名著·小妇人 - 第10节


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  “你喜欢什么呢?"“住在意大利,按自己的方式做事。"

   Jo wanted very much to ask what his own way was: but his black brows looked rather threatening as he knit them; so she changed the subject by saying, as her foot kept time, 'That's a splendid piano in the next room. Why don't you go and try it?'

  乔非常想问问他自己的方式是什么,但他锁起双眉,样子显得极为严肃,乔便一边用脚踏着节拍,一边换了个话题:"这支波尔卡舞曲棒极了!你为什么不去跳?"

   'If you will come too,' he answered, with a gallant little bow.

  “如果你也一起来的话,"他说道,并颇有修养地轻轻一躬身子。

   'I can't; for I told Meg I wouldn't, because--' There Jo stopped, and looked undecided whether to tell or to laugh. 'Because what?' asked Laurie, curiously. "

  我不能,因为我跟梅格说过我不跳,因为--"乔欲言又止,思量着是说出来呢还是一笑了之。"因为什么?"劳里好奇地问。

   'You won't tell?' 'Never!' "

  你不会说出去吧?"“绝对不会!"

  “是这样,我有个坏习惯,喜欢站在炉火前烘衣服,一次便把这件衣服烧坏了,虽经精心缝补,还是可以看出来。梅格要我别乱动,这样就不会让人看到。你要笑就尽管笑吧。我知道这很好笑。"但劳里没有笑,他低头沉思了一会,带着令乔诧异的神情轻声说:"不要紧,我告诉你一个办法:那边有一个长长的走廊,我们可以尽兴起舞,没有人会看见我们。请来吧。"

   Jo thanked him, and gladly went, wishing she had two neat gloves, when she saw the nice, pearl-coloured ones her partner wore. When the music stopped, they sat down; and Laurie was in the midst of an account of a students' festival at Heidelberg, when Meg appeared in search of her sister. She beckoned, and Jo reluctantly followed her into a side room, where she found her on a sofa, holding her foot, and looking pale. 'I've sprained my ankle. That stupid high heel turned, and gave me a sad wrench. It aches so I can hardly stand, and I don't know how I'm ever going to get home,' she said, rocking to and fro in pain.

  乔谢过他,高兴地走过去。看到舞伴戴着精致的乳白色手套,她恨不得自己也有两只干净手套。走廊空无一人,他们在那里尽兴地跳了一曲波尔卡舞。劳里跳得很好,他教乔跳德国舞步,这种舞步活泼轻快,乔十分喜欢。音乐停下后,他们坐在楼梯上喘口气,劳里跟乔谈着海德堡的学生庆祝会,梅格过来找妹妹。她招招手,乔不大情愿地跟着她走进一个侧间,却看到她坐在沙发上,手托着脚,脸色苍白。"我扭伤了脚踝。那只讨厌的高跟鞋一歪,把我狠狠地扭了一下。真痛呵,我几乎都站不稳了,真不知道该怎么走回家,"她一边说一边痛得直摇晃。

   'I knew you'd hurt your feet with those silly shoes. I'm sorry. But I don't see what you can do, except get a carriage, or stay here all night,' answered Jo, softly rubbing the poor ankle as she spoke. "

  我早就知道那双笨鞋会弄伤你的脚。我很难过。但我想不出什么法子,除非去叫一辆马车,或者在这里过夜,"乔答道,边说边轻轻擦着梅格那受伤的脚踝。

   'I can't have a carriage, without its costing ever so much.' I daresay I can't get one at all; for most people come in their own, and it's a long way to the stable, and no one to lend.' 'I'll go.' 'No, indeed! It's past nine, and dark as Egypt. I can't stop here, for the house is full. Sallie has some girls staying with her. I'll rest till Hannah comes, and then do the best I can.' 'I'll ask Laurie; he will go,' said Jo, looking relieved as the idea occurred to her. "

  叫一辆马车要花不少钱,再说根本也叫不到,因为大多数人都是坐自己的马车来的。这里离马厩有好长一段路,也找不着人去叫。"“我去。"“千万别去!已经过九点了,外面黑黢黢一片。我不能呆在这里,因为屋里满是人。莎莉有几个女孩子陪着。我在这里等罕娜来,到时候再尽我所能吧。"“我去叫劳里;他会去的,"乔说。想到这个主意,她松了一口气。

   'Mercy, no! Don't ask or tell anyone. Get me my rubbers, and put these slippers with our things. As soon as supper is over, watch for Hannah, and tell me the minute she comes.' "

  求求你,不要去!不要让人知道。把我的橡胶套鞋给我,把这对鞋子放到我们带来的包袱里。我不能再跳了。晚饭一吃完就看罕娜来了没有,她一到马上告诉我。"

  “他们现在出去吃饭了。我陪着你;我宁愿这样。"“不,亲爱的,快到那边给我弄点咖啡。我累得要命,简直不能动了!"

   So Meg reclined, with rubbers well hidden, and Jo went blundering away to the dining room, which she found after going into a china-closet, and opening the door of a room where old Mr. Gardiner was taking a little private refreshment. Making a dart at the table, she secured the coffee, which she immediately spilt, making the front of her dress as bad as the back.

