17 Pleasant Prospects

CHAPTER 17 Pleasant Prospects The weeks leading up to Christmas were peaceful. Mr. March sent word he'd be home early in the new year. Beth was improving every day. Amy was home from her aunt's. Everyone was busy preparing for a very merry holiday. Christmas Day itself was crowned with good feeling. Beth was able to stand by the window and admire the brilliant snow

第十七章美好的前景圣诞节前的几个星期是平静的。 马奇先生捎信说，他将在新年早些时候回家。 贝丝每天都在进步。 艾米从姨妈家回来了。 每个人都忙着为一个非常愉快的假期做准备。 圣诞节本身充满了美好的感觉。 白丝可以站在窗边欣赏灿烂的雪花了

maiden Jo and Laurie had built for her. Presents were distributed, and all were pleased with their gifts. Beth said, "I'm so happy. If only Father was here." The other girls heartily agreed. The impish Laurie poked his head through the parlor door and called, "One more present for the March family!" Suddenly, their beloved father appeared. In an instant, all pairs of loving arms embraced him. There were hugs, kisses, giggles, and even a few happy tears. There was never such a Christmas dinner as they had that day. Hannah had cooked a big, juicy turkey. The dinner table was filled with all the trimmings. Mr. Laurence, Laurie, and Mr. Brooke joined the March family. "It was just a year ago that we all complained about the miserable Christmas we expected," Jo pointed out.

乔和罗瑞为她造的一个少女。 分发了礼物，大家都对自己的礼物很满意。 贝丝说：“我太高兴了。要是爸爸在就好了。” 其他女孩由衷地表示同意。 顽皮的劳里从客厅门探出头来，喊道：“再给马奇家一件礼物！”突然，他们敬爱的父亲出现了。 刹那间，所有充满爱意的双臂都拥抱了他。 有拥抱，有亲吻，有傻笑，甚至还有几滴幸福的眼泪。 他们从来没有吃过像那天那样丰盛的圣诞晚餐。 汉娜煮了一只又大又多汁的火鸡。 餐桌上摆满了各种各样的装饰品。 劳伦斯先生、劳里先生和布鲁克先生加入了马奇一家。 “就在一年前，我们还在抱怨我们期待的那个悲惨的圣诞节，”乔指出。

"The year ended up being pleasant on the whole, didn't it?" Meg asked as she quietly thought about Mr. Brooke's handsome eyes. Then Amy said, "It's been a very hard year, too." "I'm so glad it's over," Beth commented, looking at her father, "because now we have you back." Mr. March smiled at his brood of lovely daughters. He congratulated each for working hard and overcoming her faults, and for being kind and considerate. But most of all, he praised them for loving each other and truly becoming his "Little Women." Before Beth played the piano, she recalled reading about a pleasant green meadow where lilies bloomed all year. This loving mood continued with the singing of hymns. The air was filled with happy voices and fond wishes for a Merry Christmas to all.

“总的来说，这一年过得很愉快，不是吗？”麦格问道，她静静地打量着布鲁克先生那双英俊的眼睛。 然后艾米说：“这一年也很艰难。” “我真高兴一切都结束了，”贝思看着父亲说，“因为现在你回来了。” 马奇先生对他那一群可爱的女儿笑了。 他祝贺每个人都努力工作，克服了自己的缺点，也祝贺每个人都善良体贴。 但最重要的是，他称赞她们彼此相爱，真正成为了他的“小女人”。 在弹奏钢琴之前，贝丝回忆起她读到过的一处美丽的绿色草地，那里一年四季百合花盛开。 这种爱的心情随着唱赞美诗而继续。 空气中充满了快乐的声音和祝福，祝大家圣诞快乐。

The next day, regular chores were neglected as mother and daughters tended to Mr. March. Jo grumbled at the umbrella Mr. Brooke had left behind. Poor Meg was absentminded, shy, and silent, blushing whenever John's name was mentioned. The underlying question weighed heavily upon Mr. And Mrs. March. Meg and Jo had a heart-to-heart talk after they watched Laurie stagger around outside the window, pretending to be a wounded lover. "What would you say if he did ask?" Jo wondered. "Well, I'd be calm. I'd say, 'Thank you, Mr. Brooke, you are very kind, but I'm too young to be engaged.' "Jo laughed. "I don't think you'll say that!" "Yes I will. Then, I'll walk out of the room with dignity."

