Mr. Laurence gave her a pointy appearance, and put on his spectacles, saying slowly, "You're a sly puss, but I do not thoughts being controlled with the aid of you and Beth. Here, supply me a bit of paper, and allow us to have done with this nonsense."
The observe became written inside the phrases which one gentleman would use to every other after supplying some deep insult. Jo dropped a kiss on the top of Mr. Laurence's bald head, and ran up to slip the apology under Laurie's door, advising him thru the keyhole to be submissive, decorous, and a few other agreeable impossibilities. Finding the door locked once more, she left the notice to do its paintings, and was going quietly away, while the young gentleman slid down the banisters, and waited for her at the lowest, saying, along with his most virtuous expression of countenance, "What a good fellow you are, Jo! Did you get blown up?" he introduced, laughing.
"No, he changed into pretty mild, on the whole."
"Ah! I got it all spherical. Even you forged me off over there, and I felt just ready to go to the deuce," he started apologetically.
"Don't talk that manner, turn over a brand new leaf and start again, Teddy, my son."
"I keep turning over new leaves, and spoiling them, as I used to spoil my copybooks, and I make such a lot of beginnings there never could be an quit," he stated dolefully.
"Go and devour your dinner, you will experience higher after it. Men constantly croak while they're hungry," and Jo whisked out at the front door after that.
"That's a 'label' on my 'sect'," spoke back Laurie, quoting Amy, as he went to partake of humble pie dutifully with his grandfather, who become quite saintly in temper and overwhelmingly respectful in manner all the rest of the day.
Everyone idea the problem ended and the little cloud blown over, however the mischief become performed, for though others forgot it, Meg remembered. She in no way alluded to a sure man or woman, but she concept of him a good buy, dreamed goals greater than ever, and as soon as Jo, rummaging her sister's table for stamps, found a chunk of paper scribbled over with the words, 'Mrs. John Brooke', whereat she groaned tragically and solid it into the hearth, feeling that Laurie's prank had hastened the evil day for her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
PLEASANT MEADOWS
Like sunshine after a typhoon were the non violent weeks which followed. The invalids improved rapidly, and Mr. March commenced to talk of returning early in the new year. Beth become soon capable of lie on the examine sofa all day, amusing herself with the nicely-loved cats at the beginning, and in time with doll's stitching, which had fallen sadly in the back of-hand. Her once energetic limbs have been so stiff and feeble that Jo took her for a every day airing about the house in her sturdy hands. Meg cheerfully blackened and burned her white hands cooking sensitive messes for 'the expensive', at the same time as Amy, a faithful slave of the ring, celebrated her go back via giving freely as lots of her treasures as she could be triumphant on her sisters to just accept.
As Christmas approached, the standard mysteries started to haunt the house, and Jo often convulsed the own family by using offering entirely not possible or magnificently absurd ceremonies, in honor of this strangely merry Christmas. Laurie changed into equally impracticable, and would have had bonfires, skyrockets, and triumphal arches, if he had had his personal manner. After many skirmishes and snubbings, the formidable pair were taken into consideration successfully quenched and went about with forlorn faces, which had been rather belied with the aid of explosions of laughter when the two were given together.
Several days of strangely moderate weather fitly ushered in a excellent Christmas Day. Hannah 'felt in her bones' that it turned into going to be an strangely quality day, and she or he proved herself a true prophetess, for all and sundry and the whole thing appeared bound to supply a grand fulfillment. To begin with, Mr. March wrote that he should soon be with them, then Beth felt uncommonly well that morning, and, being dressed in her mom's gift, a smooth pink merino wrapper, became borne in high triumph to the window to behold the supplying of Jo and Laurie. The Unquenchables had completed their excellent to be worth of the call, for like elves that they had worked through night and conjured up a comical wonder. Out within the garden stood a stately snow maiden, crowned with holly, bearing a basket of fruit and plants in one hand, a terrific roll of track in the other, an ideal rainbow of an Afghan spherical her cold shoulders, and a Christmas carol issuing from her lips on a pink paper streamer.
