牛津书虫系列《小妇人》Chapter13 附中英双语文本

13 Laurie makes trouble and Jo makes peace
13 罗瑞惹麻烦琼平息事端
Laurie quickly realized that Jo was keeping a secret which she refused to tell him,but he guessed the secret was about Meg and Mr Brooke, and was annoyed that his tutor had said nothing.He began to make some private plans of his own.
罗瑞很快意识到，琼有秘密在瞒着他，她拒绝向他透露，可他猜想那秘密是关于麦格和布鲁克先生的。他也因老师什么都不说而感到有些生气。他开始制定他自己的计划。
Meg,meanwhile,was busy getting things ready for her father's return, but a change suddenly seemed to come over her.For a day or two,she jumped when she was spoken to,and there was a worried look on her face.
与此同时，麦格忙着为父亲的归来做准备，可是她似乎突然有了某种变化。有一两天，一有人跟她说话她就跳起来，脸上带着焦虑的神色。
Then a letter arrived for her, and a few minutes later Mrs March and Jo saw Meg staring at it with a frightened face.'My child,what is it?'said Mrs March.
然后有封给她的信，几分钟以后马奇太太和琼看见麦格眼盯着那封信，面露惧色。“我的孩子，那是什么？”马奇太太问。
'It's a mistake-he didn't send it.Jo, how could you do it?'Meg hid her face in her hands and cried.
“是个误会——他没发那封信。琼，你怎么能那样做？”麦格用手捂住脸哭了。
'Me?I've done nothing,'said Jo.'What's she talking about?'
“我？我什么也没做呀，”琼说，“她在说什么？”
Meg pulled another letter from her pocket and threw it at Jo.'You wrote it, and that bad boy helped you. How could you be so cruel and mean to us both?'
麦格从她口袋里抽出另一封信扔给琼。“是你写的，那个坏男孩帮了你。你们怎么能这么无情，对我们俩这么坏？”
Jo and her mother read the letter which had been in Meg's pocket.
琼和母亲读了那封装在麦格口袋里的信。
My dearest Meg,I can no longer hide my love for you,and must know your answer before I return.I cannot tellyour parents yet, but I think they will agree if they know that we love one another.Mr Laurence will help me find a good job,and then, my sweet girl, you will make me happy.Say nothing to your family yet, but send a word of hope tome through Laurie.Your loving John.
我最亲爱的麦格，我再也不能隐瞒对你的爱，在我回来之前我一定要得到你的答覆。我还不能告诉你的父母，可我想如果他们知道我们相爱的话他们是会同意的。劳伦斯先生会帮我找一份好工作，然后，我心爱的姑娘，你会让我幸福的。先不要对你父母讲，但通过罗瑞给我一句希望的话吧。爱你的约翰。
'That terrible boy!'said Jo.'I'll make him sorry.'
“那个可恶的男孩！”琼说，“我会让他后悔的。”
But her mother said,'Wait,Jo.Are you sure this is nothing to do with you?'
可她母亲说：“等等，琼。你肯定这事与你无关吗？”
'I never saw the letter before!'said Jo.'But Mr Brooke wouldn't write stupid things like that.'
“我以前从来也没见过这封信！”琼说。“可布鲁克先生不会说像这样的蠢话。”
'It's like his writing,'said Meg unhappily, looking at the second letter in her hand.
“这像他的笔迹，”麦格看着她手上的第二封信。”
'Oh,Meg,you didn't answer it?'said Mrs March.
“噢，麦格，你没回这封信吧？”马奇太太问。
'Yes,I did!'cried Meg,hiding her face again.
“不，我回了！”麦格哭着说，又把头埋进双手里。
'Let me get that wicked boy!'shouted Jo.
“让我抓住那个坏男孩！”琼大喊。
Mrs March sat beside Meg.'Tell me everything.'
马奇太太坐在麦格耳边：“把一切都告诉我。”
'Laurie brought the first letter,'said Meg. 'He didn't seem to know anything about it. I was going to tell you, but I remembered how you liked Mr Brooke and thought it would be all right to keep my little secret for a while.Now I can never look him in the face again.'
“罗瑞带来了第一封信，”麦格说，“他看上去什么都不知道。我本来想告诉你，可我记得你是那么喜欢布鲁克先生，就想，让我自己把这个小秘密保守一段时间也没关系。现在我再也不能面对他了。”
'What did you write to him?'asked Mrs March.
“你给他写了什么？”马奇太太问。
'I only said that I was too young to do anything,and that I didn't wish to have secrets from you so he must speak to Father.I thanked him for his kindness and said I would be his friend,but nothing more,for a long time.'Mrs March smiled and looked pleased.
“我说我太年轻了，什么都不能做。我说我不希望对你保守秘密，所以他必须要对爸爸讲。我感谢他的好意，说我会成为他的朋友，但在很长时期内不会有更进一步的关系。”马奇太太笑了，看上去很高兴。