English
Jo'sfacewasastudynextday,forthesecretratherweigheduponher,andshefoundithardnottolookmysteriousandimportant.
Megobservedit,butdidnottroubleherselftomakeinquiries,forshehadlearnedthatthebestwaytomanageJowasbythelawofcontraries,soshefeltsureofbeingtoldeverythingifshedidnotask.
Shewasrathersurprised,therefore,whenthesilenceremainedunbroken,andJoassumedapatronizingair,whichdecidedlyaggravatedMeg,whointurnassumedanairofdignifiedreserveanddevotedherselftohermother.
ThisleftJotoherowndevices,forMrs.Marchhadtakenherplaceasnurse,andbadeherrest,exercise,andamuseherselfafterherlongconfinement.
Amybeinggone,Lauriewasheronlyrefuge,andmuchassheenjoyedhissociety,sheratherdreadedhimjustthen,forhewasanincorrigibletease,andshefearedhewouldcoaxthesecretfromher.
Shewasquiteright,forthemischief–lovingladnosoonersuspectedamysterythanhesethimselftofinditout,andledJoatryinglifeofit.
Hewheedled,bribed,ridiculed,threatened,andscolded;affectedindifference,thathemightsurprisethetruthfromher;declaredheknew,thenthathedidn'tcare;andatlast,bydintofperseverance,hesatisfiedhimselfthatitconcernedMegandMr.Brooke.
Feelingindignantthathewasnottakenintohistutor'sconfidence,hesethiswitstoworktodevisesomeproperretaliationfortheslight.
Megmeanwhilehadapparentlyforgottenthematterandwasabsorbedinpreparationsforherfather'sreturn,butallofasuddenachangeseemedtocomeoverher,and,foradayortwo,shewasquiteunlikeherself.
Shestartedwhenspokento,blushedwhenlookedat,wasveryquiet,andsatoverhersewing,withatimid,troubledlookonherface.
Tohermother'sinquiriessheansweredthatshewasquitewell,andJo'sshesilencedbybeggingtobeletalone.
"Shefeelsitintheair––love,Imean––andshe'sgoingveryfast.
She'sgotmostofthesymptoms––istwitteryandcross,doesn'teat,liesawake,andmopesincorners.
Icaughthersingingthatsonghegaveher,andonceshesaid'John',asyoudo,andthenturnedasredasapoppy.Whatevershallwedo?"
saidJo,lookingreadyforanymeasures,howeverviolent.
"Nothingbutwait.Letheralone,bekindandpatient,andFather'scomingwillsettleeverything,"repliedhermother.
"Here'sanotetoyou,Meg,allsealedup.Howodd!Teddyneversealsmine,"saidJonextday,asshedistributedthecontentsofthelittlepostoffice.
Mrs.MarchandJoweredeepintheirownaffairs,whenasoundfromMegmadethemlookuptoseeherstaringathernotewithafrightenedface.
"Mychild,whatisit?"criedhermother,runningtoher,whileJotriedtotakethepaperwhichhaddonethemischief.
"It'sallamistake,hedidn'tsendit.Oh,Jo,howcouldyoudoit?"andMeghidherfaceinherhands,cryingasifherheartwerequitebroken.
"Me!I'vedonenothing!What'sshetalkingabout?"criedJo,bewildered.
Meg'smildeyeskindledwithangerasshepulledacrumplednotefromherpocketandthrewitatJo,sayingreproachfully,"Youwroteit,andthatbadboyhelpedyou.
Howcouldyoubesorude,somean,andcrueltousboth?"
Johardlyheardher,forsheandhermotherwerereadingthenote,whichwaswritteninapeculiarhand.
"MyDearestMargaret,
"Icannolongerrestrainmypassion,andmustknowmyfatebeforeIreturn.
Idarenottellyourparentsyet,butIthinktheywouldconsentiftheyknewthatweadoredoneanother.
Mr.Laurencewillhelpmetosomegoodplace,andthen,mysweetgirl,youwillmakemehappy.
Iimploreyoutosaynothingtoyourfamilyyet,buttosendonewordofhopethroughLaurieto,
"YourdevotedJohn."
"Oh,thelittlevillain!That'sthewayhemeanttopaymeforkeepingmywordtoMother.
I'llgivehimaheartyscoldingandbringhimovertobegpardon,"criedJo,burningtoexecuteimmediatejustice.
Buthermotherheldherback,saying,withalooksheseldomwore...
