3 The Laurence boy 
　  
　　'Look！'said Meg，excitedly，a day or two later． 
　　She waved a piece of paper at Jo．'An invitation to a New Year's party at Sallie Gardiner's house，and it's for both of us．Mother says we can go， but what shall we wear？' 
　　'Our best cotton dresses，'said Jo， 'because we haven't got anything else Yours is as good as new， but mine has a burn and a hole in the back．' 
　　Then you must keep your back out of sight，'said Meg．'I'll have a new ribbon for my hair， and my new slippers．And my gloves are all right．' 
　　'Mine are stained，soI'll have to go without．' 
　　'You must wear gloves to a dance， Jo！ cried Meg． 
　　'Then we'll each wear one good one and carry a bad one，'said Jo． 
　　Meg looked worried．'All right， but you will behave nicely，won't you？Don't stare，or put your hands behind your back．' 
　　On New Year's Eve，the two younger sisters watched the two older girls get ready for the party．There was a lot of running up and down，and laughing and talking．Meg wanted some curls around her face，so Jo began to work on the papered ends of Meg's hair with a pair of hot tongs． 
　　'Should they smoke like that？'asked Beth． 
　　'It's the wetness drying，'said Jo． 
　　'What a strange burning smell！'said Amy． 
　　'I'll take the papers off now，'said Jo，'and you'll see lots of little curls． 
　　She took the papers off-and，to her horror，the burnt hair came off with them！ 
　　'Oh，oh！What have you done to my hair！'cried Meg． 
　　'I always get things wrong，'said Jo unhappily．'I'm so sorry．I suppose the tongs were too hot．' 
　　Don't worry，'Amy told Meg， who was crying．'Just tie your ribbon so that the ends come on to your forehead a little，and it will look quite fashionable．' 
　　At last，Meg and Jo were ready and went off to the Gardiners'house where Mrs Gardiner welcomed them kindly．Meg immediately began to enjoy herself with Sallie，but Jo wasn't interested in girlish talk and stood with her back carefully against wall，watching the dancing．Soon Meg was asked to dance，then Jo saw a big red-haired boy coming towards her and she quickly went through a door into a small room．Unfortunately， another shy person was already hiding there and she found herself looking at the'Laurence boy'． 
　　'Oh dear，I didn't know any one was here！'Jo said． 
　　The boy laughed．'Don't go． I came in here because I don't know any people， but I think I've seen you before，'he said，'You live near us，don't you？' 
　　'Next door， said Jo．'We enjoyed your nice Christmas present．' 
　　'My grandfather sent it，Miss March．' 
　　'But you gave your grandfather the idea，didn't you， Mr Laurence？ 
　　I'm not Mr Laurence，only Laurie，'he said． 
　　'And I'm not Miss March，only Jo，'she said．'Do you like parties？ 
　　'Sometimes，'he answered．I've been abroad a lot recent ly，and I don't know how you do things here．' 
