目 录 上一节 下一节 
你喜欢你的学校吗？"男孩凝视着火光停顿了一会儿，然后换了个话题问道。乔正四下打量着，显得非常愉快。 'Don't go to school; I'm a business man - girl, I mean. I go to wait on my great-aunt, and a dear, cross old soul she is, too,' answered Jo. " 我没有上学，我是个实干家--我的意思是实干女孩。我侍奉我的叔伯母，一个既可爱又专横的老太太，”乔回答。 Laurie opened his mouth to ask another question; 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. 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. Laurie enjoyed that immensely; 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. 劳里刚要张口再问，猛然想到打探太多别人的私事不礼貌，便闭口不语，神态显得颇不自然。乔喜欢他这样有教养，但觉得谈谈马奇婶婶的趣事并无妨，便活灵活现地跟他描绘那位烦躁不安的老太太，她的胖卷毛狗，会讲西班牙语的鹦鹉鹦哥，还有自己最喜爱的藏书室。劳里听得如痴如醉；她说到一次一位庄重的老绅士来向马奇婶婶求婚，正当他甜言蜜语之际，鹦哥扯下了他的假发，令他大为懊丧。劳里听到这儿身子向后一仰，笑得眼泪都流了出来，引得一个女佣探头进来看个究竟。 '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. " 啊！真是灵丹妙药，请接着再说，"劳里从沙发上抬起头来，脸上兴奋得红光闪闪地说道。 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. 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. 乔为自己的成功洋洋得意，便"接着再说"，谈她们的话剧、计划、她们对父亲的盼望和担心，以及她们姐妹圈中最有趣的事儿。接着他们谈起书，乔高兴地发现劳里跟她一样 爱读书，而且读得比她更多。 
如果你这么喜欢书，下来看看我家的吧。爷爷出去了，你不用害怕，"劳里边说边站起来。 'I'm not afraid of anything,' returned Jo, with a toss of the head. " 我什么也不怕，"乔答，把头一抬。 '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. " 这话我也相信！"男孩叫道，并羡慕不已地望着她，虽然心中暗想如果遇上老人心情不佳，她一定也会有一点害怕。 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; and so at last they came to the library, where she clapped her hands, and pranced, as she always did when especially delighted. 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; and, best of all, a great open fireplace, with quaint tiles all round it. 整座屋里的气氛与夏天无异，劳里领着乔沿房间逐一观赏，遇到乔感兴趣的地方便驻足细看一番；这样走走停停，最后来到藏书室，乔旋即兴奋得手舞足蹈，一如她平日特别高兴时那样。藏书室里头一层一层摆满了书本，放着图画、雕塑、装满了钱币和古玩的引人注目的小橱柜，还有《睡谷传奇》里的椅子、古怪的桌子和青铜器，最令人叫绝的是一个用精致的花砖砌成的敞开式大壁炉。 'What richness!' sighed Jo, sinking into the depth of a velvet chair, and gazing about her with an air of intense satisfaction. 'Theodore Laurence, you ought to be the happiest boy in the world,' she added impressively. " 你家真富有！"乔赞叹道，身子一歪重重坐在一张天鹅绒椅子上，神情极为满足地凝望周围。"西奥多·劳伦斯，你应该是世界上最幸福的孩子，"她接着说，神态让人难忘。 
人不能光是靠书活着，"劳里摇摇头说，坐在对面一张桌子上。 Before he could say more, a bell rang, and Jo flew up, exclaiming with alarm, 'Mercy me! it's your grandpa!' 他正要说下去，门铃响了，乔飞快地站起来，慌张地叫道："哎呀！是你爷爷！" 'Well, what if it is? You are not afraid of anything, you know,' returned the boy, looking wicked. “咦，是他又如何？你不是说什么也不怕吗？"男孩调皮地对她说。 'I think I am a little bit afraid of him, but I don't know why I should be. 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. " 我想我是有点怕他，但我不明白为什么会这样。妈妈说我可以过来，我也觉得这样对你没有坏处，"乔定定神说，眼睛却一直望着房门。 'I'm a great deal better for it, and ever so much obliged. I'm only afraid you are very tired talking to me; it was so peasant, I couldn't bear to stop,' said Laurie, gratefully. " 你来我精神好多了，真是不胜感激。我只怕你跟我谈话累着了呢；这样交谈令人愉快极了，我简直不想停下来，"劳里感激地说。 
