English
"Novemberisthemostdisagreeablemonthinthewholeyear,"saidMargaret,standingatthewindowonedullafternoon,lookingoutatthefrostbittengarden.
"That'sthereasonIwasborninit,"observedJopensively,quiteunconsciousoftheblotonhernose.
"Ifsomethingverypleasantshouldhappennow,weshouldthinkitadelightfulmonth,"saidBeth,whotookahopefulviewofeverything,evenNovember.
"Idaresay,butnothingpleasanteverdoeshappeninthisfamily,"saidMeg,whowasoutofsorts.
"Wegogrubbingalongdayafterday,withoutabitofchange,andverylittlefun.Wemightaswellbeinatreadmill."
"Mypatience,howblueweare!"criedJo.
"Idon'tmuchwonder,poordear,foryouseeothergirlshavingsplendidtimes,whileyougrind,grind,yearinandyearout.
Oh,don'tIwishIcouldmanagethingsforyouasIdoformyheroines!
You'reprettyenoughandgoodenoughalready,soI'dhavesomerichrelationleaveyouafortuneunexpectedly.
Thenyou'ddashoutasanheiress,scorneveryonewhohasslightedyou,goabroad,andcomehomemyLadySomethinginablazeofsplendorandelegance."
"Peopledon'thavefortuneslefttheminthatstylenowadays,menhavetoworkandwomenmarryformoney.It'sadreadfullyunjustworld,"saidMegbitterly.
"JoandIaregoingtomakefortunesforyouall.
Justwaittenyears,andseeifwedon't,"saidAmy,whosatinacornermakingmudpies,asHannahcalledherlittleclaymodelsofbirds,fruit,andfaces.
"Can'twait,andI'mafraidIhaven'tmuchfaithininkanddirt,thoughI'mgratefulforyourgoodintentions."
Megsighed,andturnedtothefrostbittengardenagain.
Jogroanedandleanedbothelbowsonthetableinadespondentattitude,butAmyspattedawayenergetically,andBeth,whosatattheotherwindow,said,smiling,"Twopleasantthingsaregoingtohappenrightaway.
Marmeeiscomingdownthestreet,andLaurieistrampingthroughthegardenasifhehadsomethingnicetotell."
Intheybothcame,Mrs.Marchwithherusualquestion,"AnyletterfromFather,girls?"
andLaurietosayinhispersuasiveway,"Won'tsomeofyoucomeforadrive?
I'vebeenworkingawayatmathematicstillmyheadisinamuddle,andI'mgoingtofreshenmywitsbyabriskturn.
It'sadullday,buttheairisn'tbad,andI'mgoingtotakeBrookehome,soitwillbegayinside,ifitisn'tout.
Come,Jo,youandBethwillgo,won'tyou?"
"Ofcoursewewill."
"Muchobliged,butI'mbusy."AndMegwhiskedoutherworkbasket,forshehadagreedwithhermotherthatitwasbest,forheratleast,nottodrivetoooftenwiththeyounggentleman.
"Wethreewillbereadyinaminute,"criedAmy,runningawaytowashherhands.
"CanIdoanythingforyou,MadamMother?"askedLaurie,leaningoverMrs.March'schairwiththeaffectionatelookandtonehealwaysgaveher.
"No,thankyou,exceptcallattheoffice,ifyou'llbesokind,dear.
It'sourdayforaletter,andthepostmanhasn'tbeen.
Fatherisasregularasthesun,butthere'ssomedelayontheway,perhaps."
Asharpringinterruptedher,andaminuteafterHannahcameinwithaletter.
"It'soneofthemhorridtelegraphthings,mum,"shesaid,handlingitasifshewasafraiditwouldexplodeanddosomedamage.
Attheword'telegraph',Mrs.Marchsnatchedit,readthetwolinesitcontained,anddroppedbackintoherchairaswhiteasifthelittlepaperhadsentabullettoherheart.
