通译双语文库:小妇人第三十八章　束之高阁

1

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在法国，年轻姑娘们婚前生活很乏味；结了婚，”Ｖｉｖｅｌａｌｉｂｅｒｔé便成了她们的座右铭。而在美国，众所周知，姑娘们早就签署了独立宣言，她们带着共和党人的热情享受着自由。然而，通常在家庭的第一个继承人登上宝座之时，年轻的主妇们便逊位了。她们过着归隐的生活，几乎像是在法国的女修道院，却没有那里安静。不管她们是否愿意，一旦婚姻激动人心的时期过去，事实上她们便被束之高阁。大多数妇女会惊叹，就像前些日子一个非常漂亮的女人所说的：“我和以前一样漂亮，可是仅仅因为我结了婚，就不再有人注意我了！”

1

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In France the young girls have a dull time of it till they are married, when ’Vive la liberte!’ becomes their motto. In America, as everyone knows, girls early sign the declaration of independence, and enjoy their freedom with republican zest, but the young matrons usually abdicate with the first heir to the throne and go into a seclusion almost as close as a French nunnery, though by no means as quiet. Whether they like it or not, they are virtually put upon the shelf as soon as the wedding excitement is over, and most of them might exclaim, as did a very pretty woman the other day, "I’m as handsome as ever, but no one takes any notice of me because I’m married."

2

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梅格不是美女，甚至也不是个时髦女士，所以在她的孩子们长到一岁之前，她都没经受这种痛苦。在她的小世界里，古风习俗盛行，她感到自己得到的赞赏与爱心比前更多。

2

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Not being a belle or even a fashionable lady, Meg did not experience this affliction till her babies were a year old, for in her little world primitive customs prevailed, and she found herself more admired and beloved than ever.

3

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她是个温柔的小妇人，母性的本能非常强烈，所以她把全副精力用于孩子们，排斥任何别的东西，别的人。她带着不知疲倦的献身精神与焦虑心情，日日夜夜想孩子们之所想。现在厨房诸事一应交给一个爱尔兰太太主管，梅格将约翰丢给她，任由她摆布。

3

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As she was a womanly little woman, the maternal instinct was very strong, and she was entirely absorbed in her children, to the utter exclusion of everything and everybody else. Day and night she brooded over them with tireless devotion and anxiety, leaving John to the tender mercies of the help, for an Irish lady now presided over the kitchen department.

4

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约翰是个热爱家庭生活的男人，肯定怀念他惯常受到的妻子的照顾。但是他喜爱他的孩子们，也就愉快地暂时放弃了他的舒适，带着男子的懵然无知推测不久就会恢复安宁。然而，三个月时间过去了，平静没有重返。梅格看上去疲倦紧张，而那个厨子过日子很有"节制"，总不让他吃饱。早上出门时，他看到家务缠身的妈妈忙着桩桩琐碎小事，感到迷惑不解。晚上兴冲冲地回到家里，急切地想拥抱妻子，却被妻子止住了：“嘘，他们吵了一天，刚刚睡着。”假如他提议在家里来点娱乐，”不！那样会打扰孩子们。”

4

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Being a domestic man, John decidedly missed the wifely attentions he had been accustomed to receive, but as he adored his babies, he cheerfully relinquished his comfort for a time, supposing with masculine ignorance that peace would soon be restored. But three months passed, and there was no return of repose. Meg looked worn and nervous, the babies absorbed every minute of her time, the house was neglected, and Kitty, the cook, who took life ’aisy’, kept him on short commons. When he went out in the morning he was bewildered by small commissions for the captive mamma, if he came gaily in at night, eager to embrace his family, he was quenched by a "Hush! They are just asleep after worrying all day." If he proposed a little amusement at home, "No, it would disturb the babies."

5

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要是他暗示去听讲座或音乐会，梅格会责备地看着他，然后断然回答：“丢下孩子们去享乐？决不！”在难以成眠的夜里，他听到孩子们的哭叫声，看到一个幽灵般的身影无声无息地来回走动。吃饭时，只要楼上小窝里传来轻微响动，主管一切的天才便会奔离餐桌，其他于不顾，这频繁的上上下下打搅了他的进餐。晚上他读报时，德米的疝痛混进了航运表，黛西的跌跤则影响了股评价格，而布鲁克太太只对家庭的新闻感兴趣。

5

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If he hinted at a lecture or a concert, he was answered with a reproachful look, and a decided - "Leave my children for pleasure, never!" His sleep was broken by infant wails and visions of a phantom figure pacing noiselessly to and fro in the watches of the night. His meals were interrupted by the frequent flight of the presiding genius, who deserted him, half-helped, if a muffled chirp sounded from the nest above. And when he read his paper of an evening, Demi’s colic got into the shipping list and Daisy’s fall affected the price of stocks, for Mrs. Brooke was only interested in domestic news.

6

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那可怜的人感到非常不舒服，因为孩子们使他失去了妻子。家只不过是一个托儿所，每当他进入神圣的孩子领地，那不断的"嘘"声使他感到自己像是一个野蛮的入侵者。他非常耐心地忍受了六个月，情况仍然没有改善的迹象。这时，他像其他被放逐的父亲们一样――试图从别的地方找些小慰藉。斯科特已经结了婚，在离他们不远的地方居家过日子。约翰便成了习惯，晚上过去玩一两小时，而他自家的客厅空荡荡的，妻子哼着似乎永无终了的催眠曲。斯科特夫人活泼、美丽，她无事可做，却能让人愉快。她非常成功地完成她的使命。她家的客厅总是明亮、吸引人。棋盘摆好了，钢琴调准了。在这里可以闲聊许多令人开心的事，还有一顿诱人的小晚餐等着他。

6

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The poor man was very uncomfortable, for the children had bereft him of his wife, home was merely a nursery and the perpetual ’hushing’ made him feel like a brutal intruder whenever he entered the sacred precincts of Babyland. He bore it very patiently for six months, and when no signs of amendment appeared, he did what other paternal exiles do--tried to get a little comfort elsewhere. Scott had married and gone to housekeeping not far off, and John fell into the way of running over for an hour or two of an evening, when his own parlor was empty, and his own wife singing lullabies that seemed to have no end. Mrs. Scott was a lively, pretty girl, with nothing to do but be agreeable, and she performed her mission most successfully. The parlor was always bright and attractive, the chessboard ready, the piano in tune, plenty of gay gossip, and a nice little supper set forth in tempting style.

