Beth did have the fever, and was much sicker than anyone but Hannah and the doctor suspected. —
贝丝确实发烧了，比汉娜和医生以外的人都要病得重。 —

The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr. Laurence was not allowed to see her, so Hannah had everything all her own way, and busy Dr. Bangs did his best, but left a good deal to the excellent nurse. —
女孩们对疾病一无所知，劳伦斯先生也不被允许见她，所以汉娜便独揽了一切，忙碌的邦斯医生尽力而为，但把很多工作交给了负责的护士。 —

Meg stayed at home, lest she should infect the Kings, and kept house, feeling very anxious and a little guilty when she wrote letters in which no mention was made of Beth’s illness. —
梅格呆在家里，以免传染给国王一家，她打理家务，写信时不提贝丝的病情，感到非常担心，也有点内疚。 —

She could not think it right to deceive her mother, but she had been bidden to mind Hannah, and Hannah wouldn’t hear of ‘Mrs. March bein’ told, and worried just for sech a trifle’. —
她觉得欺骗母亲不对，但却被要求照顾汉娜，而汉娜则不准’告诉马奇夫人，让她因为这点小事而担心。 —

Jo devoted herself to Beth day and night; not a hard task, for Beth was very patient, and bore her pain uncomplainingly, as long as she could control herself. —
乔日夜照顾着贝丝，这并不是一项艰巨的任务，因为贝丝非常耐心，只要她能够控制自己，就能默默忍受疼痛。 —

But there came a time when during the fever fits she began to talk in a hoarse, broken voice, to play on the coverlet, as if on her beloved little piano, and try to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no music left; —
但是有一段时间，在发烧时，她开始用嘶哑而断断续续的声音说话，在被爱的盖子上弹琴，就像在她心爱的小钢琴上演奏一样，努力用一条因喉咙肿胀而没有声音的喉咙唱歌； —

a time when she did not know the familiar faces round her, but addressed them by wrong names, and called imploringly for her mother. —
有一段时间，她不认识熟悉的面孔，用错误的名字称呼他们，并恳求地喊着她妈妈。 —

Then Jo grew frightened, Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even Hannah said she ‘would think of it, though there was no danger yet’. —
然后乔感到害怕，梅格请求被允许写出实话，连汉娜也说她“会考虑一下，尽管现在还没有危险”。 —

A letter from Washington added to their trouble, for Mr. March had had a relapse, and could not think of coming home for a long while.
华盛顿来的一封信给她们增加了困扰，因为马奇先生又复发了，短时间内不能想着回家了。

How dark the days seemed now, how sad and lonely the house, and how heavy were the hearts of the sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of death hovered over the once happy home! —
现在多么黑暗的日子，多么悲伤和寂寞的房子，多么沉重的姐妹们的心，她们工作和等待，而死亡的阴影悬浮在曾经快乐的家园上方！ —

Then it was that Margaret, sitting alone with tears dropping often on her work, felt how rich she had been in things more precious than any luxuries money could buy - in love, protection, peace, and health, the real blessings of life. —
就是那时，玛格丽特独自一人坐着，眼泪不断地落在她的工作上，她感到自己拥有的东西比金钱可以买到的任何奢侈品都更珍贵——爱、保护、和平和健康，这些是生活中真正可贵的祝福。 —

Then it was that Jo, living in the darkened room with that suffering little sister always before her eyes, and that pathetic voice sounding in her ears, learned to see the beauty and the sweetness of Beth’s nature, to feel how deep and tender a place she filled in all hearts, and to acknowledge the worth of Beth’s unselfish ambition to live for others, and make home happy by the exercise of those simple virtues which all may possess, and which all should love and value more than talent, wealth, or beauty. —
就是那时，乔住在昏暗的房间里，眼前总是出现那个受苦的妹妹，耳边总是响起那悲伤的声音，她学会了看到贝丝本性中的美丽和甜蜜，感受到她在所有人心中占据的深厚而温柔的位置，并承认贝丝无私的志向为他人而活，通过拥有每个人都可以拥有的简单美德来使家庭幸福，这些美德比才华、财富或美貌更有价值，乔开始珍视并推崇这些美德。 —

