"Daisy, dear, I've sent an invite to your buddy, Mr. Laurence, for Thursday. We should like to realize him, and it is simplest a proper praise to you."
Meg colored, but a mischievous fancy to tease the ladies made her reply demurely, "You are very kind, however I'm afraid he might not come."
"Why no longer, Cherie?" asked Miss Belle.
"He's too old."
"My infant, what do you mean? What is his age, I beg to know!" cried Miss Clara.
"Nearly seventy, I consider," replied Meg, counting stitches to hide the merriment in her eyes.
"You sly creature! Of path we intended the young man," exclaimed Miss Belle, laughing.
"There is not any, Laurie is only a bit boy." And Meg laughed additionally on the queer appearance which the sisters exchanged as she therefore defined her meant lover.
"About your age," Nan said.
"Nearer my sister Jo's; I am seventeen in August," lower back Meg, tossing her head.
"It's very exceptional of him to ship you flora, isn't always it?" said Annie, searching sensible approximately not anything.
"Yes, he regularly does, to anybody, for their residence is full, and we are so keen on them. My mom and antique Mr. Laurence are buddies, you realize, so it's miles pretty herbal that we children ought to play collectively," and Meg hoped they might say no greater.
"It's obvious Daisy is not out yet," stated Miss Clara to Belle with a nod.
"Quite a pastoral nation of innocence all spherical," lower back Miss Belle with a shrug.
"I'm going out to get a few little matters for my girls. Can I do some thing for you, younger girls?" asked Mrs. Moffat, lumbering in like an elephant in silk and lace.
"No, thank you, ma'am," replied Sallie. "I've got my new red silk for Thursday and do not need a thing."
"Nor I..." started Meg, but stopped because it took place to her that she did want several matters and couldn't have them.
"What shall you put on?" asked Sallie.
"My old white one again, if I can mend it fit to be visible, it were given unluckily torn ultimate night," said Meg, attempting to talk quite easily, however feeling very uncomfortable.
"Why do not you send domestic for any other?" stated Sallie, who become not an staring at younger lady.
"I haven't got some other." It price Meg an attempt to mention that, but Sallie did now not see it and exclaimed in amiable marvel, "Only that? How humorous..." She did not end her speech, for Belle shook her head at her and broke in, saying kindly...
"Not at all. Where is the use of having loads of clothes while she is not out yet? There's no want of sending home, Daisy, even in case you had a dozen, for I've were given a candy blue silk laid away, which I've outgrown, and you shall wear it to delight me, might not you, dear?"
"You are very kind, however I do not mind my old get dressed if you don't, it does properly enough for a touch lady like me," said Meg.
"Now do permit me please myself by dressing you up in style. I recognize to do it, and you would be a everyday little beauty with a hint here and there. I shan't let every body see you till you're completed, and then we will burst upon them like Cinderella and her godmother going to the ball," said Belle in her persuasive tone.
Meg could not refuse the offer so kindly made, for a desire to see if she would be 'a touch beauty' after touching up induced her to accept and forget all her former uncomfortable emotions towards the Moffats.
On the Thursday nighttime, Belle shut herself up with her maid, and among them they turned Meg right into a excellent woman. They crimped and curled her hair, they polished her neck and hands with some fragrant powder, touched her lips with coralline salve to lead them to redder, and Hortense could have added 'a soupcon of rouge', if Meg had now not rebelled. They laced her right into a sky-blue get dressed, which changed into so tight she could hardly ever breathe and so low inside the neck that modest Meg blushed at herself within the mirror. A set of silver filagree turned into introduced, bracelets, necklace, brooch, or even jewelry, for Hortense tied them on with a piece of pink silk which did not show. A cluster of tea-rose buds on the bosom, and a ruche, reconciled Meg to the display of her pretty, white shoulders, and 2 high-heeled silk boots satisfied the closing wish of her coronary heart. A lace handkerchief, a plumy fan, and a bouquet in a shoulder holder completed her off, and Miss Belle surveyed her with the satisfaction of a little female with a newly dressed doll.
"Mademoiselle is charmante, tres jolie, is she now not?" cried Hortense, clasping her fingers in an affected rapture.
"Come and show yourself," said Miss Belle, leading the manner to the room wherein the others had been waiting.
As Meg went rustling after, along with her lengthy skirts trailing, her earrings tinkling, her curls waving, and her coronary heart beating, she felt as though her fun had absolutely all started at closing, for the replicate had it appears that evidently advised her that she turned into 'a little splendor'. Her buddies repeated the beautiful word enthusiastically, and for numerous mins she stood, like a jackdaw in the fantasy, enjoying her borrowed plumes, whilst the relaxation chattered like a party of magpies.
"While I get dressed, do you drill her, Nan, inside the control of her skirt and people French heels, or she will experience herself up. Take your silver butterfly, and trap up that long curl at the left facet of her head, Clara, and don't any of you disturb the captivating paintings of my arms," said Belle, as she moved quickly away, searching nicely pleased along with her fulfillment.
