第39章

likethisroommostofallinmybabyhouse，“addedMeg，aminuteafter，astheywentupstairsandshelookedintoherwell-storedlinencloset。

Bethwasthere，layingthesnowypilessmoothlyontheshelvesandexultingoverthegoodlyarray。AllthreelaughedasMegspoke，forthatlinenclosetwasajoke。Yousee，havingsaidthatifMegmarried`thatBrooke’sheshouldn’thaveacentofhermoney，AuntMarchwasratherinaquandarywhentimehadappeasedherwrathandmadeherrepenthervow。Sheneverbrokeherword，andwasmuchexercisedinhermindhowtogetroundit，andatlastdevisedaplanwherebyshecouldsatisfyherself。Mrs。Carrol，Florence’smamma，wasorderedtobuy，havemade，andmarkedageneroussupplyofhouseandtablelinen，andsenditasherpresent，allofwhichwasfaithfullydone，butthesecretleakedout，andwasgreatlyenjoyedbythefamily，forAuntMarchtriedtolookutterlyunconscious，andinsistedthatshecouldgivenothingbuttheold-fashionedpearlslongpromisedtothefirstbride。

“That’sahousewifelytastewhichIamgladtosee。Ihadayoungfriendwhosetuphousekeepingwithsixsheets，butshehadfingerbowlsforcompanyandthatsatisfiedher，“saidMrs。March，pattingthedamasktablecloths，withatrulyfeminineappreciationoftheirfineness。

“Ihaven’tasinglefingerbowl，butthisisasetoutthatwilllastmeallmydays，Hannahsays。“AndMeglookedquitecontented，aswellshemight。

Atall，broad-shoulderedyoungfellow，withacroppedhead，afeltbasinofahat，andaflyawaycoat，cametrampingdowntheroadatagreatpace，walkedoverthelowfencewithoutstoppingtoopenthegate，straightuptoMrs。March，withbothhandsoutandahearty……

“HereIam，Mother!Yes，it’sallright。“

Thelastwordswereinanswertothelooktheelderladygavehim，akindlyquestioninglookwhichthehandsomeeyesmetsofranklythatthelittleceremonyclosed，asusual，withamotherlykiss。

“ForMrs。JohnBrooke，withthemaker’scongratulationsandcompliments。Blessyou，Beth!Whatarefreshingspectacleyouare，Jo。Amy，youaregettingaltogethertoohandsomeforasinglelady。“

AsLauriespoke，hedeliveredabrownpaperparceltoMeg，pilledBeth’shairribbon，staredatJo’sbibpinafore，andfellintoanattitudeofmockrapturebeforeAmy，thenshookhandsallround，andeveryonebegantotalk。

“WhereisJohn？“askedMeganxiously。

“Stoppedtogetthelicensefortomorrow，ma’am。“

“Whichsidewonthelastmatch，Teddy？“inquiredJo，whopersistedinfeelinganinterestinmanlysportsdespitehernineteenyears。

“Ours，ofcourse。Wishyou’dbeentheretosee。“

“HowisthelovelyMissRandal？“askedAmywithasignificantsmile。

“Morecruelthanever。Don’tyouseehowI’mpiningaway？“

AndLauriegavehisbroadchestasoundingslapandheavedamelodramaticsigh。

“What’sthelastjoke？Undothebundleandsee，Meg，“saidBeth，eyingtheknobbyparcelwithcuriosity。

“It’sausefulthingtohaveinthehouseincaseoffireorthieves，“observedLaurie，asawatchman’srattleappeared，amidthelaughterofthegirls。

“AnytimewhenJohnisawayandyougetfrightened，Mrs。

Meg，justswingthatoutofthefrontwindow，anditwillrousetheneighborhoodinajiffy。Nicething，isn’tit？“AndLauriegavethemasampleofitspowersthatmadethemcoveruptheirears。

“There’sgratitudeforyou!AndspeakingofgratituderemindsmetomentionthatyoumaythankHannahforsavingyourweddingcakefromdestruction。IsawitgoingintoyourhouseasIcameby，andifshehadn’tdefendeditmanfullyI’dhavehadapickatit，foritlookedlikearemarkablyplummyone。“

“Iwonderifyouwillevergrowup，Laurie，“saidMeginamatronlytone。

“I’mdoingmybest，ma’am，butcan’tgetmuchhigher，I’mafraid，assixfeetisaboutallmencandointhesedegeneratedays，“

respondedtheyounggentleman，whoseheadwasaboutlevelwiththelittlechandelier。

“Isupposeitwouldbeprofanationtoeatanythinginthisspick-and-spanbower，soasI’mtremendouslyhungry，Iproposeanadjournment，“headdedpresently。

“MotherandIaregoingtowaitforJohn。Therearesomelastthingstosettle，“saidMeg，bustlingaway。

“BethandIaregoingovertoKittyBryant’stogetmoreflowersfortomorrow，“addedAmy，tyingapicturesquehatoverherpicturesquecurls，andenjoyingtheeffectasmuchasanybody。

“Come，Jo，don’tdesertafellow。I’minsuchastateofexhaustionIcan’tgethomewithouthelp。Don’ttakeoffyourapron，whateveryoudo，it’speculiarlybecoming，“saidLaurie，asJobestowedhisespecialaversioninhercapaciouspocketandofferedherarmtosupporthisf