15 Dark Days

CHAPTER 15 Dark Days The illness settled right into poor Beth. Hannah and the doctor took good care of her. Meg stayed home to keep up the house. Hannah gave strict instructions to the girls not to tell their mother anything. Their father had had a relapse, and Hannah didn't want anything else to upset his recovery. She had no doubt that Beth would soon get well. Heavy hearts carried Jo and Meg through

第十五章黑暗的日子可怜的白丝染上了病。 汉娜和医生把她照顾得很好。 梅格留在家里收拾屋子。 汉娜严格要求女孩们不要告诉母亲任何事情。 他们的父亲旧病复发，汉娜不想让其他任何事情影响他的康复。 她确信贝思很快就会好起来。 琼和梅格心情沉重

these dark days. They were both so afraid to think of life without their special little sister. Beth filled people's hearts with her gentle, giving nature. For a while, she was well enough to send loving notes to Amy. But soon even those good spells were replaced by long periods of tossing and turning. Beth would speak incoherently or sink into a heavy sleep. The doctor started coming twice a day. Hannah stayed up most nights. Jo never left Beth's side. Meg readied a telegram, just in case. December blew in carrying misery and fear. When the doctor came that morning, he told Hannah to send for Mrs. March. Jo dashed to the post office. When she returned home, Laurie arrived with a letter from Mr. Brooke saying their father was once again on them end. The boy immediately noticed Jo's long, sad face and asked, "What's

这些黑暗的日子。他们两个都很害怕没有他们特别的小妹妹的生活。 贝思温柔、乐于奉献的天性充满了人们的心灵。 有一段时间，她恢复得很好，可以给艾米寄情书了。 但很快，即使是那些美好的时光也被长时间的辗转反侧所取代。 贝思说话语无伦次，或者陷入沉睡。 医生开始一天来两次。 汉娜大多数晚上都没睡。 琼从未离开过白丝。 梅格准备了一份电报，以防万一。 十二月带来了痛苦和恐惧。 那天早上医生来了，他叫汉娜把马奇太太叫来。 琼冲到邮局。 当她回到家时，劳里带来了布鲁克先生的一封信，说他们的父亲又一次在他们身边。 男孩立刻注意到乔愁眉苦脸的长脸，问道：“怎么了？

wrong? Is Beth worse?" Jo nodded. "I've sent for Mother." "Was it your idea?" "No. The doctor told us to." Laurie looked startled. "It's not that bad, is it?" "Yes," Jo said, sobbing. "She doesn't even know us anymore. She no longer looks like my Beth. With both Mother and Father gone, I just can't bear it." The tears streamed down her face. Laurie took her hand and whispered, "I'm here. Hold on to me, Jo." "Thank you Laurie. I'm better now." He said quietly, "Keep hoping for the best. Your mother will be here soon." A fresh rainfall of tears started. "Oh Laurie! Beth is my conscience and I can't give her up! I can't!" Laurie choked back his tears and said, "I

错了吗?贝思病情加重了吗？”乔点了点头。 “我已经叫妈妈来了。”“这是你的主意吗？”“没有。 医生让我们这么做的。”劳里显得很吃惊。 “没那么糟，是吧？”“是的，”琼抽泣着说。 “她甚至都不认识我们了。 她不再像我的贝丝了。 爸爸妈妈都走了，我实在受不了。” 泪水从她脸上流下来。 劳里握住她的手，低声说：“我在这里。 抓住我，乔。”“谢谢你，劳里。 我现在好多了。”他平静地说：“往好处想吧。 你妈妈马上就来了。” 一阵新的眼泪开始落下。 “哦,劳里!贝丝是我的良心，我不能放弃她！我不能!”劳里强忍着眼泪说：“我

don't think she'll die. She's so good, and we all love her so much." "The good and dear people always do die!" Jo groaned, but she stopped crying. "You stay here," he said. "I'll make you feel better in a minute." When he returned, he was carrying a glass of wine. Jo took it and proposed a toast, "To the health of my dear Beth!" She sipped slowly and said, "You're a good doctor, Laurie, and such a good friend. How can I ever repay you?" "That's not necessary. Besides, I've got a surprise." "What?" He smiled. "I telegraphed your mother yesterday. Brooke replied that she'd come home at once. She'll be here tonight!" Jo flew out of her chair and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh Laurie! I'm so

