第28章

Mr。LaurencecamehurryingbackwithBeth，bringingeverycomfortthekindoldgentlemancouldthinkoffortheinvalid，andfriendliestpromisesofprotectionforthegirlsduringthemother’sabsence，whichcomfortedherverymuch。Therewasnothinghedidn’toffer，fromhisowndressinggowntohimselfasescort。Butthelastwasimpossible。Mrs。Marchwouldnothearoftheoldgentleman’sundertakingthelongjourney，yetanexpressionofreliefwasvisiblewhenhespokeofit，foranxietyillfitsonefortraveling。

Hesawthelook，knithisheavyeyebrows，rubbedhishands，andmarchedabruptlyaway，sayinghe’dbebackdirectly。Noonehadtimetothinkofhimagaintill，asMegranthroughtheentry，withapairofrubbersinonehandandacupofteaintheother，shecamesuddenlyuponMr。Brooke。

“I’mverysorrytohearofthis，MissMarch，“hesaid，inthekind，quiettonewhichsoundedverypleasantlytoherperturbedspirit。“Icametooffermyselfasescorttoyourmother。

Mr。

LaurencehascommissionsformeinWashington，anditwillgivemerealsatisfactiontobeofservicetoherthere。“

Downdroppedtherubbers，andtheteawasverynearfollowing，asMegputoutherhand，withafacesofullofgratitudethatMr。

Brookewouldhavefeltrepaidforamuchgreatersacrificethanthetriflingoneoftimeandcomfortwhichhewasabouttotake。

“Howkindyouallare!Motherwillaccept，I’msure，anditwillbesucharelieftoknowthatshehassomeonetotakecareofher。Thankyouvery，verymuch!“

Megspokeearnestly，andforgotherselfentirelytillsomethinginthebrowneyeslookingdownathermadeherrememberthecoolingtea，andleadthewayintotheparlor，sayingshewouldcallhermother。

EverythingwasarrangedbythetimeLauriereturnedwithanotefromAuntMarch，enclosingthedesiredsum，andafewlinesrepeatingwhatshehadoftensaidbefore，thatshehadalwaystoldthemitwasabsurdforMarchtogointothearmy，alwayspredictedthatnogoodwouldcomeofit，andshehopedtheywouldtakeheradvicethenexttime。Mrs。Marchputthenoteinthefire，themoneyinherpurse，andwentonwithherpreparations，withherlipsfoldedtightlyinawaywhichJowouldhaveunderstoodifshehadbeenthere。

Theshortafternoonworeaway。Allothererrandsweredone，andMegandhermotherbusyatsomenecessaryneedlework，whileBethandAmygothtea，andHannahfinishedherironingwithwhatshecalleda`slapandabang’，butstillJodidnotcome。Theybegantogetanxious，andLauriewentofftofindher，fornooneknewwhatfreakJomighttakeintoherhead。Hemissedher，however，andshecamewalkinginwithaveryqueerexpressionofcountenance，fortherewasamixtureoffunandfear，satisfactionandregretinit，whichpuzzledthefamilyasmuchasdidtherollofbillsshelaidbeforehermother，sayingwithalittlechokeinhervoice，“That’smycontributiontowardmakingFathercomfortableandbringinghimhome!“

“Mydear，wheredidyougetit？Twenty-fivedollars!Jo，I

hopeyouhaven’tdoneanythingrash？“

“No，it’sminehonestly。Ididn’tbeg，borrow，orstealit。

I

earnedit，andIdon’tthinkyou’llblameme，forIonlysoldwhatwasmyown。“

Asshespoke，Jotookoffherbonnet，andageneraloutcryarose，forallherabundanthairwascutshort。

“Yourhair!Yourbeautifulhair!““Oh，Jo，howcouldyou？

Youronebeauty。““Mydeargirl，therewasnoneedofthis。“

“Shedoesn’tlooklikemyJoanymore，butIloveherdearlyforit!“

Aseveryoneexclaimed，andBethhuggedthecroppedheadtenderly，Joassumedanindifferentair，whichdidnotdeceiveanyoneaparticle，andsaid，rumplingupthebrownbushandtryingtolookasifshelikedit，“Itdoesn’taffectthefateofthenation，sodon’twail，Beth。

Itwillbegoodformyvanity，Igettingtooproudofmywig。Itwilldomybrainsgoodtohavethatmoptakenoff。Myheadfeelsdeliciouslylightandcool，andthebarbersaidIcouldsoonhaveacurlycrop，whichwillbeboyish，becoming，andeasytokeepinorder。I’msatisfied，sopleasetakethemoneyandlet’shavesupper。“

“Tellmeallaboutit，Jo。Iamnotquitesatisfied，butIcan’tblameyou，forIknowhowwillinglyyousacrificedyourvanity，asyoucallit，toyourlove。But，mydear，itwasnotnecessary，andI’mafraidyouwillregretitoneofthesedays，“saidMrs。March。

“No，Iwon’t!“returnedJostoutly，feelingmuchrelievedthatherprankwasnotentirelycondemned。

“Whatmadeyoudoit？“askedAmy，whowouldassoonhavethoughtofcuttingoffherheadasherprettyhair。

“Well，IwaswildtotosomethingforFather，“repliedJo，astheygatheredaboutthetable，forhealthyyoungpeoplecaneateveninthemidstoftrouble。“IhatetoborrowasmuchasMotherdoes，andIknewAuntMarchwouldcroak，shealwaysdoes，ifyouaskforaninepence。Meggaveallherquarterlysalarytowardtherent，andIonlygotsomeclotheswithmine，soIfeltwicked，andwasboundtohavesomemoney，ifIsoldthenoseoffmyfacetogetit。“

“Youneedn’tfeelwicked，mychild!Youhadnowinterthingsandgotthesimplestwithyourownhardearnings，“saidMrs。MarchwithalookthatwarmedJo’sheart。

“Ihadn’ttheleastideaofsellingmyhairatfirst，butasI

wentalongIkeptthinkingwhatIcoulddo，andfeelingasifI’dliketodiveintosomeoftherichstoresandhelpmyself。Inabarber’swindowIsawtailsofhairwiththepricesmarked，andoneblacktail，nots