"You don't appearance a piece like your self, but you are very pleasant. I'm nowhere beside you, for Belle has lots of flavor, and you are pretty French, I assure you. Let your vegetation hold, do not be so careful of them, and make certain you don't experience," again Sallie, attempting now not to care that Meg became prettier than herself.
Keeping that warning carefully in mind, Margaret got properly down stairs and sailed into the drawing rooms where the Moffats and a few early visitors had been assembled. She very quickly found that there's a allure approximately fine clothes which attracts a sure elegance of people and secures their appreciate. Several younger women, who had taken no notice of her before, had been very affectionate all of a surprising. Several younger gents, who had only stared at her at the alternative celebration, no longer simplest stared, but asked to be added, and said all manner of foolish but agreeable matters to her, and numerous antique women, who sat on the sofas, and criticized the rest of the celebration, inquired who she become with an air of hobby. She heard Mrs. Moffat respond to one in every of them...
"Daisy March—father a colonel within the army—one of our first households, but reverses of fortune, ; intimate buddies of the Laurences; sweet creature, I assure you; my Ned is quite wild about her."
"Dear me!" stated the old female, putting up her glass for every other commentary of Meg, who attempted to look as if she had now not heard and been alternatively greatly surprised at Mrs. Moffat's fibs. The 'queer feeling' did not skip away, however she imagined herself appearing the brand new part of excellent female and so were given on pretty well, though the tight dress gave her a side-ache, the teach stored getting beneath her feet, and she or he changed into in regular fear lest her rings have to fly off and wander away or broken. She turned into flirting her fan and guffawing at the feeble jokes of a young gentleman who attempted to be witty, while she all at once stopped guffawing and appeared confused, for simply opposite, she saw Laurie. He changed into observing her with undisguised marvel, and disapproval additionally, she notion, for although he bowed and smiled, but something in his honest eyes made her blush and wish she had her antique dress on. To complete her confusion, she noticed Belle nudge Annie, and both glance from her to Laurie, who, she turned into satisfied to look, regarded unusually boyish and shy.
"Silly creatures, to place such thoughts into my head. I won't care for it, or permit it trade me a piece," idea Meg, and rustled across the room to shake hands together with her friend.
"I'm satisfied you got here, I changed into afraid you wouldn't." she said, together with her most grown-up air.
"Jo desired me to return, and inform her the way you seemed, so I did," replied Laurie, without turning his eyes upon her, though he half of smiled at her maternal tone.
"What shall you inform her?" requested Meg, full of interest to recognize his opinion of her, yet feeling ill comfortable with him for the first time.
"I shall say I did not recognize you, for you appearance so grown-up and not like yourself, I'm quite afraid of you," he said, fumbling at his glove button.
"How absurd of you! The ladies dressed me up for a laugh, and I instead adore it. Wouldn't Jo stare if she noticed me?" stated Meg, bent on making him say whether he notion her stepped forward or no longer.
"Yes, I think she could," returned Laurie gravely.
"Don't you like me so?" asked Meg.
"No, I don't," turned into the blunt respond.
"Why not?" in an anxious tone.
He glanced at her frizzled head, bare shoulders, and fairly trimmed get dressed with an expression that abashed her greater than his solution, which had not a particle of his standard politeness in it.
"I don't like fuss and feathers."
That was altogether an excessive amount of from a lad younger than herself, and Meg walked away, announcing petulantly, "You are the rudest boy I ever noticed."
Feeling very a lot ruffled, she went and stood at a quiet window to cool her cheeks, for the tight get dressed gave her an uncomfortably terrific colour. As she stood there, Major Lincoln exceeded by, and a minute after she heard him saying to his mom...
"They are creating a fool of that little girl. I desired you to peer her, but they've spoiled her entirely. She's not anything but a doll this night."
"Oh, expensive!" sighed Meg. "I desire I'd been practical and worn my very own things, then I ought to no longer have disgusted different people, or felt so uncomfortable and ashamed of myself."
She leaned her forehead at the cool pane, and stood half hidden by means of the curtains, by no means minding that her preferred waltz had began, till some one touched her, and turning, she saw Laurie, searching penitent, as he stated, with his very quality bow and his hand out...
"Please forgive my rudeness, and come and dance with me."
"I'm afraid it will be too disagreeable to you," stated Meg, seeking to look indignant and failing absolutely.
"Not a piece of it, I'm death to do it. Come, I'll be exact. I don't like your gown, however I do think you are simply super." And he waved his palms, as though words did not express his admiration.
Meg smiled and relented, and whispered as they stood ready to trap the time, "Take care my skirt would not experience you up. It's the plague of my existence and I turned into a goose to wear it."
"Pin it round your neck, and then it will likely be useful," stated Laurie, searching down at the little blue boots, which he evidently accredited of.