Lauriedasheddownstairsforwater,whileMegandHannahsupportedher,andJoreadaloud,inafrightenedvoice...
Mrs.March:
Yourhusbandisveryill.Comeatonce.
S.HALE
BlankHospital,Washington.
Howstilltheroomwasastheylistenedbreathlessly,howstrangelythedaydarkenedoutside,andhowsuddenlythewholeworldseemedtochange,asthegirlsgatheredabouttheirmother,feelingasifallthehappinessandsupportoftheirliveswasabouttobetakenfromthem.
Mrs.Marchwasherselfagaindirectly,readthemessageover,andstretchedoutherarmstoherdaughters,saying,inatonetheyneverforgot,"Ishallgoatonce,butitmaybetoolate.
Oh,children,children,helpmetobearit!"
Forseveralminutestherewasnothingbutthesoundofsobbingintheroom,mingledwithbrokenwordsofcomfort,tenderassurancesofhelp,andhopefulwhispersthatdiedawayintears.
PoorHannahwasthefirsttorecover,andwithunconsciouswisdomshesetalltherestagoodexample,forwithher,workwaspanaceaformostafflictions.
"TheLordkeepthedearman!Iwon'twastenotimea–cryin',butgityourthingsreadyrightaway,mum,"shesaidheartily,asshewipedherfaceonherapron,gavehermistressawarmshakeofthehandwithherownhardone,andwentawaytoworklikethreewomeninone.
"She'sright,there'snotimefortearsnow.Becalm,girls,andletmethink."
Theytriedtobecalm,poorthings,astheirmothersatup,lookingpalebutsteady,andputawayhergrieftothinkandplanforthem.
"Where'sLaurie?"sheaskedpresently,whenshehadcollectedherthoughtsanddecidedonthefirstdutiestobedone.
"Here,ma'am.Oh,letmedosomething!"criedtheboy,hurryingfromthenextroomwhitherhehadwithdrawn,feelingthattheirfirstsorrowwastoosacredforevenhisfriendlyeyestosee.
"SendatelegramsayingIwillcomeatonce.Thenexttraingoesearlyinthemorning.I'lltakethat."
"Whatelse?Thehorsesareready.Icangoanywhere,doanything,"hesaid,lookingreadytoflytotheendsoftheearth.
"LeaveanoteatAuntMarch's.Jo,givemethatpenandpaper."
Tearingofftheblanksideofoneofhernewlycopiedpages,Jodrewthetablebeforehermother,wellknowingthatmoneyforthelong,sadjourneymustbeborrowed,andfeelingasifshecoulddoanythingtoaddalittletothesumforherfather.
"Nowgo,dear,butdon'tkillyourselfdrivingatadesperatepace.Thereisnoneedofthat."
Mrs.March'swarningwasevidentlythrownaway,forfiveminuteslaterLaurietorebythewindowonhisownfleethorse,ridingasifforhislife.
"Jo,runtotherooms,andtellMrs.KingthatIcan'tcome.Onthewaygetthesethings.
I'llputthemdown,they'llbeneededandImustgopreparedfornursing.Hospitalstoresarenotalwaysgood.
Beth,goandaskMr.Laurenceforacoupleofbottlesofoldwine.I'mnottooproudtobegforFather.Heshallhavethebestofeverything.
Amy,tellHannahtogetdowntheblacktrunk,andMeg,comeandhelpmefindmythings,forI'mhalfbewildered."
Writing,thinking,anddirectingallatoncemightwellbewilderthepoorlady,andMegbeggedhertositquietlyinherroomforalittlewhile,andletthemwork.
Everyonescatteredlikeleavesbeforeagustofwind,andthequiet,happyhouseholdwasbrokenupassuddenlyasifthepaperhadbeenanevilspell.
Mr.LaurencecamehurryingbackwithBeth,bringingeverycomfortthekindoldgentlemancouldthinkoffortheinvalid,andfriendliestpromisesofprotectionforthegirlsduringthemother'sabsence,whichcomfortedherverymuch.
