026 艾米的遗嘱

旁白 neutral

While she was at Aunt March's, Amy felt as though she were trapped in a pitch-black tunnel with no light beckoning to her at the end

在玛奇姑妈家时，艾米觉得自己仿佛被困在一条漆黑的隧道里，尽头没有一丝光亮在向她招手。

旁白 neutral

Until then, Amy had taken for granted the liveliness and warm affection of her family

在那之前，艾米一直把家中的热闹和亲人的温暖关爱视为理所当然。

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How she missed the constant cheerful voices that seemed to fill the whole house all day long

她多么怀念那似乎整天都充盈着整座房子的欢快说话声。

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" Did I ask you to stop?" Aunt March snapped when Amy, who was reading to her, paused to think about her family

“我让你停了吗？”玛奇姑妈厉声问道，当时正在给她念书的艾米停下来想起了家人。

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" Stop!" screeched Polly as she took the cracker Aunt March offered her

“停下！”波莉尖叫着，接过了玛奇姑妈递给她的饼干。

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" Forgive me, Aunt March. I'll continue...," said Amy, returning her attention to the story

“原谅我，玛奇姑妈。我接着念……”艾米说着，把注意力转回到故事上。

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Aunt March might have been a nasty woman but she was not heartless

玛奇姑妈或许是个刻薄的女人，但她并非铁石心肠。

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She was also worried about the fate of Beth, who she thought was witless but pure-hearted and innocent

她也为贝思的命运担忧，她觉得贝思虽然有点缺心眼，但心地纯洁，天真无邪。

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" What have you heard about your sister?" This time she interrupted Amy's reading

“你听到你妹妹的什么消息了吗？”这次她打断了艾米的朗读。

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Fiddling with a corner of the page she was reading, Amy replied

艾米摆弄着正在读的那页书的一角，回答说，

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" Laurie says that Beth is coping better but her fever still has to drop, and she remains stable but weak."

“劳里说贝思的情况在好转，但烧还没退，她虽然稳定，但还很虚弱。”

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" And what of your Father? Will he be coming home soon?" asked Aunt March

“你父亲呢？他很快会回家吗？”玛奇姑妈问。

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Shaking her head, Amy said tearfully," According to the last message we got, Father doesn't have the strength yet to make the journey home."

艾米摇摇头，含着泪说：“根据我们收到的最新消息，爸爸还没有力气长途旅行回家。”

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" Rubbish! Your sister needs your mother more than he does," Aunt March remarked in a gruff voice

“胡说！你妹妹比你父亲更需要你妈妈。”玛奇姑妈粗声粗气地说。

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" Hannah says it's best not to tell Mother just yet, since there isn't much she can do here anyway," said Amy

“汉娜说最好先别告诉妈妈，反正她在这儿也帮不上什么忙。”艾米说。

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Aunt March felt a pang in her heart as she watched Amy struggle to control her emotions." I have a gift for you," she said in a kinder voice

玛奇姑妈看到艾米强忍情绪，心里一阵刺痛。“我有件礼物给你，”她语气温和了些。

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Amy, wiping her tears ( with a silk handkerchief, like a true lady ), turned to her with curiosity

艾米（用丝绸手帕擦着眼泪，像个真正的淑女）好奇地转向她。

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Aunt March held out a small green velvety box, which Amy slowly took from her

玛奇姑妈递过来一个绿色的小丝绒盒子，艾米慢慢地接了过来。

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" Oh, Aunt March! I can't accept this," gasped Amy, holding up an emerald ring that flashed brilliantly in the light

“哦，玛奇姑妈！我不能收下这个。”艾米倒吸一口气，举起一枚在灯光下闪闪发光的祖母绿戒指。

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" Yes, you can and you will, because I am giving it to you," Aunt March replied in a firm and strict voice that meant Amy should not try to argue with her

“不，你能，也必须收下，因为这是我给你的。”玛奇姑妈语气坚决严厉，示意艾米别跟她争辩。

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" It's beautiful," Amy said, her eyes dancing joyously as she put the ring on her middle finger

“真漂亮，”艾米说着，把戒指戴在中指上，眼睛里闪烁着喜悦的光芒。

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" I'm glad you like it. Now get back to the story," snapped Aunt March as she fed Polly another cracker

