名著·小妇人 - 第17节


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  “如果您喜欢的话,先生。"“如果我不喜欢,就不会请你,"劳伦斯先生说着行旧式礼节,向她伸出手臂。

   'What would Me say to this?' thought Jo, as she was marched away, while her eyes danced with fun as she imagined herself telling the story at home. "

  不知梅格对此会有何话说?"乔一边走一边揣测,想象到自己在家里讲这个故事的情景,眼睛高兴得直忽闪。

   'Hey! Why, what the dickens has come to the fellow?' said the old gentleman, as Laurie came running downstairs, and brought up with a start of surprise at the astonishing sight of Jo arm-in-arm with his redoubtable grandfather.

  这时劳里跑下楼梯,看到乔居然和他那令人畏惧的爷爷手挽着手,吓得怔住了。"嘿!怎么了,这家伙到底怎么了?"老人问。

   'I didn't know you'd come, sir,' he began, as Jo gave him a triumphant little glance. "

  我不知道您会来,先生,"他开口说。乔得意地跟他使个眼色。

   'That's evident, by the way you racket downstairs. Come to your tea, sir, and behave like a gentleman'; and having pulled the boy's hair by way of a caress, Mr. Laurence walked on, while Laurie went through a series of comic evolutions behind their backs, which nearly produced an explosion of laughter from Jo. "

  显然如此,看你冲下楼梯的样子就知道。过来吃茶吧,先生,放斯文一点。"劳伦斯先生怜爱地扯扯男孩的头发,又继续向前走,劳里在他们身后傻乎乎地发呆,逗得乔差点忍不住大笑。

  老人喝下四杯茶,两个年青人很快就谈得像对老朋友,老人看在眼里,并不多言,他孙子的变化更逃不过他的眼睛。现在男孩的脸上红润生动起来,他神态活泼,笑声充满真正的快乐。

   'She's right; the lad is lonely. I'll see what these little girls can do for him,' thought Mr. Laurence, as he looked and listened. He liked Jo, for her odd, blunt ways suited him; and she seemed to understand the boy almost as well as if she had been one herself. "

  她说得对,小伙子是太孤单。我倒要看看这小姑娘能为他做什么,"劳伦斯先生一面看他们说话一面想。他喜欢乔,因为她与众不同,她那古怪、率直的方式很合自己的性格,而且她似乎非常理解这孩子,简直好像是他身上的一分子。

   If the Laurences had been what Jo called 'prim and poky' she would not have got on at all, for such people always made her shy and awkward; but finding them free and easy, she was so herself, and made a good impression. When they rose, she proposed to go, but Laurie said he had something more to show her, and took her away to the conservatory, which had been lighted for her benefit. It seemed quite fairylike to Jo, as she went up and down the walks, enjoying the blooming walls on either side, the soft light, the damp, sweet air, and the wonderful vines and trees that hung above her - while her new friend cut the finest flowers till his hands were full; then he tied them up, saying, with the happy look Jo liked to see, 'Please give these to your mother, and tell her I like the medicine she sent me very much.'

  假如劳伦斯一家真如乔原来所说的那样"既严肃,又冷漠"的话,乔便不可能和他们相处下去,因为这种人总会使她感到羞怯和尴尬;但她现在却发现他们很随和,和他们在一起,她自己便也轻松下来,谈笑自如,给主人留下了良好的印象。当他们站起来的时候,她提出告辞,但劳里说他还有些东西要给她看,随之把她带到温室。温室里专为她而点亮了灯。乔在走道上徘徊往返,在柔和的灯光下仔细欣赏墙边盛开的鲜花,以及周围千奇百怪的藤蔓灌木,尽情呼吸湿润清新、芬芳怡人的空气,仿佛置身于神仙景界。她的新朋友剪下满满一捧亮丽的鲜花,然后绑起来,带着令她愉快的神情说:"请把它交给你妈妈,就说我很感激她送给我的药。"

   They found Mr. Laurence standing before the fire in the great drawing room, but Jo's attention was entirely absorbed by a grand piano, which stood open.

