027 母亲归来

旁白 neutral

The fever still had a strong grip on Beth, but like a little soldier, she fought it every step of the way

高烧依然紧紧抓着贝丝，但她像个小战士一样，步步抵抗。

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Meg and Jo tirelessly rotated shifts to care for Beth

梅格和乔不知疲倦地轮流照看贝丝。

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Hannah also helped hugely by looking after all the household chores that the girls couldn't do

汉娜也帮了大忙，料理了姑娘们做不了的所有家务。

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During Beth's illness, Meg and Jo discovered many things about their sister that they hadn't known before

贝丝生病期间，梅格和乔发现了许多她们从前不知道的关于妹妹的事。

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For example, who would have known that shy little Beth had so many friends?

比如，谁会想到害羞的小贝丝有这么多朋友呢？

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When word got out that she was sick, every day someone would come by with a gift or flowers for her

她生病的消息传开后，每天都有人带着礼物或鲜花来看她。

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The living room rapidly filled with beautiful blooms and lovely presents that Jo knew Beth would cherish

客厅很快摆满了美丽的鲜花和可爱的礼物，乔知道贝丝会珍视这些。

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" How kind. Everyone is thinking of our Beth," remarked Meg, folding some washcloths

“真贴心。大家都在惦记着我们的贝丝。”梅格一边叠毛巾一边说。

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Her eyes followed Jo as she carried to the table several loaves of fresh bread, courtesy of the baker, who had just come by to ask about Beth

她的目光跟着乔，乔把几条新鲜面包端到桌上，那是面包师刚来打听贝丝情况时送的。

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Jo, hands perched on her hips, stared at the large amount of food that neighbors and friends had brought over

乔双手叉腰，盯着邻居和朋友们送来的一大堆食物。

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" Meg, if you were Beth, what do you think you would do with all this food?" asked Jo, pointing to the overflowing table

“梅格，如果你是贝丝，你觉得你会怎么处理这堆满桌子的食物？”乔指着满得快要溢出来的桌子问道。

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Meg, catching on to Jo's line of thinking, replied," I think I would share whatever I had."

梅格领会了乔的想法，回答说：“我想我会把你有的东西都分享出去。”

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Jo smiled at her sister, whom she was grateful to have during these painful times, and said," Yes, I agree. That is exactly what she would do."

乔对姐姐笑了笑，在这段难熬的日子里她很感激有姐姐在身边，说道：“嗯，我同意。她一定会这么做的。”

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Meg and Jo generously filled a large basket with the food that had been kindly given to Beth

梅格和乔大方地把好心人送给贝丝的食物装了满满一大篮子。

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" I hope the Hummel children aren't too sick to enjoy this," said Jo as she placed the loaves of fresh bread in the basket

“我希望哈梅尔家的孩子们没病得太重，还能享用这些，”乔一边把新鲜的面包放进篮子，一边说道。

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" Dr. Bangs said that the Hummel children didn't catch the fever as severely as our Beth," said Meg

“邦斯大夫说，哈梅尔家的孩子们感染的热病没有我们家贝丝那么严重，”梅格说。

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" That may mean our Beth will recover soon, too," Jo said hopefully

“那或许意味着我们家贝丝也快要康复了，”乔满怀希望地说。

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Nodding but without commenting on her sister's last remark, Meg said

梅格点了点头，但没有接妹妹的话茬，说道：

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" We should have done this sooner. I must confess all this to Mother when she returns."

“我们应该早点做这件事的。等妈妈回来，我一定把这一切都告诉她。”

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" I wonder if we should send for Mother now?" asked Jo as she pulled on her coat

“我们在想，是不是现在就该去请妈妈回来？”乔边穿外套边问道。

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" I don't know. I just wish she were here right now," replied Meg, wrapping a scarf around her neck

“我不知道。我只希望她现在就在这里。”梅格一边回答，一边把围巾绕在脖子上。

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Clutching one handle each, the sisters carried the basket between them to divide the weight

姐妹们一人提一边把手，把篮子抬在中间分担重量，

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but nobody could share the heavy burden of guilt on their hearts

但她们心中沉重的内疚，却无人能分担。

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The visit to the Hummels wasn't as horrible as Jo expected