Away they went fleetly and gracefully, for having practiced at home, they were well matched, and the blithe younger couple had been a pleasing sight to look, as they twirled merrily round and round, feeling greater friendly than ever after their small tiff.
"Laurie, I need you to do me a want, will you?" stated Meg, as he stood fanning her when her breath gave out, which it did very quickly though she could not own why.
"Won't I!" said Laurie, with alacrity.
"Please don't tell them at domestic about my get dressed tonight. They might not apprehend the comic story, and it's going to worry Mother."
"Then why did you do it?" said Laurie's eyes, so it seems that that Meg swiftly introduced...
"I shall inform them myself all approximately it, and 'fess' to Mother how silly I've been. But I'd alternatively do it myself. So you will not tell, will you?"
"I provide you with my word I might not, handiest what shall I say once they question me?"
"Just say I regarded quite nicely and changed into having an awesome time."
"I'll say the primary with all my coronary heart, but how about the opposite? You don't look as in case you had been having an amazing time. Are you?" And Laurie looked at her with an expression which made her answer in a whisper...
"No, no longer simply now. Don't suppose I'm horrid. I handiest wanted a bit a laugh, but this type does not pay, I discover, and I'm getting bored with it."
"Here comes Ned Moffat. What does he need?" stated Laurie, knitting his black brows as though he did no longer regard his young host inside the light of a pleasant addition to the birthday party.
"He placed his call down for 3 dances, and I suppose he is coming for them. What a bore!" stated Meg, assuming a languid air which amused Laurie immensely.
He did no longer talk to her again till suppertime, while he noticed her ingesting champagne with Ned and his friend Fisher, who were behaving 'like a pair of fools', as Laurie stated to himself, for he felt a brotherly type of proper to observe over the Marches and combat their battles whenever a defender was wished.
"You'll have a splitting headache day after today, if you drink a good deal of that. I would not, Meg, your mom does not love it, ," he whispered, leaning over her chair, as Ned became to top off her glass and Fisher stooped to pick out up her fan.
"I'm not Meg tonight, I'm 'a doll' who does all varieties of loopy matters. Tomorrow I shall put away my 'fuss and feathers' and be desperately true once more," she spoke back with an affected little chuckle.
"Wish day after today become right here, then," muttered Laurie, on foot off, ill-thrilled on the alternate he noticed in her.
Meg danced and flirted, chattered and giggled, as the opposite girls did. After supper she undertook the German, and blundered thru it, nearly scary her associate together with her long skirt, and romping in a way that scandalized Laurie, who seemed on and pondered a lecture. But he were given no chance to supply it, for Meg saved faraway from him until he got here to mention top night.
"Remember!" she said, seeking to smile, for the splitting headache had already began.
"Silence a l. A. Mort," replied Laurie, with a melodramatic flourish, as he went away.
This little little bit of byplay excited Annie's interest, but Meg become too worn-out for gossip and went to bed, feeling as though she have been to a masquerade and hadn't loved herself as lots as she predicted. She was sick all tomorrow, and on Saturday went home, pretty used up along with her fortnight's a laugh and feeling that she had 'sat inside the lap of luxurious' long enough.
"It does seem exceptional to be quiet, and no longer have employer manners on all the time. Home is a nice region, even though it is not notable," stated Meg, looking about her with a restful expression, as she sat together with her mother and Jo on the Sunday nighttime.
"I'm glad to hear you say so, dear, for I became afraid home might seem stupid and negative to you after your pleasant quarters," replied her mom, who had given her many aggravating looks that day. For motherly eyes are quick to look any alternate in children's faces.
Meg had instructed her adventures gayly and said again and again what a charming time she had had, but something still regarded to weigh upon her spirits, and while the more youthful ladies have been long gone to bed, she sat thoughtfully staring at the hearth, pronouncing little and looking involved. As the clock struck 9 and Jo proposed bed, Meg unexpectedly left her chair and, taking Beth's stool, leaned her elbows on her mom's knee, pronouncing bravely...
"Marmee, I need to 'fess'."
"I concept so. What is it, dear?"
"Shall I go away?" asked Jo discreetly.
"Of direction no longer. Don't I usually inform you the whole thing? I become ashamed to talk of it before the younger children, but I want you to recognize all of the dreadful things I did on the Moffats'."
"We are organized," said Mrs. March, smiling but looking a touch disturbing.
"I told you they dressed me up, but I failed to inform you that they powdered and sque
ezed and frizzled, and made me appear to be a style-plate. Laurie notion I wasn't proper. I recognize he did, even though he didn't say so, and one guy called me 'a doll'. I knew it turned into stupid, but they flattered me and said I changed into a splendor, and quantities of nonsense, so I allow them to make a fool of me."
"Is that all?" asked Jo, as Mrs. March regarded silently at the downcast face of her quite daughter, and couldn't locate it in her heart responsible her little follies.
"No, I drank champagne and romped and tried to flirt, and become altogether abominable," said Meg self-reproachfully.
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