AndLauriemeantwhathesaid。
　　“Iknowyouwill，andI’meversomuchobliged。Youarealwaysagreatcomforttome，Teddy，“returnedJo，gratefullyshakinghands。
　　“Well，now，don’tbedismal，there’sagoodfellow。It’sallrightyousee。Megishappy，Brookewillflyroundandgetsettledimmediately，Grandpawillattendtohim，anditwillbeveryjollytoseeMeginherownlittlehouse。We’llhavecapitaltimesaftersheisgone，forIshallbethroughcollegebeforelong，andthenwe’llgoabroadonsomenicetriporother。Wouldn’tthatconsoleyou？“
　　“Iratherthinkitwould，butthere’snoknowingwhatmayhappeninthreeyears，“saidJothoughtfully。
　　“That’strue。Don’tyouwishyoucouldtakealookforwardandweewhereweshallallbethen？Ido，“returnedLaurie。
　　“Ithinknot，forImightseesomethingsad，andeveryonelookssohappynow，Idon’tbelievetheycouldbemuchimproved。“AndJo’seyeswentslowlyroundtheroom，brighteningastheylooked，fortheprospectwasapleasantone。
　　FatherandMothersattogether，quietlyrelivingthefirstchapteroftheromancewhichforthembegansometwentyyearsago。
　　Amywasdrawingthelovers，whosatapartinabeautifulworldoftheirown，thelightofwhichtouchedtheirfaceswithagracethelittleartistcouldnotcopy。Bethlayonhersofa，talkingcheerilywithheroldfriend，whoheldherlittlehandasifhefeltthatitpossessedthepowertoleadhimalongthepeacefulwayshewalked。
　　Joloungedinherfavoritelowseat，withthegravequietlookwhichbestbecameher，andLaurie，leaningonthebackofherchair，hischinonalevelwithhercurlyhead，smiledwithhisfriendliestaspect，andnoddedatherinthelongglasswhichreflectedthemboth。
　　SothecurtainfallsuponMeg，Jo，Beth，andAmy。Whetheriteverrisesagain，dependsuponthereceptiongiveNthefirstactofthedomesticdramacalledLITTLEWOMEN。
　　InorderthatwemaystartafreshandgotoMeg’sweddingwithfreeminds，itwillbewelltobeginwithalittlegossipabouttheMarches。Andhereletmepremisethatifanyoftheeldersthinkthereistoomuch`lovering’inthestory，asIfeartheymayI’mnotafraidtheyoungfolkswillmakethatobjection，IcanonlysaywithMrs。March，“WhatcanyouexpectwhenIhavefourgaygirlsinthehouse，andadashingyoungneighborovertheway？“
　　Thethreeyearsthathavepassedhavebroughtbutfewchangestothequietfamily。Thewarisover，andMr。Marchsafelyathome，busywithhisbooksandthesmallparishwhichfoundinhimaministerbynatureasbygrace，aquiet，studiousman，richinthewisdomthatisbetterthanlearning，thecharitywhichcallsallmankind`brother’，thepietythatblossomsintocharacter，makingitaugustandlovely。
　　Theseattributes，inspiteofpovertyandthestrictintegritywhichshuthimoutfromthemoreworldlysuccesses，attractedtohimmanyadmirablepersons，asnaturallyassweetherbsdrawbees，andasnaturallyhegavethemthehoneyintowhichfiftyyearsofhardexperiencehaddistillednobitterdrop。Earnestyoungmenfoundthegray-headedscholarasyoungatheartasthey，thoughtfulortroubledwomeninstinctivelybroughttheirdoubtstohim，sureoffindingthegentlestsympathy，thewisestcounsel。Sinnerstoldtheirsinstothepure-heartedoldmanandwerebothrebukedandsaved。Giftedmenfoundacompanioninhim。Ambitiousmencaughtglimpsesofnoblerambitionsthantheirown，andevenworldlingsconfessedthathisbeliefswerebeautifulandtrue，although`theywouldn’tpay’。
　　Tooutsidersthefiveenergeticwomenseemedtorulethehouse，andsotheydidinmanythings，butthequietscholar，sittingamonghisbooks，wasstilltheheadofthefamily，thehouseholdconscience，anchor，andcomforter，fortohimthebusy，anxiouswomenalwaysturnedintroubloustimes，findinghim，inthetruestsenseofthosesacredwords，husbandandfather。
　　Thegirlsgavetheirheartsintotheirmother’skeeping，theirsoulsintotheirfather’s，andtobothparents，wholivedandlaboredsofaithfullyforthem，theygavealovethatgrewwiththeirgrowthandboundthemtenderlytogetherbythesweetesttiewhichblesseslifeandoutlivesdeath。
　　Mrs。Marchisasbriskandcheery，thoughrathergrayer，thanwhenwesawherlast，andjustnowsoabsorbedinMeg’saffairsthatthehospitalsandhomesstillfullofwounded`boys’andsoldiers’
