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Now，theoldsofawasaregularpatriarchofasofa——long，broad，well—cushioned，andlow，atrifleshabby，aswellitmightbe，forthegirlshadsleptandsprawledonitasbabies，fishedovertheback，rodeonthearms，andhadmenageriesunderitaschildren，andrestedtiredheads，dreameddreams，andlistenedtotendertalkonitasyoungwomen。Theyalllovedit，foritwasafamilyrefuge，andonecornerhadalwaysbeenJo’sfavoriteloungingplace。Amongthemanypillowsthatadornedthevenerablecouchwasone，hard，round，coveredwithpricklyhorsehair，andfurnishedwithaknobbybuttonateachend。Thisrepulsivepillowwasherespecialproperty，beingusedasaweaponofdefense，abarricade，orasternpreventiveoftoomuchslumber。
Laurieknewthispillowwell，andhadcausetoregarditwithdeepaversion，havingbeenunmercifullypummeledwithitinformerdayswhenrompingwasallowed，andnowfrequentlydebarredbyitfromtheseathemostcovetednexttoJointhesofacorner。If`thesausage’asthecalledit，stoodonend，itwasasignthathemightapproachandrepose，butifitlayflatacrossthesofa，woetoman，woman，orchildwhodareddisturbit！ThateveningJoforgottobarricadehercorner，andhadnotbeeninherseatfiveminutes，beforeamassiveformappearedbesideher，andwithbotharmsspreadoverthesofaback，bothlonglegsstretchedoutbeforehim，Laurieexclaimed，withasighofsatisfaction……
"Now，thisisfillingattheprice。"
"Noslang，"snappedJo，slammingdownthepillow。Butitwastoolate，therewasnoroomforit，andcoastingontothefloor，itdisappearedinamostmysteriousmanner。
"Come，Jo，don’tbethorny。Afterstudyinghimselftoaskeletonalltheweek，afellowdeservespettingandoughttogetit。"
"Bethwillpetyou。I’mbusy。"
"No，she’snottobebotheredwithme，butyoulikethatsortofthing，unlessyou’vesuddenlylostyourtasteforit。Haveyou？Doyouhateyourboy，andwanttofirepillowsathim？"
Anythingmorewheedlesomethanthattouchingappealwasseldomheard，butJoquenched`herboy’byturningonhimwithasternquery，"HowmanybouquetshaveyousentMissRandalthisweek？"
"Notone，uponmyword。She’sengaged。Nowthen。"
"I’mgladofit，that’soneofyourfoolishextravagances，sendingflowersandthingstogirlsforwhomyoudon’tcaretwopins，"continuedJoreprovingly。
"SensiblegirlsforwhomIdocarewholepapersofpinswon’tletmesendthem`flowersandthings’，sowhatcanIdo？Myfeelingsneeda`vent’。"
"Motherdoesn’tapproveofflirtingeveninfun，andyoudoflirtdesperately，Teddy。"
"I’dgiveanythingifIcouldanswer，`Sodoyou’。AsIcan’t，I’llmerelysaythatIdon’tseeanyharminthatpleasantlittlegame，ifallpartiesunderstandthatit’sonlyplay。"
"Well，itdoeslookpleasant，butIcan’tlearnhowit’sdone。I’vetried，becauseonefeelsawkwardincompanynottodoaseverybodyelseiddoing，butIdon’tseemtogeton"，saidJo，forgettingtoplaymentor。
"TakelessonsofAmy，shehasaregulartalentforit。"
"Yes，shedoesitveryprettily，andneverseemstogotoofar。Isupposeit’snaturaltosomepeopletopleasewithouttrying，andotherstoalwayssayanddothewrongthinginthewrongplace。"
"I’mgladyoucan’tflirt。It’sreallyrefreshingtoseeasensible，straightforwardgirl，whocanbejollyandkindwithoutmakingafoolofherself。Betweenourselves，Jo，someofthegirlsIknowreallydogoonatsucharateI’mashamedofthem。Theydon’tmeananyharm，I’msure，butiftheyknewhowwefellowstalkedaboutthemafterward，they’dmendtheirways，Ifancy。"