"Stop,Jo,youmustclearyourselffirst.YouhaveplayedsomanypranksthatIamafraidyouhavehadahandinthis."
"Onmyword,Mother,Ihaven't!Ineversawthatnotebefore,anddon'tknowanythingaboutit,astrueasIlive!"
saidJo,soearnestlythattheybelievedher.
"IfIhadtakenpartinitI'dhavedoneitbetterthanthis,andhavewrittenasensiblenote.
Ishouldthinkyou'dhaveknownMr.Brookewouldn'twritesuchstuffasthat,"sheadded,scornfullytossingdownthepaper.
"It'slikehiswriting,"falteredMeg,comparingitwiththenoteinherhand.
"Oh,Meg,youdidn'tanswerit?"criedMrs.Marchquickly.
"Yes,Idid!"andMeghidherfaceagain,overcomewithshame.
"Here'sascrape!Doletmebringthatwickedboyovertoexplainandbelectured.Ican'tresttillIgetholdofhim."AndJomadeforthedooragain.
"Hush!Letmehandlethis,foritisworsethanIthought.Margaret,tellmethewholestory,"commandedMrs.March,sittingdownbyMeg,yetkeepingholdofJo,lestsheshouldflyoff.
"IreceivedthefirstletterfromLaurie,whodidn'tlookasifheknewanythingaboutit,"beganMeg,withoutlookingup.
"Iwasworriedatfirstandmeanttotellyou,thenIrememberedhowyoulikedMr.Brooke,soIthoughtyouwouldn'tmindifIkeptmylittlesecretforafewdays.
I'msosillythatIlikedtothinknooneknew,andwhileIwasdecidingwhattosay,Ifeltlikethegirlsinbooks,whohavesuchthingstodo.
Forgiveme,Mother,I'mpaidformysillinessnow.
Inevercanlookhiminthefaceagain."
"Whatdidyousaytohim?"askedMrs.March.
"IonlysaidIwastooyoungtodoanythingaboutityet,thatIdidn'twishtohavesecretsfromyou,andhemustspeaktofather.
Iwasverygratefulforhiskindness,andwouldbehisfriend,butnothingmore,foralongwhile."
Mrs.Marchsmiled,asifwellpleased,andJoclappedherhands,exclaiming,withalaugh,"YouarealmostequaltoCarolinePercy,whowasapatternofprudence!Tellon,Meg.Whatdidhesaytothat?"
"Hewritesinadifferentwayentirely,tellingmethatheneversentanyloveletteratall,andisverysorrythatmyroguishsister,Jo,shouldtakelibertieswithournames.
It'sverykindandrespectful,butthinkhowdreadfulforme!"
Megleanedagainsthermother,lookingtheimageofdespair,andJotrampedabouttheroom,callingLaurienames.
Allofasuddenshestopped,caughtupthetwonotes,andafterlookingatthemclosely,saiddecidedly,"Idon'tbelieveBrookeeversaweitheroftheseletters.
Teddywroteboth,andkeepsyourstocrowovermewithbecauseIwouldn'ttellhimmysecret."
"Don'thaveanysecrets,Jo.TellittoMotherandkeepoutoftrouble,asIshouldhavedone,"saidMegwarningly.
"Blessyou,child!Mothertoldme."
"Thatwilldo,Jo.I'llcomfortMegwhileyougoandgetLaurie.Ishallsiftthemattertothebottom,andputastoptosuchpranksatonce."
AwayranJo,andMrs.MarchgentlytoldMegMr.Brooke'srealfeelings."Now,dear,whatareyourown?
Doyoulovehimenoughtowaittillhecanmakeahomeforyou,orwillyoukeepyourselfquitefreeforthepresent?"
"I'vebeensoscaredandworried,Idon'twanttohaveanythingtodowithloversforalongwhile,perhapsnever,"answeredMegpetulantly.
"IfJohndoesn'tknowanythingaboutthisnonsense,don'ttellhim,andmakeJoandLaurieholdtheirtongues.
Iwon'tbedeceivedandplaguedandmadeafoolof.It'sashame!"
SeeingMeg'susuallygentletemperwasrousedandherpridehurtbythismischievousjoke,Mrs.Marchsoothedherbypromisesofentiresilenceandgreatdiscretionforthefuture.
TheinstantLaurie'sstepwasheardinthehall,Megfledintothestudy,andMrs.Marchreceivedtheculpritalone.
