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由于年轻的读者们喜欢知道“人物样貌"，我们趁此机会把坐在黄昏的余辉下做针线活儿的四姐妹概略描述一下。此时屋外的冬雪正轻轻飘落，屋内炉火噼啪欢响。虽然这间旧房子铺着褪了色的地毯，摆设也相当简单，但却显得十分舒适：墙上挂着一两幅雅致的图画，壁凹内堆满了书本，窗台上是绽放的菊花和圣诞花，屋里洋溢着一片宁静、温馨的气氛。 Margaret, the eldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft, brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which she was rather vain. Fifteen-year-old Jo was very tall, thin, and brown, and reminded one of a colt; for she never seemed to know what to do with her long limbs, which were very much in her way. She had a decided mouth, a comical nose, and sharp, grey eyes, which appeared to see everything, and were by turns fierce, funny, or thoughtful. Her long, thick hair was her one beauty; but it was usually bundled in a net, to be out of her way. Round shoulders had Jo, big hands and feet, a fly-away look to her clothes, and the uncomfortable appearance of a girl who was rapidly shooting up into a woman, and didn't like it. Elizabeth - or Beth, as everyone called her - was a rosy, smooth-haired, bright-eyed girl of thirteen, with a shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression, which was seldom disturbed. Her father called her 'Little Tranquillity', and the name suited her excellently; for she seemed to live in a happy world of her own, only venturing out to meet the few whom she trusted and loved. Amy, though the youngest, was a most important person - -in her own opinion at least. A regular snow-maiden, with blue eyes, and yellow hair, curling on her shoulders, pale and slender, and always carrying herself like a young lady mindful of her manners. What the characters of the four sisters were we will leave to he found out. 大姐玛格丽特，十六岁，出落得十分标致。她体态丰盈，肌肤洁白，大大的眼睛，甜甜的笑容，一头棕色秀发又浓又厚，双手白皙，这令她颇为自得。十五岁的乔身材修长，皮肤黝黑，见了使人想到一匹小公马，因为她修长的四肢相当碍事，她仿佛总是不知道该如何处置它们。她嘴巴刚毅，鼻子俊俏，灰色的眼睛异常敏锐，似乎能看穿一切，眼神时而炽烈，时而风趣，时而又像在沉思。浓密的长发使她显得特别美丽，但为了方便长发通常被她束入发网。她双肩圆润，大手大脚，穿着又宽又大的衣服。正迅速长成一个成熟的女性，心里却极不愿，因此常常流露出这个阶段的女孩所特有的尴尬神情。伊丽莎白，人称贝思，十三岁，肤色红润，秀发润泽，目如秋波。她举止腼腆，声音羞怯，神情宁静而深远，被父亲称为"小宁静"，此名非她莫属，因为她似乎独个生活在自己的伊甸园中，只敢出来会会几个最亲最信任的人。艾美虽然最小，却是个十分重要的人物。至少她自我感觉如此。她生得纤细端庄，肌骨晶莹，一双蓝眼睛，金黄色的头发卷曲披落肩头，言谈举止十足一个讲究风度的年轻女子。四姐妹的性格如何，我们后面分解。 The clock struck six; and, having swept up the hearth, Beth put a pair of slippers down to warm. Somehow the sight of the old shoes had a good effect upon the girls; for mother was coming, and everyone brightened to welcome her. Meg stopped lecturing, and lighted the lamp, Amy got out of the easy-chair without being asked, and Jo forgot how tired she was as she sat up to hold the slippers nearer to the blaze. 时钟敲响六下，贝思已经扫干净壁炉地面，把一双便鞋放到上面烘干。看到这双旧鞋子，姑娘们想起妈妈就要回家了，心情明朗起来，准备迎接妈妈。梅格停止了训导，点上了灯。艾美不用人说，就离开了安乐椅。乔则坐起来把鞋子挪近火边，一时忘却了疲倦。 'They are quite worn out; Marmee must have a new pair.' " 鞋子太破旧了，妈咪得换双新的。" 'I thought I'd get her some with my dollar,' said Beth. “我想用自己的钱给她买一双，"贝思说。 
