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我们得先走过狮子群，"乔满怀憧憬地说。 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. Old Mr. Laurence was the biggest one; 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; for this made them shy of accepting favours which they could not return. 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. So they soon forgot their pride, and interchanged kindnesses without stopping to think which was the greater. 那座大楼确实是个"丽宫"，不过众人颇费时日才全部走进去，贝思更是觉得很难走过"狮子群"。劳伦斯老先生就是最大的狮子。不过，自他到她们家拜访，跟众姐妹逐个谈笑一番并和她们母亲交谈旧事后，大家便不再害怕他了，只有腼腆的贝思例外。另一头狮子是两家贫富悬殊这个现实，这使她们不好意思接受她们报答不了的恩惠。不过，后来她们发觉他反把她们视为恩人，他对马奇太太的亲切款待、姐妹们的温馨情意，以及他在那间简陋的屋子里所得到的温暖深表感激。于是她们不再自卑，更加亲热往来，不再理会谁付出的更多。 All sorts of pleasant things happened about that time; for the new friendshipourished like grass in spring. Everyone liked Laurie, and he privately informed his tutor that 'the Marches were regular splendid girls'. 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. Never having known mother or sisters, he was quick to feel the influences they brought about him; and their busy, lively ways made him ashamed of the indolent life he led. He was tired of books, and found people so interesting now that Mr. Brooke was obliged to make very unsatisfactory reports; for Laurie was always playing truant and running over to the Marches'. 新的友谊像春草一样茁壮成长，各种美好的事情都在那个时候发生。人人喜欢劳里，他也悄悄告诉他的私人教师"马奇家的姑娘们十分出众"。充满热情的年轻姑娘们把孤独的男孩带进她们的圈子里，对他悉心照顾。她们心地善良而单纯，劳里在这种天真无邪的交往中感到十分陶醉。由于他从小失去母亲，又没有姐妹，因此很快便感受到她们给他带来的影响。她们忙碌、活跃的生活方式使他对自己的懒惰生活感到惭愧。他现在厌倦读书，发现与人交往极有乐趣。布鲁克先生不得不非常不满意地向劳伦斯先生告状，因为劳里常常逃学跑到马奇家去。 'Never mind; let him take a holiday, and make it up afterwards,' said the old gentleman. 'The good lady next door says he is studying too hard, and needs young society, amusement, and exercise. I suspect she is right, and that I've been coddling the fellow as if I'd been his grandmother. Let him do what he likes, as long as he is happy. He can't get into mischief in that little nunnery over there; and Mrs. March is doing more for him than we can.' " 不要紧，让他放个假，以后再补回来，"老人说，"邻居那位好太太说他学习太用功，需要年轻人作伴，需要娱乐活动。我想她说得有道理，我一直溺爱这小子，都像他奶奶了。只要他快乐，他爱干什么就干什么吧。他在那边的小尼姑庵里不会捣蛋的，马奇太太比我们更能管教他。 What good times they had, to be sure! 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. Meg could walk in the conservatory whenever she liked, and revel in bouquets; Jo browsed over the new library voraciously, and convulsed the old gentleman with her criticisms. Amy copied pictures and enjoyed beauty to her heart's content; and Laurie played 'lord of the manor' in the most delightful style. " 这样的时光多么美好！他们一起演戏，一起滑雪，一起在旧客厅度过愉快的夜晚，有时也在大楼举行快乐的小晚会。梅格可以随意进入温室，采摘大捧大捧的鲜花，乔在新藏书室里贪婪地浏览，向老人发表高见，艾美摹绘图画，尽情地沐浴在美的享受中，劳里则非常可爱地扮演"庄园主"的角色。 
而贝思，虽然对大钢琴朝思暮想，却鼓不起勇气走进那间被梅格称为"极乐大厦"的屋子。她也曾随乔去过一次，但老人不知道她天性懦弱，浓眉下的一双眼睛紧紧盯着她，大叫一声"嗨！"吓得她"双脚在地板上乱抖"，这是她后来告诉妈妈的；她夺路而逃，并宣布以后永不踏足此地，对大钢琴也忍痛割爱了。 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. 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. 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. Taking no more notice of her than if she had been a fly, Mr. Laurence talked on about Laurie's lessons and teachers; and presently, as if the idea had just occurred to him, he said to Mrs. March: 大家百般劝哄无效，后来，劳伦斯先生不知从何处听到了这事，亲自着手弥补。在一次短暂的拜访中，他巧妙地把话题扯到音乐，大谈他所见所闻的歌唱家和弦琴珍曲等奇闻趣事。呆在远远一角的贝思听入迷了，忍不住渐渐靠上前来，站在他椅子背后悄悄聆听，眼睛瞪大，脸颊因自己不寻常的举动而羞得通红。劳伦斯先生对她视如不见，继续谈劳里的功课和教师，一会，他似乎突然想起了什么，对马奇太太说-- 'The boy neglects his music now, and I'm glad of it, for he was getting too fond of it. But the piano suffers for want of use. 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?' “那孩子现在不大理音乐了，我倒挺高兴，因为他原来喜欢得有点过头。不过钢琴闲置着太可惜，你家姑娘们愿不愿意过来时不时弹弹，免得荒废了。