035 登门拜访

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During the 1860s, the era the March girls lived in

在1860年代，马奇家女孩们生活的那个时代，

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it was the custom for ladies to make formal visits regularly to their neighbors and relatives as a courtesy and display of good manners

当时女士们的习俗是定期正式拜访邻居和亲戚，以示礼貌和良好教养。

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Amy, wanting very much to be regarded as a well-bred lady, eagerly planned such occasions with a keen sense of purpose

艾美非常想被视为一位有教养的淑女，她热切地规划着这些拜访，目标明确。

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" Jo, aren't you going to get ready?" Amy asked her sister one Friday morning

“乔，你不准备一下吗？”一个星期五早上，艾美问姐姐。

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" For what?" Jo, sprawled out on the bed, didn't even look up from the book she was reading

“准备什么？”乔摊在床上，连眼皮都没抬，继续看书。

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Amy stopped brushing her blonde wavy hair and stared at Jo through the mirror in front of her

艾美停下梳理她金色卷发的动作，透过面前的镜子盯着乔。

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" Don't tell me you've forgotten," she said in an exasperated voice

“别告诉我你又忘了，”她用恼怒的声音说。

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" Okay, I won't," replied Jo, turning a page

“好，我不会说。”乔翻了一页书，回答道。

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" Jo!" Amy swung around this time and faced her sister

“乔！”这次艾美转过身来，面对着姐姐。

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" We're supposed to make our calls today. You promised me!

“我们今天该去拜访了。你答应过我的！

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Time is important since we have half a dozen homes to visit."

时间很重要，因为我们有六户人家要拜访。”

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Slowly tearing her eyes away from the book, Jo looked at Amy with a blank expression

乔慢慢地把目光从书上移开，面无表情地看着艾美。

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" Calls? I don't remember promising anything of the sort, Miss Amy March," she said

“拜访？我不记得答应过这类事，艾美·马奇小姐。”她说道。

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Amy narrowed her eyes and said accusingly," Yes, you did. You said if I finished the painting of Beth playing the piano for Mr. Laurence

艾美眯起眼睛，责备地说：“不，你答应了。你说如果我画完贝思为劳伦斯先生弹钢琴的画，

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then you would come with me in making calls."

你就陪我去拜访。”

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Jo grimaced but tossed the book aside, for now she clearly remembered the circumstances of her promise

乔做了个苦脸，但还是把书丢在一边，因为现在她清楚地记起了答应时的情形，

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though she obviously had not been paying attention to its conditions when she made it

尽管当时她显然没有注意答应时的条件。

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" I'll come with you but I won't be happy about it," Jo said childishly

“我会陪你去，但我不会高兴。”乔孩子气地说。

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" I won't sit there with a fake smile and pretend I'm having a jolly good time."

“我不会带着假笑坐在那里，假装自己很开心的样子。”

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" Oh, yes you will," Amy said sternly

“哦，你会的。”艾美严厉地说。

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" You are not going to embarrass me or our family by frowning, making rude gestures, or saying scandalous things."

“你可别皱眉头、做粗鲁的手势，或者说什么不像话的话，让我或者咱们家丢脸。”

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The sisters stuck their tongues out at each other like true ladies, then Jo reluctantly got changed into something more suitable for the occasion

姐妹俩像真正的淑女那样朝对方吐了吐舌头，然后乔不情愿地换上了更适合这种场合的衣服。

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The first house they called on was the Tudors' home

她们拜访的第一家是都铎家。

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The Tudors were one of the founding families of their town

都铎家是她们镇上的创始家族之一。

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They had two daughters about the same age as Jo and Amy but the girls were obnoxious and snobbish, not to mention renowned for their lack of good looks

他们家有两个女儿，和乔、艾美差不多大，但是那两个女孩既讨厌又势利，更不用说她们长得不好看是出了名的。

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" Jo, I want you to be on your best behavior here," Amy said, stopping in front of the Tudor home

“乔，我希望你在这里表现得规矩点，”艾美在都铎家门口停下脚步说道。

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" I will be if those ugly witches are," Jo answered promptly

“要是那些丑八怪规矩，我就规矩。”乔立刻回答道。

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" Jo! Please! It will benefit our family to be on good terms with the Tudors

“乔！求你了！跟都铎家处好关系对我们家有好处。

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Be nice and don't speak. Don't say a word, please," begged Amy

友好点，别说话。一个字也别说，求你了。”艾美恳求道。

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" Miss Amy! Miss Josephine! How lovely to see you!"

