"Have video games until it's cooler. I brought Authors, and I dare say Miss Kate knows some thing new and satisfactory. Go and ask her. She's organization, and you should live along with her more."
"Aren't you enterprise too? I concept she'd healthy Brooke, but he continues speakme to Meg, and Kate just stares at them via that ridiculous glass of hers. I'm going, so you needn't attempt to hold forth propriety, for you can't do it, Jo."
Miss Kate did understand several new games, and as the women could not, and the men couldn't, devour any extra, all of them adjourned to the drawing room to play Rig-marole.
"One character starts offevolved a tale, any nonsense you want, and tells so long as he pleases, handiest taking care to forestall quick at a few thrilling point, whilst the next takes it up and does the identical. It's very humorous whilst nicely accomplished, and makes a great jumble of tragical comical stuff to chuckle over. Please start it, Mr. Brooke," stated Kate, with a commanding air, which amazed Meg, who handled the teach with as much appreciate as any other gentleman.
Lying on the grass at the feet of the two young women, Mr. Brooke obediently commenced the story, with the handsome brown eyes progressively fixed upon the sunshiny river.
"Once on a time, a knight went out into the arena to are seeking his fortune, for he had not anything but his sword and his protect. He traveled a long while, almost 8-and-twenty years, and had a hard time of it, until he came to the palace of a good old king, who had offered a praise to absolutely everyone who could tame and teach a satisfactory but unbroken colt, of which he changed into very fond. The knight agreed to strive, and got on slowly but certainly, for the colt became a gallant fellow, and shortly found out to love his new grasp, even though he became freakish and wild. Every day, while he gave his classes to this pet of the king's, the knight rode him via the city, and as he rode, he looked anywhere for a sure stunning face, which he had visible generally in his desires, but in no way found. One day, as he went prancing down a quiet street, he noticed at the window of a ruinous castle the cute face. He became delighted, inquired who lived in this vintage fortress, and became informed that several captive princesses had been saved there through a spell, and spun all day to lay up money to shop for their liberty. The knight needed intensely that he may want to free them, but he was bad and will only cross through each day, looking for the sweet face and longing to look it out in the sunshine. At last he resolved to get into the citadel and ask how he ought to help them. He went and knocked. The first rate door flew open, and he beheld..."
"A ravishingly lovable girl, who exclaimed, with a cry of rapture, 'At remaining! At ultimate!'" continued Kate, who had read French novels, and widespread the style. "'Tis she!' cried Count Gustave, and fell at her ft in an ecstasy of pleasure. 'Oh, upward push!' she said, extending a hand of marble fairness. 'Never! Till you inform me how I might also rescue you,' swore the knight, nonetheless kneeling. 'Alas, my cruel destiny condemns me to stay right here until my tyrant is destroyed.' 'Where is the villain?' 'In the mauve salon. Go, courageous coronary heart, and save me from melancholy.' 'I obey, and return effective or dead!' With these interesting words he rushed away, and flinging open the door of the mauve salon, changed into approximately to go into, whilst he acquired..."
"A stunning blow from the big Greek lexicon, which an old fellow in a black robe fired at him," stated Ned. "Instantly, Sir What's-his-call recovered himself, pitched the tyrant out of the window, and became to sign up for the girl, victorious, however with a bump on his forehead, found the door locked, tore up the curtains, made a rope ladder, got halfway down whilst the ladder broke, and he went headfirst into the moat, sixty ft below. Could swim like a duck, paddled spherical the castle till he came to a little door guarded with the aid of stout fellows, knocked their heads collectively till they cracked like more than one nuts, then, by way of a mere exertion of his prodigious power, he smashed within the door, went up a couple of stone steps blanketed with dust a foot thick, toads as large as your fist, and spiders that would frighten you into hysterics, Miss March. At the top of these steps he got here plump upon a sight that took his breath away and chilled his blood..."
"A tall determine, all in white with a veil over its face and a lamp in its wasted hand," went on Meg. "It beckoned, gliding noiselessly before him down a corridor as dark and bloodless as any tomb. Shadowy effigies in armor stood on both facet, a dead silence reigned, the lamp burned blue, and the ghostly parent ever and anon turned its face toward him, displaying the glitter of awful eyes through its white veil. They reached a curtained door, in the back of which sounded lovely song. He sprang ahead to go into, but the specter plucked him again, and waved threateningly earlier than him a..."
"Snuffbox," stated Jo, in a sepulchral tone, which convulsed the target market. "'Thankee,' stated the knight with politeness, as he took a pinch and sneezed seven instances so violently that his head fell off. 'Ha! Ha!' laughed the ghost, and having peeped via the keyhole at the princesses spinning away for expensive life, the evil spirit picked up her victim and positioned him in a large tin field, in which there were eleven other knights packed collectively without their heads, like sardines, who all rose and started to..."
"Dance a hornpipe," cut in Fred, as Jo paused for breath, "and, as they danced, the rubbishy vintage fortress turned to a man-of-war in full sail. 'Up with the jib, reef the tops'l halliards, helm hard alee, and man the weapons!' roared the captain, as a Portuguese pirate hove in sight, with a flag black as ink flying from her foremast. 'Go in and win, my hearties!' says the captain, and a superb fight started. Of route the British beat—they continually do."
