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“那么你觉得梅格对约翰不感兴趣吗？"“谁？"乔双眼圆睁，叫道。 'Mr. Brooke. I call him "John" now; we fell into the way of doing so at the hospital, and he likes it.' 'Oh, dear! I know you'll take his part: he's been good to Father, and you won't send him away, but let Meg marry him, if she wants to. Mean thing! to go petting Papa and helping you, just to wheedle you into liking him'; and Jo pulled her hair again with a wrathful tweak. " 布鲁克先生。我现在称他约翰；我们在医院里开始这样叫他，他也喜欢这样。"“噢，天哪！我知道你们会接受他的：他一直待父亲很好，你们不会把他打发走的，而是让梅格嫁给他，如果她愿意的话。不要脸的东西！去讨好爸爸，帮您的忙，就是要哄得你们的欢心。"乔气得七窍生烟，又揪起自己的头发。 'My dear, don't get angry about it, and I will tell you how it happened. John went with me at Mr. Laurence's request, and was so devoted to poor Father that we couldn't help getting fond of him. He was perfectly open and honourable about Meg, for he told us he loved her, but would earn a comfortable home before he asked her to marry him. He only wanted our leave to love her and work for her, and the right to make her love him if he could. He is a truly excellent young man, and we could not refuse to listen to him; but I will not consent to Meg engaging herself so young.' " 亲爱的，别生气，我告诉你是怎么一回事。约翰奉劳伦斯先生之命陪我一起去医院，他对重病缠身的父亲照顾得十分周到，我们怎能不喜欢他呢？他并没有隐瞒对梅格的感情，开诚布公地告诉我们他爱她，但要等赚够成家立室的钱后才向她求婚。他只希望我们允许他爱她并为她效劳，尽一切努力博取她的爱情，如果他有这个本事的话。我们不能拒绝他的诚意，他确实是个人品出众的年轻人，不过我不同意让梅格这么年轻就订婚。" 'Of course not; it would be idiotic! I knew there was mischief brewing; I felt it; and now it's worse than I imagined. I just wish I could marry Meg myself, and keep her safe in the family.' This odd arrangement made Mrs. March smile; but she said gravely, 'Jo, I confide in you, and don't wish you to say anything to Meg yet. When John comes back, and I see them together, I can judge better of her feelings towards him.' “当然不能同意；那其不是愚蠢之极！我早就知道这里头有文章，我有直觉，不过现在它比我想象的更糟。我真想自己来娶梅格，让她安全留在家里。"这一古怪的安排令马奇太太笑了起来，但她严肃地说："乔，我把事情全告诉你，你可别跟梅格说什么。等约翰回来，他们两人在一起时，我就能更好地判断她对他的感情了。" 'She'll see his in those handsome eyes that she talks about, and then it will be all up with her. She's got such a soft heart, it will melt like butter in the sun if anyone looks sentimentally at her. She read the short reports he sent more than she did your letters, and pinched me when I spoke of it, and likes brown eyes, and doesn't think John an ugly name, and she'll go and fall in love, and there's an end of peace and fun, and cosy times together. I see it all! “她会被她说的那对漂亮的眼睛迷惑住，那时就一切都完了。她心肠最软，如果有人含情脉脉地看着她，她的心就会像阳光下的牛油一样化掉。她读他寄来的病情报告比读你的信还多，我说她两句她就来拧我，她喜欢棕色的眼睛，而且不认为约翰是个难听的名字，她会掉进爱河，那我们在一起的那种宁静、欢乐、温馨的日子必将一去不返。我全料到了！ 
