English
Ittakespeoplealongtimetolearnthedifferencebetweentalentandgenius,especiallyambitiousyoungmenandwomen.
Amywaslearningthisdistinctionthroughmuchtribulation,formistakingenthusiasmforinspiration,sheattemptedeverybranchofartwithyouthfulaudacity.
Foralongtimetherewasalullinthe'mud–pie'business,andshedevotedherselftothefinestpen–and–inkdrawing,inwhichsheshowedsuchtasteandskillthathergracefulhandiworkprovedbothpleasantandprofitable.
Butover–strainedeyescausedpenandinktobelaidasideforaboldattemptatpoker–sketching.
Whilethisattacklasted,thefamilylivedinconstantfearofaconflagration,fortheodorofburningwoodpervadedthehouseatallhours,smokeissuedfromatticandshedwithalarmingfrequency,red–hotpokerslayaboutpromiscuously,andHannahneverwenttobedwithoutapailofwaterandthedinnerbellatherdoorincaseoffire.
Raphael'sfacewasfoundboldlyexecutedontheundersideofthemouldingboard,andBacchusontheheadofabeerbarrel.
Achantingcherubadornedthecoverofthesugarbucket,andattemptstoportrayRomeoandJulietsuppliedkindlingforsometime.
Fromfiretooilwasanaturaltransitionforburnedfingers,andAmyfelltopaintingwithundiminishedardor.
Anartistfriendfittedheroutwithhiscastoffpalettes,brushes,andcolors,andshedaubedaway,producingpastoralandmarineviewssuchaswereneverseenonlandorsea.
Hermonstrositiesinthewayofcattlewouldhavetakenprizesatanagriculturalfair,andtheperilouspitchingofhervesselswouldhaveproducedseasicknessinthemostnauticalobserver,iftheutterdisregardtoallknownrulesofshipbuildingandrigginghadnotconvulsedhimwithlaughteratthefirstglance.
Swarthyboysanddark–eyedMadonnas,staringatyoufromonecornerofthestudio,suggestedMurillo;oilybrownshadowsoffaceswithaluridstreakinthewrongplace,meantRembrandt;buxomladiesanddropiscalinfants,Rubens;andTurnerappearedintempestsofbluethunder,orangelightning,brownrain,andpurpleclouds,withatomato–coloredsplashinthemiddle,whichmightbethesunorabouy,asailor'sshirtoraking'srobe,asthespectatorpleased.
Charcoalportraitscamenext,andtheentirefamilyhunginarow,lookingaswildandcrockyasifjustevokedfromacoalbin.
Softenedintocrayonsketches,theydidbetter,forthelikenessesweregood,andAmy'shair,Jo'snose,Meg'smouth,andLaurie'seyeswerepronounced'wonderfullyfine'.
Areturntoclayandplasterfollowed,andghostlycastsofheracquaintanceshauntedcornersofthehouse,ortumbledoffclosetshelvesontopeople'sheads.
Childrenwereenticedinasmodels,tilltheirincoherentaccountsofhermysteriousdoingscausedMissAmytoberegardedinthelightofayoungogress.
Hereffortsinthisline,however,werebroughttoanabruptclosebyanuntowardaccident,whichquenchedherardor.
Othermodelsfailingherforatime,sheundertooktocastherownprettyfoot,andthefamilywereonedayalarmedbyanunearthlybumpingandscreamingandrunningtotherescue,foundtheyoungenthusiasthoppingwildlyabouttheshedwithherfootheldfastinapanfullofplaster,whichhadhardenedwithunexpectedrapidity.
Withmuchdifficultyandsomedangershewasdugout,forJowassoovercomewithlaughterwhilesheexcavatedthatherknifewenttoofar,cutthepoorfoot,andleftalastingmemorialofoneartisticattempt,atleast.
AfterthisAmysubsided,tillamaniaforsketchingfromnaturesethertohauntingriver,field,andwood,forpicturesquestudies,andsighingforruinstocopy.
