Jo’sfacewasastudynextday,forthesecretratherweigheduponher,andshefoundithardnottolookmysteriousandimportant。Megobservedit,butdidnottroubleherselftomakeinquiries,forshehadlearnedthatthebestwaytomanageJowasbythelawofcontraries,soshefeltsureofbeingtoldeverythingifshedidnotask。Shewasrathersurprised,therefore,whenthesilenceremainedunbroken,andJoassumedapatronizingair,whichdecidedlyaggravatedMeg,whointurnassumedanairofdignifiedreserveanddevotedherselftohermother。ThisleftJotoherowndevices,forMrs。Marchhadtakenherplaceasnurse,andbadeherrest,exercise,andamuseherselfafterherlongconfinement。Amybeinggone,Lauriewasheronlyrefuge,andmuchassheenjoyedhissociety,sheratherdreadedhimjustthen,forhewasanincorrigibletease,andshefearedhewouldcoaxthesecretfromher。
Shewasquiteright,forthemischief-lovingladnosoonersuspectedamysterythanhesethimselftofinditout,andledJoatryinglifeofit。Hewheedled,bribed,ridiculed,threatened,andscolded;affectedindifference,thathemightsurprisethetruthfromher;declaredherknew,thenthathedidn’tcare;
andatlast,bydintofperseverance,hesatisfiedhimselfthatitconcernedMegandMr。Brooke。Feelingindignantthathewasnottakenintohistutor’sconfidence,hesethiswitstoworktodevisesomeproperretaliationfortheslight。
Megmeanwhilehadapparentlyforgottenthematterandwasabsorbedinpreparationsforherfather’sreturn,butallofasuddenachangeseemedtocomeoverher,and,foradayortwo,shewasquiteunlikeherself。Shestartedwhenspokento,blushedwhenlookedat,wasveryquiet,andsatoverhersewing,withatimid,troubledlookonherface。Tohermother’sinquiriessheansweredthatshewasquitewell,andJo’sshesilencedbybeggingtobeletalone。
“Shefeelsitintheair——love,Imean——andshe’sgoingveryfast。She’sgotmostofthesymptoms——istwitteryandcross,doesn’teat,liesawake,andmopesincorners。Icaughthersingingthatsonghegaveher,andonceshesaid`John’,asyoudo,andthenturnedasredasapoppy。whatevershallwedo?“
saidJo,lookingreadyforanymeasures,howeverviolent。
“Nothingbutwait。Letheralone,bekindandpatient,andFather’scomingwillsettleeverything,“repliedhermother。
“Here’sanotetoyou,Meg,allsealedup。Howodd!Teddyneversealsmine,“saidJonextday,asshedistributedthecontentsofthelittlepostoffice。
Mrs。MarchandJoweredeepintheirownaffairs,whenasoundfromMegmadethemlookuptoseeherstaringathernotewithafrightenedface。
“Mychild,whatisit?“criedhermother,runningtoher,whileJotriedtotakethepaperwhichhaddonethemischief。
“It’sallamistake,hedidn’tsendit。Oh,Jo,howcouldyoudoit?“andMeghidherfaceinherhands,cryingasifherheartwerequitebroken。
“Me!I’vedonenothing!What’sshetalkingabout?“criedJo,bewildered。
Meg’smildeyeskindledwithangerasshepulledacrumplednotefromherpocketandthrewitatJo,sayingreproachfully,“Youwroteit,andthatbadboyhelpedyou。Howcouldyoubesorude,somean,andcrueltousboth?“
Johardlyheardher,forsheandhermotherwerereadingthenote,whichwaswritteninapeculiarhand。
“MyDearestMargaret,“Icannolongerrestrainmypassion,andmustknowmyfatebeforeIreturn。Idarenottellyourparentsyet,butIthinktheywouldconsentiftheyknewthatweadoredoneanother。Mr。