“艾美小姐！约瑟芬小姐！见到你们真是太好了！”

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Mrs. Tudor welcomed the girls in an exaggerated voice when they were shown into the house by one of their many servants

都铎太太用夸张的语气欢迎了姐妹俩，她们由众多仆人中的一位领进了屋。

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" Mrs. Tudor, thank you for having us. It's our pleasure and privilege to visit your beautiful home," Amy gushed

“都铎太太，感谢您的款待。能拜访您美丽的家是我们的荣幸。”艾美热情洋溢地说。

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Having been told to remain silent, Jo merely nodded and wordlessly followed Mrs. Tudor to their sitting room

乔被嘱咐要保持安静，她只是点点头，一言不发地跟着都铎太太走向客厅。

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Waiting for them were the Tudor sisters, sitting on matching velvet chairs as if they were royalty and expecting Jo and Amy to curtsy to them

都铎家的小姐们正等着她们，坐在配套的天鹅绒椅子上，仿佛自己是皇室成员，就等着乔和艾美向她们行屈膝礼。

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Amy, being a good spirit, went over and asked about their health, and complimented their dresses and hair

艾美心情很好，走过去问候了她们的身体状况，并称赞了她们的裙子和发型。

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Meanwhile, Jo sat in the farthest corner of the room not uttering a sound

与此同时，乔坐在房间最远的角落里，一声不吭。

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" Would you like Earl Grey tea, Miss Josephine, or Darjeeling?"

“约瑟芬小姐，您想喝伯爵茶还是大吉岭茶？”

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asked Mrs. Tudor while one servant brought in a china teapot and cups on a large silver tray and two others carried in the biscuits, sandwiches, and chocolate

都铎太太问道，这时一个仆人用大银盘端进来一个瓷茶壶和茶杯，另外两个仆人则端来了饼干、三明治和巧克力。

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" Could I have a glass of milk instead, please? Thank you," Jo said, avoiding Amy's glare from across the room

“请问，我能换杯牛奶吗？谢谢。”乔说道，避开了房间那头艾美投来的怒视目光。

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Startled, Mrs. Tudor took a moment before answering," Yes, yes, of course

都铎太太吃了一惊，一时没反应过来，然后才答道：“好的，好的，当然可以。”

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Liddie, bring Miss Josephine what she wants."

“莉迪，把约瑟芬小姐要的拿来。”

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Jo had to endure an hour of listening to how many suitors the girls had and where they were traveling for their summer holidays

乔不得不忍受一小时，听着那些女孩有多少追求者，以及她们要去哪儿度暑假。

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Amy, nodding at the appropriate times, seemed genuinely interested in their affairs

艾美在恰当的时机点着头，似乎真心对她们的事感兴趣，

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but Jo, trying very hard to bite her tongue and keep from speaking out, decided to turn her attention to the birds outside

可乔呢，拼命忍着不说话，管住自己的嘴，决定把注意力转向窗外的鸟儿。

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" Well, we don't want to keep you any longer as I'm sure you have a lot to do before your trip," said Amy graciously, standing up to leave

“嗯，我们就不多叨扰了，想必你们旅行前还有很多事要忙。”艾美得体地说着，站起身来准备告辞。

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After another ten minutes just to say good-bye, Jo and Amy stepped outside the Tudor home

光道别又花了十分钟，乔和艾美这才走出都铎家的门。

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As soon as they had done so, they heard one of the girls say to their mother as the door shut

她们刚一出门，门关上时，就听到其中一个女孩对她母亲说：

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" What a horribly rude person that Josephine March is!"

“那个约瑟芬·马奇真是太没礼貌了！”

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The other girl spoke next." She looks at us as if we're rats and doesn't say a word! I've never been so insulted!"

