“OnlyifBrookeisgoingtobeathermometer，Imustmindandhavefairweatherforhimtoreport。“
　　“Pleasedon’tbeoffended。Ididn’tmeanttopreachortelltalesorbesilly。IonlythoughtJowasencouragingyouinafeelingwhichyou’dbesorryforby-and-by。Youaresokindtous，wefeelasifyouwereourbrotherandsayjustwhatwethink。
　　Forgiveme，Imeantitkindly。“AndMegofferedherhandwithagesturebothaffectionateandtimid。
　　Ashamedofhismomentarypique，Lauriesqueezedthekindlittlehand，andsaidfrankly，“I’mtheonetobeforgiven。I’mcrossandhavebeenoutofsortsallday。Iliketohaveyoutellmemyfaultsandbesisterly，sodon’tmindifIamgrumpysometimes。Ithankyouallthesame。“
　　Bentonshowingthathewasnotoffended，hemadehimselfasagreeableaspossible，woundcottonforMeg，recitedpoetrytopleaseJo，shookdownconesforBeth，andhelpedAmywithherferns，provinghimselfafitpersontobelongtothe`BusyBeeSociety’。Inthemidstofananimateddiscussiononthedomestichabitsofturtlesoneofthoseamiablecreatureshavingstrolledupfromtheriver，thefaintsoundofabellwarnedthemthatHannahhadputthetea`todraw’，andtheywouldjusthavetimetogethometosupper。
　　“MayIcomeagain？“askedLaurie。
　　“Yes，ifyouraregood，andloveyourbook，astheboysintheprimeraretoldtodo，“saidMeg，smiling。
　　“i’lltry。“
　　“Thenyoumaycome，andI’llteachyoutoknitastheScotchmendo。
　　There’sademandforsocksjustnow，“addedJo，wavingherslikeabigblueworstedbannerastheypartedatthegate。
　　Thatnight，whenBethplayedtoMr。Laurenceinthetwilight，Laurie，standingintheshadowofthecurtain，listenedtothelittleDavid，whosesimplemusicalwaysquietedhismoodyspirit，andwatchedtheoldman，whosatwithhisgrayheadonhishand，thinkingtenderthoughtsofthedeadchildhehadlovedsomuch。
　　Rememberingtheconversationoftheafternoon，theboysaidtohimself，withtheresolvetomakethesacrificecheerfully，“I’llletmycastlego，andstaywiththedearoldgentlemanwhileheneedsme，forIamallhehas。“
　　Chapter14CHAPTERFOURTEEN
　　Jowasverybusyinthegarret，fortheOctoberdaysbegantogrowchilly，andtheafternoonswereshort。Fortwoorthreehoursthesunlaywarmlyinthehighwindow，showingJoseatedontheoldsofa，writingbusily，withherpapersspreadoutuponatrunkbeforeher，whileScrabble，thepetrat，promenadedthebeamsoverhead，accompaniedbyhisoldestson，afineyoungfellow，whowasevidentlyveryproudofhiswhiskers。
　　Quiteabsorbedinherwork，Joscribbledawaytillthelastpagewasfilled，whenshesignedhernamewithaflourishandthrewdownherpen，exclaiming……
　　“There，I’vedonemybest!Ifthiswon’tsuitIshallhavetowaittillIcandobetter。“
　　Lyingbackonthesofa，shereadthemanuscriptcarefullythrough，makingdasheshereandthere，andputtinginmanyexclamationpoints，whichlookedlikelittleballoons。Thenshetieditupwithasmartredribbon，andsataminutelookingatitwithasober，wistfulexpression，whichplainlyshowedhowernestherworkhadbeen。Jo’sdeskupherewasanoldtinkitchenwhichhungagainstthewall。Ititshekeptherpapers，andafewbooks，safelyshutawayfromScrabble，who，beinglikewiseofaliteraryturn，wasfondofmakingacirculatinglibraryofsuchbooksaswereleftinhiswaybyeatingtheleaves。FromthistinreceptacleJoproducedanothermanuscript，andputtingbothinherpocket，creptquietlydownstairs，leavingherfriendstonibbleonherpensandtasteherink。
　　Sheputonherhatandjacketasnoiselesslyaspossible，andgoingtothebackentrywindow，gotoutupontheroofofalowporch，swungherselfdowntothegrassybank，andtookaroundaboutwaytotheroad。Oncethere，shecomposedherself，hailedapassingomnibus，androlledawaytotown，lookingverymerryandmysterious。
　　Ifanyonehadbeenwatchingher，hewouldhavethoughthermovementsdecidedlypeculiar，foronalighting，shewentoffatagreatpacetillshereachedacertainnumberinacertainbusystreet。Havingfoundtheplacewithsomedifficulty，shewentintothedoorway，lookedupthedirtystairs，andafterstandingstockstillaminute，suddenlydivedintothestreetandwalkedawayasrapidlyasshecame。Thismaneuversherepeatedseveraltimes，tothegreatamusementofablack-eyedyounggentlemanlounginginthewindowofabuildingopposite。Onreturningforthethirdtime，Jogaveherselfashake，pulledherhatoverhereyes，andwalkedupthestairs，lookingasifsheweregoingtohaveallherteethout。
