saidLaurie。
　　“Rather。“
　　“Don’tyouthinktheEnglishnationperfectineveryrespect？“
　　askedSallie。
　　“IshouldbeashamedofmyselfifIdidn’t。“
　　“He’satrueJohnBull。Now，MissSallie，youshallhaveachancewithoutwaitingtodraw。I’llharrrowupyourfeelingsfirstbyaskingifyoudon’tthinkyouaresomethingofaflirt，“
　　saidLaurie，asJonoddedtoFredasasignthatpeacewasdeclared。
　　“Youimpertinentboy!OfcourseI’mnot，“exclaimedSallie，withanairthatprovedthecontrary。
　　“Whatdoyouhatemost？“askedFred。
　　“Spidersandricepudding。“
　　“Whatdoyoulikebest？“askedJo。
　　“DancingandFrenchgloves。“
　　“Well，IthinkTruthisaverysillyplay。Let’shaveasensiblegameofAuthorstorefreshourminds，“proposedJo。
　　Ned，frank，andthelittlegirlsjoinedinthis，andwhileitwenton，thethreeelderssatapart，talking。MissKatetookouthersketchagain，andMargaretwatchedher，whileMr。Brookelayonthegrasswithabook，whichhedidnotread。
　　“Howbeautifullyyoudoit!IwishIcoulddraw，“saidMeg，withmingledadmirationandregretinhervoice。
　　“Whydon’tyoulearn？Ishouldthinkyouhadtasteandtalentforit，“repliedMissKategraciously。
　　“Ihaven’ttime。“
　　“Yourmammaprefersotheraccomplishments，Ifancy。Sodidmine，butIprovedtoherthatIhadtalentbytakingafewlessonsprivately，andthenshewasquitewillingIshouldgoon。Can’tyoudothesamewithyourgoverness？“
　　“Ihavenone。“
　　“IforgotyoungladiesinAmericagotoschoolmorethanwithus。Veryfineschoolstheyare，too，Papasays。Yougotoaprivateone，Isuppose？“
　　“Idon’tgoatall。Iamagovernessmyself。“
　　“Oh。indeed!“saidMissKate，butshemightaswellhavesaid，“Dearme，howdreadful!“forhertoneimpliedit，andsomethinginherfacemadeMegcolor，andwishshehadnotbeensofrank。
　　Mr。Brookelookedupandsaidquickly，YoungladiesinAmericaloveindependenceasmuchastheirancestorsdid，andareadmiredandrespectedforsupportingthemselves。“
　　“Oh，yes，ofcourseit’sveryniceandproperinthemtodoso。Wehavemanymostrespectableandworthyyoungwomenwhodothesameandareemployedbythenobility，because，beingthedaughtersofgentlemen，theyarebothwellbredandaccomplished，youknow，“saidMissKateinapatronizingtonethathurtMeg’spride，andmadeherworkseemnotonlymoredistasteful，butdegrading。
　　“DidtheGermansongsuit，MissMarch？“inquiredMr。Brooke，breakinganawkwardpause。
　　“Oh，yes!Itwasverysweet，andI’mmuchobligedtowhoevertranslateditforme。“AndMeg’sdowncastfacebrightenedasshespoke。
　　“Don’tyoureadGerman？“askedMissKatewithalookofsurprise。
　　“Notverywell。Myfather，whotaughtme，isaway，andIdon’tgetonveryfastalone，forI’venoonetocorrectmypronunciation。“
　　“Tryalittlenow。HereisSchiller’sMaryStuartandatutorwholovestoteach。“AndMr。Brookelaidhisbookonherlapwithaninvitingsmile。
　　“It’ssohardI’mafraidtotry，“saidMeg，grateful，butbashfulinthepresenceoftheaccomplishedyoungladybesideher。
　　“I’llreadabittoencourageyou。“AndMissKatereadoneofthemostbeautifulpassagesinaperfectlycorrectbutperfectlyexpressionlessmanner。
　　Mr。BrookemadenocommentasshereturnedthebooktoMeg，whosaidinnocently，“Ithoughtitwaspoetry。“
　　“Someofitis。Trythispassage。“
　　TherewasaqueersmileaboutMr。Brooke’smouthasheopenedatpoorMary’slament。