7

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要不是自家的炉边那么寂寞，约翰会宁愿呆在自己家的。但他还是心怀感激地退而求其次，享受着与邻居为伴的乐趣。

7

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John would have preferred his own fireside if it had not been so lonely, but as it was he gratefully took the next best thing and enjoyed his neighbor’s society.

8

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开始时，梅格十分赞同他这种新的安排。约翰玩得很尽兴，他不再在自家的客厅打盹儿，或者在房子里到处乱走，让沉重的脚步声惊醒孩子们。她因此而感到欣慰。然而不久以后，孩子们出牙期的焦躁结束。宠儿们睡觉守时，妈妈便有了休息的时间。这时她开始想念约翰。约翰没有像过去那样，穿着旧睡衣坐在她的对面，舒坦地在火炉围栏上烤他的拖鞋，于是她发现针线篮是个乏味的伴儿。

8

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Meg rather approved of the new arrangement at first, and found it a relief to know that John was having a good time instead of dozing in the parlor, or tramping about the house and waking the children. But by-and-by, when the teething worry was over and the idols went to sleep at proper hours, leaving Mamma time to rest, she began to miss John, and find her workbasket dull company, when he was not sitting opposite in his old dressing gown, comfortably scorching his slippers on the fender.

9

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她不愿求他呆在家里，但她感到受了伤害，因为她不告诉他，他也就不知道她需要他。梅格完全记不得那许多夜晚，约翰徒劳地等着她。她照看孩子，为孩子操心，又紧张又疲倦。她那种无奈的心绪大多数母亲在家事拖累下都时而有过。缺乏锻炼使她们不再快乐，美国妇女们过分专注于她们的宠物――茶壶，这使她们感到好像她们太神经质，精力不济。

9

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She would not ask him to stay at home, but felt injured because he did not know that she wanted him without being told, entirely forgetting the many evenings he had waited for her in vain. She was nervous and worn out with watching and worry, and in that unreasonable frame of mind which the best of mothers occasionally experience when domestic cares oppress them. Want of exercise robs them of cheerfulness, and too much devotion to that idol of American women, the teapot, makes them feel as if they were all nerve and no muscle.

10

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“是的，”梅格朝镜子里看着，总会这么说，”我越来越老了，丑了。约翰不再认为我有趣了，所以他丢下他憔悴的妻子，去见那没有儿女拖累的漂亮邻居了。好吧，孩子们爱我，即便我消瘦，面色苍白，没时间卷头发，他们也不在乎。他们是我的安慰。总有一天约翰会看到我心甘情愿为他们作出的牺牲，是不是，我的宝贝们？”

10

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"Yes," she would say, looking in the glass, "I’m getting old and ugly. John doesn’t find me interesting any longer, so he leaves his faded wife and goes to see his pretty neighbor, who has no incumbrances. Well, the babies love me, they don’t care if I am thin and pale and haven’t time to crimp my hair, they are my comfort, and some day John will see what I’ve gladly sacrificed for them, won’t he, my precious?"

11

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听着这种哀切的倾诉，黛西会发出"呀呀"的声音作反应，德米却欢叫着来回答她。这时，梅格便会带着母亲的得意丢开她的悲哀，这暂时抚慰了她的孤寂。然而，约翰迷上了政治，这一来加深了梅格的痛苦。约翰总是跑过去和斯科特讨论他感兴趣的观点，他根本没意识到梅格想他。可是她一个字也没说，直到有一天母亲发现梅格在哭。妈妈坚持要她说出是怎么回事，梅格低落的情绪没有逃过妈妈的目光。

11

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To which pathetic appeal Daisy would answer with a coo, or Demi with a crow, and Meg would put by her lamentations for a maternal revel, which soothed her solitude for the time being. But the pain increased as politics absorbed John, who was always running over to discuss interesting points with Scott, quite unconscious that Meg missed him. Not a word did she say, however, till her mother found her in tears one day, and insisted on knowing what the matter was, for Meg’s drooping spirits had not escaped her observation.

12

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“妈妈，除了你我不会告诉任何人的。可是我真的需要忠告，因为，约翰要是再这样下去，我最好是去当寡妇。”布鲁克太太带着受伤的神情用黛西的围嘴擦着眼泪。

12

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"I wouldn’t tell anyone except you, Mother, but I really do need advice, for if John goes on much longer I might as well be widowed," replied Mrs. Brooke, drying her tears on Daisy’s bib with an injured air.

13

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“怎样下去，亲爱的？”妈妈焦急地问。

13

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"Goes on how, my dear?" asked her mother anxiously.

14

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“他白天整天在外面，到了晚上我想见他时，他却总是去斯科特家。这样不公平，我就该干最重的活，从来没有乐趣？男人太自私了，他们中最好的也不例外。”

14

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"He’s away all day, and at night when I want to see him, he is continually going over to the Scotts’. It isn’t fair that I should have the hardest work, and never any amusement. Men are very selfish, even the best of them."

15

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“女人们也是这样。看看你自己哪儿错了，再责备约翰。”

15

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"So are women. Don’t blame John till you see where you are wrong yourself."