Johadnottoldhimwhyhewaswanted,fearinghewouldn'tcome,butheknewtheminutehesawMrs.March'sface,andstoodtwirlinghishatwithaguiltyairwhichconvictedhimatonce.
Jowasdismissed,butchosetomarchupanddownthehalllikeasentinel,havingsomefearthattheprisonermightbolt.
Thesoundofvoicesintheparlorroseandfellforhalfanhour,butwhathappenedduringthatinterviewthegirlsneverknew.
Whentheywerecalledin,LauriewasstandingbytheirmotherwithsuchapenitentfacethatJoforgavehimonthespot,butdidnotthinkitwisetobetraythefact.
Megreceivedhishumbleapology,andwasmuchcomfortedbytheassurancethatBrookeknewnothingofthejoke.
"I'llnevertellhimtomydyingday,wildhorsesshan'tdragitoutofme,soyou'llforgiveme,Meg,andI'lldoanythingtoshowhowout–and–outsorryIam,"headded,lookingverymuchashamedofhimself.
"I'lltry,butitwasaveryungentlemanlythingtodo,Ididn'tthinkyoucouldbesoslyandmalicious,Laurie,"repliedMeg,tryingtohidehermaidenlyconfusionunderagravelyreproachfulair.
"Itwasaltogetherabominable,andIdon'tdeservetobespokentoforamonth,butyouwill,though,won'tyou?"
AndLauriefoldedhishandstogetherwithsuchandimploringgesture,ashespokeinhisirresistiblypersuasivetone,thatitwasimpossibletofrownuponhiminspiteofhisscandalousbehavior.
Megpardonedhim,andMrs.March'sgravefacerelaxed,inspiteofhereffortstokeepsober,whensheheardhimdeclarethathewouldatoneforhissinsbyallsortsofpenances,andabasehimselflikeawormbeforetheinjureddamsel.
Jostoodaloof,meanwhile,tryingtohardenherheartagainsthim,andsucceedingonlyinprimmingupherfaceintoanexpressionofentiredisapprobation.
Laurielookedatheronceortwice,butassheshowednosignofrelenting,hefeltinjured,andturnedhisbackonhertilltheothersweredonewithhim,whenhemadeheralowbowandwalkedoffwithoutaword.
Assoonashehadgone,shewishedshehadbeenmoreforgiving,andwhenMegandhermotherwentupstairs,shefeltlonelyandlongedforTeddy.
Afterresistingforsometime,sheyieldedtotheimpulse,andarmedwithabooktoreturn,wentovertothebighouse.
"IsMr.Laurencein?"askedJo,ofahousemaid,whowascomingdownstairs.
"Yes,Miss,butIdon'tbelievehe'sseeablejustyet."
"Whynot?Isheill?"
"La,noMiss,buthe'shadascenewithMr.Laurie,whoisinoneofhistantrumsaboutsomething,whichvexestheoldgentleman,soIdursn'tgonighhim."
"WhereisLaurie?"
"Shutupinhisroom,andhewon'tanswer,thoughI'vebeena–tapping.Idon'tknowwhat'stobecomeofthedinner,forit'sready,andthere'snoonetoeatit."
"I'llgoandseewhatthematteris.I'mnotafraidofeitherofthem."
UpwentJo,andknockedsmartlyonthedoorofLaurie'slittlestudy.
"Stopthat,orI'llopenthedoorandmakeyou!"calledouttheyounggentlemaninathreateningtone.
Joimmediatelyknockedagain.Thedoorflewopen,andinshebouncedbeforeLauriecouldrecoverfromhissurprise.
Seeingthathereallywasoutoftemper,Jo,whoknewhowtomanagehim,assumedacontriteexpression,andgoingartisticallydownuponherknees,saidmeekly,"Pleaseforgivemeforbeingsocross.
Icametomakeitup,andcan'tgoawaytillIhave."
"It'sallright.Getup,anddon'tbeagoose,Jo,"wasthecavalierreplytoherpetition.
"Thankyou,Iwill.CouldIaskwhat'sthematter?Youdon'tlookexactlyeasyinyourmind."
"I'vebeenshaken,andIwon'tbearit!"growledLaurieindignantly.
"Whodidit?"demandedJo.
"Grandfather.IfithadbeenanyoneelseI'dhave..."Andtheinjuredyouthfinishedhissentencebyanenergeticgestureoftherightarm.
"That'snothing.Ioftenshakeyou,andyoudon'tmind,"saidJosoothingly.
"Pooh!You'reagirl,andit'sfun,butI'llallownomantoshakeme!"
