046 贝丝的临终时光

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It took almost two weeks by coach, but Jo and Beth finally arrived in California

乘坐马车将近两个星期，乔和贝丝终于抵达了加利福尼亚。

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Jo had reserved rooms in a small, unique hotel that also offered tours to see the wildlife, including buffalo

乔在一家独特的小旅馆订了房间，那里还组织观赏野牛等野生动物的旅行。

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" Oh, Jo," Beth's voice shook with emotion when their tour group finally came across a herd of buffalo grazing on the fields

“哦，乔，”当他们的旅行团终于遇到一群在野地里吃草的野牛时，贝丝激动得声音发颤。

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Just as Beth had thought, the massive creatures were gentle and peaceful as they carried on with their business

正如贝丝所想，这些庞大的动物温顺又安详，自顾自地活动着，

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paying no attention to the humans staring at them from a distance

全然不去理会远处注视着它们的人。

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" Is this what you imagined them to be like?" Jo whispered to Beth

“这就是你想象中的样子吗？”乔轻声问贝丝。

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Nodding, Beth said teary eyed," It's a dream come true. Thank you, Jo."

贝丝含泪点点头，说：“梦想成真了。谢谢你，乔。”

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Putting her arm around Beth's thin, weak shoulders, Jo took in every detail around her, for she wanted to remember this moment forever

乔搂住贝丝瘦弱的肩膀，细细记下周围的一切，因为她想永远记住这一刻。

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After the argument with Laurie, Amy found it hard to find joy in anything, even drawing and painting

与劳里争吵之后，艾米发现做什么都提不起劲，连画画也失去了乐趣。

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Laurie came by once more to tell Aunt March and her that he was leaving for Spain and wished them the best on the rest of their trip

劳里又来了一趟，告诉马奇姑妈和她，他要去西班牙了，并祝她们旅途顺利。

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" I think it's time for us to depart this place as well," Aunt March had said when Laurie left

“我想我们也该离开这个地方了，”马奇姑妈在劳里离开时说道。

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" Where shall we go?" Amy asked, not really caring since she knew Laurie would not be there

“我们去哪里？”艾米问道，其实并不在乎，因为她知道劳里不会在那儿。

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" Florence," stated the old lady

“佛罗伦萨，”老太太宣告道。

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But as Amy stood outside on the balcony of their villa in Florence, she felt no inspiration to paint one of the most beautiful cities in the world

但当艾米站在佛罗伦萨别墅的阳台上时，她对描绘这座世界上最美的城市之一毫无灵感。

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All she could think about was Laurie

她满脑子只想着劳里。

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On the way back home, Jo noticed that Beth seemed to struggle more with the strenuous journey

回家途中，乔注意到贝丝在这段艰苦的旅程中似乎更加吃力。

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She got tired easily, didn't have the energy even to look outside at the scenery, and mostly slept a lot

她很容易累，甚至连往外看风景的力气都没有，大部分时间都在睡觉。

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When they got home, Beth, barely able to stand, clung tightly to Jo's arm and said," This has been the best adventure of my life, Jo

到家时，贝丝几乎站不住，紧紧抓着乔的胳膊说：“这是我这辈子最棒的冒险，乔。”

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I'll never forget it." Jo clutched her hands tightly and pressed her lips to stifle an agonizing cry

我永远不会忘记。”乔紧紧握住她的手，抿住嘴唇，强忍住痛苦的哭声。

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She would have collapsed into tears then and there if not for Mother's next words," There's a letter for you, Jo. Actually two."

如果不是妈妈接着说道：“有你的一封信，乔。其实是两封。”她当场就会崩溃大哭起来。

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As Mother handed them over to her, Jo recognized the strong handwriting of the Professor

妈妈把信交给她时，乔认出那是教授有力的笔迹。

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After putting Beth to bed, Jo took the letters upstairs to her sanctuary

把贝丝安顿睡下后，乔把信拿到楼上自己的小天地。

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As she read them, her spirits lifted. She even laughed as she imagined the Professor speaking aloud in his German accent and calling her " Cho."

