025 在马奇姑婆家

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The sun rose as it did every other day, promising light and warmth

太阳照常升起，带来光明与温暖，

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but today, no amount of sunshine could brighten the March sisters' darkened hearts

但今天，再多的阳光也照不亮马奇姐妹们阴沉的心。

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While Meg and Jo, who had not slept a wink all night, watched for any signs of change in Beth's condition, they talked about what to do with Amy

一夜未眠的梅格和乔守着贝丝，留意着她的病情变化，一边商量着如何安置艾米。

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" Obviously she can't stay here," stated Meg

“显然她不能留在这里，”梅格说。

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" Maybe Mr. Laurence and Laurie can look after her," suggested Jo

“也许劳伦斯先生和劳里可以照顾她，”乔提议。

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" That wouldn't be proper," Meg said, shaking her head

“那不合适，”梅格摇着头说。

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" Besides, they've done so much for us already we couldn't burden them with anything more."

“再说，他们已经帮了我们这么多，我们不能再给他们添负担。”

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At the same moment the sisters thought of their only other solution, but both of them were hesitant to say it until finally Meg said

这时，姐妹俩同时想到了唯一剩下的办法，但都犹豫着不愿开口，直到梅格终于说道：

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" We are left with no other choice but..."

“我们别无选择，只能……”

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" Yes, Aunt March's," sighed Jo, finishing Meg's words and already feeling sorry for Amy

“是啊，去马奇姑妈家，”乔叹了口气，接上了梅格的话，心里已经替艾米感到难过了。

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" If you can talk with Aunt March, then I'll break the news to Amy," said Meg

“如果你能和马奇姑妈谈谈，那我就去把消息告诉艾米。”梅格说。

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As the girls were agreeing to the plan, Dr. Bangs, looking as though he hadn't had much sleep as well, returned to check up on Beth

当女孩们正同意这个计划时，班斯医生回来了，他看起来也没怎么睡，来给贝丝做检查。

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Again, the kind doctor told Meg and Jo that he was concerned about them, and that they must look after themselves first

这位好心的医生再次告诉梅格和乔，他很担心她们，并叮嘱她们必须先照顾好自己，

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in order to be better caregivers to Beth

这样才能更好地照顾贝丝。

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Leaving Dr. Bangs to tend to Beth, Meg and Jo closed the door firmly behind them

留下班斯医生照料贝丝，梅格和乔从身后紧紧地关上了门。

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" We'd better go and talk to Amy," said Meg, holding out her hand for the key to the bedroom

“我们最好去跟艾米谈谈。”梅格说着，伸出手去拿卧室的钥匙。

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Although it was cruel to lock Amy up, it was the only way they could keep her away from Beth

虽然把艾米锁起来很残忍，但这是她们让她远离贝丝的唯一方法。

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Having unlocked the door, Meg and Jo expected Amy to come flying at them in a fit

打开门锁后，梅格和乔以为艾米会怒气冲冲地向她们扑过来。

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However, they found her eerily quiet as she sat on the floor, hugging her knees close, her eyes swollen from crying

然而，她们发现她安静得可怕，坐在地板上，紧紧抱着膝盖，眼睛哭得又红又肿。

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" Is Beth dead?" was Amy's first question

“贝丝死了吗？”艾米第一句话就这么问。

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Although she did not know the details, Amy was extremely shrewd and could sense the seriousness of Beth's illness without being told

虽然不知道详情，但艾米极其敏锐，无需别人告诉她，就能感觉到贝丝病得很重。

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Meg squatted down beside her and said in a motherly voice," It's all right. Everything is going to be fine."

梅格蹲在她身边，用慈母般的语气说：“没关系，一切都会好起来的。”

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" Dr. Bangs is with her now. She's stable for the time being, but there hasn't been any improvement in her condition," Jo said truthfully

“班斯医生现在陪着她。她暂时情况稳定，但病情没有好转。”乔如实说道。

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" Beth has scarlet fever and that means you mustn't be in the house or else you will catch it too," said Meg

“贝丝得了猩红热，这意味着你不能待在家里，否则你也会被传染。”梅格说道。

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" But where will I go?" asked Amy

“可是我去哪儿呢？”艾米问道。

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" You need to go and stay with Aunt March," Meg said carefully

“你得去马奇姑妈家暂住。”梅格小心翼翼地说。

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After two seconds of stunned silence, Amy replied: " No! I won't stay with that old lady. She gives me the creeps!"