"Theydothesame，andastheirtonguesarethesharpest，youfellowsgettheworstofit，foryouareassillyasthey，everybit。Ifyoubehavedproperly，theywould，butknowingyouliketheirnonsense，theykeepitup，andthenyoublamethem。"
"Muchyouknowaboutit，ma’am，"saidLaurieinasuperiortone。"Wedon’tlikerompsandflirts，thoughwemayactasifwedidsometimes。Thepretty，modestgirlsarenevertalkedabout，exceptrespectfully，amonggentleman。Blessyourinnocentsoul！Ifyoucouldbeinmyplaceforamonthyou’dseethingsthatwouldastonishyouatrifle。Uponmyword，whenIseeoneofthoseharum—scarumgirls，IalwayswanttosaywithourfriendCockRobin……"Outuponyou，fieuponyou，Bold—facedjig！"
ItwasimpossibletohelplaughingatthefunnyconflictbetweenLaurie’schivalrousreluctancetospeakillofwomankind，andhisverynaturaldislikeoftheunfemininefollyofwhichfashionablesocietyshowedhimmanysamples。Joknewthat`youngLaurence’wasregardedasamosteligiblepartibyworldlymamas，wasmuchsmileduponbytheirdaughters，andflatteredenoughbyladiesofallagestomakeacoxcombofhim，soshewatchedhimratherjealously，fearinghewouldbespoiled，andrejoicedmorethansheconfessedtofindthathestillbelievedinmodestgirls。Returningsuddenlytoheradmonitorytone，shesaid，droppinghervoice，"Ifyoumusthavea`went’，Teddy，goanddevoteyourselftooneofthe`pretty，modestgirls’whomyoudorespect，andnotwasteyourtimewiththesillyones。"
"Youreallyadviseit？"AndLaurielookedatherwithanoddmixtureofanxietyandmerrimentinhisface。
"Yes，Ido，butyou’dbetterwaittillyouarethroughcollege，onthewhole，andbefittingyourselffortheplacemeantime。You’renothalfgoodenoughfor——well，whoeverthemodestgirlmaybe。"AndJolookedalittlequeerlikewise，foranamehadalmostescapedher。
"ThatI’mnot！"acquiescedLaurie，withanexpressionofhumilityquitenewtohim，ashedroppedhiseyesandabsentlywoundJo’saprontasselroundhisfinger。
"Mercyonus，thiswillneverdo，"thoughtJo，addingaloud，"Goandsingtome。I’mdyingforsomemusic，andalwayslikeyours。"
"I’dratherstayhere，thankyou。"
"Well，youcan’t，thereisn’troom。Goandmakeyourselfuseful，sinceyouaretoobigtobeornamental。Ithoughtyouhatedtobetiedtoawoman’sapronstring？"retortedJo，quotingcertainrebelliouswordsofhisown。
"Ah，thatdependsonwhowearstheapron！"andLauriegaveanaudacioustweakatthetassel。
"Areyougoing？"demandedJo，divingforthepillow。
Hefledatonce，andtheminuteitwaswell，"UpwiththebonnetsofbonnieDundee，"sheslippedawaytoreturnnomoretilltheyounggentlemandepartedinhighdudgeon。
Jolaylongawakethatnight，andwasjustdroppingoffwhenthesoundofastifledsobmadeherflytoBeth’sbedside，withtheanxiousinquiry，"Whatisit，dear？"
"Ithoughtyouwereasleep，"sobbedBeth。
"Isittheoldpain，myprecious？’
"No，it’sanewone，butIcanbearit。"AndBethtriedtocheckhertears。
"Tellmeallaboutit，andletmecureitasIoftendidtheother。"
"Youcan’t，thereisnocure。"ThereBeth’svoicegaveway，andclingingtohersister，shecriedsodespairinglythatJowasfrightened。
"Whereisit？ShallIcallMother？"
