🔊 Like most other young matrons, Meg began her married life with the determination to be a model housekeeper. John should find home a paradise, he should always see a smiling face, should fare sumptuously every day, and never know the loss of a button. She brought so much love, energy, and cheerfulness to the work that she could not but succeed, in spite of some obstacles. Her paradise was not a tranquil one, however, for her little lord and master was a perverse man, and his frequent and sudden descents into the kitchen disarranged the nicest calculations, and caused tempests in the conjugal seas. Yet they loved each other all the more for these honest trials, and such clouds only made the sunshine sweeter when it came.

与多数年轻主妇一样,梅格新婚伊始,便立志做个模范管家。她要让约翰觉得家如天堂,终日笑脸相迎,餐餐美味可口,纽扣永无短缺。她以满腔爱意、勃勃兴致与欢快心情投入家务,纵有阻碍,亦必成功。然她的天堂并非一片宁谧,皆因她的小主人性情执拗,频频突袭厨房,打乱精妙盘算,在婚姻之海上掀起波澜。但这些坦诚的磨合反令他们爱意愈深,乌云过后,阳光更显甘甜。

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matrons /ˈmeɪtrənz/

n. 已婚妇女；主妇（尤指年长或受人尊敬的）➕

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sumptuously /ˈsʌmptʃuəsli/

adv. 奢侈地；豪华地➕

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tranquil /ˈtræŋkwɪl/

adj. 平静的；安宁的➕

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perverse /pəˈvɜːrs/

adj. 任性的；故意作对的；违背常情的➕

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descents /dɪˈsents/

n. 下降；降临；（此处比喻）突然造访➕

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disarranged /ˌdɪsəˈreɪndʒd/

v. (过去分词). 弄乱；扰乱➕

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conjugal /ˈkɒndʒəɡl/

adj. 婚姻的；夫妻之间的➕

🔊 Meg learned that a woman's kingdom is not her drawing room, as she had once fondly believed, but her kitchen and nursery, and that her sceptre is not the pen, but the broom and the needle. She was very happy, though, for she had chosen the better part, and found that though fame and fortune are all very well, a woman's best riches are a loving heart and a happy home. John was not a rich man, but he had a fertile field for industry, and the will to work, and the wisdom to know that the best harvest is not always reaped with the sickle, but gathered by quiet hands from the household gleanings.

梅格这才明白,女人的疆域并非她曾天真以为的客厅,而是厨房与育儿室；她的权杖也非笔墨,乃是扫帚与针线。但她心满意足,因她选择了更美的一份,深知名望财富虽好,女人至珍的财富却是一颗爱心、一个美满家庭。约翰虽非富人,却有一片勤耕的沃土,有劳作之志,更有智慧懂得:最丰厚的收获,未必来自镰刀挥割,而常由安详之手,从家务琐细中拾掇而来。

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sceptre /ˈseptə(r)/

n. 权杖（象征统治权）➕

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fertile /ˈfɜːtaɪl/

adj. 肥沃的；富饶的；多产的➕

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reaped /riːpt/

v. (过去式). 收割；收获（庄稼）；获得（成果）➕

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sickle /ˈsɪkl/

n. 镰刀➕

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gleanings /ˈɡliːnɪŋz/

n. 拾落的谷物；搜集到的零星东西➕

🔊 For a year Meg lived in this happy world, loving and beloved, and then a small shadow fell-the first anxiety. John began to look thin and tired, and she saw that he sat up late, and was very tired in the morning. He said it was nothing, but Meg was not satisfied, and after watching him anxiously for a time, she resolved to speak.

一年来,梅格沉浸在这幸福天地,爱人也被爱。然好景不长,一缕忧思初现--约翰日渐消瘦疲倦,她瞧见他熬夜至深,清晨疲惫不堪。他说无妨,梅格却放心不下,忧心观察一阵后,决意开口。

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anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/

n. 焦虑；忧虑➕

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resolved /rɪˈzɒlvd/

v. (过去式). 决心；决定；解决➕

🔊 "John, dear," she said one night, laying her head on his shoulder, "I'm afraid you are working too hard."

"约翰,亲爱的,"一晚,她将头靠在他肩头说道,"我担心你操劳过度了。"

🔊 "Not more than I ought, my love," he answered, with a caressing hand on her cheek.

"不至过劳,我的爱,"他轻抚她脸颊答道。

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caressing /kəˈresɪŋ/

adj. 爱抚的；抚摸的➕

🔊 "But you look so tired, and I know you don't sleep well. Let me take some of the work off your hands. I'm strong and willing, and I can help you."