他们会在屋子附近谈情说爱，我们不得不东躲西避；梅格一定会爱得神魂颠倒，不再对我好了；布鲁克也会筹集到一笔血汗钱，将她娶走，把我们一家拆散；而我就会伤透了心，那时一切都会变得令人讨厌。啊，天啊！我们为什么全都不是男孩子，那样可以免遭多少烦恼！"乔无可奈何地把下巴靠在膝头上，对那位该死的约翰猛挥拳头。马奇太太叹了一口气，乔抬起头来，如释重负地舒了一口气。 'You don't like it, Mother? I'm glad of it. Let's send him about his business, and not tell Meg a word of it, but all be happy together as we always have been.' " 你不喜欢这样吧，妈妈？这真叫我高兴。我们把他赶走，半个字也不要告诉梅格，一家人还跟原来一样一起快乐生活。" 'I did wrong to sigh, Jo. It is natural and right you should all go to homes of your own, in time; but I do want to keep my girls as long as I can; and I am sorry that this happened so soon, for Meg is only seventeen, and it will be some years before John can make a home for her. Your father and I have agreed that she shall not bind herself in any way, nor be married, before twenty. If she and John love one another, they can wait, and test the love by doing so. She is conscientious, and I have no fear of her treating him unkindly. My pretty, tender-hearted girl! I hope things will go happily with her.' 'Hadn't you rather have her marry a rich man?' asked Jo, as her mother's voice faltered a little over the last words. “刚才叹气是我不对，乔，你们日后各自另立新家是自然不过的事情，也很应该如此，但我何尝不想我的女儿们在我身边多留几年；我很遗憾这件事来得这么快，因为梅格只有十七岁，而约翰也要过好几年才有能力成家立室。我和你父亲的意见是，二十岁前她不能订下任何盟誓，也不能结婚。如果她和约翰相爱，他们可以等，这样也可以考验他们的爱情。她并非轻浮浅薄之流。我倒不担心她会待他不好。我美丽、善良的女儿！我希望她姻缘美满。"“您难道不希望她嫁个富家子弟吗？"乔问。说到最后，母亲的声音有些颤抖。 'Money is a good and useful thing, Jo; and I hope my girls will never feel the need of it too bitterly, nor be tempted by too much. I should like to know that John was firmly established in some good business, which gave him an income large enough to keep free from debt and make Meg comfortable. I'm not ambitious for a splendid fortune, a fashionable position, or a great name for my girls. If rank and money come with love and virtue, also, I should accept them gratefully, and enjoy your good fortune; but I know, by experience, how much genuine happiness can be had in a plain little house, where the dally bread is earned, and some privations give sweetness to the few pleasures. I am content to see Meg begin humbly, for, if I am not mistaken, she will be rich in the possession of a good man's heart, and that is better than a fortune.' " 金钱是一种很有用处的好东西，乔，我不希望我的女儿穷困潦倒，也不希望她们过于受金钱的诱惑。我希望约翰有份稳定的好职业，其收入足以维持家庭开支，使梅格生活舒适。我并不奢求我的女儿嫁入名门望族，大富大贵。如果地位和金钱是建立在爱情和品行的基础上，我感激地接受，并分享你们的幸福；但根据经验，我知道普通的小户人家虽然每天都要为生活操劳，却可以拥有真正的幸福，他们的生活虽然清贫，却不失甜蜜温馨。看到梅格从低微起步，我也心满意足，如果我没有看错的话，约翰是个好男人，她将因拥有他的心而变得富有，而这比金钱更为宝贵。" 'I understand, Mother, and quite agree; but I'm disappointed about Meg, for I'd planned to have her marry Teddy by and by, and sit in the lap of luxury all her days. Wouldn't it be nice?' asked Jo, looking up, with a brighter face. “我明白，妈妈，也很赞同，但我可以说对梅格十分失望，我一向计划让她日后嫁给特迪，一生享尽荣华富贵。那不好吗？"乔仰头问道。脸色明朗了一点。 
他比她年纪小，你知道。"马奇太太刚说了一句，乔便打断她--“只是小一点儿，他老成持重，个子又高，如果他喜欢，他的言谈举止可以十足像个大人。再说他富有、慷慨、人品好，而且爱我们全家。这计划成了泡影，我感到十分惋惜。" 'I'm afraid Laurie is hardly grown up enough to Meg, and altogether too much of a weathercock, just now, for anyone to depend on. Don't make plans, Jo; but let time and their own hearts mate your friends. We can't meddle safely in such matters, and had better not get "romantic rubbish", as you call it, into our heads, lest it spoil our friendship.' “我恐怕劳里对梅格来说像个小弟弟，而且谁也不知道他以后会怎样，现在怎么能指望他呢？