读信时，她精神振奋起来。她甚至笑了，想象着教授用他的德国口音大声说话，叫她“乔”。

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Holding the letters close to her chest, Jo found the strength to bear the pain that was ahead

把信紧紧贴在胸前，乔找到了承受前方痛苦的力量。

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A few months passed with no hope of Beth getting better

几个月过去了，贝丝没有好转的希望。

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Without strength to sit, Beth was confined to her bed, which was moved downstairs so she could look out into the street and garden

贝丝虚弱得无法坐起，只能躺在床上。床被搬到了楼下，好让她能望见街道和花园。

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" Jo, can you read me a story?" Beth would ask

“乔，给我读个故事好吗？”贝丝常这样问。

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When Jo brought over a book, Beth would move her head from side to side and say," Leave me alone."

可当乔拿了书过来，贝丝又会摇摇头说：“别管我。”

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Jo felt helpless, because she wanted to ease her sister's pain but didn't know how

乔感到无助，因为她想减轻妹妹的痛苦，却不知如何是好。

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Mother seemed to deal better with the situation, bringing things for Beth just when she needed them and leaving her in peace when she wanted to rest

妈妈似乎更能应对这种情况，总在贝丝需要时拿来所需之物，在她想休息时让她安静独处。

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Meg, who now knew that she was indeed carrying twins, also spent every day by Beth's side

现已确知自己怀有双胞胎的梅格，同样日日守在贝丝身旁。

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" Feel the babies kicking, Beth," Meg would say, placing Beth's limp hand over her growing stomach

“感受一下宝宝在踢腿，贝丝。”梅格会把贝丝软绵的手放在自己日渐隆起的腹部。

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" I felt it, Meg," Beth would say, her eyes filling with tears

“我感觉到了，梅格。”贝丝眼中噙满泪水。

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" You're going to be an auntie soon, darling," Meg would remind her

“你很快就要当姨妈了，亲爱的。”梅格会这样提醒她。

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But Beth would only smile weakly and say," I hope they're girls, and they're as beautiful as you."

但贝丝只是虚弱地笑笑，说：“我希望是女孩，像你一样漂亮。”

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One afternoon, Jo, not wanting to disturb Beth, crept over to refill the water pitcher on the table next to Beth's bed

一天下午，乔为了不打扰贝丝，蹑手蹑脚地走到贝丝床边，给桌上的水壶添水。

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" Jo?" Beth called softly

“乔？”贝丝轻声唤道。

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" Yes, darling? Did I wake you?" Jo asked

“嗯，亲爱的？我吵醒你了吗？”乔问。

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Beth shook her head slightly as if to say no, then said," Will you lie here with me?"

贝丝轻轻摇了摇头，像是在否认，然后说：“你过来陪我躺一会儿好吗？”

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Jo carefully got into the bed next to her sister and wrapped her arm around her

乔小心翼翼地爬上床，躺在妹妹身边，伸手搂住了她。

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" I'm here, Beth. Do you want me to tell you a story?"

“我在这儿，贝丝。要我讲个故事给你听吗？”

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Beth blinked her eyes once and sighed." Jo? I'm ready to go now."

贝丝眨了一下眼睛，叹了口气。“乔？我现在准备好走了。”

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Jo, not wanting to part with her sister yet, gently squeezed Beth's shoulders and said," Hold on just a little longer, Beth

乔还不愿和妹妹分离，她轻轻搂住贝丝的肩膀说：“再坚持一下下，贝丝。

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Meg's babies are coming and Amy will be home soon

梅格的宝宝快出生了，艾米也快回家了。

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Be strong for just a little longer..."

