目 录 上一节 下一节 
大家围上前来观看最后一战，弗雷德紧张地叫道："啊呀，我们完蛋了！不用打了，凯特。乔小姐欠我一球，因此你完了。"“美国佬的手段是对敌人宽宏大量，"乔说着看了他一眼，小伙子脸上腾地红了起来。"尤其是当他们打败敌人的时候，"她接着说，并不去动凯特的球，而是把自己的球漂亮一击，赢了比赛。 Laurie threw up his hat; then remembering that it wouldn't do to exult over the defeat of his guests, he stopped in the middle of a cheer to whisper to his friend: 'Good for you, Jo! He did cheat, I saw him; we can't tell him so, but he won't do it again, take my word for it.' 劳里把自己的帽子向空中一扔，却突然想起败方是自己的客人，不可太露轻狂，于是赶紧收住喊出嘴边的喝彩声，悄悄跟自己的朋友说："做得对，乔！他确实是作弊，我也看到了；但我们不能跟他直说，不过他下回不敢再犯了，相信我吧。" Meg drew her aside, under pretence of pinning up a loose braid, and said approvingly: 'It was dreadfully provoking; but you kept your temper, and I'm so glad, Jo.' 'Don't praise me, Meg, for I could box his ears this minute. I should certainly have boiled over if I hadn't stayed among the nettles till I got my rage under enough to hold my tongue. It's simmering now, so I hope he'll keep out of my way,' returned Jo, biting her lips, as she glowered at Fred from under her big hat. 梅格把她拉过一边，假装帮她夹起一绺松脱下来的辫子，赞赏地说："这事叫人怒不可遏，但你竟忍住了，没有发脾气，我真高兴，乔。"“别夸我，梅格，我这会还想赏他一个耳光呢。我刚才在蓖麻树丛里呆了许久，压下一腔怒火才没有出声，要不，早就火冒三丈了。我的火这会还热着呢，所以他最好离我远点，"乔答道，紧咬双唇，从那顶大帽子下面悻悻地瞪了弗雷德一眼。 'Time for lunch,' said Mr. Brooke, looking at his watch. 'Commissary-general, will you make the fire and get water, while Miss March, Miss Sallie and I spread the table? Who can make good coffee? ' " 该吃午饭了，"布鲁克先生看看手表说，"军需官，你去生火、打水，我跟马奇小姐、莎莉小姐一起布置饭桌，怎么样？哪位擅长煮咖啡？" 'Jo can!' said Meg, glad to recommend her sister. So Jo, feeling that her late lessons in cookery were to do her honour, went to preside over the coffee-pot, while the children collected dry sticks, and the boys made a fire, and got water from a spring near by. Miss Kate sketched, and Frank talked to Beth, who was making little mats of braided rushes to serve as plates. “乔会。"梅格高兴地推荐妹妹。乔知道自己新近学会的烹饪技术不会给自己丢脸，便走过去摆弄咖啡壶，两个小姑娘捡来干树枝，男孩子生气火，从附近一个水泉打来清水。凯特小姐写生，贝思编结灯心草小垫子来做盘子，弗兰克在一旁跟她拉话儿。 
总指挥和他的助手们很快便在桌布上摆满了各式诱人的食物和饮料，并用绿叶点缀得十分雅致。乔宣布咖啡已经煮好，众人各就各位，坐下饱吃一顿。年青人消化能力强，加上做了运动，所以胃口特别好。 A very merry lunch it was; for everything seemed fresh and funny, and frequent peals of laughter startled a venerable horse who fed near by. There was a pleasing inequality in the table, which produced many mishaps to cups and plates; acorns dropped into the milk, little black ants partook of the refreshments without being invited, and fuzzy caterpillars swung down from the tree to see what was going on. Three white-headed children peeped over the fence, and an objectionable dog barked at them from the other side of the river with all his might and main. 这顿午餐吃得十分愉快，一切都似乎新鲜有趣，大家谈笑风生，惊动了在近处吃草的一匹老马。