English
Idon'tthinkIhaveanywordsinwhichtotellthemeetingofthemotheranddaughters.
Suchhoursarebeautifultolive,butveryhardtodescribe,soIwillleaveittotheimaginationofmyreaders,merelysayingthatthehousewasfullofgenuinehappiness,andthatMeg'stenderhopewasrealized,forwhenBethwokefromthatlong,healingsleep,thefirstobjectsonwhichhereyesfellwerethelittleroseandMother'sface.
Tooweaktowonderatanything,sheonlysmiledandnestledcloseinthelovingarmsabouther,feelingthatthehungrylongingwassatisfiedatlast.
Thenshesleptagain,andthegirlswaitedupontheirmother,forshewouldnotunclaspthethinhandwhichclungtoherseveninsleep.
Hannahhad'dishedup'anastonishingbreakfastforthetraveler,findingitimpossibletoventherexcitementinanyotherway,andMegandJofedtheirmotherlikedutifulyoungstorks,whiletheylistenedtoherwhisperedaccountofFather'sstate,Mr.Brooke'spromisetostayandnursehim,thedelayswhichthestormoccasionedonthehomewardjourney,andtheunspeakablecomfortLaurie'shopefulfacehadgivenherwhenshearrived,wornoutwithfatigue,anxiety,andcold.
Whatastrangeyetpleasantdaythatwas.
Sobrilliantandgaywithout,foralltheworldseemedabroadtowelcomethefirstsnow.
Soquietandreposefulwithin,foreveryoneslept,spentwithwatching,andaSabbathstillnessreignedthroughthehouse,whilenoddingHannahmountedguardatthedoor.
Withablissfulsenseofburdensliftedoff,MegandJoclosedtheirwearyeyes,andlayatrest,likestorm–beatenboatssafeatanchorinaquietharbor.
Mrs.MarchwouldnotleaveBeth'sside,butrestedinthebigchair,wakingoftentolookat,touch,andbroodoverherchild,likeamiseroversomerecoveredtreasure.
LauriemeanwhilepostedofftocomfortAmy,andtoldhisstorysowellthatAuntMarchactually'sniffed'herself,andneveroncesaid"Itoldyouso".
AmycameoutsostrongonthisoccasionthatIthinkthegoodthoughtsinthelittlechapelreallybegantobearfruit.
Shedriedhertearsquickly,restrainedherimpatiencetoseehermother,andnevereventhoughtoftheturquoisering,whentheoldladyheartilyagreedinLaurie'sopinion,thatshebehaved'likeacapitallittlewoman'.
EvenPollyseemedimpressed,forhecalledheragoodgirl,blessedherbuttons,andbeggedherto"comeandtakeawalk,dear",inhismostaffabletone.
Shewouldverygladlyhavegoneouttoenjoythebrightwintryweather,butdiscoveringthatLauriewasdroppingwithsleepinspiteofmanfuleffortstoconcealthefact,shepersuadedhimtorestonthesofa,whileshewroteanotetohermother.
Shewasalongtimeaboutit,andwhenshereturned,hewasstretchedoutwithbotharmsunderhishead,soundasleep,whileAuntMarchhadpulleddownthecurtainsandsatdoingnothinginanunusualfitofbenignity.
Afterawhile,theybegantothinkhewasnotgoingtowakeuptillnight,andI'mnotsurethathewould,hadhenotbeeneffectuallyrousedbyAmy'scryofjoyatsightofhermother.
Thereprobablywereagoodmanyhappylittlegirlsinandaboutthecitythatday,butitismyprivateopinionthatAmywasthehappiestofall,whenshesatinhermother'slapandtoldhertrials,receivingconsolationandcompensationintheshapeofapprovingsmilesandfondcaresses.
Theywerealonetogetherinthechapel,towhichhermotherdidnotobjectwhenitspurposewasexplainedtoher.
"Onthecontrary,Ilikeitverymuch,dear,"lookingfromthedustyrosarytothewell–wornlittlebook,andthelovelypicturewithitsgarlandofevergreen.