再坚强一下下……”

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But Beth turned her head, looked at her sister tenderly, then closed her eyes, and died in Jo's arms

但贝丝转过头，温柔地看了看姐姐，然后闭上了眼睛，在乔的怀中离世了。

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When Beth's funeral was held a few days later, almost everyone from the town was there

几天后，贝丝的葬礼举行时，镇上几乎所有人都来了。

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Although the family had sent a telegram to Amy about her sister's death, they urged her to stay with Aunt March for the rest of the trip

虽然家人发电报告诉了艾米她姐姐去世的消息，但他们劝她和马奇姑妈一起，继续走完剩下的旅程，

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because that was what Beth had wished

因为那正是贝丝的心愿。

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At home the March family had to rebuild their lives after the loss of beloved Beth

在家中，马奇一家在失去挚爱的贝丝后，必须重建他们的生活。

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Mother, who had been so strong throughout Beth's illness, seemed to age decades in a matter of days afterward

母亲在贝丝生病期间一直那么坚强，却在贝丝去世后短短几天内，仿佛苍老了几十岁。

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Still, she found comfort in the loving arms of her husband

尽管如此，她仍在丈夫充满爱意的怀抱中找到了安慰。

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Both Mother and Father tried to give each other strength to cope with the loss of one of their children

父母两人都努力给彼此力量，共同应对失去一个孩子的痛苦。

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However, Jo was inconsolable. No amount of kind words or deeds could soothe the pain in her heart

然而，乔却悲痛得无法自慰。再多善意的话语和行动也无法平复她心中的伤痛。

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Every day she escaped into the woods, taking long walks by herself with her memories of her sweet sister

每天她都躲进树林，独自长时间散步，回忆着她那可爱的妹妹。

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A few weeks after Beth's death, Jo was just clearing up the dishes from dinner when John came running into the house

贝丝去世几周后的一天，乔刚收拾完晚餐的碗碟，约翰就跑着冲进了屋里。

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" Please, come quickly," he said breathlessly." Meg is having the babies!"

“请你们，快过来，”他上气不接下气地说，“梅格要生了！”

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Mother, Father, Jo, and Hannah raced out, leaving the dishes and other worries behind

母亲、父亲、乔和汉娜赶忙冲了出去，把碗碟和其他烦恼都抛在脑后。

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When they got to the house, Dr. Bangs and a midwife were already there with Meg

他们到家时，班斯医生和一位助产士已经在梅格身边了。

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Mother went into the room with them while Jo, John, and Father paced the living room anxiously

母亲和他们一起进了房间，而乔、约翰和父亲则焦急地在客厅里走来走去。

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A few hours later, they heard a baby crying

几个小时后，他们听到了一声婴儿的啼哭。

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" Oh John!" Jo cried, holding onto her brother-in-law's hand." Congratulations!"

“哦，约翰！”乔抓住姐夫的手喊道，“恭喜你！”

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Then shortly after, another cry erupted, and they could hear laughter and cries from behind the door

紧接着，又传来一声啼哭，他们能听到门后传出的笑声和哭声。

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" John?" Dr. Bangs called, opening the door

“约翰？”班斯医生打开门喊道。

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" Come in and see your babies. Come, Mr. March. You too, Jo and Hannah."

“进来看看你的孩子们吧。来吧，马奇先生。乔和汉娜也来。”

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Everyone crowded into the room where Meg sat up holding one baby in the crook of each arm

大家一拥而入，梅格正坐着，两只臂弯各抱着一个宝宝。

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" This is your new son," she said, looking at the bundle on her right, then pointed her chin toward the left, adding," and your new daughter."

“这是你们的新儿子，”她看着右边的襁褓说，然后朝左边抬了抬下巴，又说，“这是你们的女儿。”

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Everyone started hugging and crying as they welcomed the newest members of the family into the world

大家开始相互拥抱，流着泪欢迎这个家庭新成员的到来。

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Jo looked lovingly at her niece and nephew and realized for a sad moment that they would never see their Aunt Beth

乔慈爱地看着她的外甥和外甥女，心头一酸，意识到他们再也见不到他们的贝丝姨妈了。

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However, Jo promised to do what she could to help them get acquainted with the wonderful aunt who had died before their birth

但乔默默许下承诺，要尽她所能，让他们了解那位在他们出生前就已故去的好姨妈。

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" What are you going to name them, Meg? John?" asked Father

“你们打算给他们起什么名字，梅格？约翰？”父亲问道。

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" Daisy and Demi," the happy parents said together

“黛西和德米，”这对幸福的父母齐声说道。

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" Welcome to your family," the new grandfather said proudly

“欢迎加入我们的大家庭。”新晋外祖父骄傲地说。