English
"Jo!Jo!Whereareyou?"criedMegatthefootofthegarretstairs.
"Here!"answeredahuskyvoicefromabove,and,runningup,MegfoundhersistereatingapplesandcryingovertheHeirofRedclyffe,wrappedupinacomforteronanoldthree–leggedsofabythesunnywindow.
ThiswasJo'sfavoriterefuge,andhereshelovedtoretirewithhalfadozenrussetsandanicebook,toenjoythequietandthesocietyofapetratwholivednearbyanddidn'tmindheraparticle.
AsMegappeared,Scrabblewhiskedintohishole.
Joshookthetearsoffhercheeksandwaitedtohearthenews.
"Suchfun!Onlysee!AregularnoteofinvitationfromMrs.Gardinerfortomorrownight!"criedMeg,wavingthepreciouspaperandthenproceedingtoreaditwithgirlishdelight.
"'Mrs.GardinerwouldbehappytoseeMissMarchandMissJosephineatalittledanceonNewYear'sEve.'Marmeeiswillingweshouldgo,nowwhatshallwewear?"
"What'stheuseofaskingthat,whenyouknowweshallwearourpoplins,becausewehaven'tgotanythingelse?"answeredJowithhermouthfull.
"IfIonlyhadasilk!"sighedMeg."MothersaysImaywhenI'meighteenperhaps,buttwoyearsisaneverlastingtimetowait."
"I'msureourpopslooklikesilk,andtheyareniceenoughforus.
Yoursisasgoodasnew,butIforgottheburnandthetearinmine.WhatevershallIdo?
Theburnshowsbadly,andIcan'ttakeanyout."
"Youmustsitstillallyoucanandkeepyourbackoutofsight.Thefrontisallright.
Ishallhaveanewribbonformyhair,andMarmeewilllendmeherlittlepearlpin,andmynewslippersarelovely,andmygloveswilldo,thoughtheyaren'tasniceasI'dlike."
"Minearespoiledwithlemonade,andIcan'tgetanynewones,soIshallhavetogowithout,"saidJo,whonevertroubledherselfmuchaboutdress.
"Youmusthavegloves,orIwon'tgo,"criedMegdecidedly."Glovesaremoreimportantthananythingelse.Youcan'tdancewithoutthem,andifyoudon'tIshouldbesomortified."
"ThenI'llstaystill.Idon'tcaremuchforcompanydancing.It'snofuntogosailinground.Iliketoflyaboutandcutcapers."
"Youcan'taskMotherfornewones,theyaresoexpensive,andyouaresocareless.Shesaidwhenyouspoiledtheothersthatsheshouldn'tgetyouanymorethiswinter.Can'tyoumakethemdo?"
"Icanholdthemcrumpledupinmyhand,sonoonewillknowhowstainedtheyare.That'sallIcando.No!I'lltellyouhowwecanmanage,eachwearonegoodoneandcarryabadone.Don'tyousee?"
"Yourhandsarebiggerthanmine,andyouwillstretchmyglovedreadfully,"beganMeg,whosegloveswereatenderpointwithher.
"ThenI'llgowithout.Idon'tcarewhatpeoplesay!"criedJo,takingupherbook.
"Youmayhaveit,youmay!Onlydon'tstainit,anddobehavenicely.Don'tputyourhandsbehindyou,orstare,orsay'ChristopherColumbus!'willyou?"
"Don'tworryaboutme.I'llbeasprimasIcanandnotgetintoanyscrapes,ifIcanhelpit.Nowgoandansweryournote,andletmefinishthissplendidstory."
SoMegwentawayto'acceptwiththanks',lookoverherdress,andsingblithelyasshedidupheronereallacefrill,whileJofinishedherstory,herfourapples,andhadagameofrompswithScrabble.
OnNewYear'sEvetheparlorwasdeserted,forthetwoyoungergirlsplayeddressingmaidsandthetwoelderwereabsorbedintheall–importantbusinessof'gettingreadyfortheparty'.
