5 Being Neighborly

CHAPTER 5 Being Neighborly The winter day had brought a great snow fall. As Meg read by the fire with a book, Jo took a broom and shovel outside to clear the walkways in case Beth wanted to get some fresh air. With too much energy to sit by the fire, Jo loved to be outdoors getting exercise, no matter what the weather. In fact, today she had decided to find out more about the lonely Laurence boy.

第五章睦邻友好冬天的一天下了一场大雪。 麦格在火炉边看书，琼拿着扫帚和铲子到外面清理走道，以防白丝想呼吸新鲜空气。 由于精力充沛，无法坐在火炉旁，乔喜欢到户外锻炼，不管天气如何。 事实上，今天她决定多了解一下劳伦斯家那个孤独的男孩。

Jo loved to do daring things, so she threw a snowball at Laurie's window. He opened the window and smiled down at Jo, who waved her broom, yelling, "Hello! Are you sick?" In a raspy voice, Laurie answered, "I've had a bad cold and have been inside all week." "What have you been doing to keep busy?" "Nothing much." Laurie hadn't been allowed to read. When Jo suggested that his friends should come to visit, Laurie said that boys were too noisy. "What about a girl then? Someone to play nurse and read to you?" "Don't know any." "You know me," Jo laughed. What a great idea! Jo went back into her house to ask her mother's permission, while Laurie straightened his room and brushed his hair. When Jo appeared on his doorstep, she brought lots of goodies. Meg made a cake,

琼喜欢做大胆的事，所以她向罗瑞的窗户扔了一个雪球。 他打开窗户，朝乔微笑，乔挥舞着她的扫帚，喊道：“你好！你病了吗？”劳里用沙哑的声音回答说：“我得了重感冒，整个星期都在屋里。” “你在忙什么呢？”“没什么。” 劳里不被允许读书。 当琼建议他的朋友来做客时，罗瑞说男孩子太吵了。 “那女孩怎么样？”有人扮演护士，给你读书吗？”“一个也不认识。” “你了解我的，”琼笑着说。 好主意！琼回到屋里请求母亲的允许，劳里整理了房间，梳理了头发。 当乔出现在他家门口时，她带来了许多好吃的东西。 梅格做了一个蛋糕，

Amy gathered flowers, and Beth sent her three kittens. The gifts were just the right things to help Laurie relax. Jo sat in a big chair and Laurie lay on the sofa. She asked if she could read a book to him, but Laurie said he'd rather talk. And they did. They talked about Jo's family, and Laurie admitted that he enjoyed looking into their house from his window. Laurie described his tutor, Mr. Brooke. Then, he talked about his grandfather. Jo explained that she didn't go to school and worked for her Aunt March. She confided her fears for her father. When Laurie discovered that Jo loved books as much as he did, he invited her to tour the spectacular house and, of course, to stop at the fabulous library. In the midst of their tour, a bell rang. Jo said, "It must be your grandfather!" "Don't tell me you're afraid of him?"

艾米采了花，贝丝送了她三只小猫。 这些礼物正是帮助劳里放松的好东西。 琼坐在一把大椅子上，罗瑞躺在沙发上。 她问她是否可以给他读一本书，但劳里说他宁愿说话。 他们做到了。他们谈到琼的家庭，罗瑞承认他喜欢从窗户往他们家看。 劳里描述了他的家庭教师布鲁克先生。 然后，他谈到了他的祖父。 琼解释说她没有上学，给马奇姑妈打工。 她吐露了对父亲的担忧。 当劳里发现乔和他一样爱书时，他邀请她参观了这座壮观的房子，当然，也去了那座奇妙的图书馆。 在他们参观的过程中，铃声响了。 琼说：“一定是你爷爷！”“别告诉我你怕他？”