Therewasnothinghedidn'toffer,fromhisowndressinggowntohimselfasescort.Butthelastwasimpossible.
Mrs.Marchwouldnothearoftheoldgentleman'sundertakingthelongjourney,yetanexpressionofreliefwasvisiblewhenhespokeofit,foranxietyillfitsonefortraveling.
Hesawthelook,knithisheavyeyebrows,rubbedhishands,andmarchedabruptlyaway,sayinghe'dbebackdirectly.
Noonehadtimetothinkofhimagaintill,asMegranthroughtheentry,withapairofrubbersinonehandandacupofteaintheother,shecamesuddenlyuponMr.Brooke.
"I'mverysorrytohearofthis,MissMarch,"hesaid,inthekind,quiettonewhichsoundedverypleasantlytoherperturbedspirit.
"Icametooffermyselfasescorttoyourmother.
Mr.LaurencehascommissionsformeinWashington,anditwillgivemerealsatisfactiontobeofservicetoherthere."
Downdroppedtherubbers,andtheteawasverynearfollowing,asMegputoutherhand,withafacesofullofgratitudethatMr.Brookewouldhavefeltrepaidforamuchgreatersacrificethanthetriflingoneoftimeandcomfortwhichhewasabouttotake.
"Howkindyouallare!Motherwillaccept,I'msure,anditwillbesucharelieftoknowthatshehassomeonetotakecareofher.Thankyouvery,verymuch!"
Megspokeearnestly,andforgotherselfentirelytillsomethinginthebrowneyeslookingdownathermadeherrememberthecoolingtea,andleadthewayintotheparlor,sayingshewouldcallhermother.
EverythingwasarrangedbythetimeLauriereturnedwithanotefromAuntMarch,enclosingthedesiredsum,andafewlinesrepeatingwhatshehadoftensaidbefore,thatshehadalwaystoldthemitwasabsurdforMarchtogointothearmy,alwayspredictedthatnogoodwouldcomeofit,andshehopedtheywouldtakeheradvicethenexttime.
Mrs.Marchputthenoteinthefire,themoneyinherpurse,andwentonwithherpreparations,withherlipsfoldedtightlyinawaywhichJowouldhaveunderstoodifshehadbeenthere.
Theshortafternoonworeaway.Allothererrandsweredone,andMegandhermotherbusyatsomenecessaryneedlework,whileBethandAmygottea,andHannahfinishedherironingwithwhatshecalleda'slapandabang',butstillJodidnotcome.
Theybegantogetanxious,andLauriewentofftofindher,fornooneknewwhatfreakJomighttakeintoherhead.
Hemissedher,however,andshecamewalkinginwithaveryqueerexpressionofcountenance,fortherewasamixtureoffunandfear,satisfactionandregretinit,whichpuzzledthefamilyasmuchasdidtherollofbillsshelaidbeforehermother,sayingwithalittlechokeinhervoice,"That'smycontributiontowardmakingFathercomfortableandbringinghimhome!"
"Mydear,wheredidyougetit?Twenty–fivedollars!Jo,Ihopeyouhaven'tdoneanythingrash?"
"No,it'sminehonestly.Ididn'tbeg,borrow,orstealit.Iearnedit,andIdon'tthinkyou'llblameme,forIonlysoldwhatwasmyown."
Asshespoke,Jotookoffherbonnet,andageneraloutcryarose,forallherabundanthairwascutshort.
"Yourhair!Yourbeautifulhair!""Oh,Jo,howcouldyou?Youronebeauty.""Mydeargirl,therewasnoneedofthis.""Shedoesn'tlooklikemyJoanymore,butIloveherdearlyforit!"
