名著精讀:《小婦人》第三章:勞倫斯家的男孩 第7節

Down they went, feeling a trifle timid, for they seldom went to parties, and informal as this little gathering was, it was an event to them. Mrs. Gardiner, a stately old lady, greeted them kindly and handed them over to the eldest of her six daughters. Meg knew Sallie and was at her ease very soon, but Jo, who didn't care much for girls or girlish gossip, stood about, with her back carefully against the wall, and felt as much out of place as a colt in a flower garden.

姐妹兩人略帶羞怯地走過去。雖然這只是個非正式的小舞會，對於她們來說卻是件盛事。加德納夫人是位神態莊重的老太太，有六個女兒。她和靄可親地接待了她們，並把她們交給大女兒莎莉。梅格和莎莉相熟，很快便不再拘束，而喬呢，對女孩子和女孩子的閒言碎語一向不大着意，只得站在那裏，小心翼翼地背靠着牆，覺得自己就像一匹關在花園裏的小野馬，很不得要領。

Half a dozen jovial lads were talking about skates in another part of the room, and she longed to go and join them, for skating was one of the joys of her life. She telegraphed her wish to Meg, but the eyebrows went up so alarmingly that she dared not stir.

五六個快活的小夥子在房間的另一頭大談溜冰，她心癢難禁，恨不得也走過去參與，因爲溜冰是她生活中的一大樂趣。她把心頭願望向梅格流露，但梅格的眉毛擡得老高，令她不敢輕舉妄動。

No one came to talk to her, and one by one the group dwindled away till she was left alone. She could not roam about and amuse herself, for the burned breadth would show, so she stared at people rather forlornly till the dancing began. Meg was asked at once, and the tight slippers tripped about so briskly that none would have guessed the pain their wearer suffered smilingly.

沒有人過來跟他說話；身邊的一羣人也漸走漸少，最後只剩下她孤零零一個。因爲怕露出燒壞了的衣幅，她不敢四處走動去尋找樂趣，只能可憐巴巴地站在那裏盯着別人看。這時舞曲響起，梅格馬上被請進了舞池。她步態輕快，笑臉盈盈，沒有人會想象得到她雙腳正被那雙鞋子折磨得生疼。

Jo saw a big red headed youth approaching her corner, and fearing he meant to engage her, she slipped into a curtained recess, intending to peep and enjoy herself in peace. Unfortunately, another bashful person had chosen the same refuge, for, as the curtain fell behind her, she found herself face to face with the 'Laurence boy'.

喬看到一個大個子紅頭髮的年輕人向她走來，擔心會請她跳舞，便趕快溜進一間掛着簾幕的休息室，準備獨自一人偷偷窺視，悄悄欣賞。誰料到另一個害羞的人已先看中了這個庇身之處：當簾幕在身後落下時，喬發現自己正與"勞倫斯家的男孩"面對着面。

n. 小馬，無經驗的年輕人

This colt is only two months old.
這隻小雄駒只有兩個月大。

al adj. 快活的，高興的，愉快的

He is a friendly jovial fellow.
他是個和藹而快樂的人。

[læd] n. 少年，小夥子

He is just a lad.
他不過是個小青年。

dle['dwindl] v. 減少，縮小

The number of people going to the cinema seems to dwindle steadily.
看電影的人數似乎在逐漸下降。

orn adj. 孤獨的，悲慘的，淒涼的

She looked wretched and forlorn, despairing of the arrival of a friend who had promised to meet her.
她看上去又可憐又孤獨，對於答應來看她的朋友的到來已不抱希望。