震惊地沉默了两秒后，艾米回答：“不！我才不与那位老太太待在一起。她让我毛骨悚然！”

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" Amy!" Meg said sharply," You must never speak about our relative in that manner

“艾米！”梅格厉声说道，“你绝不能用那种口气说我们的亲戚。”

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And you have no say in the matter, I'm sorry to say

“而且这件事你无权做主，很遗憾这么说。”

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Pack a few things, please, and get ready to leave immediately."

“请收拾几样东西，马上准备离开。”

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Amy argued, begged, cried, and shouted, but in the end, she saw her sisters' decision was firm

艾米又是争辩、哀求、哭泣、叫喊，但最终她看到姐妹们心意已决。

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After a wearisome visit with Aunt March where Jo had to endure criticism of her parents and their upbringing of the girls

在一次与马奇姑妈令人疲惫的探访中，乔不得不忍受姑妈对她父母以及她们姐妹所受教育的批评，

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Jo's relative finally agreed to allow Amy to stay with her

最终，乔的这位亲戚总算同意让艾米留下来住在她家。

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Laurie, on the other hand, proved his loyalty as a friend once again by wholeheartedly offering to do whatever he could to help

另一方面，劳里再次证明了他作为朋友的忠诚，他全心全意地表示，愿意尽己所能提供帮助。

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" Laurie, can't I stay with you and your grandfather?"

“劳里，我就不能和你还有你爷爷住一起吗？”

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Amy asked him as the Laurence carriage was taking them to Aunt March's

在劳伦斯家的马车送她们去马奇姑妈家的路上，艾米问他。

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" I wish you could, Amy," Laurie answered," but your sisters have made up their minds and you must honor their decision."

劳里回答说：“艾米，真希望你能来，可你的姐姐们已经下定决心了，你必须尊重她们的决定。”

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Amy crossed her arms and pouted

艾米交叉着双臂，噘起了嘴。

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Smiling at her childish gesture, Laurie said

劳里看着她孩子气的举动，笑着说：

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" But I promise to visit every day as your messenger, and I'll update you on Beth's condition and other things happening at home."

“不过我保证，我会每天当你的信使来看你，向你汇报贝丝的状况，还有家里发生的其他事情。”

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Amy's eyes brightened and she flashed a big lovely smile, saying," Oh, would you, Laurie? That would be grand. Thank you so much."

艾米的眼睛亮了起来，脸上绽放出灿烂可爱的笑容，说道：“哦，真的吗，劳里？那太棒了。太谢谢你了。”

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The remainder of the journey was filled with light talk and giggling as the two made an extra effort not to mention Beth's illness

剩下的路程中，两人刻意不谈贝丝的病情，只是轻松地聊天、咯咯地笑。

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Amy had been with her family to Aunt March's house several times but had never been there by herself

艾米曾和家人去过马奇姑妈家几次，但从没独自去过。

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She immediately felt intimidated, uncomfortable, and alone

她立刻感到害怕、不自在和孤单。

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" Well, at least you're not starving at home, as you seem to have grown since the last time I saw you,"

“嗯，至少你在家没挨饿，看起来比我上次见你时长高了，”

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snapped the old woman, scrutinizing Amy from head to toe

老妇人厉声说道，一边从头到脚打量着艾米。

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Aunt March was a critical, difficult, and stubborn person who usually got her way because she was very wealthy and powerful in the community

马奇姑妈是个挑剔、难缠又固执的人。由于在社区里非常富有且有势力，她通常总能随心所欲。

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However, when it came to her only relative, her nephew Mr. March

然而，当涉及到她唯一的亲戚——侄子马奇先生时，

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she found that he would not give in to her even though she threatened to withhold any financial help he might need

她发现，即使威胁要中断他可能需要的任何经济帮助，马奇先生也绝不会屈服。

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Mr. March always kept his ground and never asked her for money

马奇先生总是坚持自己的立场，从不向她开口要钱。

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Even though Aunt March would never admit it, she respected her nephew's sense of values and had a soft spot for her great-nieces Jo

