点掉进了水沟里，玛奇姨婆发起了小脾气，梅格陷入沉思，贝丝回家后会一脸伤心和渴望，而艾米一直在评论那些总是谈论善良却不肯实践的人，说其他人给了他们一个高尚的榜样。

‘Everybody is so hateful, I’ll ask Laurie to go skating. —
“每个人都那么可恶，我要找劳瑞去划冰。 —

He is always kind and jolly, and will put me to rights, I know,’ said Jo to herself, and off she went.
他一直都很友善和开心，我知道他会让我振作起来的。”琼自言自语道，然后就离开了。

Amy heard the clash of skates, and looked out with an impatient exclamation: —
艾米听到溜冰鞋的碰撞声，不耐烦地喊道：“在那里！ —

‘There! —
” —

she promised I should go next time, for this is the last ice we shall have. —
她答应下次让我去，因为这是我们最后一次有冰的机会。 —

But it’s no use to ask such a cross-patch to take me.’
可是让这个脾气暴躁的人带我去是没有用的。

‘Don’t say that; you were very naughty, and it is hard to forgive the loss of her precious little book; —
“别说那些话，你真调皮，她的宝贵小书丢了，原谅你真不容易； —

but I think she might do it now, and I guess she will, if you try her at the right minute,’ said Meg. ‘Go after them; —
但我想现在她可能会原谅你，如果你在合适的时刻试试她，”梅格说。“跟上他们； —

don’t say anything till Jo has got good-natured with Laurie, then take a quiet minute, and just kiss her, or do some kind thing, and I’m sure she’ll be friends again with all her heart.’
等乔和劳里心情好起来后再说，然后找个安静的时刻，亲她一下，或者做些什么好事，我敢肯定她会全心全意地和你重新做朋友的。”

‘I’ll try,’ said Amy, for the advice suited her; and, after a flurry to get ready, she ran after the friends, who were just disappearing over the hill. —
“我试试看，”艾米说，因为这个建议适合她；在匆忙准备好后，她追着那些朋友跑去，他们刚刚消失在山坡后面。 —

It was not far to the river, but both were ready before Amy reached them. —
到河那里并不远，但当艾米赶到时，他们两个已经准备好了。 —

Jo saw her coming, and turned her back; Laurie did not see, for he was carefully skating along the shore, sounding the ice, for a warm spell had preceded the cold snap.
琼见到她向她走来，就背过身去；劳里没有看到，因为他小心地沿岸划着冰，测试冰面，因为在寒冷来临之前有一段温暖的时期。

‘I’ll go on to the first bend, and see if it’s all right, before we begin to race,’ Amy heard him say, as he shot away, looking like a young Russian, in his fur-trimmed coat and cap. —
“我会去到第一个拐弯处看看是否安全，然后我们再开始比赛。”艾米听到他说，他像一个年轻的俄罗斯人，穿着带毛边的外套和帽子。 —

Jo heard Amy panting after her run, stamping her feet and blowing her fingers, as she tried to put her skates on; —
琼听到艾米跑过来喘着气，跺着脚，吹着手指，试着穿上溜冰鞋。 —

but Jo never turned, and went slowly zigzagging down the river, taking a bitter, unhappy sort of satisfaction in her sister’s troubles. —
但琼从未转过身来，缓慢地在河上蛇行，对妹妹的困难感到一种痛苦不快乐的满足。 —

She had cherished her anger till it grew strong, and took possession of her, as evil thoughts and feelings always do, unless cast out at once. —
她一直怀着愤怒，愈发愤怒，像邪恶的念头和情绪一样，除非立即排除，则会占据她。 —

As Laurie turned the bend, he shouted back: —
当劳里绕过弯道时，他大声喊道: —

‘Keep near the shore, it isn’t safe in the middle.’
“靠近岸边，中间不安全。”

Jo heard, but Amy was just struggling to her feet, and did not catch a word. —
琼听到了，但艾米正挣扎着站起来，没听到一个字。 —

