Little Women

AUREN

?" cried Meg at the fo

ee-legged sofa by the sunny window. This was Jo's favorite refuge, and here she loved to retire with half a dozen russets and a nice book, to enjoy the quiet and the society

Gardiner for tomorrow night!" cried Meg, waving the precio

iss Josephine at a little dance on New Year's Eve.' Ma

shall wear our poplins, because we haven't got

r says I may when I'm eighteen perhaps, bu

Yours is as good as new, but I forgot the burn and the tear in mine.

I shall have a new ribbon for my hair, and Marmee will lend me her little pearl pin, and

any new ones, so I shall have to go without," sai

"Gloves are more important than anything else. You can't dan

r company dancing. It's no fun to go sailin

ou are so careless. She said when you spoiled the others that sh

tained they are. That's all I can do. No! I'll tell you how we can

ill stretch my glove dreadfully," began Meg

n't care what people say!"

do behave nicely. Don't put your hands behind you,

t get into any scrapes, if I can help it. Now go and a

ing blithely as she did up her one real lace frill, while Jo finishe

of 'getting ready for the party'. Simple as the toilets were, there was a great deal of running up and down, laughing and talking, and at one time a st

ke that?" asked Beth fr

pness drying,

feathers," observed Amy, smoothing her

and you'll see a cloud of little ring

r the hair came with the papers, and the horrified hairdresser lai

n't go! My hair, oh, my hair!" wailed Meg, looking

hing. I'm so sorry, but the tongs were too hot, and so I've made a mess,"

ends come on your forehead a bit, and it will look like the las

be fine. I wish I'd let my ha

it will soon grow out again," said Beth,

e frills, and the pearl pin. Jo in maroon, with a stiff, gentlemanly linen collar, and a white chrysanthemum or two for her only ornament. Each put on one nice light glove, and carried one soiled one, and all pronounced the effect "quite eas

own the walk. "Don't eat much supper, and come away at eleven when I send Ha

ou you both got nice

o, adding with a laugh as they went on, "I do believe Marmee

lady is always known by neat boots, gloves, and handkerchief," repli

h right? And does my hair look very bad?" said Meg, as she turned fro

rong, just remind me by a wink, will you?" returned Jo

nod if you are all right. Now hold your shoulder straight, and take short step

e proper ways? I never c

dozen jovial lads were talking about skates in another part of the room, and she longed to go and join them, for skating was one of the joys of her life. She telegraphed her wish to Meg, but the eyebrows went up so alarmingly that she dared not stir. No one came to talk to her, and one by one the group dwindled away till she was left alone. She could not roam about and amuse herself, for the burned breadth would show, so she stared at people rather forlornly till the dancing

re!" stammered Jo, preparing to back

ly, though he looked a little startle

I dist

e I don't know many people and felt

o away, please, un

id, trying to be polite and easy, "I think I've had the pl

o's prim manner was rather funny when he remembered how t

she said, in her heartiest way, "We did have suc

pa sen

into his head, d

ed the boy, trying to look sober w

. But I am not Miss March, I'm o

Laurence, I'm

ence, what a

t like it, for the fellows called me D

very one would say Jo instead of Josephine. Ho

rashe

uppose I shall have to bear it." A

Jo?" asked Laurie, looking as i

place like this I'm sure to upset something, tread on people's toes, or do somet

many years, and haven't been into company

about it! I love dearly to hear

old her how he had been at school in Vevay, where the boys never wore hats and had a fleet of bo

n there!" cried Jo. "

last win

u talk

ed to speak anythi

can read it, but

une demoiselle en le

. you said, 'Who is the young lady i

mademo

and you knew it was! Do

erman girls, she looks so fresh a

oon wore off, for Jo's gentlemanly demeanor amused and set him at his ease, and Jo was her merry self again, because her dress was forgotten and nobody lifted their eyebrows at her. She liked the 'Laure

, fine teeth, small hands and feet, taller than I am, very p

she checked herself in time and, with unusual

ing away at your books, no, I mean studying hard." And J

answered with a shrug. "Not for a year or

o, looking at the tall lad, whom

n, next

to college! You don't

skylarking. And I don't like the way

do you

and to enjoy myse

rather threatening as he knit them, so she changed the subject by saying, as

," he answered, with

ecause..." There Jo stopped, and looke

use,

won't

ev

I scorched this one, and though it's nicely mended, it shows, and Meg told me to kee

zled Jo when he said very gently, "Never mind that. I'll tell you how we can manage. Ther

ught her the German step, which delighted Jo, being full of swing and spring. When the music stopped, they sat down on the stairs to get their breath, and Laurie was in the midst of an account of a stud

a sad wrench. It aches so, I can hardly stand, and I don't know ho

I don't see what you can do, except get a carriage, or stay here a

dare say I can't get one at all, for most people come in thei

ll

ere, for the house is full. Sallie has some girls staying with

," said Jo, looking relieved

ese slippers with our things. I can't dance anymore, but as soon as

supper now. I'll stay

bring me some coffee. I'

china closet, and opening the door of a room where old Mr. Gardiner was taking a little private refreshment. Making a dart a

!" exclaimed Jo, finishing Meg's g

And there was Laurie, with a full cup in

meone shook me, and here I am in a nice state," answered Jo, glan

someone to give this to. M

I don't offer to take it myself, for I sho

en particular Meg pronounced him a 'nice boy'. They had a merry time over the bonbons and mottoes, and were in the midst of a quiet game of Buzz, with two or three ot

loud, "It's nothing. I turned my foot a little, tha

ding a servant, asked if he could get her a carriage. It happened to be a hired waiter who knew nothing about the neighborhood and Jo was looki

o yet?" began Jo, looking relieved

e let me take you home. It's all on my

nnah hated rain as much as a cat does so she made no trouble, and they rolled away in the luxurious close carriage, feeling ve

asked Jo, rumpling up her hair,

and spend a week with her when Sallie does. She is going in the spring when the opera comes, and i

the red headed man I ran

red, and he was very polite, and

when he did the new step. Laurie and I

What were you about all tha

nks, they said good night and crept in, hoping to disturb no one, but the instant their d

party! Tell ab

d some bonbons for the little girls, and they soon subside

m the party in a carriage and sit in my dressing gown with a maid to wait

te of our burned hair, old gowns, one glove apiece and tight slippers that sprain