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今天我读《天路历程》，读到'基督教徒'和'希望'如何排除万难来到一片长年开满百合花的怡人的草地上，在那儿愉快地歇息，如我们现在一样，然后继续向他们的目的地进发，"贝思答道，一面从父亲的臂膀中溜脱出来，慢慢走到钢琴前，又说，"唱歌时间到了，我想做回自己的旧角儿。我来试着唱唱朝圣者们听到的那首牧羊童子唱的歌儿。因为父亲喜欢这首歌的歌词，我特地为他作了曲。" So, sitting at the dear little piano, Beth softly touched the keys, and, in the sweet voice they had never thought to hear again, sung to her own accompaniment the quaint hymn, which was a singularly fitting song for her: "He that is down need fear no fall, He that is low no pride; He that is humble ever shall Have God to be his guide. "I am content with what I have, Little be it or much; And, Lord! contentment still I crave, Because thou savest such. "Fullness to them a burden is, That go on pilgrimage; Here little, and hereafter bliss, Is best from age to age!" 说着，贝思坐到宝贝小钢琴前，轻轻触动琴键，边弹边唱，那种柔和甜美的声音他们从来没有听过。这首古雅的圣歌仿佛专为她而作：位低者无惧跌落，家贫者无需虚骄；谦和者心中自有，万能的上帝引导。我心长知足，贫富又何如；呵，主！我惟求知足常乐，只因此乐难求。漫漫人生之旅，负担使生活充实；此生微不足道， Like bees swarming after their queen, mother and daughters hovered about Mr. March the next day, neglecting everything to look at, wait upon, and listen to the new invalid, who was in a fair way to be killed by kindness. As he sat propped up in a big chair by Beth's sofa, with the other three close by, and Hannah popping in her head now and then to "peek at the dear man", nothing seemed needed to complete their happiness. But something was needed, and the elder ones felt it, though none confessed the fact. 来世自有大光明。第二天母亲和女儿们围着马奇先生转来转去，正如蜜蜂围着它们的蜂后转一样，她们把一切置诸脑后，只顾侍候这位新病人，看着他，听他说话，把个马奇先生弄得差点招架不住了。他靠在贝思沙发旁边的一张大椅子上，另外三个女儿围坐身边，罕娜不时探头进来，"偷偷看一眼这位好人"，此时此刻，一切都似乎达到了完美的境地。但空气中又似乎有点什么不对劲儿，除了两个妹妹外，大家都感觉到了，只是都不说出来。 Mr. and Mrs. March looked at one another with an anxious expression, as their eyes followed Meg. Jo had sudden fits of sobriety, and was seen to shake her fist at Mr. Brooke's umbrella, which had been left in the hall; Meg was absent-minded, shy, and silent, started when the bell rang, and coloured when John's name was mentioned; Amy said, 'Everyone seemed waiting for something, and couldn't settle down, which was queer, since Father was safe at home,' and Beth innocently wondered why their neighbours didn't run over as usual. 马奇先生和太太不时看一眼梅格，然后忧心忡忡地互相交换一个眼色。乔有时突然变得十分严肃，大家甚至看到她对布鲁克先生遗落在大厅里的雨伞晃起拳头；梅格像失去了魂儿，腼腆不安，沉默寡言，一听到门铃响便心惊肉跳，一听到约翰的名字便脸红耳热；艾美说："每个人都似乎在等待什么，显得心神不定，这就奇怪了，因为爸爸已经平安回来了呀。"贝思则天真地猜疑为何邻居们不像以前一样往这边跑。 Laurie went by in the afternoon, and, seeing Meg at the window, seemed suddenly possessed with a melodramatic fit, for he fell down upon one knee in the snow, beat his breast, tore his hair, and clasped his hands imploringly, as if begging some boon; and when Meg told him to behave himself and go away, he wrung imaginary tears out of his handkerchief, and staggered round the corner as if in utter despair. 下午劳里来了，看到梅格坐在窗边，仿佛一下子心血来潮，单膝跪在雪地上，捶胸扯发，还哀求地十指交叉握紧两手，犹如乞讨什么恩典；梅格叫他放尊重一点，命他走开，他又用自己的手帕绞出几滴假泪，然后绕着墙角摇摇晃晃而去，仿佛伤心欲绝。 
那傻子是什么意思？"梅格故作莫明其妙地笑着问。 'He's showing you how your John will go on by and by. Touching, isn't it?' answered Jo, scornfully. " 他在向你示范你的约翰日后会怎么做。感人吧，哼！"乔奚落道。 'Don't say my John, it isn't proper or true'; but Meg's voice lingered over the words as if they sounded pleasant to her. 'Please don't plague me, Jo; I've told you I don't care much about him, and there isn't to be anything said, but we are all to be friendly, and go on as before.' " 别说我的约翰，这不合适，也并非事实。"但梅格的声音却恋恋不舍地在这四个字上头慢慢拖过，似在品尝其中滋味。"别烦我了，乔，我跟你说过我对他并没有特别的意思，这事也没什么可说的，我们还像以前一样友好来往。" 'We can't, for something has been said, and Laurie's mischief has spoilt you for me. I see it, and so does Mother; you are not like your old self a bit, and seem ever so far away from me. I don't mean to plague you, and will bear it like a man, but I do wish it was all settled. I hate to wait; so if you mean ever to do it, make haste and have it over quickly,' said Jo, pettishly. “我们办不到，因为已经说出来了，劳里的恶作剧已毁了你在我心中的形象。我看出来了，妈妈也一样；你完完全全换了一个人，似乎离我那么遥远。我不想烦你，而且会像一个男子汉一样承受此事，但我很想它有个了断。我痛恨等待，所以如果你有意的话，就请快刀斩乱麻，"乔没好气地说。 'I can't say or do anything till he speaks, and he won't, because Father said I was too young,' began Meg, bending over her work, with a queer little smile, which suggested that she did not quite agree with her father on that point. " 除非他开口，否则我没法说或者做什么，但他不会说的，因为爸爸说我还太年轻，"梅格说，一面低着头做活，脸上露出一丝异样的微笑，表明在这一点上他不很赞同父亲的意见。 