Jo glanced over her shoulder, and the little demon she was harbouring said in her ear: —
琼轻轻地扭头看了一眼，她心中藏着的小恶魔在她耳边说道： —

‘No matter whether she heard or not, let her take care of herself.’ Laurie had vanished round the bend; —
“无论她听到还是没听到，让她自己照顾自己吧。”劳瑞已经绕过弯道消失了； —

Jo was just at the turn, and Amy, far behind, striking out towards the smoother ice in the middle of the river. —
琼刚到转角，而艾米则远远落后，向着河中较平滑的冰面游去。 —

For a minute Jo stood still, with a strange feeling at her heart; —
琼心中涌起一种奇怪的感觉，停下了脚步； —

then she resolved to go on, but something held and turned her round, just in time to see Amy throw up her hands and go down, with a sudden crash of rotten ice, the splash of water, and a cry that made Jo’s heart stand still with fear. —
然后她下定决心继续前进，但某种力量阻止着她的前行，她及时转过身，只见艾米抬起了双手，带着冰块破碎的声音和水花溅起，发出一声尖叫，琼的心几乎停止跳动，害怕至极。 —

She tried to call Laurie, but her voice was gone; —
她试图呼喊劳瑞，但嗓音完全消失了； —

she tried to rush forward, but her feet seemed to have no strength in them; —
她试图冲上前去，但她的脚似乎一点力气都没有； —

and, for a second, she could only stand motionless, staring, with a terror-stricken face, at the little blue hood above the black water. —
一瞬间，她只能站在原地，毫无动作地凝视着黑水上方的小蓝色帽子，脸上充满了惊恐。 —

Something rushed swiftly by her, and Laurie’s voice cried out: —
有什么东西匆匆地从她身边经过，并且Laurie的声音大喊道：“快拿个栏杆过来！” —

‘Bring a rail; quick, quick!’
“快，快！”

How she did it, she never knew; —
她不知道自己是怎么做到的， —

but for the next few minutes she worked as if possessed, blindly obeying Laurie, who was quite self-possessed, and, lying flat, held Amy up by his arm and hockey stick till Jo dragged a rail from the fence, and together they got the child out, more frightened than hurt.
但在接下来的几分钟里，她像被魔怔了一样，盲目地服从Laurie的指挥。他平躺着，用手臂和曲棍球棒托着Amy，直到Jo从篱笆上拽来一根栅栏，他们一起将孩子救了出来，比受伤更害怕。

‘Now then, we must walk her home as fast as we can; —
“现在，我们必须尽快把她送回家， —

pile our things on her, while I get off these confounded skates,’ cried Laurie, wrapping his coat round Amy, and tugging away at the straps, which never seemed so intricate before.
把我们的东西堆在她身上，我得把这该死的溜冰鞋脱下来。” Laurie大喊道，他将外套裹在Amy身上，费力地拉着那些似乎格外复杂的绑带。

Shivering, dripping, and crying, they got Amy home; and, after an exciting time of it, she fell asleep, rolled in blankets, before a hot fire. —
挨着寒冷和滴水的他们带着Amy回到了家；经历了一段充满刺激的时间后，她被包裹在毯子里，在炉火旁边安静地睡着了。 —

During the bustle Jo had scarcely spoken, but flown about looking pale and wild, with her things half off, her dress torn, and her hands cut and bruised by ice and rails and refractory buckles. —
在忙乱中，Jo几乎没说话，但她四处飞奔，面色苍白而狂野，衣服半脱着，裙子破了，手被冰、栅栏和顽固的扣环划伤和瘀伤了。 —

When Amy was comfortably asleep, the house quiet, and Mrs. March sitting by the bed, she called Jo to her, and began to bind up the hurt hands.
当艾米舒适地睡着时，房子里很安静，玛奇夫人坐在床边，开始包扎受伤的手。

‘Are you sure she is safe?’ whispered Jo, looking remorsefully at the golden head, which might have been swept away from her sight for ever under the treacherous ice.
“你确定她安全吗？”乔低声问道，悔恨地看着那金色的头发，那可是在诡诈的冰下可能永远地离开她视线的。

