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梅格素来性格温柔，此时却被这个恶作剧气得使上了性子，自尊心也受到了伤害，马奇太太连忙劝慰她，允诺一定万分小心，绝不泄漏秘密。大厅里传来了劳里的脚步声。梅格立即躲入书房，马奇太太独自一人接待这位"罪犯"。乔怕他不来，并没有说明把他叫来的原因，但他一看到马奇太太的脸色就明白了，于是愧疚不安地站着，帽子转过来又转过去，让人一眼就看出他正是罪魁祸首。乔撤出了房间，但却像个看守一样在客厅里大步徘徊，仿佛担心囚犯会逃走似的。客厅里的声音忽高忽低，持续了半个小时，但两人到底谈了些什么姑娘们却无从知道。 When they were called in, Laurie was standing by their mother, with such a penitent face that Jo forgave him on the spot, but did not think it wise to betray the fact. Meg received his humble apology, and was much comforted by the assurance that Brooke knew nothing of the joke. 当她们被叫进去时，劳里站在母亲身边，满脸悔意，乔见了心里一软，当场便原谅了他，只是不愿表露出来。劳里低声下气地向梅格赔不是，并安慰她布鲁克先生完全不知道这个玩笑，梅格心里才松了一口气，并接受了他的道歉。 'I'll never tell him to my dying day - wild horses shan't drag it out of me; so you'll forgive me, Meg, and I'll do anything to show how out-and-out sorry I am,' he added, looking very much ashamed of himself. " 我到死也不会告诉他--即使严刑拷问也不说；这样你会原谅我了吧，梅格？我真想为你做任何事，来证明我是多么后悔，"他说道，满脸羞愧之色。 'I'll try; but it was a very ungentlemanly thing to do. I didn't think you could be so sly and malicious, Laurie, replied Meg, trying to hide her maidenly confusion under a gravely reproachful air. " 我尽量吧，但这实在不是绅士的作风。我料不到你竟这样狡诈恶毒，劳里，"梅格佯装严厉地责备道，借以掩饰自己的窘态。 'It was altogether abominable, and I don't deserve to be spoken to for a month; but you will, though, won't you?' and Laurie folded his hands together with such an imploring gesture, as he spoke in his irresistibly persuasive tone, that it was impossible to frown upon him, in spite of his scandalous behaviour. Meg pardoned him, and Mrs. March's grave face relaxed, in spite of her efforts to keep sober, when she heard him declare that he would atone for his sins by all sorts of penances and abase himself like a worm before the injured damsel. " 我深知自己罪无可恕，你们一个月不跟我说话我也是罪有应得，但你们不会这样对我的，是吗？"他说话时可怜巴巴地把双手十指交叉叠在一起，他的声调具有不可抗拒的说服力，大家都没法再对他横眉怒目，尽管他犯下了如此恶行。梅格宽恕了他，马奇太太虽然竭力保持严肃，但听他说愿意做牛做马将功折罪，愿意在受到伤害的梅格面前卑躬屈膝，那凝重的脸色也缓和下来。 
乔独自走到一边，试图铁起心肠，不吃他这一套，结果成功地把面孔绷得老紧，仿佛对他深恶痛绝。劳里看了她两回，但她全无一点怜悯的意思，他觉得受了伤害，便转身把背脊对着她，一直等母亲和梅格说完了，才向她深深一弯身子，一言不发，径自走出门去。 As soon as he had gone, she wished she had been more forgiving; and when Meg and her mother went upstairs she felt lonely and longed for Teddy. After resisting for some time, she yielded to the impulse and, armed with a book to return, went over to the big house. 他一走，乔便后悔自己刚才做得太无情，待梅格和母亲上了楼后，她感到十分孤独，很想见一见特迪。踌躇了半天，她还是向自己的冲动屈服了，于是携了一本书，径直走到那座大房子前。 'Is Mr. Laurence in?' asked Jo, of a housemaid, who was coming downstairs. " 劳伦斯先生在家吗？"乔问一位走下楼梯的女佣。 'Yes, miss; but I don't believe he's seeable just yet.' 'Why not? is he ill?' 'La, no, miss, but he's had a scene with Mr. Laurie, who is in one of his tantrums about something, which vexes the old gentleman, so I dursn't go nigh him.' 'Where is Laurie?' 'Shut up in his room, and he won't answer, though I've been a-tapping. I don't know what's to become of the dinner, for it's ready, and there's no one to eat it.' 'I'll go and see what the matter is. I'm not afraid of either of them.' Up went Jo, and knocked smartly at the door of Laurie's little study. " 在的，小姐。但我想他现在不便见客。"“为什么？他病了吗？"“唉，不是，小姐，他和劳里先生当众吵了一架，小先生不知为什么发脾气，惹得老先生火气冲天，所以我这会不敢走近他。"“劳里在哪儿？"“关在自己的房间里，凭我怎样敲门他都不理。我不知道拿这顿饭这么办，饭菜准备好了，却没有人来吃。"“我去看看怎么回事。我不怕他们。"乔走上去，来到劳里的小书房前，使劲敲门。 'Stop that, or I'll open the door and make you!' called out the young gentleman, in a threatening tone. “别敲！不然我打开门揍你一顿！"年青人大声恫吓道。 