And Amy, in her exile, longed eagerly to be at home, that she might work for Beth, feeling now that no service would be hard or irksome, and remembering, with regretful grief, how many neglected tasks those willing hands had done for her. —
而在流亡之中，艾米渴望回家，她想为贝丝工作，现在她感到再艰苦或繁重的工作也不会觉得难受，她怀着遗憾和悲伤回忆起这双愿意为她做许多被忽视的事情的双手。 —

Laurie haunted the house like a restless ghost, and Mr. Laurence locked the grand piano, because he could not bear to be reminded of the young neighbour who used to make the twilight pleasant for him. —
Laurie像一个不安的幽灵一样缠绕着这个房子，而劳伦斯先生却把钢琴锁起来，因为他无法忍受被那个曾经让黄昏变得愉快的年轻邻居提醒。 —

Everyone missed Beth. The milkman, baker, grocer, and butcher inquired how she did; —
每个人都想念贝丝。牛奶送货员、面包师傅、杂货店老板和肉贩都问她过得如何； —

poor Mrs. Hummel came to beg pardon for her thoughtlessness, and to get a shroud for Minna; —
可怜的霍默尔夫人来道歉，因为她没有考虑周到，并为敏娜准备了一件尸衣； —

the neighbours sent all sorts of comforts and good wishes, and even those who knew her best, were surprised to find how many friends shy little Beth had made.
邻居们送来了各种安慰和美好的祝愿，甚至那些最了解她的人，也惊讶地发现腼腆的贝丝交了这么多朋友。

Meanwhile she lay on her bed with old Joanna at her side, for even in her wanderings she did not forget her forlorn protégée. —
与此同时，她躺在床上，身边有着老琼娜，即使在她的神智不清中，她也不会忘记她那个孤苦无依的被保护者。 —

She longed for her cats, but would not have them brought, lest they should get sick; —
她渴望着她的猫咪，但不愿意把它们带来，怕它们会生病； —

and, in her quiet hours, she was full of anxiety about Jo. She sent loving messages to Amy, bade them tell her mother that she would write soon; —
在宁静的时刻，她非常担心乔。她给艾米送去了爱的信息，让他们告诉她妈妈她很快会写信； —

and often begged for pencil and paper to try and say a word, that Father might not think she had neglected him. —
她经常请求借一支铅笔和纸，试图说一个词，以免父亲认为她忽视了他。 —

But soon even these intervals of consciousness ended, and she lay hour after hour, tossing to and fro, with incoherent words on her lips, or sank into a heavy sleep which brought her no refreshment. —
但很快，即使这些清醒的间隔也结束了，她整夜辗转反侧，嘴唇含糊不清地喃喃自语，或者陷入一种不能得到休息的沉重睡眠中。 —

Dr. Bangs came twice a day, Hannah sat up at night, Meg kept a telegram in her desk all ready to send off at any minute, and Jo never stirred from Beth’s side.
Bangs医生一天来两次，汉娜晚上熬夜，梅格在抽屉里准备了一封电报，随时可以发出，乔从来没有离开过贝丝的身边。

The first of December was a wintry day indeed to them, for a bitter wind blew, snow fell fast, and the year seemed getting ready for its death. —
对他们来说，12月1日的天气确实寒冷，寒风呼呼吹着，雪花纷纷扬扬，整个年份似乎正在为它的结束做准备。 —

When Dr. Bangs came that morning, he looked long at Beth, held the hot hand in both his own a minute, and laid it gently down, saying, in a low tone, to Hannah: —
当那天早上Bangs医生来时，他长时间凝视着贝丝，用双手握住她热手一分钟，轻轻放下，低声对汉娜说：“如果马奇夫人可以离开她的丈夫，最好派人去接她。” —

‘If Mrs. March can leave her husband she’d better be sent for.’
汉娜点了点头，没有说话，因为她的嘴唇紧张地抽动着。

Hannah nodded without speaking, for her lips twitched nervously; —
她不停地点头，没有说话，因为她的嘴唇紧张地抽动着。 —

Meg dropped down into a chair, as the strength seemed to go out of her limbs at the sound of those words: —
梅格听到那句话时，一下子落到了椅子上，仿佛全身的力气都被抽走了。 —

and Jo, after standing with a pale face for a minute, ran to the parlour, snatched up the telegram, and, throwing on her things, rushed out into the storm. —
而乔，在苍白的脸上站了一分钟后，冲到客厅，抓起了那封电报，穿上外套，冲进了暴风雨中。 —