"Itisanexcellentplantohavesomeplacewherewecangotobequiet,whenthingsvexorgrieveus.
Thereareagoodmanyhardtimesinthislifeofours,butwecanalwaysbearthemifweaskhelpintherightway.
Ithinkmylittlegirlislearningthis."
"Yes,Mother,andwhenIgohomeImeantohaveacornerinthebigclosettoputmybooksandthecopyofthatpicturewhichI'vetriedtomake.
Thewoman'sfaceisnotgood,it'stoobeautifulformetodraw,butthebabyisdonebetter,andIloveitverymuch.
IliketothinkHewasalittlechildonce,forthenIdon'tseemsofaraway,andthathelpsme."
AsAmypointedtothesmilingChristchildonhisMother'sknee,Mrs.Marchsawsomethingontheliftedhandthatmadehersmile.
Shesaidnothing,butAmyunderstoodthelook,andafteraminute'spause,sheaddedgravely,"Iwantedtospeaktoyouaboutthis,butIforgotit.Auntgavemetheringtoday.
Shecalledmetoherandkissedme,andputitonmyfinger,andsaidIwasacredittoher,andshe'dliketokeepmealways.
Shegavethatfunnyguardtokeeptheturquoiseon,asit'stoobig.I'dliketowearthemMother,canI?"
"Theyareverypretty,butIthinkyou'rerathertooyoungforsuchornaments,Amy,"saidMrs.March,lookingattheplumplittlehand,withthebandofsky–bluestonesontheforefinger,andthequaintguardformedoftwotinygoldenhandsclaspedtogether.
"I'lltrynottobevain,"saidAmy."Idon'tthinkIlikeitonlybecauseit'ssopretty,butIwanttowearitasthegirlinthestoryworeherbracelet,toremindmeofsomething."
"DoyoumeanAuntMarch?"askedhermother,laughing.
"No,toremindmenottobeselfish."Amylookedsoearnestandsincereaboutitthathermotherstoppedlaughing,andlistenedrespectfullytothelittleplan.
"I'vethoughtagreatdeallatelyaboutmy'bundleofnaughties',andbeingselfishisthelargestoneinit,soI'mgoingtotryhardtocureit,ifIcan.
Bethisn'tselfish,andthat'sthereasoneveryonelovesherandfeelssobadatthethoughtsoflosingher.
Peoplewouldn'tfeelsobadaboutmeifIwassick,andIdon'tdeservetohavethem,butI'dliketobelovedandmissedbyagreatmanyfriends,soI'mgoingtotryandbelikeBethallIcan.
I'mapttoforgetmyresolutions,butifIhadsomethingalwaysaboutmetoremindme,IguessIshoulddobetter.Maywetrythisway?"
"Yes,butIhavemorefaithinthecornerofthebigcloset.Wearyourring,dear,anddoyourbest.
Ithinkyouwillprosper,forthesincerewishtobegoodishalfthebattle.NowImustgobacktoBeth.
Keepupyourheart,littledaughter,andwewillsoonhaveyouhomeagain."
ThateveningwhileMegwaswritingtoherfathertoreportthetraveler'ssafearrival,JoslippedupstairsintoBeth'sroom,andfindinghermotherinherusualplace,stoodaminutetwistingherfingersinherhair,withaworriedgestureandanundecidedlook.
"Whatisit,deary?"askedMrs.March,holdingoutherhand,withafacewhichinvitedconfidence.
"Iwanttotellyousomething,Mother."
"AboutMeg?"
"Howquicklyyouguessed!Yes,it'sabouther,andthoughit'salittlething,itfidgetsme."
"Bethisasleep.Speaklow,andtellmeallaboutit.ThatMoffathasn'tbeenhere,Ihope?"askedMrs.Marchrathersharply.
"No.Ishouldhaveshutthedoorinhisfaceifhehad,"saidJo,settlingherselfonthefloorathermother'sfeet.