  梅格说完斜靠在沙发上,把橡胶套鞋藏得恰到好处,乔便跌跌撞撞地朝饭厅跑去。她闯入一个地方,原来是放瓷器的小房间,又推开一扇房门,却发现加德纳先生在那里独自小憩,最后才找到了饭厅。她冲到桌边好不容易倒好咖啡,匆忙中又把它弄溅了,把衣服的前幅弄得跟后幅一样糟糕。

   'Oh, dear, what a blunderbuss I am!' exclaimed Jo, finishing Meg's glove by scrubbing her gown with it. "

  噢,天呵,我真是个冒失鬼!"乔叫道,忙用梅格的手套擦拭,谁知又赔上了一只手套。

   'Can I help you?' said a friendly voice; and there was Laurie, with a full cup in one hand, and a plate of ice in the other. "

  我可以帮忙吗?"一个友善的声音问道。原来是劳里。他一手拿着装得满满的杯子,一手拿着放有冰块的小盘子。

   'I was trying to get something for Meg, who is very tired, and someone shook me; and here I am, in a nice state,' answered Jo, glancing dismally from the stained skirt to the coffee-coloured glove. "

  我正想弄点咖啡给梅格,她累坏了。不知谁碰了我一下,便成了这付狼狈相,"乔说着沮丧地看看弄脏了的裙子,又看看变成咖啡色的手套。

  真是太糟糕了!不过我手里的东西正要送给人,可以拿给你姐姐吗?"

   'Oh, thank you! I'll show you where she is. I don't offer to take it myself, for I should only get into another scrape if I did.'Jo led the way; and, as if used to waiting on ladies, Laurie drew up a little table, brought a second instalment of coffee and ice for Jo, and was so obliging that even particular Meg pronounced him a 'nice boy'. They had a merry time over the bonbons and mottoes, and were in the midst of a quiet game of 'Buzz', with two or three other young people who had strayed in, when Hannah appeared. Meg forgot her foot, and rose so quickly that she was forced to catch hold of Jo, with an exclamation of pain.

  “噢,谢谢你!我来带路。东西还是你拿着吧,我拿着准会闯祸的,"乔说完在前面引路。劳里似乎惯于侍候女士,他拉过一张小桌子,又再走一趟为乔取来咖啡和冰块,十分殷勤周到,梅格虽然挑剔,也不禁称他为"不错的小伙子"。大家愉快地吃着各式糖果,跟两三个刚进来的年青人安安静静玩一种"霸士"游戏。这时罕娜来了。梅格忘了脚痛,猛站起身,痛得叫了一声,赶紧扶住乔。

   'Hush! Don't say anything,' she whispered, adding aloud, 'It's nothing. I turned my foot a little, that's all'; and limped upstairs to put her things on. "

  嘘!什么也别说,"她悄悄地说,接着放大嗓门,"没有什么,我的脚稍微扭了一下,小事情。"说完她一瘸一拐地走上楼收拾包袱。

   Hannah scolded, Meg cried, and Jo was at her wit's end, till she decided to take things into her own hands. Slipping out, she ran down, and, finding a servant, asked if he could get her a carriage. It happened to be a hired waiter, who knew nothing about the neighbourhood; and Jo was looking round for help, when Laurie, who had heard what she said, came up, and offered his grandfather's carriage, which had just come for him, he said.

  罕娜骂,梅格哭。乔不知所措,最后终于决定亲自收拾残局。她一溜烟跑下去,找到一个佣人,问他是否能帮她叫辆马车。偏巧这位佣人是雇来的侍者,对周围情况一无所知,乔正在东张西望找人,劳里听到她叫车,走过来,告诉她他爷爷的马车刚到,准备接他回家,她们可以用这辆车子。

   'It's so early! You can't mean to go yet?' began Jo, looking relieved, but hesitating to accept the offer. "

  时间还早呢!你不是这么快就走了吧?"乔问,她松了一口气,但又犹豫是否该接受这个好意。

  我总是提早走--真的,不骗你!请让我送你们回家。

   That settled it; and, telling him of Meg's mishap, Jo gratefully accepted, and rushed up to bring down the rest of the party. Hannah hated rain as much as a cat does; so she made no trouble, and they rolled away in the luxurious close carriage, feeling very festive and elegant. Laurie went on the box; so Meg could keep her foot up, and the girls talked over their party in freedom.

  反正是顺路,你知道。再者,他们说还下着雨呢。"事情就这样定下来了;乔把梅格的灾难告诉他,感激不尽地接受了他的好意,又跑上去把其他人带下来。罕娜跟猫一样痛恨下雨,所以顺顺当当上了车。她们乘着豪华的封闭式四轮马车驶回家,觉得极为高雅,内心十分得意。劳里坐到车夫座位上,腾出位置让梅格把脚架起来,姐妹俩毫无顾忌地谈论刚才的晚会。

   'I had a capital time. Did you?' asked Jo, rumpling up her hair, and making herself comfortable. "

  我玩得开心极了。你呢?"乔问,把头发弄乱,使自己舒服一些。

   'Yes, till I hurt myself. Sallies friend, Annie Moffat, took a fancy to me, and asked me to come and spend a week with her when Sallie does. She is going in the spring, when the opera comes; and it will be perfectly splendid, if Mother only lets me go,' answered Meg, cheering up at the thought. "

  开心,直到把脚扭伤。莎莉的朋友安妮·莫法特喜欢上我了,请我随莎莉到她家住一个星期。莎莉准备在春天歌剧团来的时候去,如果妈妈让我去就太美了,"梅格答道。想到这里她愉快起来。

   'I saw you with the red-headed man I ran away from. Was he nice?' 'Oh, very! His hair is auburn, not red; and he is very polite.' 'He looked like a grasshopper in a fit. Laurie and I couldn't help laughing. Did you hear us?' 'No; but it was very rude. What were you about all that time, hidden away there?' "

  我看到你跟我躲开的那个红头发小伙子跳舞,他人好吗?"“噢,非常好!他的头发是红褐色的,不是红色,他非常有礼貌,我跟他跳了一个漂亮的瑞多瓦呢。"“他学跳新舞步时像个痉挛的草蜢。我和劳里都忍不住笑起来,你听到了吗?"“没有,但这样非常无礼。你们一晚上藏在那里头干什么?"

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名著·小妇人 - 第10节