目 录 上一节 下一节 
“孩子们，我把你们交给罕娜和劳伦斯先生照顾。罕娜一向忠心耿耿，我们的好邻居劳伦斯先生也会把你们当作自己的女儿一样看待，这些我都不担心，我只希望你们要正确对待这次变故。我走后你们不要烦恼悲伤，也不要慵慵懒懒，或者试图忘记现实，以为这样就能安慰自己。要照常工作，因为工作就是最大的安慰。怀抱希望，不要偷闲，无论发生什么事情，都要记着，你们决不会失去父亲的。" 'Yes, Mother.' 'Meg, dear, be prudent, watch over your sisters, consult Hannah, and, in any perplexity, go to Mr. Laurence. Be patient, Jo, don't get despondent or do rash things; write to me often, and be my brave girl, ready to help and cheer us all. Beth, comfort yourself with your music, and be faithful to the little home duties; and you, Amy, help all you can, be obedient, and keep happy safe at home.' “是，妈妈。"“梅格，好孩子，谨慎行事，带好几个妹妹，凡事与罕娜商量，遇到困难时请教劳伦斯先生。要忍耐，乔，不要灰心泄气、鲁莽行事，多写信给我，要做个勇敢的好姑娘，帮助鼓舞大家。贝思，好好弹琴，有时间帮忙做好家务。你呢，艾美，尽能力帮忙，乖乖听话，不要惹祸。" 'We will, Mother! we will!' The rattle of an approaching carriage made them all start and listen. That was the hard minute, but the girls stood it well; no one cried, no one ran away or uttered a lamentation, though their hearts were very heavy as they sent loving messages to Father, remembering, as they spoke, that it might be too late to deliver them. They kissed their mother quietly, clung about her tenderly, and tried to wave their hands cheerfully when she drove away. “我们会的，妈妈！""我们会的！"这时传来嘎嗒嘎嗒的马车声，大家跳起来侧耳细听。痛苦的时刻到了，但姑娘们强忍悲伤：她们让母亲转达对父亲的问候，虽然她们想到这些话或许已经太迟。没有人哭泣，没有人躲避，也没有叹息，虽然她们心里都感到沉甸甸的；大家轻轻吻别母亲，然后目送着马车离去，强作欢颜，挥手告别。 Laurie and his grandfather came over to see her off, and Mr. Brooke looked so strong and sensible and kind that the girls christened him 'Mr. Greatheart' on the spot. 劳里和爷爷也过来送行，布鲁克先生身强力健，和气可亲，更兼善解人意，姑娘们当场赠他一个外号"大好人先生"。 'Good-bye, my darlings! God bless and keep us all!' whispered Mrs. March, as she kissed one dear little face after the other, and hurried into the carriage. " 再见，宝贝们！上帝保佑大家平平安安！"马奇太太轻声说。她在每张小脸上逐一亲亲，然后快步登上马车。 
马车缓缓向前移动，此时太阳正冉冉升起。马奇太太回头望去，只见吉祥的朝霞洒在大门口的众人身上。他们也看到了太阳，都微笑着挥起了手；四姐妹面露笑容，身后站着俨然护花使者一般的劳伦斯老人、忠实的罕娜和忠心耿耿的劳里。马车转过街角，这一切都从马奇太太的视线里消失了。 'How kind everyone is to us!' she said, turning to find fresh proof of it in the respectful sympathy of the young man's face. " 大家待我们真好！"她说着转头，望着年青人。年青人脸上那种恭敬和同情的神色又一次证明了这句话的正确性。 'I don't see how they can help it,' returned Mr. Brooke, laughing so infectiously that Mrs. March could not help smiling; and so the long journey began with the good omens of sunshine, smiles, and cheerful words. " 他们就是这样的人。"布鲁克先生朗声而笑，那富有感染力的笑声令马奇太太也不禁微笑起来；漫长的旅行于是在祥和的阳光、微笑和欢快的言谈中开始了。 'I feel as if there had been an earthquake,' said Jo, as their neighbours went home to breakfast, leaving them to rest and refresh themselves. 'It seems as if half the house was gone,' added Meg, forlornly. 劳里和爷爷回去吃早饭，姑娘们留在家里稍作休息，邻居一走，乔便说："我觉得好像经历了一场地震。"“屋子也仿佛变得空空荡荡的，"梅格凄凄切切地接着说。 Beth opened her lips to say something, but could only point to the pile of nicely minded hose which lay on Mother's table, showing that even in her last hurried moments she had thought and worked for them. It was a little thing, but it went straight to their hearts; and, in spite of their brave resolutions, they all broke down and cried bitterly. 贝思张嘴要说什么，却说不下去，只用手指指母亲桌面上一叠缝补得整整齐齐的长筒袜；母亲在极度紧张忙碌的时刻也没有忘记照料自己的女儿。这虽然只是一件小事，却令她们深受感动；大家都情不自禁地伤心痛哭。 
