第36章

Mr。Marchtoldhowhehadlongedtosurprisethem，andhow，whenthefineweathercame，hehadbeenallowedbyhisdoctor，totakeadvantageofit，howdevotedBrookehadbeen，andhowhewasaltogetheramostestimableanduprightyoungman。WhyMr。Marchpausedaminutejustthere，andafteraglanceatMeg，whowasviolentlypokingthefire，lookedathiswifewithaninquiringliftoftheeyebrows，Ileaveyoutoimagine。AlsowhyMrs。

Marchgentlynoddedherheadandasked，ratherabruptly，ifhewouldn’tliketohavesomethingtoeat。Josawandunderstoodthelook，andshestalkedgrimlyawaytogetwineandbeeftea，mutteringtoherselfassheslammedthedoor，“Ihateestimableyoungmenwithbrowneyes!“

ThereneverwassuchaChristmasdinnerastheyhadthatday。

Thefatturkeywasasighttobehold，whenHannahsenthimup，stuffed，browned，anddecorated。Sowastheplumpudding，whichmeltedinone’smouth，likewisethejellies，inwhichAmyreveledlikeaflyinahoneypot。Everythingturnedoutwell，whichwasamercy，Hannahsaid，“Formymindwasthatflustered，Mum，thatit’samerrycleIdidn’troastthepudding，andstufftheturkeywithraisins，letalonebilin’ofitinacloth。“

Mr。Laurenceandhisgrandsondinedwiththem，alsoMr。

Brooke，atwhomJoglowereddarkly，toLaurie’sinfiniteamusement。

Twoeasychairsstoodsidebysideattheheadofthetable，inwhichsatBethandherfather，feastingmodestlyonchickenandalittlefruit。Theydrankhealths，toldstories，sangsongs，`reminisced’，astheoldfolkssay，andhadathoroughlygoodtime。

Asleighridehadbeenplanned，butthegirlswouldnotleavetheirfather，sotheguestsdepartedearly，andastwilightgathered，thehappyfamilysattogetherroundthefire。

“JustayearagoweweregroaningoverthedismalChristmasweexpectedtohave。Doyouremember？“askedJo，breakingashortpausewhichhadfollowedalongconversationaboutmanythings。

“Ratherapleasantyearonthewhole!“saidMeg，smilingatthefire，andcongratulatingherselfonhavingtreatedMr。Brookewithdignity。

“Ithinkit’sbeenaprettyhardone，“observedAmy，watchingthelightshineonherringwiththoughtfuleyes。

“i’mgladit’sover，becausewe’vegotyouback，“whisperedBeth，whosatonherfather’sknee。

“Ratheraroughroadforyoutotravel，mylittlepilgrims，especiallythelatterpartofit。Butyouhavegotonbravely，andIthinktheburdensareinafairwaytotumbleoffverysoon，“

saidMr。March，lookingwithfatherlysatisfactionatthefouryoungfacesgatheredroundhim。

“Howdoyouknow？DidMothertellyou？’askedJo。

“Notmuch。Strawsshowwhichwaythewindblows，andI’vemadeseveraldiscoveriestoday。“

“Oh，telluswhattheyare!“criedMeg，whosatbesidehim。

“Hereisone。“Andtakingupthehandwhichlayonthearmofhischair，hepointedtotheroughenedforefinger，aburnontheback，andtwoorthreelittlehardspotsonthepalm。“I

rememberatimewhenthishandwaswhiteandsmooth，andyourfirstcarewastokeepitso。Itwasveryprettythen，buttomeitismuchprettiernow，forinthisseemingblemishesIreadalittlehistory。Aburntofferinghasbeenmadetovanity，thishardenedpalmhasearnedsomethingbetterthanblisters，andI’msurethesewingdonebytheseprickedfingerswilllastalongtime，somuchgoodwillwentintothestitches。Meg，mydear，Ivaluethewomanlyskillwhichkeepshomehappymorethanwhitehandsorfashionableaccomplishments。I’mproudtoshakethisgood，industriouslittlehand，andhopeIshallnotsoonbeaskedtogiveitaway。“

IfMeghadwantedarewardforhoursofpatientlabor，shereceiveditintheheartypressureofherfather’shandandtheapprovingsmilehegaveher。

“WhataboutJo？Pleasesaysomethingnice，forshehastriedsohardandbeensovery，verygoodtome，“saidBethinherfather’sear。

Helaughedandlookedacrossatthetallgirlwhosatopposite，withandunusuallymildexpressioninherface。

“Inspiteofthecurlycrop，Idon’tseethe`sonJo’whomI

leftayearago，“saidMr。March。“Iseeayoungladywhopinshercollarstraight，lacesherbootsneatly，andneitherwhistles，talksslang，norliesontherugassheusedtodo。Herfaceisratherthinandpalejustnow，withwatchingandanxiety，butI

liketolookatit，forithasgrowngentler，andhervoiceislower。Shedoesn’tbounce，butmovesquietly，andtakescareofacertainlittlepersoninamotherlywaywhichdelightsme。I

rathermissmywildgirl，butifIgetastrong，helpful，tenderheartedwomaninherplace，Ishallfeelquitesatisfied。

Idon’tknowwhethertheshearingsoberedourblacksheep，butIdoknowthatina