哈梅尔家的拜访并不像乔预想的那么糟糕。

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Mrs. Hummel was still distressed over the death of her little baby, and although the girls tried to console her, she was too upset to be comforted

哈梅尔太太仍为宝宝的夭折悲痛不已，女孩们安慰她，但她伤心过度难以安抚。

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The other children, thinner from their illness, were extremely excited when they saw the large basket of goodies

其他几个孩子因病瘦了很多，但看到那一大篮好吃的，都兴奋极了。

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After spending a fair amount of time with them, Meg and Jo returned home with lighter hands and hearts

陪他们待了好一阵后，梅格和乔回家时，手里轻了，心里也轻松了些。

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Meg went upstairs to check up on Beth, giving Jo some time to spend alone

梅格上楼去看望贝丝，让乔有些独处的时间。

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Jo went outside, hoping the cold air would clear her head

乔走到外面，希望冷空气能让头脑清醒些。

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" Jo? What are you doing out here?" Laurie had seen his friend sitting alone on a large rock in the yard and decided to join her

“乔？你在外面做什么？”劳里看到他的朋友独自坐在院子里的大石头上，便决定过来陪她。

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" I just needed some fresh air," said Jo, putting on a brave face

“我只是想透透气。”乔强装勇敢地说。

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" How are you coping?" Laurie asked

“你还好吗？”劳里问道。

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" Okay," said Jo meekly

“还好。”乔小声地说。

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" No need to lie to me, friend," said Laurie, tilting Jo's head upward to face him

“不用对我撒谎，我的朋友。”劳里说着，轻轻托起乔的脸，让她看向自己。

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" You're right, I'm not doing fine," said Jo before she burst into tears

“你说得对，我一点都不好。”乔说着，突然哭了起来。

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" If Beth dies, I will never forgive myself."

“如果贝丝死了，我永远都不会原谅自己。”

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" Stop talking nonsense. Dr. Bangs thinks Beth will recover soon; it's just a matter of time

“别胡说。邦斯医生觉得贝丝很快就会康复，这只是时间问题。

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I know what will transform that frown into a smile," said Laurie, getting up and dusting off his bottom

我知道什么能让这张愁容变成笑脸。”劳里说，站起身来，拍了拍裤子。

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" Laurie, I don't feel like laughing," Jo said wearily

“劳里，我不想笑。”乔疲惫地说。

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" Nonsense! Someone once told me that laughter is the best medicine. Now watch this."

“胡说！有人曾告诉我，欢笑是最好的良药。现在，看好了。”

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Laurie began to imitate his grandfather, then Hannah, Brookes, and finally each of the girls

劳里开始模仿他的爷爷，然后是汉娜、布鲁克斯，最后是姐妹们每一个人。

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Jo had to guess which person he was mimicking

乔得去猜他模仿的是谁。

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Before she knew it, she was laughing happily, forgetting her troubles for just a moment

不知不觉间，她开心地笑了起来，暂时忘记了烦恼。

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" I just wish Mother were here. She would know what to do," said Jo after Laurie had finished his performance

劳里表演完后，乔说：“我真希望妈妈在这儿。她知道该怎么做。”

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Laurie playfully pulled Jo's short hair and said," What if I told you that she's coming home, as we speak?"

劳里嬉闹地拉了拉乔的短发，说：“要是我告诉你，她正在回家的路上呢？”

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Stunned, Jo looked at him hopefully and said," Mother is coming home? How? When?"

乔愣住了，满怀希望地看着他说：“妈妈要回来了？怎么回来？什么时候？”

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" Dr. Bangs told me to send for her. I didn't want to tell you girls in case it worried you more. She should arrive here tonight," said Laurie

“邦斯医生让我派人去请她的。我没想告诉你们姐妹，怕你们更担心。她今晚应该就到了。”劳里说。

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Jo burst into tears again, sobbing loudly and hiccupping as she said," Thank you, Laurie. Thank you."

乔又哭了起来，大声抽泣着，一边打嗝一边说：“谢谢你，劳里。谢谢你。”

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Hugging his friend, Laurie sat with Jo until her tears stopped

劳里拥抱着他的朋友，陪着乔坐着，直到她停止哭泣。

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Jo did not tell Meg about Mother's arrival, for fear her sister might think the worst

乔没有告诉梅格妈妈要回来的事，怕姐姐往最坏处想。

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" I wonder how Father is doing?" whispered Meg

“不知道爸爸怎么样了？”梅格低声说。

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" We haven't had a letter in two days."

