关于本书
这部小说讲述了十一岁的孤儿波丽安娜被送到佛蒙特州一个小镇，与严厉而富有的姨妈波莉·哈林顿小姐一起生活的故事。这是一部以人物为核心的剧情作品，探讨这个小女孩在适应充满约束的新环境时，她的到来如何影响姨妈和镇上其他居民的生活。
开篇
CHAPTER I. MISS POLLY
第一章 波莉小姐
Miss Polly Harrington entered her kitchen a little hurriedly this June morning.
这个六月的早晨，波莉·哈林顿小姐有点匆忙地走进了她的厨房。
Miss Polly did not usually make hurried movements; she specially prided herself on her repose of manner.
波莉小姐平时不会做出匆忙的举动；她特别以自己举止的沉稳自豪。
But to-day she was hurrying—actually hurrying.
但今天她在匆忙——真的在匆忙。
Nancy, washing dishes at the sink, looked up in surprise.
正在水槽边洗碗的南希惊讶地抬起头来。
Nancy had been working in Miss Polly’s kitchen only two months,
南希在波莉小姐的厨房里干活才两个月，
but already she knew that her mistress did not usually hurry.
但她已经知道她的女主人平时是不慌不忙的。
“Nancy!”
“南希！”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“是，太太。”
Nancy answered cheerfully, but she still continued wiping the pitcher in her hand.
南希高高兴兴地回答，但她仍然继续擦着手里的水罐。
“Nancy,”—Miss Polly’s voice was very stern now—
“南希，”——波莉小姐的声音这时非常严厉——
“when I’m talking to you, I wish you to stop your work and listen to what I have to say.”
“我跟你说话的时候，我希望你停下手里的活儿，听我要说的话。”
Nancy flushed miserably.
南希难堪地涨红了脸。
She set the pitcher down at once, with the cloth still about it, thereby nearly tipping it over—
她立刻把水罐放下，抹布还裹在上面，结果差点把它弄翻——
which did not add to her composure.
这可没让她更镇定。
“Yes, ma’am; I will, ma’am,” she stammered, righting the pitcher, and turning hastily.
“是，太太；我会的，太太。”她结结巴巴地说，一边把水罐扶正，一边急忙转过身来。
“I was only keepin’ on with my work ‘cause you specially told me this mornin’ ter hurry with my dishes, ye know.”
“我只是在接着干我的活儿，因为您今天早上特别吩咐我要赶紧洗完碗，您知道的。”
Her mistress frowned.
她的女主人皱起了眉头。
“That will do, Nancy.
“够了，南希。
I did not ask for explanations.
我没有要你解释。