"Cuddle your cats and get over your headache, Bethy. Goodbye, Marmee. We are a set of rascals this morning, but we'll come home regular angels. Now then, Meg!" And Jo tramped away, feeling that the pilgrims were not setting out as they ought to do.
“抱上你的猫,头痛就会好了,贝思。再见,妈妈。我们今早真是一班小坏蛋,不过我们回家时一定还是平日的小天使。走吧,梅格!”乔迈开步伐,觉得她们的天国之旅从一开始就没有走好。
They always looked back before turning the corner, for their mother was always at the window to nod and smile, and wave her hand to them. Somehow it seemed as if they couldn't have got through the day without that, for whatever their mood might be, the last glimpse of that motherly face was sure to affect them like sunshine.
她们转过拐角之前总要回头望望,因为母亲总是倚在窗前点头微笑,向她们挥手道别。不这样她们这一天就似乎过得不踏实,因为无论她们心情如何,她们最后一起所看到的母亲的脸容无异于缕缕阳光,令她们欢欣鼓舞。
"If Marmee shook her fist instead of kissing her hand to us, it would serve us right, for more ungrateful wretches than we are were never seen," cried Jo, taking a remorseful satisfaction in the snowy walk and bitter wind.
“即使妈咪不向我们挥手吻别,而是挥起拳头,我们也是罪有应得,因为我们是天底下最不知道感恩图报的小混帐,”乔在凄风萧瑟的雪路上大声忏悔。
"Don't use such dreadful expressions," replied Meg from the depths of the veil in which she had shrouded herself like a nun sick of the world.
“不要用这么难听的字眼,”梅格说。她用头巾把自己裹得严严实实,看上去就像一个厌世的尼姑。
"I like good strong words that mean something," replied Jo, catching her hat as it took a leap off her head preparatory to flying away altogether.
“我喜欢强有力而有意义的好字眼,”乔答道,用手抓着几乎被风吹落的帽子。
"Call yourself any names you like, but I am neither a rascal nor a wretch and I don't choose to be called so."
“你爱怎么叫自己就怎么叫吧,我可不是坏蛋,也不是混帐,也不愿意人家这么叫我。”
"You're a blighted being, and decidedly cross today because you can't sit in the lap of luxury all the time. Poor dear, just wait till I make my fortune, and you shall revel in carriages and ice cream and high-heeled slippers, and posies, and red-headed boys to dance with."
“你是个伤心落魄人,今天这么怒气冲天是因为你不能整天置身于花团锦簇之中。可怜的宝贝,等着吧,等我赚到钱,你就可以享受马车、雪糕、高跟鞋、花束,并和红发小伙子一起跳舞了。”
"How ridiculous you are, Jo!" But Meg laughed at the nonsense and felt better in spite of herself.
“乔,你真荒唐!”梅格不由被这荒唐话逗笑了。
"Lucky for you I am, for if I put on crushed airs and tried to be dismal, as you do, we should be in a nice state. Thank goodness, I can always find something funny to keep me up. Don't croak any more, but come home jolly, there's a dear."
“幸亏是我呢!如果我也像你一样垂头丧气一副忧郁相,我们可都成了什么样子?谢天谢地,我总可以找到一些有趣的东西来令自己振作。别再发牢骚了,高高兴兴地回家吧,这就对了。”