　　widows，decidedlymissthemotherlymissionary’svisits。
　　JohnBrookedidhisdutymanfullyforayear，gotwounded，wassenthome，andnotallowedtoreturn。Hereceivednostarsorbars，buthedeservedthem，forhecheerfullyriskedallhehad，andlifeandloveareverypreciouswhenbothareinfullbloom。Perfectlyresignedtohisdischarge，hedevotedhimselftogettingwell，preparingforbusiness，andearningahomeforMeg。Withthegoodsenseandsturdyindependencethatcharacterizedhim，herefusedMr。Laurence’smoregenerousoffers，andacceptedtheplaceofbookkeeper，feelingbettersatisfiedtobeginwithanhonestlyearnedsalarythanbyrunninganyriskswithborrowedmoney。
　　Meghadspentthetimeinworkingaswellaswaiting，growingwomanlyincharacter，wiseinhousewifelyarts，andprettierthanever，forloveisagreatbeautifier。Shehadhergirlishambitionsandhopes，andfeltsomedisappointmentatthehumblewayinwhichthenewlifemustbegin。NedMoffathadjustmarriedSallieGardiner，andMegcouldn’thelpcontrastingtheirfinehouseandcarriage，manygifts，andsplendidoutfitwithherown，andsecretlywishingshecouldhavethesame。ButsomehowenvyanddiscontentsoonvanishedwhenshethoughtofallthepatientloveandlaborJohnhadputintothelittlehomeawaitingher，andwhentheysattogetherinthetwilight，talkingovertheirsmallplans，thefuturealwaysgrewsobeautifulandbrightthatsheforgotSallie’ssplendorandfeltherselftherichest，happiestgirlinChristendom。
　　JoneverwentbacktoAuntMarch，fortheoldladytooksuchafancytoAMythatshebribedherwiththeofferofdrawinglessonsfromoneofthebestteachersgoing，andforthesakeofthisadvantage，Amywouldhaveservedafarhardermistress。Soshegavehermorningstoduty，herafternoonstopleasure，andprosperedfinely。
　　JomeantimedevotedherselftoliteratureandBeth，whoremaineddelicatelongafterthefeverwasathingofthepast。Notaninvalidexactly，butneveragaintherosy，healthycreatureshehadbeen，yetalwayshopeful，happy，andserene，andbusywiththequietdutiessheloved，everyone’sfriend，andanangelinthehouse，longbeforethosewholovedhermosthadlearnedtoknowit。
　　AslongasTHESPREADEAGLEpaidheradollaracolumnforher`rubbish’，asshecalledit，Jofeltherselfawomanofmeans，andspunherlittleromancesdiligently。Butgreatplansfermentedinherbusybrainandambitiousmind，andtheoldtinkitcheninthegarretheldaslowlyincreasingpileofblottedmanuscript，whichwasonedaytoplacethenameofMarchupontherolloffame。
　　Laurie，havingdutifullygonetocollegetopleasehisgrandfather，wasnowgettingthroughitintheeasiestpossiblemannertopleasehimself。Auniversalfavorite，thankstomoney，manners，muchtalent，andthekindestheartthatevergotitsownerintoscrapesbytryingtogetotherpeopleoutofthem，hestoodingreatdangerofbeingspoiled，andprobablywouldhavebeen，likemanyanotherpromisingboy，ifhehadnotpossessedatalismanagainstevilinthememoryofthekindoldmanwhowasboundupinhissuccess，themotherlyfriendwhowatchedoverhimasifhewereherson，andlast，butnotleastbyanymeans，theknowledgethatfourinnocentgirlsloved，admired，andbelievedinhimwithalltheirhearts。
　　Beingonly`aglorioushumanboy’，ofcoursehefrolickedandflirted，grewdandified，aquatic，sentimental，orgymnastic，ascollegefashionsordained，hazedandwashazed，talkedslang，andmorethanoncecameperilouslynearsuspensionandexpulsion。
　　Butashighspiritsandtheloveoffunwerethecausesofthesepranks，healwaysmanagedtosavehimselfbyfrankconfession，honorableatonement，ortheirresistiblepowerofpersuasionwhichhepossessedinperfection。Infact，heratherpridedhimselfonhisnarrowescapes，andlikedtothrillthegirlswithgraphicaccountsofhistriumphsoverwrathfultutors，dignifiedprofessors，andvanquishedenemies。The`menofmyclass’，wereheroesintheeyesofthegirls，whoneverweariedoftheexploitsof`ourfellows’，andwerefrequentlyallowedtobaskinthesmilesofthesegreatcreatures，whenLauriebroughtthemhomewithhim。
