目 录 上一节 下一节 
这封信告诉大家她把一大笔财富赠给这对年轻人，如果唐·佩得罗破坏他们的幸福，必遭厄运。接着布袋打开了，大把大把的锡币洒落下来，堆在台上闪闪发亮，极为壮观。"狠心的父亲"这才软下心肠，一声不响地表示同意。众人于是齐声欢唱，一双恋人以极为优雅浪漫的姿态跪下，接受唐·佩德罗的祝福，帘幕随之降下。 Tumultuous applause followed, but received an unexpected check; for the cot-bed, on which the 'dress-circle' was built, suddenly shut up, and extinguished the enthusiastic audience. Roderigo and Don Pedro flew to the rescue and all were taken out unhurt, though many were speechless with laughter. The excitement had hardly subsided, when Hannah appeared, with 'Mrs. March's compliments, and would the ladies walk down to supper'. 接下来响起了热烈的掌声，正当此时，那座用作花楼的帆布床突然折拢，把热情洋溢的观众压倒。罗德力戈和唐·佩德罗飞身前来抢救，众人虽然毫发无损，但全都笑得说不出话来。大家刚刚恢复神态，罕娜进来说："马奇太太致以祝贺，并请女士们下来用餐。" This was a surprise, even to the actors; and, when they saw the table, they looked at one another in rapturous amazement. It was like Marmee to get up a little treat for them; but anything so fine as this was unheard of since the departed days of plenty. There was ice-cream - actually two dishes of it, pink and white - and cake and fruit and distracting French bonbons, and, in the middle of the table, four great bouquets of hot-house flowers. 大家一阵惊喜，连演员亦不例外。看到桌子上摆着的东西，她们高兴得互相对望，同时都感到十分奇怪。妈妈平时也会弄点吃的款待她们，不过自从告别了宽裕的日子以来，这样的好东西连听都没听说过。桌子上摆着雪糕--而且有两碟，一碟粉红色，一碟白色--还有蛋糕、水果和迷人的法式夹心糖，桌子中间还摆着四束美丽的温室鲜花！ It quite took their breath away; and they stared first at the table and then at their mother, who looked as if she enjoyed it immensely. 这情景使她们大为惊讶。她们看看饭桌，又看看自己的母亲，母亲也显得非常高兴。 'Is it fairies?' asked Amy. " 这是小仙女干的吗？"艾美问。 
是圣诞老人，"贝思说。 'Mother did it'; and Meg smiled her sweetest, in spite her grey beard and white eyebrows. " 是妈妈干的！"脸上挂着白胡子白眉毛的梅格笑得又甜又美。 'Aunt March had a good fit, and sent the supper,' cried Jo, with a sudden inspiration. " 是马奇婶婶心血来潮给我们送来的，"乔灵机一动叫道。 'All wrong. Old Mr. Laurence sent it,' replied Mr March. " 全都不对，是劳伦斯老先生送来的，"马奇太太答道。 'The Laurence boy's grandfather! What in the world put such a thing into his head? We don't know him!' exclaimed Meg. " 那男孩的爷爷！他怎么会想到我们的呢？我们和他素不相识呀！"梅格嚷道。 
罕娜把你们早上做的事告诉了他的一个佣人。这位老绅士脾气古怪，但他听后很高兴。他多年前就认识我父亲，今天下午便给我送了张十分客气的字条，说希望我能允许他向我的孩子们表示他的善意，送上一点微不足道的圣诞礼物，我不便拒绝，所以你们晚上就开个小宴会，作为对面包加牛奶早餐的补偿。" 'That boy put it into his head, I know he did! He's capital fellow, and I wish we could get acquainted. He loon as if he'd like to know us; but he's bashful, and Meg is prim she won't let me speak to him when we pass,' said Jo as the plates went round, and the ice began to melt out sight, with 'Ohs!' and 'Ahs!' of satisfaction. 一定是那男孩出的主意，准没错！他是个一流的小伙子，但愿我们可以交朋友。他看来也想认识我们，只是有点怕羞，而梅格又一本正经，我们路过也不让我跟他说句话。"这时碟子传过来，雪糕已开始融化，乔一边说一边呵哈呵哈地吃得津津有味。 'You mean the people who live in the big house net door, don't you?' asked one of the girls. 'My mother knows old Mr. Laurence; but says he's very proud, and doesn't like to mix with his neighbours. He keeps his grandson shut up, when he isn't riding or walking with his tutor, and make him study very hard. We invited him to our party, but he didn't come. Mother says he's very nice, though he never speaks to us girls.' " 你们说的是住在隔壁那座大房子里的人吗？"一个姑娘问，"我妈妈认识劳伦斯先生，但说他非常高傲，不喜欢与邻里交往。他把自己的孩子关在家里，只让他跟着家庭教师骑马散步，逼他用功读书。我们曾经邀请他参加我们的晚会，但他没来。妈妈说他相当不错，虽然他从不跟我们女孩子说话。" 'Our cat ran away once, and he brought her back, and we talked over the fence, and were getting on capitally - all about cricket, and so on - when he saw Meg coming, and walked off. I mean to know him some day; for he needs fun, I'm sure he does,' said Jo decidedly. “一次我家的猫儿不见了，是他送回来的。