"No, they do not!" cried Jo, aside.
"Having taken the pirate captain prisoner, sailed slap over the schooner, whose decks had been piled high with useless and whose lee scuppers ran blood, for the order had been 'Cutlasses, and die difficult!' 'Bosun's mate, take a bight of the flying-jib sheet, and begin this villain if he doesn't confess his sins double brief,' stated the British captain. The Portuguese held his tongue like a brick, and walked the plank, at the same time as the jolly tars cheered like mad. But the sly canine dived, came up underneath the person-of-warfare, scuttled her, and down she went, with all sail set, 'To the bottom of the sea, sea, sea' in which..."
"Oh, gracious! What shall I say?" cried Sallie, as Fred ended his rigmarole, in which he had jumbled together pell-mell nautical phrases and facts out of one among his favourite books. "Well, they went to the lowest, and a pleasant mermaid welcomed them, but turned into plenty grieved on finding the container of headless knights, and kindly pickled them in brine, hoping to find out the mystery about them, for being a girl, she became curious. By-and-by using a diver came down, and the mermaid stated, 'I'll give you a container of pearls if you could take it up,' for she desired to restore the terrible matters to existence, and could not enhance the heavy load herself. So the diver hoisted it up, and was a lot disenchanted on starting it to discover no pearls. He left it in a extremely good lonely subject, wherein it changed into determined via a..."
"Little goose woman, who stored one hundred fats geese in the subject," said Amy, while Sallie's invention gave out. "The little girl turned into sorry for them, and asked an antique girl what she ought to do to assist them. 'Your ducks will let you know, they understand everything.' stated the old lady. So she requested what she have to use for new heads, because the vintage ones have been lost, and all of the geese opened their hundred mouths and screamed..."
"'Cabbages!'" persevered Laurie promptly. "'Just the element,' stated the female, and ran to get twelve great ones from her garden. She put them on, the knights revived without delay, thanked her, and went on their way rejoicing, in no way understanding the distinction, for there have been so many other heads like them in the international that nobody idea anything of it. The knight in whom I'm interested went again to locate the quite face, and found out that the princesses had spun themselves loose and all long past and married, but one. He ch
anged into in a first rate kingdom of mind at that, and mounting the colt, who stood through him thru thick and skinny, rushed to the fort to look which was left. Peeping over the hedge, he noticed the queen of his affections choosing vegetation in her garden. 'Will you give me a rose?' said he. 'You have to come and get it. I can't come to you, it is not proper,' stated she, as candy as honey. He tried to climb over the hedge, however it regarded to grow higher and better. Then he attempted to push thru, but it grew thicker and thicker, and he become in melancholy. So he patiently broke twig after twig until he had made a bit hollow through which he peeped, saying imploringly, 'Let me in! Let me in!' But the quite princess did not seem to understand, for she picked her roses quietly, and left him to combat his manner in. Whether he did or not, Frank will inform you."
"I cannot. I'm not gambling, I never do," said Frank, dismayed on the sentimental predicament out of which he become to rescue the absurd couple. Beth had disappeared behind Jo, and Grace turned into asleep.
"So the poor knight is to be left sticking inside the hedge, is he?" asked Mr. Brooke, nonetheless looking the river, and gambling with the wild rose in his buttonhole.
"I bet the princess gave him a posy, and opened the gate after a while," stated Laurie, smiling to himself, as he threw acorns at his teach.
"What a piece of nonsense we've got made! With exercise we would do something pretty clever. Do you already know Truth?"
"I desire so," said Meg soberly.
"The sport, I suggest?"
"What is it?" stated Fred.
"Why, you pile up your arms, select quite a number, and draw out in turn, and the person that draws on the quantity has to answer virtually any query put by using the relaxation. It's remarkable a laugh."
"Let's attempt it," said Jo, who preferred new experiments.
Miss Kate and Mr. Brooke, Meg, and Ned declined, but Fred, Sallie, Jo, and Laurie piled and drew, and the lot fell to Laurie.
"Who are your heroes?" requested Jo.
"Grandfather and Napoleon."
"Which woman here do you suspect prettiest?" said Sallie.
"Margaret."
"Which do you like exceptional?" from Fred.
"Jo, of course."
"What stupid questions you ask!" And Jo gave a disdainful shrug because the rest laughed at Laurie's remember-of-fact tone.
"Try again. Truth isn't a horrific game," said Fred.
"It's a superb one for you," retorted Jo in a low voice. Her flip came next.
"What is your finest fault?" requested Fred, by means of manner of testing in her the distinctive feature he lacked himself.
"A brief mood."
"What do you most desire for?" stated Laurie.
"A pair of boot lacings," lower back Jo, guessing and defeating his reason.
"Not a real answer. You must say what you genuinely do need most."
"Genius. Don't you wish you could provide it to me, Laurie?" And she slyly smiled in his disillusioned face.
"What virtues do you most respect in a man?" asked Sallie.
"Courage and honesty."