不，我来买！"艾美嚷道。 'I'm the oldest,' began Meg, hut Jo cut in with a decided: 'I'm the man of the family now papa is away, and I shall provide the slippers, for he told me to take special care of mother while he was gone.' " 我最大，"梅格刚开口，就被乔坚决地打断了--“爸爸不在家，我就是家里的男子汉了，鞋子我来买。因为爸爸跟我说过，他不在家的时候要我好好照顾妈妈。" 'I'll tell you what we'll do,' said Beth; 'let's each get her something for Christmas, and not get anything for ourselves.' 'That's like you, dear! What will we get?' exclaimed Jo. “依我说应该这么着，"贝思说，"我们各自给妈妈送件圣诞礼物，我们自己什么都别要了。"“那才像你！好妹妹，送什么好呢？"乔嚷道。 Everyone thought soberly for a minute; then Meg announced as if the idea was suggested by the sight of her own pretty hands, 'I shall give her a nice pair of gloves.' 'Army shoes, best to be had,' cried Jo. 大家都认真想了一会，梅格似乎从自己漂亮的双手得到启发，宣布道："我要给妈妈送一双精致的手套。"“最好送双军鞋，"乔高声说道。 'Some handkerchiefs, all hemmed,' said Beth. " 我要送些镶边小手帕，"贝思说。 
我会送一小瓶古龙香水。因为妈妈喜欢，而且不用太花钱，我还可以省点钱给自己买铅笔，"艾美接着说。 'How will we give the things?' asked Meg. " 我们怎么个送法呢？"梅格问。 'Put them on the table, and bring her in and see her open the bundles. Don't you remember how we used to do on our birthdays?' answered Jo. " 把礼物放在桌上，把妈妈带进来，让她在我们面前亲自拆开礼物。你忘记我们是怎样过生日的吗？"乔回答。 'I used to be so frightened when it was my turn to sit in the big chair with the crown on, and see you all come marching round to give the presents, with a kiss. I liked the things and the kisses, but it was dreadful to have you sit looking at me while I opened the bundles,' said Beth, who was toasting her face and the bread for tea, at the same time. “每当我坐在那张大椅子上，头戴花冠，看着你们一个个上前送上礼物，吻我一下时，心里真是慌得很。我喜欢你们的礼物和亲吻，但要在众目睽睽之下把礼物拆开，我就吓得心里直打鼓儿，"贝思说，边烘茶点，边取暖。 'Let Marmee think we are getting things for ourselves, and then surprise her. We must go shopping tomorrow afternoon, Meg; there is so much to do about the play for Christmas night,' said Jo, marching up and down, with her hands behind her back and her nose in the air. " 先别告诉妈咪，让她以为我们是为自己准备的，给她一个惊喜。我们明天下午就得去办货，梅格，圣诞夜的话剧还有许多事情要准备呐。"乔说话的时候倒背着手，仰着头，来回踱步。 
演完这回，以后我就不演了。我年岁大，该退出了，"对"化装游戏"一直童心未泯的梅格说。 'You won't stop, I know, as long as you can trail round in a white gown with your hair down, and wear gold-paper jewellery. You are the best actress we've got, and there'll be an end of everything if you quit the boards,' said Jo. 'We ought to rehearse tonight. Come here, Amy, and do the fainting scene, for you are as stiff as a poker in that.' " 你不会停止的，我知道，只要你能够披下头发，戴上金纸做的珠宝，身披白长裙摇曳而行，你就不会的。因为你是我们的最佳演员，如果你退出，那么一切都完了，"乔说，"我们今晚应该排练一下。