你说呢，夫人？" Beth took a step forward, and pressed her hands tightly together to keep from clapping them, for this was an irresistible temptation; and the thought of practising on that splendid instrument quite took her breath away. Before Mrs. March could reply, Mr. Laurence went on with an odd little nod and smile: 'They needn't see or speak to anyone, but run in at any time; 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.' 贝思上前一步，双手紧紧握住才没有拍起掌来。这个诱惑不可抗拒，想到在那架漂亮的钢琴上弹奏，她真是又惊又喜。还没等马奇太太回答，劳伦斯先生古怪地轻轻点点头，微笑道--“她们用不着跟人说，随时都可以跑进来；因为我总呆在屋子另一头的书房里，劳里常常不在家，九点钟后佣人也从不走近客厅。" Here he rose, as if going, and Beth made up her mind to speak, for that last arrangement left nothing to be desired. 'Please tell the young ladies what I say; 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: 'Oh, sir, they do care, very, very much!' 'Are you the musical girl?' he asked, without any startling 'Hey!' as he looked down at her very kindly. 说到这他站起来，似乎要告辞了。贝思下定决心要讲两句话，因为最后的安排完全乘了她的心愿。"请把我的话转告年轻女士们，如果她们不想来，嘿，那就算了。"这时一只小手塞进他的手里，贝思满脸感激地仰头望着他，诚恳而腼腆地说--“噢，先生，她们想的，非常非常想！"“你就是弹琴的姑娘？"他问道，没有吓人地叫"嗨！"而是非常慈爱地望着她。 
我是贝思。我很喜欢音乐。如果您肯定没有人会听到我弹琴--被我骚扰的话，我会来的，"她接着说，唯恐出言不敬，边说边因自己的勇敢而颤抖。 'Not a soul, my dear. The house is empty half the day; so come and drum away as much as you like, and I shall be obliged to you.' 'How kind you are, sir!' Beth blushed like a rose under the friendly look he wore; 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. The old gentleman softly stroked the hair of her forehead, and stooping down, he kissed her, saying, in a tone few people ever heard: 'I had a little girl once, with eyes like these. God bless you, my dear! Good day, madam'; and away he went, in a great hurry. " 不会有人听到，亲爱的。屋子有半天空着；你尽管过来弹吧，非常欢迎你。"“您真是菩萨心肠，先生！"贝思被他友善的眼光看得脸红耳赤；不过她现在不再害怕，因为找不到话来感谢他送给自己的珍贵礼物，便感激地把那只大手紧紧攥祝老人轻轻拨开她额上的头发，俯下身来吻了一下，用一种少有的声调说--“我曾经有个小姑娘，眼睛跟你的一模一样。上帝保佑你，亲爱的孩子！再见，夫人，"说毕他匆匆离去。 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. 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. 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. Quite by accident of course, some pretty, easy music lay on the piano; 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. 贝思与母亲狂喜一番后，因为姑娘们不在家，便冲上去把好消息告诉那班残破不堪的布娃娃。那天晚上她高兴得唱个不停，半夜，她睡梦中在艾美脸上弹钢琴，把艾美闹醒，引得姐妹们大笑不已。第二天，贝思看到一老一少两位绅士都出了门，犹豫再三后，从侧门走进去，轻手轻脚地朝搁置着钢琴的客厅走去。碰巧，当然啦，钢琴上摆着几张简单而动听的乐谱，贝思不时四面窥探，终于用颤抖的手指弹响了琴键，旋即便忘掉了恐惧，忘掉了自己和周围的一切，音乐声仿如一位挚友的声音，给她带来难以言喻的快乐。 She stayed till Hannah came to take her home to dinner; but she had no appetite, and could only sit and smile upon everyone in a general state of beatitude. 她一直弹到罕娜过来带她回家吃饭；但她毫无食欲，只是坐在一边，无比快乐地望着大家痴笑。 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. She never knew that Mr. Laurence often opened his study door to hear the old-fashioned airs he liked; she never saw Laurie mount guard in the hall to warn the servants away; she never suspected that the exercise-books and new songs which she found in the rack were put there for her especial benefit; 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. So she enjoyed herself heartily, and found, what isn't always the case, that her granted wish was all she had hoped. Perhaps it was because she was so grateful for this blessing that a greater was given her; at any rate she deserved both. 从此以后，一个戴着棕色小帽的身影几乎每天都溜过树篱，一个静悄悄的音乐精灵常常在那间大客厅出没。她不知道劳伦斯先生经常打开书房门聆听他喜欢的旧曲子；没有看到劳里在大厅放哨，提醒佣人不要走近；也从不怀疑乐器架上的练习书和新歌是特意为她放置的；劳伦斯先生在家里跟她谈论音乐，使她大获裨益，她也只以为他是出于好心而已。因此她尽情陶醉在音乐的天地中，有时甚至觉得自己已经得偿毕生之愿。也许正因为她对这种恩赐常怀感激之心，更大的恩赐接踵而来，但无论怎样，她都受之无愧。 
妈妈，我想为劳伦斯先生做一双便鞋，他对我这么好，我得感谢他，其他方法我又不会。您说可以吗？"贝思问母亲。这时距老人那次重要拜访已有好几个星期。
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