"Then she gave me a long lecture on my sins, and told me to sit and think them over while she just 'lost' herself for a moment. She never finds herself very soon, so the minute her cap began to bob like a top-heavy dahlia, I whipped the _Vicar of Wakefield_ out of my pocket, and read away, with one eye on him and one on Aunt. I'd just got to where they all tumbled into the water when I forgot and laughed out loud. Aunt woke up and, being more good-natured after her nap, told me to read a bit and show what frivolous work I preferred to the worthy and instructive Belsham. I did my very best, and she liked it, though she only said . . .
“她對我的劣行好一頓訓(xùn)斥,并叫我在她'養(yǎng)養(yǎng)神'那一會功夫認(rèn)真思過。她很快又進入夢鄉(xiāng),頭上的帽子像朵頭重腳輕的大麗花一樣搖搖擺擺。見此情景,我馬上從口袋里抽出《威克菲爾德牧師傳》讀起來,一只眼看書,一只眼留意嬸嬸。剛剛讀到書中人物全都跌入水中時,我一時忘情,笑出了聲。嬸嬸醒過來,心情頗佳,叫我讀一點聽聽,看這本書究竟如何輕薄,竟敢把她那本富有教育意義的寶書波爾沙比下去。我盡力而為,她聽得津津有味,但卻說--
"'I don't understand what it's all about. Go back and begin it, child.'"
“'我不明白這本書說的是什么。從頭再讀一次,孩子。'
"Back I went, and made the Primroses as interesting as ever I could. Once I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place, and say meekly, 'I'm afraid it tires you, ma'am. Shan't I stop now?'"
“我從頭再讀,并盡量讀得有聲有色。讀到扣人心弦之處,我故意停下來低聲說:'我擔(dān)心你會厭煩呢,夫人;要不要停下來?'”
"She caught up her knitting, which had dropped out of her hands, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her short way, 'Finish the chapter, and don't be impertinent, miss'."
她把剛才從手中掉落的編織活計拿起,透過眼鏡片狠狠瞪我一眼,用她一貫簡潔的口吻說:“把這章讀完,不得無禮,小姐。'”
"Did she own she liked it?" asked Meg.
“她承認(rèn)她喜歡這本書嗎?”梅格問。
"Oh, bless you, no! But she let old Belsham rest, and when I ran back after my gloves this afternoon, there she was, so hard at the Vicar that she didn't hear me laugh as I danced a jig in the hall because of the good time coming. What a pleasant life she might have if only she chose! I don't envy her much, in spite of her money, for after all rich people have about as many worries as poor ones, I think," added Jo.
“噢,告訴你吧,不承認(rèn)!但她把波爾沙扔到了一邊,我今天下午跑回去拿手套時,看到她正全神貫注地讀那本牧師傳,我高興得在大廳里跳起快步舞,并笑出聲來,她竟全然不覺。只要她愿意,她可以過多么愉快的生活啊!盡管她有錢,我并不怎么羨慕她。我想窮人有窮人的煩惱,富人也有富人的煩惱,”喬接著說。
"That reminds me," said Meg, "that I've got something to tell. It isn't funny, like Jo's story, but I thought about it a good deal as I came home. At the Kings' today I found everybody in a flurry, and one of the children said that her oldest brother had done something dreadful, and Papa had sent him away. I heard Mrs. King crying and Mr. King talking very loud, and Grace and Ellen turned away their faces when they passed me, so I shouldn't see how red and swollen their eyes were. I didn't ask any questions, of course, but I felt so sorry for them and was rather glad I hadn't any wild brothers to do wicked things and disgrace the family."
“我也想起一件事來,”梅格說,”這雖不如喬的故事有趣,但它讓我回家想了很久。今天我發(fā)現(xiàn)金斯家里的人個個都慌慌張張,一個孩子說她大哥犯了件大事,爸爺把他趕走了。我聽到金太太在哭,金先生在大罵,格萊絲和艾倫走過我身邊時也別過臉,免得眼睛紅紅的讓我看到。當(dāng)然我什么也沒有問,但我很替他們難過,同時很慶幸自己沒有這樣可惡的兄弟,令家里人蒙受恥辱。”