"Idon'tthinkanyonewouldcaretotryit,ifyoulookedasmuchlikeathundercloudasyoudonow.Whywereyoutreatedso?"
"JustbecauseIwouldn'tsaywhatyourmotherwantedmefor.I'dpromisednottotell,andofcourseIwasn'tgoingtobreakmyword."
"Couldn'tyousatisfyyourgrandpainanyotherway?"
"No,hewouldhavethetruth,thewholetruth,andnothingbutthetruth.
I'dhavetoldmypartofthescrape,ifIcouldwithoutbringingMegin.
AsIcouldn't,Iheldmytongue,andborethescoldingtilltheoldgentlemancollaredme.
ThenIbolted,forfearIshouldforgetmyself."
"Itwasn'tnice,buthe'ssorry,Iknow,sogodownandmakeup.I'llhelpyou."
"HangedifIdo!I'mnotgoingtobelecturedandpummelledbyeveryone,justforabitofafrolic.
IwassorryaboutMeg,andbeggedpardonlikeaman,butIwon'tdoitagain,whenIwasn'tinthewrong."
"Hedidn'tknowthat."
"Heoughttotrustme,andnotactasifIwasababy.It'snouse,Jo,he'sgottolearnthatI'mabletotakecareofmyself,anddon'tneedanyone'sapronstringtoholdonby."
"Whatpepperpotsyouare!"sighedJo."Howdoyoumeantosettlethisaffair?"
"Well,heoughttobegpardon,andbelievemewhenIsayIcan'ttellhimwhatthefuss'sabout."
"Blessyou!Hewon'tdothat."
"Iwon'tgodowntillhedoes."
"Now,Teddy,besensible.Letitpass,andI'llexplainwhatIcan.Youcan'tstayhere,sowhat'stheuseofbeingmelodramatic?"
"Idon'tintendtostayherelong,anyway.I'llslipoffandtakeajourneysomewhere,andwhenGrandpamissesmehe'llcomeroundfastenough."
"Idaresay,butyououghtnottogoandworryhim."
"Don'tpreach.I'llgotoWashingtonandseeBrooke.It'sgaythere,andI'llenjoymyselfafterthetroubles."
"Whatfunyou'dhave!IwishIcouldrunofftoo,"saidJo,forgettingherpartofmentorinlivelyvisionsofmartiallifeatthecapital.
"Comeon,then!Whynot?
Yougoandsurpriseyourfather,andI'llstirupoldBrooke.Itwouldbeagloriousjoke.Let'sdoit,Jo.
We'llleavealettersayingweareallright,andtrotoffatonce.I'vegotmoneyenough.
Itwilldoyougood,andnoharm,asyougotoyourfather."
ForamomentJolookedasifshewouldagree,forwildastheplanwas,itjustsuitedher.
Shewastiredofcareandconfinement,longedforchange,andthoughtsofherfatherblendedtemptinglywiththenovelcharmsofcampsandhospitals,libertyandfun.
Hereyeskindledastheyturnedwistfullytowardthewindow,buttheyfellontheoldhouseopposite,andsheshookherheadwithsorrowfuldecision.
"IfIwasaboy,we'drunawaytogether,andhaveacapitaltime,butasI'mamiserablegirl,Imustbeproperandstopathome.Don'ttemptme,Teddy,it'sacrazyplan."
"That'sthefunofit,"beganLaurie,whohadgotawillfulfitonhimandwaspossessedtobreakoutofboundsinsomeway.
"Holdyourtongue!"criedJo,coveringherears."'Prunesandprisms'aremydoom,andImayaswellmakeupmymindtoit.Icameheretomoralize,nottohearthingsthatmakemeskiptothinkof."
"IknowMegwouldwet–blanketsuchaproposal,butIthoughtyouhadmorespirit,"beganLaurieinsinuatingly.
"Badboy,bequiet!Sitdownandthinkofyourownsins,don'tgomakingmeaddtomine.IfIgetyourgrandpatoapologizefortheshaking,willyougiveuprunningaway?"askedJoseriously.
"Yes,butyouwon'tdoit,"answeredLaurie,whowishedtomakeup,butfeltthathisoutrageddignitymustbeappeasedfirst.
"IfIcanmanagetheyoungone,Icantheoldone,"mutteredJo,asshewalkedaway,leavingLauriebentoverarailroadmapwithhisheadproppeduponbothhands.