我们隔着篱笆谈了几句，而且相当投机--谈的都是板球一类的东西--他看到梅格走过来，就走开了。我终有一天要认识他的，因为他需要乐趣，我肯定他很需要，"乔自信地说道。 'I like his manners, and he looks like a little gentleman; so I've no objection to your knowing him, if a Proper opportunity comes. He brought the flowers himself; and I should have asked him in, if I had been sure what was going on upstairs. He looked so wistful as he went away, hearing the frolic, and evidently having none of his own.' 'It's a mercy you didn't, Mother!' laughed Jo, looking at her boots. 'But we'll have another play, some time, that he can see. Perhaps he'll help act; wouldn't that be jolly?' “他举止彬彬有礼，令人喜爱。如果时机适宜，我不反对你们交朋友。他今天亲自把鲜花送过来，我本应该请他进来的，但因为不知道你们在楼上干什么，就没让他进来。他走的时候似乎闷闷不乐，若有所思；他听到你们在玩闹，而显然他自己没什么玩的。"“幸亏没叫他进来，妈妈！"乔望望自己的靴子笑道，"不过以后我们会做一出他可以看的戏。或许他还可以和我们一起演出呢。那岂不更有趣？" 
“我从未收到过这样漂亮的花束！真是美极了！"梅格饶有兴致地审视着自己那束鲜花。 'They are lovely. But Beth's roses are sweeter to me,' said Mrs. March, smelling the half-dead posy in her belt. " 花儿是漂亮！不过依我说贝思的玫瑰花更香，"马奇太太闻闻插在腰带上那几近凋零的花朵说道。 Beth nestled up to her, and whispered softly, 'I wish I could send my bunch to Father. I'm afraid he isn't having such a merry Christmas as we are.' 贝思依偎到她的身旁，轻身低语道："我真希望能把我的那束花送给爸爸。我想他圣诞节恐怕过得没有我们这么快乐呢。" 'Jo! Jo! where are you?' cried Meg, at the foot of the garret stairs." 乔！乔！你在哪里？"梅格站在阁楼楼梯脚下叫道。 'Here!' answered a husky voice from above; and, running up, Meg found her sister eating apples and crying over the Heir of Redclyffe, wrapped up in a comforter on an old three-legged sofa by the sunny window. This was Jo's favourite refuge; and here she loved to retire with half a dozen russets and a nice book, to enjoy the quiet and the society of a pet rat who lived near by, and didn't mind her a particle. As Meg appeared, Scrabble whisked into his hole. Jo shook the tears off her cheeks, and waited to hear the news. " 在这里！"上面一个嘶哑的声音应道。梅格跑上去，只见自己的妹妹身上裹着一条羊毛围巾，坐在靠着向阳窗户的一张旧三脚沙发上，一边吃苹果一边抹着眼泪读《莱德克力夫的继承人》。这里是乔最钟爱的避护所；她喜欢带上五六个苹果和一本好书在此逍遥，享受这里的宁静以及和爱鼠作伴的滋味。爱鼠叫做扒扒，住在近处，对她全无顾忌。看到梅格走来，扒扒飞窜入洞。乔抹掉脸颊上的泪珠，看有什么事情。 
多有趣！加德纳夫人正式邀请我们参加明天的晚会。你瞧，这是邀请书！"梅格一边叫一边扬扬那张宝贝字条，以女孩子特有的兴致读起来。 '"Mrs. Gardiner would be happy to see Miss March and Miss Josephine at a little party on New Year's Eve." Marmee is willing we should go; now what shall we wear?' “'加德纳夫人诚邀马奇小姐和约瑟芬小姐参加新年除夕的小舞会。'妈咪也同意我们参加，只是我们穿什么好呢？" 'What's the use of asking that, when you know we shall wear our poplins because we haven't got anything else?' answered Jo, with her mouth full. “问这个有什么意思？你知道我们除了穿府绸衣裳外，别无选择，"乔嘴里塞得满满的，答道。 'If I only had a silk!' sighed Meg. 'Mother says I may when I'm eighteen, perhaps; but two years is an everlasting time to wait.' “如果我有一件丝绸衣裳就好了！"梅格叹息道，"妈妈说我到十八岁时或许会有，但还要等上两年，简直是遥遥无期。" 'I'm sure our pops look like silk, and they are nice enough for us. Yours is as good as new, but I forgot the burn and the tear in mine. Whatever shall I do? the burn shows badly and I can't take any out.' “我敢说我们的府绸衣裳看上去就像丝绸的一样，我们穿上也挺漂亮的。你的就跟新的一样，我倒忘了我那件给烧坏了，而且还裂了个口子。这可该怎么办呢？那块焦痕很明显，而我又拿不出其他衣服来。" 
“你必须老老实实地坐着不动，不要把背部给人看到；前面是不成问题的。我要用一条新丝带扎头发，妈妈会把她的小珍珠发夹借给我，我的新鞋子很漂亮，手套虽然没有我希望的那么漂亮，但也算可以出出场面。" 'Mine are spoilt with lemonade, and I can't get any new ones, so I shall have to go without,' said Jo, who never troubled herself much about dress. “我那双被柠檬汁糟蹋了，我又拿不出新的，到时候就不戴了，"乔说。她向来不大注重打扮。
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