我想她不会死的。她太棒了，我们都很喜欢她。” “善良可爱的人总是要死的！”琼呻吟了一声，但她停止了哭泣。 “你留在这儿，”他说。“我马上就让你感觉好点。” 他回来的时候，手里拿着一杯酒。 琼接过它，提议举杯，“为我亲爱的贝思的健康干杯！”她慢慢地喝了一口，说：“你是个好医生，罗瑞，也是个好朋友。 我怎样才能报答你呢？”“没必要。 此外，我还有一个惊喜。” “什么?”他笑了。“我昨天给你母亲打了电报。 布鲁克回答说她马上就回家。 她今晚会来的！”琼从椅子上飞起来，双臂搂住他的脖子。 “哦,劳里!我很

glad." She laughed and trembled and held on tight to the bewildered boy. He patted her back and then gave her a shy kiss, which brought her to her senses. "I'm sorry," she said, "I couldn't help flying at you. No more wine for me! It makes me reckless." Laurie fixed his tie. "Not to worry. I didn't mind. I'm going to pick up your mother. Her train gets in at two in the morning." Jo smiled. "Really, Laurie, how can I thank you?" "You can fly at me again," he teased. "I rather liked it." "No thank you. Go home and rest. It's going to be a long night. Bless you Laurie, bless you!" For a moment, it was as if a burst of sunshine had entered the house. Everyone was so happy to hear that Marmee was

很高兴。”她笑着，颤抖着，紧紧地抱着困惑的男孩。 他拍拍她的背，然后害羞地吻了她一下，这使她恢复了理智。 “对不起，”她说，“我忍不住朝你发火。 我没有酒了！这让我变得鲁莽。” 劳里系好领带。“别担心。 我不介意。我要去接你妈妈。 她坐的火车凌晨两点到站。” 乔笑了。“真的，劳里，我该怎么感谢你呢？”“你又可以向我飞来了，”他揶揄道。 “我挺喜欢的。”“不用了，谢谢。 回家休息吧。这将是一个漫长的夜晚。 上帝保佑你，劳里，上帝保佑你！”有那么一会儿，仿佛有一缕阳光照进了屋子。 每个人都很高兴听到妈妈回来了

finally coming home. Everyone but Beth, who lay in a heavy stupor. Meg and Jo hovered over her, because the doctor wasn't expected to return until midnight when some change might occur. They all waited, but no one slept. It was past two when Meg came into the parlor with an ashen face. Jo had the dreadful thought, "Beth has died and she's afraid to tell me." She flew upstairs to Beth's bedside. The flush of the fever and the look of pain were gone from her young face. She looked so peaceful. Jo leaned over her dear sister and said, "Good-bye, my Beth, goodbye." Jo's tearful speech woke Hannah from her slumber. The servant hurried to the bed and felt Beth's forehead. She smiled broadly and said, "The fever's turned! She's sleeping normally. Thank goodness."

终于回家了。除了白丝，所有的人都睡得不省人事。 麦格和琼在她身边徘徊，因为医生要到午夜才会回来，那时可能会发生一些变化。 他们都等着，但没有人睡觉。 梅格走进客厅时已经两点多了，脸色苍白。 琼有个可怕的想法：“白丝死了，她不敢告诉我。” 她飞快地跑到楼上白丝的床边。 发烧的红晕和痛苦的神情从她年轻的脸上消失了。 她看起来很平静。琼靠在她亲爱的妹妹身上说：“再见，我的贝思，再见。” 乔含泪的讲话把汉娜从睡梦中唤醒。 仆人急忙走到床边，摸了摸贝思的额头。 她灿烂地笑着说：“退烧了！她睡得很正常。 谢天谢地。”