Shecaughtendlesscoldssittingondampgrasstobook'adeliciousbit',composedofastone,astump,onemushroom,andabrokenmulleinstalk,or'aheavenlymassofclouds',thatlookedlikeachoicedisplayoffeatherbedswhendone.
Shesacrificedhercomplexionfloatingontheriverinthemidsummersuntostudylightandshade,andgotawrinkleoverhernosetryingafter'pointsofsight',orwhateverthesquint–and–stringperformanceiscalled.
If'geniusiseternalpatience',asMichelangeloaffirms,Amyhadsomeclaimtothedivineattribute,forsheperseveredinspiteofallobstacles,failures,anddiscouragements,firmlybelievingthatintimesheshoulddosomethingworthytobecalled'highart'.
Shewaslearning,doing,andenjoyingotherthings,meanwhile,forshehadresolvedtobeanattractiveandaccomplishedwoman,evenifsheneverbecameagreatartist.
Hereshesucceededbetter,forshewasoneofthosehappilycreatedbeingswhopleasewithouteffort,makefriendseverywhere,andtakelifesogracefullyandeasilythatlessfortunatesoulsaretemptedtobelievethatsucharebornunderaluckystar.
Everybodylikedher,foramonghergoodgiftswastact.
Shehadaninstinctivesenseofwhatwaspleasingandproper,alwayssaidtherightthingtotherightperson,didjustwhatsuitedthetimeandplace,andwassoself–possessedthathersistersusedtosay,"IfAmywenttocourtwithoutanyrehearsalbeforehand,she'dknowexactlywhattodo."
Oneofherweaknesseswasadesiretomovein'ourbestsociety',withoutbeingquitesurewhatthebestreallywas.
Money,position,fashionableaccomplishments,andelegantmannersweremostdesirablethingsinhereyes,andshelikedtoassociatewiththosewhopossessedthem,oftenmistakingthefalseforthetrue,andadmiringwhatwasnotadmirable.
Neverforgettingthatbybirthshewasagentlewoman,shecultivatedheraristocratictastesandfeelings,sothatwhentheopportunitycameshemightbereadytotaketheplacefromwhichpovertynowexcludedher.
"Mylady,"asherfriendscalledher,sincerelydesiredtobeagenuinelady,andwassoatheart,buthadyettolearnthatmoneycannotbuyrefinementofnature,thatrankdoesnotalwaysconfernobility,andthattruebreedingmakesitselffeltinspiteofexternaldrawbacks.
"Iwanttoaskafavorofyou,Mamma,"Amysaid,cominginwithanimportantaironeday.
"Well,littlegirl,whatisit?"repliedhermother,inwhoseeyesthestatelyyoungladystillremained'thebaby'.
"Ourdrawingclassbreaksupnextweek,andbeforethegirlsseparateforthesummer,Iwanttoaskthemouthereforaday.
Theyarewildtoseetheriver,sketchthebrokenbridge,andcopysomeofthethingstheyadmireinmybook.
Theyhavebeenverykindtomeinmanyways,andIamgrateful,fortheyareallrichandIknowIampoor,yettheynevermadeanydifference."
"Whyshouldthey?"andMrs.Marchputthequestionwithwhatthegirlscalledher'MariaTheresaair'.
"YouknowaswellasIthatitdoesmakeadifferencewithnearlyeveryone,sodon'truffleuplikeadear,motherlyhen,whenyourchickensgetpeckedbysmarterbirds.
Theuglyducklingturnedoutaswan,youknow."
andAmysmiledwithoutbitterness,forshepossessedahappytemperandhopefulspirit.
Mrs.Marchlaughed,andsmootheddownhermaternalprideassheasked,"Well,myswan,whatisyourplan?"
"Ishouldliketoaskthegirlsouttolunchnextweek,totakethemforadrivetotheplacestheywanttosee,arowontheriver,perhaps,andmakealittleartisticfeteforthem."