THE JUNGFRAU TO BETH
God bless you, expensive Queen Bess!
May not anything you dismay,
But fitness and peace and happiness
Be yours, this Christmas day.
Here's fruit to feed our busy bee,
And flowers for her nose.
Here's track for her pianee,
An afghan for her ft,
A portrait of Joanna, see,
By Raphael No. 2,
Who laboured with remarkable enterprise
To make it honest and real.
Accept a ribbon purple, I beg,
For Madam Purrer's tail,
And ice cream made through lovable Peg,
A Mont Blanc in a pail.
Their dearest love my makers laid
Within my breast of snow.
Accept it, and the Alpine maid,
From Laurie and from Jo.
How Beth laughed while she saw it, how Laurie ran up and all the way down to bring in the gifts, and what ridiculous speeches Jo made as she presented them.
"I'm so full of happiness, that if Father become handiest right here, I could not preserve one drop greater," stated Beth, quite sighing with contentment as Jo carried her off to the study to rest after the exhilaration, and to refresh herself with a number of the delicious grapes the 'Jungfrau' had despatched her.
"So am I," delivered Jo, slapping the pocket in which reposed the long-favored Undine and Sintram.
"I'm positive I am," echoed Amy, poring over the engraved reproduction of the Madonna and Child, which her mom had given her in a quite body.
"Of path I am!" cried Meg, smoothing the silvery folds of her first silk dress, for Mr. Laurence had insisted on giving it. "How can I be in any other case?" stated Mrs. March gratefully, as her eyes went from her husband's letter to Beth's smiling face, and her hand caressed the brooch manufactured from grey and golden, chestnut and dark brown hair, which the girls had just fastened on her breast.
Now and then, in this workaday world, matters do happen inside the delightful storybook fashion, and what a consolation it's far. Half an hour after every body had said they have been so happy they may most effective maintain one drop extra, the drop came. Laurie opened the parlor door and popped his head in very quietly. He might simply as properly have grew to become a somersault and uttered an Indian battle whoop, for his face turned into so full of suppressed pleasure and his voice so treacherously completely happy that everybody jumped up, though he simplest said, in a queer, breathless voice, "Here's any other Christmas gift for the March own family."
Before the phrases were nicely out of his mouth, he changed into whisked away in some way, and in his location seemed a tall guy, muffled as much as the eyes, leaning at the arm of any other tall guy, who tried to mention something and could not. Of route there was a fashionable stampede, and for several minutes every body regarded to lose their wits, for the strangest things have been achieved, and no person stated a word.
Mr. March became invisible in the embrace of four pairs of loving hands. Jo disgraced herself by using almost fainting away, and needed to be doctored by way of Laurie within the china closet. Mr. Brooke kissed Meg completely via mistake, as he rather incoherently explained. And Amy, the dignified, tumbled over a stool, and by no means preventing to get up, hugged and cried over her father's boots in the maximum touching manner. Mrs. March became the primary to recover herself, and held up her hand with a caution, "Hush! Remember Beth."
But it changed into too overdue. The look at door flew open, the
little red wrapper seemed on the brink, pleasure placed power into the feeble limbs, and Beth ran immediately into her father's hands. Never thoughts what befell just after that, for the total hearts overflowed, washing away the bitterness of the beyond and leaving handiest the beauty of the prevailing.
It changed into by no means romantic, however a hearty chortle set every body directly again, for Hannah changed into found at the back of the door, sobbing over the fats turkey, which she had forgotten to position down whilst she rushed up from the kitchen. As the chuckle subsided, Mrs. March commenced to thank Mr. Brooke for his faithful care of her husband, at which Mr. Brooke all at once remembered that Mr. March needed relaxation, and seizing Laurie, he precipitately retired. Then the 2 invalids had been ordered to repose, which they did, by both sitting in a single massive chair and speakme difficult.