Laurencewillhelpmetosomegoodplace,andthen,mysweetgirl,youwillmakemehappy。Iimploreyoutosaynothingtoyourfamilyyet,buttosendonewordofhopethroughLaurieto,“YourdevotedJohn。“
“Oh,thelittlevillain!That’sthewayhemeanttopaymeforkeepingmywordtoMother。I’llgivehimaheartyscoldingandbringhimovertobegpardon,“criedJo,burningtoexecuteimmediatejustice。Buthermotherheldherback,saying,withalooksheseldomwore……
“Stop,Jo,youmustclearyourselffirst。YouhaveplayedsomanypranksthatIamafraidyouhavehadahandinthis。“
“Onmyword,Mother,Ihaven’t!Ineversawthatnotebefore,anddon’tknowanythingaboutit,astrueasIlive!“
saidJo,soearnestlythattheybelievedher。“IfIhadtakenpartinitI’dhavedoneitbetterthanthis,andhavewrittenasensiblenote。Ishouldthinkyou’dhaveknownMr。Brookewouldn’twritesuchstuffasthat,“sheadded,scornfullytossingdownthepaper。
“It’slikehiswriting,“falteredMeg,comparingitwiththenoteinherhand。
“Oh,Meg,youdidn’tanswerit?“criedMrs。Marchquickly。
“Yes,Idid!“andMeghidherfaceagain,overcomewithshame。
“Here’sascrape!Doletmebringthatwickedboyovertoexplainandbelectured。Ican’tresttillIgetholdofhim。“
AndJomadeforthedooragain。
“Hush!Letmehandlethis,foritisworsethanIthought。
Margaret,tellmethewholestory,“commandedMrs。March,sittingdownbyMeg,yetkeepingholdofJo,lestsheshouldflyoff。
“IreceivedthefirstletterfromLaurie,whodidn’tlookasifheknewanythingaboutit,“beganMeg,withoutlookingup。
“Iwasworriedatfirstandmeanttotellyou,thenIrememberedhowyoulikedMr。Brooke,soIthoughtyouwouldn’tmindifI
keptmylittlesecretforafewdays。I’msosillythatIlikedtothinknooneknew,andwhileIwasdecidingwhattosay,I
feltlikethegirlsinbooks,whohavesuchthingstodo。Forgiveme,Mother,I’mpaidformysillinessnow。Inevercanlookhiminthefaceagain。“
“Whatdidyousaytohim?’askedMrs。March。
“IonlysaidIwastooyoungtodoanythingaboutityet,thatIdidn’twishtohavesecretsfromyou,andhemustspeaktofather。Iwasverygratefulforhiskindness,andwouldbehisfriend,butnothingmore,foralongwhile。“
Mrs。Marchsmiled,asifwellpleased,andJoclappedherhands,exclaiming,withalaugh,“YouarealmostequaltoCarolinePercy,whowasapatternofprudence!Tellon,Meg。
Whatdidhesaytothat?“
“Hewritesinadifferentwayentirely,tellingmethatheneversentanyloveletteratall,andisverysorrythatmyroguishsister,Jo,shouldtakelibertieswithournames。It’sverykindandrespectful,butthinkhowdreadfulforme!“
Megleanedagainsthermother,lookingtheimageofdespair,andJotrampedabouttheroom,callingLaurienames。Allofasuddenshestopped,caughtupthetwonotes,andafterlookingatthemclosely,saiddecidedly,“Idon’tbelieveBrookeeversaweitheroftheseletters。Teddywroteboth,andkeepsyourstocrowovermewithbecauseIwouldn’ttellhimmysecret。“
“Don’thaveanysecrets,Jo。TellittoMotherandkeepoutoftrouble,asIshouldhavedone,“saidMegwarningly。
“Blessyou,child!Mothertoldme。“
“Thatwilldo,Jo。I’llcomfortMegwhileyougoandgetLaurie。Ishallsiftthemattertothebottom,andputastoptosuchpranksatonce。“