"可你瞧来这般疲倦,我知道你睡不安稳。让我分担些活儿吧。我有力气也乐意,能帮上忙的。"

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willing /ˈwɪlɪŋ/

adj. 愿意的,乐意的➕

🔊 "You do help me, more than you know, by being here, and by sharing all my cares. But I can't let my little wife work too hard either. You have enough to do with the house, and I won't have you worried."

"你已帮了大忙,超乎你所知--有你相伴,分担忧虑,便是最好。但我也不忍让小妻子过累。家务已够你忙,我不想你再添烦忧。"

🔊

cares /keəz/

n. 忧虑,烦恼（care的复数形式）➕

🔊 "But I want to be worried. I want to share everything, the bad as well as the good. Please, John, let me help you in earnest. I can copy manuscripts, or keep your accounts, or do something that will really lighten your load. Try me and see."

"可我宁愿烦忧。我要分担一切,无论甘苦。约翰,求你让我真切帮一把。我能誊抄文稿、记记账目,或做些实在减轻你担子的事。试试我嘛。"

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manuscripts /ˈmænjuskrɪpts/

n. 手稿；原稿➕

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lighten /ˈlaɪtn/

v. 减轻；使变轻；使明亮➕

🔊 So John, after a little persuasion, gave her some of his easier accounts to keep, and was astonished at the quickness and accuracy with which she did her work. Then he gave her more, and gradually she took upon herself a good share of the business cares, leaving him free for the harder professional labors. The result was excellent, for John's health improved, his spirits rose, and home grew even brighter than before, for Meg had found her true vocation.

约翰稍加劝慰便依了她,交托些简易账目打理,不料她做得又快又准,令他称奇。随后他托付更多,她渐渐担起大半事务琐细,让他专攻艰深专业。成效卓著:约翰气色转佳,精神焕发,家中光景更胜往昔--梅格终觅得真正天职。

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persuasion /pəˈsweɪʒn/

n. 劝说；说服；信仰➕

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accuracy /ˈækjərəsi/

n. 准确；精确➕

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vocation /vəʊˈkeɪʃn/

n. 职业；天职；使命感➕

🔊 But with the new cares came new trials. Economy was rigidly necessary, and Meg found it hard to practice. She loved pretty things, and had a natural desire for a pleasant and attractive home. Often when she went shopping she was tempted by some dainty trifle, and forgot her resolutions in the delight of possession. Then came repentance and self-reproach, and a sad sense of failure.

然新责带来新试炼。家用需严控节俭,梅格觉来实难践行。她素爱俏物,天生渴求一个悦目怡人的家。每每购物,常被精美小件诱惑,拥有之喜令她忘乎决心,随后悔恨自责,怅然若失。

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Economy /ɪˈkɒnəmi/

n. 节俭；节约；经济➕

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rigidly /ˈrɪdʒɪdli/

adv. 严格地；僵硬地；死板地➕

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tempted /ˈtemptɪd/

v. (过去分词). 被引诱；受诱惑➕

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dainty /ˈdeɪnti/

adj. 精致的；小巧的；美味的➕

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trifle /ˈtraɪfl/

n. 小事；琐事；不值钱的东西➕

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repentance /rɪˈpentəns/

n. 悔恨；忏悔➕

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self-reproach /ˌself rɪˈprəʊtʃ/

n. 自责➕

🔊 "John is so good, and works so hard, I ought to be a better manager," she said to herself. "I will try again, and this time I will keep my promises."

"约翰这般好,这般辛劳,我该更善持家,"她暗自思忖,"再试一回,这回定要守信。"

🔊 So she made a new set of resolutions, and kept them-for a time. But the old temptation was strong, and one day she fell again. John had given her some money to buy a needed article, and on her way she saw a lovely piece of lace, just the thing to trim a little cap she was making. She knew she ought not to buy it, but it was so cheap, and would be so becoming, and-well, she bought the lace, and then had to confess to John that the needed article was still unbought.

遂立新誓,守了一阵。可旧诱太强,一日又失足。约翰给她钱购一必需之物,途中她见一方美蕾丝,正合装饰手制小帽。明知不该买,偏又价廉物美,唉--她买了蕾丝,只得向约翰坦白必需品仍未购得。

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trim /trɪm/

v. 装饰；修剪；削减➕

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becoming /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

adj. 合适的；相配的；好看的➕

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unbought /ʌnˈbɔːt/

adj. 未购买的➕

🔊 He did not scold, but he looked sober, and said quietly, "I was afraid you would find it hard to resist such temptations, dear. But we must be strict with ourselves, or we shall get into debt, and that would be terrible."