如果他真的开口了，你就不知道如何是好，只会哭鼻子，脸红，让他得偿所愿，而不是明智、坚决地说一声'不'。"“我可不是你想象的那么傻，那么软弱。我知道该说什么，因为我已经计划好了，免得措手不及；谁也不知道会发生什么事，我希望自己有备无患。"看到梅格不知不觉摆出一副煞有介事的神气，脸颊上两朵美丽的红晕变幻不定，十分动人，乔禁不住微笑起来。 'Would you mind telling me what you'd say?' asked Jo, more respectfully. " 能告诉我你会说什么吗？"乔问得尊重些了。 'Not at all; you are sixteen now, quite old enough to be my confidante, and my experience will be useful to you by-and-by, perhaps, in your own affairs of this sort.' 'Don't mean to have any; it's fun to watch other people philander, but I should feel like a fool doing it myself,' said Jo, looking alarmed at the thought. “当然能，你也十六岁了，足可成为我的知己，再说我的经验日后或许会对你在这种事情上有好处。"“不打算涉足；看着别人家谈情说爱倒是挺有趣儿的，但如果换了是自己，我就一定觉得愚不可及，"乔说。想到这，她不觉心头一惊。 'I think not, if you liked anyone very much, and he liked you.' Meg spoke as if to herself, and glanced out at the lane, where she had often seen lovers walking together in the summer twilight. " 我不这样看，如果你很喜欢一个人，而他也喜欢你的话。"梅格仿佛自言自语，眼光向外面一条小巷望去。她常常看到恋人们在夏日的黄昏下在这条小巷双双散步。 'I thought you were going to tell your speech to that man,' said Jo, rudely shortening her sister's little reverie. " 我想你是准备把这番话告诉那个男人，"乔说，不客气地打断她姐姐的痴想。 
哦，我只会十分沉着十分干脆地说：'谢谢你，布鲁克先生，你的心意我领了，但我和爸爸都认为我还太年轻，暂且不宜订约，此事请不必再提，我们仍如以前一样做朋友。'"“哼！说得真够气派！我不信你会这样说，即使说了他也不会甘心。如果他像小说里头那些遭到拒绝的年青人一样纠缠不休，你就会答应他，而不愿伤害他的感情。"“不，我不会。我会告诉他我主意已定，然后很有尊严地走出房间。" Meg rose as she spoke, and was just going to rehearse the dignified exit, when a step in the hall made her fly into her seat and begin to sew as if her life depended on finishing that particular seam in a given time. Jo smothered a laugh at the sudden change, and, when someone gave a modest tap, opened the door with a grim aspect, which was anything but hospitable. 梅格说着站起来，正准备排练那尊严退出的一幕，突然客厅里传来一阵脚步声，她吓得飞身走回座位，赶紧拿起针线活，飞快地缝起来，仿佛她的生命全系于那一针一线之间。乔见状忍着笑，这时有人轻轻敲了一下门，她没好气地打开门，板着一张脸孔，令人望而生畏。 'Good afternoon. I came to get my umbrella - that is, to see how your father finds himself today,' said Mr. Brooke, getting a trifle confused as his eye went from one tell-tale face to the other. " 下午好。我来拿我的雨伞--顺便，看看你爸爸今天怎么样，"布鲁克先生说。看到姐妹二人神色异常，他感到有点诧异。 'It's very well, he's in the rack, I'll get him, and tell it you are here,' and having jumbled her father and the umbrella well together in her reply, Jo slipped out of the room to give Meg a chance to make her speech and air her dignity. But the instant she vanished, Meg began to sidle towards the door, murmuring, 'Mother will like to see you. Pray sit down, I'll call her.' " 很好，他在搁物架上，我去找他，告诉它你来了。"乔回答时把父亲和雨伞混为一谈，然后溜出房间，给梅格一个显示尊严的说话机会。但她的身影刚一消失，梅格便侧身向门口行去，吞吞吐吐地说--“妈妈一定很高兴见你。请坐下，我去叫她。" 'Don't go; are you afraid of me, Margaret?' and Mr. Brooke looked so hurt that Meg thought she must have done something very rude. She blushed up to the little curls on her forehead, for he had never called her Margaret before, and she was surprised to find how natural and sweet it seemed to hear him say it. Anxious to appear friendly and at her ease, she put out her hand with a confiding gesture, and said gratefully: 'How can I be afraid when you have been so kind to Father? I only wish I could thank you for it.' “别走。你是不是怕我，玛格丽特？"布鲁克先生显得十分沮丧，梅格以为自己干了什么极端无礼粗鲁的事情。他以前从来没叫过她玛格丽特，现在这话从他口里发出，她不知为何脸涨得红至发根。她急于表明自己的善意和轻松心情，于是做了个信任的姿势，伸出一只手来，感激地说--“你对爸爸这么好，我怎么会怕你呢？感谢你还不及呢。" 
“要不要我告诉你怎样谢？"布鲁克先生问道，双手紧紧握住那只小手，低头望着梅格，棕色的眼睛流露出无限爱意。梅格心头怦怦乱跳，既想跑开，又想停下细听。
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