第29章

“That’ssolikemyBeth!“saidJo，wavingherhat，withagratefulface。“Goodbye，Meggy，IhopetheKingswon’tstraintoday。Don’tfretaboutFather，dear，“sheadded，astheyparted。

“AndIhopeAuntMarchwon’tcroak。Yourhairisbecoming，anditlooksveryboyishandnice，“returnedMeg，tryingnottosmileatthecurlyhead，whichlookedcomicallysmallonhertallsister’sshoulders。

“That’smyonlycomfort。“And，touchingherhata`laLaurie，awaywentJo，feelinglikeashornsheeponawintryday。

Newsfromtheirfathercomfortedthegirlsverymuch，forthoughdangerouslyill，thepresenceofthebestandtenderestofnurseshadalreadydonehimgood。Mr。Brookesentabulletineveryday，andastheheadofthefamily，Meginsistedonreadingthedispatches，whichgrewmorecheerfulastheweekpassed。Atfirst，everyonewaseagertowrite，andplumpenvelopeswerecarefullypokedintotheletterboxbyoneorotherofthesisters，whofeltratherimportantwiththeirWashingtoncorrespondence。Asoneofthesepacketscontainedcharacteristicnotesfromtheparty，wewillrobanimaginarymail，andreadthem。

MydearestMother：

Itisimpossibletotellyouhowhappyyourlastlettermadeus，forthenewswassogoodwecouldn’thelplaughingandcryingoverit。HowverykindMr。Brookeis，andhowfortunatethatMr。

Laurence’sbusinessdetainshimnearyousolong，sinceheissousefultoyouandFather。Thegirlsareallasgoodasgold。

Johelpsmewiththesewing，andinsistsondoingallsortsofhardjobs。Ishouldbeafraidshemightoverdo，ifIdidn’tknowher`moralfit’wouldn’tlastlong。Bethisasregularabouthertasksasaclock，andneverforgetswhatyoutoldher。ShegrievesaboutFather，andlookssoberexceptwhensheisatherlittlepiano。

Amymindsmenicely，andItakegreatcareofher。Shedoesherownhair，andIamteachinghertomakebuttonholesandmendherstockings。

Shetriesveryhard，andIknowyouwillbepleasedwithherimprovementwhenyoucome。Mr。Laurencewatchesoveruslikeamotherlyoldhen，asJosays，andLaurieisverykindandneighborly。

HeandJokeepusmerry，forwegetprettybluesometimes，andfeellikeorphans，withyousofaraway。Hannahisaperfectsaint。

Shedoesnotscoldatall，andalwayscallsmeMissMargaret，whichisquiteproper，youknow，andtreatsmewithrespect。Weareallwellandbusy，butwelong，dayandnight，tohaveyouback。GivemydearestlovetoFather，andbelieveme，everyourown……

MEG

Thisnote，prettilywrittenonscentedpaper，wasagreatcontrasttothenext，whichwasscribbledonabigsheetofthinforeignpaper，ornamentedwithblotsandallmannerofflourishesandcurly-tailedletters。

MypreciousMarmee：

ThreecheersfordearFather!Brookewasatrumptotelegraphrightoff，andletusknowtheminutehewasbetter。Irushedupgarretwhenthelettercame，andtriedtothankgodforbeingsogoodtous，butIcouldonlycry，andsay，“I’mglad!I’mglad!“

Didn’tthatdoaswellasaregularprayer？ForIfeltagreatmanyinmyheart。Wehavesuchfunnytimes，andnowIcanenjoythem，foreveryoneissodesperatelygood，it’slikelivinginanestofturtledoves。You’dlaughtoseeMegheadthetableandtrytobemotherish。Shegetsprettiereveryday，andI’minlovewithhersometimes。Thechildrenareregulararchangels，andI——

well，I’mJo，andnevershallbeanythingelse。Oh，ImusttellyouthatIcamenearhavingaquarrelwithLaurie。Ifreedmymindaboutasillylittlething，andhewasoffended。Iwasright，butdidn’tspeakasIought，andhemarchedhome，sayinghewouldn’tcomeagaintillIbeggedpardon。IdeclaredIwouldn’tandgotmad。

Itlastedallday。Ifeltbadandwantedyouverymuch。

LaurieandIarebothsoproud，it’shardtobegpardon。ButIthoughthe’dcometoit，forIwasintheright。Hedidn’tcome，andjustatnightIrememberedwhatyousaidwhenAmyfellintotheriver。

I

readmylittlebook，feltbetter，resolvednottoletthesunsetonmyanger，andranovertotellLaurieIwassorry。Imethimatthegate，comingforthesamething。Webothlaughed，beggedeachother’spardon，andfeltallgoodandcomfortableagain。

Imadea`pome’yesterday，whenIwashelpingHannahwash，andasFatherlikesmysillylittlethings，Iputitintoamusehim。Givehimmylovingesthugthateverwas，andkissyourselfadozentimesforyour……

TOPSY-TURVYJO

ASONGFROMTHESUDS

Queenofmytub，Imerrilysing，Whilethewhitefoamriseshigh，Andsturdilywashandrinseandwring，Andfastentheclothestodry。

Thenoutinthefreefreshairtheyswing，Underthes