Simpleasthetoiletswere,therewasagreatdealofrunningupanddown,laughingandtalking,andatonetimeastrongsmellofburnedhairpervadedthehouse.
Megwantedafewcurlsaboutherface,andJoundertooktopinchthepaperedlockswithapairofhottongs.
"Oughttheytosmokelikethat?"askedBethfromherperchonthebed.
"It'sthedampnessdrying,"repliedJo.
"Whataqueersmell!It'slikeburnedfeathers,"observedAmy,smoothingherownprettycurlswithasuperiorair.
"There,nowI'lltakeoffthepapersandyou'llseeacloudoflittleringlets,"saidJo,puttingdownthetongs.
Shedidtakeoffthepapers,butnocloudofringletsappeared,forthehaircamewiththepapers,andthehorrifiedhairdresserlaidarowoflittlescorchedbundlesonthebureaubeforehervictim.
"Oh,oh,oh!Whathaveyoudone?I'mspoiled!Ican'tgo!Myhair,oh,myhair!"wailedMeg,lookingwithdespairattheunevenfrizzleonherforehead.
"Justmyluck!Youshouldn'thaveaskedmetodoit.Ialwaysspoileverything.
I'msosorry,butthetongsweretoohot,andsoI'vemadeamess,"groanedpoorJo,regardingthelittleblackpancakeswithtearsofregret.
"Itisn'tspoiled.Justfrizzleit,andtieyourribbonsotheendscomeonyourforeheadabit,anditwilllooklikethelastfashion.I'veseenmanygirlsdoitso,"saidAmyconsolingly.
"Servesmerightfortryingtobefine.IwishI'dletmyhairalone,"criedMegpetulantly.
"SodoI,itwassosmoothandpretty.Butitwillsoongrowoutagain,"saidBeth,comingtokissandcomforttheshornsheep.
Aftervariouslessermishaps,Megwasfinishedatlast,andbytheunitedexertionsoftheentirefamilyJo'shairwasgotupandherdresson.
Theylookedverywellintheirsimplesuits,Meg'sinsilverydrab,withabluevelvetsnood,lacefrills,andthepearlpin.
Joinmaroon,withastiff,gentlemanlylinencollar,andawhitechrysanthemumortwoforheronlyornament.
Eachputononenicelightglove,andcarriedonesoiledone,andallpronouncedtheeffect"quiteeasyandfine".
Meg'shigh–heeledslipperswereverytightandhurther,thoughshewouldnotownit,andJo'snineteenhairpinsallseemedstuckstraightintoherhead,whichwasnotexactlycomfortable,but,dearme,letusbeelegantordie.
"Haveagoodtime,dearies!"saidMrs.March,asthesisterswentdaintilydownthewalk.
"Don'teatmuchsupper,andcomeawayatelevenwhenIsendHannahforyou."
Asthegateclashedbehindthem,avoicecriedfromawindow...
"Girls,girls!Haveyouyoubothgotnicepockethandkerchiefs?"
"Yes,yes,spandynice,andMeghascologneonhers,"criedJo,addingwithalaughastheywenton,"IdobelieveMarmeewouldaskthatifwewereallrunningawayfromanearthquake."
"Itisoneofheraristocratictastes,andquiteproper,forarealladyisalwaysknownbyneatboots,gloves,andhandkerchief,"repliedMeg,whohadagoodmanylittle'aristocratictastes'ofherown.
"Nowdon'tforgettokeepthebadbreadthoutofsight,Jo.Ismysashright?Anddoesmyhairlookverybad?"
saidMeg,assheturnedfromtheglassinMrs.Gardiner'sdressingroomafteraprolongedprink.
"IknowIshallforget.Ifyouseemedoinganythingwrong,justremindmebyawink,willyou?"returnedJo,givinghercollaratwitchandherheadahastybrush.