"No，no，don’tcallher，don’ttellher。Ishallbebettersoon。Liedownhereand`poor’myhead。I’llbequietandgotosleep，indeedIwill。"Joobeyed，butasherhandwentsoftlytoandfroacrossBeth’shotforeheadandweteyelids，herheartwasveryfullandshelongedtospeak。Butyoungasshewas，Johadlearnedthathearts，likeflowers，cannotberudelyhandled，butmustopennaturally，sothoughshebelievedsheknewthecauseofBeth’snewpain，sheonlysaid，inhertenderesttone，"Doesanythingtroubleyou，deary？"
"Yes，Jo，"afteralongpause。
"Wouldn’titcomfortyoutotellmewhatitis？"
"notnow，notyet。"
"ThenIwon’task，butremember，Bethy，thatMotherandJoarealwaysgladtohearandhelpyou，iftheycan。"
"Iknowit。I’lltellyouby—and—by。"
"Isthepainbetternow？"
"Oh，yes，muchbetter，youaresocomfortable，Jo。"
"Gotosleep，dear。I’llstaywithyou。"
Socheektocheektheyfellasleep，andonthemorrowBethseemedquiteherselfagain，forateighteenneitherheadsnorheartsachelong，andalovingwordcanmedicinemostills。
ButJohadmadeuphermind，andafterponderingoveraprojectforsomedays，sheconfidedittohermother。
"Youaskedmetheotherdaywhatmywisheswere。I’lltellyouoneofthem，Marmee，"shebegan，astheysatalongtogether。"Iwanttogoawaysomewherethiswinterforachange。"
"Why，Jo？"Andhermotherlookedupquickly，asifthewordssuggestedadoublemeaning。
WithhereyesonherworkJoansweredsoberly，"Iwantsomethingnew。Ifeelrestlessandanxioustobeseeing，doing，andlearningmorethanIam。Ibroodtoomuchovermyownsmallaffairs，andneedstirringup，soasIcanbesparedthiswinter，I’dliketohopalittlewayandtrymywings。"
"Wherewillyouhop？"
"ToNewYork。Ihadabrightideayesterday，andthisisit。YouknowMrs。Kirkewrotetoyouforsomerespectableyoungpersontoteachherchildrenandsew。It’sratherhardtofindjustthething，butIthinkIshouldsuitifItried。"
"Mydear，goouttoserviceinthatgreatboardinghouse！"AndMrs。Marchlookedsurprised，butnotdispleased。
"It’snotexactlygoingouttoservice，forMrs。Kirkeisyourfriend——thekindestsoulthateverlived——andwouldmakethingspleasantforme，Iknow。Herfamilyisseparatefromtherest，andnooneknowsmethere。Don’tcareiftheydo。It’shonestwork，andI’mnotashamedofit。"
"NorI。Butyourwriting？"
"Allthebetterforthechange。Ishallseeandhearnewthings，getnewideas，andevenifIhaven’tmuchtimethere，Ishallbringhomequantitiesofmaterialformyrubbish。"
"Ihavenodoubtofit，butaretheseyouronlyreasonsforthissuddenfancy？’
"No，Mother。"
"MayIknowtheothers？"
JolookedupandJolookeddown，thensaidslowly，withsuddencolorinhercheeks。"Itmaybevainandwrongtosayit，but——I’mafraid——Laurieisgettingtoofondofme。"
"Thenyoudon’tcareforhiminthewayitisevidenthebeginstocareforyou？’AndMrs。Marchlookedanxiousassheputthequestion。
"Mercy，no！Ilovethedearboy，asIalwayshave，andamimmenselyproudofhim，butasforanythingmore，it’soutofthequestion。"
"I’mgladofthat，Jo。"
"Why，please？’
"Because，dear，Idon’tthinkyousuitedtooneanother。Asfriendsyouareveryhappy，andyourfrequentquarrelssoonblowover，butIfearyouwouldbothrebelifyouwerematedforlife。Youaretoomuchalikeandtoofondoffreedom，nottomentionhottempersandstrongwills，togetonhappilytogether，inarelationwhichneedsinfinitepatienceandforbearance，aswellaslove。"
"That’sjustthefeelingIhad，thoughIcouldn’texpressit。I’mgladyouthinkheisonlybeginningtocareforme。Itwouldtroublemesadlytomakehimunhappy，forIcouldn’tfallinlovewiththedearoldfellowmerelyoutofgratitude，couldI？"