"Thatlooksfeasible.Whatdoyouwantforlunch?Cake,sandwiches,fruit,andcoffeewillbeallthatisnecessary,Isuppose?"
"Oh,dear,no!Wemusthavecoldtongueandchicken,Frenchchocolateandicecream,besides.
Thegirlsareusedtosuchthings,andIwantmylunchtobeproperandelegant,thoughIdoworkformyliving."
"Howmanyyoungladiesarethere?"askedhermother,beginningtolooksober.
"Twelveorfourteenintheclass,butIdaresaytheywon'tallcome."
"Blessme,child,youwillhavetocharteranomnibustocarrythemabout."
"Why,Mother,howcanyouthinkofsuchathing?
Notmorethansixoreightwillprobablycome,soIshallhireabeachwagonandborrowMr.Laurence'scherry–bounce."
(Hannah'spronunciationofchar–a–banc.)
"Allofthiswillbeexpensive,Amy."
"Notvery.I'vecalculatedthecost,andI'llpayforitmyself."
"Don'tyouthink,dear,thatasthesegirlsareusedtosuchthings,andthebestwecandowillbenothingnew,thatsomesimplerplanwouldbepleasantertothem,asachangeifnothingmore,andmuchbetterforusthanbuyingorborrowingwhatwedon'tneed,andattemptingastylenotinkeepingwithourcircumstances?"
"IfIcan'thaveitasIlike,Idon'tcaretohaveitatall.
IknowthatIcancarryitoutperfectlywell,ifyouandthegirlswillhelpalittle,andIdon'tseewhyIcan'tifI'mwillingtopayforit,"saidAmy,withthedecisionwhichoppositionwasapttochangeintoobstinacy.
Mrs.Marchknewthatexperiencewasanexcellentteacher,andwhenitwaspossiblesheleftherchildrentolearnalonethelessonswhichshewouldgladlyhavemadeeasier,iftheyhadnotobjectedtotakingadviceasmuchastheydidsaltsandsenna.
"Verywell,Amy,ifyourheartissetuponit,andyouseeyourwaythroughwithouttoogreatanoutlayofmoney,time,andtemper,I'llsaynomore.
Talkitoverwiththegirls,andwhicheverwayyoudecide,I'lldomybesttohelpyou."
"Thanks,Mother,youarealwayssokind."andawaywentAmytolayherplanbeforehersisters.
Megagreedatonce,andpromisedheraid,gladlyofferinganythingshepossessed,fromherlittlehouseitselftoherverybestsaltspoons.
ButJofrowneduponthewholeprojectandwouldhavenothingtodowithitatfirst.
"Whyintheworldshouldyouspendyourmoney,worryyourfamily,andturnthehouseupsidedownforaparcelofgirlswhodon'tcareasixpenceforyou?
IthoughtyouhadtoomuchprideandsensetotruckletoanymortalwomanjustbecauseshewearsFrenchbootsandridesinacoupe,"saidJo,who,beingcalledfromthetragicclimaxofhernovel,wasnotinthebestmoodforsocialenterprises.
"Idon'ttruckle,andIhatebeingpatronizedasmuchasyoudo!"
returnedAmyindignantly,forthetwostilljangledwhensuchquestionsarose.
"Thegirlsdocareforme,andIforthem,andthere'sagreatdealofkindnessandsenseandtalentamongthem,inspiteofwhatyoucallfashionablenonsense.
Youdon'tcaretomakepeoplelikeyou,togointogoodsociety,andcultivateyourmannersandtastes.
Ido,andImeantomakethemostofeverychancethatcomes.
Youcangothroughtheworldwithyourelbowsoutandyournoseintheair,andcallitindependence,ifyoulike.That'snotmyway."
WhenAmyhadwhettedhertongueandfreedhermindsheusuallygotthebestofit,forsheseldomfailedtohavecommonsenseonherside,whileJocarriedherloveoflibertyandhateofconventionalitiestosuchanunlimitedextentthatshenaturallyfoundherselfworstedinanargument.