医生要见你，少爷，"女佣招手道。 'Would you mind if I left you for a minute? I suppose I must see him,' said Laurie. " 我走开一会行吗？看来我得见他，"劳里说。 'Don't mind me. I'm as happy as a cricket here,' answered Jo. " 别管我。我在这里快乐得像个蟋蟀，"乔答道。 Laurie went away, and his guest amused herself in her own way. 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. He isn't as handsome as my grandfather, but I like him.' 劳里走出去，留下客人独个自娱自乐。她正站在那位老绅士的肖像前，门忽地又打开了，她没有回头，自信地说："现在我肯定不会怕他。虽然他的嘴唇冷峻，但他有一双善良的眼睛，看样子他很有个性。虽然他不及我外公英俊，但我喜欢他。" 'Thank you, ma'am,' said a gruff voice behind her; and there, to her great dismay, stood old Mr. Laurence. “承蒙夸奖，夫人。"一个生硬的声音从她身后传来，原来进来的是劳伦斯老人，乔窘得恨不能找个地缝儿钻进去。 
可怜的乔脸色红得不能再红，想到自己方才说的话，心里慌得怦怦乱跳。她一开始很想马上跑掉，但那是懦夫的行为，姐妹们一定会嘲笑她的；于是她决定按兵不动，尽自己的能力摆脱困境。 A second look showed her that the living eyes, under the bushy grey eyebrows,re kinder even than the painted ones; and there was a sly twinkle in them which lessened her fear a good deal. 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?' 她又望了一眼老人，发现灰白浓眉下面的两只眼睛比起像片上的更加善良，目光中还闪着一丝狡黠，于是心里轻松了许多。突然，老人打破可怕的沉默，用更为生硬的声音问道："那么说你不怕我，嗯？" 'Not much, sir.' 'And you don't think me as handsome as your grandfather?' 'Not quite, sir.' 'And I've got a tremendous will, have I?' 'I only said I thought so.' 'But you like me, in spite of it?' 'Yes, I do, sir.' “不是很怕，先生。"“你觉得我不如你外公英俊？"“不错，先生。"“我很有个性，对吗？"“我只是说我这么认为。"“但尽管如此，你还喜欢我？"“是的，是这样，先生。" That answer pleased the old gentleman; 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. 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. 这个回答使老人很高兴，他笑一笑，跟她握手，然后用手指托着她的下巴，把她的脸抬起来，严肃地细看一回，放下手点头说道："虽然你没有继承你外公的相貌，但你继承了他的精神。他是个好人，孩子；但更难得的是，他勇敢正直。我为自己是他的朋友而自豪。"“谢谢您，先生。"乔现在觉得相当舒服了，因为这话说得非常中听。 'What have you been doing to this boy of mine, hey?' was the next question, sharply put. " 你对我这孩子做了什么，嗯？"他接着毫不客气地问道。 
只是尽量做个好邻居而已，先生。"乔接着把来龙去脉说了出来。 'You think he needs cheering up a bit, do you?' " 你认为他需要振作一点，对吗？" 'Yes, sir; he seems a little lonely, and young folks would do him good, perhaps. 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. “是的，先生，他似乎有点孤独，年轻伙伴可能会对他有好处。我们不过是女孩子，但如果可以帮上忙的话，我们会很高兴，我们可没有忘记您送给我们的圣诞大礼，"乔热切地说。 'Tut, tut, tut! that was the boy's affair. How is the poor woman?' '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. " 啧！啧！啧！那是那孩子做的事。那个可怜的女人过得还好吗？"“过得挺好，先生。"乔接着便一口气介绍了赫梅尔一家的情况，并告诉他母亲已说服了比她们更富有的人来关心此事。 'Just her father's way of doing good. I shall come and see your mother some fine day. Tell her so. There's the tea-bell; we have it early, on the boy's account. Come down, and go on being neighbourly.' " 她父亲也是这么乐善好施。改日我要去登门拜访，把这 话告诉她。用茶的铃声响了，为了那孩子的缘故，我们很早就吃茶点。下来继续做好邻居吧。"
| 