来，艾美，试演一下晕厥那一场，你演这幕时生硬得像根拨火棍。" 'I can't help it; I never saw anyone faint, and I don't choose to make myself all black and blue, tumbling flat as you do. If I can go down easily, I'll drop: if I can't, I shall fall into a chair and be graceful; I don't care if Hugo does come at me with a pistol,' returned Amy, who was not gifted with dramatic power but was chosen because she was small enough to be borne out shrieking by the villain of the piece. “有什么办法！我从来没见过人晕倒，我也不想像你一样直挺挺地摔倒，弄得自己青一块紫一块的。如果我可以轻轻地倒在地上，我就倒下，否则，还不如体面地倒在椅子上。即使雨果真的用枪指着我也是这句话，"艾美回答。她的表演天赋并不高，被选派这一角色是因为她年纪小，碰上歹徒的尖叫声由她发出更可信。 'Do it this way; clasp your hands so, and stagger across the room, crying frantically, "Roderigo! save me! save me!"' and away went Jo, with a melodramatic scream which was truly thrilling. Amy followed, but she poked her hands out stiffly before her, and jerked herself along as if she went by machinery; and her 'Ow!' was more suggestive of pins being run into her than of fear and anguish. Jo gave a despairing groan, and Meg laughed outright, while Beth let her bread burn as she watched the fun with interest. " 这样来：两手这样握着，摇摇晃晃地走过房间，发狂般地叫喊：'罗德力戈！救救我！救救我！'"乔做示范，夸张地尖叫一声，令人毛骨悚然。艾美跟着模仿，但她伸出的双手僵硬无比，发出的尖叫声与情景相差万里。她那一声"啊！"不像是感到恐惧和极度痛苦，倒像是被针戳了一下。乔失望地叹了一声，梅格却放声大笑，贝思看得有趣，把面包也烤糊了。 'It's no use! Do the best you can when the time comes, and if the audience laugh, don't blame me. Come on, Meg.' " 不可救药！演出时尽力而为吧，如果观众笑你，别怪我。来吧，梅格。" 
接下来就顺利多了。唐·佩德罗一口气读下两页挑战世界的宣言；女巫黑格把满满一锅蟾蜍放在火里炖，妖里妖气地给它们念一道可怕的咒语；罗德力戈力拔山河地扯断锁链，雨果狂叫着"哈！哈！"在悔恨和砒霜的折磨下死去。 'It's the best we've had yet,' said Meg, as the dead villain sat up and rubbed his elbows. " 这是做得最好的一次，"当"死去"的反角坐起来揉擦肘部时，梅格说。 'I don't see how you can write and act such splendid things, Jo. You're a regular Shakespeare!' exclaimed Beth, who firmly believed that her sisters were gifted with wonderful genius in all things. " 乔，你能写出这么好的剧本，而且演得这么出色，简直不可思议！你真是莎士比亚再世！"贝思喊道。她坚信姐妹们才华横溢，无所不能。 'Not quite,' replied Jo modestly. I do think "The Witch's Curse, an Operatic Tragedy", is rather a nice thing; but I'd like to try Macbeth, if we only had a trap-door for Banquo I always wanted to do the killing part. "Is that a dagger I see before me?"' muttered Jo, rolling her eyes and clutching at the air, as she had seen a famous tragedian do. " 过奖了，"乔谦逊地回答，"《女巫的咒语，一个歌剧式的悲剧》是挺不错的，不过我想演《麦克佩斯》，如果我们能给班柯一扇活地板门的话。我一直想演刺客这一角色。'我眼前看到的是一把刀吗？'"乔轻声朗诵，像她所见过的一位著名悲剧演员一样，转动着眼珠，两手抓向空中。 'No, it's the toasting fork, with mother's shoe on it instead of the bread. Beth's stage-struck!' cried Meg, and the rehearsal ended in a general burst of laughter. " 错了，这是烧烤叉，你放上去的不是面包，而是妈妈的鞋。贝思看入迷了！"梅格叫起来。众姐妹大笑不已，排练也随之结束。
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