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LaurielayluxuriouslyswingingtoandfroinhishammockonewarmSeptemberafternoon,wonderingwhathisneighborswereabout,buttoolazytogoandfindout.
Hewasinoneofhismoods,forthedayhadbeenbothunprofitableandunsatisfactory,andhewaswishinghecouldliveitoveragain.
Thehotweathermadehimindolent,andhehadshirkedhisstudies,triedMr.Brooke'spatiencetotheutmost,displeasedhisgrandfatherbypracticinghalftheafternoon,frightenedthemaidservantshalfoutoftheirwitsbymischievouslyhintingthatoneofhisdogswasgoingmad,and,afterhighwordswiththestablemanaboutsomefanciedneglectofhishorse,hehadflunghimselfintohishammocktofumeoverthestupidityoftheworldingeneral,tillthepeaceofthelovelydayquietedhiminspiteofhimself.
Staringupintothegreengloomofthehorse–chestnuttreesabovehim,hedreameddreamsofallsorts,andwasjustimagininghimselftossingontheoceaninavoyageroundtheworld,whenthesoundofvoicesbroughthimashoreinaflash.
Peepingthroughthemeshesofthehammock,hesawtheMarchescomingout,asifboundonsomeexpedition.
"Whatintheworldarethosegirlsaboutnow?"
thoughtLaurie,openinghissleepyeyestotakeagoodlook,fortherewassomethingratherpeculiarintheappearanceofhisneighbors.
Eachworealarge,flappinghat,abrownlinenpouchslungoveroneshoulder,andcarriedalongstaff.
Meghadacushion,Joabook,Bethabasket,andAmyaportfolio.
Allwalkedquietlythroughthegarden,outatthelittlebackgate,andbegantoclimbthehillthatlaybetweenthehouseandriver.
"Well,that'scool,"saidLaurietohimself,"tohaveapicnicandneveraskme!
Theycan'tbegoingintheboat,fortheyhaven'tgotthekey.Perhapstheyforgotit.
I'lltakeittothem,andseewhat'sgoingon."
Thoughpossessedofhalfadozenhats,ittookhimsometimetofindone,thentherewasahuntforthekey,whichwasatlastdiscoveredinhispocket,sothatthegirlswerequiteoutofsightwhenheleapedthefenceandranafterthem.
Takingtheshortestwaytotheboathouse,hewaitedforthemtoappear,butnoonecame,andhewentupthehilltotakeanobservation.
Agroveofpinescoveredonepartofit,andfromtheheartofthisgreenspotcameaclearersoundthanthesoftsighofthepinesorthedrowsychirpofthecrickets.
"Here'salandscape!"thoughtLaurie,peepingthroughthebushes,andlookingwide–awakeandgood–naturedalready.
Itwasaratherprettylittlepicture,forthesisterssattogetherintheshadynook,withsunandshadowflickeringoverthem,thearomaticwindliftingtheirhairandcoolingtheirhotcheeks,andallthelittlewoodpeoplegoingonwiththeiraffairsasifthesewerenostrangersbutoldfriends.
Megsatuponhercushion,sewingdaintilywithherwhitehands,andlookingasfreshandsweetasaroseinherpinkdressamongthegreen.
Bethwassortingtheconesthatlaythickunderthehemlocknearby,forshemadeprettythingswiththem.
Amywassketchingagroupofferns,andJowasknittingasshereadaloud.
Ashadowpassedovertheboy'sfaceashewatchedthem,feelingthatheoughttogoawaybecauseuninvited;yetlingeringbecausehomeseemedverylonelyandthisquietpartyinthewoodsmostattractivetohisrestlessspirit.
Hestoodsostillthatasquirrel,busywithitsharvesting,randownapineclosebesidehim,sawhimsuddenlyandskippedback,scoldingsoshrillythatBethlookedup,espiedthewistfulfacebehindthebirches,andbeckonedwithareassuringsmile.
"MayIcomein,please?OrshallIbeabother?"heasked,advancingslowly.
Megliftedhereyebrows,butJoscowledatherdefiantlyandsaidatonce,"Ofcourseyoumay.Weshouldhaveaskedyoubefore,onlywethoughtyouwouldn'tcareforsuchagirl'sgameasthis."