“我们已经两天没收到信了。”

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" Mother mentioned that he had such an appetite that he wanted to eat up her portion of their meals,"

“妈妈提到他胃口好得想吃掉她那份饭，”

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Jo said smiling, as she recalled Mother's last letter

乔回忆着妈妈上一封信，笑着说。

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" Oh, that's right. He's even started to walk a little," said Meg

“哦，对。他甚至开始能走一点路了，”梅格说。

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" I never read that part. How do you know?" Jo asked, surprised

“我没读到那段。你怎么知道的？”乔惊讶地问。

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Meg turned red and lowered her eyes before answering," John said so."

梅格脸红了，垂下眼睛才回答：“约翰说的。”

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" John? Who is John?" Jo asked rather loudly

“约翰？谁是约翰？”乔相当大声地问。

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" Mr. Brookes. His name is John Brookes," Meg said in a dreamy voice

“布鲁克斯先生。他的名字是约翰·布鲁克斯，”梅格用一种梦幻般的声音说。

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Jo was beyond words because, with everything that had happened recently, she had forgotten about Laurie's secret

乔说不出话来，因为最近发生了这么多事，她忘记了劳里的秘密。

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Now it seemed as if the cat was out of the bag

现在看来，秘密已经泄露了。

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" Meg, have you been writing to Mr. Brookes? That's very unladylike!"

“梅格，你一直在给布鲁克斯先生写信吗？那太不合淑女风范了！”

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Jo scolded, borrowing Amy's favorite descriptive word for her

乔借用艾米最爱用来形容她的词责备道。

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" Don't worry, Jo. I only wrote a few times to thank him for his help

“别担心，乔。我只是写了几次信感谢他的帮助。”

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Besides, there is nothing improper about our writing," Meg said firmly

再说了，我们通信没什么不妥的，”梅格坚定地说。

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Before Jo could speak her mind, the door suddenly opened and a familiar figure walked in

乔还没来得及说出心里话，门突然开了，一个熟悉的身影走了进来，

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paralyzing the girls for a moment before they realized who it was

姑娘们愣住了片刻，才意识到是谁。

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" Mother!" Meg and Jo screamed together as they ran to hug her

“妈妈！”梅格和乔一起尖叫着跑过去拥抱她。

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" We're so happy you've returned," said Jo

“你回来了，我们太高兴了，”乔说。

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" Thank you, girls," Mother replied, kissing them

“谢谢你们，孩子们，”妈妈回答着，亲吻她们。

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Then she knelt down beside Beth and said," Don't worry, love, Mother is here."

然后她在贝丝身边跪下说：“别担心，宝贝，妈妈在这儿。”

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Meg and Jo confessed their wrongdoings to Mother, preparing to be disciplined for their selfishness

梅格和乔向妈妈坦白了自己的过错，准备因自私而受罚。

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Instead, Mother just said to them," Seeing your sister suffer like this is punishment enough

然而，妈妈只是对她们说：“看到你们的妹妹这样受苦，就已经是足够的惩罚了。”

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I hope you girls have learned a lesson from all this."

我希望你们从这一切中吸取了教训。”

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Then Mother took them in her arms and hugged them and told them to continue praying for Beth

然后妈妈把她们拥入怀中，告诉她们要继续为贝丝祈祷。

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The next day, Jo immediately noticed a change in Beth's breathing

第二天，乔立刻注意到贝丝的呼吸有了变化。

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It was slower and more relaxed. The rash seemed to have faded and Beth looked more peaceful

呼吸变得更慢、更放松了。皮疹似乎消退了，贝丝看起来平静多了。

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" The fever has broken," Mother said in a trembling voice

“烧退了，”妈妈用颤抖的声音说。

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Jo ran over and held Mother's outstretched hand, asking," Is she going to live? Will Beth be all right?"

乔跑过去握住妈妈伸出的手，问道：“她能活下来吗？贝丝会没事吗？”

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With tears of relief streaming down her face, Mother replied," Yes, our little girl is going to make it."

妈妈脸上流下宽慰的泪水，回答说：“会的，我们的小姑娘会好起来的。”