第23章

Thetentisforyourespecialbenefitandthatoakisyourdrawingroom，thisisthemessroomandthethirdisthecampkitchen。

Now，let’shaveagamebeforeitgetshot，andthenwe’llseeaboutdinner。“

Frank，Beth，Amy，andGracesatdowntowatchthegameplayedbytheothereight。Mr。BrookechoseMeg，Kate，andFred。

LaurietookSallie，Jo，andNed。TheEnglishplayedwell，buttheAmericansplayedbetter，andcontestedeveryinchofthegroundasstronglyasifthespiritof`76inspiredthem。JoandFredhadseveralskirmishesandoncenarrowlyescapedhighwords。

Jowasthroughthelastwicketandhadmissedthestroke，whichfailureruffledheragooddeal。Fredwasclosebehindherandhisturncamebeforehers。Hegaveastroke，hisballhitthewicket，andstoppedaninchonthewrongside。Noonewasverynear，andrunninguptoexamine，hegaveitaslynudgewithhistoe，whichputitjustaninchontherightside。

“I’mthrough!Now，MissJo，I’llsettleyou，andgetinfirst，“criedtheyounggentleman，swinginghismalletforanotherblow。

“Youpushedit。Isawyou。It’smyturnnow，“saidJosharply。

“Uponmyword，Ididn’tmoveit。Itrolledabit，perhaps，butthatisallowed。So，standoffplease，andletmehaveagoatthestake。“

“Wedon’tcheatinAmerica，butyoucan，ifyouchoose，“saidJoangrily。

“Yankeesareadealthemosttricky，everybodyknows。Thereyougo!“returnedFred，croquetingherballfaraway。

Joopenedherlipstosaysomethingrude，butcheckedherselfintime，coloreduptoherforeheadandstoodaminute，hammeringdownawicketwithallhermight，whileFredhitthestakeanddeclaredhimselfoutwithmuchexultation。Shewentofftogetherball，andwasalongtimefindingitamongthebushes，butshecameback，lookingcoolandquiet，andwaitedherturnpatiently。Ittookseveralstrokestoregaintheplaceshehadlost，andwhenshegotthere，theothersidehadnearlywon，forKate’sballwasthelastbutoneandlaynearthestake。

“ByGeorge，it’sallupwithus!Goodbye，Kate。MissJoowesmeone，soyouarefinished，“criedFredexcitedly，astheyalldrewneartoseethefinish。

“Yankeeshaveatrickofbeinggeneroustotheirenemies，“

saidJo，withalookthatmadetheladredden，“especiallywhentheybeatthem，“sheadded，as，leavingKate’sballuntouched，shewonthegamebyacleverstroke。

Lauriethrewuphishat，thenrememberedthatitwouldn’tdotoexultoverthedefeatofhisguests，andstoppedinthemiddleofthecheertowhispertohisfriend，“Goodforyou，Jo!Hedidcheat，Isawhim。Wecan’ttellhimso，buthewon’tdoitagain，takemywordforit。“

Megdrewheraside，underpretenseofpinningupaloosebraid，andsaidapprovingly，“Itwasdreadfullyprovoking，butyoukeptyourtemper，andI’msoglad，Jo。“

“Don’tpraiseme，Meg，forIcouldboxhisearsthisminute。

IshouldcertainlyhaveboiledoverifIhadn’tstayedamongthenettlestillIgotmyrageundercontrolenoughtoholdmytongue……

It’ssimmeringnow，soIhopehe’llkeepoutofmyway，“returnedJo，bitingherlipsasshegloweredatFredfromunderherbighat。

“Timeforlunch，“saidMr。Brooke，lookingathiswatch。

“Commissarygeneral，willyoumakethefireandgetwater，whileMissMarch，MissSallie，andIspreadthetable？Whocanmakegoodcoffee？“

“Jocan，“saidMeg，gladtorecommendhersister。SoJo，feelingthatherlatelessonsincookeryweretodoherhonor，wenttopresideoverthecoffeepot，whilethechildrencollecteddrysticks，andtheboysmadeafireandgotwaterfromaspringnearby。MissKatesketchedandFranktalkedtoBeth，whowasmakinglittlematsofbraidedrushestoserveasplates。

Thecommanderinchiefandhisaidessoonspreadthetableclothwithaninvitingarrayofeatablesanddrinkables，prettilydecoratedwithgreenleaves。Joannouncedthatthecoffeewasready，andeveryonesettledthemselvestoaheartymeal，foryouthisseldomdyspeptic，andexercisedevelopswholesomeappetites。

Averymerrylunchitwas，foreverythingseemedfreshandfunny，andfrequentpealsoflaughterstartledavenerablehorsewhofednearby。Therewasapleasinginequalityinthetable，whichproducedmanymishapstocupsandplates，acornsdroppedinthemilk，littleblackantspartookoftherefreshmentswithoutbeinginvited，andfuzzycaterpillarsswungdownfromthetreetoseewhatwasgoingon。Threewhite-headedchildrenpeepedoverthefence，andanobjectionabledogbarkedatthemfromtheothersideoftheriverwithallhismightandmain。

“There’ssalthere，“saidLaurie，ashehandedJoasaucerofberries。

“Thankyou，Ipreferspiders，“shereplied，fishinguptwounwarylittleoneswhohadgonetoacreamydeath。“Howdareyouremindmeofthathorriddinnerparty，whenyour’sissoniceineveryway？’addedJo，astheybothlaughedandateoutofoneplate，thechinahavingrunshort。

“Ihadanuncommonlygoodtimethatday，andhaven’tgotoverityet。Thisisnocredittome，youknow，Idon’tdoanything。It’syouandMegandBrookewhomakeitallgo，andI’mnoendobligedtoyou。whatshallwedowhenwecan’teatanymore？“askedLaurie，feelingthathistrumpcardhadbeenplayedwhenlunchwasover。

“Havegamestillit’scooler。IbroughtAuthors，andIdaresayMissKateknowssomethingnewandnice。Goandaskher。

She’scompany，andyououghttost