Aseveryoneexclaimed,andBethhuggedthecroppedheadtenderly,Joassumedanindifferentair,whichdidnotdeceiveanyoneaparticle,andsaid,rumplingupthebrownbushandtryingtolookasifshelikedit,"Itdoesn'taffectthefateofthenation,sodon'twail,Beth.
Itwillbegoodformyvanity,Iwasgettingtooproudofmywig.
Itwilldomybrainsgoodtohavethatmoptakenoff.
Myheadfeelsdeliciouslylightandcool,andthebarbersaidIcouldsoonhaveacurlycrop,whichwillbeboyish,becoming,andeasytokeepinorder.
I'msatisfied,sopleasetakethemoneyandlet'shavesupper."
"Tellmeallaboutit,Jo.Iamnotquitesatisfied,butIcan'tblameyou,forIknowhowwillinglyyousacrificedyourvanity,asyoucallit,toyourlove.
But,mydear,itwasnotnecessary,andI'mafraidyouwillregretitoneofthesedays,"saidMrs.March.
"No,Iwon't!"returnedJostoutly,feelingmuchrelievedthatherprankwasnotentirelycondemned.
"Whatmadeyoudoit?"askedAmy,whowouldassoonhavethoughtofcuttingoffherheadasherprettyhair.
"Well,IwaswildtodosomethingforFather,"repliedJo,astheygatheredaboutthetable,forhealthyyoungpeoplecaneateveninthemidstoftrouble.
"IhatetoborrowasmuchasMotherdoes,andIknewAuntMarchwouldcroak,shealwaysdoes,ifyouaskforaninepence.
Meggaveallherquarterlysalarytowardtherent,andIonlygotsomeclotheswithmine,soIfeltwicked,andwasboundtohavesomemoney,ifIsoldthenoseoffmyfacetogetit."
"Youneedn'tfeelwicked,mychild!Youhadnowinterthingsandgotthesimplestwithyourownhardearnings,"saidMrs.MarchwithalookthatwarmedJo'sheart.
"Ihadn'ttheleastideaofsellingmyhairatfirst,butasIwentalongIkeptthinkingwhatIcoulddo,andfeelingasifI'dliketodiveintosomeoftherichstoresandhelpmyself.
Inabarber'swindowIsawtailsofhairwiththepricesmarked,andoneblacktail,notsothickasmine,wasfortydollars.
ItcametomeallofasuddenthatIhadonethingtomakemoneyoutof,andwithoutstoppingtothink,Iwalkedin,askediftheyboughthair,andwhattheywouldgiveformine."
"Idon'tseehowyoudaredtodoit,"saidBethinatoneofawe.
"Oh,hewasalittlemanwholookedasifhemerelylivedtooilhishair.
Heratherstaredatfirst,asifhewasn'tusedtohavinggirlsbounceintohisshopandaskhimtobuytheirhair.
Hesaidhedidn'tcareaboutmine,itwasn'tthefashionablecolor,andheneverpaidmuchforitinthefirstplace.
Theworkputintoitmadeitdear,andsoon.
Itwasgettinglate,andIwasafraidifitwasn'tdonerightawaythatIshouldn'thaveitdoneatall,andyouknowwhenIstarttodoathing,Ihatetogiveitup.
SoIbeggedhimtotakeit,andtoldhimwhyIwasinsuchahurry.
Itwassilly,Idaresay,butitchangedhismind,forIgotratherexcited,andtoldthestoryinmytopsy–turvyway,andhiswifeheard,andsaidsokindly,'Takeit,Thomas,andobligetheyounglady.
I'ddoasmuchforourJimmyanydayifIhadaspireofhairworthselling."
"WhowasJimmy?"askedAmy,wholikedtohavethingsexplainedastheywentalong.
"Herson,shesaid,whowasinthearmy.Howfriendlysuchthingsmakestrangersfeel,don'tthey?Shetalkedawayallthetimethemanclipped,anddivertedmymindnicely."
"Didn'tyoufeeldreadfullywhenthefirstcutcame?"askedMeg,withashiver.