乔接着又敲，门突然打开，趁劳里惊讶得一时没有反应过来，乔快步冲了进去。乔知道怎样驾驭他，看到他果然大动肝火，便装出一副幡然悔悟的样子，双膝轻轻跪下，柔声说道："请恕我一时无礼，我特来讲和，讲不成便不走。" 'It's all right. Get up, and don't be a goose, Jo,' was the cavalier reply to her petition. “行了，起来吧，别像个傻瓜，乔。"他态度傲慢地答应了乔的请求。 'Thank you; I will. Could I ask what's the matter? You don't look exactly easy in your mind.' 'I've been shaken, and I won't bear it!' growled Laurie, indignantly. " 谢谢，我起来了。我能问问出了什么事吗？你似乎心里很不畅快。"“我被人摇了肩膀，我忍无可忍！"劳里愤怒地咆吼道。 'Who did it?' demanded Jo. " 谁摇你了？"乔问。 'Grandfather; if it had been anyone else I'd have--' And the injured youth finished his sentence by an energetic gesture of the right arm. 'That's nothing; I often shake you, and you don't mind,' said Jo, soothingly. " 爷爷。如果换了别人我保准--"这位心灵受创的年青人右手狠狠一挥，把话止祝"那有什么。我也常常摇你，你从不生气，"乔安慰道。 
呸！你是个姑娘家，那样摇摇是一种乐趣。但我不允许男人摇我。"“如果你像现在这样暴跳如雷，被人摇两下也不足为怪。你爷爷为什么那样对你？" 'Just because I wouldn't say what your mother wanted me for. I'd promised not to tell, and of course I wasn't going to break my word.' “就因为我不肯告诉他你妈妈为什么把我叫去。我答应过不说的，当然不能失信。" 'Couldn't you satisfy your grandpa in any other way?' 'No; he would have the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I'd have told my part of the scrape, if I could without bringing Meg in. As I couldn't, I held my tongue, and bore the scolding till the old gentleman collared me. Then I got angry, and bolted, for fear I should forget myself.' “你不能换个法儿满足一下他老人家吗？"“不能，他就是要听真相，完完整整的真相，其他一概不听。假如能不拉扯上梅格，我可以告诉他部分真相。既然不能，我便一句话也不说，由他去骂，最后他竟一把抓住我的领口。我气坏了，赶紧脱身溜掉，担心自己气昏了头，会做出什么事来。" 'It wasn't nice, but he's sorry, I know; so go down and make up. I'll help you.' 'Hanged if I do! I'm not going to be lectured and pummelled by everyone, just for a bit of a frolic. I was sorry about Meg, and begged pardon like a man; but I won't do it again, when I wasn't in the wrong.' 'He didn't know that.' " 这是他不对，但我知道他后悔了，还是下去和解吧。我来帮你说。"“那我宁可去死，我不过开了一个玩笑，难道便要被你们每个人轮流教训、挨揍不成？我是对不起梅格，也已经堂堂正正地道了歉；但我不会再向谁卑躬屈膝，如果我没有做错。"“但他并不知道埃" 'He ought to trust me, and not act as if I was a baby. It's no use, Jo; he's got to learn that I'm able to take care of myself, and don't need anyone's apron strings to hold on by.' “他应该信任我，不要把我当小孩子对待。没有用的，乔，他得明白我能够照顾自己，不需要牵着人家的围裙带子走。" 
“真是个辣椒罐子！"乔叹道，"你说这事该怎么解决？" 'Well, he ought to beg pardon, and believe me when I say I can't tell him what the fuss is about.' 'Bless you! he won't do that.' “哦。地应该跟我道歉，我说过这事不能告诉他，他应该相信我。"“哎呀！他不会这样做的。" 'I won't go down till he does.' 'Now, Teddy, be sensible; let it pass, and I'll explain what I can. You can't stay here, so what's the use of being melodramatic?' 'I don't intend to stay here long, anyway. I'll slip off and take a journey somewhere, and when grandpa misses me he'll come round fast enough.' 'I dare say; but you ought not to go and worry him.' “那我就不下去。"“听我说，特迪，理智一点。让这事过去吧，我会尽我所能解释清楚的。你总不能老呆在这里吧，这样激动有什么用呢？"“我可并不打算在这里久留。我要离家出走，漂泊异乡，当爷爷想我时，他很快就会回心转意了。"“但你恐怕不该这样伤他的心。" 'Don't preach. I'll go to Washington and see Brooke; it's gay there, and I'll enjoy myself after the troubles.' 'What fun you'd have! I wish I could run off too,' said Jo, forgetting her part of Mentor in lively visions of material life at the capital. “别啰嗦。我要去华盛顿看布鲁克；那地方充满乐趣，我要无忧无虑地痛玩一常"“那有多痛快！我恨不能也跟了去。"乔脑海里展现出一幅幅生动的军人生活画面，不觉忘记了自己现在充当的角色。 'Come on, then! Why not? You go and surprise your father, and I'll stir up old Brooke.'
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