  他们发觉劳伦斯先生站在大客厅的炉火前,但乔的注意力却被一架打开着的大钢琴牢牢吸引住了。

   'Do you play?' she asked, turning to Laurie with a respectful expression. "

  你弹琴吗?"她望着劳里问道,脸上露出敬佩的神情。

  偶尔弹一点,"他谦虚地回答。

   'Please do now. I want to hear it so I can tell Beth.' 'Won't you first?' 'Don't know how; too stupid to learn, but I love music dearly.' So Laurie played, and Jo listened, with her nose luxuriously buried in heliotrope and tea-roses. Her respect and regard for the 'Laurence boy' increased very much, for he played remarkably well, and didn't put on any airs. She wished Beth could hear him, but she did not say so; only praised him till he was quite abashed and his grandfather came to the rescue. 'That will do, that will do, young lady. Too many sugar-plums are not good for him. His music isn't bad, but I hope he will do as well in more important things. Going? Well, I'm much obliged to you, and I hope you'll come again. My respects to your mother. Good night, Doctor Jo.' "

  能弹一首吗?我现在想听听,回去告诉贝思。"“你先请吧。"“不会弹。太笨学不会,但我酷爱音乐。"于是劳里弹琴,乔把鼻子深深埋在天莱花和香水月季里留神细听。劳里弹得妙极了,而且毫不矫揉造作。乔对这位"劳伦斯家的男孩"更添一层敬意。她想如果贝思也来听就好了,但却没有说出来,只是对他赞不绝口,夸得他挺不好意思。爷爷赶忙过来解围:"行了,行了,小姐。甜言蜜语太多他吃不消。他的音乐是不错,但我希望其他更重要的事情他也一样能干好。要回去了?好吧,我非常感谢你,并希望你再来。问候你母亲。晚安,乔医生。"

   He shook hands kindly, but looked as if something did not please him. When they got into the hall, Jo asked Laurie if she had said anything amiss. He shook his head.

  他慈爱地跟她握手,但神色似乎有点不快。当他们走入大厅时,乔问劳里是否自己说错了话,劳里摇摇头。

   'No, it was me; he doesn't like to hear me play.' 'Why not?' 'I'll tell you some day. John is going home with you, as I can't.' 'No need of that; I am not a young lady, and it's only a step. Take care of yourself, won't you?' 'Yes; but you will come again, I hope?' 'If you promise to come and see us after you are well.' 'I will.' 'Good night, Laurie!' 'Good night, Jo, good night!' "

  没有,原因在我;他不喜欢听我弹琴。"“为什么?"“以后我会告诉你。约翰送你回家,恕我不能送了。"“用不着。我不是娇小姐,而且只有一步之隔。多多保重,好吗?"“好的,但你会再来吧,我希望。"“如果你答应病好后来看望我们的话。"“我会来的。"“晚安,劳里!"“晚安,乔,晚安!"

   When all the afternoon's adventures had been told, the family felt inclined to go visiting in a body, for each found something very attractive in the big house on the other side of the hedge: Mrs. March wanted to talk of her father with the old man who had not forgotten him; Meg longed to walk in the conservatory; Beth sighed for the grand piano; and Amy was eager to see the fine pictures and statues.

  听了乔这个下午的奇遇后,一家人都感到有必要全体作一次访问,因为大家都觉得树篱那边的大房子有一种说不出来的魅力。马奇太太想跟老人谈谈自己的父亲,因为老人还没有忘记他,梅格渴望到温室里走走,贝思为那架大钢琴而叹息不已,艾美则很想看看那些精致的图画和雕塑。

  妈妈,为什么劳伦斯先生不喜欢劳里弹琴?"爱寻根问底的乔问。

   'I am not sure, but I think it was because his son, Laurie's father, married an Italian lady, a musician, which displeased the old man, who is very proud. The lady was good and lovely and accomplished, but he did not like her, and never saw his son after he married. They both died when Laurie was a little child, and then his grandfather took him home. I fancy the boy, who was born in Italy, is not very strong, and the old man is afraid of losing him, which makes him so careful. Laurie comes naturally by his love of music, for he is like his mother, and I dare say his grandfather fears that he may want to be a musician; at any rate, his skill reminds him of the woman he did not like, and so he "glowered", as Jo said.' 'Dear me, how romantic!' exclaimed Meg. "