“你喜欢就好。好了，继续讲故事吧。”玛奇姑妈厉声说道，又给波莉喂了一块饼干。

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In addition to the ring, Aunt March promised Amy many more gifts as long as she remained obedient and found favor in the old lady's eyes

除了戒指，玛奇姑妈还承诺，只要艾米一直听话、讨得这位老太太的欢心，她还会送更多礼物。

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Upon his next daily visit, Amy promptly told this all to Laurie, who looked doubtful as he listened patiently

第二天劳里照常来访时，艾米立刻把这一切都告诉了他。劳里耐心地听着，脸上却露出了怀疑的神色。

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" Aunt March says emeralds are the most precious gems in the world," Amy said, sticking her hand out for him to admire

“玛奇姑妈说，祖母绿是世界上最珍贵的宝石。”艾米说着，伸出手让他欣赏。

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" It's very lovely, but don't you think you're a little too young for that?" asked Laurie with a frown

“很漂亮，不过你不觉得自己戴这个有点太年轻了吗？”劳里皱着眉头问道。

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" Age means nothing if you are a true lady," Amy said knowingly

“如果你是真正的淑女，年龄就不算什么。”艾米老成地说道。

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" Aunt March says I have the potential to become a respected woman of society."

“玛奇姑妈说，我有潜力成为上流社会受人尊敬的女性。”

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Laurie mumbled his opinion of Aunt March under his breath, but apparently Amy still had much more to say about material things

劳里小声嘀咕着他对玛奇姑妈的看法，但艾米显然对物质上的事还有不少话要说。

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" Aunt March says I'm to have her pearl necklace, earrings, and diamond brooch after she dies!"

“玛奇姑妈说，等她去世后，她的珍珠项链、耳环和钻石胸针都归我！”

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" So you want her to die, do you?" Laurie asked nastily

“所以你盼着她死，是吗？”劳里不客气地问。

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Reddening in the face, Amy stuttered," No. What I meant was..."

艾米脸红了，结结巴巴地说：“不，我是说……”

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" Do you want to know how Beth is or not?" Laurie asked rather harshly

“你到底想不想知道贝丝怎么样了？”劳里相当严厉地问。

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Caught up in her own fantasy world, Amy had forgotten at that moment why Laurie was visiting her every day." Of course, Laurie," she said, shamefaced

艾米沉浸在自己的幻想里，那一刻竟忘了劳里为什么天天来看她。“当然想，劳里。”她羞愧地说。

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" Well, Beth is still...," Laurie began more gently

“嗯，贝丝还是……”劳里的语气温和了一些。

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As he spoke, Amy looked down at the ring

他说话时，艾米低头看着那枚戒指。

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It didn't seem to shine as beautifully anymore, nor did the thought of a pearl necklace seem so appealing

戒指似乎不再那么闪亮了，珍珠项链的念头也没那么诱人了。

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The reality was that Beth was gravely sick, and death was no joking matter

现实是贝丝病得很重，死亡可不是闹着玩的事。

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After Laurie had left, Amy had a lot to think about

劳里走后，艾米心里沉甸甸的。

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She stared at herself in the mirror for a very long time

她盯着镜子里的自己，看了很久很久。

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Speaking to her reflection, Amy said," One day you're going to die, too."

艾米对着镜子里的自己说：“总有一天，你也会死去。”

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" Can I take these things with me to my grave?" she wondered

“我能把这些东西带进坟墓吗？”她思索着。

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Struck by the truth, she was forced to realize that her possessions would have no value to her once she were dead

被这个事实触动，她不得不意识到，一旦死去，她的财物对自己将毫无价值。

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After much soul searching, Amy decided to write a will, reasoning," I want the people I love to have my things so they'll remember me by them."

