Little Women - Chapter 22

Like sunshine after a storm were the peaceful weeks which followed. The invalids ¹ improved rapidly, and Mr. March began to talk of returning early in the new year. Beth was soon able to lie on the study sofa all day, amusing herself with the well-beloved cats at first, and in time with doll's sewing, which had fallen sadly behind-hand. Her once active limbs were so stiff and feeble that Jo took her for a daily airing about the house in her strong arms. Meg cheerfully blackened and burned her white hands cooking delicate messes for 'the dear', while Amy, a loyal slave of the ring, celebrated ² her return by giving away as many of her treasures as she could prevail on her sisters to accept., ,As Christmas approached, the usual mysteries began to haunt the house, and Jo frequently convulsed the family by proposing utterly ³ impossible or magnificently absurd ceremonies, in honor of this unusually merry Christmas. Laurie was equally impracticable, and would have had bonfires, skyrockets, and triumphal arches, if he had had his own way. After many skirmishes and snubbings, the ambitious pair were considered effectually quenched ⁴ and went about with forlorn faces, which were rather belied ⁵ by explosions of laughter when the two got together., ,Several days of unusually mild weather fitly ushered ⁶ in a splendid Christmas Day. Hannah 'felt in her bones' that it was going to be an unusually fine day, and she proved herself a true prophetess, for everybody and everything seemed bound to produce a grand success. To begin with, Mr. March wrote that he should soon be with them, then Beth felt uncommonly ⁷ well that morning, and, being dressed in her mother's gift, a soft crimson ⁸ merino wrapper, was borne in high triumph to the window to behold ⁹ the offering of Jo and Laurie. The Unquenchables had done their best to be worthy ¹⁰ of the name, for like elves they had worked by night and conjured ¹¹ up a comical surprise. Out in the garden stood a stately snow maiden ¹², crowned with holly ¹³, bearing a basket of fruit and flowers in one hand, a great roll of music in the other, a perfect rainbow of an Afghan round her chilly ¹⁴ shoulders, and a Christmas carol issuing from her lips on a pink paper streamer., ,God bless you, dear Queen Bess!,May nothing you dismay,,But health and peace and happiness,Be yours, this Christmas day.,Here's fruit to feed our busy bee,,H?tel National Des Invalids is a majestic building with a golden hemispherical housetop. 荣军院是有着半球形镀金屋顶的宏伟建筑 。,He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一
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