　　Therewasadentist’ssign，amongothers，whichadornedtheentrance，andafterstaringamomentatthepairofartificialjawswhichslowlyopenedandshuttodrawattentiontoafinesetofteeth，theyounggentlemanputonhiscoat，tookhishat，andwentdowntoposthimselfintheoppositedoorway，sayingwithasmileandashiver，“It’slikehertocomealone，butifshehasabadtimeshe’llneedsomeonetohelpherhome。“
　　IntenminutesJocamerunningdownstairswithaveryredfaceandthegeneralappearanceofapersonwhohadjustpassedthroughatryingordealofsomesort。Whenshesawtheyounggentlemanshelookedanythingbutpleased，andpassedhimwithanod。Buthefollowed，askingwithanairofsympathy，“Didyouhaveabadtime？“
　　“Notvery。“
　　“Yougotthroughquickly。“
　　“Yes，thankgoodness!“
　　“Whydidyougoalone？“
　　“Didn’twantanyonetoknow。“
　　“You’retheoddestfellowIeversaw。Howmanydidyouhaveout？“
　　Jolookedatherfriendasifshedidnotunderstandhim，thenbegantolaughasifmightilyamusedatsomething。
　　“TherearetwowhichIwanttohavecomeout，butImustwaitaweek。“
　　“Whatareyoulaughingat？Youareuptosomemischief，Jo，“
　　saidLaurie，lookingmystified。
　　“Soareyou。Whatwereyoudoing，sir，upinthatbilliardsaloon？“
　　“Beggingyourpardon，ma’am，itwasn’tabilliardsaloon，butagymnasium，andIwastakingalessoninfencing。“
　　“I’mgladofthat。“
　　“why？“
　　“Youcanteachme，andthenwhenweplayHAMLET，youcanbeLaertes，andwe’llmakeafinethingofthefencingscene。“
　　“Laurieburstoutwithaheartyboy’slaugh，whichmadeseveralpassers-bysmileinspiteofthemselves。
　　“I’llteachyouwhetherweplayHAMLETornot。It’sgrandfunandwillstraightenyouupcapitally。ButIdon’tbelievethatwasyouronlyreasonforsaying`I’mglad’inthatdecidedway，wasitnow？“
　　“No，Iwasgladthatyouwerenotinthesaloon，becauseI
　　hopeyounevergotosuchplaces。Doyou？“
　　“Notoften。“
　　“Iwishyouwouldn’t。“
　　“It’snoharm，Jo。Ihavebilliardsathome，butit’snofununlessyouhavegoodplayers，so，asI’mfondofit，IcomesometimesandhaveagamewithNedMoffatorsomeoftheotherfellows。“
　　“Oh，dear，I’msosorry，foryou’llgettolikingitbetterandbetter，andwillwastetimeandmoney，andgrowlikethosedreadfulboys。Ididhopeyou’dstayrespectableandbeasatisfactiontoyourfriends，“saidJo，shakingherhead。
　　“Can’tafellowtakealittleinnocentamusementnowandthenwithoutlosinghisrespectability？“askedLaurie，lookingnettled。
　　“Thatdependsuponhowandwherehetakesit。Idon’tlikeNedandhisset，andwishyou’dkeepoutofit。Motherwon’tletushavehimatourhouse，thoughhewantstocome。Andifyougrowlikehimshewon’tbewillingtohaveusfrolictogetheraswedonow。“
　　“Won’tshe？“askedLaurieanxiously。
　　“No，shecan’tbearfashionableyoungmen，andshe’dshutusallupinbandboxesratherthanhaveusassociatewiththem。“
　　“Well，sheneedn’tgetoutherbandboxesyet。I’mnotafashionablepartyanddon’tmeantobe，butIdolikeharmlesslarksnowandthen，don’tyou？“
　　“Yes，nobodymindsthem，solarkaway，butdon’tgetwild，willyou？Ortherewillbeanendofallourgoodtimes。“
　　“I’llbeadoubledistilledsaint。“
　　“Ican’tbearsaints。Justbeasimple，honest，respectableboy，andwe’llneverdesertyou。Idon’tknowwhatIshoulddoifyouactedlikeMr。King’sson。Hehadplentyofmoney，butdidn’tknowhowtospendit，andgottipsyandgambled，andranaway，andforgedhisfather’sname，Ibelieve，andwasaltogetherhorrid。“
　　“YouthinkI’mlikelytodothesame？Muchobliged。“
　　“No，Idon’t——oh，dear，no!——butIhearpeopletalkingaboutmoneybeingsuchatemptation，andIsometimeswishyouwerepoor。
　　Ishouldn’tworrythen。“
　　“Doyouworryaboutme，Jo？“
　　“Alittle，whenyoulookmoodyanddiscontented，asyousometimesdo，foryou’vegotsuchastrongwill，ifyouoncegetstartedwrong，I’mafraiditwouldbehardtostopyou。“
　　Lauriewalkedinsilenceafewminutes，andJowatchedhim，wishingshehadheldhertongue，forhiseyeslookedangry，thoughhislipssmiledasifatherwarnings。
　　“Areyougoingtodeliverlecturesallthewayhome？“heaskedpresently。
　　“Ofcoursenot。Why？“
　　“Becauseifyouare，I’lltakeabus。Ifyou’renot，I’dliketowalkwithyouandtellyousomethingveryinteresting。“
　　“Iwon’tpreachanymore，andI’dliketohearthenewsimmensely。“
　　“Verywell，then，comeon。It’sasecret，andifItellyou，youmusttellmeyours。“
　　“Ihaven’tgotany，“beganJo，butstoppedsuddenly，rememberingthatshehad。
　　“Youknowyouhave——youcan’thideanything，soupandfess，orIwon’ttell，“criedLaurie。
　　“Isyoursecretaniceone？“
　　“Oh，isn’tit!Allaboutpeopleyouknow，andsuchfun!