‘Quite safe, dear; she is not hurt, and won’t even take cold, I think, you were so sensible in covering her and getting her home quickly,’ replied her mother, cheerfully.
“非常安全，亲爱的；她并没有受伤，我想她甚至都不会感冒，你很明智地给她盖好被子，快速将她接回家。”她的母亲愉快地回答道。

‘Laurie did it all; I only let her go. Mother, if she should de, it would be my fault’; —
“劳里都是为了我才这样做的；我只是放了她走。妈妈，如果她真的死了，那会是我的错”。 —

and Jo dropped down beside the bed, in a passion of penitent tears, telling all that had happened, bitterly condemning her hardness of heart, and sobbing out her gratitude for being spared the heavy punishment which might have come upon her.
乔坐在床边，悔恨地泪流满面，讲述了所发生的一切，痛斥自己的冷酷无情，并哽咽着感谢自己被免去了可能降临在她身上的沉重惩罚。

‘It’s my dreadful temper! I try to cure it; —
“这是我的可怕脾气！我尝试过去改掉它； —

I think I have, and then it breaks out worse than ever. —
我以为我已经成功了，然而它比以往更加糟糕。 —

Oh, Mother, what shall I do? —
“噢，妈妈，我该怎么办？ —

what shall I do?’ cried poor Jo, in despair.
我该怎么办？”可怜的乔绝望地喊道。

‘Watch and pray, dear; never get tired of trying; —
“看着祈祷，亲爱的；永远不要对尝试感到厌倦； —

and never think it is impossible to conquer your fault,’ said Mrs. March, drawing the blowzy head to her shoulder, and kissing the wet cheek so tenderly that Jo cried harder than ever.
永远不要认为征服你的缺点是不可能的，” March夫人说着，将那一头凌乱的头发靠在她的肩膀上，亲吻着湿漉漉的脸颊，如此温柔，以至于乔比以往哭得更伤心。

‘You don’t know, and you can’t guess how bad it is! —
“你不知道，也猜不到这有多糟糕！ —

It seems as if I could do anything when I’m in a passion; —
当我发火时，我感觉好像能做任何事情； —

I get so savage, I could hurt anyone, and enjoy it. —
我变得很野蛮，可以伤害任何人，而且还会从中得到快感。 —

I’m afraid I shall do something dreadful some day, and spoil my life, and make everybody hate me. —
我担心有一天我会做出可怕的事情，毁了我的一生，还让每个人都讨厌我。 —

Oh, Mother, help me, do help me!’
“哦，妈妈，帮帮我，求求你！”

‘I will, my child, I will. Don’t cry so bitterly, but remember this day, and resolve, with all your soul, that you will never know another like it. —
“我会的，我的孩子，我会的。不要这么伤心地哭，但要记住这一天，并下定决心，用你的整个灵魂发誓你再也不会有像这样的日子。 —

Jo, dear, we all have our temptations, some far greater than yours, and it often takes us all our lives to conquer them. —
乔，亲爱的，我们都有我们的诱惑，有些比你的要大得多，征服它们通常需要我们花上一生。 —

You think your temper is the worst in the world; —
你认为你的脾气是世界上最糟糕的； —

but mine used to be just like it.’
但我的过去就像你现在一样。

‘Yours, Mother? Why, you are never angry!’ and, for the moment, Jo forgot remorse in surprise.
“你的，妈妈？为什么，你从来不生气！”一时间，乔忘记了懊悔，而只感到惊讶。

‘I’ve been trying to cure it for forty years, and have only succeeded in controlling it. —
「我已经尝试治愈它有四十年了，却只成功控制住了它。 —

I am angry nearly every day of my life, Jo; —
我几乎每天生活中都很愤怒，乔；」 —

but I have learned not to show it; —
「但我已学会不表现出来； —

and I still hope to learn not to feel it, though it may take me another forty years to do so.’
我仍然希望学会不去感受它，尽管可能还需要我再花四十年的时间。」