16

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“可是他忽视我，这不可能是对的！”

16

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"But it can’t be right for him to neglect me."

17

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“你可忽视了他？“

17

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"Don’t you neglect him?"

18

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“哎呀，妈妈，我以为你会站在我这一边呢！”

18

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"Why, Mother, I thought you’d take my part!"

19

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“就同情而言，是这样的。可是梅格，我认为责任在你！”

19

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"So I do, as far as sympathizing goes, but I think the fault is yours, Meg."

20

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“我看不出怎么在我。”

20

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"I don’t see how."

21

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“我来告诉你。当你在晚上他仅有的空余时间里总是陪伴他时，约翰可像你说的那样忽视你？”

21

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"Let me show you. Did John ever neglect you, as you call it, while you made it a point to give him your society of an evening, his only leisure time?"

22

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“没有。可是我现在做不到，我有两个孩子要照管。”

22

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"No, but I can’t do it now, with two babies to tend."

23

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“我想你能够做到的，亲爱的。我想你也应该这么做。我可以很不客气地说话吗？你愿意记住妈妈是既责备你又同情你的人？

23

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"I think you could, dear, and I think you ought. May I speak quite freely, and will you remember that it’s Mother who blames as well as Mother who sympathizes?"

24

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“我真的愿意。就像我又成了小梅格那样对我说吧。自从这两个孩子一切都仰仗我，我常感到好像比以前更需要教导了。”

24

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"Indeed I will! Speak to me as if I were little Meg again. I often feel as if I needed teaching more than ever since these babies look to me for everything."

25

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“你只是犯了大多数年轻妻子们所犯的那种错――因为爱孩子而忘记了对丈夫应尽的责任。这种错非常自然，也是可以原谅的。梅格，你最好是加以补救，而不要采取别的方式，因为孩子们越来越依恋你，不想和你分开，好像他们都是你的，约翰没份，只能抚养他们。我已经看出来几个星期了，只是没说出来。我想事情最终会摆正的。”

25

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Meg drew her low chair beside her mother’s, and with a little interruption in either lap, the two women rocked and talked lovingly together, feeling that the tie of motherhood made them more one than ever.

26

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梅格将她的矮椅拖到妈妈的椅子旁边，一边膝上放一个小捣蛋。两个妇人摇着椅子，亲切地谈着话，她们感到母性的纽带将她们联得越发紧密了。

26

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"You have only made the mistake that most young wives make--forgotten your duty to your husband in your love for your children. A very natural and forgivable mistake, Meg, but one that had better be remedied before you take to different ways, for children should draw you nearer than ever, not separate you, as if they were all yours, and John had nothing to do but support them. I’ve seen it for some weeks, but have not spoken, feeling sure it would come right in time."

27

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“恐怕不会的。要是我求他呆在家里，他会以为我忌妒了。我不想让他产生这种念头。他看不出我需要他，我不知道怎样不用言语让他明白我的心。”

27

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"I’m afraid it won’t. If I ask him to stay, he’ll think I’m jealous, and I wouldn’t insult him by such an idea. He doesn’t see that I want him, and I don’t know how to tell him without words."

28

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“把家里弄得赏心悦目，他就不想出去了，亲爱的。他渴慕自己的小家，但不是没有你的家。可你总是在育儿室。”

28

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"Make it so pleasant he won’t want to go away. My dear, he’s longing for his little home, but it isn’t home without you, and you are always in the nursery."

29

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“我不应该在那里？”

29

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"Oughtn’t I to be there?"

30

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“不应所有的时间都在那儿，过多的封闭会使你神经紧张，结果干什么都不合适了。而且，和对孩子们一样，你也欠了约翰的。别为了孩子忽视了丈夫，别把他关在育儿室外面，而要教他怎样帮忙。和你一样，那里也有他的位置，孩子们需要他。让他感到也有他的一份事儿，他会高兴地克尽职守，这样对你们大家都会更好。”

30

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"Not all the time, too much confinement makes you nervous, and then you are unfitted for everything. Besides, you owe something to John as well as to the babies. Don’t neglect husband for children, don’t shut him out of the nursery, but teach him how to help in it. His place is there as well as yours, and the children need him. Let him feel that he has a part to do, and he will do it gladly and faithfully, and it will be better for you all."

31

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“你真的这么认为，妈妈？”

31

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"You really think so, Mother?"

32

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“梅格，我知道的，我试过。我证实过这个建议的可行性，不然，我不会给别人建议的。当你和乔还小的时候，我的情况就像你这样，感到要不是整个人交给你们，就没尽到责任。

32

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"I know it, Meg, for I’ve tried it, and I seldom give advice unless I’ve proved its practicability. When you and Jo were little, I went on just as you are, feeling as if I didn’t do my duty unless I devoted myself wholly to you.

33

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你可怜的爸爸提出帮助，我一概拒绝，他便沉醉到书本里去，让我独自去做我的试验。我尽力地挣扎着，但是乔太难对付了，我差点宠坏了她。你身体不好，我为你操心，后来自己也病了。这时，你爸爸过来救援了。他默默地处理着每一件事，他的帮助太大了。我看到了自己的过错，从那以后，没有他我根本不能过活。这就是我们家庭幸福的秘密所在。他不允许工作将他从影响我们大家的家务小事和责任中脱离开来，我也努力不让家务烦恼破坏我对他工作的兴趣。有许多事情，我们独自各干各的，可是在家里我们总是一起干活。”

33

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Poor Father took to his books, after I had refused all offers of help, and left me to try my experiment alone. I struggled along as well as I could, but Jo was too much for me. I nearly spoiled her by indulgence. You were poorly, and I worried about you till I fell sick myself. Then Father came to the rescue, quietly managed everything, and made himself so helpful that I saw my mistake, and never have been able to got on without him since. That is the secret of our home happiness. He does not let business wean him from the little cares and duties that affect us all, and I try not to let domestic worries destroy my interest in his pursuits. Each do our part alone in many things, but at home we work together, always."

