第69章

Know’stthouthelandwherethecitronblooms，usedtobetheProfessor’sfavoriteline，for`dasland’meantGermanytohim，butnowheseemedtodwell，withpeculiarwarmthandmelody，uponthewords……

There，ohthere，mightIwiththee，O，mybeloved，goandonelistenerwassothrilledbythetenderinvitationthatshelongedtosayshedidknowtheland，andwouldjoyfullydepartthitherwheneverhelikedThesongwasconsideredagreatsuccess，andthesingerretiredcoveredwithlaurels。Butafewminutesafterward，heforgothismannersentirely，andstaredatAmyputtingonherbonnet，forshehadbeenintroducedsimplyas`mysister’，andononehadcalledherbyhernewnamesincehercame。HeforgothimselfstillfurtherwhenLauriesaid，inhismostgraciousmanner，atparting……

“MywifeandIareverygladtomeetyou，sir。Pleaserememberthatthereisalwaysawelcomewaitingforyouovertheway。“

ThentheProfessorthankedhimsoheartily，andlookedsosuddenlyilluminatedwithsatisfaction，thatLauriethoughthimthemostdelightfullydemonstrativeoldfellowheevermet。

“Itooshallgo，butIshallgladlycomeagain，ifyouwillgifmeleave，dearmadame，foralittlebusinessinthecitywillkeepmeheresomedays。“

HespoketoMrs。March，buthelookedatJo，andthemother’svoicegaveascordialanassentasdidthedaughter’seyes，forMrs。Marchwasnotsoblindtoherchildren’sinterestasMrs。

Moffatsupposed。

“Isuspectthatisawiseman，“remarkedMr。March，withplacidsatisfaction，fromthehearthrug，afterthelastguesthadgone。

“Iknowheisagoodone，“addedMrs。March，withdecidedapproval，asshewounduptheclock。

“Ithoughtyou’dlikehim，“wasallJosaid，assheslippedawaytoherbed。

ShewonderedwhatthebusinesswasthatbroughtMr。Bhaertothecity，andfinallydecidedthathehadbeenappointedtosomegreathonor，somewhere，buthadbeentoomodesttomentionthefact。Ifshehadseenhisfacewhen，safeinhisownroom，helookedatthepictureofasevereandrigidyounglady，withagooddealofhair，whoappearedtobegazingdarklyintofuturity，itmighthavethrownsomelightuponthesubject，especiallywhenheturnedoffthegas，andkissedthepictureinthedark。

Chapter44CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR

“Please，MadamMother，couldyoulendmemywifeforhalfanhour？Theluggagehascome，andI’vebeenmakinghayofAmy’sParisfinery，tryingtofindsomethingsIwant，“saidLaurie，cominginthenextdaytofindMrs。Laurencesittinginhermother’slap，asifbeingmade`thebaby’again。

“Certainly。Go，dear，Iforgotthatyouhaveanyhomebutthis。“AndMrs。Marchpressedthewhitehandthatworetheweddingring，asifaskingpardonforhermaternalcovetousness。

“Ishouldn’thavecomeoverifIcouldhavehelpedit，butIcan’tgetonwithoutmylittlewomananymorethana……“

“Weathercockcanwithoutthewind，“suggestedJo，ashepausedforasimile。JohadgrownquiteherownsaucyselfagainsinceTeddycamehome。

“Exactly，forAmykeepsmepointingduewestmostofthetime，withonlyanoccasionalwhiffleroundtothesouth，andIhaven’thadaneasterlyspellsinceIwasmarried。Don’tknowanythingaboutthenorth，butamaltogethersalubriousandbalmy，hey，mylady？“

“Lovelyweathersofar。Idon’tknowhowlongitwilllast，butI’mnotafraidofstorms，forI’mlearninghowtosailmyship。Comehome，dear，andI’llfindyourbootjack。Isupposethat’swhatyouarerummagingafteramongmythings。Menaresohelpless，Mother，“saidAmy，withamatronlyair，whichdelightedherhusband。

“Whatareyougoingtodowithyourselvesafteryougetsettled？“

askedJo，buttoningAmy’scloakassheusedtobuttonherpinafores。

“Wehaveourplans。Wedon’tmeantosaymuchaboutthemyet，becausewearesuchverynewbrooms，butwedon’tintendtobeidle。I’mgoingintobusinesswithadevotionthatshalldelightGrandfather，andprovetohimthatI’mnotspoiled。Ineedsomethingofthesorttokeepmesteady。I’mtiredofdawdling，andmeantoworklikeaman。“

“AndAmy，whatisshegoingtodo？“askedMrs。March，wellpleasedatLaurie’sdecisionandtheenergywithwhichhespoke。

“Afterdoingthecivilallround，andairingourbestbonnet，weshallastonishyoubytheeleganthospitalitiesofourmansion，thebrilliantsocietyweshalldrawaboutus，andthebeneficialinfluenceweshallexertovertheworldatlarge。That’saboutit，isn’tit，MadameRecamier？“askedLauriewithaquizzicallookatAmy。

“Timewillshow。Comeaway，Impertinence，anddon’tshockmyfamilybycallingmenamesbeforetheirfaces，“answeredAmy，resolvingthatthereshouldbeahomewithagoodwifeinitbeforeshesetupasalonasaquee