"No,winkingisn'tladylike.I'llliftmyeyebrowsifanythingiswrong,andnodifyouareallright.
Nowholdyourshoulderstraight,andtakeshortsteps,anddon'tshakehandsifyouareintroducedtoanyone.Itisn'tthething."
"Howdoyoulearnalltheproperways?Inevercan.Isn'tthatmusicgay?"
Downtheywent,feelingatrifletimid,fortheyseldomwenttoparties,andinformalasthislittlegatheringwas,itwasaneventtothem.
Mrs.Gardiner,astatelyoldlady,greetedthemkindlyandhandedthemovertotheeldestofhersixdaughters.
MegknewSallieandwasathereaseverysoon,butJo,whodidn'tcaremuchforgirlsorgirlishgossip,stoodabout,withherbackcarefullyagainstthewall,andfeltasmuchoutofplaceasacoltinaflowergarden.
Halfadozenjovialladsweretalkingaboutskatesinanotherpartoftheroom,andshelongedtogoandjointhem,forskatingwasoneofthejoysofherlife.
ShetelegraphedherwishtoMeg,buttheeyebrowswentupsoalarminglythatshedarednotstir.
Noonecametotalktoher,andonebyonethegroupdwindledawaytillshewasleftalone.
Shecouldnotroamaboutandamuseherself,fortheburnedbreadthwouldshow,soshestaredatpeopleratherforlornlytillthedancingbegan.
Megwasaskedatonce,andthetightslipperstrippedaboutsobrisklythatnonewouldhaveguessedthepaintheirwearersufferedsmilingly.
Josawabigredheadedyouthapproachinghercorner,andfearinghemeanttoengageher,sheslippedintoacurtainedrecess,intendingtopeepandenjoyherselfinpeace.
Unfortunately,anotherbashfulpersonhadchosenthesamerefuge,for,asthecurtainfellbehindher,shefoundherselffacetofacewiththe'Laurenceboy'.
"Dearme,Ididn'tknowanyonewashere!"stammeredJo,preparingtobackoutasspeedilyasshehadbouncedin.
Buttheboylaughedandsaidpleasantly,thoughhelookedalittlestartled,"Don'tmindme,stayifyoulike."
"Shan'tIdisturbyou?"
"Notabit.IonlycameherebecauseIdon'tknowmanypeopleandfeltratherstrangeatfirst,youknow."
"SodidI.Don'tgoaway,please,unlessyou'drather."
Theboysatdownagainandlookedathispumps,tillJosaid,tryingtobepoliteandeasy,"IthinkI'vehadthepleasureofseeingyoubefore.Youlivenearus,don'tyou?"
"Nextdoor."Andhelookedupandlaughedoutright,forJo'sprimmannerwasratherfunnywhenherememberedhowtheyhadchattedaboutcricketwhenhebroughtthecathome.
ThatputJoathereaseandshelaughedtoo,asshesaid,inherheartiestway,"WedidhavesuchagoodtimeoveryourniceChristmaspresent."
"Grandpasentit."
"Butyouputitintohishead,didn'tyou,now?"
"Howisyourcat,MissMarch?"askedtheboy,tryingtolooksoberwhilehisblackeyesshonewithfun.
"Nicely,thankyou,Mr.Laurence.ButIamnotMissMarch,I'monlyJo,"returnedtheyounglady.
"I'mnotMr.Laurence,I'monlyLaurie."
"LaurieLaurence,whatanoddname."
"MyfirstnameisTheodore,butIdon'tlikeit,forthefellowscalledmeDora,soImadethemsayLaurieinstead."
"Ihatemyname,too,sosentimental!IwisheveryonewouldsayJoinsteadofJosephine.HowdidyoumaketheboysstopcallingyouDora?"
"Ithrashed'em."
"Ican'tthrashAuntMarch,soIsupposeIshallhavetobearit."AndJoresignedherselfwithasigh.
