第21章

Atteatimetheycomparednotes，andallagreedthatithadbeenadelightful，thoughunusuallylongday。Meg，whowentshoppingintheafternoonandgota`sweetbluemuslin，haddiscovered，aftershehadcutthebreadthsoff，thatitwouldn’twash，whichmishapmadeherslightlycross。Johadburnedtheskinoffhernoseboating，andgotaragingheadachebyreadingtoolong。Bethwasworriedbytheconfusionofherclosetandthedifficultyoflearningthreeorfoursongsatonce，andAmydeeplyregrettedthedamagedoneherfrock，forKatyBrown’spartywastobethenextdayandnowlikeFloraMcFlimsey，shehad`nothingtowear’。Buttheseweremeretrifles，andtheyassuredtheirmotherthattheexperimentwasworkingfinely。Shesmiled，saidnothing，andwithHannah’shelpdidtheirneglectedwork，keepinghomepleasantandthedomesticmachineryrunningsmoothly。Itwasastonishingwhatapeculiaranduncomfortablestateofthingswasproducedbythe`restingandreveling’process。Thedayskeptgettinglongerandlonger，theweatherwasunusuallyvariableandsoweretempers，andunsettledfeelingpossessedeveryone，andSatanfoundplentyofmischieffortheidlehandstodo。Astheheightofluxury，Megputoutsomeofhersewing，andthenfoundtimehangsoheavilythatshefelltosnippingandspoilingherclothesinherattemptstofurbishthemupa`laMoffat。Joreadtillhereyesgaveoutandshewassickofbooks，gotsofidgetythatevengood-naturedLauriehadaquarrelwithher，andsoreducedinspiritsthatshedesperatelywishedshehadgonewithAuntMarch。Bethgotonprettywell，forshewasconstantlyforgettingthatitwastobeallplayandnowork，andfellbackintoheroldwaysnowandthen。Butsomethingintheairaffectedher，andmorethanoncehertranquilitywasmuchdisturbed，somuchsothatononeoccasionsheactuallyshookpoordearJoannaandtoldhershewasafright’。Amyfaredworstofall，forherresourcesweresmall，andwhenhersisterslefthertoamuseherself，shesoonfoundthataccomplishedandimportantlittleselfagreatburden。Shedidn’tlikedolls，fairytaleswerechildish，andonecouldn’tdrawallthetime。Teapartiesdidn’tamounttomuchneitherdidpicnicsunlessverywellconducted。“Ifonecouldhaveafinehouse，fullofnicegirls，orgotraveling，thesummerwouldbedelightful，buttostayathomewiththreeselfishsistersandagrown-upboywasenoughtotrythepatienceofaBoaz，“

complainedMissMalaprop，afterseveraldaysdevotedtopleasure，fretting，andennui。

Noonewouldownthattheyweretiredoftheexperiment，butbyFridaynighteachacknowledgedtoherselfthatshewasgladtheweekwasnearlydone。Hopingtoimpressthelessonmoredeeply，Mrs。March，whohadagooddealofhumor，resolvedtofinishoffthetrialinanappropriatemanner，soshegaveHannahaholidayandletthegirlsenjoythefulleffectoftheplaysystem。

WhentheygotuponSaturdaymorning，therewasnofireinthekitchen，nobreakfastinthediningroom，andnomotheranywheretobeseen。

“Mercyonus!Whathashappened？“criedJo，staringaboutherindismay。

Megranupstairsandsooncamebackagain，lookingrelievedbutratherbewildered，andalittleashamed。

“Motherisn’tsick，onlyverytired，andshesayssheisgoingtostayquietlyinherroomalldayandletusdothebestwecan。It’saveryqueerthingforhertodo，shedoesn’tactabitlikeherself。Butshesaysithasbeenahardweekforher，sowemustn’tgrumblebuttakecareofourselves。“

“That’seasyenough，andIliketheidea，I’machingforsomethingtodo，thatis，somenewamusement，youknow，“addedJoquickly。

Infactitwasanimmenserelieftothemalltohavealittlework，andtheytookholdwithawill，butsoonrealizedthetruthofHannah’ssaying，“Housekeepingain’tnojoke。“Therewasplentyoffoodinthelarder，andwhileBethandAmysetthetable，MegandJogotbreakfast，wonderingastheydidwhyservantsevertalkedabouthardwork。

“IshalltakesomeuptoMother，thoughshesaidwewerenottothinkofher，forshe’dtakecareofherself，“saidMeg，whopresidedandfeltquitematronlybehindtheteapot。

Soatraywasfittedoutbeforeanyonebegan，andtakenupwiththecook’scompliments。Theboiledteawasverybitter，theomeletscorched，andthebiscuitsspeckledwithsaleratus，butMrs。MarchreceivedherrepastwiththanksandlaughedheartilyoveritafterJowasgone。

“Poorlittlesouls，theywillhaveahardtime，I’mafraid，buttheywon’tsuffer，anditwilldothemgood，“shesaid，producingthemorepalatableviandswithwhichshehadprovidedherself，anddisposingofthebadbreakfast，sothattheirfeelingsmightnotbehurt，amotherlylittledeceptionforwhichtheyweregrateful。

Manywerethecomplaintsbelow，andgreatthechagrinoftheheadcookatherfailures。“Nevermind，I’llgetthedinnerandbeservant，youbemistress，keepyourhandsnice，seecompany，andgiveorders，“saidJo，whoknewstilllessthanMeg，aboutculinaryaffairs。

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