She was soon back, and, while noiselessly taking off her cloak, Laurie came in with a letter, saying that Mr. March was mending again. —
她很快就回来了，而劳瑞带着一封信走进来，说马奇先生正在好转。 —

Jo read it thankfully, but the heavy weight did not seem lifted off her heart, and her face was so full of misery that Laurie asked quickly: —
乔感激地读了这封信，但那沉重的负担似乎没有减轻她的心情，她的脸上充满了痛苦，劳瑞快速问道：“怎么了？ —

‘What is it? is Beth worse?’
是贝丝病情加重了吗？”

I’ve sent for Mother,’ said Jo, tugging at her rubber boots with a tragical expression.
“我已经给妈妈发了消息，”乔说着，一边使劲拽着她的橡胶靴，脸上满是悲痛之色。

Good for you, Jo! Did you do it on your own responsibility?’ asked Laurie, as he seated her in the hall chair, and took off the rebellious boots, seeing how her hands shook.
“乔，你真棒！这是你自己决定的吗？”劳瑞问道，一边将她安坐在大厅的椅子上，一边帮她脱下不听话的靴子，看到她的双手在颤抖。

No, the doctor told us to.’
“不是，是医生吩咐的。”

Oh, Jo, it’s not so bad as that?’ cried Laurie, with a startled face.
“哦，乔，情况没有那么糟糕吧？”劳瑞惊恐地问道。

Yes, it is; she doesn’t know us, she doesn’t even talk about the flocks of green doves, as she calls the vine leaves on the wall; —
是的，她不认识我们，她甚至不提她称为墙上的葡萄叶的绿色鸽群。 —

she doesn’t look like my Beth, and there’s nobody to help us bear it; —
她看起来不像我心爱的贝丝，也没有人帮助我们承受这一切。 —

Mother and Father both gone, and God seems so far away I can’t find him.’
父母都走了，上帝似乎离我很远，我找不到他。

As the tears streamed fast down poor Jo’s cheeks, she stretched out her hand in a helpless sort of way, as if groping in the dark, and Laurie took it in his, whispering as well as he could, with a lump in his throat: —
当眼泪顺着乔的脸颊流下来时，她无助地伸出手，仿佛在黑暗中摸索，劳里握住她的手，尽力地轻声说话，喉咙里带着一块难咽下的东西： —

‘I’m here. Hold on to me, Jo, dear!’
“我在这里。紧紧抓住我，亲爱的乔！”

She could not speak, but she did ‘Hold on’, and the warm grasp of the friendly human hand comforted her sore heart, and seemed to lead her nearer to the Divine arm which alone could uphold her in her trouble. —
她无法言喻，但她确实“抓住”了，并且友好的人类手的温暖握抓安慰了她痛苦的心灵，似乎将她带离了世俗，更接近只有上帝的臂膀才能在她的困境中支撑她。 —

Laurie longed to say something tender and comfortable, but no fitting words came to him, so he stood silent, gently stroking her bent head as her mother used to do. —
劳里渴望说一些温柔而安慰的话，但合适的词语却不出现在他脑海中，所以他默默地站着，轻轻抚摸着她低垂的头，就像她母亲曾经做过的那样。 —

It was the best thing he could have done; —
这是他能做的最好的事情； —

far more soothing than the most eloquent words, for Jo felt the unspoken sympathy, and in the silence, teamed the sweet solace which affection administers to sorrow. —
比最优美的词语更令人宽慰，因为乔感受到了无声的同情，在沉默中获得了亲情带来的甜蜜安慰。 —

Soon she dried the tears which had relieved her, and looked up with a grateful face.
很快她擦干了她的眼泪，抬起感激的脸。

Thank you, Teddy, I’m better now; —
谢谢你，泰迪，我现在好多了； —

I don’t feel so forlorn, and will try to bear it if it comes.’
我不再感到孤独，如果它再来的话我会尽力忍受的。

Keep hoping for the best; that will help you, Jo. Soon your mother will be here, and then everything will be right.’
继续抱有最好的希望；那会帮助你，乔。你妈妈很快就会来了，然后一切都会好起来的。