　　Yououghttohearit，andI’vebeenachingtotellitthislongtime。
　　Come，youbegin。“
　　“You’llnotsayanythingaboutitathome，willyou？“
　　“Notaword。“
　　“Andyouwon’tteasemeinprivate？“
　　“Inevertease。“
　　“Yes，youdo。Yougeteverythingyouwantoutofpeople。
　　I
　　don’tknowhowyoudoit，butyouareabornwheedler。“
　　“Thankyou。Fireaway。“
　　“Well，I’velefttwostorieswithanewspaperman，andhe’stogivehisanswernextweek，“whisperedJo，inherconfidant’sear。
　　“HurrahforMissMarch，thecelebratedAmericanauthoress!“
　　criedLaurie，throwinguphishatandcatchingitagain，tothegreatdelightoftwoducks，fourcats，fivehens，andhalfadozenIrishchildren，fortheywereoutofthecitynow。
　　“Hush!Itwon’tcometoanything，Idaresay，butIcouldn’tresttillIhadtried，andIsaidnothingaboutitbecauseIdidn’twantanyoneelsetobedisappointed。“
　　“Itwon’tfail。Why，Jo，yourstoriesareworksofShakespearecomparedtohalftherubbishthatispublishedeveryday。
　　Won’titbefuntoseetheminprint，andshan’twefeelproudofourauthoress？“
　　Jo’seyessparkled，foritisalwayspleasanttobebelievedin，andafriend’spraiseisalwayssweeterthanadozennewspaperpuffs。
　　“Where’syoursecret？Playfair，Teddy，orI’llneverbelieveyouagain，“shesaid，tryingtoextinguishthebrillianthopesthatblazedupatawordofencouragement。
　　“Imaygetintoascrapefortelling，butIdidn’tpromisenotto，soIwill，forIneverfeeleasyinmymindtillI’vetoldyouanyplummybitofnewsIget。IknowwhereMeg’sgloveis。“
　　“Isthatall？saidJo，lookingdisappointed，asLaurienoddedandtwinkledwithafacefullofmysteriousintelligence。
　　“It’squiteenoughforthepresent，asyou’llagreewhenI
　　tellyouwhereitis。“
　　“Tell，then。“
　　Lauriebent，andwhisperedthreewordsinJo’sear，whichproducedacomicalchange。Shestoodandstaredathimforaminute，lookingbothsurprisedanddispleased，thenwalkedon，sayingsharply，“Howdoyouknow？“
　　“Sawit。“
　　“Where？’
　　“Pocket。“
　　“Allthistime？“
　　“Yes，isn’tthatromantic？“
　　“No，it’shorrid。“
　　“Don’tyoulikeit？“
　　“OfcourseIdon’t。It’sridiculous，itwon’tbeallowed。
　　Mypatience!WhatwouldMegsay？“
　　“Youarenottotellanyone。Mindthat。“
　　“Ididn’tpromise。“
　　“Thatwasunderstood，andItrustedyou。“
　　“Well，Iwon’tforthepresent，anyway，butI’mdisgusted，andwishyouhadn’ttoldme。“
　　“Ithoughtyou’dbepleased。“
　　“AttheideaofanybodycomingtotakeMegaway？No，thankyou。“
　　“You’llfeelbetteraboutitwhensomebodycomestotakeyouaway。“
　　“I’dliketoseeanyonetryit，“criedJofiercely。
　　“SoshouldI!“AndLauriechuckledattheidea。
　　“Idon’tthinksecretsagreewithme，Ifeelrumpledupinmymindsinceyoutoldmethat，“saidJoratherungratefully。
　　“Racedownthishillwithme，andyou’llbeallright，“