牛津書蟲系列 小婦人 中英雙語 04

4 The house next door

4 隔壁的房子

'It's so nice to go to parties and drive home in carriages.'said Mea，the next morning.'Other people live like that all the time，and I wish we could.I wish we were rich.'

“去參加舞會然后坐馬車回家真好，”第二天早晨麥格說道。“其他人一直都是這樣生活的，真希望我們也是。真希望我們是富有的。”

'Well， we're not，'said Jo.' So we must do our work with a smile，the way Mother does.'

“哎，我們不富有，”瓊說，“所以我們必須面帶微笑做我們的工作，就像媽媽那樣。”

Mr March had lost most of his money helping a friend.When the two older girls discovered this，they wanted to do something to earn some money for the family， and as soon as they were old enough，they found work.Meg got a job teach ing four small children.It was hard for her to be poor because she could remember the time when their home had been beautiful，with every thing they wanted. And every day at Mrs King's house she saw pretty dresses，and heard talk of parties and the theatre-all the things which Meg loved.

馬奇先生為了幫助一位朋友失去了他的大部分錢。當兩個年長的女孩子發(fā)現(xiàn)這件事時，她們就想要做些事來幫家里掙錢。她們等年齡一到，就去找工作。麥格找到了一份給四個小孩教課的工作。對她來說貧困是艱難的，因為她能記得當初家里是多么漂亮，她們要什么有什么。每天在金太太的家里她都能看到漂亮的衣服，聽到有關舞會和劇院的議論——這些都是麥格所熱衷的。

Jo went to Aunt March，who needed someone to fetch and carry things，and read to her.She was a difficult old lady who complained a lot，but Jo did her best.

瓊到了馬奇姑媽家，她需要有人幫她拿取東西，給她讀文章。她是個很難纏的老太太，經(jīng)常抱怨，可瓊盡力而為。

Beth was much too shy to go to school with other children，so she studied at home with her father. When he went away，and her mother was busy with war work， Beth continued to study by herself and helped Hannah keep the home tidy for the others. She also spent long，quiet hours alone，talking to her dolls or playing the old piano.Beth loved music and，although the family could not afford music lessons or a good piano for her， she tried hard to make herself a better musician.

白絲太害羞，不愿跟其他孩子一起上學，于是她呆在家里跟父親學習。父親走了之后，母親忙于戰(zhàn)爭方面的工作，白絲就繼續(xù)自學，同時幫助海娜為其他人整理房間。她也常?；ê荛L時間安靜地獨處，和她的玩具娃娃說話，或者彈那架舊鋼琴。白絲熱愛音樂，雖然家里不能供她上音樂課或買架好鋼琴給她，她還是努力使自己成為一名更好的音樂家。

Amy drew the most beautiful pictures and wanted to be a fa mous painter one day.She was a favoturite with everyone， except when she complained abut having to wear her cousin's old clothes because her mother could not afford to buy new ones for her.

艾米會畫最漂亮的畫，她希望有一天能成為名畫家。她很討大家的喜歡，不過當母親由于買不起新衣服而讓她穿上表姐的舊衣服、她發(fā)牢騷的時候，情形就不同了。

One afternoon a week or two later， Jo went outside to clear the snow away from some of the garden so that Beth could walk there when the sun came out.She looked across to the house next door-a big stone house with lovely things inside that Jo occasionally saw through the open curtains at the windows.But it seemed a lonely， lifeless kind of house， as no children played outside， no motherly face smiled at the windows， and not many people went in and out， except the old gentleman and his grandson.

一兩個星期以后的一個下午，瓊到外面去，想把花園里的部分雪清掃掉，這樣白絲就可以在太陽出來時到那兒去散步了。她朝隔壁的房子看過去——那是座大磚房，里面有很多漂亮的東西，瓊有時會從那些打開窗簾的窗戶看到里面?？伤瓷先ハ袷且蛔陋毜暮翢o生氣的房子，沒有孩子在外面玩，沒有窗邊慈母的笑臉，也沒有許多進進出出的人，只有那個老先生和他的孫子。

She had not seen the Laurence boy lately and wondered if he was away， but suddenly she saw him looking out of an upstairs window .She threw up a handful of soft show and called out，'Are you ill?'

她后來一直沒有見到勞倫斯家的男孩，她懷疑他已經(jīng)走了，可突然間，她見到他正從樓上的一扇窗戶朝外張望。她向上扔了一把松軟的雪，喊道：“你是病了嗎?”

Laurie opened the window'm almost better， thank you，'he said.'I've had a bad cold.'

羅瑞打開窗戶。“我好多了，謝謝，”他說。“我得了重感冒。”

'What do you find to do?'said Jo.

“你都做些什么?”瓊問。

'Nothing，'he said.'They won't let me.'

“什么都不做，”他回答。“他們不讓我做。”

'Why don't you get someone to come and see you?'

“你為什么不讓別人去看你呢?”

'I don't know anyone.'

“我誰也不認識。”

'You know us，'said Jo.

“你認識我們啊，”瓊道。

'So I do!'laughed Laurie.'Will you come，please?'