I’m so glad Father is better; —
我太高兴爸爸好一些了； —

now she won’t feel so bad about leaving him. —
现在她对离开他就不会那么难过了。噢， —

Oh, me! —
天呐！ —

it does seem as if all the troubles came in a heap, and I got the heaviest part on my shoulders,’ sighed Jo, spreading her wet handkerchief over her knees to dry.
感觉好像所有的困扰都像堆积在一起，而我却承担着最沉重的部分。乔叹了口气，用湿漉的手帕铺在膝盖上晾干。

Doesn’t Meg pull fair?’ asked Laurie, looking indignant.
梅格公平吗？’劳里问道，一脸愤怒。

Oh, yes; she tries to, but she can’t love Bethy as I do; —
哦，是的，她试图做到，但她无法像我一样爱贝丝； —

and she won’t miss her as I shall. —
她不会像我一样想念她。 —

Beth is my conscience, and I can’t give her up. —
贝丝是我的良心，我无法放弃她。 —

I can’t! —
我无法！ —

I can’t!’ Down went Jo’s face into the wet handkerchief, and she cried despairingly; —
我不行！乔伸着脸朝湿润的手帕里埋了下去，绝望地哭了起来， —

for she had kept up bravely till now, and never shed a tear. —
因为她一直坚强地保持着，从未流过一滴眼泪。 —

Laurie drew his hand across his eyes, but could not speak till he had subdued the choking feeling in his throat and steadied his lips. —
劳瑞用手抹了抹眼睛，但直到他压制住了喉咙里的梗塞感，稳住了嘴唇，才能开口说话。 —

It might be unmanly, but he couldn’t help it, and I’m glad of it. —
这可能不像男子汉，但他无法控制，我很高兴他这样做。 —

Presently as Jo’s sobs quieted, he said hopefully, ‘I don’t think she will die; —
当乔的哭声渐渐平息时，他满怀希望地说：“我不认为她会死；因为她是如此善良，我们都那么爱她，我不相信上帝会这么快带走她。” —

she’s so good, and we all love her so much, I don’t believe God will take her away yet.’
“好人和亲爱的人总是死去的。”乔呻吟道，但她停止了哭泣，因为她朋友的话让她振作起来，尽管她自己有疑虑和恐惧。

The good and dear people always do die,’ groaned Jo, but she stopped crying, for her friend’s words cheered her up, in spite of her own doubts and fears.
“可怜的孩子，你累坏了。你不像平时那样绝望。等一会儿，我会很快鼓励你的。”

Poor girl, you’re worn out. —
劳瑞两步跳下楼梯， —

It isn’t like you to be forlorn. Stop a bit; —
乔将疲惫的头靠在白瑟蓝的小帽子上， —

I’ll hearten you up in a jiffy.’
没有人想过要把它从她离开时放在桌上的位置上移动。

Laurie went off two stairs at a time, and Jo laid her wearied head down on Beth’s little brown hood, which no one had thought of moving from the table where she left it. —
Please note that the tag and punctuation marks should be kept as they are. —

It must have possessed some magic, for the submissive spirit of its gentle owner seemed to enter into Jo; —
它一定有某种魔力，因为它温柔主人的服从精神似乎进入了乔的身体； —

and, when Laurie came running down with a glass of wine, she took it with a smile and said bravely, ‘I drink health to my Beth! —
当劳里跑下来带着一杯酒时，她微笑着接过并勇敢地说道：“我为我的贝丝干杯！” —

You are a good doctor, Teddy, and such a comfortable friend; —
你是个好医生，泰迪，也是个舒适的朋友； —

how can I ever pay you?’ she added; the kind words had refreshed her troubled mind.
我该怎么谢你呢？ 她补充道；这些好话缓解了她困扰的心情。

I’ll send in my bill, by and by; —
我晚点会发帐单给你； —

and tonight I’ll give you something that will warm the cockles of your heart better than quarts of wine,’ said Laurie, beaming at her with a face of suppressed satisfaction at something.
今晚我会给你一些东西，比一夸脱酒还能温暖你的心’，劳里开心地对她笑着说，眼中带着隐忍满足的神情。

What is it?’ cried Jo, forgetting her woes for a minute, in her wonder.
是什么？’ 乔惊讶地忘记了自己的忧愁。