The patience and the humility of the face she loved so well was a better lesson to Jo than the wisest lecture, the sharpest reproof. —
「她深爱的脸上所展现出的耐心和谦卑，比任何智者的讲课、严厉的责备都给乔带来了更好的教训。」 —

She felt comforted at once by the sympathy and confidence given her; —
她立即感到被给予的同情和信心所安慰； —

the knowledge that her mother had a fault like hers, and tried to mend it, made her own easier to bear and strengthened her resolution to care it; —
知道她的母亲也有像她一样的毛病，并努力改正，让她自己的问题更容易忍受，并增强了她解决问题的决心； —

though forty years seemed rather a long time to watch and pray, to a girl of fifteen.
对于一个十五岁的女孩来说，四十年似乎是一个很长的时间来守望和祈求。

‘Mother, are you angry when you fold your lips tight together, and go out of the room sometimes, when Aunt March scolds, or people worry you?’ asked Jo, feeling nearer and dearer to her mother than ever before.
“妈妈，当你抿紧嘴唇，有时离开房间，当Aunt March责备你或者别人让你烦恼的时候，你是生气吗？”乔问道，感觉自己比以往任何时候都更加亲近和亲爱她的母亲。 “是的，我已经学会了克制那些冲动的话语，当我感觉它们即将脱口而出，而我又不愿意时，我只是离开一会儿，因为我觉得自己太软弱和邪恶，”马奇夫人回答道，同时叹了口气并微笑着，她整理并梳理好了乔杂乱的头发。

‘Yes, I’ve learned to check the hasty words that rise to my lips; —
“你是怎么学会保持沉默的呢？那就是困扰我的地方，因为尖刻的话总会在我意识到之前冒出来。” —

and when I feel that they mean to break out against my will, I just go away a minute, and give myself a little shake for being so weak and wicked,’ answered Mrs. March, with a sigh and a smile, as she smoothed and fastened up Jo’s dishevelled hair.
“我知道，亲爱的，这很难，但我相信你能学会的，时间会让你变得更加成熟，”马奇夫人安慰说。

‘How did you learn to keep still? —
“嗯，我也希望如此。最后， —

That is what troubles me - for the sharp words fly out before I know what I’m about; —
我想问一件事 - 你为什么总是微笑着离开房间呢？” —

and the more I say the worse I get, till it’s a pleasure to hurt people’s feelings, and say dreadful things. —
“越是我说得越多，我就越糟糕，以至于伤害别人的感情和说出可怕的话成了一种快乐。” —

‘Tell me how you do it, Marmee dear.’
“告诉我，亲爱的妈妈，你是如何做到的。”

‘My good mother used to help me——’
“以前我的母亲会帮助我……”

‘As you do us——’ interrupted Jo, with a grateful kiss.
乔插嘴说：“就像你对我们做的一样。”并给了妈妈一个感激的吻。

‘But I lost her when I was a little older than you are, and for years had to struggle on alone, for I was too proud to confess my weakness to anyone else. —
“但是当我比你现在大一点的时候，我失去了她，多年来我必须独自奋斗，因为我太骄傲了，不愿向其他人坦承我的弱点。” —

I had a hard time, Jo, and shed a good many bitter tears over my failures; —
“我曾经过得很艰难，乔，在我失败中流了很多苦涩的眼泪； —

for, in spite of my efforts, I never seemed to get on. —
尽管我努力，但似乎从未前进。” —

Then your father came, and I was so happy that I found it easy to be good. —
“后来你的父亲来了，我很幸福，所以变得容易做好人。” —

But by and by, when I had four little daughters round me, and we were poor, then the old trouble began again; —
“但是后来，当我身边有了四个小女儿，而我们变得贫穷时，旧问题又开始了。因为我并不是天生耐心的人，看到我的孩子们有所匮乏，这让我非常困扰。” —

for I am not patient by nature, and it tried me very much to see my children wanting anything.’
“可怜的妈妈！那时你是怎么度过的？”