"Itookalastlookatmyhairwhilethemangothisthings,andthatwastheendofit.Ineversnivelovertrifleslikethat.
Iwillconfess,though,IfeltqueerwhenIsawthedearoldhairlaidoutonthetable,andfeltonlytheshortroughendsofmyhead.
ItalmostseemedasifI'danarmorlegoff.
Thewomansawmelookatit,andpickedoutalonglockformetokeep.
I'llgiveittoyou,Marmee,justtorememberpastgloriesby,foracropissocomfortableIdon'tthinkIshalleverhaveamaneagain."
Mrs.Marchfoldedthewavychestnutlock,andlaiditawaywithashortgrayoneinherdesk.
Sheonlysaid,"Thankyou,deary,"butsomethinginherfacemadethegirlschangethesubject,andtalkascheerfullyastheycouldaboutMr.Brooke'skindness,theprospectofafinedaytomorrow,andthehappytimestheywouldhavewhenFathercamehometobenursed.
Noonewantedtogotobedwhenatteno'clockMrs.Marchputbythelastfinishedjob,andsaid,"Comegirls."
Bethwenttothepianoandplayedthefather'sfavoritehymn.
Allbeganbravely,butbrokedownonebyonetillBethwasleftalone,singingwithallherheart,fortohermusicwasalwaysasweetconsoler.
"Gotobedanddon'ttalk,forwemustbeupearlyandshallneedallthesleepwecanget.Goodnight,mydarlings,"saidMrs.March,asthehymnended,fornoonecaredtotryanother.
Theykissedherquietly,andwenttobedassilentlyasifthedearinvalidlayinthenextroom.
BethandAmysoonfellasleepinspiteofthegreattrouble,butMeglayawake,thinkingthemostseriousthoughtsshehadeverknowninhershortlife.
Jolaymotionless,andhersisterfanciedthatshewasasleep,tillastifledsobmadeherexclaim,asshetouchedawetcheek...
"Jo,dear,whatisit?Areyoucryingaboutfather?"
"No,notnow."
"Whatthen?"
"My...Myhair!"burstoutpoorJo,tryingvainlytosmotherheremotioninthepillow.
ItdidnotseematallcomicaltoMeg,whokissedandcaressedtheafflictedheroineinthetenderestmanner.
"I'mnotsorry,"protestedJo,withachoke."I'ddoitagaintomorrow,ifIcould.
It'sonlythevainpartofmethatgoesandcriesinthissillyway.Don'ttellanyone,it'sallovernow.
Ithoughtyouwereasleep,soIjustmadealittleprivatemoanformyonebeauty.Howcameyoutobeawake?"
"Ican'tsleep,I'msoanxious,"saidMeg.
"Thinkaboutsomethingpleasant,andyou'llsoondropoff."
"Itriedit,butfeltwiderawakethanever."
"Whatdidyouthinkof?"
"Handsomefaces––eyesparticularly,"answeredMeg,smilingtoherselfinthedark.
"Whatcolordoyoulikebest?"
"Brown,thatis,sometimes.Bluearelovely."
Jolaughed,andMegsharplyorderedhernottotalk,thenamiablypromisedtomakeherhaircurl,andfellasleeptodreamoflivinginhercastleintheair.
Theclockswerestrikingmidnightandtheroomswereverystillasafigureglidedquietlyfrombedtobed,smoothingacoverlethere,settlingapillowthere,andpausingtolooklongandtenderlyateachunconsciousface,tokisseachwithlipsthatmutelyblessed,andtopraytheferventprayerswhichonlymothersutter.
Assheliftedthecurtaintolookoutintothedrearynight,themoonbrokesuddenlyfrombehindthecloudsandshoneuponherlikeabright,benignantface,whichseemedtowhisperinthesilence,"Becomforted,dearsoul!
Thereisalwayslightbehindtheclouds."
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