Mr. March instructed how he had longed to wonder them, and the way, while the satisfactory climate came, he have been allowed by his physician to take benefit of it, how committed Brooke were, and the way he turned into altogether a maximum estimable and upright younger man. Why Mr. March paused a minute just there, and after a glance at Meg, who changed into violently poking the fireplace, looked at his spouse with an inquiring raise of the eyebrows, I go away you to imagine. Also why Mrs. March gently nodded her head and asked, rather all of sudden, if he would not want to have some thing to consume. Jo noticed and understood the appearance, and she or he stalked grimly away to get wine and beef tea, muttering to herself as she slammed the door, "I hate estimable younger men with brown eyes!"
There never was such a Christmas dinner as that they had that day. The fat turkey become a sight to behold, while Hannah despatched him up, crammed, browned, and adorned. So become the plum pudding, which melted in a single's mouth, likewise the jellies, wherein Amy reveled like a fly in a honeypot. Everything became out properly, which turned into a mercy, Hannah stated, "For my mind changed into that flustered, Mum, that it's a merrycle I did not roast the pudding, and stuff the turkey with raisins, not to mention bilin' of it in a material."
Mr. Laurence and his grandson dined with them, also Mr. Brooke, at whom Jo glowered darkly, to Laurie's endless entertainment. Two smooth chairs stood facet by means of side at the head of the table, wherein sat Beth and her father, feasting modestly on bird and a touch fruit. They drank healths, told testimonies, sang songs, 'reminisced', as the old folks say, and had a very well properly time. A sleigh experience were planned, however the women would no longer depart their father, so the visitors departed early, and as twilight accrued, the satisfied circle of relatives sat together spherical the fireplace.
"Just a 12 months in the past we have been groaning over the dismal Christmas we predicted to have. Do you don't forget?" requested Jo, breaking a short pause which had observed a protracted conversation approximately many things.
"Rather a pleasing 12 months on the whole!" said Meg, smiling at the fireplace, and congratulating herself on having treated Mr. Brooke with dignity.
"I suppose it is been a quite hard one," located Amy, looking the light shine on her ring with considerate eyes.
"I'm satisfied it's over, because we have were given you back," whispered Beth, who sat on her father's knee.
"Rather a difficult avenue which will travel, my little pilgrims, particularly the latter a part of it. But you've got were given on bravely, and I think the burdens are in a truthful manner to tumble off very quickly," said Mr. March, searching with fatherly satisfaction on the four younger faces accrued spherical him.
"How do you already know? Did Mother inform you?" asked Jo.
"Not tons. Straws show which manner the wind blows, and I've made numerous discoveries these days."
"Oh, tell us what they may be!" cried Meg, who sat beside him.
"Here is one." And taking over the hand which lay at the arm of his chair, he pointed to the roughened forefinger, a burn on the again, and two or 3 little tough spots on the palm. "I recall a time whilst this hand turned into white and easy, and your first care turned into to keep it so. It become very pretty then, but to me it's miles a good deal prettier now, for in this seeming blemishes I read a little records. A burnt providing has been made to conceitedness, this hardened palm has earned something higher than blisters, and I'm sure the sewing finished via these pricked arms will final a long time, a lot properly will went into the stitches. Meg, my pricey, I fee the womanly talent which keeps home satisfied extra than white fingers or fashionable accomplishments. I'm proud to shake this true, industrious little hand, and wish I shall no longer quickly be requested to give it away."
If Meg had wanted a praise for hours of patient labor, she received it within the hearty pressure of her father's hand and the approving smile he gave her.
"What approximately Jo? Please say some thing exceptional, for she has tried so tough and been so very, excellent to me," said Beth in her father's ear.
He laughed and regarded across at the tall lady who sat contrary, with an unusually moderate expression in her face.