‘Poor Mother! What helped you then?’
“你妈妈回答道：”那时候是什么帮助了你？”

‘Your father, Jo. He never loses patience - never doubts or complains - but always hopes and works and waits so cheerfully that one is ashamed to do otherwise before him. —
你父亲，乔。他从不失去耐心 - 从不怀疑或抱怨 - 而是永远充满希望和乐观地努力和等待，以至于人们在他面前做出其他行为都会感到羞愧。 —

He helped and comforted me, and showed me that I must try to practise all the virtues I would have my little girls possess, for I was their example. —
他帮助和安慰了我，并向我展示了我必须努力实践我希望我的小女孩拥有的所有美德，因为我是她们的榜样。 —

It was easier to try for your sakes than for my own; —
为了你们，尝试要比为自己更容易； —

a startled or surprised look from one of you, when I spoke sharply, rebuked me more than any words could have done; —
当我说话尖刻时，你们中的一个惊讶或吃惊的表情比任何话语都能更好地惩罚我； —

and the love, respect, and confidence of my children was the sweetest reward I could receive for my efforts to be the woman I would have them copy.
而我的孩子们对我充满了爱、尊敬和信任，这是我为自己成为我希望他们模仿的女人而付出努力所获得的最甜美的回报。

‘Oh Mother, if I’m ever half as good as you, I shall be satisfied,’ cried Jo, much touched.
“哦，妈妈，如果我能有你的一半优秀，我就会满意了。”乔感动地说道。

‘I hope you will be a great deal better, dear; —
“亲爱的，我希望你会更好， —

but you must keep watch over your “bosom enemy” as Father calls it, or it may sadden, if not spoil your life. —
但你必须时刻警惕你的‘胸中敌人’，就像爸爸所说的，否则它可能使你的生活变得悲哀，如果不是毁掉你的生活。” —

You have had a warning; remember it, and try with heart and soul to master this quick temper, before it brings you greater sorrow and regret than you have known today.’
你已经受到了警告；记住它，用心灵和精力来掌控这个易怒的脾气，在它给你带来更多的悲伤和后悔之前。

‘I will try, Mother: I truly will. But you must help me, remind me, and keep me from flying out. —
‘我会努力的，妈妈：我真的会。但你必须帮助我、提醒我，并防止我发火。 —

I used to see Father sometimes put his finger on his lips, and look at you with a very kind but sober face, and you always folded your lips tight or went away: —
我以前有时会看见爸爸把手指放在嘴唇上，用一种很和蔼但严肃的面容看着你，而你总是紧闭嘴唇或离开。 —

was he reminding you then?’ asked Jo, softly.
他是在提醒你吗？’乔轻声问道。

‘Yes; I asked him to help me so, and he never forgot it, but saved me from many a sharp word by that little gesture and kind look.’
‘是的；我请他这么做，他从不会忘记，通过那个小手势和和善的目光，他使我免受了许多尖酸的话。

Jo saw that her mother’s eyes filled and her lips trembled as she spoke; —
乔看到母亲的眼睛充满了泪水，嘴唇颤抖着说这番话； —

and, fearing that she had said too much, she whispered, anxiously, ‘Was it wrong to watch you, and to speak of it! —
担心自己说得太多了，她焦急地耳语，’ 关于看待你和谈论这件事是不对的吗？ —

I didn’t mean to be rude, but it’s so comfortable to say all I think if you, and feel so safe and happy here.’
我并不是故意无礼，但在你面前讲出我所想的一切，感到如此舒适、安全和快乐。

‘My Jo, you may say anything to your mother, for it is my greatest happiness and pride to feel that my girls confide in me, and know how much I love them.’
“乔，你可以对妈妈说任何事情，因为我最快乐、最骄傲的事情就是感受到我的女儿们对我倾诉，并且知道我是多么地爱她们。”

‘I thought I’d grieved you.’
“我以为我伤了你的心。”

