第7章

WithwhatMegcalled`agreatwantofmanners’Johadsavedsomebonbonsforthelittlegirls，andtheysoonsubsided，afterhearingthemostthrillingeventsoftheevening。

“Ideclare，itreallyseemslikebeingafineyounglady，tocomehomefromthepartyinacarriageandsitinmydressinggownwitamaidtowaitonme，“saidMeg，asJoboundupherfootwitharnicaandbrushedherhair。

“Idon’tbelievefineyoungladiesenjoythemselvesabitmorethanwedo，inspiteofourburnedhair，oldgowns，onegloveapieceandtightslippersthatsprainourankleswhenwearesillyenoughtowearthem，“AndIthinkJowasquiteright。

“Oh，dear，howharditdoesseemtotakeupourpacksandgoon，“sighedMegthemorningaftertheparty，fornowtheholidayswereover，theweekofmerrymakingdidnotfitherforgoingoneasilywiththetasksheneverliked。

“IwishitwasChristmasorNewYear’sallthetime。

Wouldn’titbefun？“answeredJo，yawningdismally。

“Weshouldn’tenjoyourselveshalfsomuchaswedonow。

Butitdoesseemsonicetohavelittlesuppersandbouquets，andgotoparties，anddrivehome，andreadandrest，andnotwork。It’slikeotherpeople，youknow，andIalwaysenvygirlswhodosuchthings，I’msofondofluxury，“saidMeg，tryingtodecidewhichoftwoshabbygownswastheleastshabby。

“Well，wecan’thaveit，sodon’tletusgrumblebutshoulderourbundlesandtrudgealongascheerfullyasMarmeedoes。I’msureAuntMarchisaregularOldManoftheSeatome，butIsupposewhenI’velearnedtocarryherwithoutcomplaining，shewilltumbleoff，orgetsolightthatIshan’tmindher。“

ThisideatickledJo’sfancyandputheringoodspirits，butMegdidn’tbrighten，forherburden，consistingoffourspoiledchildren，seemedheavierthanever。

Shehadnotheartenougheventomakeherselfprettyasusualbyputtingonablueneckribbonanddressingherhairinthemostbecomingway。

“Where’stheuseoflookingnice，whennooneseesmebutthosecrossmidgets，andnoonecareswhetherI’mprettyornot？“shemuttered，shuttingherdrawerwithajerk。“I

shallhavetotoilandmoilallmydays，withonlylittlebitsoffunnowandthen，andgetoldanduglyandsour，becauseI’mpoorandcan’tenjoymylifeasothergirlsdo。

It’sashame!“

SoMegwentdown，wearinganinjuredlook，andwasn’tatallagreeableatbreakfasttime。Everyoneseemedratheroutofsortsandinclinedtocroak。

Bethhadaheadacheandlayonthesofa，tryingtocomfortherselfwiththecatandthreekittens。Amywasfrettingbecauseherlessonswerenotlearned，andshecouldn’tfindherrubbers。Jowouldwhistleandmakeagreatracketgettingready。

Mrs。Marchwasverybusytryingtofinishaletter，whichmustgoatonce，andHannahhadthegrumps，forbeinguplatedidn’tsuither。

“Thereneverwassuchacrossfamily!“criedJo，losinghertemperwhenshehadupsetaninkstand，brokenbothbootlacings，andsatdownuponherhat。

“You’rethecrossestpersoninit!“returnedAmy，washingoutthesumthatwasallwrongwiththetearsthathadfallenonherslate。

“Beth，ifyoudon’tkeepthesehorridcatsdowncellarI’llhavethemdrowned，“exclaimedMegangrilyasshetriedtogetridofthekittenwhichhadscrambledupherbackandstucklikeaburrjustoutofreach。

Jolaughed，Megscolded，Bethimplored，andAmywailedbecauseshecouldn’trememberhowmuchninetimestwelvewas。

“Girls，girls，dobequietoneminute!Imustgetthisoffbytheearlymail，andyoudrivemedistractedwithyourworry，“criedMrs。March，crossingoutthethirdspoiledsentenceinherletter。

Therewasamomentarylull，brokenbyHannah，whostalkedin，laidtwohotturnoversonthetable，andstalkedoutagain。

Theseturnoverswereaninstitution，andthegirlscalledthem`muffs’，fortheyhadnoothersandfoundthehotpiesverycomfortingtotheirhandsoncoldmornings。

Hannahneverforgottomakethem，nomatterhowbusyorgrumpyshemightbe，forthewalkwaslongandbleak。

Thepoorthingsgotnootherlunchandwereseldomhomebeforetwo。

“Cuddleyourcatsandgetoveryourheadache，Bethy。

Goodbye，Marmee。Weareasetofrascalsthismorning，butwe’llcomehomeregularangels。Nowthen，Meg!“AndJotrampedaway，feelingthatthepilgrimswerenotsettingoutastheyoughttodo。