"Ialwayslikeyourgames,butifMegdoesn'twantme,I'llgoaway."
"I'venoobjection,ifyoudosomething.It'sagainsttherulestobeidlehere,"repliedMeggravelybutgraciously.
"Muchobliged.I'lldoanythingifyou'llletmestopabit,forit'sasdullastheDesertofSaharadownthere.
ShallIsew,read,cone,draw,ordoallatonce?Bringonyourbears.I'mready."
AndLauriesatdownwithasubmissiveexpressiondelightfultobehold.
"FinishthisstorywhileIsetmyheel,"saidJo,handinghimthebook.
"Yes'm."wasthemeekanswer,ashebegan,doinghisbesttoprovehisgratitudeforthefavorofadmissionintothe'BusyBeeSociety'.
Thestorywasnotalongone,andwhenitwasfinished,heventuredtoaskafewquestionsasarewardofmerit.
"Please,ma'am,couldIinquireifthishighlyinstructiveandcharminginstitutionisanewone?"
"Wouldyoutellhim?"askedMegofhersisters.
"He'lllaugh,"saidAmywarningly.
"Whocares?"saidJo.
"Iguesshe'lllikeit,"addedBeth.
"OfcourseIshall!IgiveyoumywordIwon'tlaugh.Tellaway,Jo,anddon'tbeafraid."
"Theideaofbeingafraidofyou!Well,youseeweusedtoplayPilgrim'sProgress,andwehavebeengoingonwithitinearnest,allwinterandsummer."
"Yes,Iknow,"saidLaurie,noddingwisely.
"Whotoldyou?"demandedJo.
"Spirits."
"No,Idid.Iwantedtoamusehimonenightwhenyouwereallaway,andhewasratherdismal.Hedidlikeit,sodon'tscold,Jo,"saidBethmeekly.
"Youcan'tkeepasecret.Nevermind,itsavestroublenow."
"Goon,please,"saidLaurie,asJobecameabsorbedinherwork,lookingatrifledispleased.
"Oh,didn'tshetellyouaboutthisnewplanofours?
Well,wehavetriednottowasteourholiday,buteachhashadataskandworkedatitwithawill.
Thevacationisnearlyover,thestintsarealldone,andweareeversogladthatwedidn'tdawdle."
"Yes,Ishouldthinkso,"andLauriethoughtregretfullyofhisownidledays.
"Motherlikestohaveusout–of–doorsasmuchaspossible,sowebringourworkhereandhavenicetimes.
Forthefunofitwebringourthingsinthesebags,weartheoldhats,usepolestoclimbthehill,andplaypilgrims,asweusedtodoyearsago.
WecallthishilltheDelectableMountain,forwecanlookfarawayandseethecountrywherewehopetolivesometime."
Jopointed,andLauriesatuptoexamine,forthroughanopeninginthewoodonecouldlookcrossthewide,blueriver,themeadowsontheotherside,farovertheoutskirtsofthegreatcity,tothegreenhillsthatrosetomeetthesky.
Thesunwaslow,andtheheavensglowedwiththesplendorofanautumnsunset.
Goldandpurplecloudslayonthehilltops,andrisinghighintotheruddylightweresilverywhitepeaksthatshoneliketheairyspiresofsomeCelestialCity.
"Howbeautifulthatis!"saidLauriesoftly,forhewasquicktoseeandfeelbeautyofanykind.
"It'softenso,andweliketowatchit,foritisneverthesame,butalwayssplendid,"repliedAmy,wishingshecouldpaintit.
"Jotalksaboutthecountrywherewehopetolivesometime––therealcountry,shemeans,withpigsandchickensandhaymaking.
Itwouldbenice,butIwishthebeautifulcountryuptherewasreal,andwecouldevergotoit,"saidBethmusingly.
"Thereisaloveliercountryeventhanthat,whereweshallgo,by–and–by,whenwearegoodenough,"answeredMegwithhersweetestvoice.
"Itseemssolongtowait,sohardtodo.Iwanttoflyawayatonce,asthoseswallowsfly,andgoinatthatsplendidgate."
"You'llgetthere,Beth,soonerorlater,nofearofthat,"saidJo."I'mtheonethatwillhavetofightandwork,andclimbandwait,andmaybenevergetinafterall."