Amy'sdefinitionofJo'sideaofindependencewassuchagoodhitthatbothburstoutlaughing,andthediscussiontookamoreamiableturn.
Muchagainstherwill,JoatlengthconsentedtosacrificeadaytoMrs.Grundy,andhelphersisterthroughwhatsheregardedas'anonsensicalbusiness'.
Theinvitationsweresent,nearlyallaccepted,andthefollowingMondaywassetapartforthegrandevent.
Hannahwasoutofhumorbecauseherweek'sworkwasderanged,andprophesiedthat"efthewashin'andironin'warn'tdonereg'lar,nothin'wouldgowellanywheres".
Thishitchinthemainspringofthedomesticmachineryhadabadeffectuponthewholeconcern,butAmy'smottowas'Nildesperandum',andhavingmadeuphermindwhattodo,sheproceededtodoitinspiteofallobstacles.
Tobeginwith,Hannah'scookingdidn'tturnoutwell.
Thechickenwastough,thetonguetoosalty,andthechocolatewouldn'tfrothproperly.
ThenthecakeandicecostmorethanAmyexpected,sodidthewagon,andvariousotherexpenses,whichseemedtriflingattheoutset,countedupratheralarminglyafterward.Bethgotacoldandtooktoherbed.
Meghadanunusualnumberofcallerstokeepherathome,andJowasinsuchadividedstateofmindthatherbreakages,accidents,andmistakeswereuncommonlynumerous,serious,andtrying.
IfitwasnotfaironMonday,theyoungladiesweretocomeonTuesday,anarrangementwhichaggravatedJoandHannahtothelastdegree.
OnMondaymorningtheweatherwasinthatundecidedstatewhichismoreexasperatingthanasteadypour.
Itdrizzledalittle,shonealittle,blewalittle,anddidn'tmakeupitsmindtillitwastoolateforanyoneelsetomakeuptheirs.
Amywasupatdawn,hustlingpeopleoutoftheirbedsandthroughtheirbreakfasts,thatthehousemightbegotinorder.
Theparlorstruckheraslookinguncommonlyshabby,butwithoutstoppingtosighforwhatshehadnot,sheskillfullymadethebestofwhatshehad,arrangingchairsoverthewornplacesinthecarpet,coveringstainsonthewallswithhomemadestatuary,whichgaveanartisticairtotheroom,asdidthelovelyvasesofflowersJoscatteredabout.
Thelunchlookedcharming,andasshesurveyedit,shesincerelyhopeditwouldtastewell,andthattheborrowedglass,china,andsilverwouldgetsafelyhomeagain.
Thecarriageswerepromised,MegandMotherwereallreadytodothehonors,BethwasabletohelpHannahbehindthescenes,Johadengagedtobeaslivelyandamiableasanabsentmind,andachinghead,andaverydecideddisapprovalofeverybodyandeverythingwouldallow,andasshewearilydressed,Amycheeredherselfwithanticipationsofthehappymomentwhen,lunchsafelyover,sheshoulddriveawaywithherfriendsforanafternoonofartisticdelights,forthe'cherrybounce'andthebrokenbridgewereherstrongpoints.
Thencamethehoursofsuspense,duringwhichshevibratedfromparlortoporch,whilepublicopinionvariedliketheweathercock.
Asmartshoweratelevenhadevidentlyquenchedtheenthusiasmoftheyoungladieswhoweretoarriveattwelve,fornobodycame,andattwotheexhaustedfamilysatdowninablazeofsunshinetoconsumetheperishableportionsofthefeast,thatnothingmightbelost.
"Nodoubtabouttheweathertoday,theywillcertainlycome,sowemustflyroundandbereadyforthem,"saidAmy,asthesunwokehernextmorning.
Shespokebriskly,butinhersecretsoulshewishedshehadsaidnothingaboutTuesday,forherinterestlikehercakewasgettingalittlestale.
