Little Women

NEIG

ternoon, as her sister came tramping through the hall, in rubber boots,

answered Jo with a misch

n enough! It's cold and dull out, and I advise you to stay

ot being a pussycat, I don't like to doze by the fi

se from that of Mr. Laurence. Both stood in a suburb of the city, which was still country-like, with groves and lawns, large gardens, and quiet streets. A low hedge parted the two estates. On one side was an old, brown house, looking rather bare and shabby, robbed of the vines that in summer cov

icked on the lawn, no motherly face ever smiled at the windows, and

boy, who looked as if he would like to be known, if he only knew how to begin. Since the party, she had been more eager than ever, and had planned many ways of making friends with him, but he had not b

hat's good for him, and keeps him shut up all alone. He needs a party of jolly boys to play wi

y afternoon came, Jo resolved to try what could be done. She saw Mr. Lawrence drive off, and then sallied out to dig her way down to the hedge, where she paused and took

this dismal day. It's a shame! I'll toss up a snowball

lost its listless look in a minute, as the big eyes brightened and the mouth beg

u do? Are

ow, and croaked out as

ve had a bad cold, and

t do you amuse

's dull as t

t you

They won'

mebody re

books don't interest him, and I

e come and s

ke to see. Boys make such

'd read and amuse you? Girls ar

t kno

egan Jo, then la

you come, pleas

ther will let me. I'll go ask her. Shut the w

ady, for as Mrs. March said, he was 'a little gentleman', and did honor to the coming guest by brushing his curly pate, putting on a fresh color, and trying to tidy up the room, which in spite of ha

his little parlor to meet Jo, who appeared, looking rosy and quite at her

or you. Meg wanted me to bring some of her blanc mange, she makes it very nicely, and Beth thought her cats

he thing, for in laughing over the kits, Laurie

o uncovered the dish, and showed the blanc mange, surrounded by a ga

irl to put it away for your tea. It's so simple you can eat it, and being soft,

e maids are lazy, and I don't know how t

hings made straight on the mantelpiece, so-and the books put here, and the bottles there, an

quite a different air to the room. Laurie watched her in respectful silence, and when sh

anted. Now please take the big chair and

d aloud?" and Jo looked affectionatel

e, and if you don't mind, I'd

you'll only set me going. Beth

good deal and sometimes goes out with a l

s my girl, and a regula

, and the curly-haired

you find

for being so rude, but sometimes you forget to put down the curtain at the window where the flowers are. And when the lamps are lighted, it's like looking at a picture to see the fire, and you all around the table with your mot

her head, and at fifteen she was as innocent and frank as any child. Laurie was sick and lonely, and feeling how rich she was in hom

ou'd come over and see us. Mother is so splendid, she'd do you heaps of good, and Beth would sing to you if I begged her to, and Amy

not look so, and he lets me do what I like, pretty much, only he's afraid

want to know you, and I've been trying to do it this ever so long. We haven't been he

ns outside. Mr. Brooke, my tutor, doesn't stay here, you know, and I have

are asked, then you'll have plenty of friends, and pleasant places to

bashfulness, for there was so much good will in Jo it was impos

e subject, after a little pause, during which he star

I mean. I go to wait on my great-aunt, and a

just in time that it wasn't manners to make too many inquiries

, so she gave him a lively description of the fidgety old lady, her fat

ch, and in the middle of a fine speech, how Poll had tweaked his wig off to his great dismay, the boy lay b

lease," he said, taking his face out of the

and the most interesting events of the little world in which the sisters lived. Then they got to talking about bo

see ours. Grandfather is out, so you ne

thing," returned Jo, w

dmiration, though he privately thought she would have good reason to be

e library, where she clapped her hands and pranced, as she always did when especially delighted. It was lined with books, and there were pictures and statues, and distracting

gazing about her with an air of intense satisfaction. "Theodore Laurenc

said Laurie, shaking his head as

and Jo flew up, exclaiming with a

t afraid of anything, you know,"

be. Marmee said I might come, and I don't think you're any the worse f

'm only afraid you are very tired of talking to me. It was s

u, sir," and the maid

ou for a minute? I suppose

happy as a cricket

oor opened again, and without turning, she said decidedly, "I'm sure now that I shouldn't be afraid of him, for he's got kind eyes, th

ice behind her, and there, to her g

and the girls would laugh at her, so she resolved to stay and get out of the scrape as she could. A second look showed her that the living eyes, under the bushy eyebrows, were kinder even than the painted ones,

much,

k me as handsome as

quite

a tremendous

aid I tho

ke me in sp

I do

rned up her face, examined it gravely, and let it go, saying with a nod, "You've got your grandfather's spirit, if you haven't

quite comfortable after tha

this boy of mine, hey?" was t

borly, sir." And Jo told

eeds cheering u

haps. We are only girls, but we should be glad to help if we could, for we

as the boy's affair. H

ast, as she told all about the Hummels, in whom her

ther some fine day. Tell her so. There's the tea bell, we have it

like to ha

And Mr. Laurence offered her his

was marched away, while her eyes danced with fun

, as Laurie came running downstairs and brought up with a start of surprise

ir," he began, as Jo gave hi

And having pulled the boy's hair by way of a caress, Mr. Laurence walked on, while Laurie went through

who soon chatted away like old friends, and the change in his grandson did not escape him. There was c

ht Mr. Laurence, as he looked and listened. He liked Jo, for her odd, blunt ways suited

he had something more to show her, and took her away to the conservatory, which had been lighted for her benefit. It seemed quite fairylike to Jo, as she went up and down the walks, enjoying the blooming walls on either side, the soft light, the damp sweet air, and the wo

n the great drawing room, but Jo's attention was e

, turning to Laurie with

" he answer

want to hear it, s

you f

stupid to learn, but

or the 'Laurence' boy increased very much, for he played remarkably well and didn't put on any airs. She wished Beth cou

isn't bad, but I hope he will do as well in more important things. Going? well, I'm much obli

ot please him. When they got into the hall, Jo asked La

He doesn't like

y n

y. John is going home

ng lady, and it's only a step. T

will come ag

come and see us a

wil

ight, L

ht, Jo, g

tractive in the big house on the other side of the hedge. Mrs. March wanted to talk of her father with the old man who had not forgott

ke to have Laurie play?" asked Jo,

his son after he married. They both died when Laurie was a little child, and then his grandfather took him home. I fancy the boy, who was born in Italy, is not very strong, and the old man is afraid of losing him, which makes him so careful.

romantic!" e

if he wants to, and not plague his life out

pretty manners, I suppose. Italians are always

s manners? You never spoke to him, hard

that he knows how to behave. That was a nice li

e blanc mang

re, child! He mea

er eyes as if it had neve

liment when you get it," said Meg, with the air

boy and I like him, and I won't have any sentimental stuff about compliments and such rubbish. We'll al

e, and I hope Meg will remember that childr

d I'm not in my teens yet," obse

out of the Slough and through the Wicket Gate by resolving to be good, and up the steep hill by tryi

ions first," said Jo, as if