第27章

suggestedLaurie。

Noonewasinsight，thesmoothroadslopedinvitinglybeforeher，andfindingthetemptationirresistible，Jodartedaway，soonleavinghatandcombbehindherandscatteringhairpinsassheran。

Lauriereachedthegoalfirstandwasquitesatisfiedwiththesuccessofhistreatment，forhisAtalantacamepantingupwithflyinghair，brighteyes，ruddycheeks，andnosignsofdissatisfactioninherface。

“IwishIwasahorse，thenIcouldrunformilesinthissplendidair，andnotlosemybreath。Itwascapital，butseewhataguyit’smademe。Go，pickupmythings，likeacherub，asyouare，“saidJo，droppingdownunderamapletree，whichwascarpetingthebankwithcrimsonleaves。

Laurieleisurelydepartedtorecoverthelostproperty，andJobundledupherbraids，hopingnoonewouldpassbytillshewastidyagain。Butsomeonedidpass，andwhoshoulditbebutMeg，lookingparticularlyladylikeinherstateandfestivalsuit，forshehadbeenmakingcalls。

“Whatintheworldareyoudoinghere？“sheasked，regardingherdisheveledsisterwithwell-bredsurprise。

“Gettingleaves，“meeklyansweredJo，sortingtherosyhandfulshehadjustsweptup。

“Andhairpins，“addedLaurie，throwinghalfadozenintoJo’slap。“Theygrowonthisroad，Meg，sodocombsandbrownstrawhats。“

“Youhavebeenrunning，Jo。Howcouldyou？Whenwillyoustopsuchrompingways？“saidMegreprovingly，asshesettledhercuffsandsmoothedherhair，withwhichthewindhadtakenliberties。

“NevertillI’mstiffandoldandhavetouseacrutch。Don’ttrytomakemegrowupbeforemytime，Meg。It’shardenoughtohaveyouchangeallofasudden。LetmebealittlegirlaslongasIcan。“

Asshespoke，Jobentovertheleavestohidethetremblingofherlips，forlatelyshehadfeltthatMargaretwasfastgettingtobeawoman，andLaurie’ssecretmadeherdreadtheseparationwhichmustsurelycomesometimeandnowseemedverynear。HesawthetroubleinherfaceanddrewMeg’sattentionfromitbyaskingquickly，“Wherehaveyoubeencalling，allsofine？“

“AttheGardiners’，andSalliehasbeentellingmeallaboutBelleMoffat’swedding。Itwasverysplendid，andtheyhavegonetospendthewinterinParis。Justthinkhowdelightfulthatmustbe!“

“Doyouenvyher，Meg？“saidLaurie。

“I’mafraidIdo。“

“I’mgladofit!“mutteredJo，tyingonherhatwithajerk。

“Why？“askedMeg，lookingsurprised。

“Becauseifyoucaremuchaboutriches，youwillnevergoandmarryapoorman，“saidJo，frowningatLaurie，whowasmutelywarninghertomindwhatshesaid。

“Ishallnever`goandmarry’anyone，“observedMeg，walkingonwithgreatdignitywhiletheothersfollowed，laughing，whispering，skippingstones，and`behavinglikechildren’，asMegsaidtoherself，thoughshemighthavebeentemptedtojointhemifshehadnothadherbestdresson。

Foraweekortwo，Jobehavedsoqueerlythathersisterswerequitebewildered。Sherushedtothedoorwhenthepostmanrang，wasrudetoMr。Brookewhenevertheymet，wouldsitlookingatMegwithawoe-begoneface，occasionallyjumpinguptoshakeandthenkissherinaverymysteriousmanner。Laurieandshewerealwaysmakingsignstooneanother，andtalkingabout`SpreadEagles’tillthegirlsdeclaredtheyhadbothlosttheirwits。OnthesecondSaturdayafterJogotoutofthewindow，Meg，asshesatsewingatherwindow，wasscandalizedbythesightofLauriechasingJoalloverthegardenandfinallycapturingherinAmy’sbower。Whatwentonthere，Megcouldnotsee，butshrieksoflaughterwereheard，followedbythemurmurofvoicesandagreatflappingofnewspapers。

“Whatshallwedowiththatgirl？Sheneverwillbehavelikeayounglady，“sighedMeg，asshewatchedtheracewithadisapprovingface。

“Ihopeshewon’t。Sheissofunnyanddearassheis，“saidBeth，whohadneverbetrayedthatshewasalittlehurtatJo’shavingsecretswithanyonebuther。

“It’sverytrying，butwenevercanmakehercommylafo，“

addedAmy，whosatmakingsomenewfrillsforherself，withhercurlstiedupinaverybecomingway。，twoagreeablethingsthatmadeherfeelunusuallyelegantandladylike。

InafewminutesJobouncedin，laidherselfonthesofa，andaffectedtoread。

“Haveyouanythinginterestingthere？“askedMeg，withcondescension。

“Nothingbutastory，won’tamounttomuch，Iguess，“returnedJo，carefullykeepingthenameofthepaperoutofsight。

“You’dbetterreaditaloud。Thatwillamuseusandkeepyououtofmischief，“saidAmyinhermostgrown-uptone。

“What’sthename？“askedBeth，wonderingwhyJokeptherfacebehindthesheet。

“TheRivalPainters。“

“Thatsoundswell。Readit，“saidMeg。

Withaloud“Hem!“andalongbreath，Jobegantoreadveryfast。Thegirlslistenedwithinterest，for