AwayranJo,andMrs。MarchgentlytoldMegMr。Brooke’srealfeelings。“Now,dear,whatareyourown?Doyoulovehimenoughtowaittillhercanmakeahomeforyou,orwillyoukeepyourselfquitefreeforthepresent?“
“I’vebeensoscaredandworried,Idon’twanttohaveanythingtodowithloversforalongwhile,perhapsnever,“
answeredMegpetulantly。“IfJohndoesn’tknowanythingaboutthisnonsense,don’ttellhim,andmakeJoandLaurieholdtheirtongues。Iwon’tbedeceivedandplaguedandmadeafoolof。
It’sashame!“
SeeingMeg’susuallygentletemperwasrousedandherpridehurtbythismischievousjoke,Mrs。Marchsoothedherbypromisesofentiresilenceandgreatdiscretionforthefuture。TheinstantLaurie’sstepwasheardinthehall,Megfledintothestudy,andMrs。Marchreceivedtheculpritalone。
Johadnottoldhimwhyhewaswanted,fearinghewouldn’tcome,butheknewtheminutehesawMrs。March’sface,andstoodtwirlinghishatwithaguiltyairwhichconvictedhimatonce。
Jowasdismissed,butchosetomarchupanddownthehalllikeasentinel,havingsomefearthattheprisonermightbolt。Thesoundofvoicesintheparlorroseandfellforhalfanhour,butwhathappenedduringthatinterviewthegirlsneverknew。
Whentheywerecalledin,LauriewasstandingbytheirmotherwithsuchapenitentfacethatJoforgavehimonthespot,butdidnotthinkitwisetobetraythefact。Megreceivedhishumbleapology,andwasmuchcomfortedbytheassurancethatBrookeknewnothingofthejoke。
“I’llnevertellhimtomydyingday,wildhorsesshan’tdragitoutofme,soyou’llforgiveme,Meg,andI’lldoanythingtoshowhowout-and-outsorryIam,“headded,lookingverymuchashamedofhimself。
“I’lltry,butitwasaveryungentlemanlythingtodo,I
didn’tthinkyoucouldbesoslyandmalicious,Laurie,“repliedMeg,tryingtohidhermaidenlyconfusionunderagravelyreproachfulair。
“Itwasaltogetherabominable,andIdon’tdeservetobespokentoforamonth,butyouwill,though,won’tyou?“AndLauriefoldedhishandstogetherwithsuchandimploringgesture,ashespokeinhisirresistiblypersuasivetone,thatitwasimpossibletofrownuponhiminspiteofhisscandalousbehavior。
Megpardonedhim,andMrs。March’sgravefacerelaxed,inspiteofhereffortstokeepsober,whensheheardhimdeclarethathewouldatoneforhissinsbyallsortsofpenances,andabasehimselflikeawormbeforetheinjureddamsel。
Jostoodaloof,meanwhile,tryingtohardenherheartagainsthim,andsucceedingonlyinprimmingupherfaceintoanexpressionofentiredisapprobation。Laurielookedatheronceortwice,butassheshowednosignofrelenting,hefeltinjured,andturnedhisbackonhertilltheothersweredonewithhim,whenhemadeheralowbowandwalkedoffwithoutaword。
Assoonashehadgone,shewishedshehadbeenmoreforgiving,andwhenMegandhermotherwentupstairs,shefeltlonelyandlongedforTeddy。Afterresistingforsometime,sheyieldedtotheimpulse,andarmedwithabooktoreturn,wentovertothebighouse。
“IsMr。Laurencein?“askedJo,ofahousemaid,whowascomingdownstairs。
“Yes,Miss,butIdon’tbelievehe’sseeablejustyet。“
“Whynot?Isheill?“
“La,noMiss,buthe’shadascenewithMr。Laurie,whoisinoneofhistantrumsaboutsomething,whichvexestheoldgentleman,soIdursn’tgonighhim。“
“WhereisLaurie?’