"Ican'tgetanylobsters,soyouwillhavetodowithoutsaladtoday,"saidMr.March,cominginhalfanhourlater,withanexpressionofplaciddespair.
"Usethechickenthen,thetoughnesswon'tmatterinasalad,"advisedhiswife.
"Hannahleftitonthekitchentableaminute,andthekittensgotatit.I'mverysorry,Amy,"addedBeth,whowasstillapatronessofcats.
"ThenImusthavealobster,fortonguealonewon'tdo,"saidAmydecidedly.
"ShallIrushintotownanddemandone?"askedJo,withthemagnanimityofamartyr.
"You'dcomebringingithomeunderyourarmwithoutanypaper,justtotryme.I'llgomyself,"answeredAmy,whosetemperwasbeginningtofail.
Shroudedinathickveilandarmedwithagenteeltravelingbasket,shedeparted,feelingthatacooldrivewouldsootheherruffledspiritandfitherforthelaborsoftheday.
Aftersomedelay,theobjectofherdesirewasprocured,likewiseabottleofdressingtopreventfurtherlossoftimeathome,andoffshedroveagain,wellpleasedwithherownforethought.
Astheomnibuscontainedonlyoneotherpassenger,asleepyoldlady,Amypocketedherveilandbeguiledthetediumofthewaybytryingtofindoutwhereallhermoneyhadgoneto.
Sobusywasshewithhercardfullofrefractoryfiguresthatshedidnotobserveanewcomer,whoenteredwithoutstoppingthevehicle,tillamasculinevoicesaid,"Goodmorning,MissMarch,"and,lookingup,shebeheldoneofLaurie'smostelegantcollegefriends.
Ferventlyhopingthathewouldgetoutbeforeshedid,Amyutterlyignoredthebasketatherfeet,andcongratulatingherselfthatshehadonhernewtravelingdress,returnedtheyoungman'sgreetingwithherusualsuavityandspirit.
Theygotonexcellently,forAmy'schiefcarewassoonsetatrestbylearningthatthegentlemanwouldleavefirst,andshewaschattingawayinapeculiarlyloftystrain,whentheoldladygotout.
Instumblingtothedoor,sheupsetthebasket,and––ohhorror!
––thelobster,inallitsvulgarsizeandbrilliancy,wasrevealedtothehighborneyesofaTudor!
"ByJove,she'sforgottenherdinner!"criedtheunconsciousyouth,pokingthescarletmonsterintoitsplacewithhiscane,andpreparingtohandoutthebasketaftertheoldlady.
"Pleasedon't––it's––it'smine,"murmuredAmy,withafacenearlyasredasherfish.
"Oh,really,Ibegpardon.It'sanuncommonlyfineone,isn'tit?"saidTudor,withgreatpresenceofmind,andanairofsoberinterestthatdidcredittohisbreeding.
Amyrecoveredherselfinabreath,setherbasketboldlyontheseat,andsaid,laughing,"Don'tyouwishyouweretohavesomeofthesaladhe'sgoingtomake,andtoseethecharmingyoungladieswhoaretoeatit?"
Nowthatwastact,fortwooftherulingfoiblesofthemasculinemindweretouched.
Thelobsterwasinstantlysurroundedbyahaloofpleasingreminiscences,andcuriosityabout'thecharmingyoungladies'divertedhismindfromthecomicalmishap.
"Isupposehe'lllaughandjokeoveritwithLaurie,butIshan'tseethem,that'sacomfort,"thoughtAmy,asTudorbowedanddeparted.
Shedidnotmentionthismeetingathome(thoughshediscoveredthat,thankstotheupset,hernewdresswasmuchdamagedbytherivuletsofdressingthatmeandereddowntheskirt),butwentthroughwiththepreparationswhichnowseemedmoreirksomethanbefore,andattwelveo'clockallwasreadyagain.
