第40章

“Uponmyword，here’sastateofthings!“criedtheoldlady，takingtheseatofhonorpreparedforher，andsettlingthefoldsofherlavendermoirewithagreatrustle。“Yououghtn’ttobeseentillthelastminute，child。“

“I’mnotashow，Aunty，andnooneiscomingtostareatme，tocriticizemydress，orcountthecostofmyluncheon。I’mtoohappytocarewhatanyonesaysorthinks，andI’mgoingtohavemylittleweddingjustasIlikeit。John，dear，here’syourhammer。“AndawaywentMegtohelp`thatman’inhishighlyimproperemployment。

Mr。Brookedidn’tevensay，“Thankyou，“butashestoopedfortheunromantictool，hekissedhislittlebridebehindthefoldingdoor，withalookthatmadeAuntMarchwhiskoutherpockethandkerchiefwithasuddendewinhersharpoldeyes。

Acrash，acry，andalaughfromLaurie，accompaniedbytheindecorousexclamation，“JupiterAmmon!Jo’supsetthecakeagain!“

causedamomentaryflurry，whichwashardlyoverwhenaflockofcousinsarrived，and`thepartycamein’，asBethusedtosaywhenachild。

“Don’tletthatyounggiantcomenearme，heworriesmeworsethanmosquitoes，“whisperedtheoldladytoAmy，astheroomsfilledandLaurie’sblackheadtoweredabovetherest。

“Hehaspromisedtobeverygoodtoday，andhecanbeperfectlyelegantifhelikes，“returnedAmy，andglidingawaytowarnHerculestobewareofthedragon，whichwarningcausedhimtohaunttheoldladywithadevotionthatnearlydistractedher。

Therewasnobridalprocession，butasuddensilencefellupontheroomasMr。Marchandtheyoungcoupletooktheirplacesunderthegreenarch。Motherandsistersgatheredclose，asifloathtogiveMegup。Thefatherlyvoicebrokemorethanonce，whichonlyseemedtomaketheservicemorebeautifulandsolemn。Thebridegroom’shandtrembledvisibly，andnooneheardhisreplies。ButMeglookedstraightupinherhusband’seyes，andsaid，“Iwill!“

withsuchtendertrustinherownfaceandvoicethathermother’sheartrejoicedandAuntMarchsniffedaudibly。

Jodidnotcry，thoughshewasverynearitonce，andwasonlysavedfromademonstrationbytheconsciousnessthatLauriewasstaringfixedlyather，withacomicalmixtureofmerrimentandemotioninhiswickedblackeyes。Bethkeptherfacehiddenonhermother’sshoulder，butAmystoodlikeagracefulstatue，withamostbecomingrayofsunshinetouchingherwhiteforeheadandtheflowerinherhair。

Itwasn’tatallthething，I’mafraid，buttheminuteshewasfairlymarried，Megcried，“ThefirstkissforMarmee!“andturning，gaveitwithherheartonherlips。Duringthenextfifteenminutesshelookedmorelikearosethanever，foreveryoneavailedthemselvesoftheirprivilegestothefullestextent，fromMr。LaurencetooldHannah，who，adornedwithaheaddressfearfullyandwonderfullymade，felluponherinthehall，cryingwithasobandachuckle，“Blessyou，deary，ahundredtimes!Thecakeain’thurtamite，andeverythinglookslovely。“

Everybodyclearedupafterthat，andsaidsomethingbrilliant，ortriedto，whichdidjustaswell，forlaughterisreadywhenheartsarelight。Therewasnodisplayofgifts，fortheywerealreadyinthelittlehouse，norwasthereanelaboratebreakfast，butaplentifullunchofcakeandfruit，dressedwithflowers。

Mr。LaurenceandAuntMarchshruggedandsmiledatoneanotherwhenwater，lemonade，andcoffeewerefoundtobetoonlysortsofnectarwhichthethreeHebescarriedaround。Noonesaidanything，tillLaurie，whoinsistedonservingthebride，appearedbeforeher，withaloadedsalverinhishandandapuzzledexpressiononhisface。

“HasJosmashedallthebottlesbyaccident？“hewhispered，“oramImerelylaboringunderadelusionthatIsawsomelyingaboutloosethismorning？“

“No，yourgrandfatherkindlyofferedushisbest，andAuntMarchactuallysentsome，butFatherputawayalittleforBeth，anddispatchedtheresttotheSoldier’sHome。Youknowhethinksthatwineshouldbeusedonlyinillness，andMothersaysthatneithershenorherdaughterswilleverofferittoanyyoungmanunderherroof。“

MegspokeseriouslyandexpectedtoseeLauriefrownorlaugh，buthedidneither，forafteraquicklookather，hesaid，inhisimpetuousway，“Ilikethat!ForI’veseenenoughharmdonetowishotherwomenwouldthinkasyoudo。“

“Youarenotmadewisebyexperience，Ihope？“AndtherewasananxiousaccentinMeg’svoice。

“No。Igiveyoumywordforit。Don’tthinktoowellofme，either，thisisnotoneofmytemptations。Beingbroughtupwherewineisascommonaswaterandalmostasharmless，Idon’tcareforit，butwhenaprettygirloffersit，onedoesn’tliketorefuse，yousee。“

“Butyouwill，forthesakeofothers，ifnotforyourown。

Come，Laurie，promise，andgivemeonemorereasontocallthisthehappiestdayofmylife。“

Ademandsosuddenandsoseriousmadetheyoungmanhesitateamoment，forridiculeisoftenhardertobearthanself-denial。

Megknewthat