第48章

AweeklaterAmydidgetherreward，andpoorJofoundithardtobedelighted。AlettercamefromAuntCarrol，andMrs。

March’sfacewasilluminatedtosuchadegreewhenshereaditthatJoandBeth，whowerewithher，demandedwhatthegladtidingwere。

“AuntCarrolisgoingabroadnextmonth，andwants……“

“Metogowithher!“burstinJo，flyingoutofherchairinanuncontrollablerapture。

“No，dear，notyou。It’sAmy。“

“Oh，Mother!She’stooyoung，it’smyturnfirst。I’vewanteditsolong。Itwoulddomesomuchgood，andbesoaltogethersplendid。Imustgo!“

“I’mafraidit’simpossible，Jo。AuntsaysAmy，decidedly，anditisnotforustodictatewhensheofferssuchafavor。“

“It’salwaysso。AmyhasallthefunandIhaveallthework。

Itisn’tfair，oh，itisn’tfair!“criedJopassionately。

“I’mafraidit’spartlyyourownfault，dear。WhenAuntspoketometheotherday，sheregrettedyourbluntmannersandtooindependentspirit，andhereshewrites，asifquotingsomethingyouhadsaid——`IplannedatfirsttoaskJo，butas`favorsburdenher’，andshe`hatesFrench’，IthinkIwon’tventuretoinviteher。

Amyismoredocile，willmakeagoodcompanionforFlo，andreceivegratefullyanyhelpthetripmaygiveher。“

“Oh，mytongue，myabominabletongue!Whycan’tIlearntokeepitquiet？’groanedJo，rememberingwordswhichhadbeenherundoing。Whenshehadheardtheexplanationofthequotedphrases，Mrs。Marchsaidsorrowfully……

“Iwishyoucouldhavegone，butthereisnohopeofitthistime，sotrytobearitcheerfully，anddon’tsaddenAmy’spleasurebyreproachesorregrets。“

“I’lltry，“saidJo，winkinghardasshekneltdowntopickupthebasketshehadjoyfullyupset。“I’lltakealeafoutofherbook，andtrynotonlytoseemglad，buttobeso，andnotgrudgeheroneminuteofhappiness。Butitwon’tbeeasy，foritisadreadfuldisappointment。“AndpoorJobedewedthelittlefatpincushionsheheldwithseveralverybittertears。

“Jo，dear，I’mveryselfish，butIcouldn’tspareyou，andI’mgladyouarenotgoingquiteyet，“whisperedBeth，embracingher，basketandall，withsuchaclingingtouchandlovingfacethatJofeltcomfortedinspiteofthesharpregretthatmadeherwanttoboxherownears，andhumblybegAuntCarroltoburdenherwiththisfavor，andseehowgratefullyshewouldbearit。

BythetimeAmycamein，Jowasabletotakeherpartinthefamilyjubilation，notquiteasheartilyasusual，perhaps，butwithoutrepiningsatAmy’sgoodfortune。Theyoungladyherselfreceivedthenewsastidingsofgreatjoy，wentaboutinasolemnsortofrapture，andbegantosorthercolorsandpackherpencilsthatevening，leavingsuchtriflesasclothes，money，andpassportstothoselessabsorbedinvisionsofartthanherself。

“Itisn’tamerepleasuretriptome，girls，“shesaidimpressively，asshescrapedherbestpalette。“Itwilldecidemycareer，forifIhaveanygenius，IshallfinditoutinRome，andwilldosomethingtoproveit。“

“Supposeyouhaven’t？“saidJo，sewingaway，withredeyes，atthenewcollarswhichweretobehandedovertoAmy。

“ThenIshallcomehomeandteachdrawingformyliving，“

repliedtheaspirantforfame，withphilosophiccomposure。

Butshemadeawryfaceattheprospect，andscratchedawayatherpaletteasifbentonvigorousmeasuresbeforeshegaveupherhopes。

“No，youwon’t。Youhatehardwork，andyou’llmarrysomerichman，andcomehometositinthelapofluxuryallyourdays，“saidJo。

“Yourpredictionssometimescometopass，butIdon’tbelievethatonewill。I’msureIwishitwould，forifIcan’tbeanartistmyself，Ishouldliketobeabletohelpthosewhoare，“

saidAmy，smiling，asifthepartofLadyBountifulwouldsuitherbetterthanthatofapoordrawingteacher。

“Hum!“saidJo，withasigh。“Ifyouwishityou’llhaveit，foryourwishesarealwaysgranted——minenever。“

“Wouldyouliketogo？“askedAmy，thoughtfullypattinghernosewithherknife。

“Rather!“

“Well，inayearortwoI’llsendforyou，andwe’lldigintheForumforrelics，andcarryoutalltheplanswe’vemadesomanytimes。“

“Thankyou。I’llremindyouofyourpromisewhenthatjoyfuldaycomes，ifiteverdoes，“returnedJo，acceptingthevaguebutmagnificentofferasgratefullyasshecould。

“Therewasnotmuchtimeforpreparation，andthehousewasinafermenttillAmywasoff。Joboreupverywelltillthelastflutterofblueribbonvanished，whensheretiredtoherrefuge，thegarret，andcriedtillshecouldn’tcryanymore。

Amylikewiseboreupstoutlytillthesteamersailed。Thenjustasthegangwaywasabouttobewithdrawn，itsuddenlycameoverherthatawholeoceanwassoontorollbetweenherandthosewholovedherbest，andsheclungtoLaurie，thelastlingerer，sayingwithaso