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课件网) Castles in the Air (空中楼阁) Excerpt from Little Women 美国南北战争时期，一个普通家庭的四个姐妹的成长之路。 The story was not a long one, and when① it was finished, he ventured② to ask a few questions as a reward③ of good behavior. “Please, ma'am, could I inquire④ if this highly instructive⑤ and charming institution⑥ is a new one？” “Would you tell him？” asked Meg of her sisters. “He'll laugh，” said Amy warningly⑦. “Who cares？” said Jo. “I guess he'll like it，” added Beth. “Of course I shall! I give you my word⑧ I won't laugh. Tell away, Jo, and don't be afraid.” “The idea of being afraid of you! Well, you see we used to play Pilgrim's Progress (天路历程), and we have been going on with it in earnest⑨， all winter and summer.” “Yes, I know，” said Laurie, nodding wisely. “Who told you？” demanded⑩ Jo. “Spirits.” “No, I did. I wanted to amuse him one night when you were all away, and he was rather dismal (忧郁的). He did like it, so don't scold ， Jo，” said Beth gently. “You can't keep a secret. Never mind, it saves trouble now.” “Go on, please，” said Laurie, as Jo became absorbed in her work, looking a little displeased. “Oh, didn't she tell you about this new plan of ours Well, we have tried not to waste our holiday, but each has had a task and worked at it with a will . The vacation is nearly over, and we are ever so glad that we didn't waste.” “Yes, I should think so，” and Laurie thought regretfully of his own idle days. “Mother likes to have us out-of-doors as much as possible, so we bring our work here and have nice times. For the fun of it we bring our things in these bags, wear the old hats, use poles to climb the hill, and play pilgrims, as we used to do years ago. We call this hill the Delectable (令人愉快的) Mountain, for we can look far away and see the country where we hope to live some time.” Jo pointed, and Laurie sat up to examine , for through an opening in the wood one could look cross the wide, blue river, the meadows on the other side, far over the outskirts (郊区) of the great city, to the green hills that rose to meet the sky. The sun was low, and the heavens glowed with the splendor of an autumn sunset. Gold and purple clouds lay on the hilltops, and rising high into the ruddy (红色的) light were silvery white peaks that shone like the airy spires (塔尖) of some Celestial City (天国). “How beautiful that is！” said Laurie softly, for he was quick to see and feel beauty of any kind. “We like to watch it, for it is never the same, but always splendid，” replied Amy, wishing she could paint it. “Jo talks about the country where we hope to live sometime—the real country, she means, with pigs and chickens and haymaking (割晒干草). It would be nice, but I wish the beautiful country up there was real, and we could ever go to it，” said Beth musingly . “There is a lovelier country even than that, where we shall ... ...