Feelingthattheneighborswereinterestedinhermovements,shewishedtoeffacethememoryofyesterday'sfailurebyagrandsuccesstoday,sosheorderedthe'cherrybounce',anddroveawayinstatetomeetandescorthergueststothebanquet.
"There'stherumble,they'recoming!I'llgoontotheporchandmeetthem.
Itlookshospitable,andIwantthepoorchildtohaveagoodtimeafterallhertrouble,"saidMrs.March,suitingtheactiontotheword.
Butafteroneglance,sheretired,withanindescribableexpression,forlookingquitelostinthebigcarriage,satAmyandoneyounglady.
"Run,Beth,andhelpHannahclearhalfthethingsoffthetable.
Itwillbetooabsurdtoputaluncheonfortwelvebeforeasinglegirl,"criedJo,hurryingawaytothelowerregions,tooexcitedtostopevenforalaugh.
IncameAmy,quitecalmanddelightfullycordialtotheoneguestwhohadkeptherpromise.
Therestofthefamily,beingofadramaticturn,playedtheirpartsequallywell,andMissEliottfoundthemamosthilariousset,foritwasimpossibletocontrolentirelythemerrimentwhichpossessedthem.
Theremodeledlunchbeinggailypartakenof,thestudioandgardenvisited,andartdiscussedwithenthusiasm,Amyorderedabuggy(alasfortheelegantcherry–bounce),anddroveherfriendquietlyabouttheneighborhoodtillsunset,when'thepartywentout'.
Asshecamewalkingin,lookingverytiredbutascomposedasever,sheobservedthateveryvestigeoftheunfortunatefetehaddisappeared,exceptasuspiciouspuckeraboutthecornersofJo'smouth.
"You'vehadaloverlyafternoonforyourdrive,dear,"saidhermother,asrespectfullyasifthewholetwelvehadcome.
"MissEliottisaverysweetgirl,andseemedtoenjoyherself,Ithought,"observedBeth,withunusualwarmth.
"Couldyousparemesomeofyourcake?Ireallyneedsome,Ihavesomuchcompany,andIcan'tmakesuchdeliciousstuffasyours,"askedMegsoberly.
"Takeitall.I'mtheonlyoneherewholikessweetthings,anditwillmoldbeforeIcandisposeofit,"answeredAmy,thinkingwithasighofthegenerousstoreshehadlaidinforsuchanendasthis.
"It'sapityLaurieisn'theretohelpus,"beganJo,astheysatdowntoicecreamandsaladforthesecondtimeintwodays.
Awarninglookfromhermothercheckedanyfurtherremarks,andthewholefamilyateinheroicsilence,tillMr.Marchmildlyobserved,"saladwasoneofthefavoritedishesoftheancients,andEvelyn..."Hereageneralexplosionoflaughtercutshortthe'historyofsalads',tothegreatsurpriseofthelearnedgentleman.
"BundleeverythingintoabasketandsendittotheHummels.Germanslikemesses.
I'msickofthesightofthis,andthere'snoreasonyoushouldalldieofasurfeitbecauseI'vebeenafool,"criedAmy,wipinghereyes.
"IthoughtIshouldhavediedwhenIsawyoutwogirlsrattlingaboutinthewhat–you–call–it,liketwolittlekernelsinaverybignutshell,andMotherwaitinginstatetoreceivethethrong,"sighedJo,quitespentwithlaughter.
"I'mverysorryyouweredisappointed,dear,butwealldidourbesttosatisfyyou,"saidMrs.March,inatonefullofmotherlyregret.
"Iamsatisfied.I'vedonewhatIundertook,andit'snotmyfaultthatitfailed.
Icomfortmyselfwiththat,"saidAmywithalittlequiverinhervoice.
"Ithankyouallverymuchforhelpingme,andI'llthankyoustillmoreifyouwon'talludetoitforamonth,atleast."
Noonedidforseveralmonths,buttheword'fete'alwaysproducedageneralsmile,andLaurie'sbirthdaygifttoAmywasatinycorallobsterintheshapeofacharmforherwatchguard.
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