首页 >出版文学> Little Women>第34章

第34章

  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。