别多操心，乔，让时间和他们自己的心来成就你的朋友们，干预这种事情很可能弄巧成拙，我们还是不要去'臭浪漫'，正如你所说，免得我们的友谊因此尽毁。" 'Well, I won't; but I hate to see things going all criss-cross and getting snarled up, when a pull here and a snip there would straighten it out. I wish wearing flat-irons on our heads would keep us from growing up. But buds will be roses, and kittens, cats - more's the pity!' 'What's that about flat-irons and cats?' asked Meg, as she crept into the room, with the finished letter in her hand. “嗯，那自然，但我痛恨看到本来可以弄好的事情变得乱七八糟、纠缠不清。如果可以不长大，就是头上压一把熨斗我也愿意。可恨花蕾终要绽开，小猫咪终要长成大猫--总之令人烦恼！"“你们谈什么熨斗啊猫儿的？"梅格手持写好了的信静静走入房间，问道。 'Only one of my stupid speeches. I'm going to bed; come, Peggy,' said Jo, unfolding herself, like an animated puzzle. “我在瞎扯而已。我要去睡觉了；来吧，佩吉。"乔的回答无异于一个猜不透的谜。 'Quite right, and beautifully written. Please add that I send my love to John,' said Mrs. March, as she glanced over the letter, and gave it back. " 写得不错，文笔也优美。请加上一句说我问候约翰。"马奇太太把信扫了一遍后交给梅格。 
您叫他'约翰'吗？"梅格微笑着问道，天真无邪的眼睛直视着母亲。 'Yes; he has been like a son to us, and we are very fond of him,' replied Mrs. March, returning the look with a keen one. " 对，他就像我们的儿子一样，我们非常喜欢他呢，"马奇太太答道，也紧紧地盯着女儿。 'I'm glad of that, he is so lonely. Good night, Mother dear. It is so inexpressibly comfortable to have you here,' was Meg's quiet answer. " 那我真高兴，他是多么孤独。晚安，妈妈，有您在这里我们便感到无比舒坦，"梅格这样回答。 The kiss her mother gave her was a very tender one; and, as she went away, Mrs. March said, with a mixture of satisfaction and regret, 'She does not love John yet, but will soon learn to.' 母亲无限爱怜地给了女儿一吻。梅格走后，马奇太太又满意又遗憾地自语："她还没有爱上约翰，但很快就会爱上的。" Jo's face was a study next day, for the secret rather weighed upon her, and she found it hard not to look mysterious and important. Meg observed it, but did not trouble herself to make inquiries, for she had learned that the best way to manage Jo was by the law of contraries, so she felt sure of being told everything if she did not ask. She was rather surprised, therefore, when the silence remained unbroken, and Jo assumed a patronizing air, which decidedly aggravated Meg, who in her turn assumed an air of dignified reserve, and devoted herself to her mother. This left Jo to her own devices; for Mrs. March had taken her place as nurse, and bade her rest, exercise, and amuse herself after her long confinement. Amy being gone, Laurie was her only refuge; and, much as she enjoyed his society, she rather dreaded him just then, for he was an incorrigible tease, and she feared he would coax her secret from her. 第二天乔的脸色令人捉摸不透。那个秘密在她心头挥之不去，她很难装得若无其事。梅格觉察到她神秘兮兮，心事重重，但她不忙追问，她知道让乔就范的最好办法是反其道而行之，她肯定只要她不问，乔一定自己把心事全倒出来。令她颇为诧异的是，乔仍然守口如瓶，而且摆出一副傲慢的神态，这可把梅格气坏了，她转而也装出一副凛然不可犯的神气，寡言少语，一应大小事情只和母亲商量。马奇太太此时已接替了乔的护理工作，并嘱久困在家的女儿好好休息，尽兴玩乐，这么一来，乔倒没有人烦她了。艾美又不在家，劳里便成了唯一可以慰藉她的人；她虽然十分喜欢劳里作伴，此刻却有点怕他，因为他有一种不可救药的劣根--爱戏弄别人，她担心他会用甜言蜜语把秘密从她口里套出来。
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