罕娜也不去劝，任由她们尽情地释放自己的感情，看她们昏天黑地哭得差不多了，便手持咖啡壶走过来救驾。 'Now, my dear young ladies, remember what your ma said, and don't fret. Come and have a cup of coffee all round, and then let's fall to work and be a credit to the family.' Coffee was a treat, and Hannah showed great tact in making it that morning. No one could resist her persuasive nods, or the fragrant invitation issuing from the nose of the coffee-pot. They drew up to the table, exchanged their handkerchiefs for napkins, and in ten minutes were all right again. " 好了，年轻女士们，记住你们阿妈说过的话，不要伤心。都来喝杯咖啡，然后动身干活，为这个家争口气。"喝咖啡乃一大乐事，再说罕娜那天早上把咖啡煮得出神入化。她点头相劝，让人不可抗拒，咖啡壶嘴里冒出来的阵阵香气也令人垂涎欲滴。姐妹们凑到饭桌边，用身上的手帕权且充作餐巾，一会儿功夫便都平静下来。 '"Hope and keep busy", that's the motto for us, so let's see who will remember it best. I shall go to Aunt March, as usual. Oh, won't she lecture though!' said Jo, as she sipped with returning spirit. “'怀抱希望，不要偷闲。'这是我们的座右铭，看谁最能记住这句话。我要照常上马奇婶婶那儿去。唉，又得听她训话了！"乔呷着咖啡便来了精神。 'I shall go to my Kings, though I'd much rather stay at home and attend to things here,' said Meg, wishing she hadn't made her eyes so red. " 我也要上金斯家去，不过我倒宁愿呆在家里做家务，"梅格说道，很后悔自己把眼睛哭红了。 'No need of that, Beth and I can keep house perfectly well,' put in Amy, with an important air. " 用不着。我和贝思可以把家管理得井井有条，"艾美郑重其事地插话说。 
贝思赶紧拿出洗碗刷和洗碗盘说："罕娜会教我们怎样做，你们回来的时候我们会把一切都弄得好好的。"“我觉得忧思挺有趣儿，"艾美沉思着边吃糖边说。 The girls couldn't help laughing, and felt better for it, though Meg shook her head at the young lady who could find consolation in a sugar-bowl. 大家全忍不住笑起来，心里也好受多了。梅格则对这位可以在糖碗里找到安慰的年轻小姐摇摇脑袋。 The sight of the turnovers made Jo sober again; and when the two went out to their daily tasks, they looked sorrowfully back at the window where they were accustomed to see their mother's face. It was gone; but Beth had remembered the little household ceremony, and there she was, nodding away at them like a rosy-faced mandarin. 看到卷饼，乔严肃起来，当姐妹两人出门去上班的时候，她们凄凄切切地不断回头向窗口望去，平时母亲一定倚在窗边和她们道别，但此时却人面不再。不过，贝思却没有忘记这个小小的家庭仪式，她站在窗前，向两位姐姐点头致意，像个穿中国衣服的红脸摆头娃娃。 'That's so like my Beth!' said Jo, waving her hat, with a grateful face. 'Good-bye, Meggy; I hope the Kings won't trail today. Don't fret about Father, dear,' she added, as they parted. " 真是我的好贝思！"乔说，挥挥帽子，露出一脸感激之情。"再见，梅格，我希望金斯兄弟今天不会让你生气。别担忧爸爸，亲爱的，"临分手时她又说。 'And I hope Aunt March won't croak. Your hair is becoming, and it looks very boyish and nice,' returned Meg, trying not to smile at the curly head, which looked comically small on her tall sister's shoulders. " 我也希望马奇婶婶不会唠唠叨叨，你的头发很好看，又精神又有朝气，"梅格回答。妹妹的脑袋披着短短的鬈发，衬在高高的身架上，显得又小又滑稽，梅格极力忍着不去笑她。 
这是我唯一的安慰。"乔摸摸劳里送她的大帽子，转身而去，觉得自己就像一头在瑟瑟寒风中被剪了毛的羊。 News from their father comforted the girls very much; for, though dangerously ill, the presence of the best and tenderest of nurses had already done him good. Mr. Brooke sent a bulletin every day, and, as the head of the family, Meg insisted on reading the dispatches, which grew more and more cheering as the week passed. At first, everyone was eager to write, and plump envelopes were carefully poked into the letter-box by one or other of the sisters, who felt rather important with their Washington correspondence. As one of these packets contained characteristic notes from the party, we will rob an imaginary mail, and read them: 父亲方面传来的消息使姑娘们大感欣慰。尽管病情严重，在医院经过精心的医护理后，他已逐渐康复。布鲁克先生每天都寄来一份病情报告。梅格身为一家之长，每次都坚持自己来读。随着时间的推移，信中的消息越来越令人振奋。起初四姐妹都争着写信，写好后，由其中一人小心翼翼地把厚厚的信封塞进邮筒，大家都郑重其事地看待这些华盛顿通信。信中有几封皮具代表性，我们不妨截下来读一读： My Dearest Mother - It is impossible to tell you how happy your last letter made us, for the news was so good we couldn't help laughing and crying over it. How very kind Mr. Brooke is, and how fortunate that Mr. Laurence's business detains him near you so long, since he is so useful to you and Father. The girls are all as good as gold. Jo helps me with the sewing, and insists on doing all sorts of hard jobs. I should be afraid she might overdo, if I didn't know that her 'moral fit' wouldn't last long. 我亲爱的妈妈：读了您的来信后，我们的喜悦心情简直没法形容，您捎来的大好消息令我们高兴得又笑又哭。布鲁克先生不愧是菩萨心肠，由于劳伦斯先生生意上的缘故，他能在你们身边陪伴多时，并悉心照顾，实乃万幸，因为他对你和父亲来说是那么有用。妹妹们个个乖巧听话。乔帮我干针线活，还坚持要做各种最难做的工夫。幸亏我知道她的"道德冲动"有如昙花一现，才不至于担心她操劳过度。
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