34

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“是这样的，妈妈。我最大的愿望就是在丈夫和孩子的眼里成为你那样的妻子和母亲。告诉我怎么做，你怎么说我就怎么做。”

34

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"It is so, Mother, and my great wish is to be to my husband and children what you have been to yours. Show me how, I’ll do anything you say."

35

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“你总是我听话的孩子。好吧，亲爱的。我要是你的活，就让约翰多管管德米，因为男孩子需要训练，训练开始得越早越好。你还要做我常向你提议的事，让罕娜嬷嬷过来帮忙；她是个绝好的保姆，你可以把宝贝孩子托给她照料，自己多做些家务。你需要这份煅炼，罕娜会高高兴兴地干其余的活，而约翰又会找回他的妻子。多出去些，既要忙碌着，也要保持畅快，因为你是家庭中制造欢乐的人。要是你情绪忧郁，家庭生活也就没有了好天气。你还要试着做到：约翰喜欢什么，我就对什么感兴趣――去和他谈谈，让他为你读读书，交流思想，以那种方式互相帮助。别因为你是个妇人，就把自己装在纸板盒里，要了解时事，要训练自己参与世事，因为这些都和你的工作有联系。”

35

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"You always were my docile daughter. Well, dear, if I were you, I’d let John have more to do with the management of Demi, for the boy needs training, and it’s none too soon to begin. Then I’d do what I have often proposed, let Hannah come and help you. She is a capital nurse, and you may trust the precious babies to her while you do more housework. You need the exercise, Hannah would enjoy the rest, and John would find his wife again. Go out more, keep cheerful as well as busy, for you are the sunshine-maker of the family, and if you get dismal there is no fair weather. Then I’d try to take an interest in whatever John likes--talk with him, let him read to you, exchange ideas, and help each other in that way. Don’t shut yourself up in a bandbox because you are a woman, but understand what is going on, and educate yourself to take your part in the world’s work, for it all affects you and yours."

36

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“约翰那么聪明。我担心要是我问他政治和其他问题，他会认为我笨的。”

36

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"John is so sensible, I’m afraid he will think I’m stupid if I ask questions about politics and things."

37

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“我想他不会的，爱情能宽容许多过失。除了他，你还能更直率地问谁呢？试试吧，看他可会发现你的相伴和斯科特的晚餐哪个更好。”

37

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"I don’t believe he would. Love covers a multitude of sins, and of whom could you ask more freely than of him? Try it, and see if he doesn’t find your society far more agreeable than Mrs. Scott’s suppers."

38

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“我会这么做的。可怜的约翰！我恐怕我已经不幸地忽视了他。我还以为我是对的呢，他从来不说什么。”

38

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"I will. Poor John! I’m afraid I have neglected him sadly, but I thought I was right, and he never said anything."

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“他试图不表现出自私，但是我想他已经感到了相当的凄凉。梅格，现在恰是时候。这个时候年轻的夫妻们易于疏远，也最应贴近，因为结婚最初的柔情蜜意，如不用心维持，很快就会消逝。在小生命们交给他们培育的最初几年里，对父母来说，没有比这更美好、更宝贵的日子了。别让约翰成为孩子们的陌生人。在这个具有考验与诱惑的世界，孩子们比任何别的东西都更能使他安全、幸福。通过孩子们，你们能够，也应该学着相知相爱。好了，亲爱的，再见。想想妈妈的训导，要是觉得好就这么做。上帝保佑你们全家。”

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"He tried not to be selfish, but he has felt rather forlorn, I fancy. This is just the time, Meg, when young married people are apt to grow apart, and the very time when they ought to be most together, for the first tenderness soon wears off, unless care is taken to preserve it. And no time is so beautiful and precious to parents as the first years of the little lives given to them to train. Don’t let John be a stranger to the babies, for they will do more to keep him safe and happy in this world of trial and temptation than anything else, and through them you will learn to know and love one another as you should. Now, dear, good-by. Think over Mother’s preachment, act upon it if it seems good, and God bless you all."

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梅格确实仔细想了一回，觉得妈妈说得不错，也这么做了，虽然第一次尝试并不完全像她筹划的那样。孩子们当然对她横行霸道。一旦发现蹬腿嚎哭能带来他们所要的东西，他们便统治了屋子。在他们的任性驱驶下，妈妈是个卑贱的奴隶，可是爸爸却不那么容易征服。有时，爸爸想用父亲的纪律管制任性的儿子时，却使他那软心肠的妻子痛苦。德米继承了他父亲一些坚强的个性――我们不把它叫顽固――当他的小脑袋打定主意要什么或做什么时，国王的所有人马都改变不了那个不屈不挠的小脑袋产生的念头。妈妈认为小宝贝太小了，还不能叫他克服偏见。可是爸爸相信，学习服从怎么也不会为时过早。因此德米少爷很早就发现，只要他和"爸贝（爸）”“叫（较）量"，他总是大败。然而像美国人那样，孩子尊敬征服了他的人。他爱爸爸。爸爸严肃的"不、不"比妈妈所有慈爱的鼓励都更使他牢记在心。

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Meg did think it over, found it good, and acted upon it, though the first attempt was not made exactly as she planned to have it. Of course the children tyrannized over her, and ruled the house as soon as they found out that kicking and squalling brought them whatever they wanted. Mamma was an abject slave to their caprices, but Papa was not so easily subjugated, and occasionally afflicted his tender spouse by an attempt at paternal discipline with his obstreperous son. For Demi inherited a trifle of his sire’s firmness of character, we won’t call it obstinacy, and when he made up his little mind to have or to do anything, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men could not change that pertinacious little mind. Mamma thought the dear too young to be taught to conquer his prejudices, but Papa believed that it never was too soon to learn obedience. So Master Demi early discovered that when he undertook to ’wrastle’ with ’Parpar’, he always got the worst of it, yet like the Englishman, baby respected the man who conquered him, and loved the father whose grave "No, no," was more impressive than all Mamma’s love pats.

