7 Endings and beginnings

Chapter 7 Endings & beginnings Like sunshine after a storm, several peaceful weeks followed. In Washington, Mr. March was getting stronger every day and Beth was soon well enough to come downstairs and lie on the study sofa. Christmas Day dawned mild and sunny. Laurie ran in and out with presents and Jo made ridiculous speeches as she presented each one. "I'm so full of happiness, that if only

就像暴风雨过后的阳光，接下来是平静的几个星期。 在华盛顿，马奇先生一天比一天强壮，贝思很快就好了，可以下楼躺在书房的沙发上。 圣诞节的黎明天气温和，阳光明媚。 罗瑞拿着礼物进进出出，每送一件礼物，琼都说些可笑的话。 “我充满了幸福，如果

Father were here I couldn't hold one more drop," sighed Beth. "So am I," agreed Jo, gloating over one of her presents, a brand-new novel. "And me," echoed Amy, looking at a delicate framed print from her mother. "I know I am!" said Meg, admiring the silvery folds of her first silk dress- a gift from old Mr. Laurence. Laurie looked so excited he could hardly contain himself. "Here's another present for the March family!" he cried.

爸爸在这儿，我一滴也憋不住了。”贝思叹道。 “我也是，”乔附和着，幸灾乐祸地看着她的一份礼物——一本崭新的小说。 “还有我，”艾米看着母亲送给她的一幅精美的镶框版画，应声说道。 “我知道我是！”梅格说，一边欣赏着她第一件丝绸连衣裙的银色褶皱——这是老劳伦斯先生送给她的礼物。 劳里激动得几乎控制不住自己。 “这是给马奇家的又一份礼物！”他叫道。

And there stood a tall man, muffled up to the eyebrows, supported by Mr. Brooke. "Father!" the girls cried. In an instant, the house was in uproar. Mrs. March was half- laughing, half-crying, Jo almost fainted and Amy fell on her father's feet and hugged his boots. When they had recovered themselves, Mr. March was settled in an easy chair, Beth on his lap, and Christmas dinner was served. The fat turkey was browned to perfection and the plum pudding melted in their mouths.

那儿站着一个高个子男人，一直裹到眉毛，由布鲁克先生扶着。 “爸爸！”女孩们叫道。 顷刻之间，屋子里一片哗然。 马奇太太半笑半哭，琼几乎晕了过去，艾美倒在她父亲的脚上，抱住他的靴子。 等他们缓过神来，马奇先生坐在安乐椅上，贝思坐在他膝上，圣诞晚餐端上来了。 肥美的火鸡被烤成完美的褐色，葡萄干布丁在他们的嘴里融化了。

Old Mr. Laurence and Laurie joined them, along with John Brooke, who kept sneaking admiring glances at Meg. She blushed and smiled back. Jo spent most of the meal glowering at the unfortunate tutor, much to Laurie's amusement. They ate and drank and talked and laughed. The day ended with Beth playing carols and everyone singing.

老劳伦斯先生和劳里也加入了他们，还有约翰·布鲁克，他不时偷偷地向梅格投去赞赏的目光。 她脸红了，回以微笑。 乔在吃饭的大部分时间里都怒视着这位不幸的家庭教师，这使罗瑞感到很好笑。 他们又吃又喝，有说有笑。 这一天在贝丝演奏圣诞颂歌和大家唱歌中结束。

The following afternoon, Aunt March arrived to visit her nephew and surprised John Brooke and Meg talking quietly together. "Bless me, what's this?" she cried, looking from the pale young man to her blushing niece. "This is Laurie's tutor and Father's friend," stammered Meg. John nodded shyly, and vanished into the study. "He's not thinking of proposing I hope?" boomed the old lady. "He's not nearly good enough for you."

第二天下午，马奇姑妈来看望她的侄子，她惊讶地发现约翰·布鲁克和麦格正在悄悄地交谈。 “天哪，这是怎么回事？”她叫道，看看那个脸色苍白的年轻人，又看看她那面红耳赤的外甥女。 “这是罗瑞的家庭教师和爸爸的朋友，”麦格结结巴巴地说。 约翰害羞地点点头，消失在书房里。 “我希望他没有打算求婚吧？”老太太大声说。 “他配不上你。”

"Why not?" Meg demanded. Aunt March sniffed. "He's a poor wretch and probably after the money he thinks I'm leaving you in my will." Meg was so indignant that her voice soared louder than Aunt March's. "John's not like that! He's good and kind, which matters more than riches." In the study, John heard every word. His heart swelled with happiness. "Perhaps Meg will marry me even though I don't have any money," he thought.

“为什么不?”梅格要求。马奇姑妈闻了闻。 “他是个可怜的家伙，也许在拿到钱以后，他以为我要在遗嘱里把你抛弃了。” 梅格气得声音比马奇姑妈还大。 “约翰不是那样的人！他善良善良，这比财富更重要。” 在书房里，约翰听到了每一个字。 他的心里充满了幸福。 “也许梅格会嫁给我，即使我没有钱，”他想。