"Youaresureofhisfeelingforyou？"
ThecolordeepenedinJo’scheeksassheanswered，withthelookofmingledpleasure，pride，andpainwhichyounggirlswearwhenspeakingoffirstlovers，"I’mafraiditisso，Mother。Hehasn’tsaidanything，buthelooksagreatdeal。IthinkIhadbettergoawaybeforeitcomestoanything。"
"Iagreewithyou，andifitcanbemanagedyoushallgo。"
Jolookedrelieved，andafterapause，said，smiling，"HowMrs。Moffatwouldwonderatyourwantofmanagement，ifsheknew，andhowshewillrejoicethatAnniemaystillhope。"
"AH，Jo，mothersmaydifferintheirmanagement，butthehopeisthesameinall——thedesiretoseetheirchildrenhappy。Megisso，andIamcontentwithhersuccess。YouIleavetoenjoyyourlibertytillyoutireofit，foronlythenwillyoufindthatthereissomethingsweeter。Amyismychiefcarenow，buthergoodsensewillhelp;her。ForBeth，Iindulgenohopesexceptthatshemaybewell。Bytheway，sheseemsbrighterthislastdayortwo。Haveyouspokentoher？’
"Yes，sheownedshehadatrouble，andpromisedtotellmeby—and—by。Isaidnomore，forIthinkIknowit，"AndJotoldherlittlestory。
Mrs。Marchshookherhead，anddidnottakesoromanticaviewofthecase，butlookedgrave，andrepeatedheropinionthatforLaurie’ssakeJoshouldgoawayforatime。
"Letussaynothingaboutittohimtilltheplanissettled，thenI’llrunawaybeforehecancollecthiswitsandbetragic。BethmustthinkI’mgoingtopleasemyself，asIam，forIcan’ttalkaboutLaurietoher。ButshecanpetandcomforthimafterI’mgone，andsocurehimofthisromanticnotion。He’sbeenthroughsomanylittletrialsofthesort，he’susedtoit，andwillsoongetoverhislovelornity。"
Jospokehopefully，butcouldnotridherselfoftheforebodingfearthatthis`littletrial’wouldbeharderthantheothers，andthatLauriewouldnotgetoverhis`lovelornity’aseasilyasheretofore。
Theplanwastalkedoverinafamilycouncilandagreedupon，forMrs。KirkegladlyacceptedJo，andpromisedtomakeapleasanthomeforher。Theteachingwouldrenderherindependent，andsuchleisureasshegotmightbemadeprofitablebywriting，whilethenewscenesandsocietywouldbebothusefulandagreeable。Jolikedtheprospectandwaseagertobegone，forthehomenestwasgrowingtoonarrowforherrestlessnatureandadventurousspirit。Whenallwassettled，withfearandtremblingshetoldLaurie，buttohersurprisehetookitveryquietly。Hehadbeengraverthanusualoflate，butverypleasant，andwhenjokinglyaccusedofturningoveranewleaf，heansweredsoberly，"SoIam，andImeanthisoneshallstayturned。"
Jowasverymuchrelievedthatoneofhisvirtuousfitsshouldcomeonjustthen，andmadeherpreparationswithalightenedheart，forBethseemedmorecheerful，andhopedshewasdoingthebestforall。
"OnethingIleaveinyourespecialcare，"shesaid，thenightbeforesheleft。
"Youmeanyourpapers？"askedBeth。"No，myboy。Beverygoodtohim，won’tyou？"
"OfcourseIwill，butIcan’tfillyourplace，andhe’llmissyousadly。"
"Itwon’thurthim，soremember，Ileavehiminyourcharge，toplague，pet，andkeepinorder。"
"I’lldomybest，foryoursake，"promisedBeth，wonderingwhyJolookedathersoqueerly。
WhenLauriesaidgood—by，hewhisperedsignificantly，"Itwon’tdoabitofgood，Jo。Myeyeisonyou，somindwhatyoudo，orI’llcomeandbringyouhome。"