尽管马奇姑妈绝不会承认，但她尊重侄子的价值观，并且格外喜爱侄孙女乔，

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for her honesty and colorful character, which brought life to her otherwise boring existence, and Amy, for her beauty, good manners, and ambition

喜欢乔的诚实和活泼的个性，这给她原本沉闷的生活增添了生气；喜欢艾米的美貌、良好的举止和雄心壮志。

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" There are some rules you must obey in this house," Aunt March warned

“在这个家里，有一些规矩你必须遵守。”马奇姑妈警告道。

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" One, you must never shout or raise your voice

“第一，绝不许大声喊叫或提高嗓门。”

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Two, you must never run around the house

“第二，绝不许在屋里跑来跑去。”

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If you break or damage anything, you will pay for it, even if you have to come work for me for the rest of your life

“如果打碎或损坏任何东西，你都得赔偿，哪怕你得为我干一辈子活来偿还。”

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Three, meals are served at set times. If you are late, then you do not eat

“第三，饭菜按时供应。如果你迟到了，那就没饭吃。”

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Four, you will be given chores and expected to complete them by the time given."

“第四，会分配家务活给你，并且要在规定时间内完成。”

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" More chores," Amy sighed under her breath

“又是家务活。”艾米低声叹了口气。

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" What did you say?" Aunt March's sharp ears picked up Amy's mumbling

“你说什么？”马奇姑妈耳朵很尖，听到了艾米的嘟囔。

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" Nothing, Aunt March," muttered Amy, wishing she could calm her shaky legs

“没什么，马奇姑妈。”艾米咕哝着，真希望自己能让发抖的腿平静下来。

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" Five," continued the old woman," you will sit and read to me every afternoon

“第五，”老太太继续说，“你每天下午都得坐下来给我读书。”

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" Your sister used to do that, but she got lazy, then she got sick

“你姐姐以前常这么做，但她变懒了，后来又生病了。”

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I don't know what to do with that girl. Six..."

“我真不知道该拿那丫头怎么办。第六……”

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Amy sighed inwardly and wished she were at home with the others

艾米在心里叹了口气，真希望自己能和家里其他人在一起。

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Surely, getting sick was not as bad as having to listen to and obey all of Aunt March's rules

生病肯定也没那么糟，总比要听从并遵守马奇姑妈的所有规矩好。

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" How am I going to survive?" Amy wondered to herself

“我可怎么熬过去啊？”艾米暗自纳闷。

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Accepting her plight, Amy decided the only way she was going to manage her stay at Aunt March's was to do exactly as she demanded

艾米认了命，决定要在马奇姑妈家顺利住下去的唯一办法，就是完全按她的要求去做。

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" Don't rub too hard or you might scratch my good silver," Aunt March snapped at Amy, who was polishing endless silver ornaments

“别擦太用力，不然会刮花我的好银器。”马奇姑妈厉声对正没完没了地擦拭银器的艾米说。

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" Careful!" screeched Aunt March's parrot, Polly

“小心点！”马奇姑妈的鹦鹉波莉尖声叫道。

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" Yes, ma'am, I'll be very careful," Amy answered dutifully

“是，夫人，我会非常小心的。”艾米顺从地回答。

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While Amy carried on with her chores, Aunt March watched her secretly and thought," Yes, this one has hope

艾米继续做着家务活时，马奇姑妈偷偷观察着她，心想：“没错，这一个有希望。”

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She can be useful in society. This one is a lady."

“她在社交场上能派上用场。这个算是个淑女。”

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" Careful!" Polly screeched again

“小心点！”波莉再次尖声叫道。

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Back home, Dr. Bangs increased the dose of medicine, but Beth's fever still persisted

在家里，班斯医生加大了药量，但贝丝的烧依然不退。

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Even though Jo felt totally hopeless and useless, she refused to give up

尽管乔觉得自己完全束手无策，毫无用处，但她拒绝放弃。

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She continued to do everything she could to take care of Beth in the way she knew best

她继续做力所能及的一切，用自己最擅长的方式照顾着贝丝。

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And so Jo opened an old book and began reading softly," A beautiful dream was about to come true for Princess Anastasia..."

于是，乔翻开一本旧书，开始轻声念道：“一个美丽的梦即将为安娜斯塔西娅公主成真……”