"Don'tyouliketodance,MissJo?"askedLaurie,lookingasifhethoughtthenamesuitedher.
"Ilikeitwellenoughifthereisplentyofroom,andeveryoneislively.
InaplacelikethisI'msuretoupsetsomething,treadonpeople'stoes,ordosomethingdreadful,soIkeepoutofmischiefandletMegsailabout.Don'tyoudance?"
"Sometimes.YouseeI'vebeenabroadagoodmanyyears,andhaven'tbeenintocompanyenoughyettoknowhowyoudothingshere."
"Abroad!"criedJo."Oh,tellmeaboutit!Ilovedearlytohearpeopledescribetheirtravels."
Lauriedidn'tseemtoknowwheretobegin,butJo'seagerquestionssoonsethimgoing,andhetoldherhowhehadbeenatschoolinVevay,wheretheboysneverworehatsandhadafleetofboatsonthelake,andforholidayfunwentonwalkingtripsaboutSwitzerlandwiththeirteachers.
"Don'tIwishI'dbeenthere!"criedJo."DidyougotoParis?"
"Wespentlastwinterthere."
"CanyoutalkFrench?"
"WewerenotallowedtospeakanythingelseatVevay."
"Dosaysome!Icanreadit,butcan'tpronounce."
"Quelnomacettejeunedemoiselleenlespantouflesjolis?"
"Hownicelyyoudoit!Letmesee...yousaid,'Whoistheyoungladyintheprettyslippers',didn'tyou?"
"Oui,mademoiselle."
"It'smysisterMargaret,andyouknewitwas!Doyouthinksheispretty?"
"Yes,shemakesmethinkoftheGermangirls,shelookssofreshandquiet,anddanceslikealady."
Joquiteglowedwithpleasureatthisboyishpraiseofhersister,andstoredituptorepeattoMeg.
Bothpeepedandcritisizedandchattedtilltheyfeltlikeoldacquaintances.
Laurie'sbashfulnesssoonworeoff,forJo'sgentlemanlydemeanoramusedandsethimathisease,andJowashermerryselfagain,becauseherdresswasforgottenandnobodyliftedtheireyebrowsather.
Shelikedthe'Laurenceboy'betterthaneverandtookseveralgoodlooksathim,sothatshemightdescribehimtothegirls,fortheyhadnobrothers,veryfewmalecousins,andboyswerealmostunknowncreaturestothem.
"Curlyblackhair,brownskin,bigblackeyes,handsomenose,fineteeth,smallhandsandfeet,tallerthanIam,verypolite,foraboy,andaltogetherjolly.Wonderhowoldheis?"
ItwasonthetipofJo'stonguetoask,butshecheckedherselfintimeand,withunusualtact,triedtofindoutinaround–aboutway.
"Isupposeyouaregoingtocollegesoon?Iseeyoupeggingawayatyourbooks,no,Imeanstudyinghard."AndJoblushedatthedreadful'pegging'whichhadescapedher.
Lauriesmiledbutdidn'tseemshocked,andansweredwithashrug."Notforayearortwo.Iwon'tgobeforeseventeen,anyway."
"Aren'tyoubutfifteen?"askedJo,lookingatthetalllad,whomshehadimaginedseventeenalready.
"Sixteen,nextmonth."
"HowIwishIwasgoingtocollege!Youdon'tlookasifyoulikedit."
"Ihateit!Nothingbutgrindingorskylarking.AndIdon'tlikethewayfellowsdoeither,inthiscountry."
"Whatdoyoulike?"
"ToliveinItaly,andtoenjoymyselfinmyownway."
Jowantedverymuchtoaskwhathisownwaywas,buthisblackbrowslookedratherthreateningasheknitthem,soshechangedthesubjectbysaying,asherfootkepttime,"That'sasplendidpolka!Whydon'tyougoandtryit?"
"Ifyouwillcometoo,"heanswered,withagallantlittlebow.