"In spite of the curly crop, I do not see the 'son Jo' whom I left a yr in the past," said Mr. March. "I see a younger lady who pins her collar directly, laces her boots neatly, and neither whistles, talks slang, nor lies on the rug as she used to do. Her face is alternatively thin and light simply now, with looking and anxiety, however I want to study it, for it has grown gentler, and her voice is decrease. She does not jump, however actions quietly, and looks after a certain little man or woman in a motherly manner which delights me. I as an alternative pass over my wild girl, however if I get a sturdy, useful, tenderhearted lady in her area, I shall sense pretty satisfied. I do not know whether or not the shearing sobered our black sheep, however I do realize that during all Washington I couldn't locate whatever lovely enough to be sold with the five-and-twenty greenbacks my precise girl sent me."
Jo's eager eyes were instead dim for a minute, and her thin face grew rosy inside the firelight as she acquired her father's praise, feeling that she did deserve a part of it.
"Now, Beth," stated Amy, craving for her turn, but equipped to attend.
"There's so little of her, I'm afraid to say much, for worry she will slip away altogether, though she isn't so shy as she used to be," began their father cheerfully. But recollecting how almost he had misplaced her, he held her near, announcing tenderly, along with her cheek towards his very own, "I've got you safe, my Beth, and I'll hold you so, please God."
After a minute's silence, he looked down at Amy, who sat at the cricket at his toes, and stated, with a caress of the shining hair...
"I located that Amy took drumsticks at dinner, ran errands for her mom all of the afternoon, gave Meg her area this night, and has waited on every one with persistence and precise humor. I also examine that she does no longer agonize a good deal nor appearance inside the glass, and has not even referred to a very pretty ring which she wears, so I conclude that she has discovered to think about different human beings more and of herself less, and has decided to try to mildew her character as cautiously as she molds her little clay figures. I am satisfied of this, for though I should be very pleased with a swish statue made by means of her, I shall be infinitely prouder of a cute daughter with a skills for making life stunning to herself and others."
"What are you contemplating, Beth?" asked Jo, when Amy had thanked her father and informed about her ring.
"I read in Pilgrim's Progress today how, after many issues, Christian and Hopeful came to a nice green meadow wherein lilies bloomed all year round, and there they rested fortuitously, as we do now, before they went directly to their journey's end," replied Beth, adding, as she slipped out of her father's hands and went to the device, "It's making a song time now, and I want to be in my antique area. I'll try to sing the song of the shepherd boy which the Pilgrims heard. I made the music for Father, because he likes the verses."
So, sitting on the dear little piano, Beth softly touched the keys, and in the candy voice the
y had in no way idea to listen again, sang to her own accompaniment the old fashioned hymn, which changed into a singularly becoming tune for her.
He that is down need fear no fall,
He that is low no satisfaction.
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his manual.
I am content material with what I actually have,
Little be it, or a whole lot.
And, Lord! Contentment nevertheless I crave,
Because Thou savest such.
Fulness to them a burden is,
That go on pilgrimage.
Here little, and hereafter bliss,
Is satisfactory from age to age!
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
AUNT MARCH SETTLES THE QUESTION
Like bees swarming after their queen, mom and daughters hovered approximately Mr. March the next day, neglecting the entirety to take a look at, wait upon, and pay attention to the new invalid, who became in a truthful manner to be killed by using kindness. As he sat propped up in a massive chair by using Beth's couch, with the other three nearby, and Hannah popping in her head now and then 'to peek on the pricey man', not anything appeared wanted to finish their happiness. But some thing turned into wished, and the elder ones felt it, even though none confessed the truth. Mr. And Mrs. March checked out one another with an annoying expression, as their eyes observed Meg. Jo had unexpected fits of sobriety, and become visible to shake her fist at Mr. Brooke's umbrella, which had been left within the hall. Meg changed into absent-minded, shy, and silent, started out whilst the bell rang, and coloured whilst John's name was stated. Amy said, "Everyone regarded anticipating some thing, and couldn't calm down, which was queer, when you consider that Father become secure at domestic," and Beth innocently wondered why their buddies did not run over as normal.
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