“那當然!”羅瑞笑了。“你愿意來嗎?”

'I'll come if Mother will let me. I'll go and ask her. Shut the window and wait until I come.'

“如果媽媽同意我就來。我去問她。關上窗戶等著我。”

Laurie was excited and began to get ready for Jo's visit.He brushed his hair and tried to make his room tidy.Soon after， he heard voices downstairs，then a surprised servant ran up to his room.

羅瑞很興奮，開始為瓊的來訪做準備。他梳了頭，盡量把他的房屋弄整齊。過了不久，他聽到樓下有動靜，然后一個吃了一驚的仆人跑上他的房間。

There's a young lady to see you， sir，'she said.

“有位年輕的女士來看您，先生，”她說。

A moment later，Jo appeared with a box in one hand and Beth's three small cats in the other. 'Mother sends her love，'she said.'Meg asked me to bring some of her cake， and Beth thought you would like to play with her cats. Isn't she funny?'

片刻，瓊出現(xiàn)了，一只手抱著一個盆子，另一只手抱著白絲的三只小貓。“媽媽向你問好，”她說。“麥格叫我給你帶些好的蛋糕來。白絲認為你會喜歡跟她的小貓玩兒。她是不是很有意思?”

Laurie laughed How kind you all are，'he said.

羅瑞笑著說：“你們真好。”

'Shall I read to you?'sald Jo.

“我給你讀文章怎么樣?”瓊說。

'I'd rather talk，'he said.

“我寧愿聊聊天。”他答道。

'I can talk all day，'said Jo，smiling.'Beth says I never know when to stop.'

“我可以聊一整天，”瓊笑答。“白絲說我總是不知道在哪兒告一段落。”

'Is Beth the one who stays at home?'

“白絲是那個呆在家里的孩子嗎?”

'Yes，that's Beth.She's a good girl.'

“是的，那是白絲。她是個好孩子。”

'The pretty one is Meg，and the curly-haired one is Amy， is that right?' he said.

“漂亮的那個是麥格，卷頭發(fā)的那個是艾米，對嗎?”羅瑞問。

'Yes.How did you know?'

“是的，你怎么知道?”

Laurie's face became red.'I hear you calling to each other，and you always seem to be having so much fun.Sometimes，in the evenings，you forget to close your curtains and I can see you sitting round the fire with your mother.I haven't got a mother.'

羅瑞的臉紅了。“我聽到你們互相喊對方。你們看起來總有很多有趣的事。有時候，晚上你們忘記拉窗簾，我能看見你們和母親一起坐在爐火邊。我沒有母親。”

Jo saw the sadness in his eyes.'Why don't you come over and see us? Would your grandfather let you?'

瓊看到了他眼中的悲傷。“你干嗎不到我家來看我們?你祖父會讓你來嗎?”

'Perhaps，if your mother asked him，'said Laurie.'He spends a lot of time among his books，and Mr Brooke，my tutor，doesn't live here.So I haven't anyone to go out with.Do you like your school?'

“可能，如果你母親跟他講的話，”羅瑞說，“他花很多時間看書，而我的家庭教師布魯克先生不住在這兒，所以沒人和我一起出去。你喜歡你的學校嗎?”

'I don't go to school.I go out to work-to my aunt's，'said Jo.She described the difficult old lady and made him laugh with her stories. She told him all about her sisters，the plays they acted，and their hopes and fears for their father.Then they talked about books， and Jo discovered that Laurie loved them as much as she did.

“我沒上學。我去工作——到我姑媽家，”瓊回答。她描述了那個難纏的老太太，她的故事讓他發(fā)笑。她告訴他關于她的姐妹的所有事，她們演過的劇，以及她們對父親的期盼和擔憂。然后他們談到了書籍，瓊發(fā)現(xiàn)羅瑞像她一樣愛書。

'Come and see our library，'he said.'Grandfather is out，so you needn't be afraid.'

“到我們的圖書室來，”他說。“祖父出門了，所以你不用怕。”

'I 'm not afraid of anything，' replied Jo.

“我什么也不怕，”瓊答道。

He took her down to a room where the walls were covered with books and pictures.

他帶她來到樓下的一個房間，那里四壁都為書籍和畫所遮蓋。

'You should be the happiest boy in the world!'said Jo，sitting in a big armchair and looking round.

“你應該是世界上最幸福的男孩!”瓊嘆道，邊說邊坐進一張大扶手椅，環(huán)顧四周。

'A person can't live on books，'he said.

“一個人不能靠書生活，”他說。

Suddenly，a bell rang.

突然，鈴響了。

Jo jumped up out of the chair.It's your grand father!'she said.

瓊從椅子上跳起來。“是你祖父!”她說。

'What if it is?'said Laurie， with a smile.'You're not afraid of anything， remember?'

“是又怎樣?”羅瑞笑著說，“你什么都不怕，記得嗎?”

'Perhaps I am a little bit afraid of him，'said Jo.

“也許我有一點點怕他，”瓊說。

The servant came in at that moment.'The doctor is here to see you， sir，'she said to Laurie.

