第50章

Thisisn’tlikeBeth，anditworriesme。“

“Haveyouaskedheraboutit？’

“Ihavetriedonceortwice，butsheeitherevadedmyquestionsorlookedsodistressedthatIstopped。Ineverforcemychildren’sconfidence，andIseldomhavetowaitforlong。“

Mrs。MarchglancedatJoasshespoke，butthefaceoppositeseemedquiteunconsciousofanysecretdisquietudebutBeth’s，andaftersewingthoughtfullyforaminute，Josaid，“Ithinksheisgrowingup，andsobeginstodreamdreams，andhavehopesandfearsandfidgets，withoutknowingwhyorbeingabletoexplainthem。Why，Mother，Beth’seighteen，butwedon’trealizeit，andtreatherlikeachild，forgettingshe’sawoman。“

“Sosheis。Dearheart，howfastyoudogrowup，“returnedhermotherwithasighandasmile。

“Can’tbehelped，Marmee，soyoumustresignyourselftoallsortsofworries，andletyourbirdshopoutofthenest，onebyone。Ipromisenevertohopveryfar，ifthatisanycomforttoyou。“

“It’sagreatcomfort，Jo。Ialwaysfeelstrongwhenyouareathome，nowMegisgone。BethistoofeebleandAmytooyoungtodependupon，butwhenthetugcomes，youarealwaysready。“

“Why，youknowIdon’tmindhardjobsmuch，andtheremustalwaysbeonescrubinafamily。AmyissplendidinfineworksandI’mnot，butIfeelinmyelementwhenallthecarpetsaretobetakenup，orhalfthefamilyfallsickatonce。

Amyisdistinguishingherselfabroad，butifanythingisamissathome，I’myourman。“

“IleaveBethtoyourhands，then，forshewillopenhertenderlittlehearttoherJosoonerthantoanyoneelse。Beverykind，anddon’tletherthinkanyonewatchesortalksabout；her。Ifsheonlywouldgetquitestrongandcheerfulagain，Ishouldn’thaveawishintheworld。“

“Happywoman!I’vegotheaps。“

“Mydear，whatarethey？“

“I’llsettleBethy’stroubles，andthenI’lltellyoumine。

Theyarenotverywearing，sothey’llkeep。“AndJostitchedaway，withawisenodwhichsethermother’sheartatrestaboutherforthepresentatleast。

Whileapparentlyabsorbedinherownaffairs，JowatchedBeth，andaftermanyconflictingconjectures，finallysettledupononewhichseemedtoexplainthechangeinher。AslightincidentgaveJothecluetothemystery，shethought，andlivelyfancy，lovingheartdidtherest。ShewasaffectingtowritebusilyoneSaturdayafternoon，whensheandBethwerealonetogether。Yetasshescribbled，shekepthereyeonhersister，whoseemedunusuallyquiet。Sittingatthewindow，Beth’sworkoftendroppedintoherlap，andsheleanedherheaduponherhand，inadejectedattitude，whilehereyesrestedonthedull，autumnallandscape。Suddenlysomeonepassedbelow，whistlinglikeanoperaticblackbird，andavoicecalledout，“Allserene!

Comingintonight。“

Bethstarted，leanedforward，smiledandnodded，watchedthepasser-bytillhisquicktrampdiedaway，thensaidsoftlyasiftoherself，“Howstrongandwellandhappythatdearboylooks。“

“Hum!“saidJo，stillintentuponhersister’sface，forthebrightcolorfadedasquicklyasitcame，thesmilevanished，andpresentlyatearlayshiningonthewindowledge。Bethwhiskeditoff，andinherhalf-avertedfacereadatendersorrowthatmadeherowneyesfill。Fearingtobetrayherself，sheslippedaway，murmuringsomethingaboutneedingmorepaper。

“Mercyonme，BethlovesLaurie!“shesaid，sittingdowninherownroom，palewiththeshockofthediscoverywhichshebelievedshehadjustmade。“Ineverdreamedofsuchathing。

WhatwillMothersay？Iwonderifher……“thereJostoppedandturnedscarletwithasuddenthought。“Ifheshouldn’tlovebackagain，howdreadfulitwouldbe。Hemust。I’llmakehim!“

Andsheshookherheadthreateninglyatthepictureofthemischievous-

lookingboylaughingatherfromthewall。“Ohdear，wearegrowingupwithavengeance。Here’sMegmarriedandamamma，AmyflourishingawayatParis，andBethinlove。I’mtheonlyonethathassenseenoughtokeepoutofmischief。“Jothoughtintentlyforaminutewithhereyesfixedonthepicture，thenshesmoothedoutherwrinkledforeheadandsaid，withadecidednodatthefaceopposite，“Nothankyou，sir，you’reverycharming，butyou’venomorestabilitythanaweathercock。Soyouneedn’twritetouchingnotesandsmileinthatinsinuatingway，foritwon’tdoabitofgood，andIwon’thaveit。“

Thenshesighed，andfellintoareveriefromwhichshedidnotwaketilltheearlytwilightsentherdowntotakenewobservations，whichonlyconfirmedhersuspicion。ThoughLaurieflirtedwithAmyandjokedwithJo，hismannertoBethhadalwaysbeenpeculiarlykindandge