6 Beth

Chapter 6 Beth Mrs. March left for Washington at once. A week later, they heard from Mr. Brooke that Father was recovering. The news made everyone feel happier. Meg and Jo worked hard at their jobs, Beth and Amy cleaned the house and they shared the cooking. But, one by one, they slipped back into their old ways. Meg spent hours reading John Brooke's letters. Jo curled up with her writing and Amy went back to sketching.

第六章贝丝马奇太太立刻动身去了华盛顿。 一周后，他们从布鲁克先生那里得知父亲正在康复。 这个消息使每个人都感到高兴。 梅格和琼努力工作，贝思和艾米打扫房子，她们一起做饭。 但是，一个接一个，他们又回到了老路上。 梅格花了好几个小时读约翰·布鲁克的信。 乔蜷缩着写东西，艾美又继续画素描。

Only Beth faithfully carried out their mother's duties, taking food to families in the poorer part of town. One afternoon, she was drenched in a downpour of icy winter sleet. When she got home, the fire was out and she couldn't get warm. A few days later, Beth started shivering as though she'd never stop. At the same time, she felt boiling hot. Jo found her looking in the medicine cupboard. "I don't feel well," Beth muttered, going to press her burning head against the cold window pane.

只有贝思忠实地履行了母亲的职责，把食物送到镇上较贫穷地区的家庭。 一天下午，她被一场冰冷的冬雨淋得浑身湿透。 当她回到家时，火已经灭了，她无法取暖。 几天后，贝丝开始颤抖，好像她永远不会停止。 与此同时，她感到滚烫。 琼发现她在药柜里找。 “我觉得不舒服，”贝思咕哝着，想把她发烫的头贴在冰冷的窗玻璃上。

Jo felt Beth's forehead and was horrified. "Beth, you're feverish. We must get the doctor." When the doctor came, he looked serious. "The child has scarlet fever," he announced and sent her straight to bed. Beth grew worse and worse. Amy was sent to stay with Aunt March to keep her out of the way and Meg continued to work though both of them longed to be at home. Jo spent all her time nursing her sister. A bitter wind raged and snow fell. It lay in drifts around the garden, as white as Beth's face. During the restless, anxious hours in Beth's room, Jo realized how much she loved her.

琼摸了摸白丝的额头，吓了一跳。 “贝思，你发烧了。我们必须请医生来。” 当医生来的时候，他看起来很严肃。 “孩子得了猩红热，"他宣布说，然后就让她上床睡觉了。 贝思的情况越来越糟。 艾米被派去和马奇姑妈住在一起，免得她碍事，梅格则继续工作，尽管她们俩都渴望待在家里。 琼把所有的时间都用来照顾她的妹妹。 寒风肆虐，大雪纷飞。 它在花园里一堆堆地躺着，像白丝的脸一样白。 在白丝的房间里，在那不安、焦虑的几个小时里，琼意识到自己是多么爱她。

Beth's shyness meant she was the quietest of the sisters, but her kindness and gentleness made her all the more precious. All of them had ambitions except Beth. Meg wanted to marry, Jo was determined to be an author and Amy dreamed of being an artist. Beth just wanted to make people happy.

贝思的羞怯意味着她是姐妹中最安静的，但她的善良和温柔使她更加珍贵。 除了贝丝，他们都有野心。 麦格想结婚，琼决心成为一名作家，艾米梦想成为一名艺术家。 贝丝只是想让大家开心。

One afternoon, Laurie caught Jo having a private cry. "I wish I didn't have a heart, it aches so," she sobbed. Laurie's eyes were wet too as he comforted her. "We mustn't give up hope. That won't help Beth. I've sent a telegram to your mother," he added. "I think she should come home."

一天下午，罗瑞撞见琼在私下哭泣。 “我真希望我没有一颗心，它疼得厉害，”她抽泣着说。 劳里安慰她时，眼睛也湿润了。 “我们不能放弃希望。那帮不了贝丝。 我已经给你母亲发了一封电报，”他补充说。 “我觉得她应该回家。”

Their mother came as soon as she could, brightness and courage shining from her. That night Beth's fever broke. The doctor confirmed it. "She's still weak," he said, "but I think she'll pull through."

他们的母亲尽快赶来了，她的身上闪耀着光明和勇气。 那天晚上贝丝的烧退了。 医生证实了。“她还很虚弱，”他说，“但我想她会挺过来的。”