第34章

Jo’sfacewasastudynextday，forthesecretratherweigheduponher，andshefoundithardnottolookmysteriousandimportant。Megobservedit，butdidnottroubleherselftomakeinquiries，forshehadlearnedthatthebestwaytomanageJowasbythelawofcontraries，soshefeltsureofbeingtoldeverythingifshedidnotask。Shewasrathersurprised，therefore，whenthesilenceremainedunbroken，andJoassumedapatronizingair，whichdecidedlyaggravatedMeg，whointurnassumedanairofdignifiedreserveanddevotedherselftohermother。ThisleftJotoherowndevices，forMrs。Marchhadtakenherplaceasnurse，andbadeherrest，exercise，andamuseherselfafterherlongconfinement。Amybeinggone，Lauriewasheronlyrefuge，andmuchassheenjoyedhissociety，sheratherdreadedhimjustthen，forhewasanincorrigibletease，andshefearedhewouldcoaxthesecretfromher。

Shewasquiteright，forthemischief-lovingladnosoonersuspectedamysterythanhesethimselftofinditout，andledJoatryinglifeofit。Hewheedled，bribed，ridiculed，threatened，andscolded；affectedindifference，thathemightsurprisethetruthfromher；declaredherknew，thenthathedidn’tcare；

andatlast，bydintofperseverance，hesatisfiedhimselfthatitconcernedMegandMr。Brooke。Feelingindignantthathewasnottakenintohistutor’sconfidence，hesethiswitstoworktodevisesomeproperretaliationfortheslight。

Megmeanwhilehadapparentlyforgottenthematterandwasabsorbedinpreparationsforherfather’sreturn，butallofasuddenachangeseemedtocomeoverher，and，foradayortwo，shewasquiteunlikeherself。Shestartedwhenspokento，blushedwhenlookedat，wasveryquiet，andsatoverhersewing，withatimid，troubledlookonherface。Tohermother’sinquiriessheansweredthatshewasquitewell，andJo’sshesilencedbybeggingtobeletalone。

“Shefeelsitintheair——love，Imean——andshe’sgoingveryfast。She’sgotmostofthesymptoms——istwitteryandcross，doesn’teat，liesawake，andmopesincorners。Icaughthersingingthatsonghegaveher，andonceshesaid`John’，asyoudo，andthenturnedasredasapoppy。whatevershallwedo？“

saidJo，lookingreadyforanymeasures，howeverviolent。

“Nothingbutwait。Letheralone，bekindandpatient，andFather’scomingwillsettleeverything，“repliedhermother。

“Here’sanotetoyou，Meg，allsealedup。Howodd!Teddyneversealsmine，“saidJonextday，asshedistributedthecontentsofthelittlepostoffice。

Mrs。MarchandJoweredeepintheirownaffairs，whenasoundfromMegmadethemlookuptoseeherstaringathernotewithafrightenedface。

“Mychild，whatisit？“criedhermother，runningtoher，whileJotriedtotakethepaperwhichhaddonethemischief。

“It’sallamistake，hedidn’tsendit。Oh，Jo，howcouldyoudoit？“andMeghidherfaceinherhands，cryingasifherheartwerequitebroken。

“Me!I’vedonenothing!What’sshetalkingabout？“criedJo，bewildered。

Meg’smildeyeskindledwithangerasshepulledacrumplednotefromherpocketandthrewitatJo，sayingreproachfully，“Youwroteit，andthatbadboyhelpedyou。Howcouldyoubesorude，somean，andcrueltousboth？“

Johardlyheardher，forsheandhermotherwerereadingthenote，whichwaswritteninapeculiarhand。

“MyDearestMargaret，“Icannolongerrestrainmypassion，andmustknowmyfatebeforeIreturn。Idarenottellyourparentsyet，butIthinktheywouldconsentiftheyknewthatweadoredoneanother。Mr。

Laurencewillhelpmetosomegoodplace，andthen，mysweetgirl，youwillmakemehappy。Iimploreyoutosaynothingtoyourfamilyyet，buttosendonewordofhopethroughLaurieto，“YourdevotedJohn。“

“Oh，thelittlevillain!That’sthewayhemeanttopaymeforkeepingmywordtoMother。I’llgivehimaheartyscoldingandbringhimovertobegpardon，“criedJo，burningtoexecuteimmediatejustice。Buthermotherheldherback，saying，withalooksheseldomwore……

“Stop，Jo，youmustclearyourselffirst。YouhaveplayedsomanypranksthatIamafraidyouhavehadahandinthis。“

“Onmyword，Mother，Ihaven’t!Ineversawthatnotebefore，anddon’tknowanythingaboutit，astrueasIlive!“

saidJo，soearnestlythattheybelievedher。“IfIhadtakenpartinitI’dhavedoneitbetterthanthis，andhavewrittenasensiblenote。Ishouldthinkyou’dhaveknownMr。Brookewouldn’twritesuchstuffasthat，“sheadded，scornfullytossingdownthepaper。

“It’slikehiswriting，“falteredMeg，comparingitwiththenoteinherhand。

“Oh，Meg，youdidn’tanswerit？“criedMrs。Marchquickly。

“Yes，Idid!“andMeghidherfaceagain，overcomewithshame。

“Here’sascrape!Doletmebringthatwickedbo