第47章

Shemeantitkindly，butAmymistookhermeaning，andsaidquickly……

“Oh，certainly，iftheyareinyourway，“andsweepinghercontributionsintoherapron，pell-mell，shewalkedoff，feelingthatherselfandherworksofarthadbeeninsultedpastforgiveness。

“Nowshe’smad。Oh，dear，IwishIhadn’taskedyoutospeak，Mama，“

saidMay，lookingdisconsolatelyattheemptyspacesonhertable。

“Girls’quarrelsaresoonover，“returnedhermother，feelingatrifleashamedofherownpartinthisone，aswellshemight。

ThelittlegirlshailedAmyandhertreasureswithdelight，whichcordialreceptionsomewhatsoothedherperturbedspirit，andshefelltowork，determinedtosucceedflorally，ifshecouldnotartistically。Buteverythingseemedagainsther。Itwaslate，andshewastired。Everyonewastoobusywiththeirownaffairstohelpher，andthelittlegirlswereonlyhindrances，forthedearsfussedandchatteredlikesomanymagpies，makingagreatdealofconfusionintheirartlesseffortstopreservethemostperfectorder。Theevergreenarchwouldn’tstayfirmaftershegotitup，butwiggledandthreatenedtotumbledownonherheadwhenthehangingbasketswerefilled。Herbesttilegotasplashofwater，whichleftasephiatearontheCupid’scheek。Shebruisedherhandswithhammering，andgotcoldworkinginadraft，whichlastafflictionfilledherwithapprehensionsforthemorrow。AnygirlreaderwhohassufferedlikeafflictionswillsympathizewithpoorAmyandwishherwellthroughhertask。

Therewasgreatindignationathomewhenshetoldherstorythatevening。Hermothersaiditwasashame，buttoldhershehaddoneright。Bethdeclaredshewouldn’tgotothefairatall，andJodemandedwhyshedidn’ttakeallherprettythingsandleavethosemeanpeopletogetonwithouther。

“Becausetheyaremeanisnoreasonwhyishouldbe。Ihatesuchthings，andthoughIthinkI’vearighttobehurt，Idon’tintendtoshowit。Theywillfeelthatmorethanangryspeechesorhuffyactions，won’tthey，Marmee？“

“That’stherightspirit，mydear。Akissforablowisalwaysbest，thoughit’snotveryeasytogiveitsometimes，“saidhermother，withtheairofonewhohadlearnedthedifferencebetweenpreachingandpracticing。

Inspiteofvariousverynaturaltemptationstoresentandretaliate，Amyadheredtoherresolutionallthenextday，bentonconqueringherenemybykindness。Shebeganwell，thankstoasilentreminderthatcametoherunexpectedly，butmostopportunely。

Asshearrangedhertablethatmorning，whilethelittlegirlswereintheanteroomfillingthebaskets，shetookupherpetproduction，alittlebook，theantiquecoverofwhichherfatherhadfoundamonghistreasures，andinwhichonleavesofvellumshehadbeautifullyilluminateddifferenttexts。Assheturnedthepagesrichindaintydeviceswithverypardonablepride，hereyefellupononeversethatmadeherstopandthink。Framedinabrilliantscrollworkofscarlet，blueandgold，withlittlespiritsofgoodwillhelpingoneanotherupanddownamongthethornsandflowers，werethewords，“Thoushaltlovethyneighborasthyself。“

“Iought，butIdon’t，“thoughtAmy，ashereyewentfromthebrightpagetoMay’sdiscontentedfacebehindthebigvases，thatcouldnothidethevacanciesherprettyworkhadoncefilled。

Amystoodaminute，turningtheleavesinherhand，readingoneachsomesweetrebukeforallheartburningsanduncharitablenessofspirit。

Manywiseandtruesermonsarepreacheduseverydaybyunconsciousministersinstreet，school，office，orhome。Evenafairtablemaybecomeapulpit，ifitcanofferthegoodandhelpfulwordswhichareneveroutofseason。Amy’sconsciencepreachedheralittlesermonfromthattext，thenandthere，andshedidwhatmanyofusdonotalwaysdo，tookthesermontoheart，andstraightwayputitinpractice。

AgroupofgirlswerestandingaboutMay’stable，admiringtheprettythings，andtalkingoverthechangeofsaleswomen。

Theydroppedtheirvoices，butAmyknewtheywerespeakingofher，hearingonesideofthestoryandjudgingaccordingly。Itwasnotpleasant，butabetterspirithadcomeoverher，andpresentlyachanceofferedforprovingit。SheheardMaysaysorrowfully……

“It’stoobad，forthereisnotimetomakeotherthings，andIdon’twanttofillupwithoddsandends。Thetablewasjustcompletethen。Nowit’sspoiled。“

“Idaresayshe’dputthembackifyouaskedher，“suggestedsomeone。

“HowcouldIafterallthefuss？“beganMay，butshedidnotfinish，forAmy’svoicecameacrossthehall，sayingpleasantly……

“Youmayhavethem，andwelcome，withoutasking，ifyouwantthem。IwasjustthinkingI’doffertoputthemback，fortheybelongtoyourtableratherthanmine。Heretheyare，pleas