他未责备,只神色凝重,轻声说:"早料你难抵这等诱惑,亲爱的。但咱得严于律己,否则债台高筑,可就糟了。"

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sober /ˈsəʊbə(r)/

adj. 严肃的；冷静的；未醉的➕

🔊 Meg's conscience smote her, and she cried as if her heart would break. John comforted her, but from that day she was a changed woman. She learned to say "no" firmly to her own wishes, and to think twice before she spent a penny. It was a hard lesson, but she learned it well, and John's approving smile was her best reward.

梅格良心刺痛,哭得心碎。约翰温言安慰,但自那日起,她焕然一新。她学会对己欲坚定说"不",花钱必三思。这课虽难,她却学好,约翰赞许一笑便是至佳回报。

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conscience /ˈkɒnʃəns/

n. 良心；道德心➕

🔊

smote /sməʊt/

v. (过去式). 重击；深深影响（尤指情感上）➕

🔊 Another thing which tried her was the discovery that John admired her most in the simple gowns and plain styles she had always worn, and did not care for the fine clothes she sometimes longed for. At first she was disappointed, for she liked to be pretty in his eyes, but soon she saw the wisdom of his taste, and was content to be neat and womanly, rather than fashionable.

另有一事试炼她:发觉约翰最爱她素日所穿的简裙朴装,反不喜她偶渴的华服。初时她失望,因愿在他眼中姣好,但旋即悟其品味之智,甘愿整洁娴雅,而非追逐时髦。

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admired /ədˈmaɪəd/

v. (过去式). 钦佩；欣赏；赞美➕

🔊 So the year rolled round, and when spring came again, there was a new experience in store for Meg. A little daughter was laid in her arms, and then she felt that her cup of happiness was full. John was the proudest man in the city, and Meg the happiest woman. All her old longings were satisfied, all her dreams realized, and life grew so beautiful that she could only wonder how she had ever lived without this great joy.

光阴流转,再逢春时,梅格迎来新体验。怀中放入小女儿,她顿觉幸福满溢。约翰成了全城最自豪的男子,梅格则是最幸福的女子。旧日渴求皆足,昔日梦想成真,生活美不胜收,她不禁诧异:未有这般大喜前,自己如何度日。

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longings /ˈlɒŋɪŋz/

n. 渴望,强烈的愿望➕

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in store /ɪn ˈstɔːr/

phr. 即将发生,储备着➕

🔊 "Now I am perfectly happy," she said to John, as they sat together in the twilight, the baby asleep in her arms.

"如今我圆满幸福了,"暮色中她与约翰并坐,婴孩安睡臂弯,柔声说道。

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twilight /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

n. 黄昏,暮光➕

🔊 "So am I," answered John, with a look that made her heart leap, "and yet I think we shall be happier still, for now we have a new tie to bind us together, and a new responsibility to make us strong. We must try to be worthy of this great blessing, and to bring up our little girl so that she may be a good and useful woman."

"我也是,"约翰答时目光灼灼,令她心颤,"但我想咱们会更幸福,因今添了新纽带系紧你我,新责任催人坚强。咱们得努力配这厚福,将小女儿抚养成人,叫她善良有用。"

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tie /taɪ/

n. 纽带,联系➕

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bind /baɪnd/

v. 捆绑,约束➕

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responsibility /rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/

n. 责任,职责➕

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worthy /ˈwɜːði/

adj. 值得的,有价值的➕

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blessing /ˈblesɪŋ/

n. 祝福,幸事➕

🔊

bring up /brɪŋ ʌp/

phr. v. 抚养,提出➕

🔊 "We will, John, we will. She shall have a happy home, and learn to love and help others as we have learned to do."

"一定,约翰,一定。她会有个快乐的家,学着爱人助人,一如咱们所学。"

🔊

learned /lɜːnd/

adj. 有学问的；通过经验获得的➕

🔊 So the two leaned together in the sweet silence that followed, planning for the future, while the baby slept on, unconscious of the love that watched over her, and the hopes that centered in her tiny life.

二人遂在接续的甜谧中相依,筹划未来。婴孩酣睡未醒,浑然不觉环绕她的挚爱,及寄予她小生命的殷望。

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unconscious /ʌnˈkɒnʃəs/

adj. 无意识的,昏迷的➕

🔊

watched over /wɒtʃt ˈəʊvə/

phr. v. 照看,守护➕

🔊

centered /ˈsentəd/

v. 集中,以...为中心➕

Chapter twenty-eight: Domestic Experiences (第二十八章:家庭琐记)

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