第37章

“I’llwait，andinthemeantime，youcouldbelearningtolikeme。Woulditbeaveryhardlesson，dear？“

“NotifIchosetolearnit，but……“

“Pleasechoosetolearn，Meg。Iloveyoutoteach，andthisiseasierthanGerman，“brokeinJohn，gettingpossessionoftheotherhand，sothatshehadnowayofhidingherfaceashebenttolookintoit。

Histonewasproperlybeseeching，butstealingashylookathim，Megsawthathiseyesweremerryaswellastender，andthatheworethesatisfiedsmileofonewhohadnodoubtofhissuccess。Thisnettledher。AnnieMoffat’sfoolishlessonsincoquetrycameintohermind，andtheloveofpower，whichsleepsinthebosomsofthebestoflittlewomen，wokeupallofasuddenandtookpossessionofher。Shefeltexcitedandstrange，andnotknowingwhatelsetodo，followedacapriciousimpulse，and，withdrawingherhands，saidpetulantly，“Idon’tchoose。Pleasegoawayandletmebe!“

PoorMr。Brookelookedasifhislovelycastleintheairwastumblingabouthisears，forhehadneverseenMeginsuchamoodbefore，anditratherbewilderedhim。

“Doyoureallymeanthat？“heaskedanxiously，followingherasshewalkedaway。

“Yes，Ido。Idon’twanttobeworriedaboutsuchthings。

FathersaysIneedn’t，it’stoosoonandI’drathernot。“

“Mayn’tIhopeyou’llchangeyourmindby-and-by？I’llwaitandsaynothingtillyouhavehadmoretime。Don’tplaywithme，Meg。Ididn’tthinkthatofyou。“

“Don’tthinkofmeatall。I’dratheryouwouldn’t，“saidMeg，takinganaughtysatisfactionintryingherlover’spatienceandherownpower。

Hewasgraveandpalenow，andlookeddecidedlymorelikethenovelheroeswhomsheadmired，butheneitherslappedhisforeheadnortrampedabouttheroomastheydid。Hejuststoodlookingathersowistfully，sotenderly，thatshefoundherheartrelentinginspiteofherself。WhatwouldhavehappenednextIcannotsay，ifAuntMarchhadnotcomehobblinginatthisinterestingminute。

Theoldladycouldn’tresistherlongingtoseehernephew，forshehadmetLaurieasshetookherairing，andhearingofMr。March’sarrival，drovestraightouttoseehim。Thefamilywereallbusyinthebackpartofthehouse，andshehadmadeherwayquietlyin，hopingtosurprisethem。ShedidsurprisetwoofthemsomuchthatMegstartedasifshehadseenaghost，andMr。Brookevanishedintothestudy。

“Blessme，what’sallthis？“criedtheoldladywitharapofhercaneassheglancedfromthepaleyounggentlemantothescarletyounglady。

“It’sFather’sfriend。I’msosurprisedtoseeyou!“stammeredMeg，feelingthatshewasinforalecturenow。

“That’sevident，“returnedAuntMarch，sittingdown。“ButwhatisFather’sfriendsayingtomakeyoulooklikeapeony？

There’smischiefgoingon，andIinsistuponknowingwhatitis，“withanotherrap。

“Wewereonlytalking。Mr。Brookecameforhisumbrella，“

beganMeg，wishingthatMr。Brookeandtheumbrellaweresafelyoutofthehouse。

“Brooke？Thatboy’stutor？Ah!Iunderstandnow。I

knowallaboutit。JoblunderedintoawrongmessageinoneofyourFather’sletters，andImadehertellme。Youhaven’tgoneandacceptedhim，child？“criedAuntMarch，lookingscandalized。

“Hush!He’llhear。Shan’tIcallMother？“saidMeg，muchtroubled。

“Notyet。I’vesomethingtosaytoyou，andImustfreemymindatonce。Tellme，doyoumeantomarrythisCook？Ifyoudo，notonepennyofmymoneyevergoestoyou。Rememberthat，andbeasensiblegirl，“saidtheoldladyimpressively。

NowAuntMarchpossessedinperfectiontheartofrousingthespiritofoppositioninthegentlestpeople，andenjoyeddoingit。Thebestofushaveaspiceofperversityinus，especiallywhenweareyoungandinlove。IfAuntMarchhadbeggedMegtoacceptJohnBrooke，shewouldprobablyhavedeclaredshecouldn’tthinkofit，butasshewaspreemptorilyorderednottolikehim，sheimmediatelymadeuphermindthatshewould。Inclinationaswellasperversitymadethedecisioneasy，andbeingalreadymuchexcited，Megopposedtheoldladywithunusualspirit。

“IshallmarrywhomIplease，AuntMarch，andyoucanleaveyourmoneytoanyoneyoulike，“shesaid，noddingherheadwitharesoluteair。

“Highty-tighty!Isthatthewayyoutakemyadvice，Miss？

You’llbesorryforitby-and-by，whenyou’vetriedloveinacottageandfounditafailure。“

“Itcan’tbeaworseonethansomepeoplefindinbighouses，“retortedMeg。

AuntMarchputonherglassesandtookalookatthegirl，forshedidnotknowherinthisnewmood。Meghardlyknewherself，shefeltsobraveandindependent，sogladtodefendJohnandassertherrigh