　　Megobedientlyfollowingthelonggrass-bladewhichhernewtutorusedtopointwith，readslowlyandtimidly，unconsciouslymakingpoetryofthehardwordsbythesoftintonationofhermusicalvoice。Downthepagewentthegreenguide，andpresently，forgettingherlistenerinthebeautyofthesadscene，Megreadasifalone，givingalittletouchoftragedytothewordsoftheunhappyqueen。Ifshehadseenthebrowneyesthen，shewouldhavestoppedshort，butsheneverlookedup，andthelessonwasnotspoiledforher。
　　“Verywellindeed!“saidMr。Brooke，asshepaused，quiteignoringhermanymistakes，andlookingasifhedidindeedlovetoteach。
　　MissKateputupherglass，and，havingtakenasurveyofthelittletableaubeforeher，shuthersketchbook，sayingwithcondescension，“You’veaniceaccentandintimewillbeacleverreader。Iadviseyoutolearn，forGermanisavaluableaccomplishmenttoteachers。ImustlookafterGrace，sheisromping。“
　　AndMissKatestrolledaway，addingtoherselfwithashrug，“I
　　didn’tcometochaperoneagoverness，thoughsheisyoungandpretty。WhatoddpeopletheseYankeesare。I’mafraidLauriewillbequitespoiledamongthem。“
　　“IforgotthatEnglishpeopleratherturnuptheirnosesatgovernessesanddon’ttreatthemaswedo，“saidMeg，lookingaftertheretreatingfigurewithanannoyedexpression。
　　“Tutorsalsohaveratherahardtimeofitthere，asIknowtomysorrow。There’snoplacelikeAmericaforusworkers，MissMargaret。“AndMr。BrookelookedsocontentedandcheerfulthatMegwasashamedtolamentherhardlot。
　　“I’mgladIliveinitthen。Idon’tlikemywork，butIgetagooddealofsatisfactionoutofitafterall，soIwon’tcomplain。
　　IonlywishedIlikedteachingasyoudo。“
　　“IthinkyouwouldifyouhadLaurieforapupil。Ishallbeverysorrytolosehimnextyear，“saidMr。Brooke，busilypunchingholesintheturf。
　　“Goingtocollege，Isuppose？“Meg’slipsaskedthequestion，buthereyesadded，“Andwhatbecomesofyou？“
　　“Yes，it’shightimehewent，forheisready，andassoonasheisoff，Ishallturnsoldier。Iamneeded。“
　　“Iamgladofthat!“exclaimedMeg。“Ishouldthinkeveryyoungmanwouldwanttogo，thoughitishardforthemothersandsisterswhostayathome，“sheaddedsorrowfully。
　　“Ihaveneither，andveryfewfriendstocarewhetherIliveordie，“saidMr。Brookeratherbitterlyasheabsentlyputthedeadroseintheholehehadmadeandcovereditup，likealittlegrave。
　　“Laurieandhisgrandfatherwouldcareagreatdeal，andweshouldallbeverysorrytohaveanyharmhappentoyou，“saidMegheartily。
　　“Thankyou，thatsoundspleasant，“beganMr。Brooke，lookingcheerfulagain，butbeforehecouldfinishhisspeech，Ned，mountedontheoldhorse，camelumberinguptodisplayhisequestrianskillbeforetheyoungladies，andtherewasnomorequietthatday。
　　“Don’tyoulovetoride？“askedGraceofAmy，astheystoodrestingafteraraceroundthefieldwiththeothers，ledbyNed。
　　“Idoteuponit。Mysister，Meg，usedtoridewhenPapawasrich，butwedon’tkeepanyhorsesnow，exceptEllenTree，“addedAmy，laughing。
　　“TellmeaboutEllenTree。Isitadonkey？“askedGracecuriously。
　　“Why，yousee，JoiscrazyabouthorsesandsoamI，butwe’veonlygotanoldsidesaddleandnohorse。Outinourgardenisanappletreethathasanicelowbranch，soJoputthesaddleonit，fixedsomereinsonthepartthatturnsup，andwebounceawayonEllenTreewheneverwelike。“