Laurie asked. "Maybe a little, but I don't know why." The maid came in and told Laurie the doctor had arrived. While Laurie was being examined in another room, Jo stayed in the library and stood in front of a fine portrait of the elder Mr. Laurence. Thinking she was alone, she said in a loud whisper, "I shouldn't be scared of him, for he's got kind eyes, though his mouth is a little grim and he looks like he must have tremendous will. He isn't as handsome as my grandfather, but I like him." "Well thank you, young lady," said a voice from behind her. And there stood old Mr. Laurence! Well, poor Jo blushed until she couldn't blush any longer. For a minute, she thought she'd run away, but remained. Another look at the old man showed her that his eyes were even kinder than the painted

劳里问。“也许有一点，但我不知道为什么。” 女仆进来告诉罗瑞医生来了。 罗瑞在另一个房间接受检查时，琼呆在书房里，站在老劳伦斯先生的一幅精美画像前。 她以为只有她一个人，就大声低声说：“我不应该害怕他，因为他有一双善良的眼睛，虽然他的嘴有点冷酷，而且他看起来一定有强大的意志。 他没有我祖父英俊，但我喜欢他。” “嗯，谢谢你，小姐。”一个声音从她身后传来。 老劳伦斯先生就站在那儿！唉，可怜的乔脸红得再也不能脸红了。 有那么一分钟，她以为自己要逃跑了，但还是留了下来。 她又看了老人一眼，发现他的眼睛甚至比画中的还要亲切

ones. After a very long pause, the old gentleman asked gruffly, "So you're not afraid of me?" Jo said softly, "Not much, sir." "But you do like me despite my bad features?" Jo replied, "Oh yes, sir!" Mr. Laurence was pleased with her answer and made Jo happy by saying that she had her grandfather's spirit. She explained that she came over to be neighborly, and they agreed that Laurie needed cheering up. She put her arm through Mr. Laurence's, and they joined Laurie in the parlor for tea. Soon, Jo and Laurie were again chatting like old friends, and Mr. Laurence decided she was a very good influence on the boy. Jo admired the grand piano. After tea, she persuaded Laurie to play, and she only wished that Beth could have heard. Jo

的人。过了很长一段时间，老先生粗声问道：“这么说你不怕我了？”琼轻声说：“没什么，先生。” “尽管我长得丑，你还是喜欢我？”琼回答说：“哦，是的，先生！”劳伦斯先生对她的回答很满意，他说她继承了她祖父的精神，使乔很高兴。 她解释说她过来是为了友好，他们都认为劳里需要振作起来。 她挽着劳伦斯先生的胳膊，他们在客厅里和罗瑞一起喝茶。 不久，乔和罗瑞又像老朋友一样聊天了。劳伦斯先生认为她对孩子有很好的影响。 琼很欣赏那架大钢琴。 喝过茶后，她说服罗瑞弹琴，她只希望白丝能听见。 乔

gushed about how well Laurie played until his grandfather stopped the compliments and gave her a rushed good-bye. When they got to the front hall, Jo asked if she had done something to upset Mr. Laurence. Laurie said that his grandfather didn't like to hear him play the piano. He would tell her the reason another time. They promised to visit each other again. Jo sprinted home to tell her family about the wonderful day she had being a good neighbor. Now, each of her sisters had a different reason to explore the house next door. Meg wanted to see the greenhouse. Amy was interested in the fine paintings and statues. And Beth longed to play the grand piano. Jo had made a good friend in Laurie, and was happy she had made him feel so much better.

滔滔不绝地称赞劳里演奏得有多好，直到祖父停止了赞美，匆匆跟她告别。 当他们来到前厅时，琼问她是否做了什么让劳伦斯先生不高兴的事。 劳里说他的祖父不喜欢听他弹钢琴。 他下次再告诉她原因。 他们答应再去拜访对方。 乔飞奔回家，告诉家人她做了一个好邻居的美好一天。 现在，她的每个姐妹都有不同的理由去探索隔壁的房子。 梅格想看看温室。 艾米对精美的绘画和雕像很感兴趣。 贝思渴望弹奏大钢琴。 琼和罗瑞交了一个好朋友，她很高兴自己让他感觉好多了。