第46章

Leavinghersistertoherowndevices，Amyproceededtoenjoyherselftoherheart’scontent。Mr。Tudor’sunclehadmarriedanEnglishladywhowasthirdcousintoalivinglord，andAmyregardedthewholefamilywithgreatrespect，forinspiteofherAmericanbirthandbreeding，shepossessedthatreverencefortitleswhichhauntsthebestofus——thatunacknowledgedloyaltytotheearlyfaithinkingswhichsetthemostdemocraticnationunderthesuninfermentatthecomingofaroyalyellow-hairedladdie，someyearsago，andwhichstillhassomethingtodowiththelovetheyoungcountrybearstheold，likethatofabigsonforanimperiouslittlemother，whoheldhimwhileshecould，andlethimgowithafarewellscoldingwhenherebelled。ButeventhesatisfactionoftalkingwithadistantconnectionoftheBritishnobilitydidnotrenderAmyforgetfuloftime，andwhenthepropernumberofminuteshadpassed，shereluctantlytoreherselffromthisaristocraticsociety，andlookedaboutforJo，ferventlyhopingthatherincorrigiblesisterwouldnotbefoundinanypositionwhichshouldbringdisgraceuponthenameofMarch。

Itmighthavebeenworse，butAmyconsidereditbad。ForJosatonthegrass，withanencampmentofboysabouther，andadirty-footeddogreposingontheskirtofherstateandfestivaldress，assherelatedoneofLaurie’sprankstoheradmiringaudience。

OnesmallchildwaspokingturtleswithAmy’scherishedparasol，asecondwaseatinggingerbreadoverJo’sbestbonnet，andathirdplayingballwithhergloves。butallwereenjoyingthemselves，andwhenJocollectedherdamagedpropertytogo，herescortaccompaniedher，begginghertocomeagain，“ItwassuchfuntohearaboutLaurie’slarks。“

“Capitalboys，aren’tthey？Ifeelquiteyoungandbriskagainafterthat。“saidJo，strollingalongwithherhandsbehindher，partlyfromhabit，partlytoconcealthebespatteredparasol。

“WhydoyoualwaysavoidMr。Tudor？“askedAmy，wiselyrefrainingfromanycommentuponJo’sdilapidatedappearance。

“Don’tlikehim，heputsonairs，snubshissisters，worrieshisfather，anddoesn’tspeakrespectfullyofhismother。Lauriesaysheisfast，andIdon’tconsiderhimadesirableacquaintance，soIlethimalone。“

“Youmighttreathimcivilly，atleast。Yougavehimacoolnod，andjustnowyoubowedandsmiledinthepolitestwaytoTommyChamberlain，whosefatherkeepsagrocerystore。Ifyouhadjustreversedthenodandthebow，itwouldhavebeenright，“

saidAmyreprovingly。

“No，itwouldn’t，“returnedJo，“Ineitherlike，respect，noradmireTudor，thoughhisgrandfather’suncle’snephew’sniecewasathirdcousintoalord。Tommyispoorandbashfulandgoodandveryclever。Ithinkwellofhim，andliketoshowthatIdo，forheisagentlemaninspiteofthebrownpaperparcels。“

“It’snousetryingtoarguewithyou，“beganAmy。

“Nottheleast，mydear，“interruptedJo，“soletuslookamiable，anddropacardhere，astheKingsareevidentlyout，forwhichI’mdeeplygrateful。“

Thefamilycardcasehavingdoneitsdutythegirlswalkedon，andJoutteredanotherthanksgivingonreachingthefifthhouse，andbeingtoldthattheyoungladieswereengaged。

“nowletusgohome，andnevermindAuntMarchtoday。Wecanrundownthereanytime，andit’sreallyapitytotrailthroughthedustinourbestbibsandtuckers，whenwearetiredandcross。“

“Speakforyourself，ifyouplease。AuntMarchlikestohaveuspayherthecomplimentofcominginstyle，andmakingaformalcall。

It’salittlethingtodo，butitgivesherpleasure，andIdon’tbelieveitwillhurtyourthingshalfsomuchaslettingdirtydogsandclumpingboysspoilthem。Stoopdown，andletmetakethecrumbsoffofyourbonnet。“

“Whatagoodgirlyouare，Amy!“saidJo，witharepentantglancefromherowndamagedcostumetothatofhersister，whichwasfreshandspotlessstill。“Iwishitwasaseasyformetodolittlethingstopleasepeopleasitisforyou。Ithinkofthem，butittakestoomuchtimetodothem，soIwaitforachancetoconferagreatfavor，andletthesmallonesslip，buttheytellbestintheend，Ifancy。“

Amysmiledandwasmollifiedatonce，sayingwithamaternalair，“Womenshouldlearntobeagreeable，particularlypoorones，fortheyhavenootherwayofrepayingthekindnessestheyreceive。

Ifyou’drememberthat，andpracticeit，you’dbebetterlikedthanIam，becausethereismoreofyou。“

“I’macrotchetyoldthing，andalwaysshallbe，butI’mwillingtoownthatyouareright，onlyit’seasierformetoriskmylifeforapersonthantobepleasanttohimwhenIdon’tfeellikeit。It’sagreatmisfortunetohavesuchstronglikesanddislikes，isn’tit？“

“It’sagreaternottobeabletohidethem。Idon’tmindsayingthatIdon’tapproveofTudoranymorethanyoudo，butI’mnotcalledupontotellhimso。Neitherareyou，andthereisnouseinmakingyourselfdisagreeablebecauseheis。“

“ButIthinkgirls