《小妇人》第10期_第2章 快乐的圣诞节(5)

　　'Mother did it，'said Meg．
　　Aunt March sent it，'said Jo．
　　'You're all wrong，'laughed Mrs March．'Old Mr Laurence sent it！'
　　'The Laurence boy's grandfather？'said Meg．'But we don't know him．'
　　'Hannah told his servant about your breakfast party， and that pleased him，'said Mrs March．'He knew my faher many years ago，and he sent me a note this afternoon，asking if he could send my cbildren a few small Christmas presents．'
　　'The idea came from that boy，I know it did！'said Jo．'I'm sure he wants to know us，but he's shy，and Meg won't let me speak to him when we pass him in the street．She says that it's not at all polite for young ladies to introduce themselves to strangers．
　　'You mean the people who live in the big house next door，don't you？'said one of the other girls．'My mother knows old Mr Laurence． She says he keeps his grandson in the house when the boy isn't riding or walking with his tutor， and makes him study very hard．We invited the boy to our party but he didn't come．'
　　'That boy needs to have some fun，'said Jo．

“妈妈做的，”麦格说。
　　“马奇姑妈送来的，”琼说。
　　“你们都错了，”马奇太太笑着说，“是老劳伦斯先生送来的！”
　　“是那个劳伦斯家的小男孩的祖父？”麦格问，“可我们不认识他呀。”
　　“海娜给他的仆人讲了你们的早餐聚会，那让他感到很高兴，”马奇太太说，“很多年前他就认识我父亲。今天下午他送来张纸条，问他可否给我的孩子送些圣诞礼物。”
　　“这一定是那个男孩的主意，我知道，”琼说，“他一定是想认识我们，可他很怕羞。我们在街上碰到他时麦格不让我跟他讲话。她说女孩子主动跟陌生人搭讪太没礼貌。”
　　“你是说住在隔壁大房子里的人吗？”其他女孩子中的一个问。“我妈妈认识劳伦斯先生。她说除了骑马和跟家庭教师散步，他总让孙子呆在屋里，让他用功学习。我们曾邀请那男孩参加我们的聚会，可他没来。”
　　“那个男孩需要些乐趣，”琼说。