《小妇人》第21期_第4章 隔壁的房子(5)

　　Jo saw the sadness in his eyes．'Why don't you come over and see us？ Would your grandfather let you？'
　　'Perhaps，if your mother asked him，'said Laurie．'He spends a lot of time among his books，and Mr Brooke，my tutor，doesn't live here．So I haven't anyone to go out with．Do you like your school？'
　　'I don't go to school．I go out to work-to my aunt's，'said Jo．She described the difficult old lady and made him laugh with her stories． She told him all about her sisters，the plays they acted，and their hopes and fears for their father．Then they talked about books， and Jo discovered that Laurie loved them as much as she did．
　　'Come and see our library，'he said．'Grandfather is out，so you needn't be afraid．'
　　'I 'm not afraid of anything，' replied Jo．
　　He took her down to a room where the walls were covered with books and pictures．
　　'You should be the happiest boy in the world！'said Jo，sitting in a big armchair and looking round．
　　'A person can't live on books，'he said．

琼看到了他眼中的悲伤。“你干吗不到我家来看我们？你祖父会让你来吗？”
　　“可能，如果你母亲跟他讲的话，”罗瑞说，“他花很多时间看书，而我的家庭教师布鲁克先生不住在这儿，所以没人和我一起出去。你喜欢你的学校吗？”
　　“我没上学。我去工作——到我姑妈家，”琼回答。她描述了那个难缠的老太太，她的故事让他发笑。她告诉他关于她的姐妹的所有事，她们演过的剧，以及她们对父亲的期盼和担忧。然后他们谈到了书籍，琼发现罗瑞像她一样爱书。
　　“到我们的图书室来，”他说。“祖父出门了，所以你不用怕。”
　　“我什么也不怕，”琼答道。
　　他带她来到楼下的一个房间，那里四壁都为书籍和画所遮盖。
　　“你应该是世界上最幸福的男孩！”琼叹道，边说边坐进一张大扶手椅，环顾四周。
　　“一个人不能靠书生活，”他说。