名著精讀:《小婦人》第二章:聖誕快樂 第16節

"That boy put it into his head, I know he did! He's a capital fellow, and I wish we could get acquainted. He looks as if he'd like to know us but he's bashful, and Meg is so prim she won't let me speak to him when we pass," said Jo, as the plates went round, and the ice began to melt out of sight, with ohs and ahs of satisfaction.

“一定是那男孩出的主意，準沒錯！他是個一流的小夥子，但願我們可以交朋友。他看來也想認識我們，只是有點怕羞，而梅格又一本正經，我們路過也不讓我跟他說句話。”這時碟子傳過來，雪糕已開始融化，喬一邊說一邊呵哈呵哈地吃得津津有味。

"You mean the people who live in the big house next door, don't you?" asked one of the girls. "My mother knows old Mr. Laurence, but says he's very proud and doesn't like to mix with his neighbors. He keeps his grandson shut up, when he isn't riding or walking with his tutor, and makes him study very hard. We invited him to our party, but he didn't come. Mother says he's very nice, though he never speaks to us girls."

“你們說的是住在隔壁那座大房子裏的人嗎？”一個姑娘問，”我媽媽認識勞倫斯先生，但說他非常高傲，不喜歡與鄰里交往。他把自己的孩子關在家裏，只讓他跟着家庭教師騎馬散步，逼他用功讀書。我們曾經邀請他參加我們的晚會，但他沒來。媽媽說他相當不錯，雖然他從不跟我們女孩子說話。”

"Our cat ran away once, and he brought her back, and we talked over the fence, and were getting on capitally, all about cricket, and so on, when he saw Meg coming, and walked off. I mean to know him some day, for he needs fun, I'm sure he does," said Jo decidedly.

“一次我家的貓兒不見了，是他送回來的。我們隔着籬笆談了幾句，而且相當投機--談的都是板球一類的東西--他看到梅格走過來，就走開了。我終有一天要認識他的，因爲他需要樂趣，我肯定他很需要，”喬自信地說道。

"I like his manners, and he looks like a little gentleman, so I've no objection to your knowing him, if a proper opportunity comes. He brought the flowers himself, and I should have asked him in, if I had been sure what was going on upstairs. He looked so wistful as he went away, hearing the frolic and evidently having none of his own."

“他舉止彬彬有禮，令人喜愛。如果時機適宜，我不反對你們交朋友。他今天親自把鮮花送過來，我本應該請他進來的，但因爲不知道你們在樓上幹什麼，就沒讓他進來。他走的時候似乎悶悶不樂，若有所思；他聽到你們在玩鬧，而顯然他自己沒什麼玩的。”

"It's a mercy you didn't, Mother!" laughed Jo, looking at her boots. "But we'll have another play sometime that he can see. Perhaps he'll help act. Wouldn't that be jolly?"

“幸虧沒叫他進來，媽媽！”喬望望自己的靴子笑道，”不過以後我們會做一出他可以看的戲。或許他還可以和我們一起演出呢。那豈不更有趣？”

"I never had such a fine bouquet before! How pretty it is!" And Meg examined her flowers with great interest.

“我從未收到過這樣漂亮的花束！真是美極了！”梅格饒有興致地審視着自己那束鮮花。

"They are lovely. But Beth's roses are sweeter to me," said Mrs. March, smelling the half-dead posy in her belt.

“花兒是漂亮！不過依我說貝思的玫瑰花更香，”馬奇太太聞聞插在腰帶上那幾近凋零的花朵說道。

Beth nestled up to her, and whispered softly, "I wish I could send my bunch to Father. I'm afraid he isn't having such a merry Christmas as we are."

貝思依偎到她的身旁，輕身低語道：“我真希望能把我的那束花送給爸爸。我想他聖誕節恐怕過得沒有我們這麼快樂呢。”

tal['kæpitl] adj. 極好的，一流的

ful adj. 1. 羞怯的2. 侷促不安的；缺乏自信的

He because of bashful but low head.
他因羞愧而低下了頭。

adj. 1. 循規蹈矩的2. 整潔的3. (人)一本正經；循規蹈矩

To assume a prim expression.
做出一本正經的樣子

dedly adv. 1. 確實無疑地;顯然2. 堅決地;果斷地

He made an order decidedly.
他果斷地下了一條命令。

ful adj. 傷感的；（對已不可能發生之事）徒然神往的

The boy looks with wistful eyes at the toy on display
那男孩看著展出的玩具,眼中流露出渴望的神情

ic n. 調皮，歡樂的聚會，無憂無慮的快樂時光

The children are having a frolic before bedtime.
孩子們睡覺前正在嬉戲玩鬧。

n. 小花束

Gathered a posy of violets.
採集一束紫羅蘭

le['nesl] v. 依偎，（舒適地）安頓

She nestled her head on his shoulder.
她將頭依偎在他的肩上.

　　
1.I like his manners, and he looks like a little gentleman, so I've no objection to your knowing him, if a proper opportunity comes.

【難句解析】have objection to意思是“反對...”；

【句子翻譯】他舉止彬彬有禮，令人喜愛。如果時機適宜，我不反對你們交朋友。