Theyalwayslookedbackbeforeturningthecorner，fortheirmotherwasalwaysatthewindowtonodandsmile，andwaveherhandtothem。Somehowitseemedasiftheycouldn’thavegotthroughthedaywithoutthat，forwhatevertheirmoodmightbe，thelastglimpseofthatmotherlyfacewassuretoaffectthemlikesunshine。

“IfMarmeeshookherfistinsteadofkissingherhandtous，itwouldserveusright，formoreungratefulwretchesthanwearewereneverseen，“criedJo，takingaremorsefulsatisfactioninthesnowywalkandbitterwind。

“Don’tusesuchdreadfulexpressions，“repliedMegfromthedepthsoftheveilinwhichshehadshroudedherselflikeanunsickoftheworld。

“Ilikegoodstrongwordsthatmeansomething，“repliedJo，catchingherhatasittookaleapoffherheadpreparatorytoflyingawayaltogether。

“Callyourselfanynamesyoulike，butIamneitherarascalnorawretchandIdon’tchoosetobecalledso。“

“You’reablightedbeing，anddecidedlycrosstodaybecauseyoucan’tsitinthelapofluxuryallthetime。Poordear，justwaittillImakemyfortune，andyoushallrevelincarriagesandicecreamandhigh-heeledslippers，andposies，andred-headedboystodancewith。“

“Howridiculousyouare，Jo!“ButMeglaughedatthenonsenseandfeltbetterinspiteofherself。

“LuckyforyouIam，forifIputoncrushedairsandtriedtobedismal，asyoudo，weshouldbeinanicestate。

Thankgoodness，Icanalwaysfindsomethingfunnytokeepmeup。Don’tcroakanymore，butcomehomejolly，there’sadear。“

Jogavehersisteranencouragingpatontheshoulderastheypartedfortheday，eachgoingadifferentway，eachhuggingherlittlewarmturnover，andeachtryingtobecheerfulinspiteofwintryweather，hardwork，andtheunsatisfieddesiresofpleasure-lovingyouth。

WhenMr。Marchlosthispropertyintryingtohelpanunfortunatefriend，thetwooldestgirlsbeggedtobeallowedtodosomethingtowardtheirownsupport，atleast。Believingthattheycouldnotbegintooearlytocultivateenergy，industry，andindependence，theirparentsconsented，andbothfelltoworkwiththeheartygoodwillwhichinspiteofallobstaclesissuretosucceedatlast。

Margaretfoundaplaceasnurserygovernessandfeltrichwithhersmallsalary。Asshesaid，shewas`fondofluxury’，andherchieftroublewaspoverty。Shefoundithardertobearthantheothersbecauseshecouldrememberatimewhenhomewasbeautiful，lifefullofeaseandpleasure，andwantofanykindunknown。Shetriednottobeenviousordiscontented，butitwasverynaturalthattheyounggirlshouldlongforprettythings，gayfriends，accomplishments，andahappylife。AttheKings’shedailysawallshewanted，forthechildren’soldersisterswerejustout，andMegcaughtfrequentglimpsesofdaintyballdressesandbouquets，heardlivelygossipabouttheaters，concerts，sleighingparties，andmerrymakingsofallkinds，andsawmoneylavishedontrifleswhichwouldhavebeensoprecioustoher。PoorMegseldomcomplained，butasenseofinjusticemadeherfeelbittertowardeveryonesometimes，forshehadnotyetlearnedtoknowhowrichshewasintheblessingswhichalonecanmakelifehappy。

JohappenedtosuitAuntMarch，whowaslameandneededanactivepersontowaituponher。Thechildlessoldladyhadofferedtoadoptoneofthegirlswhenthetroublescame，andwasmuchoffendedbecauseherofferwasdeclined。OtherfriendstoldtheMarchesthattheyhadlostallchanceofbeingrememberedinthericholdlady’swill，buttheunworldlyMarchesonlysaid……

“Wecan’tgiveupourgirlsforadozenfortunes。Richorpoor，wewillkeeptogetherandbehappyinoneanother。“

Theoldladywouldn’tspeaktothemforatime，buthappeningtomeetJoatatafriend’s，somethinginhercomicalfaceandbluntmannersstrucktheoldlady’sfancy，andsheproposedtotakeherforacompanion。ThisdidnotsuitJoatall，butsheacceptedtheplacesincenothingbetterappearedand，toeveryone’ssurprise，gotonremarkablywellwithherirasciblerelative。Therewasanoccasionaltempest，andonceJomarchedhome，declaringshecouldn’tbearitlonger，butAuntMarchalwaysclearedupquickly，andsentforhertocomebackagainwithsuchurgencythatshecouldnotrefuse，forinherheartsheratherlikedthepepperyoldlady。

