Little Women - Chapter 11

"The first of June! The Kings are off to the seashore tomorrow, and I'm free. Three months' vacation - how I shall enjoy it!" exclaimed Meg, coming home one warm day to find Jo laid upon the sofa in an unusual state of exhaustion ¹, while Beth took off her dusty boots, and Amy made lemonade for the refreshment ² of the whole party., ,"Aunt March went today, for which, oh, be joyful ³!" said Jo. "I was mortally afraid she'd ask me to go with her. If she had, I should have felt as if I ought to do it, but Plumfield is about as gay as a churchyard, you know, and I'd rather be excused. We had a flurry getting the old lady off, and I had a fright every time she spoke ⁴ to me, for I was in such a hurry to be through that I was uncommonly ⁵ helpful and sweet, and feared she'd find it impossible to part from me. I quaked till she was fairly in the carriage, and had a final fright, for as it drove of, she popped out her head, saying, 'Josyphine, won't you - ?' I didn't hear any more, for I basely turned and fled. I did actually run, and whisked round the corner where I felt safe.", ,"Poor old Jo! She came in looking as if bears were after her," said Beth, as she cuddled her sister's feet with a motherly air., , ,"She means vampire ⁶, not seaweed, but it doesn't matter. It's too warm to be particular about one's parts of speech," murmured Jo., ,"What shall you do all your vacation?" asked Amy, changing the subject with tact ⁷., ,His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了 ，显然是太累了 。,He needs to stop fairly often for refreshment.他须时不时地停下来喘口气。