"Now my flip," stated Fred, as his hand got here remaining.
"Let's supply it to him," whispered Laurie to Jo, who nodded and requested straight away...
"Didn't you cheat at croquet?"
"Well, sure, a little bit."
"Good! Didn't you are taking your tale out of The Sea Lion?" stated Laurie.
"Rather."
"Don't you watched the English kingdom ideal in each admire?" requested Sallie.
"I need to be embarrassed about myself if I failed to."
"He's a real John Bull. Now, Miss Sallie, you shall have a risk with out ready to attract. I'll harrrow up your feelings first by asking in case you do not think you're something of a flirt," stated Laurie, as Jo nodded to Fred as a sign that peace changed into declared.
"You impertinent boy! Of path I'm now not," exclaimed Sallie, with an air that proved the contrary.
"What do you hate most?" asked Fred.
"Spiders and rice pudding."
"What do you like first-class?" asked Jo.
"Dancing and French gloves."
"Well, I think Truth is a totally silly play. Let's have a realistic game of Authors to refresh our minds," proposed Jo.
Ned, Frank, and the little ladies joined on this, and while it went on, the 3 elders sat aside, speakme. Miss Kate took out her caricature once more, and Margaret watched her, whilst Mr. Brooke lay on the grass with a e-book, which he did now not read.
"How beautifully you do it! I wish I ought to draw," said Meg, with mingled admiration and regret in her voice.
"Why don't you learn? I have to think you had flavor and talent for it," spoke back Miss Kate graciously.
"I have not time."
"Your mamma prefers different accomplishments, I fancy. So did mine, however I proved to her that I had skills by taking some instructions privately, and then she was quite inclined I need to move on. Can't you do the identical along with your governess?"
"I have none."
"I forgot young ladies in America pass to highschool more than with us. Very exceptional faculties they may be, too, Papa says. You visit a non-public one, I suppose?"
"I do not pass at all. I am a governess myself."
"Oh, certainly!" stated Miss Kate, however she would possibly as nicely have said, "Dear me, how dreadful!" for her tone implied it, and something in her face made Meg coloration, and desire she had now not been so frank.
Mr. Brooke seemed up and stated quick, "Young ladies in America love independence as lots as their ancestors did, and are famous and revered for supporting themselves."
"Oh, sure, of direction it's very fine and proper in them to do so. We have many most first rate and worth younger girls who do the same and are hired by using the nobility, because, being the daughters of gents, they're each properly bred and completed, you know," stated Miss Kate in a patronizing tone that hurt Meg's satisfaction, and made her paintings seem no longer best greater distasteful, however degrading.
"Did the German song healthy, Miss March?" inquired Mr. Brooke, breaking an awkward pause.
"Oh, yes! It turned into very candy, and I'm a whole lot obliged to whoever translated it for me." And Meg's downcast face brightened as she spoke.
"Don't you study German?" asked Miss Kate with a look of marvel.
"Not thoroughly. My father, who taught me, is away, and I do not get on very fast on my own, for I've no person to accurate my pronunciation."
"Try a bit now. Here is Schiller's Mary Stuart and a teach who loves to train." And Mr. Brooke laid his e book on her lap with an inviting smile.
"It's so hard I'm afraid to strive," said Meg, grateful, but bashful within the presence of the carried out young female beside her.
"I'll study a piece to encourage you." And Miss Kate study one of the maximum beautiful passages in a superbly correct however perfectly expressionless way.
Mr. Brooke made no comment as she again the e-book to Meg, who said innocently, "I thought it changed into poetry."
"Some of it's miles. Try this passage."
There became a queer smile about Mr. Brooke's mouth as he opened at bad Mary's lament.
Meg obediently following the lengthy grass-blade which her new teach used to factor with, study slowly and timidly, unconsciously making poetry of the difficult phrases with the aid of the gentle intonation of her musical voice. Down the page went the green guide, and presently, forgetting her listener in the splendor of the sad scene, Meg study as though by myself, giving a touch touch of tragedy to the words of the unhappy queen. If she had visible the brown eyes then, she might have stopped brief, but she never appeared up, and the lesson turned into now not spoiled for her.
"Very nicely certainly!" stated Mr. Brooke, as she paused, quite ignoring her many errors, and looking as though he did indeed love to educate.
Miss Kate placed up her glass, and, having taken a survey of the little tabl
eau earlier than her, close her cartoon e book, announcing with condescension, "You've a pleasing accent and in time could be a clever reader. I propose you to analyze, for German is a treasured accomplishment to instructors. I should appearance after Grace, she is romping." And Miss Kate strolled away, adding to herself with a shrug, "I didn't come to chaperone a governess, although she is younger and pretty. What atypical people those Yankees are. I'm afraid Laurie might be pretty spoiled among them."
"I forgot that English human beings alternatively turn up their noses at governesses and don't treat them as we do," stated Meg, searching after the taking flight figure with an irritated expression.
"Tutors also have as an alternative a difficult time of it there, as I understand to my sorrow. There's no area like America for us people, Miss Margaret." And Mr. Brooke looked so contented and cheerful that Meg become ashamed to lament her tough lot.
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