此時仆人走進來。“醫(yī)生來看您了，先生，”她對羅瑞說。

'Can I leave you for a minute or two， Jo?'he said.

“我能離開一兩分鐘嗎，瓊?”他說。

'Yes， I'm very happy here，'said Jo.

“可以，我很高興呆在這兒，”瓊答道。

He went away and Jo was staring at a large picture of the old gentleman when the door opened again without turning，she said，'I won't be afraid of him， because he's got kind eyes，although his mouth looks hard and cold.He's not as handsome as my grandfather， but I like him.'

他走開了。當瓊正在端詳那位老先生的一大幅畫像時，門又開了。她沒有轉(zhuǎn)過身，說道：“我不害怕他，因為雖然他的嘴巴看上去又硬又冷，他的眼睛卻很和善。他不像我祖父那么英俊，可我喜歡他。”

'Thank you，'said a deep voice behind her.

“謝謝你，”她背后有一個深沉的聲音說。

She turned quickly-and saw old Mr Laurence!

她很快轉(zhuǎn)過身——看到了老勞倫斯先生!

Jo's face turned a bright red and she wanted to run away.But the old man's eyes looked kinder than those in the picture and seemed to have a smile in them .

瓊的臉變得通紅，她想跑掉?？赡俏焕舷壬难劬瓷先ケ犬嬒窭锏倪€要和善，好像還帶著笑意。

'So you're not afraid of me，eh?'he said.

“看來你不怕我，啊?”他問道。

'Not much，sir.'

“不太怕，先生。”

'But I'm not as handsome as your grandfather?'

“可我不如你祖父長得英俊?”

'Not quite，sir.'

“不如，先生。”

'But you like me.'He laughed and shook hands with her.

“可你喜歡我。”他笑著和她握握手。

'Now，what have you been doing with my grandson?'

“現(xiàn)在告訴我，你和我孫子一起干了些什么?”

'Trying to cheer him up， sir，' said Jo.'He seems a bit lonely.'

“我盡力使他高興起來，先生。”瓊答道。“他看上去有些孤獨。”

'Then come and have some tea with us.'

“那來和我們一起喝點茶吧。”

Laurie was very surprised to see Jo with his grandfather，but was soon talking and laughing happily with Jo.The old man watched the two young people and noticed the change in his grandson.'She's right，'he thought.The boy does need cheering up.'

羅瑞看到瓊和他祖父在一起很吃驚，可不久就高興地和瓊說說笑笑起來。老人望著兩個年輕人，察覺到了他孫子的變化。“她是對的，”他想，“這孩子需要高興起來。”

After tea， they went into a room where there was a large and beautiful piano.

喝過茶，他們來到一個房間，里面擺著一架漂亮的大鋼琴。

'Do you play?'Jo asked Laurie.

“你彈琴嗎?”瓊問羅瑞。

'Sometimes，'he answered.

“有時彈，”他答道。

'Play now. I want to hear it so I can tell Beth.'

“現(xiàn)在就彈吧，我得聽聽，好去告訴白絲。”

So Laurie played and Jo listened.Afterwards，Mr Laurence said，'He plays quite well，but I want him to do well in more important things. Now， I hope you'll come again.'He shook hands with her.'Goodnight，Jo.'

然后羅瑞彈起鋼琴，瓊聽著，之后，勞倫斯先生說：“他彈得很好，可我要他把更重要的事情做好。那好，希望你能再來。”他跟她握了握手。“晚安，瓊。”

Laurie walked to the door with her.'He doesn't like to hear me play，'he said.

羅瑞隨她走到門口。“他不喜歡我彈琴，”他說。

'why not?' said Jo.

“為什么不?”瓊問。

'I'll tell you one day，'he said.

“我改天會告訴你的。”他回答。

When Jo told the family of her afternoon's adventures， they all wanted to go and visit the big house.

當瓊告訴家人她下午的經(jīng)歷后，她們也都很想去看看那座大房子。

'Mother，why doesn't Mr Laurence like to hear Laurie play the piano?'asked Jo.

“媽媽，為什么勞倫斯先生不喜歡聽羅瑞彈琴?”瓊問。

'Laurie's father married an Italian lady， a musician，' said Mrs March.'The old man didn't like her， and never saw his son after they were married.Laurie was born in Italy， but his parents died when he was a child，and his grandfather brought him home.Laurie loves music and I expect his grand father is afraid he'll want to be a musician like his mother.'

“羅瑞的父親娶了一個意大利女人，她是個鋼琴師，”馬奇太太說。“老人不喜歡她，自從他們結(jié)婚后就再也沒見他的兒子。羅瑞出生在意大利，可在他小時候他父母就去世了。他祖父把他接到家里來。羅瑞很喜歡音樂。我想他祖父一定是怕他想成為他母親那樣的音樂師。”

Laurie should be a musician if he wants to be，'said Jo.'Sending him to college will just make him unhappy.'

“羅瑞如果愿意，他就應該做音樂師，”瓊說。“把他送到大學去只會讓他不快樂。”