"You'llhavemeforcompany,ifthat'sanycomfort.
IshallhavetodoadealoftravelingbeforeIcomeinsightofyourCelestialCity.
IfIarrivelate,you'llsayagoodwordforme,won'tyou,Beth?"
Somethingintheboy'sfacetroubledhislittlefriend,butshesaidcheerfully,withherquieteyesonthechangingclouds,"Ifpeoplereallywanttogo,andreallytryalltheirlives,Ithinktheywillgetin,forIdon'tbelievethereareanylocksonthatdoororanyguardsatthegate.
Ialwaysimagineitisasitisinthepicture,wheretheshiningonesstretchouttheirhandstowelcomepoorChristianashecomesupfromtheriver."
"Wouldn'titbefunifallthecastlesintheairwhichwemakecouldcometrue,andwecouldliveinthem?"saidJo,afteralittlepause.
"I'vemadesuchquantitiesitwouldbehardtochoosewhichI'dhave,"saidLaurie,lyingflatandthrowingconesatthesquirrelwhohadbetrayedhim.
"You'dhavetotakeyourfavoriteone.Whatisit?"askedMeg.
"IfItellmine,willyoutellyours?"
"Yes,ifthegirlswilltoo."
"Wewill.Now,Laurie."
"AfterI'dseenasmuchoftheworldasIwantto,I'dliketosettleinGermanyandhavejustasmuchmusicasIchoose.
I'mtobeafamousmusicianmyself,andallcreationistorushtohearme.
AndI'mnevertobebotheredaboutmoneyorbusiness,butjustenjoymyselfandliveforwhatIlike.That'smyfavoritecastle.What'syours,Meg?"
Margaretseemedtofinditalittlehardtotellhers,andwavedabrakebeforeherface,asiftodisperseimaginarygnats,whileshesaidslowly,"Ishouldlikealovelyhouse,fullofallsortsofluxuriousthings––nicefood,prettyclothes,handsomefurniture,pleasantpeople,andheapsofmoney.
Iamtobemistressofit,andmanageitasIlike,withplentyofservants,soIneverneedworkabit.HowIshouldenjoyit!
ForIwouldn'tbeidle,butdogood,andmakeeveryonelovemedearly."
"Wouldn'tyouhaveamasterforyourcastleintheair?"askedLaurieslyly.
"Isaid'pleasantpeople',youknow,"andMegcarefullytieduphershoeasshespoke,sothatnoonesawherface.
"Whydon'tyousayyou'dhaveasplendid,wise,goodhusbandandsomeangeliclittlechildren?
Youknowyourcastlewouldn'tbeperfectwithout,"saidbluntJo,whohadnotenderfanciesyet,andratherscornedromance,exceptinbooks.
"You'dhavenothingbuthorses,inkstands,andnovelsinyours,"answeredMegpetulantly.
"Wouldn'tIthough?I'dhaveastablefullofArabiansteeds,roomspiledhighwithbooks,andI'dwriteoutofamagicinkstand,sothatmyworksshouldbeasfamousasLaurie'smusic.
IwanttodosomethingsplendidbeforeIgointomycastle,somethingheroicorwonderfulthatwon'tbeforgottenafterI'mdead.
Idon'tknowwhat,butI'monthewatchforit,andmeantoastonishyouallsomeday.
IthinkIshallwritebooks,andgetrichandfamous,thatwouldsuitme,sothatismyfavoritedream."
"MineistostayathomesafewithFatherandMother,andhelptakecareofthefamily,"saidBethcontentedly.
"Don'tyouwishforanythingelse?"askedLaurie.
"SinceIhadmylittlepiano,Iamperfectlysatisfied.Ionlywishwemayallkeepwellandbetogether,nothingelse."
"Ihaveeversomanywishes,butthepetoneistobeanartist,andgotoRome,anddofinepictures,andbethebestartistinthewholeworld,"wasAmy'smodestdesire.
"We'reanambitiousset,aren'twe?Everyoneofus,butBeth,wantstoberichandfamous,andgorgeousineveryrespect.
Idowonderifanyofuswillevergetourwishes,"saidLaurie,chewinggrasslikeameditativecalf.
