第25章

“Here’salandscape!“thoughtLaurie，peepingthroughthebushes，andlookingwide-awakeandgood-naturedalready。

Itwasaratherprettylittlepicture，forthesisterssattogetherintheshadynook，withsunandshadowflickeringoverthem，thearomaticwindliftingtheirhairandcoolingtheirhotcheeks，andallthelittlewoodpeoplegoingonwiththeiraffairsasifthesewerenostrangersbutoldfriends。Megsatuponhercushion，sewingdaintilywithherwhitehands，andlookingasfreshandsweetasaroseinherpinkdressamongthegreen。Bethwassortingtheconesthatlaythickunderthehemlocknearby，forshemadeprettythingswiththem。Amywassketchingagroupofferns，andJowasknittingasshereadaloud。Ashadowpassedovertheboy’sfaceashewatchedthem，feelingthatheoughttogoawaybecauseuninvited，yetlingeringbecausehomeseemedverylonelyandthisquietpartyinthewoodsmostattractivetohisrestlessspirit。Hestoodsostillthatasquirrel，busywithit’sharvesting，randawnapineclosebesidehim，sawhimsuddenlyandskippedback，scoldingsoshrillythatBethlookedup，espiedthewistfulfacebehindthebirches，andbeckonedwithareassuringsmile。

“MayIcomein，please？OrshallIbeabother？“heasked，advancingslowly。

Megliftedhereyebrows，butJoscowledatherdefiantlyandsaidatonce，“Ofcourseyoumay。Weshouldhaveaskedyoubefore，onlywethoughtyouwouldn’tcareforsuchagirl’sgameasthis。“

“Ialwayslikeyourgames，butifMegdoesn’twantme，I’llgoaway。“

“I’venoobjection，ifyoudosomething。It’sagainsttherulestobeidlehere，“repliedMeggravelybutgraciously。

“Muchobliged。I’lldoanythingifyou’llletmestopabit，forit’sasdullastheDesertofSaharadownthere。ShallIsew，read，cone，draw，ordoallatonce？Bringonyourbears。

I’mready。“AndLauriesatdownwithasubmissiveexpressiondelightfultobehold。

“FinishthisstorywhileIsetmyheel，“saidJo，handinghimthebook。

“Yes’m。“wasthemeekanswer，ashebegan，doinghisbesttoprovehisgratitudeforthefavorofadmissionintothe`BusyBeeSociety’。

Thestorywasnotalongone，andwhenitwasfinished，heventuredtoaskafewquestionsasarewardofmerit。

“Please，ma’am，couldIinquireifthishighlyinstructiveandcharminginstitutionisanewone？“

“Wouldyoutellhim？“askedMegofhersisters。

“He’lllaugh，“saidAmywarningly。

“Whocares？“saidJo。

“Iguesshe’lllikeit，“addedBeth。

“OfcourseIshall!IgiveyoumywordIwon’tlaugh。Tellaway，Jo，anddon’tbeafraid。“

“Theideaofbeingafraidofyou!Well，youseeweusedtoplayPilgrim’sProgress，andwehavebeengoingonwithitinearnest，allwinterandsummer。“

“Yes，Iknow，“saidLaurie，noddingwisely。

“Whotoldyou？“demandedJo。

“Spirits。“

“No，Idid。Iwantedtoamusehimonenightwhenyouwereallaway，andhewasratherdismal。Hedidlikeit，sodon’tscold，Jo，“saidBethmeekly。

“Youcan’tkeepasecret。Nevermind，itsavestroublenow。“

“Goon，please，“saidLaurie，asJobecameabsorbedinherwork，lookingatrifledispleased。

“Oh，didn’tshetellyouaboutthisnewplanofours？Well，wehavetriednottowasteourholiday，buteachhashadataskandworkedatitwithawill。Thevacationisnearlyover，thestintsarealldone，andweareeversogladthatwedidn’tdawdle。“

“Yes，Ishouldthinkso，“andLauriethoughtregretfullyofhisownidledays。

“Motherlikestohaveusout-of-doorsasmuchaspossible，sowebringourworkhereandhavenicetimes。Forthefunofitwebringourthingsinthesebags，weartheoldhats，usepolestoclimbthehill，andplaypilgrims，asweusedtodoyearsago。

WecallthishilltheDelectableMountain，forwecanlookfarawayandseethecountrywherewehopetolivesometime。“

Jopointed，andLauriesatuptoexamine，forthroughanopeninginthewoodonecouldlookcrossthewide，blueriver，themeadowsontheotherside，farovertheoutskirtsofthegreatcity，tothegreenhillsthatrosetomeetthesky。Thesunwaslow，andtheheavensglowedwiththesplendorofanautumnsunset。Goldandpurplecloudslayonthehilltops，andrisinghighintotheruddylightweresilverywhitepeaksthatshoneliketheairyspiresofsomeCelestialCity。

“Howbeautifulthatis!“saidLauriesoftly，forhewasquicktoseeandfeelbeautyofanykind。

“It’softenso，andweliketowatchit，foritisneverthesame，butalwayssplendid，“repliedAmy，wishingshecouldpaintit。

“Jotalksaboutthecountrywherewehopetolivesometime——therealcountry，shemeans，withpigsandchickens