I telegraphed to your mother yesterday, and Brooke answered she’d come at once, and she’ll be here tonight, and everything will be all right. —
我昨天给你妈妈发了电报，布鲁克回复说她会马上来的，她今晚就会到，一切都会好起来的。 —

Aren’t you glad I did it?’
你不是高兴吗？’

Laurie spoke very fast, and turned red and excited all in a minute, for he had kept his plot a secret, for fear of disappointing the girls or harming Beth.
劳里说得很快，一下子脸红起来，兴奋异常，因为他为了不失望女孩们或伤害到贝丝，一直把这个计划保密着。

Jo grew quite white, flew out of her chair, and the moment he stopped speaking she electrified him by throwing her arms round his neck, and crying out, with a joyful cry, ‘Oh, Laurie! —
琼变得苍白，从椅子上跳了起来，他一停下说话的刹那，她毫不犹豫地扑进他怀里，高兴地喊道：“哦，劳瑞！ —

Oh, Mother! I am so glad!’ She did not weep again, but laughed hysterically, and trembled and clung to her friend as if she was a little bewildered by the sudden news.
“哦，妈妈！我太高兴了！”她没有再哭，但出现了歇斯底里的笑声，颤抖着紧紧抓住她的朋友，仿佛对突如其来的消息感到有些困惑。

Laurie, though decidedly amazed, behaved with great presence of mind; —
劳瑞尽管非常吃惊，表现得极具镇定。 —

he patted her back soothingly and, finding that she was recovering, followed it up by a bashful kiss or two, which brought Jo round at once. —
他抚摸着她的背，安抚地说着，并在此过程中轻吻了她两下，这使得琼立刻恢复了过来。 —

Holding on to the banisters, she put him gently away, saying breathlessly, ‘Oh, don’t! —
她紧紧抓住扶手，轻轻地把他推开，气喘吁吁地说：“哦，别这样！我本不是有意的； —

I didn’t mean to; it was dreadful of me; —
我这样做真是太过分了； —

but you were such a dear to go and do it in spite of Hannah that I couldn’t help flying at you. —
但是，你竟然不顾汉娜的反对而做了出来，你真是太可爱了，我简直忍不住扑上去。 —

Tell me all about it, and don’t give me wine again; —
告诉我所有的事情，不要再给我酒了， —

it makes me act so stupidly.’
它让我表现得如此愚蠢。”

I don’t mind,’ laughed Laurie, as he settled his tie.
“我不介意，”劳瑞笑着说着，整理好了领带。

Why, you see I got fidgety, and so did grandpa. —
你看，我和爷爷都坐不住了。 —

We thought Hannah was overdoing the authority business, and your mother ought to know. —
我们觉得汉娜过分强势，你妈妈应该知道。 —

She’d never forgive us if Beth - well, if anything happened, you know. —
如果贝丝 - 嗯，如果发生了什么事情，你妈妈永远不会原谅我们的，你懂的。 —

So I got grandpa. —
所以我找到了爷爷。 —

to say it was high time we did something, and off I pelted to the office yesterday, for the doctor looked sober, and Hannah ‘most took my head off when I proposed a telegram. —
我告诉他该是我们采取行动的时候了。昨天我冲到了医生的办公室，因为他看起来很严肃。当我提议发个电报时，汉娜几乎要把我头撕下来。 —

I never can bear to be “lorded” over, so that settled my mind, and I did it. —
我再也不能忍受被“君临”的感觉了，这决定了我的想法，我就这么做了。你妈妈会来的，我知道，深夜的火车在2点到站。 —

Your mother will come, I know, and the late train is in at 2 a. —
我会去接她，你只需要把喜悦藏起来，让贝丝安静下来，直到那位神圣的夫人到达。 —

m. I shall go for her, and you’ve only got to bottle up your rapture, and keep Beth quiet, till that blessed lady gets here.’
劳里，你真是个天使！我该如何感谢你？

Laurie, you’re an angel! How shall I ever thank you?’
再来扑我吧，我挺喜欢的，’劳里调皮地说道——这是他已经有两个星期没有做过的事情了。

Fly at me again; I rather like it,’ said Laurie, looking mischievous - a thing he had not done for a fortnight.
不，谢谢。我会在你爷爷到来时代我自己去的。别烦我了，回家休息吧，因为你会熬夜到半夜。

No, thank you. I’ll do it by proxy, when your grandpa comes. —
不，谢谢。等你爷爷来的时候，我会代劳的。 —