　　'Abroad！'said Jo．'Oh，did you go to Paris？' 
　　'We went there last winter．' 
　　'Can you speak French？'she asked． 
　　He said something in French， and Jo listened carefully．'You asked，“Who is the young lady in the pretty slippers？”It's my sister，Meg，and you knew it was！Do you think she's pretty？' 
　　'Yes，'he said．'She looks so fresh and quiet．' 
　　This pleased Jo very much， and soon the two of them were talking easily， like old friends．'I hear you're always studying hard，'said Jo．'Are you going to college soon？' 
　　'Not for a year or two，'he said．'I'm sixteen next month，and I won't go before I'm seventeen．' 
　　'I wish I was going to college，said Jo． 
　　'I hate even the idea of it！'said Laurie． 
　　Jo wanted to know why， but he looked so serious that instead of asking she said，'Why don't you go and dance？' 
　　'I will if you'll come too，'be answered． 
　　'I can't because—' Jo stopped． 
　　'Because what？' 
　　'You won't tell？' 
　　'Never！' 
　　'I' ve a bad habit of standing near a fire，and I burn my dresses，'said Jo．'I have to keep still so that no one will see the burn on this one． Laugh if you like．' 
　　But Laurie didn't laugh．'Never mind that，he said gently．'Please come．' 
　　Jo smiled．'All right，'she said．'Thank you．' 
　　When the music stopped， they sat down and began to talk，but Jo saw Meg waving at her． She went over and followed her sister into a side room． 
　　'I've turned my foot over and hurt my ankle，'said Meg．'I can't walk on it， and I don't know how I'm going to get home．' 
　　'I'm not surprised you turned your foot over in those stupid high shoes，'said Jo．'You'll have to get a carriage or stay here all night．' 
　　'A carriage will cost a lot，' said Meg，'and I can't stay here for the night because the house is full． I'll just rest until Hannah comes to fetch us，then do the best I can．' 
　　'They're going in for supper now，'said Jo．'I'll stay with you． 
　　'No，run and bring me some coffee，' said Meg． 
　　Jo found the coffee， but immediately dropped some down the front of her dress． She was cleaning it off with Meg's glove when a friendly voice spoke to her． 
　　'Gan I help？'said Laurie．He had a cup of coffee in one hand and a plate with a cake on it in the other． 
　　'I was trying to get something for Meg，'said Jo． 
　　'And I was looking for someone to give this to，' he said．He fetched more coffee and a cake for Jo， then the three of them had a happy time talking together until Hannah arrived．Meg completely forgot about her foot and stood up quickly．She cried out with pain，and when Laurle saw that she could not walk， he immediately offered to take them home in his grandfather's carriage． 
　　'But you can't want to go home yet，'said Jo． 
　　'I always go early，'said Laurie． 
　　He sat with the driver， and the two girls sat with Hannah inside the carriage and talked excitedly about the party． 