"LastsummerMegleftapairofglovesoverattheLaurences'andonlyonewasreturned.
Weforgotaboutit,tillTeddytoldmethatMr.BrookeownedthathelikedMegbutdidn'tdaresayso,shewassoyoungandhesopoor.
Now,isn'titadreadfulstateofthings?"
"DoyouthinkMegcaresforhim?"askedMrs.March,withananxiouslook.
"Mercyme!Idon'tknowanythingaboutloveandsuchnonsense!"
criedJo,withafunnymixtureofinterestandcontempt.
"Innovels,thegirlsshowitbystartingandblushing,faintingaway,growingthin,andactinglikefools.
NowMegdoesnotdoanythingofthesort.
Sheeatsanddrinksandsleepslikeasensiblecreature,shelooksstraightinmyfacewhenItalkaboutthatman,andonlyblushesalittlebitwhenTeddyjokesaboutlovers.
Iforbidhimtodoit,buthedoesn'tmindmeasheought."
"ThenyoufancythatMegisnotinterestedinJohn?"
"Who?"criedJo,staring.
"Mr.Brooke.Icallhim'John'now.Wefellintothewayofdoingsoatthehospital,andhelikesit."
"Oh,dear!Iknowyou'lltakehispart.
He'sbeengoodtoFather,andyouwon'tsendhimaway,butletMegmarryhim,ifshewantsto.Meanthing!
TogopettingPapaandhelpingyou,justtowheedleyouintolikinghim."
AndJopulledherhairagainwithawrathfultweak.
"Mydear,don'tgetangryaboutit,andIwilltellyouhowithappened.
JohnwentwithmeatMr.Laurence'srequest,andwassodevotedtopoorFatherthatwecouldn'thelpgettingfondofhim.
HewasperfectlyopenandhonorableaboutMeg,forhetoldushelovedher,butwouldearnacomfortablehomebeforeheaskedhertomarryhim.
Heonlywantedourleavetoloveherandworkforher,andtherighttomakeherlovehimifhecould.
Heisatrulyexcellentyoungman,andwecouldnotrefusetolistentohim,butIwillnotconsenttoMeg'sengagingherselfsoyoung."
"Ofcoursenot.Itwouldbeidiotic!Iknewtherewasmischiefbrewing.Ifeltit,andnowit'sworsethanIimagined.IjustwishIcouldmarryMegmyself,andkeephersafeinthefamily."
ThisoddarrangementmadeMrs.Marchsmile,butshesaidgravely,"Jo,Iconfideinyouanddon'twishyoutosayanythingtoMegyet.
WhenJohncomesback,andIseethemtogether,Icanjudgebetterofherfeelingstowardhim."
"She'llseethosehandsomeeyesthatshetalksabout,andthenitwillbeallupwithher.
She'sgotsuchasoftheart,itwillmeltlikebutterinthesunifanyonelookssentimentllyather.
Shereadtheshortreportshesentmorethanshedidyourletters,andpinchedmewhenIspokeofit,andlikesbrowneyes,anddoesn'tthinkJohnanuglyname,andshe'llgoandfallinlove,andthere'sanendofpeaceandfun,andcozytimestogether.Iseeitall!
They'llgoloveringaroundthehouse,andweshallhavetododge.
Megwillbeabsorbedandnogoodtomeanymore.
Brookewillscratchupafortunesomehow,carryheroff,andmakeaholeinthefamily,andIshallbreakmyheart,andeverythingwillbeabominablyuncomfortable.Oh,dearme!
Whyweren'tweallboys,thentherewouldn'tbeanybother."
JoleanedherchinonherkneesinadisconsolateattitudeandshookherfistatthereprehensibleJohn.Mrs.Marchsighed,andJolookedupwithanairofrelief.
"Youdon'tlikeit,Mother?I'mgladofit.Let'ssendhimabouthisbusiness,andnottellMegawordofit,butallbehappytogetheraswealwayshavebeen."
