第45章

“Youdon’tmeantosayyouhaveforgottenthatyoupromisedtomakehalfadozencallswithmetoday？“

“I’vedoneagoodmanyrashandfoolishthingsinmylife，butIdon’tthinkIeverwasmadenoughtosayI’dmakesixcallsinoneday，whenasingleoneupsetsmeforaweek。“

“Yes，youdid，itwasabargainbetweenus。IwastofinishthecrayonofBethforyou，andyouweretogoproperlywithme，andreturnourneighbors’visits。“

“Ifitwasfair，thatwasinthebond，andIstandtotheletterofmybond，Shylock。Thereisapileofcloudsintheeast，it’snotfair，andIdon’tgo。“

“Now，that’sshirking。It’salovelyday，noprospectofrain，andyouprideyourselfonkeeping；promises，sobehonorable，comeanddoyourduty，andthenbeatpeaceforanothersixmonths。“

AtthatminuteJowasparticularlyabsorbedindressmaking，forshewasmantua-makergeneraltothefamily，andtookespecialcredittoherselfbecauseshecoulduseaneedleaswellasapen。

Itwasveryprovokingtobearrestedintheactofafirsttryingon，andorderedouttomakecallsinherbestarrayonawarmJulyday。

Shehatedcallsoftheformalsort，andnevermadeanytillAmycompelledherwithabargain，bribe，orpromise。Inthepresentinstancetherewasnoescape，andhavingclashedherscissorsrebelliously，whileprotestingthatshesmelledthunder，shegavein，putawayherwork，andtakingupherhatandgloveswithanairofresignation，toldAmythevictimwasready。

“JoMarch，youareperverseenoughtoprovokeasaint!Youdon’tintendtomakecallsinthatstate，Ihope，“criedAmy，surveyingherwithamazement。

“Whynot？I’mneatandcoolandcomfortable，quiteproperforadustywalkonawarmday。Ifpeoplecaremoreformyclothesthantheydoforme，Idon’twishtoseethem。Youcandressforboth，andbeaselegantasyouplease。Itpaysforyoutobefine。Itdoesn’tforme，andfurbelowsonlyworryme。“

“Oh，dear!“sighedAmy，“nowshe’sinacontraryfit，andwilldrivemedistractedbeforeIcangetherproperlyready。

I’msureit’snopleasuretometogotoday，butit’sadebtweowesociety，andthere’snoonetopayitbutyouandme。I’lldoanythingforyou，Jo，ifyou’llonlydressyourselfnicely，andcomeandhelpmedothecivil。Youcantalksowell，looksoaristocraticinyourbestthings，andbehavesobeautifully，ifyoutry，thatI’mproudofyou。I’mafraidtogoalone，docomeandtakecareofme。“

“You’reanartfullittlepusstoflatterandwheedleyourcrossoldsisterinthatway。Theideaofmybeingaristocraticandwell-bred，andyourbeingafraidtogoanywherealone!I

don’tknowwhichisthemostabsurd。Well，I’llgoifImust，anddomybest。Youshallbecommanderoftheexpedition，andI’llobeyblindly，willthatsatisfyyou？“saidJo，withasuddenchangefromperversitytolamblikesubmission。

“You’reaperfectcherub!Nowputonallyourbestthings，andI’lltellyouhowtobehaveateachplace，sothatyouwillmakeagoodimpression。Iwantpeopletolikeyou，andtheywouldifyou’donlytrytobealittlemoreagreeable。Doyourhairtheprettyway，andputthepinkroseinyourbonnet。It’sbecoming，andyoulooktoosoberinyourplainsuit。Takeyourlightglovesandtheembroideredhandkerchief。We’llstopatMeg’s，andborrowherwhitesunshade，andthenyoucanhavemydove-coloredone。“

WhileAmydressed，sheissuedherorders，andJoobeyedthem，notwithoutenteringherprotest，however，forshesighedassherustledintoherneworgandie，frowneddarklyatherselfasshetiedherbonnetstringsinanirreproachablebow，wrestledviciouslywithpinsassheputonhercollar，wrinkledupherfeaturesgenerallyassheshookoutthehandkerchief，whoseembroiderywasasirritatingtohernoseasthepresentmissionwastoherfeelings，andwhenshehadsqueezedherhandsintotightgloveswiththreebuttonsandatassel，asthelasttouchofelegance，sheturnedtoAmywithanimbecileexpressionofcountenance，sayingmeekly……

“I’mperfectlymiserable，butifyouconsidermepresentable，Idiehappy。“

“You’rehighlysatisfactory。turnslowlyround，andletmegetacarefulview。“Jorevolved，andAmygaveatouchhereandthere，thenfellback，withherheadononeside，observinggraciously，“Yes，you’lldo。YourheadisallIcouldask，forthatwhitebonnetwiththeroseisquiteravishing。Holdbackyourshoulders，andcarryyourhandseasily，nomatterifyourglovesdopinch。There’sonethingyoucandowell，Jo，thatis，wearashawl。Ican’t，butit’sverynicetoseeyou，andI’msogladAuntMarchgaveyouthatlovelyone。It’ssimple，buthandsome，andthosefoldsoverthearmarereallyartistic。Isthepointofmymantleinthemiddle，andhaveIloopedmydressevenly？I

liketoshowmyboots，formyfeetarepretty，thoughmynoseisn’t。“

“Youareathingofbeautyandajoyforever，“saidJo，lookingthroughherhandwiththeairofaconnoisseuratthebluefeatheragainstthegoldenhair。“AmItodragmybestdressthrou