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和妈妈谈话后又过了几天，梅格决心陪伴约翰一晚上。因此，她准备了一桌像样的晚餐，客厅收拾得井井有条，自己打扮得漂漂亮亮，而且很早就让孩子们上床睡觉。没什么能够打扰她进行试验了。可不幸的是，德米难以克服的恶习便是反对上床睡觉。那天晚上，他决定要胡搅蛮缠。所以梅格唱啊，摇啊，讲故事，想尽了哄他入睡的点子，可是一切均告无效。黛西已经睡着很长时间了，他那双大眼睛还是不合上。黛西长得胖胖嘟嘟的，脾气也好。可淘气的德米躺在那里盯着灯看，脸上的表情十分清醒。令人泄气！

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“德米，乖孩子，静静躺着好不好？妈妈下楼去给你可怜的爸爸倒杯茶，”梅格问。她听到过道里的门轻轻关上了，熟悉的踮着脚走路的声音进入了饭厅。

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“德米要喝茶！”德米说。他准备参加宴会。

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“不，要是你像黛西那样静静地去睡，我就给你留些小饼饼明天当早饭。好不好，宝贝？”

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"No, but I’ll save you some little cakies for breakfast, if you’ll go bye-bye like Daisy. Will you, lovey?"

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“考（好）！”德米紧紧闭上了眼睛，好像要追上睡眠，赶快到盼望的明天。

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"Iss!" and Demi shut his eyes tight, as if to catch sleep and hurry the desired day.

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梅格利用这有利的时机溜出门，跑下楼笑着迎接丈夫。她头上戴着那个他特别欣赏的蓝色蝴蝶结。他立即就瞧见了，惊喜地问：“哎呀，小母亲，今晚我们多么高兴。有客人？”

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“只有你，亲爱的！”

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“那是生日、周年纪念日，还是别的什么？”

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“都不是！我厌倦了当邋遢女人，所以我打扮起来换个样。你不管有多累，坐在餐桌前时总是穿戴整齐。我有时间，为什么不能也这样呢？”

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“我那样是出于对你的尊重，亲爱的！”老式的约翰说。

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“我也一样，我也一样，布鲁克先生。”梅格笑了。她又是那么年轻漂亮了。她隔着茶壶向他点着头。

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“嗯，真是非常好，又像以前那样了。这个味道不错。亲爱的，为你的健康干杯！”约翰一阵狂喜。他恬然地啜着茶，然而这种情形非常短暂，因为，当他放下杯子时，门把手神秘地嗒嗒响了起来，只听见一个小小的声音焦躁地说着――

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“太（开）门，我要见（进）来！”

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“是那个淘气包！我叫他自己去睡，他倒跑到楼下来了。穿着那帆布鞋嗒嗒跑着，冻死他去，”梅格说着去开门。

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“已经到早上了，”德米进门开心地宣告，长睡衣优雅地垂落在胳膊下。他在桌子旁乱蹦乱跳，头上每一络小鬈发都随之一上一下地欢跳。他钟情地打量着"小饼饼"。

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“不，还没到早上。你得去睡觉，别烦你可怜的妈妈。这样你就能吃到带糖的小饼饼。”

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“德米爱爸贝。”机灵的小家伙打算爬到爸爸的膝上，参加欢宴，享受被禁止的乐趣。可是约翰摇着头，对梅格说――

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“要是你叫他呆在楼上，自己睡觉，那就让他这么做，否则他就再不会在乎你的话了。”

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“当然是这样。过来，德米。“梅格领走了儿子，她真想揍这小捣蛋的屁股。他在她身旁蹦着，幻想着一进到育儿室就会得到贿赂。

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他并没有失望。缺乏远见的妇人真的给了他一块糖。她把他塞进被子里，不到早晨，不许他再溜下来。

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“考（好）！”德米发了假誓，他极快乐地吮着糖块，为他又一次得手而自鸣得意。

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梅格回到位子上，晚餐进行得十分惬意。忽然，那小鬼又走进屋来，他揭发了妈妈的失职，大胆地要求"还要吃糖糖，姆妈"。

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“哎哟，这可不行。”约翰硬起心肠回绝那可爱的小罪犯。

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“那孩子不去安稳地睡觉，我们就不得安宁。你做奴隶的时间已经够长了。教训他一下，一切都会结束。把他放到床上，丢开他，梅格。“

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“他不会呆在那儿的，除非我坐在他身边。”

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“我来对付他。德米，上楼去，像妈妈说的那样上你的床去。

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“我不！”小叛逆回答。他伸手去拿他垂涎的"饼饼"，然后沉着大胆地吃了起来。

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“不可对爸爸这样说话。你要是不自己走，我就把你带走。”

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“走开，德米不爱爸贝了。”德米退到妈妈的裙子边寻求保护。

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可是那个避难所没用，因为妈妈说着"对他温和些，约翰"，就把他交给了敌人，令小罪犯沮丧。一旦妈妈不管他，审判日就要到了。他被夺去了饼子，失掉了欢乐，又被一只顽强的手带到了那张讨厌的床上。可怜的德米控制不住愤怒。他公然反抗爸爸，拼命地一路踢着腿，尖叫着上了楼。