"Ican't,forItoldMegIwouldn't,because..."ThereJostopped,andlookedundecidedwhethertotellortolaugh.
"Because,what?"
"Youwon'ttell?"
"Never!"
"Well,Ihaveabadtrickofstandingbeforethefire,andsoIburnmyfrocks,andIscorchedthisone,andthoughit'snicelymended,itshows,andMegtoldmetokeepstillsonoonewouldseeit.Youmaylaugh,ifyouwantto.Itisfunny,Iknow."
ButLauriedidn'tlaugh.Heonlylookeddownaminute,andtheexpressionofhisfacepuzzledJowhenhesaidverygently,"Nevermindthat.I'lltellyouhowwecanmanage.
There'salonghalloutthere,andwecandancegrandly,andnoonewillseeus.Pleasecome."
Jothankedhimandgladlywent,wishingshehadtwoneatgloveswhenshesawthenice,pearl–coloredonesherpartnerwore.
Thehallwasempty,andtheyhadagrandpolka,forLauriedancedwell,andtaughthertheGermanstep,whichdelightedJo,beingfullofswingandspring.
Whenthemusicstopped,theysatdownonthestairstogettheirbreath,andLauriewasinthemidstofanaccountofastudents'festivalatHeidelbergwhenMegappearedinsearchofhersister.
Shebeckoned,andJoreluctantlyfollowedherintoasideroom,whereshefoundheronasofa,holdingherfoot,andlookingpale.
"I'vesprainedmyankle.Thatstupidhighheelturnedandgavemeasadwrench.Itachesso,Icanhardlystand,andIdon'tknowhowI'mevergoingtogethome,"shesaid,rockingtoandfroinpain.
"Iknewyou'dhurtyourfeetwiththosesillyshoes.I'msorry.
ButIdon'tseewhatyoucando,exceptgetacarriage,orstayhereallnight,"answeredJo,softlyrubbingthepoorankleasshespoke.
"Ican'thaveacarriagewithoutitscostingeversomuch.IdaresayIcan'tgetoneatall,formostpeoplecomeintheirown,andit'salongwaytothestable,andnoonetosend."
"I'llgo."
"No,indeed!It'spastnine,anddarkasEgypt.Ican'tstophere,forthehouseisfull.Salliehassomegirlsstayingwithher.I'llresttillHannahcomes,andthendothebestIcan."
"I'llaskLaurie.Hewillgo,"saidJo,lookingrelievedastheideaoccurredtoher.
"Mercy,no!Don'taskortellanyone.
Getmemyrubbers,andputtheseslipperswithourthings.
Ican'tdanceanymore,butassoonassupperisover,watchforHannahandtellmetheminuteshecomes."
"Theyaregoingouttosuppernow.I'llstaywithyou.I'drather."
"No,dear,runalong,andbringmesomecoffee.I'msotiredIcan'tstir."
SoMegreclined,withrubberswellhidden,andJowentblunderingawaytothediningroom,whichshefoundaftergoingintoachinacloset,andopeningthedoorofaroomwhereoldMr.Gardinerwastakingalittleprivaterefreshment.
Makingadartatthetable,shesecuredthecoffee,whichsheimmediatelyspilled,therebymakingthefrontofherdressasbadastheback.
"Oh,dear,whatablunderbussIam!"exclaimedJo,finishingMeg'sglovebyscrubbinghergownwithit.
"CanIhelpyou?"saidafriendlyvoice.AndtherewasLaurie,withafullcupinonehandandaplateoficeintheother.
"IwastryingtogetsomethingforMeg,whoisverytired,andsomeoneshookme,andhereIaminanicestate,"answeredJo,glancingdismallyfromthestainedskirttothecoffee–coloredglove.
"Toobad!Iwaslookingforsomeonetogivethisto.MayItakeittoyoursister?"
"Oh,thankyou!I'llshowyouwheresheis.Idon'toffertotakeitmyself,forIshouldonlygetintoanotherscrapeifIdid."
