"What in the world are you going to do now, Jo?" asked Meg one snowy afternoon, as her sister came tramping through the hall, in rubber boots, old sack, and hood, with a broom in one hand and a shovel in the other.
“你究竟是去干什么,乔?”梅格问道。时值午后,雪花起飞,她看到妹妹脚踏胶靴,头戴雪帽,披着旧布袋,一手拿着把扫帚,一手提着个铁锹,正大步走过大厅。
"Going out for exercise," answered Jo with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“出去锻炼,”乔答,眼睛调皮地一闪一闪。
"I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough! It's cold and dull out, and I advise you to stay warm and dry by the fire, as I do," said Meg with a shiver.
“今天早上散了两次步,还不够么?外面又冷又闷,我劝你还是呆在火边暖和暖和,就像我一样,”梅格说着打了个冷颤。
"Never take advice! Can't keep still all day, and not being a pussycat, I don't like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I'm going to find some."
“不接受意见!我不能一整天都安静地呆着,我又不是小猫咪,不喜欢在火炉边打盹儿,我喜欢探险,我这就打算去。”
Meg went back to toast her feet and read _Ivanhoe_, and Jo began to dig paths with great energy. The snow was light, and with her broom she soon swept a path all round the garden, for Beth to walk in when the sun came out and the invalid dolls needed air. Now, the garden separated the Marches' house from that of Mr. Laurence. Both stood in a suburb of the city, which was still countrylike, with groves and lawns, large gardens, and quiet streets. A low hedge parted the two estates. On one side was an old, brown house, looking rather bare and shabby, robbed of the vines that in summer covered its walls and the flowers, which then surrounded it. On the other side was a stately stone mansion, plainly betokening every sort of comfort and luxury, from the big coach house and well-kept grounds to the conservatory and the glimpses of lovely things one caught between the rich curtains.
梅格走回去烤脚,读她的《艾凡赫》,乔则开始使劲挖路。积雪不厚,她很快便用扫帚绕着花园扫出一条小道,这样,太阳出来时,贝思便可以在这里散步,把病娃娃抱出来呼吸新鲜空气。马奇家的屋子和劳伦斯家的只有一园之隔。两座屋子地处市郊,颇富乡村风味,周围是草皮、小树林、大花园,还有静静的街道。一道低矮的树篱把两户人家分隔开来。树篱的一面是一所破旧的棕色房子,显得颓败荒芜,夏天盖在墙上的藤叶和绕屋的鲜花早已凋零。另一面是一栋很有气派的石楼,内设大型马车房和植物温室,地面保持得干干净净,透过华丽的窗帘布,隐约可以看到漂亮精致的家居布置,一望而知里头的主人过着安逸豪华的生活。