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刚把他放到床上，他就尖叫着滚到另一边，然后朝门口冲去。结果又很失面子地让爸爸抓住小睡袍下襟提回了床上。这种热闹的场面一直进行着，直到小家伙的力气耗完了。这时他放声大嚎起来。这种发声练习通常总征服了梅格，可是约翰却一动不动地坐在那里，像个柱子。柱子是公认的聋子，什么也听不见的。没有哄劝，没有糖块，没有催眠曲，也没有故事，甚至灯也给灭了，只有炉火发出的红光为"大大的黑暗”添了点生气。德米好奇地看着黑暗，反倒不怕了。这种新局面使他憎恶。当愤怒的狂暴平息下去时，被监禁的小霸主想起了他温柔的女奴，便绝望地吼着要起姆妈来。这随着怒嚎之后发出的痛哭声直扎梅格的心窝，她跑上楼去恳求――

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"让我和他呆在一起吧。他现在会乖的了，约翰！”

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“不，亲爱的。我已经跟他说过，他必须像你说的那样去睡觉。只要我晚上在这儿，他非睡不可！”

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“可是，他会哭出病来的，”梅格求道，她责怪自己不该丢弃她的孩子。

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“不，他不会的。他很累了，很快就会睡着。事情就完了。他要懂得应该听话。别插手，我来对付他。”

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“他是我的孩子，我不能让生硬的态度摧毁他的精神。”

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“他是我的孩子，我不许用溺爱宠坏他的脾气。下楼去，亲爱的，把孩子丢给我吧。”

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当约翰以那种主人的腔调说话时，梅格总是服从着，她也从不为她的温顺后悔。

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“约翰，请让我亲他一下，可以吗？”

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“当然可以。德米，对妈妈说晚安，让她去休息。她整天照顾你们很累了。“

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梅格总是坚持说亲吻能起作用。亲过以后，德米的呜咽声小下去了。他静静地躺在床里边，先前他曾在那里痛苦地扭动过。

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“可怜的小人，他那样哭着，又想睡觉，已经累坏了。我来给他盖上被，然后下楼让梅格放心，”约翰想道。他蹑手蹑脚来到床边，以为他那叛逆的继承人已经睡着。

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可是他并没有睡着。爸爸一过来窥探，德米的眼睛便睁开了，小下巴也开始颤抖。他伸出胳膊，后悔地抽着气说：“现在德米听发（话）了。”

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梅格坐在门外的台阶上，弄不清大嚎以后长时间的寂静是怎么回事。她想象着各种各样不可能发生的事故，最后溜进了屋，她要消除疑窦。德米已经睡熟，不是通常那种仰八叉，而是乖顺地蜷曲着，睡在爸爸的胳膊弯里，紧紧地搂着爸爸，握着爸爸的手指，好像体味到了爸爸的恩威兼施，睡着了看上去像是更悲伤也更懂事了。约翰就这样搂着他，带着女人般的耐心等那小手松开。可是等待中自己也睡着了，与其说他是和儿子扭打累了，还不如说是一天工作劳累所致。

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梅格站在那里，注视着枕头上的两张脸，暗自笑了起来。然后，她又溜了出去，满意地说：“我根本不需要担心约翰会对我的孩子们过分粗暴，他真的知道怎样对付他们。他会是个好帮手，德米太伤我的神了。”

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约翰终于下楼来了，他本料想会看到一个郁郁不乐或者要责备他的妻子，结果却又惊又喜地看到梅格心平气和地在修饰一顶帽子，还请求他如果要是不太累的话，就为她读点有关选举的东西。约翰很快便看出，正在进行某种革命。但是他明智地不加提问，因为他知道，梅格是个非常直率的小妇人，守不住任何秘密，所以不久事情就会露出端倪。他欣然应允，非常温和地读了一个冗长的辩论，然后十分清楚地解释给她听。梅格装出深感兴趣的样子，想找些聪明的问题来问，尽力阻止脑子从国家状况漫游到她帽子的状况上。然而，她暗自思忖，认定政治和数学一样让人头疼。政治家们的使命似乎就是互相咒骂。她把这些妇人之见留在心底，当约翰停下来时，她便摇着头，说出她认为具有外交含糊性的话：“嗯，我真看不出我们解决了什么问题。”

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约翰笑了起来。他看了她一分钟，她在手里抚弄着一个用丝带和花儿装饰的小帽儿，兴趣十足地瞅着。他的高谈阔论却没有激起这种兴趣。

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“她竟想着好我所好，所以我也要爱她所爱，这才公平！”公道的约翰想着，然后大声补充道：“非常漂亮，这就是你说的那种早餐帽？”

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“我亲爱的丈夫，这是户外软帽，也是我去音乐会和戏院戴的最好的帽子。”

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“请原谅，它这么小，我自然把它错当成你有时随意穿戴的那种。你怎样让它保持不掉呢？”

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“用这几条丝带系在下巴下，配上玫瑰花蕾，这样。”梅格戴上帽子，系给他看。她带着一种抵挡不住的、宁静而又满足的神态看着他。

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“这顶帽子多可爱！可是我更喜欢它下面的那张脸，因为它看上去年轻快乐了！“约翰亲了亲那张笑脸。这大大有损于下巴下的那朵玫瑰花蕾。

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“很高兴你喜欢它，因为我想让你哪天晚上带我去听场新的音乐会。我真的需要音乐使我保持正常状态。好不好？求你了！”

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“当然可以，你已经被困了这么长时间了。我真想带你出去，去你想去的任何地方。那样会给你带来无穷乐趣。所有的事中，我也最喜欢这件。什么让你想到这点的，小妈妈？”

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“嗯。前些天我和妈咪谈过。我告诉她，我感到多么紧张、焦躁、情绪不好。她说我需要些变化，少操些心，所以打算让罕娜嬷嬷过来帮忙照看孩子，我就多照管些家务，适时出去调节一下，免得变成一个性情烦躁、未老先衰的老妇女。约翰，这只不过是个试验，为了你，也为了我自己。我想做这个实验，因为最近我令人羞愧地忽视了你。假如我能够，我要把家恢复到以前的样子。你不反对，是吧？”

