第71章

Iquitelongtoseethedearman，“addedMrs。March。

Joheardthat，butmadenoanswer，excepttokisshermother，andwalkrapidlyaway，thinkingwithaglowofgratitude，inspiteofherheartache，“Howgoodsheistome!Whatdogirlsdowhohaven’tanymotherstohelpthemthroughtheirtroubles？“

Thedry-goodsstoreswerenotdownamongthecounting-houses，banks，andwholesalewarerooms，wheregentlemenmostdocongregate，butJofoundherselfinthatpartofthecitybeforeshedidasingleerrand，loiteringalongasifwaitingforsomeone，examiningengineeringinstrumentsinonewindowandsamplesofwoolinanother，withmostunfeminineinterest，tumblingoverbarrels，beinghalf-smotheredbydescendingbales，andhustledunceremoniouslybybusymenwholookedasiftheywondered`howthedeuceshegotthere’。Adropofrainonhercheekrecalledherthoughtsfrombaffledhopestoruinedribbons。Forthedropscontinuedtofall，andbeingawomanaswellasalover，shefeltthat，thoughitwastoolatetosaveherheart，shemightherbonnet。Nowsherememberedthelittleumbrella，whichshehadforgottentotakeinherhurrytobeoff，butregretwasunavailing，andnothingcouldbedonebutborrowoneorsubmittotoadrenching。Shelookedupattheloweringsky，downatthecrimsonbowalreadyfleckedwithblack，forwardalongthemuddystreet，thenonelong，lingeringlookbehind，atacertaingrimywarehouse，with`Hoffmann，Swartz，&；Co。’overthedoor，andsaidtoherself，withasternlyreproachfulair……

“Itservesmeright!whatbusinesshadItoputonallmybestthingsandcomephilanderingdownhere，hopingtoseetheProfessor？Jo，I’mashamedofyou!No，youshallnotgotheretoborrowanumbrella，orfindoutwhereheis，fromhisfriends。

Youshalltrudgeaway，anddoyourerrandsintherain，andifyoucatchyourdeathandruinyourbonnet，it’snomorethanyoudeserve。Nowthen!“

Withthatsherushedacrossthestreetsoimpetuouslythatshenarrowlyescapedannihilationfromapassingtruck，andprecipitatedherselfintothearmsofastatelyoldgentleman，whosaid，“Ibegpardon，ma’am，“andlookedmortallyoffended。Somewhatdaunted，Jorightedherself，spreadherhandkerchiefoverthedevotedribbons，andputtingtemptationbehindher，hurriedon，withincreasingdampnessabouttheankles，andmuchclashingofumbrellasoverhead。Thefactthatasomewhatdilapidatedblueoneremainedstationaryabovetheunprotectedbonnetattractedherattention，andlookingup，shesawMr。Bhaerlookingdown。

“Ifeeltoknowthestrong-mindedladywhogoessobravelyundermanyhorsenoses，andsofastthroughmuchmus。Whatdoyoudownhere，myfriend？“

“I’mshopping。“

Mr。Bhaersmiled，asheglancedfromthepicklefactoryononesidetothewholesalehideandleatherconcernontheother，butheronlysaidpolitely，“Youhafnoumbrella。MayIgoalso，andtakeforyouthebundles？“

“Yes，thankyou。“

Jo’scheekswereasredasherribbon，andshewonderedwhathethoughtofher，butshedidn’tcare，forinaminuteshefoundherselfwalkingawayarminarmwithherProfessor，feelingasifthesunhadsuddenlyburstoutwithuncommonbrilliancy，thattheworldwasallrightagain，andthatonethoroughlyhappywomanwaspaddlingthroughthewetthatday。

“Wethoughtyouhadgone，“saidJohastily，forsheknewhewaslookingather。Herbonnetwasn’tbigenoughtohideherface，andshefearedhemightthinkthejoyitbetrayedunmaidenly。

“DidyoubelievethatIshouldgowithnofarewelltothosewhohafbeensoheavenlykindtome？“heaskedsoreproachfullythatshefeltasifshehadinsultedhimbythesuggestion，andansweredheartily……

“No，Ididn’t。Iknewyouwerebusyaboutyourownaffairs，butwerathermissedyou，FatherandMotherespecially。“

“Andyou？“

“I’malwaysgladtoseeyou，sir。“

Inheranxietytokeephervoicequitecalm，Jomadeitrathercool，andthefrostylittlemonosyllableattheendseemedtochilltheProfessor，forhissmilevanished，ashesaidgravely……

“Ithankyou，andcomeonemoretimebeforeIgo。“

“Youaregoing，then？“

“Ihafnolongeranybusinesshere，itisdone。“

“Successfully，Ihope？“saidJo，forthebitternessofdisappointmentwasinthatshortreplyofhis。

“Ioughttothinkso，forIhafawayopenedtomebywhichIcanmakemybreadandgifmyJunglingsmuchhelp。“

“Tellme，please!Iliketoknowallaboutthe——theboys，“

saidJoeagerly。

“Thatissokind，Igladlytellyou。Myfriendsfindformeaplaceinacollege，whereIteachasathome，andearnenoughtomakethewaysmoothforFranzandEmil。ForthisIshouldbegrateful，shouldInot？“

“Indeedyoushould。Howsplendiditwillbetohaveyoudoingwhatyoulike，andbeabletoseeyouoften，andtheboys!“