名著精讀:《小婦人》第一章:朝聖 第8節

CHAPTER ONE第一章

PLAYING PILGRIMS 朝聖

"Well, dearies, how have you got on today? There was so much to do, getting the boxes ready to go tomorrow, that I didn't come home to dinner. Has anyone called, Beth? How is your cold, Meg? Jo, you look tired to death. Come and kiss me, baby."

“小寶貝們，今天過得怎麼樣？我事情太多，要準備好明天就得發出的箱子，沒能回家吃飯。有人來過嗎，貝思？你感冒好點沒有，梅格？喬，你看上去累極了，來吻我吧，寶貝。”

While making these maternal inquiries Mrs. March got her wet things off, her warm slippers on, and sitting down in the easy chair, drew Amy to her lap, preparing to enjoy the happiest hour of her busy day. The girls flew about, trying to make things comfortable, each in her own way. Meg arranged the tea table, Jo brought wood and set chairs, dropping, over-turning, and clattering everything she touched. Beth trotted to and fro between parlor kitchen, quiet and busy, while Amy gave directions to everyone, as she sat with her hands folded.

馬奇太太慈愛地一一詢問，一面換去溼衣物，穿上暖和的拖鞋，坐在安樂椅中，把艾美拉到膝邊，準備享受繁忙的一天中最幸福的時光。姑娘們紛紛行動起來，各顯身手，儘量把一切都佈置得舒適怡人。梅格擺茶桌，喬搬木柴並放椅子，卻把柴丟落一地，把椅子也打翻，弄得咔嗒直響，貝思在客廳和廚房之間匆匆來回穿梭，忙碌而安靜，而艾美則袖手旁觀，發號施令。

As they gathered about the table, Mrs. March said, with a particularly happy face, "I've got a treat for you after supper."

大家都聚到桌邊的時候，馬奇太太說：“用飯後，我有好東西給你們。”她的臉上有一種異乎尋常的快樂。

A quick, bright smile went round like a streak of sunshine. Beth clapped her hands, regardless of the biscuit she held, and Jo tossed up her napkin, crying, "A letter! A letter! Three cheers for Father!"

姐妹們臉上立即現出如陽光般燦爛的笑容。貝思顧不得手裏拿着餅乾，拍起了手掌，喬把餐巾一拋，嚷道：“信！信！爸爸萬歲！”

"Yes, a nice long letter. He is well, and thinks he shall get through the cold season better than we feared. He sends all sorts of loving wishes for Christmas, and an especial message to you girls," said Mrs. March, patting her pocket as if she had got a treasure there.
　　
“是的，一封令人愉快的長信。他一切都好，冬季也不會熬得很苦，我們不必擔憂。他祝我們聖誕快樂，事事如意，並特別問候你們這些姑娘們，”馬奇太太邊說邊用手摸着衣袋，似乎裏頭裝着珍寶。

"Hurry and get done! Don't stop to quirk your little finger and simper over your plate, Amy," cried Jo, choking on her tea and dropping her bread, butter side down, on the carpet in her haste to get at the treat.
　
“快點吃飯！別停下來彎起你的小手指邊吃邊傻笑，艾美，”喬嚷道，她因爲急不可耐地要聽信，被茶噎了一口，塗了奶油的麪包也掉落到地毯上。

rnal adj. 母親的, 母系的, 母方的

Your maternal instincts go deeper than you think.
你的母性本能遠比你想像的強.

ter n. 卡搭聲, 嘩啦聲, 嘈雜的談笑聲 v. 發出嘩啦聲, 卡搭卡搭的響, 喧鬧的談笑

Don't clatter your knives and forks.
不要讓你的刀叉碰擊出聲。

v. 小跑, 快步走, 趕緊

The horse trotted down the road.
馬在路上小跑着。

ak n.條紋

A fleck or streak of color.
彩色斑點或條紋

v. 投擲, 搖盪, 輾轉

The children tossed the ball to each other.
孩子們互相把球扔來扔去。

t n. 樂事，樂趣

These performances are a great treat to me.
看這些表演節目對我來說是一大樂事。

e making these maternal inquiries Mrs. March got her wet things off, her warm slippers on, and sitting down in the easy chair, drew Amy to her lap, preparing to enjoy the happiest hour of her busy day.

【難句解析】句子的主幹是Mrs. March ...;sitting down...和preparing...做伴隨狀語；

【句子翻譯】馬奇太太慈愛地一一詢問，一面換去溼衣物，穿上暖和的拖鞋，坐在安樂椅中，把艾美拉到膝邊，準備享受繁忙的一天中最幸福的時光。