Chapter 2 A Happy Christmas
第2章 快乐的圣诞节
Jo was the first to wake up on Christmas morning, but soon they were all awake and they went downstairs. Where's Mother? asked Meg. I don't know, said old Hannah. She had lived with the family since Meg was born, and was more like a friend than a servant.Some poor woman came to the door and your mother went off to see what was needed.
圣诞节清晨,琼是第一个醒来的,可随后她们就都醒了,然后下了楼。妈妈在哪儿?麦格问。我不知道,老海娜答道。她从麦格一出世就和全家住在一起,就像是一个朋友,而不像仆人。有个可怜的女人来到门口,你们的母亲随她去了,好看看她需要什么。
She'll be back soon, said Meg.She looked at the presents for her mother which were in a basket under a chair, ready to bring out at the right time. Where is Amy's bottle of perfume? She went to put some pretty paper round it, I think, said Jo.
她很快就会回来的,麦格说。她看了看那些给母亲的礼物,它们被装在一个篮子里,放在椅子下面,时刻准备拿出来。艾米的那瓶香水呢?我想她是想拿去包上些漂亮的纸,琼答道。
Suddenly, they heard the outside door close.Here's Mother! Hide the basket, quick! said Jo.But it was Amy. She came in quickly.
突然,她们听到外面的门被关上了。妈妈来了,把篮子藏起来,快!琼说。但那是艾米。她匆匆走进屋。
Where have you been, and whats that behind you? asked Meg. I ran to the shop and changed the little bottle of perfume for a big one, said Amy. I spent all my money to get it, and I'm not going to be selfish any more!
你到哪儿去了,藏在你身后的是什么?麦格问。我跑到商店去了,把那瓶香水换成了一大瓶,艾米说,我花掉了所有的钱,我再也不自私了!
Meg smiled proudly and put her arms around her sister. Then there was another bang from the outside door, and the basket was pushed back under the chair. The girls ran to the table, ready for their breakfast.
麦格骄傲地笑了,伸出双臂拥抱她的妹妹。然后外面的门又有响动了,篮子被推到了椅子下面。女孩子们跑到桌边坐定,准备吃早餐。
Happy Christmas, Mother! they shouted. Happy Christmas, little daughters! said Mrs. March. Then the smile disappeared from her face.
圣诞快乐,妈妈!她们喊道。圣诞快乐,小女儿们!马奇太太应道。随后笑容从她脸上消失了。
Girls, listen. Not far away is a poor woman, Mrs. Hummel, with a new baby. Her six children are in one bed, trying to keep warm, as they have no wood for a fire. There is nothing to eat and they are hungry and cold. Will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?
孩子们,听着,不远处有个穷妇人,哈梅尔太太,她有个刚降生的婴儿。她的六个孩子挤在一张床上取暖,因为他们没有木柴生火。他们没有吃的,又饿又冷。你们把你们的早餐送给他们做圣诞礼物怎么样?
For a minute no one spoke. Then Jo said, Mother, I'm so glad you came back before we began to eat! And the girls quickly began to put their breakfast in a basket. I knew you would do it, said Mrs. March, smiling.
有一阵子没人说话。然后琼说:妈妈,我很高兴你在我们开始吃饭之前回来!孩子们开始很快地将她们的早餐放到一个篮子里。我知道你们会这样做的,马奇太太微笑着说。
She took the girls and Hannah to a cold, miserable little room in an old building, where they found a sick mother, a crying baby, and a group of children with white, frightened faces. The children were on the bed under a blanket, trying to keep warm.
她把孩子们和海娜带到位于一座旧楼里的一间又冷又破的小屋里。在那里她们见到了一位生病的母亲,一个正在啼哭的婴儿,和一帮面容苍白、满脸恐惧的孩子。那些孩子挤在床上的一张毛毯里,试图以此取暖。