Don’t tease, but go home and rest, for you’ll be up half the night. —
别逗我了，回家休息吧，因为你会熬夜到半夜。 —

Bless you, Teddy, bless you!’
祝福你，泰迪，祝福你！

Jo had backed into a corner; and, as she finished her speech, she vanished precipitately into the kitchen, where she sat down upon a dresser, and told the assembled cats, that she was ‘happy, oh, so happy!’ while Laurie departed, feeling that he had made rather a neat thing of it.
乔被逼到了角落里，她演讲完后，匆匆忙忙地消失在厨房里，坐在橱柜上告诉聚集在一起的猫咪，她是“幸福的，噢，如此幸福！”当劳瑞离开时，感觉自己做得相当不错。

That’s the interferingest chap I ever see; —
汉娜说：“他是我见过最烦人的家伙， —

but I forgive him, and do hope Mrs. March is coming on right away,’ said Hannah, with an air of relief, when Jo told the good news.
但我原谅他，真希望马奇太太能马上好起来。”乔告诉好消息时，她松了一口气。

Meg had a quiet rapture, and then brooded over the letter, while Jo set the sickroom in order, and Hannah ‘knocked up a couple of pies in case of company unexpected’. —
梅格安静地陶醉着，然后沉思着这封信，而乔整理着病房，汉娜则“预备了两个派，以防有意外的人来做客”。 —

A breath of fresh air seemed to blow through the house, and something better than sunshine brightened the quiet rooms. —
整个房子仿佛吹来一股新鲜的空气，除了阳光之外，还有一种更好的东西照亮了安静的房间。 —

Everything appeared to feel the hopeful change; —
每样东西都似乎感受到了希望的变化； —

Beth’s bird began to chirp again, and a half-blown rose was discovered on Amy’s bush in the window, and fires seemed to burn with unusual cheeriness; —
贝丝的鸟再次开始吱喳作响，艾米窗前的玫瑰也发现了一朵半开的花，火炉似乎燃烧得格外开心。 —

and every time the girls met, their pale faces broke into smiles as they hugged one another, whispering encouragingly, ‘Mother’s coming, dear! —
每次女孩们见面时，她们苍白的脸庞都会露出微笑，彼此拥抱，并低语鼓励地说：“妈妈要来了，亲爱的！” —

Mother’s coming!’ Everyone rejoiced but Beth; —
每个人都欢欣鼓舞，只有贝丝例外； —

she lay in that heavy stupor, alike unconscious of hope and joy, doubt and anger. —
她躺在那沉重的恍惚中，既没有希望和喜悦，也没有怀疑和愤怒。 —

It was a piteous sight - the once rosy face so changed and vacant, the once busy hands so weak and wasted, the once smiling lips quite dumb, and the once pretty, well-kept hair scattered rough and tangled on the pillow.
这是一个可怜的景象——曾经红润的脸庞如此改变和空洞，曾经忙碌的双手如此无力而虚弱，曾经笑脸如花的嘴唇变得沉默，曾经漂亮整洁的头发在枕头上凌乱而纠结。

All day she lay so, only rousing now and then to mutter, ‘Water!’ with lips so parched they could hardly shape the word; —
整天她都躺在那里，只是偶尔苏醒一下，喃喃地说着：“水！”嘴唇干燥得几乎无法发出声音。 —

all day Jo and Meg hovered over her, watching, waiting, hoping, and trusting in God and Mother; —
整天乔和梅格守在她的身边，观望、等待、希望，并信任上帝和母亲。 —

and all day the snow fell, the bitter wind raged, and the hours dragged slowly by. —
整天下雪，狂风呼啸，时间缓慢地流逝。但最后夜晚还是来了。 —

But night came at last; —
—

and every time the clock struck, the sisters, still sitting on either side of the bed, looked at each other with brightening eyes, for each hour brought help nearer. —
每次时钟敲响，依然坐在床旁的姐妹俩互相看着，眼神愈加明亮，因为每个小时都让援助更近一步。 —

The doctor had been in to say that some change, for better or worse, would probably take place about midnight, at which time he would return.
医生已经说过，无论好坏，大概在午夜时分会发生一些变化，届时他会回来。