Joledtheway,andasifusedtowaitingonladies,Lauriedrewupalittletable,broughtasecondinstallmentofcoffeeandiceforJo,andwassoobligingthatevenparticularMegpronouncedhima'niceboy'.
Theyhadamerrytimeoverthebonbonsandmottoes,andwereinthemidstofaquietgameofBuzz,withtwoorthreeotheryoungpeoplewhohadstrayedin,whenHannahappeared.
MegforgotherfootandrosesoquicklythatshewasforcedtocatchholdofJo,withanexclamationofpain.
"Hush!Don'tsayanything,"shewhispered,addingaloud,"It'snothing.Iturnedmyfootalittle,that'sall,"andlimpedupstairstoputherthingson.
Hannahscolded,Megcried,andJowasatherwits'end,tillshedecidedtotakethingsintoherownhands.
Slippingout,sherandownand,findingaservant,askedifhecouldgetheracarriage.
IthappenedtobeahiredwaiterwhoknewnothingabouttheneighborhoodandJowaslookingroundforhelpwhenLaurie,whohadheardwhatshesaid,cameupandofferedhisgrandfather'scarriage,whichhadjustcomeforhim,hesaid.
"It'ssoearly!Youcan'tmeantogoyet?"beganJo,lookingrelievedbuthesitatingtoaccepttheoffer.
"Ialwaysgoearly,Ido,truly!Pleaseletmetakeyouhome.It'sallonmyway,youknow,anditrains,theysay."
Thatsettledit,andtellinghimofMeg'smishap,Jogratefullyacceptedandrusheduptobringdowntherestoftheparty.
Hannahhatedrainasmuchasacatdoessoshemadenotrouble,andtheyrolledawayintheluxuriousclosecarriage,feelingveryfestiveandelegant.
LauriewentontheboxsoMegcouldkeepherfootup,andthegirlstalkedovertheirpartyinfreedom.
"Ihadacapitaltime.Didyou?"askedJo,rumplingupherhair,andmakingherselfcomfortable.
"Yes,tillIhurtmyself.Sallie'sfriend,AnnieMoffat,tookafancytome,andaskedmetocomeandspendaweekwithherwhenSalliedoes.
Sheisgoinginthespringwhentheoperacomes,anditwillbeperfectlysplendid,ifMotheronlyletsmego,"answeredMeg,cheeringupatthethought.
"IsawyoudancingwiththeredheadedmanIranawayfrom.Washenice?"
"Oh,very!Hishairisauburn,notred,andhewasverypolite,andIhadadeliciousredowawithhim."
"Helookedlikeagrasshopperinafitwhenhedidthenewstep.LaurieandIcouldn'thelplaughing.Didyouhearus?"
"No,butitwasveryrude.Whatwereyouaboutallthattime,hiddenawaythere?"
Jotoldheradventures,andbythetimeshehadfinishedtheywereathome.
Withmanythanks,theysaidgoodnightandcreptin,hopingtodisturbnoone,buttheinstanttheirdoorcreaked,twolittlenightcapsbobbedup,andtwosleepybuteagervoicescriedout...
"Tellabouttheparty!Tellabouttheparty!"
WithwhatMegcalled'agreatwantofmanners'Johadsavedsomebonbonsforthelittlegirls,andtheysoonsubsided,afterhearingthemostthrillingeventsoftheevening.
"Ideclare,itreallyseemslikebeingafineyounglady,tocomehomefromthepartyinacarriageandsitinmydressinggownwithamaidtowaitonme,"saidMeg,asJoboundupherfootwitharnicaandbrushedherhair.
"Idon'tbelievefineyoungladiesenjoythemselvesabitmorethanwedo,inspiteofourburnedhair,oldgowns,onegloveapieceandtightslippersthatsprainourankleswhenwearesillyenoughtowearthem."AndIthinkJowasquiteright.
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