饭桌凹凸不平，常常弄得杯碟东倒西歪，十分逗趣，橡树子掉进牛奶里头，小黑蚂蚁不请自来，一起分享美点，爱管闲事的毛虫从树上晃荡下来，想看看发生了什么事。三个白发小童隔着篱笆探头探脑，一只讨厌的狗在河对面向他们汪汪狂吠。 'There's salt here, if you prefer it,' said Laurie, as he handed Jo a saucer of berries. " 这里有盐，要不要来一点？"劳里给乔递上一碟草莓，说。 'Thank you, I prefer spiders,' she replied, fishing up two unwary little ones who had gone to a creamy death. 'How dare you remind me of that horrid dinner-party, when yours is so nice in every way?' added Jo, as they both laughed, and ate out of one plate, the china having run short. " 多谢了，我倒宁可要蜘蛛，"她答着，挑起两只不小心被奶油淹死了的小蜘蛛。"你还敢提那次糟糕透顶的宴会？你自己的办得有声有色，倒来取笑我？"乔又说，于是两人都笑起来，由于瓷碟不够，便凑着一个碟子一起吃。 
我那天玩得特别开心，至今仍意犹未荆这顿午饭我可不敢贪功，你知道，我什么也没做，都是你和梅格、布鲁克他们做的，我对你们真感激不尽呢。我们吃饱后该干什么？"劳里问。吃罢午饭，他觉得下面没棋了。 'Have games till it's cooler. I brought "Authors", and I dare say Miss Kate knows something new and nice. Go and ask her; she's company, and you ought to stay with her more. " 玩游戏，直到天凉下来，我带来了'作者'游戏卡。凯特小姐也一定有些好玩的新花样。去问问她吧；她是客人，你该多陪陪她。" 'Aren't you company, too? I thought she'd suit Brooke; but he keeps talking to Meg, and Kate just stares at them through that ridiculous glass of hers. I'm going, so you needn't try to preach propriety, for you can't do it, Jo.' Miss Kate did know several new games; and as the girls would not, and the boys could not, eat any more, they all adjourned to the drawing room to play 'Rigmarole'. “你就不是客人了？我原以为她和布鲁克合得来，但他却老跟梅格说话，凯特只是透过她那副怪眼镜一个劲地瞪着他们。我去了，你也不用跟我谈什么礼节规矩，因为你自己就做不来，乔。"凯特确实知道几种新游戏，因姑娘们不愿再吃，男孩们又不能再吃，大家便移到"客厅"玩"废话连篇"的游戏。 'One person begins a story, any nonsense you like, and tells as long as he pleases, only taking care to stop short at some exciting point, when the next takes it up and does the same. It's very funny when well done, and makes a perfect jumble of tragical comical stuff to laugh over. Please start it, Mr. Brooke,' said Kate with a commanding air, which surprised Meg, who treated the tutor with as much respect as any other gentleman. “一人起个头，给大家讲故事，内容不拘、长短不限，但要注意一到紧要关头便得停下，第二个人立即接上，如法炮制。如果玩得好，这个游戏十分有趣，里头故事杂乱无章，或悲或喜，令人捧腹。请起个头，布鲁克先生，"凯特用一种命令式的语气说。梅格对这位私人教师十分敬重，把他跟其他几位男士一样看待，见状不禁大为惊讶。 Lying on the grass at the feet of the two young ladies, Mr. Brooke obediently began the story, with the handsome brown eyes steadily fixed upon the sunshiny river. 草地上，布鲁克先生躺在两位年青小姐的脚边遵命起头，漂亮的棕色眼睛凝视着披满阳光的小河。 
