小妇人

when I come back，I will be prouder than ever of my little women． 'I get angry nearly every day of my life，Jo，'said Mrs March，'but I've learned not to show it．I've learned to stop myself saying the angry words that come to my lips，and you must try to do the same，my dear．' Amy gave a cry that make Jo's heart stop with fear． Mr Moffat was a fat，friendly gentleman；and Mrs Moffat was a fat，friendly lady． 'No，I don't，'came the cool reply． Meg danced and laughed and talked to as many young men as she could manage，but went to bed feeling that she hadn't enjoyed herself as much as she had expected． 'No，Jo，'said her mother．'You must never repeat wicked gossip． Do you have “plans”，Mother？'asked Meg． "All mothers do，dear，'said Mrs March．'But my plans are different from Mrs Moffat's，I suspect．I want my daughters to be loved，and I want people to think well of them．I want them to marry well，but not to marry rich men just because they are rich．I'd rather you were poor men's wives，if that meant you had happy，peaceful lives．But your father and I believe that we'll always be proud of our daughters，whether they are married or single．" 'I think by Saturday night you will find that all play and no work is as bad as all work and no play．' The week seemed to get longer and longer with nothing much to do，and by Friday the girls were glad that it was nearly over． Jo did her best，but the potatoes were still hard in the middle，the vegetables were cooked too long and fell to pieces，and the meat was burned black．The strawberries were not ready for eating，and she put salt on them instead of sugar！ Meg watched，while Mr Brooke lay on the grass beside her，with a book which he did not read． 'In America，young ladies prefer to work and earn money for themselves，'said Mr Brooke quickly，'and not expect others to pay for everything．' 'Miss March，the famous American writer！'said Laurie，throwing his hat into the air and catching it． She came up behind him，her face red and her hair blowing in the wind． Meg saw Laurie chasing Jo all over the garden before the two of them fell on the grass，laughing and waving a newspaper. 'What can we do with that girl？'said Meg．'She never will behave like a young lady．' Jo put down the newspaper．'I did，'she said，her eyes bright and shining. So Jo told them all about it，and that evening there was no happier or prouder family that the Marches. Mrs March read it，then dropped it to the floor，her face white and her hands shaking． All their happiness had disappeared in a moment． She put out her hand and smiled gratefully up into his warm brown eyes． 'No，not now．It's my hair，'cried Jo．'I'd do it again， if I could．But I did love my hair，and the selfish bit of me is making me cry．Don't tell anyone．I'll be all right in the morning．' How dark the days seemed．How sad and lonely the sisters worked and waited as the shadow of death lay over the once happy home. She did not cry again，but held on to her friend．He was surprised，but he smoothed her hair and followed this with a kiss or two． All that day，the snow fell and the hours went slowly by． A cold feeling of fear passed over Jo．'Beth is dead，'she thought． The pain had gone from Beth's face，and now there was a look of peace instead．Jo kissed her and softly whispered，'Goodbye，Beth，goodbye！' Meg and Jo held each other close，their hearts too full for words． Mrs March held on to her daughter's thin little hand． There were probably many happy little girls in the city that day，but Amy was the happiest of them all as she sat on her mother's knee． Isn't it all awful？ Laurie makes trouble and Jo makes peace For a day or two,she jumped when she was spoken to,and there was a worried look on her face. 'Wait,Jo.Are you sure this is nothing to do with you?' Now I can never look him in the face again. I'll put a stop to all this at once. I'm frightened and worried,I don't want anything to do with love for a long time-perhaps never. Jo waited outside the room as,inside,the voices rose and fell for half an hour.But the girls never knew what was said. Laurie looked so sorry that Jo wanted to forgive him straight away,but she said nothing and refused even to look at him. 'I'll go and see what's the matter,'said Jo.'I'm not afraid of either of them.' She went upstairs and knocked on Laurie's door. Grandfather tried to shake the truth out of me,so I came up here and shut myself in. 'If I can manage the young one,then I can manage the old one,'Jo said to herself as she went downstairs. 'Do you want any more?'said the old man, looking annoyed but trying not to show it. He must not hide behind a promise from you soft-hearted girls. Mr Laurence gave her another sharp look,but then smiled and put on his glasses. 'Father！'cried Meg and Jo together-and Mr March disappeared under lots of loving arms and kisses． There were tears of happiness on many faces before all the excitement died down． There never was a Christmas dinner like the one they had that day． Mr Laurence and his grandson ate with them， and so did Mr Brooke．Jo gave the tutor many black looks and would not speak to him, which amused Laurie. Her face is thin and white from worrying， but it has grown gentler．Perhaps I'll miss my wild girl，but I'm sure I'll love the warm-hearted woman who has taken her place． I'll walk out of the room with my head high． 'I'm too young，'she said， hesitating but feeling her heart beating rather fast． Meg，with her face bright red，just stared at her aunt，while Mr Brooke hurried into another room． What has he said to make your face turn pink？ When Meg was ordered not to marry John Brooke，she immediately decided that She would． she went out of the room，banging the door behind her． Meg didn't know whether to laugh or cry． she whispered，and hid her face on John's chest． 'As she spoke，she looked round the room，and her face brightened at the sight． Jo sat in her favourite chair with a serious，quietlook on her face . Laurie smiled at her in the long mirror that was opposite them both . And Jo smiled back.