经过一番深刻的反省，艾米决定立一份遗嘱，她想着：“我想让我爱的人们拥有我的东西，这样他们就能睹物思人。”

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Armed with pen and paper, Amy began to write her last will and testament:

备好纸笔，艾米开始写下她的临终遗嘱：

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I, Amy Curtis March, being of sound mind, do give all my possessions to the following persons named:

本人，艾米·柯蒂斯·马奇，神志清醒，兹将本人所有财产赠予以下所列之人：

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To Father, all my drawings and sketches — those I kept since I was a little girl up to the ones he never saw

致父亲：我所有的素描和画作——从我还是个小女孩时保存至今的，一直到那些他未曾见过的作品。

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To Mother, all my clothes, except for the blue dress with pink and white flowers

致母亲：我所有的衣物，除了那件带有粉白花朵的蓝色连衣裙。

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That one I want Kitty to have. See below

那件我想留给凯蒂。见下文。

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To Meg, I give the emerald ring from Aunt March, because it is the perfect match for the color of your eyes. The velvet box I also give

致梅格：我将玛奇姑妈给的那枚祖母绿戒指赠予你，因为它与你眼睛的颜色完美相配。还有那个丝绒盒子也一并给你。

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To Jo, I give you all my hair ribbons so that when your hair grows long again, you will have beautiful, colorful ribbons to decorate it with

致乔，我把所有的发带都留给你，这样等你的头发再次长长时，你就能用这些漂亮多彩的带子来装饰它了。

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I also give you all my pens for you to write more stories with

我还把我所有的笔都给你，让你写出更多的故事。

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To Beth ( if she survives ), all my dolls, my little play set of teacups, and pink slippers

致贝丝（如果她能活下来），我所有的娃娃、那套玩耍用的小茶杯，还有粉色拖鞋。

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To Laurie, I leave you my handkerchiefs with my initials embroidered on them so you will always remember me as a true lady

致劳里，我留给你那些绣着我名字缩写的手帕，这样你会永远记得我是一个真正的淑女。

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To Mr. Laurence, I give you my sculptures of your horses

致劳伦斯先生，我把为您家的马做的雕塑给您。

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I especially loved Harris, and there are two paintings of him that I hope you like

我特别喜爱哈里斯，还有两幅它的画像，希望您会喜欢。

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To Kitty Bryant, my blue dress with pink flowers and my bead necklace, which she always admired

致基蒂·布莱恩特，我那件带粉色花朵的蓝裙子，还有她一直很喜欢的串珠项链。

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To Hannah, my collection of seashells and the purple box I kept them in

致汉娜，我收集的贝壳，还有装贝壳的那个紫色盒子。

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And now, after leaving my possessions in the care of those I love and trust

现在，在把我所有的东西托付给我爱并信任的你们之后，

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I want to say how much I love you all and that each one of you has a special place in my heart. I trust we shall meet again

我想说，我是多么爱你们每一个人，你们在我心里都占据着一个特别的位置。我相信我们终会再见。

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Signed: Amy Curtis March

签名：艾米·柯蒂斯·马奇

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When Amy finished writing her will, a peaceful calm came over her

艾米写完遗嘱后，内心感到一种平静的安宁。

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She prayed," God, if you allow Beth to live, I promise to be a better sister, daughter, and friend

她祈祷道：“上帝啊，如果您让贝丝活下去，我保证会做一个更好的妹妹、女儿和朋友。

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Please give me the opportunity to prove that I have really changed."

请给我一个机会，证明我真的已经改变了。”

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The next day when Laurie came, Amy showed him the will and asked him to sign it as a witness

第二天劳里来时，艾米把遗嘱拿给他看，并请他作为证人签字。

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Amused yet touched by Amy's maturity and thoughtfulness, Laurie agreed

劳里觉得有趣，但也被艾米的成熟和体贴所感动，便同意了。

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Then he gave Amy the good news." Mother March is coming home soon," he announced

然后他告诉了艾米一个好消息。“马奇妈妈很快就要回来了，”他宣布道。

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" Beth? Does that mean..." Amy couldn't even say the words

“贝丝？那是不是意味着……”艾米甚至说不出那几个字了。

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Laurie took a deep breath and said," I don't know, but Dr. Bangs said to send for your mother

劳里深吸了一口气，说：“我不知道，但班斯大夫说派人去叫你母亲了。

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The girls don't know yet. I want it to be a surprise."

姑娘们还不知道。我想给她们一个惊喜。”

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Amy was overjoyed that Mother was returning

母亲要回来了，艾米欣喜若狂。

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She wondered whether her homecoming would be a happy or sad one

她不知道母亲的归来会是喜悦还是悲伤。