另一个女孩接着说：“她看我们的眼神就像看老鼠，还一句话都不说！我从没受过这种侮辱！”

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Grinning, Jo took Amy's arm and led her away from the house

乔咧嘴一笑，挽起艾美的胳膊，领着她离开了那栋房子。

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" I have to agree with the girls, Jo," Amy scolded when they were far enough away

等她们走远后，艾美责备道：“我不得不赞同那些女孩的看法，乔。”

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" What was the matter with you? You barely spoke two words."

“你到底怎么了？你几乎没说两句话。”

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" You told me not to say anything," Jo reminded her

“你告诉我什么都别说，”乔提醒她。

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" I meant not to say anything rude," sighed Amy," not to say nothing at all."

“我是说别说无礼的话，”艾美叹气道，“不是什么都不说。”

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" Permission to speak at the next home then?" Jo asked teasingly

“那允许我在下一家说话吗？”乔逗趣地问。

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" Yes, please speak. Be more cheerful and friendly," said Amy

“是的，请说话。要更开心、友好一些，”艾美说。

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The next home on their list belonged to the Chesters, another wealthy, well-respected family

她们名单上的下一家是切斯特家，又一个富有、受人尊敬的家庭。

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The Chesters had three boys and one daughter, Mary, who was Amy's classmate both in school and in art class

切斯特家有三个儿子和一个女儿，玛丽，她是艾美在学校和美术班的同学。

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" Good morning, Mrs. Chester," Amy said warmly to a middle-aged woman who was wearing a large string of pearls with a diamond pendant

“早上好，切斯特太太，”艾美热情地对一位中年妇女说，她戴着一大串珍珠项链，配着一个钻石吊坠。

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" What a simply adorable necklace you're wearing, Mrs. Chester,"

“您戴的项链简直太可爱了，切斯特太太，”

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Jo said, pulling the pearls toward her to have a closer look and in doing so, nearly choking the poor woman

乔说着，把珍珠拉近仔细看，结果差点勒死这位可怜的女人。

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" Oh! Are these your adorable little boys?" Jo blew kisses at three big teenage boys, standing behind their mother

“哦！这些是您可爱的小男孩吗？”乔对着站在母亲身后的三个高大的十几岁男孩飞吻。

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Amy's face flushed as she noticed Mrs. Chester staring at Jo with an odd expression and the boys making funny faces

艾美的脸红了，她注意到切斯特太太用奇怪的表情盯着乔，而男孩们做着鬼脸。

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" Mary! You are simply the most adorable little creature!" Jo shouted at the young woman waiting for them in the parlor

“玛丽！你简直是最可爱的小家伙！”乔对着在客厅等候她们的年轻女子喊道。

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" We were so distressed when you couldn't attend Amy's little party a few weeks ago

“几周前你不能参加艾美的小聚会，我们太伤心了。

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We missed you terribly!" Jo continued in a phony voice

我们非常想念你！”乔用假声继续说。

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Soon tea was served and before long, Jo was deep in conversation with Mary's brothers

不久茶点端上来了，没过多久，乔就和玛丽的哥哥们聊得热火朝天。

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Meanwhile Mary was trying to explain why she hadn't attended Amy's party

与此同时，玛丽在试图解释她为什么没参加艾美的聚会。

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Amy replied with understanding," Not another word, Mary, for it was a dreadful day to travel and I..."

艾美理解地答道：“别再说了，玛丽，那天旅行太糟糕了，我……”

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Suddenly, Amy was interrupted by a loud squeal, then a burst of laughter exploding from the other side of the room

突然，艾美被一声尖叫打断，接着房间另一边爆发出一阵大笑。

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Jo and the Chester boys were rocking back and forth clutching their stomachs

乔和切斯特家的男孩们正抱着肚子前仰后合。

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Amy shook her head, having only herself to blame for telling Jo how she should act at other people's homes

艾美摇摇头，只能怪自己告诉乔在别人家该怎么表现。

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Clearly, Jo was having fun playing different roles, making a spectacle of herself, and not caring how others viewed her or her family

显然，乔在扮演不同角色中玩得很开心，出尽了洋相，根本不在乎别人怎么看她和她的家人。