英文名著精选阅读：《小妇人》第四章:负担 第8节
Amy was in a fair way to be spoiled, for everyone petted her, and her small vanities and selfishnesses were growing nicely. One thing, however, rather quenched the vanities. She had to wear her cousin's clothes. Now Florence's mama hadn't a particle of taste, and Amy suffered deeply at having to wear a red instead of a blue bonnet, unbecoming gowns, and fussy aprons that did not fit. Everything was good, well made, and little worn, but Amy's artistic eyes were much afflicted, especially this winter, when her school dress was a dull purple with yellow dots and no trimming.
艾美差不多被大家宠坏了，她的虚荣和自私也成正比例增长。然而有一件事却刺伤了她的虚荣心：她得穿表姐的衣服。由于表姐弗洛伦斯的母亲毫无品味，艾美大受其苦，帽子该配蓝色的却配了红色，衣服与她很不协调，而围裙又过分讲究。其实这些衣物全都不错，做工精细，磨损极少，但艾美的艺术眼光却不能忍受，尤其是这个冬天，她穿的暗紫色校服布满黄点还没有饰边。
"My only comfort," she said to Meg, with tears in her eyes, "is that Mother doesn't take tucks in my dresses whenever I'm naughty, as Maria Parks's mother does. My dear, it's really dreadful, for sometimes she is so bad her frock is up to her knees, and she can't come to school. When I think of this degerredation, I fell that I can bear even my flat nose and purple gown with yellow skyrockets on it."
“我唯一的安慰，她对梅格说，眼中泪光闪闪，是妈妈不像玛莉亚·帕克的妈妈，她在我淘气玩耍时也不会把我的裙子卷起来。哎呀，那真是糟糕透了。有时玛莉亚的长裙子被卷到了膝头上面，不能来上学，当我想到这种屈辱时，我觉得我的扁鼻梁和那件黄火球紫色衣服也可以忍受了。
Meg was Amy's confidant and monitor, and by some strange attraction of opposites Jo was gentle Beth's. To Jo alone did the shy child tell her thoughts, and over her big harum-scarum sister Beth unconsciously exercised more influence than anyone in the family. The two older girls were a great deal to one another, but each took one of the younger sisters into her keeping and watched over her in her own way, 'playing mother' they called it, and put their sisters in the places of discarded dolls with the maternal instinct of little women.
梅格是艾美的知己和监护人，也许是一种性格上的异性相吸吧，乔和温柔的贝思又是一对。腼腆的贝思独独跟乔倾诉心事;通过这位高大、冒失的姐姐她不知不觉对全家形成举足轻重的影响。两个姐姐互相之间十分要好，但都各以自己的方式照管着一个妹妹--她们称之为“扮妈妈"--并出于一种小妇人的母性对两个妹妹呵护有加。
"Has anybody got anything to tell? It's been such a dismal day I'm really dying for some amusement," said Meg, as they sat sewing together that evening.
“你们有什么有趣的事吗?今天闷死了，讲点什么轻松一下，那天晚上她们坐在一起做针线活儿，梅格这样问。
"I had a queer time with Aunt today, and, as I got the best of it, I'll tell you about it," began Jo, who dearly loved to tell stories. "I was reading that everlasting Belsham, and droning away as I always do, for Aunt soon drops off, and then I take out some nice book, and read like fury till she wakes up. I actually made myself sleepy, and before she began to nod, I gave such a gape that she asked me what I meant by opening my mouth wide enough to take the whole book in at once."
“今天我和婶婶之间有个不寻常的插曲，因为我占了上风，所以讲给你们听，“极爱讲故事的乔首先说道，我像往常一样用既单调又沉闷的声调读永远读不完的波尔沙，婶婶很快就被我打发入梦乡，我趁此机会拿出一本好书，如饥似渴地看起来，她醒来的时候我已觉得困了。她问我为什么把嘴巴张得这么大，足可以把整本书一口吞进去。
"I wish I could, and be done with it," said I, trying not to be saucy.
“'真能这样倒是不错，正好把它作个了结，'我说，尽量不冲撞她。
1.pet[pet] n. 宠物，受宠的人 adj. 宠爱的 v. 爱抚，亲抚
She keeps a cat as a pet.
她养了一只供玩赏的猫。
2.vanity['v?niti] n. 虚荣心，浮华，自负，无价值的东西 n. 小手提包，梳妆台
He has many faults, but vanity is not one of them.
他有很多缺点，但并没有虚荣心。
3.quench v. 熄减，结束，冷浸，解渴
Water will quench a fire.
水可以灭火。
4.unbecoming adj. 不适合的
Although not illegal his conduct was unbecoming for a lawyer.
他的行为虽不违法，却与其律师身分不相称。
5.apron n. 围裙
My apron is so dirty that I have to wash it.
我的围裙太脏了，我不得不洗它。
6.frock n. 罩袍，僧衣，女上装 vt. 穿罩衫，授以神职
This monk wears a gray frock.
这个和尚穿着灰色的僧袍。
7.confidant n. 心腹朋友，知己
I have a good confidant.
我有一个好知己。
8.harum-scarum adj. 冒失的，轻率鲁莽的 adv. 轻率地，鲁莽地
9.amusement n. 娱乐，消遣
The hotel offers its guests a wide variety of amusements.
这个旅馆为住客提供了各种各样的娱乐活动。
10.queer n. 同性恋者 adj. 奇怪的，不舒服的，可疑的
There is something queer about him.
他有些古怪。
11.droning adj. 发嗡嗡声的，声音低沉单调的 动词drone的现在分词形式
Airplanes kept on droning in the distance throughout the night.
整个夜晚，远处的飞机隆隆地响个不停。
12.gape[geip] n. 裂口，张嘴，打哈欠 vi. 目瞪口呆地凝视，打哈欠，张开，裂开
She gaped at the tall man, not believing that he was her younger brother.
她张嘴呆看着那个高个子，不相信他就是她的弟弟。
1.Amy was in a fair way to be spoiled, for everyone petted her, and her small vanities and selfishnesses were growing nicely.【难句解析】in a fair way “大有希望地; 很有可能地;
【句子翻译】艾美差不多被大家宠坏了，她的虚荣和自私也成正比例增长。
2."I had a queer time with Aunt today, and, as I got the best of it, I'll tell you about it," began Jo, who dearly loved to tell stories.
【难句解析】get the best of “战胜;
【句子翻译】“今天我和婶婶之间有个不寻常的插曲，因为我占了上风，所以讲给你们听，“极爱讲故事的乔首先说道。