"I'vegotthekeytomycastleintheair,butwhetherIcanunlockthedoorremainstobeseen,"observedJomysteriously.
"I'vegotthekeytomine,butI'mnotallowedtotryit.Hangcollege!"mutteredLauriewithanimpatientsigh.
"Here'smine!"andAmywavedherpencil.
"Ihaven'tgotany,"saidMegforlornly.
"Yes,youhave,"saidLaurieatonce.
"Where?"
"Inyourface."
"Nonsense,that'sofnouse."
"Waitandseeifitdoesn'tbringyousomethingworthhaving,"repliedtheboy,laughingatthethoughtofacharminglittlesecretwhichhefanciedheknew.
Megcoloredbehindthebrake,butaskednoquestionsandlookedacrosstheriverwiththesameexpectantexpressionwhichMr.Brookehadwornwhenhetoldthestoryoftheknight.
"Ifweareallalivetenyearshence,let'smeet,andseehowmanyofushavegotourwishes,orhowmuchnearerwearethenthannow,"saidJo,alwaysreadywithaplan.
"Blessme!HowoldIshallbe,twenty–seven!"exclaimedMeg,whofeltgrownupalready,havingjustreachedseventeen.
"YouandIwillbetwenty–six,Teddy,Bethtwenty–four,andAmytwenty–two.Whatavenerableparty!"saidJo.
"IhopeIshallhavedonesomethingtobeproudofbythattime,butI'msuchalazydog,I'mafraidIshalldawdle,Jo."
"Youneedamotive,Mothersays,andwhenyougetit,sheissureyou'llworksplendidly."
"Isshe?ByJupiter,Iwill,ifIonlygetthechance!"
criedLaurie,sittingupwithsuddenenergy.
"IoughttobesatisfiedtopleaseGrandfather,andIdotry,butit'sworkingagainstthegrain,yousee,andcomeshard.
HewantsmetobeanIndiamerchant,ashewas,andI'dratherbeshot.
Ihateteaandsilkandspices,andeverysortofrubbishhisoldshipsbring,andIdon'tcarehowsoontheygotothebottomwhenIownthem.
Goingtocollegeoughttosatisfyhim,forifIgivehimfouryearsheoughttoletmeofffromthebusiness.
Buthe'sset,andI'vegottodojustashedid,unlessIbreakawayandpleasemyself,asmyfatherdid.
Iftherewasanyonelefttostaywiththeoldgentleman,I'ddoittomorrow."
Lauriespokeexcitedly,andlookedreadytocarryhisthreatintoexecutionontheslightestprovocation,forhewasgrowingupveryfastand,inspiteofhisindolentways,hadayoungman'shatredofsubjection,ayoungman'srestlesslongingtotrytheworldforhimself.
"Iadviseyoutosailawayinoneofyourships,andnevercomehomeagaintillyouhavetriedyourownway,"saidJo,whoseimaginationwasfiredbythethoughtofsuchadaringexploit,andwhosesympathywasexcitedbywhatshecalled'Teddy'sWrongs'.
"That'snotright,Jo.Youmustn'ttalkinthatway,andLauriemustn'ttakeyourbadadvice.
Youshoulddojustwhatyourgrandfatherwishes,mydearboy,"saidMeginhermostmaternaltone.
"Doyourbestatcollege,andwhenheseesthatyoutrytopleasehim,I'msurehewon'tbehardonyouorunjusttoyou.
Asyousay,thereisnooneelsetostaywithandlovehim,andyou'dneverforgiveyourselfifyoulefthimwithouthispermission.
Don'tbedismalorfret,butdoyourdutyandyou'llgetyourreward,asgoodMr.Brookehas,bybeingrespectedandloved."
"Whatdoyouknowabouthim?"askedLaurie,gratefulforthegoodadvice,butobjectingtothelecture,andgladtoturntheconversationfromhimselfafterhisunusualoutbreak.
"Onlywhatyourgrandpatoldusabouthim,howhetookgoodcareofhisownmothertillshedied,andwouldn'tgoabroadastutortosomenicepersonbecausehewouldn'tleaveher.