"Comein!"andMr.Laurence'sgruffvoicesoundedgrufferthanever,asJotappedathisdoor.
"It'sonlyme,Sir,cometoreturnabook,"shesaidblandly,assheentered.
"Wantanymore?"askedtheoldgentleman,lookinggrimandvexed,buttryingnottoshowit.
"Yes,please.IlikeoldSamsowell,IthinkI'lltrythesecondvolume,"returnedJo,hopingtopropitiatehimbyacceptingaseconddoseofBoswell'sJohnson,ashehadrecommendedthatlivelywork.
TheshaggyeyebrowsunbentalittleasherolledthestepstowardtheshelfwheretheJohnsonianliteraturewasplaced.
Joskippedup,andsittingonthetopstep,affectedtobesearchingforherbook,butwasreallywonderinghowbesttointroducethedangerousobjectofhervisit.
Mr.Laurenceseemedtosuspectthatsomethingwasbrewinginhermind,foraftertakingseveralbriskturnsabouttheroom,hefacedroundonher,speakingsoabruptlythatRasselastumbledfacedownwardonthefloor.
"Whathasthatboybeenabout?Don'ttrytoshieldhim.
Iknowhehasbeeninmischiefbythewayheactedwhenhecamehome.
Ican'tgetawordfromhim,andwhenIthreatenedtoshakethetruthoutofhimheboltedupstairsandlockedhimselfintohisroom."
"Hedidwrong,butweforgavehim,andallpromisednottosayawordtoanyone,"beganJoreluctantly.
"Thatwon'tdo.Heshallnotshelterhimselfbehindapromisefromyousoftheartedgirls.
Ifhe'sdoneanythingamiss,heshallconfess,begpardon,andbepunished.Outwithit,Jo.Iwon'tbekeptinthedark."
Mr.LaurencelookedsoalarmingandspokesosharplythatJowouldhavegladlyrunaway,ifshecould,butshewasperchedaloftonthesteps,andhestoodatthefoot,alioninthepath,soshehadtostayandbraveitout.
"Indeed,Sir,Icannottell.Motherforbadeit.
Lauriehasconfessed,askedpardon,andbeenpunishedquiteenough.
Wedon'tkeepsilencetoshieldhim,butsomeoneelse,anditwillmakemoretroubleifyouinterfere.Pleasedon't.
Itwaspartlymyfault,butit'sallrightnow.
Solet'sforgetit,andtalkabouttheRamblerorsomethingpleasant."
"HangtheRambler!Comedownandgivemeyourwordthatthisharum–scarumboyofminehasn'tdoneanythingungratefulorimpertinent.
Ifhehas,afterallyourkindnesstohim,I'llthrashhimwithmyownhands."
Thethreatsoundedawful,butdidnotalarmJo,forsheknewtheirascibleoldgentlemanwouldneverliftafingeragainsthisgrandson,whateverhemightsaytothecontrary.
Sheobedientlydescended,andmadeaslightoftheprankasshecouldwithoutbetrayingMegorforgettingthetruth.
"Hum...ha...well,iftheboyheldhistonguebecausehepromised,andnotfromobstinacy,I'llforgivehim.
He'sastubbornfellowandhardtomanage,"saidMr.Laurence,rubbinguphishairtillitlookedasifhehadbeenoutinagale,andsmoothingthefrownfromhisbrowwithanairofrelief.
"SoamI,butakindwordwillgovernmewhenalltheking'shorsesandalltheking'smencouldn't,"saidJo,tryingtosayakindwordforherfriend,whoseemedtogetoutofonescrapeonlytofallintoanother.
"YouthinkI'mnotkindtohim,hey?"wasthesharpanswer.
"Oh,dearno,Sir.Youarerathertookindsometimes,andthenjustatriflehastywhenhetriesyourpatience.Don'tyouthinkyouare?"
Jowasdeterminedtohaveitoutnow,andtriedtolookquiteplacid,thoughshequakedalittleafterherboldspeech.
Tohergreatreliefandsurprise,theoldgentlemanonlythrewhisspectaclesontothetablewitharattleandexclaimedfrankly,"You'reright,girl,Iam!
Ilovetheboy,buthetriesmypatiencepastbearing,andIknowhowitwillend,ifwegoonso."
"I'lltellyou,he'llrunaway."Jowassorryforthatspeechtheminuteitwasmade.
ShemeanttowarnhimthatLauriewouldnotbearmuchrestraint,andhopedhewouldbemoreforebearingwiththelad.
