名著阅读

"Then she gave me a long lecture on my sins, and told me to sit and think them over while she just 'lost' herself for a moment. She never finds herself very soon, so the minute her cap began to bob like a top-heavy dahlia, I whipped the _Vicar of Wakefield_ out of my pocket, and read away, with one eye on him and one on Aunt. I'd just got to where they all tumbled into the water when I forgot and laughed out loud. Aunt woke up and, being more good-natured after her nap, told me to read a bit and show what frivolous work I preferred to the worthy and instructive Belsham. I did my very best, and she liked it, though she only said . . .

“她对我的劣行好一顿训斥，并叫我在她'养养神'那一会功夫认真思过。她很快又进入梦乡，头上的帽子像朵头重脚轻的大丽花一样摇摇摆摆。见此情景，我马上从口袋里抽出《威克菲尔德牧师传》读起来，一只眼看书，一只眼留意婶婶。刚刚读到书中人物全都跌入水中时，我一时忘情，笑出了声。婶婶醒过来，心情颇佳，叫我读一点听听，看这本书究竟如何轻薄，竟敢把她那本富有教育意义的宝书波尔沙比下去。我尽力而为，她听得津津有味，但却说--

"'I don't understand what it's all about. Go back and begin it, child.'"

“'我不明白这本书说的是什么。从头再读一次，孩子。'

"Back I went, and made the Primroses as interesting as ever I could. Once I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place, and say meekly, 'I'm afraid it tires you, ma'am. Shan't I stop now?'"

“我从头再读，并尽量读得有声有色。读到扣人心弦之处，我故意停下来低声说：'我担心你会厌烦呢，夫人；要不要停下来？'”

"She caught up her knitting, which had dropped out of her hands, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her short way, 'Finish the chapter, and don't be impertinent, miss'."

她把刚才从手中掉落的编织活计拿起，透过眼镜片狠狠瞪我一眼，用她一贯简洁的口吻说：“把这章读完，不得无礼，小姐。'”

"Did she own she liked it?" asked Meg.

“她承认她喜欢这本书吗？”梅格问。

"Oh, bless you, no! But she let old Belsham rest, and when I ran back after my gloves this afternoon, there she was, so hard at the Vicar that she didn't hear me laugh as I danced a jig in the hall because of the good time coming. What a pleasant life she might have if only she chose! I don't envy her much, in spite of her money, for after all rich people have about as many worries as poor ones, I think," added Jo.

“噢，告诉你吧，不承认！但她把波尔沙扔到了一边，我今天下午跑回去拿手套时，看到她正全神贯注地读那本牧师传，我高兴得在大厅里跳起快步舞，并笑出声来，她竟全然不觉。只要她愿意，她可以过多么愉快的生活啊！尽管她有钱，我并不怎么羡慕她。我想穷人有穷人的烦恼，富人也有富人的烦恼，”乔接着说。

"That reminds me," said Meg, "that I've got something to tell. It isn't funny, like Jo's story, but I thought about it a good deal as I came home. At the Kings' today I found everybody in a flurry, and one of the children said that her oldest brother had done something dreadful, and Papa had sent him away. I heard Mrs. King crying and Mr. King talking very loud, and Grace and Ellen turned away their faces when they passed me, so I shouldn't see how red and swollen their eyes were. I didn't ask any questions, of course, but I felt so sorry for them and was rather glad I hadn't any wild brothers to do wicked things and disgrace the family."
　　
“我也想起一件事来，”梅格说，”这虽不如乔的故事有趣，但它让我回家想了很久。今天我发现金斯家里的人个个都慌慌张张，一个孩子说她大哥犯了件大事，爸爷把他赶走了。我听到金太太在哭，金先生在大骂，格莱丝和艾伦走过我身边时也别过脸，免得眼睛红红的让我看到。当然我什么也没有问，但我很替他们难过，同时很庆幸自己没有这样可恶的兄弟，令家里人蒙受耻辱。”

词汇释义

1.sin[sin] n. 原罪 v. 犯罪，违反(教规)

He thinks it's a sin to covet other's properties.
他认为贪图他人的财物是有罪的。

2.tumble n. 跌倒，混乱 vi. 跌倒，下跌，倒塌，翻跟斗，偶然发现，理解 vt. 使摔倒，使混乱，翻滚

I threw off my clothes and tumbled into bed.
我脱掉衣服倒在床上便睡了。

3.frivolous adj. 轻佻的，妄动的，琐碎的 adj. 无足轻重的

She thought that reading romantic novels was a frivolous way of spending her time.
她认为看浪漫小说是虚度时光。

4.thrilling adj. 毛骨悚然的，令人兴奋的，令人震颤的 动词trill的现在分词

The film works up to a thrilling climax.
这电影逐渐发展到令人惊悚的高潮

5.impertinent adj. 鲁莽的，无礼的，粗鲁的

I've had enough of your impertinent words.
你说话太不礼貌了，我已受够了。

6.flurry n. 一阵疾风，阵雪，狂喜，忙乱 v. （使）慌张，（使）焦躁

A flurry of excitement went round the crowd as the film star arrived.
电影明星到达时，人群中发生了一阵骚动。

7.swollen adj. 肿大的，水涨的 动词swell的过去分词形式

His eyelid is swollen.
他眼皮肿了。

8.wicked['wikid] adj. 坏的，邪恶的，缺德的 adv. 极端地，非常地 vt. 吸收

It's a wicked waste of money.
这样浪费金钱简直是罪恶。

难句解析
　　
1.Then she gave me a long lecture on my sins, and told me to sit and think them over while she just 'lost' herself for a moment.

【难句解析】give sb. a lecture“训斥某人”；

【句子翻译】她对我的劣行好一顿训斥，并叫我在她'养养神'那一会功夫认真思过。

2.I don't envy her much, in spite of her money, for after all rich people have about as many worries as poor ones, I think...

【难句解析】in spite of her money相当于in spite that she has money; as many...as...“和...一样多”；

【句子翻译】尽管她有钱，我并不怎么羡慕她。我想穷人有穷人的烦恼，富人也有富人的烦恼。