"Ididwrongtosigh,Jo.Itisnaturalandrightyoushouldallgotohomesofyourownintime,butIdowanttokeepmygirlsaslongasIcan,andIamsorrythatthishappenedsosoon,forMegisonlyseventeenanditwillbesomeyearsbeforeJohncanmakeahomeforher.
YourfatherandIhaveagreedthatsheshallnotbindherselfinanyway,norbemarried,beforetwenty.
IfsheandJohnloveoneanother,theycanwait,andtestthelovebydoingso.
Sheisconscientious,andIhavenofearofhertreatinghimunkindly.Mypretty,tenderheartedgirl!
Ihopethingswillgohappilywithher."
"Hadn'tyouratherhavehermarryarichman?"askedJo,ashermother'svoicefalteredalittleoverthelastwords.
"Moneyisagoodandusefulthing,Jo,andIhopemygirlswillneverfeeltheneedofittoobitterly,norbetemptedbytoomuch.
IshouldliketoknowthatJohnwasfirmlyestablishedinsomegoodbusiness,whichgavehimanincomelargeenoughtokeepfreefromdebtandmakeMegcomfortable.
I'mnotambitiousforasplendidfortune,afashionableposition,oragreatnameformygirls.
Ifrankandmoneycomewithloveandvirtue,also,Ishouldacceptthemgratefully,andenjoyyourgoodfortune,butIknow,byexperience,howmuchgenuinehappinesscanbehadinaplainlittlehouse,wherethedailybreadisearned,andsomeprivationsgivesweetnesstothefewpleasures.
IamcontenttoseeMegbeginhumbly,forifIamnotmistaken,shewillberichinthepossessionofagoodman'sheart,andthatisbetterthanafortune."
"Iunderstand,Mother,andquiteagree,butI'mdisappointedaboutMeg,forI'dplannedtohavehermarryTeddyby–and–byandsitinthelapofluxuryallherdays.Wouldn'titbenice?"
askedJo,lookingupwithabrighterface.
"Heisyoungerthanshe,youknow,"beganMrs.March,butJobrokein...
"Onlyalittle,he'soldforhisage,andtall,andcanbequitegrown–upinhismannersifhelikes.Thenhe'srichandgenerousandgood,andlovesusall,andIsayit'sapitymyplanisspoiled."
"I'mafraidLaurieishardlygrown–upenoughforMeg,andaltogethertoomuchofaweathercockjustnowforanyonetodependon.
Don'tmakeplans,Jo,butlettimeandtheirownheartsmateyourfriends.
Wecan'tmeddlesafelyinsuchmatters,andhadbetternotget'romanticrubbish'asyoucallit,intoourheads,lestitspoilourfriendship."
"Well,Iwon't,butIhatetoseethingsgoingallcrisscrossandgettingsnarledup,whenapullhereandasniptherewouldstraightenitout.
Iwishwearingflatironsonourheadswouldkeepusfromgrowingup.
Butbudswillberoses,andkittenscats,more'sthepity!"
"What'sthataboutflatironsandcats?"askedMeg,asshecreptintotheroomwiththefinishedletterinherhand.
"Onlyoneofmystupidspeeches.I'mgoingtobed.Come,Peggy,"saidJo,unfoldingherselflikeananimatedpuzzle.
"Quiteright,andbeautifullywritten.PleaseaddthatIsendmylovetoJohn,"saidMrs.March,assheglancedovertheletterandgaveitback.
"Doyoucallhim'John'?"askedMeg,smiling,withherinnocenteyeslookingdownintohermother's.
"Yes,hehasbeenlikeasontous,andweareveryfondofhim,"repliedMrs.March,returningthelookwithakeenone.
"I'mgladofthat,heissolonely.Goodnight,Mother,dear.Itissoinexpressiblycomfortabletohaveyouhere,"wasMeg'sanswer.
Thekisshermothergaveherwasaverytenderone,andasshewentaway,Mrs.Marchsaid,withamixtureofsatisfactionandregret,"ShedoesnotloveJohnyet,butwillsoonlearnto."
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