名著精讀:《小婦人》第二章:聖誕快樂 第2節

In spite of her small vanities, Margaret had a sweet and pious nature, which unconsciously influenced her sisters, especially Jo, who loved her very tenderly, and obeyed her because her advice was so gently given.

瑪格麗特雖然有點愛慕虛榮，但她天性溫柔善良，頗得姐妹們敬重，特別是喬，更是深深地愛着自己的姐姐，並對她言聽計從，因爲她無論說什麼都總是輕聲細語的。

"Girls," said Meg seriously, looking from the tumbled head beside her to the two little night-capped ones in the room beyond, "Mother wants us to read and love and mind these books, and we must begin at once. We used to be faithful about it, but since Father went away and all this war trouble unsettled us, we have neglected many things. You can do as you please, but I shall keep my book on the table here and read a little every morning as soon as I wake, for I know it will do me good and help me through the day."
　　
“姑娘們，”梅格嚴肅地說，看看身邊頭髮蓬亂的一位，又看看房間另一頭戴着睡帽的兩個小腦袋，”媽媽希望我們愛惜這些書，讀好這些書，我們應該立即行動。雖然我們以前做得挺認真，但自從爸爸離家後，戰亂七繁，我們忽略了許多事。你們愛怎樣我不管，但我要把書放在這張桌上，每天早上一醒來就讀一點，因爲我知道，這樣會有好處，它將伴我度過每一天。”

Then she opened her new book and began to read. Jo put her arm round her and, leaning cheek to cheek, read also, with the quiet expression so seldom seen on her restless face.

說完她打開新書讀了起來，喬用胳膊擁着她，與她並肩而讀，不安分的臉上露出少見的寧靜。

ty ['væniti] n. 虛榮心, 浮華, 無價值的東西 adj. 虛榮心的

Vanity is his Achilles' heel.
虛榮自負是他的致命傷。

s adj. 虔誠的, 盡責的, 值得的

He is a pious Christian.
他是一名虔誠的基督教徒。

le n. 跌倒,混亂 vi. 跌倒,下跌,倒塌,翻跟斗,偶然發現,理解 vt. 使摔倒,使混亂,翻滾

The little girl stared at the little cats tumbling over each other in their basket.
小女孩凝視着在籃子裏互相翻來滾去的小貓。

less ['restlis] adj. 不安寧的, 焦慮的

The audience was becoming restless.
觀衆漸漸地不耐煩了。