Isuspectthattherealattractionwasalargelibraryoffinebooks，whichwaslefttodustandspiderssinceUncleMarchdied。Jorememberedthekindoldgentleman，whousedtoletherbuildrailroadsandbridgeswithhisbigdictionaries，tellherstoriesaboutqueerpicturesinhisLatinbooks，andbuyhercardsofgingerbreadwheneverhemetherinthestreet。Thedim，dustyroom，withthebustsstaringdownfromthetallbookcases，thecozychairs，theglobes，andbestofall，thewildernessofbooksinwhichshecouldwanderwheresheliked，madethelibraryaregionofblisstoher。

ThemomentAuntMarchtookhernap，orwasbusywithcompany，Johurriedtothisquietplace，andcurlingherselfupintheeasychair，devouredpoetry，romance，history，travels，andpictureslikearegularbookworm。But，likeallhappiness，itdidnotlastlong，forassureasshehadjustreachedtheheartofthestory，thesweetestverseofasong，orthemostperilousadventureofhertraveler，ashrillvoicecalled，“Josy-phine!Josy-phine!andshehadtoleaveherparadisetowindyarn，washthepoodle，orreadBelsham’sEssaysbythehourtogether。

Jo’sambitionwastodosomethingverysplendid。Whatitwas，shehadnoideaasyet，butleftitfortimetotellher，andmeanwhile，foundhergreatestafflictioninthefactthatshecouldn’tread，run，andrideasmuchassheliked。Aquicktemper，sharptongue，andrestlessspiritwerealwaysgettingherintoscrapes，andherlifewasaseriesofupsanddowns，whichwerebothcomicandpathetic。

ButthetrainingshereceivedatAuntMarch’swasjustwhatsheneeded，andthethoughtthatshewasdoingsomethingtosupportherselfmadeherhappyinspiteoftheperpetual“Josy-phine!“

Bethwastoobashfultogotoschool。Ithadbeentried，butshesufferedsomuchthatitwasgivenup，andshedidherlessonsathomewithherfather。Evenwhenhewentaway，andhermotherwascalledtodevoteherskillandenergytoSoldiers’AidSocieties，Bethwentfaithfullyonbyherselfanddidthebestshecould。Shewasahousewifelylittlecreature，andhelpedHannahkeephomeneatandcomfortablefortheworkers，neverthinkingofanyrewardbuttobeloved。Long，quietdaysshespent，notlonelynoridle，forherlittleworldwaspeopledwithimaginaryfriends，andshewasbynatureabusybee。Thereweresixdollstobetakenupanddressedeverymorning，forBethwasachildstillandandlovedherpetsaswellasever。Notonewholeorhandsomeoneamongthem，allwereoutcaststillBethtookthemin，forwhenhersistersoutgrewtheseidols，theypassedtoherbecauseAmywouldhavenothingoldorugly。

Bethcherishedthemallthemoretenderlyforthatveryreason，andsetupahospitalforinfirmdolls。Nopinswereeverstuckintotheircottonvitals，noharshwordsorblowswereevergiventhem，noneglecteversaddenedtheheartorthemostrepulsive，butallwerefedandclothed，nursedandcaressedwithanaffectionwhichneverfailed。

OneforlornfragmentofdollanityhadbelongedtoJoand，havingledatempestuouslife，wasleftawreckintheragbag，fromwhichdrearypoorhouseitwasrescuedbyBethandtakentoherrefuge。Havingnotoptoitshead，shetiedonaneatlittlecap，andasbotharmsandlegsweregone，shehidthesedeficienciesbyfoldingitinablanketanddevotingherbestbedtothischronicinvalid。Ifanyonehadknownthecarelavishedonthatdolly，Ithinkitwouldhavetouchedtheirhearts，evenwhiletheylaughed。

Shebroughtitbitsofbouquets，shereadtoit，tookitouttobreathefreshair，hiddenunderhercoat，shesangitlullabiesandneverwenttobewithoutkissingitsdirtyfaceandwhisperingtenderly，“Ihopeyou’llhaveagoodnight，mypoordear。“

Bethhadhertroublesaswellastheothers，andnotbeinganangelbutaveryhumanlittlegirl，sheoften`weptalittleweep’asJosaid，becauseshecouldn’ttakemusiclessonsandhaveafinepiano。Shelovedmusicsodearly，triedsohardtolearn，andpracticedawaysopatientlyatthejinglingoldinstrument，thatitdidseemasifsomeone(nottohintAuntMarch)oughttohelpher。Nobodydid，however，andnobodysawBethwipethetearsofftheyellowkeys，thatwouldn’tkeepintune，whenshewasallalone。