“Shutupinhisroom,andhewon’tanswer,thoughI’vebeena-tapping。Idon’tknowwhat’stobecomeofthedinner,forit’sready,andthere’snoonetoeatit。“
“I’llgoandseewhatthematteris。I’mnotafraidofeitherofthem。“
UpwentJo,andknockedsmartlyonthedoorofLaurie’slittlestudy。
“Stopthat,orI’llopenthedoorandmakeyou!“calledouttheyounggentlemaninathreateningtone。
Joimmediatelyknockedagain。Thedoorflewopen,andinshebouncedbeforeLauriecouldrecoverfromhissurprise。Seeingthathereallywasoutoftemper,Jo,whoknewhowtomanagehim,assumedacontriteexpression,andgoingartisticallydownuponherknees,saidmeekly,“Pleaseforgivemeforbeingsocross。
I
cametomakeitup,andcan’tgoawaytillIhave。“
“It’sallright。Getup,anddon’tbeagoose,Jo,“wasthecavalierreplytoherpetition。
“Thankyou,Iwill。CouldIaskwhat’sthematter?Youdon’tlookexactlyeasyinyourmind。“
“I’vebeenshaken,andIwon’tbearit!“growledLaurieindignantly。
“Whodidit?“demandedJo。
“Grandfather。IfithadbeenanyoneelseI’dhave……“
Andtheinjuredyouthfinishedhissentencebyanenergeticgestureoftherightarm。
“That’snothing。Ioftenshakeyou,andyoudon’tmind,“
saidJosoothingly。
“Pooh!You’reagirl,andit’sfun,butI’llallownomantoshakeme!“
“Idon’tthinkanyonewouldcaretotryit,ifyoulookedasmuchlikeathundercloudasyoudonow。Whywereyoutreatedso?“
“JustbecauseIwouldn’tsaywhatyourmotherwantedmefor。
I’dpromisednottotell,andofcourseIwasn’tgoingtobreakmyword。“
“Couldn’tyousatisfyyourgrandpainanyotherway?“
“No,hewouldhavethetruth,thewholetruth,andnothingbutthetruth。I’dhavetoldmypartofthescrape,ifIcouldwithoutbringingMegin。AsIcouldn’t,Iheldmytongue,andborethescoldingtilltheoldgentlemancollaredme。ThenI
bolted,forfearIshouldforgetmyself。“
“Itwasn’tnice,buthe’ssorry,Iknow,sogodownandmakeup。I’llhelpyou。“
“HangedifIdo!I’mnotgoingtobelecturedandpummelledbyeveryone,justforabitofafrolic。IwassorryaboutMeg,andbeggedpardonlikeaman,butIwon’tdoitagain,whenIwasn’tinthewrong。“
“Hedidn’tknowthat。“
“Heoughttotrustme,andnotactasifIwasababy。It’snouse,Jo,he’sgottolearnthatI’mabletotakecareofmyself,anddon’tneedanyone’sapronstringtoholdonby。“
“Whatpepperpotsyouare!“sighedJo。“Howdoyoumeantosettlethisaffair?“
“Well,heoughttobegpardon,andbelievemewhenIsayI
can’ttellhimwhatthefuss’sabout。“
“Blessyou!Hewon’tdothat。“
“Iwon’tgodowntillhedoes。“
“Now,Teddy,besensible。Letitpass,andI’llexplainwhatIcan。Youcan’tstayhere,sowhat’stheuseofbeingmelodramatic?“
“Idon’tintendtostayherelong,anyway。I’llslipoffandtakeajourneysomewhere,andwhenGrandpamissesmehe’llcomeroundfastenough。“
“Idaresay,butyououghtnottogoandworryhim。“
“Don’tpreach。I’llgotoWashingtonandseeBrooke。It’sgaythere,andI’llenjoymyselfafterthetroubles。“
“Whatfunyou’dhave!IwishIcouldrunofftoo,“saidJo,forgettingherpartofmentorinlivelyvisionsofmartiallifeatthecapital。
“Comeon,then!Whynot?Yougoandsurpriseyourfather,andI’llstirupoldBrooke。Itwouldbeagloriousjoke。
Let’sdoit,Jo。We’llleavealettersayingweareallright,andtrotoffatonce。I’vegotmoneyenough。Itwilldoyougood,andnoharm,asyougotoyourfather。“
ForamomentJolookedasifshewouldagree,forwildastheplanwas,itjustsuitedher。Shewastiredofcareandconfinement,longedforchange,andthoughtsofherfatherblendedtemptinglywiththenovelcharmsofcampsandhospitals,libertyandfun。Hereyeskindledastheyturnedwistfullytowardthewindow,buttheyfellontheoldhouseopposite,andsheshookherheadwithsorrowfuldecision。
第34章