　　“Howfunny!“laughedGrace。“Ihaveaponyathome，andridenearlyeverydayintheparkwithFredandKate。It’sverynice，formyfriendsgotoo，andtheRowisfullofladiesandgentlemen。“
　　“Dear，howcharming!IhopeIshallgoabroadsomeday，butI’drathergotoRomethantherow，“saidAmy，whohadnottheremotestideawhattheRowwasandwouldn’thaveaskedfortheworld。
　　Frank，sittingjustbehindthelittlegirls，heardwhattheyweresaying，andpushedhiscrutchawayfromhimwithanimpatientgestureashewatchedtheactiveladsgoingthroughallsortsofcomicalgymnastics。Beth，whowascollectingthescatteredAuthorcards，lookedupandsaid，inhershyyetfriendlyway，“I’mafraidyouaretired。CanIdoanythingforyou？“
　　“Talktome，please。It’sdull，sittingbymyself，“answeredFrank，whohadevidentlybeenusedtobeingmademuchofathome。
　　IfheaskedhertodeliveraLatinoration，itwouldnothaveseemedamoreimpossibletasktobashfulBeth，buttherewasnoplacetorunto，noJotohidebehindnow，andthepoorboylookedsowistfullyatherthatshebravelyresolvedtotry。
　　“Whatdoyouliketotalkabout？“sheasked，fumblingoverthecardsanddroppinghalfasshetriedtotiethemup。
　　“Well，Iliketohearaboutcricketandboatingandhunting，“
　　saidFrank，whohadnotyetlearnedtosuithisamusementstohisstrength。
　　Myheart!WhatshallIdo？Idon’tknowanythingaboutthem，thoughtBeth，andforgettingtheboy’smisfortuneinherflurry，shesaid，hopingtomakehimtalk，“Ineversawanyhunting，butIsupposeyouknowallaboutit。“
　　“Ididonce，butIcanneverhuntagain，forIgothurtleapingaconfoundedfive-barredgate，sotherearenomorehorsesandhoundsforme，“saidFrankwithasighthatmadeBethhateherselfforherinnocentblunder。
　　“Yourdeeraremuchprettierthanouruglybuffaloes，“shesaid，turningtotheprairiesforhelpandfeelinggladthatshehadreadoneoftheboys’booksinwhichJodelighted。
　　Buffaloesprovedsoothingandsatisfactory，andinhereagernesstoamuseanother，Bethforgotherself，andwasquiteunconsciousofhersisters’surpriseanddelightattheunusualspectacleofBethtalkingawaytooneofthedreadfulboys，againstwhomshehadbeggedprotection。
　　“Blessherheart!Shepitieshim，sosheisgoodtohim，“
　　aidJo，beamingatherfromthecroquetground。
　　“Ialwayssaidshewasalittlesaint，“addedMeg，asiftherecouldbenofurtherdoubtofit。
　　“Ihaven’theardFranklaughsomuchforeversolong，“saidGracetoAmy，astheysatdiscussingdollsandmakingteasetsoutoftheacorncups。
　　“MysisterBethisaveryfastidiousgirl，whenshelikestobe，“
　　saidAmy，wellpleasedatBeth’ssuccess。Shemeant`facinating’，butasGracedidn’tknowtheexactmeaningofeitherword，fastidioussoundedwellandmadeagoodimpression。
　　Animpromptucircus，foxandgeese，andanamicablegameofcroquetfinishedtheafternoon。Atsunsetthetentwasstruck，hamperspacked，wicketspulledup，boatsloaded，andthewholepartyfloateddowntheriver，singingatthetopsoftheirvoices。
　　Ned，gettingsentimental，warbledaserenadewiththepensiverefrain……
　　Alone，alone，ah!Woe，alone，andatthelines……
　　Weeachareyoung，weeachhaveaheart，Oh，whyshouldwestandthuscoldlyapart？
　　helookedatMegwithsuchalackadiasicalexpressionthatshelaughedoutrightandspoiledhissong。
　　“Howcanyoubesocrueltome？“hewhispered，undercoverofalivelychorus。“You’vekeptclosetothatstarched-upEnglishwomanallday，andnowyousnubme。“
