Margaret regarded to locate it a little hard to tell hers, and waved a brake earlier than her face, as though to disperse imaginary gnats, while she stated slowly, "I ought to like a adorable residence, full of all forms of pricey things—first-class food, pretty garments, handsome furnishings, high-quality humans, and heaps of cash. I am to be mistress of it, and manage it as I like, with lots of servants, so I in no way want paintings a bit. How I should experience it! For I wouldn't be idle, but do proper, and make every person love me dearly."
"Wouldn't you've got a master to your fortress in the air?" requested Laurie slyly.
"I stated 'pleasant people', you realize," and Meg carefully tied up her shoe as she spoke, so that nobody saw her face.
"Why do not you assert you'd have a brilliant, clever, top husband and some angelic little kids? You realize your fortress would not be best with out," said blunt Jo, who had no soft fancies but, and rather scorned romance, besides in books.
"You'd have nothing but horses, inkstands, and novels in yours," replied Meg petulantly.
"Wouldn't I although? I'd have a solid full of Arabian steeds, rooms piled excessive with books, and I'd write out of a magic inkstand, so that my works must be as famous as Laurie's tune. I want to do something high-quality before I go into my castle, some thing heroic or extremely good that might not be forgotten after I'm dead. I do not know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and imply to astonish you all a few day. I assume I shall write books, and get wealthy and well-known, that would suit me, so that is my favored dream."
"Mine is to live at domestic secure with Father and Mother, and help take care of the family," stated Beth contentedly.
"Don't you desire for whatever else?" requested Laurie.
"Since I had my little piano, I am flawlessly satisfied. I best want we may additionally all maintain properly and be together, nothing else."
"I actually have ever so many wishes, however the puppy one is to be an artist, and go to Rome, and do excellent photographs, and be the quality artist within the complete international," was Amy's modest preference.
"We're an bold set, are not we? Every one folks, however Beth, wants to be wealthy and well-known, and gorgeous in each recognize. I do surprise if any folks will ever get our desires," said Laurie, chewing grass like a meditative calf.
"I've got the key to my citadel within the air, but whether or not I can release the door remains to be seen," found Jo mysteriously.
"I've got the important thing to mine, however I'm now not allowed to try it. Hang university!" muttered Laurie with an impatient sigh.
"Here's mine!" and Amy waved her pencil.
"I haven't were given any," stated Meg forlornly.
"Yes, you have got," said Laurie right away.
"Where?"
"In your face."
"Nonsense, it truly is of little need."
"Wait and notice if it does not carry you some thing worth having," replied the boy, giggling at the concept of a captivating little secret which he fancied he knew.
Meg colored in the back of the brake, but asked no questions and seemed throughout the river with the identical expectant expression which Mr. Brooke had worn whilst he instructed the story of the knight.
"If we are all alive ten years consequently, allow's meet, and see how lots of us have were given our wishes, or how a good deal closer we are then than now," stated Jo, constantly ready with a plan.
"Bless me! How old I shall be, twenty-seven!" exclaimed Meg, who felt grown up already, having just reached seventeen.
"You and I will be twenty-six, Teddy, Beth twenty-four, and Amy twenty-two. What a venerable birthday celebration!" stated Jo.
"I wish I shall have completed something to be proud of via that point, however I'm one of these lazy dog, I'm afraid I shall dawdle, Jo."
"You need a purpose, Mother says, and whilst you get it, she is sure you'll paintings splendidly."
"Is she? By Jupiter, I will, if I simplest get the hazard!" cried Laurie, sitting up with sudden strength. "I have to be satisfied to please Grandfather, and I do strive, but it is working against the grain, you spot, and is derived difficult. He desires me to be an India service provider, as he turned into, and I'd instead be shot. I hate tea and silk and spices, and each sort of rubbish his vintage ships deliver, and I don't care how quickly they go to the lowest once I own them. Going to university ought to fulfill him, for if I provide him four years he should allow me off from the business. But he is set, and I've got to do just as he did, except I damage away and please myself, as my father did. If there has been each person left to stay with the antique gentleman, I'd do it the next day."
Laurie spoke excitedly, and appeared prepared to hold his hazard into execution on the slightest provocation, for he changed into growing up very fast and, in spite of his indolent ways, had a younger man's hatred of subjection, a young guy's restless longing to try the world for himself.
"I endorse you to sail away in one in every of your ships, and in no way come home again until you have got attempted your own manner," stated Jo, whose imagination changed into fired via the thought of this type of daring take advantage of, and whose sympathy was excited through what she referred to as 'Teddy's Wrongs'.
"That's no longer proper, Jo. You mustn't communicate in that manner, and Laurie mustn't take your terrible advice. You should do just what your grandfather desires, my dear boy," said Meg in her maximum maternal tone. "Do your first-rate at college, and while he sees which you try to please him, I'm certain he won't be hard on you or unjust to you. As you say, there's no one else to stay with and love him, and you'd never forgive yourself in case you left him without his permission. Don't be dismal or be anxious, however do your duty and you may get your praise, as correct Mr. Brooke has, through being respected and cherished."
