評論
打印
CHAPTER ONE第一章
PLAYING PILGRIMS 朝圣
Elizabeth, or Beth, as everyone called her, was a rosy, smooth- haired, bright-eyed girl of thirteen, with a shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression which was seldom disturbed. Her father called her 'Little Miss Tranquility', and the name suited her excellently, for she seemed to live in a happy world of her own, only venturing out to meet the few whom she trusted and loved. Amy, though the youngest, was a most important person, in her own opinion at least. A regular snow maiden, with blue eyes, and yellow hair curling on her shoulders, pale and slender, and always carrying herself like a young lady mindful of her manners. What the characters of the four sisters were we will leave to be found out.
伊麗莎白，人稱貝思，十三歲，膚色紅潤，秀發潤澤，目如秋波。她舉止靦腆，聲音羞怯，神情寧靜而深遠，被父親稱為"小寧靜"，此名非她莫屬，因為她似乎獨個生活在自己的伊甸園中，只敢出來會會幾個最親最信任的人。艾美雖然最小，卻是個十分重要的人物。至少她自我感覺如此。她生得纖細端莊，肌骨晶瑩，一雙藍眼睛，金黃色的頭發卷曲披落肩頭，言談舉止十足一個講究風度的年輕女子。四姐妹的性格如何，我們后面分解。
The clock struck six and, having swept up the hearth, Beth put a pair of slippers down to warm. Somehow the sight of the old shoes had a good effect upon the girls, for Mother was coming, and everyone brightened to welcome her. Meg stopped lecturing, and lighted the lamp, Amy got out of the easy chair without being asked, and Jo forgot how tired she was as she sat up to hold the slippers nearer to the blaze.
時鐘敲響六下，貝思已經掃干凈壁爐地面，把一雙便鞋放到上面烘干。看到這雙舊鞋子，姑娘們想起媽媽就要回家了，心情明朗起來，準備迎接媽媽。梅格停止了訓導，點上了燈。艾美不用人說，就離開了安樂椅。喬則坐起來把鞋子挪近火邊，一時忘卻了疲倦。
"They are quite worn out. Marmee must have a new pair."
“鞋子太破舊了，媽咪得換雙新的。”
"I thought I'd get her some with my dollar," said Beth.
“我想用自己的錢給她買一雙，”貝思說。
"No, I shall!" cried Amy.
“不，我來買！”艾美嚷道。
"I'm the oldest," began Meg, but Jo cut in with a decided, "I'm the man of the family now Papa is away, and I shall provide the slippers, for he told me to take special care of Mother while he was gone." "I'll tell you what we'll do," said Beth, "let's each get her something for Christmas, and not get anything for ourselves." "That's like you, dear! What will we get?" exclaimed Jo.
“我最大，”梅格剛開口，就被喬堅決地打斷了--“爸爸不在家，我就是家里的男子漢了，鞋子我來買。因為爸爸跟我說過，他不在家的時候要我好好照顧媽媽。”“依我說應該這么著，”貝思說，”我們各自給媽媽送件圣誕禮物，我們自己什么都別要了。”“那才像你！好妹妹，送什么好呢？”喬嚷道。
Everyone thought soberly for a minute, then Meg announced, as if the idea was suggested by the sight of her own pretty hands, "I shall give her a nice pair of gloves." "Army shoes, best to be had," cried Jo.
大家都認真想了一會，梅格似乎從自己漂亮的雙手得到啟發，宣布道：“我要給媽媽送一雙精致的手套。”“最好送雙軍鞋，”喬高聲說道。