Andhowheprovidesnowforanoldwomanwhonursedhismother,andnevertellsanyone,butisjustasgenerousandpatientandgoodashecanbe."
"Soheis,dearoldfellow!"saidLaurieheartily,asMegpaused,lookingflushedandearnestwithherstory.
"It'slikeGrandpatofindoutallabouthimwithoutlettinghimknow,andtotellallhisgoodnesstoothers,sothattheymightlikehim.
Brookecouldn'tunderstandwhyyourmotherwassokindtohim,askinghimoverwithmeandtreatinghiminherbeautifulfriendlyway.
Hethoughtshewasjustperfect,andtalkedaboutitfordaysanddays,andwentonaboutyouallinflamingstyle.
IfeverIdogetmywish,youseewhatI'lldoforBrooke."
"Begintodosomethingnowbynotplaguinghislifeout,"saidMegsharply.
"HowdoyouknowIdo,Miss?"
"Icanalwaystellbyhisfacewhenhegoesaway.
Ifyouhavebeengood,helookssatisfiedandwalksbriskly.
Ifyouhaveplaguedhim,he'ssoberandwalksslowly,asifhewantedtogobackanddohisworkbetter."
"Well,Ilikethat?SoyoukeepanaccountofmygoodandbadmarksinBrooke'sface,doyou?Iseehimbowandsmileashepassesyourwindow,butIdidn'tknowyou'dgotupatelegraph."
"Wehaven't.Don'tbeangry,andoh,don'ttellhimIsaidanything!
ItwasonlytoshowthatIcaredhowyougeton,andwhatissaidhereissaidinconfidence,youknow,"criedMeg,muchalarmedatthethoughtofwhatmightfollowfromhercarelessspeech.
"Idon'ttelltales,"repliedLaurie,withhis'highandmighty'air,asJocalledacertainexpressionwhichheoccasionallywore.
"OnlyifBrookeisgoingtobeathermometer,Imustmindandhavefairweatherforhimtoreport."
"Pleasedon'tbeoffended.Ididn'tmeantopreachortelltalesorbesilly.
IonlythoughtJowasencouragingyouinafeelingwhichyou'dbesorryforby–and–by.
Youaresokindtous,wefeelasifyouwereourbrotherandsayjustwhatwethink.Forgiveme,Imeantitkindly."
AndMegofferedherhandwithagesturebothaffectionateandtimid.
Ashamedofhismomentarypique,Lauriesqueezedthekindlittlehand,andsaidfrankly,"I'mtheonetobeforgiven.
I'mcrossandhavebeenoutofsortsallday.
Iliketohaveyoutellmemyfaultsandbesisterly,sodon'tmindifIamgrumpysometimes.Ithankyouallthesame."
Bentonshowingthathewasnotoffended,hemadehimselfasagreeableaspossible,woundcottonforMeg,recitedpoetrytopleaseJo,shookdownconesforBeth,andhelpedAmywithherferns,provinghimselfafitpersontobelongtothe'BusyBeeSociety'.
Inthemidstofananimateddiscussiononthedomestichabitsofturtles(oneofthoseamiablecreatureshavingstrolledupfromtheriver),thefaintsoundofabellwarnedthemthatHannahhadputthetea'todraw',andtheywouldjusthavetimetogethometosupper.
"MayIcomeagain?"askedLaurie.
"Yes,ifyouaregood,andloveyourbook,astheboysintheprimeraretoldtodo,"saidMeg,smiling.
"I'lltry."
"Thenyoumaycome,andI'llteachyoutoknitastheScotchmendo.There'sademandforsocksjustnow,"addedJo,wavingherslikeabigblueworstedbannerastheypartedatthegate.
Thatnight,whenBethplayedtoMr.Laurenceinthetwilight,Laurie,standingintheshadowofthecurtain,listenedtothelittleDavid,whosesimplemusicalwaysquietedhismoodyspirit,andwatchedtheoldman,whosatwithhisgrayheadonhishand,thinkingtenderthoughtsofthedeadchildhehadlovedsomuch.
Rememberingtheconversationoftheafternoon,theboysaidtohimself,withtheresolvetomakethesacrificecheerfully,"I'llletmycastlego,andstaywiththedearoldgentlemanwhileheneedsme,forIamallhehas."
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