"What do you already know approximately him?" requested Laurie, thankful for the coolest advice, but objecting to the lecture, and happy to show the conversation from himself after his unusual outbreak.
"Only what your grandpa advised us about him, how he took top care of his personal mom until she died, and wouldn't go overseas as instruct to some quality character due to the fact he would not leave her. And how he affords now for an vintage girl who nursed his mom, and by no means tells every person, but is just as beneficiant and patient and suitable as he can be."
"So he's, dear antique fellow!" stated Laurie heartily, as Meg paused, searching flushed and earnest along with her story. "It's like Grandpa to find out all approximately him with out letting him recognize, and to tell all his goodness to others, in order that they might like him. Brooke could not apprehend why your mom changed into so kind to him, asking him over with me and treating him in her lovely pleasant manner. He concept she turned into just ideal, and mentioned it for days and days, and went on approximately you all in flaming style. If ever I do get my wish, you notice what I'll do for Brooke."
"Begin to do something now via no longer plaguing his life out," stated Meg sharply.
"How do you realize I do, Miss?"
"I can usually inform by means of his face whilst he is going away. If you've got been correct, he looks satisfied and walks promptly. If you have plagued him, he's sober and walks slowly, as if he desired to head lower back and do his work better."
"Well, I like that? So you hold an account of my proper and awful marks in Brooke's face, do you? I see him bow and smile as he passes your window, however I did not recognize you'd were given up a telegraph."
"We haven't. Don't be indignant, and oh, don't inform him I said some thing! It become only to show that I cared how you get on, and what is said here is said in self belief, you realize," cried Meg, much alarmed at the idea of what would possibly comply with from her careless speech.
"I do not tell testimonies," responded Laurie, with his 'excessive and mighty' air, as Jo called a positive expression which he once in a while wore. "Only if Brooke goes to be a thermometer, I have to mind and have honest climate for him to r
ecord."
"Please do not be indignant. I did not mean to preach or inform testimonies or be stupid. I handiest idea Jo became encouraging you in a sense that you'd be sorry for with the aid of-and-with the aid of. You are so kind to us, we sense as if you were our brother and say just what we think. Forgive me, I supposed it kindly." And Meg supplied her hand with a gesture each affectionate and timid.
Ashamed of his short-term pique, Laurie squeezed the type little hand, and said frankly, "I'm the one to be forgiven. I'm cross and were out of types all day. I want to have you ever tell me my faults and be sisterly, so do not mind if I am grumpy every now and then. I thanks all the same."
Bent on showing that he become now not offended, he made himself as agreeable as viable, wound cotton for Meg, recited poetry to delight Jo, shook down cones for Beth, and helped Amy with her ferns, proving himself a in shape individual to belong to the 'Busy Bee Society'. In the midst of an animated dialogue on the domestic behavior of turtles (one of these amiable creatures having strolled up from the river), the faint sound of a bell warned them that Hannah had positioned the tea 'to draw', and they might simply have time to get home to supper.
"May I come again?" asked Laurie.
"Yes, in case you are right, and love your e book, as the men in the primer are told to do," stated Meg, smiling.
"I'll strive."
"Then you could come, and I'll train you to knit as the Scotchmen do. There's a call for for socks just now," delivered Jo, waving hers like a massive blue worsted banner as they parted at the gate.
That night time, when Beth performed to Mr. Laurence within the twilight, Laurie, status in the shadow of the curtain, listened to the little David, whose simple song always quieted his moody spirit, and watched the antique man, who sat with his gray head on his hand, questioning tender mind of the dead baby he had cherished so much. Remembering the conversation of the afternoon, the boy said to himself, with the clear up to make the sacrifice cheerfully, "I'll permit my fortress cross, and stay with the expensive vintage gentleman even as he needs me, for I am all he has."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SECRETS
Jo was very busy within the garret, for the October days commenced to grow chilly, and the afternoons were brief. For or 3 hours the sun lay warmly within the high window, displaying Jo seated at the old couch, writing busily, along with her papers spread out upon a trunk earlier than her, even as Scrabble, the pet rat, promenaded the beams overhead, observed by way of his oldest son, a excellent young fellow, who changed into certainly very happy with his whiskers. Quite absorbed in her paintings, Jo scribbled away till the closing page was crammed, whilst she signed her call with a flourish and threw down her pen, exclaiming...
"There, I've executed my quality! If this won't in shape I shall ought to wait until I can do higher."
