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“你会飞到那里的，贝思，迟早都会，用不着担心，"乔说，"但我却要奋斗、工作，还要攀登、等待，而且可能永远也进不去。" 'You'll have me for company, if that's any comfort. I shall have to do a deal of travelling before I come in sight of your Celestial City. If I arrive late, you'll say a good word for me, won't you, Beth?' “那我会陪着你，只要你乐意。我还要走许多许多路才能看到你们的'天国'。如果我迟到，你会替我说句好话，是吗，贝思？" Something in the boy's face troubled his little friend; but she said cheerfully, with her quiet eyes on the changing clouds, 'If people really want to go, and really try all their lives, I think they will get in; for I don't believe there are any locks on that door, or any guards at the gate. I always imagine it is as it is in the picture, where the shining ones stretch out their hands to welcome poor Christian, as he comes up from the river.' 'Wouldn't it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true, and we could live in them?' said Jo, after a little pause. 小伙子那副郑重其事的神情令他的小朋友心慌意乱，但她用平静的眼睛注视着变幻不定的云彩，兴致勃勃地说："只要一个人真心想去，而且毕其一生不懈努力，我想他就可以进去。我不相信'天国'之门上了锁，也不相信门口有卫兵把守。我总是把它想象得跟图画里的一样：金光照人的众神伸出双手，迎接从河里上来的可怜的基督徒。"“如果我们营造的空中楼阁都能成真，而且我们可以住进里头，那不是很有趣吗？"沉默一会之后，乔说道。 'I've made such quantities it would be hard to choose which I'd have,' said Laurie, lying flat, and throwing cones at the squirrel who had betrayed him. " 我的楼阁多得数也数不清，选一个还真难，"劳里平躺在地上说，一面向暴露了他的那只松鼠扔松果。 'You'd have to take your favourite one. What is it?' asked Meg. " 你得选最喜欢的一个。是什么呢？"梅格问。 
如果我说出来，你也会把自己的说出来吗？"“行，只要她们也说。"“我们会的。说吧，劳里。"“等我们世界游览个够后，我想在德国定居下来，尽情欣赏音乐。我自己要做个著名的音乐家，全世界的人都得跑来听我演奏；我不用牵挂什么金钱、生意，而是尽情享受生活，爱怎么活便怎么活。这便是我最喜欢的空中楼阁。你的呢，梅格？" Margaret seemed to find it a little hard to tell hers, and waved a brake before her face, as if to disperse imaginary gnats, while she said slowly, 'I should like a lovely house, full of all sorts of luxurious things - nice food, pretty clothes, handsome furniture, pleasant people, and heaps of money. I am to be mistress of it, and manage it as I like, with plenty of servants, so I never need work a bit. How I should enjoy it! for I wouldn't be idle, but do good and make everyone love me dearly.' 'Wouldn't you have a master for your castle in the air?' asked Laurie, slyly. 玛格丽特似乎觉得自己的有点不好说，她用一枝蕨在面前扇扇，似乎要赶走并不存在的小昆虫，一边慢吞吞地说："我想要一栋漂亮的屋子，里面装满了各种各样奢侈的东西--美味的食物、漂亮的衣服、典雅的家具、合心意的人，还有一堆堆钱。我自己是屋子的女主人，可以随意支配一切，还有许多佣人，这样我便什么活也不用干。我一定活得有声有色！我不会闲呆着的，我会做善事，让每个人都深深爱我。"“你的空中楼阁里不要一个男主人么？"劳里狡黠地问。 'I said "pleasant people", you know'; and Meg carefully tied up her shoe as she spoke, so that no one saw her face. " 我说了'合心意的人'，你知道，"梅格一面说一面十分仔细地绑好鞋带，免得大家看到她的脸孔。 'Why don't you say you'd have a splendid, wise, good husband, and some angelic little children? You know your castle wouldn't be perfect without,' said blunt Jo, who had no tender fancies yet, and rather scorned romance, except in books. " 你为什么不说你要一个既聪明又体贴的丈夫，还要几个天使般的小孩？你明知没有他们你的空中楼阁就不会完美，"直肠直肚的乔说。她尚处于天真蒙昧的阶段，颇看不起儿女之情，除非是在小说里头。 'You'd have nothing but horses, inkstands, and novels in yours,' answered Meg, petulantly. " 你就只会要马匹、墨水台和小说，"梅格生气地回击。 
这有何不好？我要一个养满阿拉伯骏马的马厩，还要几间堆满书本的房子，我要用一枝生花妙笔来写作，这样我的作品便可以跟劳里的音乐一样出名。我在走进自己的楼阁前想实现一个伟业--一个崇高美好、可以传世留芳的事业。我不知道这是什么，但我正在酝酿之中，决意将来一鸣惊人。我想我会写书，并因此而致富成名；这挺适合我。这便是我最喜欢的梦想了。"“我的梦想是和爸爸妈妈平安呆在家里，帮忙料理家务，"贝思满足地说。 'Don't you wish for anything else?' asked Laurie. " 你不想要其他什么吗？"劳里问。 'Since I had my little piano, I am perfectly satisfied. I only wish we may all keep well and be together; nothing else.' 'I have ever so many wishes, but the pet one is to be an artist, and go to Rome, and do fine pictures, and be the best artist in the whole world,' was Amy's modest desire. " 我有自己的小钢琴便已十分满足。我只求我们能够平平安安，常在一起，再没别的。"“我的愿望太多了，不过最大的愿望是做一个艺术家，去罗马，画漂亮的图画，做全世界最出色的艺术家。"这是艾美的小小愿望。 