Hannah, quite worn out, lay down on the sofa at the bed’s foot, and fell fast asleep; —
疲倦不堪的汉娜躺在床脚的沙发上，很快就睡着了。 —

Mr. Laurence marched to and fro in the parlour, feeling that he would rather face a rebel battery than Mrs. March’s anxious countenance as she entered; —
劳伦斯先生在客厅里走来走去，感觉面对一个叛乱炮台要比面对玛奇太太焦虑的表情容易受到打击。 —

Laurie lay on the rug, pretending to rest, but staring into the fire with the thoughtful look which made his black eyes beautifully soft and clear.
劳瑞躺在地毯上，假装休息，但他的眼睛盯着火焰，一脸思考的表情让他的黑眼睛更加柔软而清澈。

The girls never forgot that night, for no sleep came to them, as they kept their watch with that dreadful sense of powerlessness which comes to us in hours like those.
女孩们永远不会忘记那个夜晚，因为她们一直守望着，但却被那种无力感所压倒，这种感觉在那样的时刻会降临到我们身上。

If God spares Beth I never will complain again,’ whispered Meg, earnestly.
如果上帝能保佑贝丝，我再也不会抱怨了，’ 梅格低声说。

If God spares Beth I’ll try to love and serve him all my life,’ answered Jo, with equal fervour.
如果上帝保佑贝丝，我会尽力爱他并全心全意地侍奉他一生，’ 乔同样热情地回答道。

I wish I had no heart, it aches so,’ sighed Meg, after a pause.
我希望我没有心，它太痛了，’梅格叹了口气，停顿片刻后说道。

If life is often as hard as this, I don’t see how we ever shall get through it,’ added her sister, despondently.
“如果生活经常这么困难，我看不出我们该如何度过，” 她姐姐颓然地补充道。

Here the clock struck twelve, and both forgot themselves in watching Beth, for they fancied a change passed over her wan face. —
此时钟敲响了十二下，两个人都忘记了自己，在注视着贝丝，因为他们觉得她苍白的脸上发生了变化。 —

The house was still as death, and nothing but the wailing of the wind broke the deep hush. —
屋子里死一般的寂静，除了风的哭泣声，没有任何声音打破这个安静。 —

Weary Hannah slept on, and no one but the sisters saw the pale shadow which seemed to fall upon the little bed. —
疲惫的汉娜依旧在睡觉，只有姐妹们看到了好像落在小床上的苍白阴影。 —

An hour went by, and nothing happened except Laurie’s quiet departure for the station. —
一个小时过去了，除了劳里安静地离开去车站之外，什么都没发生。 —

Another hour - still no one came; —
又过了一个小时-仍然没有人来； —

and anxious fears of delay in the storm or accidents by the way, or, worst of all, a great grief at Washington, haunted the poor girls.
穷困潦倒的姐妹们焦虑不安，担心暴风雪造成的延误，途中的意外，或者最糟糕的是，华盛顿的巨大悲伤。

It was past two, when Jo, who stood at the window thinking how dreary the world looked in its winding-sheet of snow, heard a movement by the bed, and, turning quickly, saw Meg kneeling before her mother’s easy-chair, with her face hidden. —
已经过了两点，乔站在窗前看着白雪覆盖的世界，觉得它多么凄凉。这时她听到床边有动静，迅速转过身，看到梅格跪在母亲的舒适椅子前，脸藏在里面。 —

A dreadful fear passed coldly over Jo, as she thought, ‘Beth is dead, and Meg is afraid to tell me.’ She was back in her post in an instant, and to her excited eyes a great change seemed to have taken place. —
乔感到一阵可怕的恐惧袭上心头：“贝丝去世了，而梅格害怕告诉我。”她立刻回到自己的岗位，兴奋的眼睛看到了巨大的变化。 —

The fever flush and the look of pain were gone, and the beloved little face looked so pale and peaceful in its utter repose, that Jo felt no desire to weep or to lament. —
发热和痛苦的表情不见了，挚爱的小脸在完全安宁的睡眠中显得苍白而宁静，乔不觉得想哭或哀悼。 —

Leaning low over this dearest of her sisters, she kissed the damp forehead with her heart on her lips, and softly whispered, ‘Good-bye, my Beth; good-bye!’
低声地俯身在最亲爱的妹妹上亲吻着湿漉漉的额头，她的心在唇上轻轻地低语着：“再见，我的贝丝；再见！”