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别去管约翰说了什么，也别管那顶小帽子是怎样十分侥幸地免于彻底损坏，我们有权利知道的事情便是下面这些。从这座屋子及起居民们逐渐发生的变化判断，约翰好像并未反对什么。房子当然没有成为伊甸园，然而劳动系统的分工使每个人感到情况更好了。

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在父亲的管束下，孩子们茁装成长。约翰处事精细，意志坚定，他将秩序和服从带进了孩子王国。同时，梅格通过大量有益健康的锻炼、一些小小的生活乐趣，以及和聪明的丈夫许多次推心置腹的谈话，恢复了精神，稳定了情绪。家又变得像家了。如果不带上梅格，约翰也不愿意离开家了。现在斯科特夫妇来布鲁克家作客了。每个人都感到小屋子是个生活胜地，充满欢声笑语、天伦之乐。甚至快活的莎莉-莫法特也喜欢来这儿了。

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”你这里总是那么安静，令人愉悦。我老想来，梅格！”她总是这么说，渴慕地四下打量着屋子，仿佛要发现魅力之所在，好在她的大院里也如法炮制。那所华宅金玉满堂，但却孤寂冷静，因为那里没有吵吵闹闹、活泼快乐的孩子们，内德生活的世界里没有她的容身之地。

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这种家庭的幸福不是突然降临的，但是，约翰和梅格找到了开启它的钥匙。婚后的岁月教会他们如何使用这把钥匙，打开真正的家庭之爱与互相帮助的宝库之门，这些财富最贫穷的人们可以拥有，最富有的人们却买不到。这就是年轻的妻子们和母亲们同意被束在那种高阁的原因。在那上面，她们于世间的不安与焦虑中安然无恙，在那些依恋她们的幼儿稚女身上找到了忠诚的爱；她们无畏痛苦、贫穷与年岁的增长；她们和一个忠实的朋友携手并进，同甘共苦。这个朋友，那古老优秀的萨克逊语言的真正意思就是"家庭的保证"。她们就像梅格那样，认识到妇人最幸福的王国是家庭，而作为她们统治艺术最高荣耀的不是做一个女王，而是做一个聪明的妻子和母亲。

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第三十八章 束之高阁|Chapter 38 On The Shelf

梅格不是美女，甚至也不是个时髦女士，所以在她的孩子们长到一岁之前，她都没经受这种痛苦。在她的小世界里，古风习俗盛行，她感到自己得到的赞赏与爱心比前更多。

Not being a belle or even a fashionable lady, Meg did not experience this affliction till her babies were a year old, for in her little world primitive customs prevailed, and she found herself more admired and beloved than ever.

要不是自家的炉边那么寂寞，约翰会宁愿呆在自己家的。但他还是心怀感激地退而求其次，享受着与邻居为伴的乐趣。

John would have preferred his own fireside if it had not been so lonely, but as it was he gratefully took the next best thing and enjoyed his neighbor’s society.

“妈妈，除了你我不会告诉任何人的。可是我真的需要忠告，因为，约翰要是再这样下去，我最好是去当寡妇。”布鲁克太太带着受伤的神情用黛西的围嘴擦着眼泪。

"I wouldn’t tell anyone except you, Mother, but I really do need advice, for if John goes on much longer I might as well be widowed," replied Mrs. Brooke, drying her tears on Daisy’s bib with an injured air.

“怎样下去，亲爱的？”妈妈焦急地问。

"Goes on how, my dear?" asked her mother anxiously.

“他白天整天在外面，到了晚上我想见他时，他却总是去斯科特家。这样不公平，我就该干最重的活，从来没有乐趣？男人太自私了，他们中最好的也不例外。”

"He’s away all day, and at night when I want to see him, he is continually going over to the Scotts’. It isn’t fair that I should have the hardest work, and never any amusement. Men are very selfish, even the best of them."

“女人们也是这样。看看你自己哪儿错了，再责备约翰。”

"So are women. Don’t blame John till you see where you are wrong yourself."

“可是他忽视我，这不可能是对的！”

"But it can’t be right for him to neglect me."

“你可忽视了他？“

"Don’t you neglect him?"

“哎呀，妈妈，我以为你会站在我这一边呢！”

"Why, Mother, I thought you’d take my part!"

“就同情而言，是这样的。可是梅格，我认为责任在你！”

"So I do, as far as sympathizing goes, but I think the fault is yours, Meg."

“我看不出怎么在我。”

"I don’t see how."

“我来告诉你。当你在晚上他仅有的空余时间里总是陪伴他时，约翰可像你说的那样忽视你？”

"Let me show you. Did John ever neglect you, as you call it, while you made it a point to give him your society of an evening, his only leisure time?"

“没有。可是我现在做不到，我有两个孩子要照管。”

"No, but I can’t do it now, with two babies to tend."

“我想你能够做到的，亲爱的。我想你也应该这么做。我可以很不客气地说话吗？你愿意记住妈妈是既责备你又同情你的人？

"I think you could, dear, and I think you ought. May I speak quite freely, and will you remember that it’s Mother who blames as well as Mother who sympathizes?"

“我真的愿意。就像我又成了小梅格那样对我说吧。自从这两个孩子一切都仰仗我，我常感到好像比以前更需要教导了。”

"Indeed I will! Speak to me as if I were little Meg again. I often feel as if I needed teaching more than ever since these babies look to me for everything."

Meg drew her low chair beside her mother’s, and with a little interruption in either lap, the two women rocked and talked lovingly together, feeling that the tie of motherhood made them more one than ever.