‘No, dear; but speaking of Father reminded me how much I miss him, how much I owe him, and how faithfully I should watch and work to keep his little daughters safe and good for him.’
“不，亲爱的；但是，提到爸爸让我想起了我是多么地想念他，我欠他很多，我应该如何勤奋地守护并保持他的小女儿们的安全和善良。”

‘Yet you told him to go, Mother, and didn’t cry when he went, and never complain now, or seem as if you needed any help,’ said Jo, wondering.
“可是，妈妈，你让他走，当他走的时候你没有哭泣，现在也从来没有抱怨过，也没有表现得需要任何帮助”，乔说着，感到好奇。

‘I gave my best to the country I love, and kept my tears till he was gone. —
“我给了我最好的爱给我所爱的国家，一直保留着泪水直到他离开。 —

Why should I complain, when we both have merely done our duty, and will surely be the happier for it in the end? —
“当我们仅仅是履行了我们的职责，并且最终我们一定会因此而更加快乐，所以为什么我要抱怨呢？ —

If I don’t seem to need help, it is because I have a better friend even than Father to comfort and sustain me. —
“如果我看起来不需要帮助，那是因为我有一个比爸爸更好的朋友来安慰和支持我。 —

My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; —
“我的孩子，你的生活中的困难和诱惑即将开始，而且可能会很多； —

but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. —
但是如果你学会感受你天父的力量和温柔，就能够克服并超越所有困难。 —

The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. —
你越是爱和信靠他，你就会越感到亲近他，你就越不会依赖人的力量和智慧。 —

His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. —
他的爱和关怀永不疲倦或改变，永远不会被剥夺，反而可以成为你一生中平静、幸福和坚强的源泉。 —

Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother.’
真心相信这一点，将你所有的小事、希望、罪恶和忧伤都放心地带给上帝，就像你无忧无虑地去找你的母亲一样。

Jo’s only answer was to hold her mother close, and, in the silence which followed, the sincerest prayer she had ever prayed left her heart without words; —
乔的唯一回答就是紧紧地抱住她的母亲，在随后的沉默中，她默默地向她的内心祈祷，这是她曾经祈祷过的最真诚的一次。 —

for in that sad yet happy hour she had learned not only the bitterness of remorse and despair, but the sweetness of self-denial and self-control; —
在那个悲伤而又幸福的时刻，她不仅学会了懊悔和绝望的苦涩，也学会了自我克制和自我控制的甜美。 —

and, led by her mother’s hand, she had drawn nearer to the friend who welcomes every child with a love stronger than that of any father, tenderer than that of any mother.
随着母亲的引领，她走近了那位用比任何父亲更坚定的爱、比任何母亲更温柔的心接纳每个孩子的朋友。

Amy stirred, and sighed in her sleep; and, as if eager to begin at once to mend her fault, Jo looked up with an expression on her face which it had never worn before.
艾米动了动并在睡梦中叹了口气；似乎急切地想立刻修补自己的过错，乔抬起头，脸上带着前所未有的表情。

‘I let the sun go down on my anger; I wouldn’t forgive her, and today, if it hadn’t been for Laurie, it might have been too late! —
“我让太阳在我的愤怒中落下；我不肯原谅她，而今天，如果不是劳里，可能就太晚了！ —

How could I be so wicked?’ said Jo, half aloud, as she leaned over her sister, softly stroking the wet hair scattered on the pillow.
“我怎么能如此邪恶呢？”乔小声自言自语，弯腰俯在妹妹身上，轻轻地抚摸着洒在枕头上的湿漉漉的头发。

As if she heard, Amy opened her eyes, and held out her arms, with a smile that went straight to Jo’s heart. —
仿佛听到了声音，艾米睁开了眼睛，伸出双臂，带着一种直击乔心灵的微笑。 —

Neither said a word, but they hugged one another close, in spite of the blankets, and everything was forgiven and forgotten in one hearty kiss.
两人都没有说话，但他们紧紧地拥抱在一起，尽管有着毯子的阻碍，所有的一切都在一个诚挚的吻中得以宽恕和遗忘。