　　'I had a wonderful time，did you？' said Jo． 
　　'Yes，until I hurt myself，'said Meg．'Salie's friend，Annie Moffat， has asked me to go and stay with her for a week in the spring， when Sallie does．' 
　　Jo told Meg her adventures，and then they were home．They thanked Laurie and went quietly into the house， hoping to wake no one． But as soon as they opened their bedroom door，two little voices cried out：'Tell us about the party！Tell us about the party！'  
　 
3 劳伦斯家的男孩 
　  
　　“看哪！”一两天之后，麦格兴奋地喊。她朝琼挥舞着一张纸片。“一张参加萨丽·加迪那家新年聚会的请柬，是给我们俩的。妈妈说我们可以去，可我们应该穿什么哪？” 
　　“我们最好的棉制衣裙，”琼说，“因为我们也没有别的什么可以穿的了。你的倒是像新的一样，而我的衣服在背后烧了一个小洞。” 
　　“那你就该让后背别对着人家，”麦格说。“我的头发要有个新飘带，还有我的新鞋。我的手套也准备好了。” 
　　“我的弄脏了，所以我就不带了。” 
　　“你一定得带着手套参加舞会，琼！”麦格大喊。 
　　“那我们就每个人都戴一只好的，手里拿着一只坏的，”琼说道。 
　　麦格看上去很焦虑。“那好吧，可你得表现好点，行吗？不许盯着人看，或者把手放到背后。” 
　　新年除夕，两个妹妹看着两个姐姐为舞会做准备。她们不停地跑上跑下，边笑边聊。麦格想把面庞两侧的头发弄卷，于是琼就用一副热夹子在麦格用纸包好的头发梢上做卷。 
　　“它们应该像这样冒烟吗？”白丝问。 
　　“这是湿头发正在干燥。”琼答道。 
　　“像是烧焦的味道！”艾米说。 
　　“我现在就把纸拿下来，”琼说，“你们就会看到许多的小卷。” 
　　她把纸拿了下来——令她惊骇的是，烧焦的头发随之显露了出来！ 
　　“噢，噢！你对我的头发干了什么？”麦格哭了。 
　　“我总是把事情弄糟，”琼沮丧地说，“真抱歉。我想是夹子太烫了。” 
　　“别着急，”艾米对正在哭泣的麦格说，“把发带系上，这样发梢就会靠近额头一些，看上去很时髦。” 
　　最后，麦格和琼总算准备好了。她们到了加迪那家，受到了加迪那太太友好的欢迎。麦格马上就跟萨丽玩了起来，可琼对女孩子婆婆妈妈的谈话不感兴趣，于是，她小心地倚墙而立，观看着舞会。不久麦格就被邀请去跳舞，琼看到一个红头发男孩正向她走来，她就迅速通过一扇门溜进一间小屋子。不幸的是，另一个怕羞的人已经躲在了那里面，她发现她眼前面对的是“劳伦斯家的男孩”。 
　　“噢，天哪！我不知道已经有人在这儿，”琼说。 
　　那男孩笑了。“别走。我到这来是因为我谁也不认识。可我想我以前见过你，”他说，“你是不是住在我家附近？” 
　　“隔壁，”琼说。“我们很喜欢你的圣诞礼物。” 
　　“是我祖父送的，马奇小姐。” 
　　“可那是你给你祖父出的主意，是吗，劳伦斯先生？” 
　　“我不是劳伦斯先生，只是罗瑞，”他说。 
　　“我也不是马奇小姐，只是琼，”她说，“你喜欢舞会吗？” 
　　“有的时候喜欢，”他回答说，“我最近常在国外，不知道你们在这儿是怎么做的。” 
　　“国外！”琼问，“噢，你去过巴黎吗？” 
　　“我们去年冬天去的。” 
　　“那你会说法语吗？”她问。 
　　他用法语讲了几句话，琼用心倾听。“你是在问：'那个穿着漂亮舞鞋的女孩子是谁？'那是我姐姐，麦格，你知道的。你觉得她漂亮吗？” 
　　“是的，”他答道。“她看上去那么清纯和安静。” 
　　这让琼十分高兴，不久他们俩就像老朋友一样自如地交谈起来。“我听说你学习很用功，”琼说，“那你不久要去读大学吗？” 
　　“一两年内不会，”他回答。“我下个月满16岁，17岁以前我不会去。” 
　　“我真希望能上大学，”琼说。 
　　“我一想到它就感到憎恨！”罗瑞说。 
　　琼想问为什么，可他看上去很严肃，琼没提问，而是说：“你为什么不去跳舞？” 
　　“如果你也来我就跳，”他回答。 
　　“我不能，因为——，”琼欲言又止。 
　　“因为什么？” 
　　“你不说出去吗？” 
　　“绝不会！” 
　　“我有个坏毛病，总是离火炉很近，结果把裙子烧了，”琼说，“我只好站直了，好让人看不出这件衣服上的烧痕。想笑你就笑吧。” 
　　可罗瑞没笑。“没关系，”他轻柔地说，“来吧。” 
　　琼笑了。“好吧，”她说，“谢谢。” 
　　音乐停下的时候，他们坐下来开始聊天，可琼看见麦格在向她招手。她走过去，随姐姐走进旁边的一个房间。 
　　“我的脚转得太多，脚踝都疼了，”麦格说，“我都不能走路了，真不知道该怎么回家。” 
　　“你穿着那双蠢笨的高跟鞋，跳得过度我一点也不吃惊，”琼说，“你得要一辆马车，或者在这儿呆一晚上。” 
　　“要辆马车会花好多钱，”麦格说。“我也不能在这儿呆一晚上，因为房间都住满了。我只好在海娜来接我们之前休息会儿，然后再想办法。” 
　　“他们正进去吃晚饭，”琼说，“我陪着你。” 
　　“不，快去给我弄些咖啡来，”麦格说。 
　　琼找到了咖啡，可马上就洒到了裙子上。她正用麦格的手套擦拭时听到一个友好的声音在跟她讲话。 
　　“我能帮忙吗？”罗瑞说。他一只手端着一杯咖啡，另一只手举着一个盘子，上面放着一块蛋糕。 
　　“我正给麦格找点吃的，”琼说。 
　　“我正找人要把这些吃的送出去，”罗瑞说。他又替琼取了一些咖啡和一块蛋糕，然后三个人一起聊天，度过了一段愉快的时光，直到海娜来了。麦格早已完全忘了她脚疼的事，很快站了起来。她痛苦地喊叫了一声。罗瑞看到她不能走路，就立即邀请她们一起坐他祖父的马车回家。 
　　“可你还不想回家呢，”琼说。 
　　“我一向走得很早，”罗瑞回答。 
　　他坐在车夫旁边，两个女孩和海娜坐在马车里面，兴奋地谈论舞会的情况。 
　　“我玩得棒极了，你呢？”琼说。 
　　“我也是，直到我受了伤，”麦格说，“萨丽的朋友安妮·墨菲请我春天到她那儿住一个星期，萨丽也去。” 
　　琼给麦格讲述她的经历，然后她们就到家了。她们感谢了罗瑞，就悄悄地走进家门，不想惊醒任何人。然而当她们一推开卧室的门，两个小小的声音就叫起来：“快给我们讲讲舞会的事！快给我们讲讲舞会的事！” 
　　　    


 