Mr.Laurence'sruddyfacechangedsuddenly,andhesatdown,withatroubledglanceatthepictureofahandsomeman,whichhungoverhistable.
ItwasLaurie'sfather,whohadrunawayinhisyouth,andmarriedagainsttheimperiousoldman'swill.
Jofanciedherememberedandregrettedthepast,andshewishedshehadheldhertongue.
"Hewon'tdoitunlessheisverymuchworried,andonlythreatensitsometimes,whenhegetstiredofstudying.
IoftenthinkIshouldliketo,especiallysincemyhairwascut,soifyouevermissus,youmayadvertisefortwoboysandlookamongtheshipsboundforIndia."
Shelaughedasshespoke,andMr.Laurencelookedrelieved,evidentlytakingthewholeasajoke.
"Youhussy,howdareyoutalkinthatway?
Where'syourrespectforme,andyourproperbringingup?Blesstheboysandgirls!
Whattormentstheyare,yetwecan'tdowithoutthem,"hesaid,pinchinghercheeksgood–humoredly.
"Goandbringthatboydowntohisdinner,tellhimit'sallright,andadvisehimnottoputontragedyairswithhisgrandfather.Iwon'tbearit."
"Hewon'tcome,Sir.Hefeelsbadlybecauseyoudidn'tbelievehimwhenhesaidhecouldn'ttell.Ithinktheshakinghurthisfeelingsverymuch."
Jotriedtolookpatheticbutmusthavefailed,forMr.Laurencebegantolaugh,andsheknewthedaywaswon.
"I'msorryforthat,andoughttothankhimfornotshakingme,Isuppose.Whatthedickensdoesthefellowexpect?"andtheoldgentlemanlookedatrifleashamedofhisowntestiness.
"IfIwereyou,I'dwritehimanapology,Sir.
Hesayshewon'tcomedowntillhehasone,andtalksaboutWashington,andgoesoninanabsurdway.
Aformalapologywillmakehimseehowfoolishheis,andbringhimdownquiteamiable.Tryit.
Helikesfun,andthiswayisbetterthantalking.
I'llcarryitup,andteachhimhisduty."
Mr.Laurencegaveherasharplook,andputonhisspectacles,sayingslowly,"You'reaslypuss,butIdon'tmindbeingmanagedbyyouandBeth.
Here,givemeabitofpaper,andletushavedonewiththisnonsense."
Thenotewaswritteninthetermswhichonegentlemanwouldusetoanotherafterofferingsomedeepinsult.
JodroppedakissonthetopofMr.Laurence'sbaldhead,andranuptosliptheapologyunderLaurie'sdoor,advisinghimthroughthekeyholetobesubmissive,decorous,andafewotheragreeableimpossibilities.
Findingthedoorlockedagain,sheleftthenotetodoitswork,andwasgoingquietlyaway,whentheyounggentlemansliddownthebanisters,andwaitedforheratthebottom,saying,withhismostvirtuousexpressionofcountenance,"Whatagoodfellowyouare,Jo!Didyougetblownup?"headded,laughing.
"No,hewasprettymild,onthewhole."
"Ah!Igotitallround.Evenyoucastmeoffoverthere,andIfeltjustreadytogotothedeuce,"hebeganapologetically.
"Don'ttalkthatway,turnoveranewleafandbeginagain,Teddy,myson."
"Ikeepturningovernewleaves,andspoilingthem,asIusedtospoilmycopybooks,andImakesomanybeginningsthereneverwillbeanend,"hesaiddolefully.
"Goandeatyourdinner,you'llfeelbetterafterit.Menalwayscroakwhentheyarehungry,"andJowhiskedoutatthefrontdoorafterthat.
"That'sa'label'onmy'sect',"answeredLaurie,quotingAmy,ashewenttopartakeofhumblepiedutifullywithhisgrandfather,whowasquitesaintlyintemperandoverwhelminglyrespectfulinmanneralltherestoftheday.
Everyonethoughtthematterendedandthelittlecloudblownover,butthemischiefwasdone,forthoughothersforgotit,Megremembered.
Sheneveralludedtoacertainperson,butshethoughtofhimagooddeal,dreameddreamsmorethanever,andonceJo,rummaginghersister'sdeskforstamps,foundabitofpaperscribbledoverwiththewords,'Mrs.JohnBrooke',whereatshegroanedtragicallyandcastitintothefire,feelingthatLaurie'sprankhadhastenedtheevildayforher.
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