　　“Ididn’tmeanto，butyoulookedsofunnyIreallycouldn’thelpit，“repliedMeg，passingoverthefirstpartofhisreproach，foritwasquitetruethatshehadshunnedhim，rememberingtheMoffatpartyandthetalkafterit。
　　NedwasoffendedandturnedtoSallieforconsolation，sayingtoherratherpettishly，“Thereisn’tabitofflirtinthatgirl，isthere？“
　　“Notaparticle，butshe’sadear，“returnedSallie，defendingherfriendevenwhileconfessinghershortcomings。
　　“She’snotastrickendeeranyway，“saidNed，tryingtobewitty，andsucceedingaswellasveryyounggentlemenusuallydo。
　　Onthelawnwhereithadgathered，thelittlepartyseparatedwithcordialgoodnightsandgood-bys，fortheVaughnsweregoingtoCanada。Asthefoursisterswenthomethroughthegarden，MissKatelookedafterthem，saying，withoutthepatronizingtoneinhervoice，“Inspiteoftheirdemonstrativemanners，Americangirlsareverynicewhenoneknowsthem。“
　　“Iquiteagreewithyou，“saidMr。Brooke。
　　Chapter13CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
　　LaurielayluxuriouslyswingingtoandfroinhishammockonewarmSeptemberafternoon，wonderingwhathisneighborswereabout，buttoolazytogoandfindout。Hewasinoneofhismoods，forthedayhadbeenbothunprofitableandunsatisfactory，andhewaswishinghecouldliveitoveragain。Thehotweathermadehimindolent，andhehadshirkedhisstudies，triedMr。
　　Brooke’spatiencetotheutmost，displeasedhisgrandfatherbypracticinghalftheafternoon，frightenedthemaidservantshalfoutoftheirwitsbymischievouslyhintingthatoneofhisdogswasgoingmad，and，afterhighwordswiththestablemanaboutsomefanciedneglectofhishorse，hehadflunghimselfintohishammocktofumeoverthestupidityoftheworldingeneral，tillthepeaceofthelovelydayquietedhiminspiteofhimself。
　　Staringupintothegreengloomofthehorse-chestnuttreesabovehim，hedreameddreamsofallsorts，andwasjustimagininghimselftossingontheoceaninavoyageroundtheworld，whenthesoundofvoicesbroughthimashoreinaflash。
　　Peepingthroughthemeshesofthehammock，hesawtheMarchescomingout，asifboundonsomeexpedition。
　　“Whatintheworldarethosegirlsaboutnow？“thoughtLaurie，openinghissleepyeyestotakeagoodlook，fortherewassomethingratherpeculiarintheappearanceofhisneighbors。Eachworealarge，flappinghat，abrownlinenpouchslungoveroneshoulder，andcarriedalongstaff。Meghadacushion，Joabook，Bethabasket，andAmyaportfolio。Allwalkedquietlythroughthegarden，outatthelittlebackgate，andbegantoclimbthehillthatlaybetweenthehouseandriver。
　　“Well，that’scool，“saidLaurietohimself，“tohaveapicnicandneveraskme!Theycan’tbegoingintheboat，fortheyhaven’tgotthekey。Perhapstheyforgotit。I’lltakeittothem，andseewhat’sgoingon。“
　　Thoughpossessedofhalfadozenhats，ittookhimsometimetofindone，thentherewasahuntforthekey，whichwasatlastdiscoveredinhispocket，sothatthegirlswerequiteoutofsightwhenleapedthefenceandranafterthem。Takingtheshortestwaytotheboathouse，hewaitedforthemtoappear，butnoonecame，andhewentupthehilltotakeanobservation。Agroveofpinescoveredonepartofit，andfromtheheartofthisgreenspotcameaclearersoundthanthesoftsighofthepinesorthedrowsychirpofthecrickets。