第二天，母亲和女儿照顾马奇先生，日常的家务都被忽略了。 琼对着布鲁克先生落下的伞嘟囔着。 可怜的梅格心不在焉、害羞、沉默，一提到约翰的名字就脸红。 这个潜在的问题沉重地压在马奇夫妇的心头。 看到罗瑞在窗外摇摇晃晃地走来走去，假装是一个受伤的情人，麦格和琼进行了一次推心置腹的交谈。 “如果他真的问你，你会怎么说？”乔很好奇。 “嗯，我会冷静下来。我会说，‘谢谢你，布鲁克先生，你真好，但我太年轻了，还不能订婚。’”琼笑着说。 “我想你不会这么说的！”“是的，我会的。 然后，我就有尊严地走出房间。”

Meg rose to show Jo exactly how she'd leave— only to bump into Mr. Brooke. Jo slipped out to give Meg the chance to make her speech. "Good afternoon," Mr. Brooke said calmly. "I came for my umbrella and to see how your father's doing today." Meg said, "It's very well, he's in the rack. I'll get him and tell it you were here." In her nervousness, she had confused her father with the umbrella! "Are you afraid of me, Margaret?" Mr. Brooke looked so hurt that Meg blushed. "How can I be afraid of you?" she said. "You've been so kind to my father. I wish I could thank you." "Should I tell you how?" He held tightly to her small hand. Meg desperately tried to withdraw her hand. "Oh, please don't."

梅格起身向乔展示她将如何离开，却撞见了布鲁克先生。 琼溜出去，好让麦格有机会发言。 “下午好，”布鲁克先生平静地说。 “我来拿雨伞，想看看你父亲今天怎么样了。” 麦格说：“很好，他在架子上。 我去叫他，告诉他你在这儿。” 由于紧张，她把父亲和雨伞搞混了！“你怕我吗，玛格丽特？”布鲁克先生看上去很伤心，麦格的脸都红了。 “我怎么会怕你呢？”她说。 “你对我父亲太好了。 真希望我能感谢你。” “要我告诉你怎么做吗？”他紧紧抓住她的小手。 梅格拼命想缩回她的手。 “哦，请不要。”

"I just want to know if you love me a little, because I love you so very much." This was the time for the calm, proper speech. Only Meg forgot every word! Instead, she stuttered, "I'm far too young." Annoyed by his assumption of success, Meg pulled her hand free and said, "Now please, go away!" If a broken heart could be reflected in a face, then that's how poor Mr. Brooke looked. "Is that really what you want?" "Yes. Father thinks I shouldn't worry about such things. And I don't intend to." "Could you change your mind? I'll wait if you need more time." Meg's eyes blazed and her tone changed. "I would rather you didn't think of me at all!" He turned very pale. Meg felt her heart relenting, but Aunt March walked into the house at that moment. She saw the pair and

“我只是想知道你是否有一点点爱我，因为我非常爱你。” 这时候该冷静得体地发表讲话了。 只有梅格一个字都忘了！相反，她结结巴巴地说：“我太年轻了。” 梅格被他自以为是的态度惹恼了，她把手抽了出来，说：“现在请你走开！”如果一颗破碎的心能反映在脸上，那就是可怜的布鲁克先生的样子。 “你真的想这样吗？”“是的。 父亲认为我不应该为这些事担心。 我也不打算这么做。”“你能改变主意吗？” 如果你需要更多的时间，我可以等。” 梅格的眼睛闪闪发光，语气也变了。 “我宁愿你根本不去想我！”他脸色变得很苍白。 麦格感到她的心变软了，但这时马奇姑妈走进了屋子。 她看到了这对，然后