第51章

“Well，youcan’t，thereisn’troom。Goandmakeyourselfuseful，sinceyouaretoobigtobeornamental。Ithoughtyouhatedtobetiedtoawoman’sapronstring？“retortedJo，quotingcertainrebelliouswordsofhisown。

“Ah，thatdependsonwhowearstheapron!“andLauriegaveanaudacioustweakatthetassel。

“Areyougoing？“demandedJo，divingforthepillow。

Hefledatonce，andtheminuteitwaswell，“UpwiththebonnetsofbonnieDundee，“sheslippedawaytoreturnnomoretilltheyounggentlemandepartedinhighdudgeon。

Jolaylongawakethatnight，andwasjustdroppingoffwhenthesoundofastifledsobmadeherflytoBeth’sbedside，withtheanxiousinquiry，“Whatisit，dear？“

“Ithoughtyouwereasleep，“sobbedBeth。

“Isittheoldpain，myprecious？’

“No，it’sanewone，butIcanbearit。“AndBethtriedtocheckhertears。

“Tellmeallaboutit，andletmecureitasIoftendidtheother。“

“Youcan’t，thereisnocure。“ThereBeth’svoicegaveway，andclingingtohersister，shecriedsodespairinglythatJowasfrightened。

“Whereisit？ShallIcallMother？“

“No，no，don’tcallher，don’ttellher。Ishallbebettersoon。Liedownhereand`poor’myhead。I’llbequietandgotosleep，indeedIwill。“

Joobeyed，butasherhandwentsoftlytoandfroacrossBeth’shotforeheadandweteyelids，herheartwasveryfullandshelongedtospeak。Butyoungasshewas，Johadlearnedthathearts，likeflowers，cannotberudelyhandled，butmustopennaturally，sothoughshebelievedsheknewthecauseofBeth’snewpain，sheonlysaid，inhertenderesttone，“Doesanythingtroubleyou，deary？“

“Yes，Jo，“afteralongpause。

“Wouldn’titcomfortyoutotellmewhatitis？“

“notnow，notyet。“

“ThenIwon’task，butremember，Bethy，thatMotherandJoarealwaysgladtohearandhelpyou，iftheycan。“

“Iknowit。I’lltellyouby-and-by。“

“Isthepainbetternow？“

“Oh，yes，muchbetter，youaresocomfortable，Jo。“

“Gotosleep，dear。I’llstaywithyou。“

Socheektocheektheyfellasleep，andonthemorrowBethseemedquiteherselfagain，forateighteenneitherheadsnorheartsachelong，andalovingwordcanmedicinemostills。

ButJohadmadeuphermind，andafterponderingoveraprojectforsomedays，sheconfidedittohermother。

“Youaskedmetheotherdaywhatmywisheswere。I’lltellyouoneofthem，Marmee，“shebegan，astheysatalongtogether。“Iwanttogoawaysomewherethiswinterforachange。“

“Why，Jo？“Andhermotherlookedupquickly，asifthewordssuggestedadoublemeaning。

WithhereyesonherworkJoansweredsoberly，“Iwantsomethingnew。Ifeelrestlessandanxioustobeseeing，doing，andlearningmorethanIam。Ibroodtoomuchovermyownsmallaffairs，andneedstirringup，soasIcanbesparedthiswinter，I’dliketohopalittlewayandtrymywings。“

“Wherewillyouhop？“

“ToNewYork。Ihadabrightideayesterday，andthisisit。YouknowMrs。Kirkewrotetoyouforsomerespectableyoungpersontoteachherchildrenandsew。It’sratherhardtofindjustthething，butIthinkIshouldsuitifItried。“

“Mydear，goouttoserviceinthatgreatboardinghouse!“

AndMrs。Marchlookedsurprised，butnotdispleased。

“It’snotexactlygoingouttoservice，forMrs。Kirkeisyourfriend——thekindestsoulthateverlived——andwouldmakethingspleasantforme，Iknow。Herfamilyisseparatefromtherest，andnooneknowsmethere。Don’tcareiftheydo。

It’shonestwork，andI’mnotashamedofit。“

“NorI。Butyourwriting？“

“Allthebetterforthechange。Ishallseeandhearnewthings，getnewideas，andevenifIhaven’tmuchtimethere，Ishallbringhomequantitiesofmaterialformyrubbish。“

“Ihavenodoubtofit，butaretheseyouronlyreasonsforthissuddenfancy？’

“No，Mother。“

“MayIknowtheothers？“

JolookedupandJolookeddown，thensaidslowly，withsuddencolorinhercheeks。“Itmaybevainand