梅格将她的矮椅拖到妈妈的椅子旁边，一边膝上放一个小捣蛋。两个妇人摇着椅子，亲切地谈着话，她们感到母性的纽带将她们联得越发紧密了。

“恐怕不会的。要是我求他呆在家里，他会以为我忌妒了。我不想让他产生这种念头。他看不出我需要他，我不知道怎样不用言语让他明白我的心。”

"I’m afraid it won’t. If I ask him to stay, he’ll think I’m jealous, and I wouldn’t insult him by such an idea. He doesn’t see that I want him, and I don’t know how to tell him without words."

“把家里弄得赏心悦目，他就不想出去了，亲爱的。他渴慕自己的小家，但不是没有你的家。可你总是在育儿室。”

"Make it so pleasant he won’t want to go away. My dear, he’s longing for his little home, but it isn’t home without you, and you are always in the nursery."

“我不应该在那里？”

"Oughtn’t I to be there?"

“你真的这么认为，妈妈？”

"You really think so, Mother?"

“梅格，我知道的，我试过。我证实过这个建议的可行性，不然，我不会给别人建议的。当你和乔还小的时候，我的情况就像你这样，感到要不是整个人交给你们，就没尽到责任。

"I know it, Meg, for I’ve tried it, and I seldom give advice unless I’ve proved its practicability. When you and Jo were little, I went on just as you are, feeling as if I didn’t do my duty unless I devoted myself wholly to you.

“是这样的，妈妈。我最大的愿望就是在丈夫和孩子的眼里成为你那样的妻子和母亲。告诉我怎么做，你怎么说我就怎么做。”

"It is so, Mother, and my great wish is to be to my husband and children what you have been to yours. Show me how, I’ll do anything you say."

“约翰那么聪明。我担心要是我问他政治和其他问题，他会认为我笨的。”

"John is so sensible, I’m afraid he will think I’m stupid if I ask questions about politics and things."

“我想他不会的，爱情能宽容许多过失。除了他，你还能更直率地问谁呢？试试吧，看他可会发现你的相伴和斯科特的晚餐哪个更好。”

"I don’t believe he would. Love covers a multitude of sins, and of whom could you ask more freely than of him? Try it, and see if he doesn’t find your society far more agreeable than Mrs. Scott’s suppers."

“我会这么做的。可怜的约翰！我恐怕我已经不幸地忽视了他。我还以为我是对的呢，他从来不说什么。”

"I will. Poor John! I’m afraid I have neglected him sadly, but I thought I was right, and he never said anything."

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“德米，乖孩子，静静躺着好不好？妈妈下楼去给你可怜的爸爸倒杯茶，”梅格问。她听到过道里的门轻轻关上了，熟悉的踮着脚走路的声音进入了饭厅。

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“德米要喝茶！”德米说。他准备参加宴会。

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“不，要是你像黛西那样静静地去睡，我就给你留些小饼饼明天当早饭。好不好，宝贝？”

"No, but I’ll save you some little cakies for breakfast, if you’ll go bye-bye like Daisy. Will you, lovey?"

“考（好）！”德米紧紧闭上了眼睛，好像要追上睡眠，赶快到盼望的明天。

"Iss!" and Demi shut his eyes tight, as if to catch sleep and hurry the desired day.

梅格利用这有利的时机溜出门，跑下楼笑着迎接丈夫。她头上戴着那个他特别欣赏的蓝色蝴蝶结。他立即就瞧见了，惊喜地问：“哎呀，小母亲，今晚我们多么高兴。有客人？”

“只有你，亲爱的！”

“那是生日、周年纪念日，还是别的什么？”

“都不是！我厌倦了当邋遢女人，所以我打扮起来换个样。你不管有多累，坐在餐桌前时总是穿戴整齐。我有时间，为什么不能也这样呢？”

“我那样是出于对你的尊重，亲爱的！”老式的约翰说。

“我也一样，我也一样，布鲁克先生。”梅格笑了。她又是那么年轻漂亮了。她隔着茶壶向他点着头。

“太（开）门，我要见（进）来！”

“是那个淘气包！我叫他自己去睡，他倒跑到楼下来了。穿着那帆布鞋嗒嗒跑着，冻死他去，”梅格说着去开门。

“已经到早上了，”德米进门开心地宣告，长睡衣优雅地垂落在胳膊下。他在桌子旁乱蹦乱跳，头上每一络小鬈发都随之一上一下地欢跳。他钟情地打量着"小饼饼"。

“不，还没到早上。你得去睡觉，别烦你可怜的妈妈。这样你就能吃到带糖的小饼饼。”

“德米爱爸贝。”机灵的小家伙打算爬到爸爸的膝上，参加欢宴，享受被禁止的乐趣。可是约翰摇着头，对梅格说――

“要是你叫他呆在楼上，自己睡觉，那就让他这么做，否则他就再不会在乎你的话了。”

“当然是这样。过来，德米。“梅格领走了儿子，她真想揍这小捣蛋的屁股。他在她身旁蹦着，幻想着一进到育儿室就会得到贿赂。

他并没有失望。缺乏远见的妇人真的给了他一块糖。她把他塞进被子里，不到早晨，不许他再溜下来。

“考（好）！”德米发了假誓，他极快乐地吮着糖块，为他又一次得手而自鸣得意。

梅格回到位子上，晚餐进行得十分惬意。忽然，那小鬼又走进屋来，他揭发了妈妈的失职，大胆地要求"还要吃糖糖，姆妈"。

“哎哟，这可不行。”约翰硬起心肠回绝那可爱的小罪犯。

“那孩子不去安稳地睡觉，我们就不得安宁。你做奴隶的时间已经够长了。教训他一下，一切都会结束。把他放到床上，丢开他，梅格。“

“他不会呆在那儿的，除非我坐在他身边。”

“我来对付他。德米，上楼去，像妈妈说的那样上你的床去。

第三十八章　束之高阁|Chapter 38 On The Shelf