  这我不是很清楚,但我想是因为他的儿子,劳里的父亲娶了位意大利女子--一个音乐家,这事令自尊心极强的老人很不愉快。其实那个女子贤淑可爱,而且多才多艺,但他不喜欢她,他们婚后他便没有再见儿子。劳里还很小的时候,他们便去世了,爷爷把他接回家。那男孩在意大利出生,身子骨不大壮实,我想老人是害怕失去他,因此格外小心。劳里像他母亲,天生热爱音乐。我敢说他爸爸害怕他有当音乐家的念头。不论怎样,他的琴艺使老人想起了自己不喜欢的那个女人,所以他'怒目而视',就像乔说的那样。"“哎哟,多浪漫!"梅格叫道。

   'How silly!' said Jo. 'Let him be a musician, if he wants to, and not plague his life out sending him to college, when he hates to go.' That's why he has such handsome black eyes and pretty manners, I suppose. Italians are always nice,' said Meg, who was a little sentimental. "

  多傻!"乔说,"如果他想做个音乐家就让他做去,他不喜欢念大学就别把他送进去受折磨。"“我想,正因为这样,他才有一双漂亮的大眼睛和优雅的举止。意大利人总是风度翩翩,"有点多愁善感的梅格说。

   'What do you know about his eyes and his manners? You never spoke to him, hardly,' cried Jo, who was not sentimental. "

  他的眼睛和举止你知道什么?你几乎没跟他说过话,"乔嚷道。她可并不多愁善感。

   'I saw him at the party, and what you tell shows that he knows how to behave. That was a nice little speech about the medicine Mother sent him.' 'He meant the blancmange, I suppose.' 'How stupid you are, child! He meant you, of course.' 'Did he?' and Jo opened her eyes as if it had never occurred to her before. "

  我在晚会里见过他,你讲的故事说明了他言谈得体。他说的有关妈妈送给他的药那几句话多有意思。"“我猜他指的是牛奶冻。"“真是个笨姑娘!他指的是你,绝对没错。"“是吗?"乔睁大眼睛,仿佛以前从来没有这样想过。

  我从来没有见过这样的女孩!人家恭维你还不知道,"梅格说,好像她对这种事情无所不知。

   'I think they are great nonsense, and I'll thank you not to be silly, and spoil my fun. Laurie's a nice boy, and I like him, and I won't have any sentimental stuff about compliments and such rubbish. We'll all be good to him, because he hasn't got any mother, and he may come over and see us, mayn't he, Marmee?' "

  我认为这种事荒唐之极。你别傻,别扫我的兴,我便多谢了。劳里是个好男孩,我喜欢他,我不要听什么情呀意呀之类的废话。我们都要对他好,因为他没有母亲。他也可以过来看我们,您说对吗,妈妈?"

   'Yes, Jo, your little friend is very welcome, and I hope Meg will remember that children should be children as long as they can.' 'I don't call myself a child, and I'm not in my teens yet,' observed Amy. 'What do you say, Beth?'

  “对,乔,非常欢迎你的小朋友,我也希望梅格记住,儿童就应该尽量天真无邪。"“我认为自己不算儿童,我还不到十岁呢,"艾美说,"你说呢,贝思?"

   'I was thinking about our Pilgrim's Progress,' answered Beth, who had not heard a word. 'How we got out of the Slough and through the Wicket Gate by resolving to be good, and up the steep hill by trying; and that maybe the house over there full of splendid things, is going to be our Palace Beautiful.'

  “我正在想我们的'天路历程',"贝思答道。她一句话也没有听进去。"我们怎样下定决心做好孩子,走出'深渊',穿过'边门’,努力爬上陡坡;也许那边那座装满漂亮东西的屋子便是我们的'丽宫'。"

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名著·小妇人 - 第17节