'We're an ambitious set, aren't we? Every one of us, but Beth, wants to be rich and famous, and gorgeous in every respect. I do wonder if any of us will ever get our wishes,' said Laurie, chewing grass, like a meditative calf. “我们是一班野心勃勃的家伙，不是吗？除贝思外，我们个个都想阔绰有钱、成名成家，样样都称心称意。我倒要看谁能够梦想成真，"劳里嚼着青草说，模样像头正在沉思的小牛。 'I've got the key to my castle in the air; but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen,' observed Jo, mysteriously. 'I've got the key to mine, but I'm not allowed to try it. Hang college!' muttered Laurie, with an impatient sigh. " 我已经有打开空中楼阁的钥匙，但能不能把门打开要等将来才能见分晓，"乔神秘兮兮地说。"我也有开门的钥匙，但可恨不能自由使用。该死的大学！"劳里不耐烦地叹了一口气，咕哝道。 
这是我的钥匙！"艾美摇摇手中的笔。"我没有，"梅格可怜巴巴地说。"不，你有，"劳里随即说道。"在哪？"“在你脸上。"“荒唐，那全无用处。" 'Wait and see if it doesn't bring you something worth having,' replied the boy, laughing at the thought of a charming little secret which he fancied he knew. “等着瞧吧，它不为你带来好东西才怪呢，"小伙子回答。他自以为自己知道一个小秘密，想到其中妙处，笑了起来。 Meg coloured behind the brake, but asked no questions, and looked across the river with the same expectant expression which Mr. Brooke had worn when he told the story of the knight. 梅格躲在蕨后的脸腾地飞红了，但她没有问下去，而是望着河对面，眼睛流露出殷切期待的神情，就像布鲁克先生讲述武士故事时一样。 'If we are all alive ten years hence, let's meet, and see how many of us have got our wishes, or how much nearer we are then than now,' said Jo, always ready with a plan. 'Bless me! how old I shall be - twenty-seven!' exclaimed Meg, who felt grown up already, having just reached seventeen. 'You and I will be twenty-six, Teddy, Beth twenty-four, and Amy twenty-two. What a venerable party!' said Jo. " 如果十年后我们仍然活在世上，我们就相聚一堂，看看有几个人实现了梦想，看看到那时离我们的梦想比现在又近了多少，"乔说。她的点子总是来得特别快。"啊约！我那时都要老掉牙了--二十七岁！"梅格叫起来。她虽然年方十七，却觉得自己已经长大成人。“我和你是二十六岁，特迪。贝思二十四，艾美二十二。真是个大团体！"乔说。 'I hope I shall have done something to be proud of by that time; but I'm such a lazy dog, I'm afraid I shall "dawdle", Jo.' 'You need a motive, Mother says; and when you get it she is sure you'll work splendidly.' " 我希望到那时能做出一点引以为荣的成绩，但我是条大懒虫，只怕会'虚郑（掷）光阴'呢，乔。"“你需要一个动力，妈妈说，一旦有了动力，你肯定就会干得十分出色。" 
“真的？我发誓一定会，但哪里有这样的机会！"劳里叫道，冲动地坐起来，"我很应该讨爷爷的欢心，我也确实尽力而为，但这样做跟我的性格格格不入，你们知道，我因此十分痛苦。他要我做个像他一样的印度商人，这还不如把我杀掉。我痛恨茶叶、丝绸、香料，痛恨他的破船运来的每一种垃圾。这些船只归到我名下后，什么时候沉到海底我都不会在乎。我读大学应该遂了他的心，我献给他四年，他便该放过我，不用我做生意；但他铁定了心，非要我步他的后尘不可，除非我像父亲一样逃离家门，走自己喜欢的路。如果家里有人陪着老人的话，我明天就远走高飞。" Laurie spoke excitedly, and looked ready to carry his threat into execution on the slightest provocation; for he was growing up very fast, and, in spite of his indolent ways, had a young man's hatred of subjection, a young man's restless longing to try the world for himself. 劳里言辞激越，似乎一点点小事就能惹得他采取行动。他正处于急飞猛进的发育时期，虽然行动懒懒洋洋，却有一种年轻人的叛逆心理，内心躁动不安，渴望能自由闯荡天下。 'I advise you to sail away in one of your ships, and never come home again till you have tried your own way,' said Jo, whose imagination was fired by the thought of such a daring exploit, and whose sympathy was excited by what she called 'Teddy's wrongs'. " 我有个主意，你乘上你家的大船出走，闯荡一番后再回家，"乔说。想到这么大胆的行为，她的想像力一发不可收拾，同情心也被她所谓的"特迪的冤屈"激发起来。 'That's not right, Jo; you mustn't talk in that way, and Laurie mustn't take your bad advice.' 'You should do just what your grandfather wishes, my dear boy,' said Meg, in her most maternal tone. 'Do your best at college, and when he sees that you try to please him, I'm sure he won't be hard or unjust to you. As you say, there is no one else to stay with and love him, and you'd never forgive yourself if you left him without his permission. Don't be dismal, or fret, but do your duty; and you'll get your reward, as good Mr. Brooke has, by being respected and loved.' " 那样不对，乔，你不能这样说话，劳里也不能接受你的５８１小坏主意。你应该按照你爷爷的意愿行事，好孩子。"梅格摆出一副大姐姐的口吻。"努力念好大学，当他看到你尽自己的能力来取悦他，我肯定他对你便不会这么强硬，这么不讲理。你也说了，家里再无别人来陪伴他，爱他。如果你擅自把他抛下，你也永不会原谅自己的。不要烦恼消沉，做自己该做的，这样你就能受人敬爱，得到好的报偿，就像好人布鲁克先生一样。"
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