从前，一个武士穷得只剩下一把剑和一张盾，于是出去闯世界。他历尽艰辛，周游了差不多二十八年，最后来到一个好心的老国王的宫殿。老国王有一匹心爱的小马，漂亮无比，但尚未驯服，他颁令如有人把这骑马驯好，将获得一笔丰厚的酬金。武士同意试一试，这匹雄壮骁勇的马儿很快就和新主人建立了感情，虽然它性子暴烈，狂野不羁，但还是慢慢被驯服了。每天训练时武士都骑着国王的宝马穿过闹市，边走边四面寻找一张在他梦中出现过无数次的漂亮脸孔，但一直没有找到。 One day, as he went prancing down a quiet street, he saw at the window of a ruinous castle the lovely face. He was delighted, inquired who lived in this old castle, and was told that several captive princesses were kept there by a spell, and spun all day to lay up money to buy their liberty. The knight wished intensely that he could free them; but he was poor, and could only go by each day, watching for the sweet face, and longing to see it out in the sunshine. At last he resolved to get into the castle and ask how he could help them. He went and knocked; the great door flew open, and he beheld--' 一天，当他策马走过一条寂静无人的街道时，他在一座废弃的城堡的窗口里看到了那张动人的脸孔。他惊喜万分，便询问是谁住在这座旧城堡里头，原来是几个被掳来的公主，她们被施了魔咒，关在里头，夜以继日地纺纱织布，以蓄钱赎取自由。武士非常希望能把她们解救出来，但他一贫如洗，只能每天走到那里，盼望着那张美丽的脸孔能再次出现，期望公主能够出来走到阳光下面。最后他决定闯进城堡，看看怎样才能帮助她们。他走过去敲门，大门马上拉开，他看到了--"“一位绝色佳人，她狂喜地大叫一声，高呼：'盼到啦！盼到啦！'"凯特接上故事，她读过法国小说，喜欢那种风格。 "Oh, rise!" she said, extending a hand of marble fairness. "Never! till you tell me how I may rescue you," swore the knight, still kneeling. "Alas, my cruel fate condemns me to remain here till my tyrant is destroyed." "Where is the villain!" "In the mauve salon. Go, brave heart, and save me from despair." 'I obey, and return victorious or dead!" With these thrilling words he rushed away, and flinging open the door of the mauve salon, was about to enter, when he received--' ' 啊，起来！'她伸出纤纤玉手说道。'不！除非你告诉我怎样才能把你救出樊牢，"武士跪在那里发誓。'呵，残酷的命运把我囚在这里，暴君不死，我就没有出头之日。''恶棍在哪里？''在紫红色的大厅里。去吧，勇敢的爱人，快把我救出绝境。''遵命，我一定与他决一死战！'说完这几句豪言壮语后，他冲出去，砰的一声打开紫红色大厅的大门，正要走进去，却遭到--" 'A stunning blow from the big Greek lexicon, which an old fellow in a black gown fired at him,' said Ned. 'Instantly Sir What's his-name recovered himself, pitched the tyrant out of the window, and turned to join the lady victorious, but with a bump on his brow; found the door locked, tore up the curtains, made a rope ladder, got half way down when the ladder broke, and he went head first into the moat, sixty feet below. “一下痛击，一个披黑衣的老家伙向他下了手，"内德说，"某某爵士马上回过神来，把暴君丢出窗外，转身去与佳人相会，顶着眉头上的大包，凯旋而归；但却发现门被锁上了，只好撕破窗帘做成一张绳梯，下到半途绳梯突然断裂，他一头栽进六十英尺下面的护城河。 Could swim like a duck, paddled round the castle till he came to a little door guarded by two stout fellows; knocked their heads together till they cracked like a couple of nuts, then, by a trilling exertion of his prodigious strength, he smashed in the door, went up a pair of stone steps covered with dust a foot thick, toads as big as your fist, and spiders that would frighten you into hysterics, Miss March. At the top of these steps he came plump upon a sight that took his breath away and chilled his blood--' 他熟谙水性，涉水绕城堡而行，最后来到一扇有两壮汉守着的小门，把两个脑袋互相对碰，直碰得格格作响，接着，大力士毫不费劲便破门而入，走上一段石阶，上面积满了一英尺厚的灰尘，癞蛤蟆跟你的拳头一样大，蜘蛛准把你吓得歇斯底里尖叫，马奇小姐。在石阶上头，他蓦地看到了一东西，令他大惊失色，毛骨悚然，他看到--"
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