Lying returned at the sofa, she study the manuscript cautiously through, making dashes right here and there, and installing many exclamation points, which appeared like little balloons. Then she tied it up with a clever pink ribbon, and sat a minute searching at it with a sober, wistful expression, which it seems that confirmed how earnest her paintings have been. Jo's desk up right here was an vintage tin kitchen which hung against the wall. In it she kept her papers, and a few books, safely close far from Scrabble, who, being likewise of a literary flip, become fond of making a circulating library of such books as have been left in his manner by means of eating the leaves. From this tin receptacle Jo produced some other manuscript, and putting both in her pocket, crept quietly downstairs, leaving her pals to nibble on her pens and taste her ink.
She placed on her hat and jacket as noiselessly as possible, and going to the back access window, were given out upon the roof of a low porch, swung herself right down to the grassy bank, and took a roundabout manner to the road. Once there, she composed herself, hailed a passing omnibus, and rolled away to metropolis, searching very merry and mysterious.
If all people were looking her, he would have notion her movements decidedly odd, for on alighting, she went off at a super pace till she reached a certain range in a certain busy street. Having discovered the place with some problem, she went into the entrance, seemed up the dirty stairs, and after status stock nevertheless a minute, unexpectedly dived into the road and walked away as swiftly as she got here. This maneuver she repeated numerous times, to the notable leisure of a black-eyed younger gentleman lounging in the window of a constructing opposite. On returning for the third time, Jo gave herself a shake, pulled her hat over her eyes, and walked up the stairs, searching as if she have been going to have all her enamel out.
There become a dentist's sign, among others, which embellished the entrance, and after staring a moment at the pair of artificial jaws which slowly opened and close to attract interest to a satisfactory set of enamel, the young gentleman placed on his coat, took his hat, and went all the way down to publish himself within the opposite doorway, announcing with a grin and a shiver, "It's like her to come by myself, but if she has a bad time she'll want a person to help her home."
In ten mins Jo got here walking downstairs with a totally red face and the overall look of someone who had just exceeded through a trying ordeal of a few sort. When she noticed the young gentleman she appeared whatever but pleased, and passed him with a nod. But he followed, asking with an air of sympathy, "Did you have a terrible time?"
"Not very."
"You got thru speedy."
"Yes, thank goodness!"
"Why did you move on my own?"
"Didn't need each person to realize."
"You're the oddest fellow I ever noticed. How many did you have got out?"
Jo looked at her pal as though she did now not understand him, then started to snigger as if mightily amused at something.
"There are which I want to have pop out, but I need to wait every week."
"What are you guffawing at? You are as much as some mischief, Jo," said Laurie, searching mystified.
"So are you. What have been you doing, sir, up in that billiard saloon?"
"Begging your pardon, ma'am, it wasn't a billiard saloon, but a gym, and I turned into taking a lesson in fencing."
"I'm glad of that."
"Why?"
"You can educate me, and then whilst we play Hamlet, you can be Laertes, and we're going to make a first-rate element of the fencing scene."
Laurie burst out with a hearty boy's laugh, which made numerous passers-by means of smile no matter themselves.
"I'll train you whether or not we play Hamlet or no longer. It's grand amusing and could straighten you up capitally. But I do not accept as true with that was your simplest cause for pronouncing 'I'm satisfied' in that decided way, changed into it now?"
"No, I become glad which you were now not in the saloon, due to the fact I wish you in no way go to such locations. Do you?"
"Not frequently."
"I want you would not."
"It's no damage, Jo. I even have billiards at home, but it's no amusing unless you have precise players, so, as I'm keen on it, I come every so often and have a sport with Ned Moffat or some of the other fellows."
"Oh, expensive, I'm so sorry, for you may get to liking it better and higher, and will waste money and time, and grow like those dreadful boys. I did wish you'll stay decent and be a pride on your buddies," said Jo, shaking her head.
"Can't a fellow take a little harmless amusement now and then without dropping his respectability?" requested Laurie, looking nettled.
"That relies upon upon how and in which he is taking it. I do not like Ned and his set, and desire you'd preserve out of it. Mother might not let us have him at our house, although he desires to come. And if you grow like him she might not be willing to have us frolic collectively as we do now."
"Won't she?" requested Laurie anxiously.
"No, she cannot bear stylish young men, and she'd shut us all up in bandboxes as opposed to have us associate with them."
"Well, sh
e need not get out her bandboxes yet. I'm now not a elegant party and do not suggest to be, but I do like harmless larks now after which, do not you?"
"Yes, nobody minds them, so lark away, but do not get wild, will you? Or there will be an end of all our suitable instances."
"I'll be a double distilled saint."
"I can not endure saints. Just be a easy, sincere, decent boy, and we will by no means desolate tract you. I do not know what I need to do if you acted like Mr. King's son. He had plenty of money, however didn't know the way to spend it, and got tipsy and gambled, and ran away, and cast his father's call, I believe, and changed into altogether horrid."
"You think I'm in all likelihood to do the identical? Much obliged."
"No, I do not—oh, pricey, no!—however I listen human beings speaking approximately money being this sort of temptation, and I occasionally wish you have been negative. I shouldn't worry then."
Little Women Page 19