As if waked by the stir, Hannah started out of her sleep, hurried to the bed, looked at Beth, felt her hands, listened at her lips, and then, throwing her apron over her head, sat down to rock to and fro, exclaiming, under her breath, ‘The fever’s turned; —
好像被忙乱惊醒，汉娜从睡梦中惊醒，赶到床边，看着贝丝，摸了摸她的手，听着她的嘴唇，然后，她将围裙盖在头上，坐下来来回摇晃着，低声喃喃道：“烧已经退了；她正自然地入睡；她的皮肤潮湿，呼吸平稳。太好了！天哪！” —

she’s sleeping nat’ral; her skin’s damp, and she breathes easy. —
女孩们还没来得及相信这个幸福的事实，医生就来证实了。 —

Praise be given! Oh, my goodness me!’
医生的到来伤患的消息让女孩们欣喜若狂。

Before the girls could believe the happy truth, the doctor came to confirm it. —
医生来了以后,女孩们确信了这个幸福的事实。 —

He was a homely man, but they thought his face quite heavenly when he smiled, and said, with a fatherly look at them, ‘Yes, my dears, I think the little girl will pull through this time. —
他是一个相貌平凡的男人，但当他微笑时，他们认为他的脸庞是那样的美丽，并且他以一种父亲般的目光看着他们说道：“是的，亲爱的，我觉得这次小女孩会挺过去的。” —

Keep the house quiet; let her sleep, and when she wakes, give her–’ What they were to give, neither heard; —
保持屋子安静；让她睡觉时，当她醒来时给她……” 他们都没有听到要给什么。 —

for both crept into the dark hall, and sitting on the stairs, held each other close, rejoicing with hearts too full for words. —
因为他们俩偷偷地走进黑暗的走廊，坐在楼梯上，紧紧地搂在一起，满心欢喜，无言地庆祝。 —

When they went back to be kissed and cuddled by faithful Hannah, they found Beth lying, as she used to do, with her cheek pillowed on her hand, the dreadful pallor gone, and breathing quietly, as if just fallen asleep.
当他们回去被忠实的汉娜亲吻和抱着时，他们发现贝丝仍然像从前一样，脸颊枕在手上，可怕的苍白消失了，呼吸平静地像是刚刚入睡。

If Mother would only come now!’ said Jo, as the winter night began to wane.
如果妈妈现在能来！”乔在冬夜渐渐消失时说道。

See,’ said Meg, coming up with a white, half-opened rose, ‘I thought this would hardly be ready to lay in Beth’s hand tomorrow if she - went away from us. —
你看，”梅格说着，拿着一朵半开的白色玫瑰走上前来，“我觉得这朵花明天如果她离开我们就不会准备好放在贝丝的手中了。” —

But it has blossomed in the night, and now I mean to put it in my vase here, so that when the darling wakes, the first things she sees will be the little rose, and Mother’s face.’
但在夜晚里它已经绽放了，我现在打算把它放在这个花瓶里，这样当宝贝醒来时，她看到的第一件事将是这朵小玫瑰和妈妈的脸。

Never had the sun risen so beautifully, and never had the world seemed so lovely, as it did to the heavy eyes of Meg and Jo, as they looked out in the early morning, when their long, sad vigil was done.
太阳从未如此美好地升起，世界也从未如此美丽，对着Meg和Jo沉重的眼睛来说，当她们在清晨环顾四周时，她们漫长而悲伤的守夜终于结束了。

It looks like a fairy world,’ said Meg, smiling to herself, as she stood behind the curtain, watching the dazzling sight.
“它看起来像一个仙境世界，”Meg咧嘴一笑，站在窗帘后面，观看着这耀眼的景象。

Hark!’ cried Jo, starting to her feet.
“听!“Jo大叫一声，从底下的门传来了钟声，Hannah的叫声，然后是Laurie的声音，用兴奋的低语说道：”姐妹们，她来了！她来了！”

Yes, there was a sound of bells at the door below, a cry from Hannah, and then Laurie’s voice saying, in a joyful whisper, ‘Girls, she’s come! she’s come!’
是的，有门铃声从下面传来，Hannah的叫声，然后Laurie的声音用高兴的低语说道：” 姐妹们，她来了！她来了！”