　　Amyespeciallyenjoyedthishighhonor，andbecamequiteabelleamongthem，forherladyshipearlyfeltandlearnedtousethegiftoffascinationwithwhichshewasendowed。MegwastoomuchabsorbedinherprivateandparticularJohntocareforanyotherlordsofcreation，andBethtooshytodomorethanpeepatthemandwonderhowAmydaredtoorderthemaboutso，butJofeltquiteinherownelement，andfounditverydifficulttorefrainfromimitatingthegentlemanlyattitudes，phrases，andfeats，whichseemedmorenaturaltoherthanthedecorumsprescribedforyoungladies。TheyalllikedJoimmensely，butneverfellinlovewithher，thoughveryfewescapedwithoutpayingthetributeofasentimentalsighortwoatAmy’sshrine。
　　Andspeakingofsentimentbringsusverynaturallytothe`Dovecote’。
　　ThatwasthenameofthelittlebrownhouseMr。BrookehadpreparedforMeg’sfirsthome。Lauriehadchristenedit，sayingitwashighlyappropriatetothegentleloverswho`wentontogetherlikeapairofturtledoves，withfirstabillandthenacoo’。Itwasatinyhouse，withalittlegardenbehindandalawnaboutasbigasapockethandkerchiefinthefront。HereMegmeanttohaveafountain，shrubbery，andaprofusionoflovelyflowers，thoughjustatpresentthefountainwasrepresentedbyaweather-beatenurn，verylikeadilapidatedslopbowl，theshrubberyconsistedofseveralyounglarches，undecidedwhethertoliveordie，andtheprofusionofflowerswasmerelyhintedbyregimentsofstickstoshowwhereseedswereplanted。
　　Butinside，itwasaltogethercharming，andthehappybridesawnofaultfromgarrettocellar。Tobesure，thehallwassonarrowitwasfortunatethattheyhadnopiano，foronenevercouldhavebeengotinwhole，thediningroomwassosmallthatsixpeoplewereatightfit，andthekitchenstairsseemedbuiltfortheexpresspurposeofprecipitatingbothservantsandchinapell-mellintothecoalbin。Butoncegetusedtotheseslightblemishesandnothingcouldbemorecomplete，forgoodsenseandgoodtastehadpresidedoverthefurnishing，andtheresultwashighlysatisfactory。Therewerenomarble-toppedtables，longmirrors，orlacecurtainsinthelittleparlor，butsimplefurniture，plentyofbooks，afinepictureortwo，astandofflowersinthebaywindow，and，scatteredallabout，theprettygiftswhichcamefromfriendlyhandsandwerethefairerforthelovingmessagestheybrought。
　　Idon’tthinktheParianPsycheLauriegavelostanyofitsbeautybecauseJohnputupthebracketitstoodupon，thatanyupholsterercouldhavedrapedtheplainmuslincurtainsmoregracefullythanAmy’sartistichand，orthatanystore-roomwaseverbetterprovidedwithgoodwishes，merrywords，andhappyhopesthanthatinwhichJoandhermotherputawayMeg’sfewboxes，barrels，andbundles，andIammorallycertainthatthespandynewkitchennevercouldhavelookedsocozyandneatifHannahhadnotarrangedeverypotandpanadozentimesover，andlaidthefireallreadyforlightingtheminute`Mis。Brookecamehome’。
　　Ialsodoubtifanyyoungmatroneverbeganlifewithsorichasupplyofdusters，holders，andpiecebags，forBethmadeenoughtolasttillthesilverweddingcameround，andinventedthreedifferentkindsofdishclothsfortheexpressserviceofthebridalchina。
　　Peoplewhohireallthesethingsdoneforthemneverknowwhattheylose，forthehomeliesttasksgetbeautifiediflovinghandsdothem，andMegfoundsomanyproofsofthisthateverythinginhersmallnest，fromthekitchenrollertothesilvervaseonherparlortable，waseloquentofhomeloveandtenderforethought。
　　Whathappytimestheyhadplanningtogether，whatsolemnshoppingexcursions，whatfunnymistakestheymade，andwhatshoutsoflaughteraroseoverLaurie’sridiculousbargains。Inhisloveofjokes，thisyounggentleman，thoughnearlythroughcollege，wasamuchofaboyasever。Hislastwhimhadbeentobringwithhimonhisweeklyvisitssomenew，useful，andingeniousarticlefortheyounghousekeeper。Nowabagofremarkableclothespins，next，awonderfulnutmeggraterwhichfelltopiecesatthefirsttrial，aknifecleanerthatspoiledalltheknives，orasweeperthatpickedthenapneatlyoffthecarpetandleftthedirt，labor-savingsoapthattooktheskinoffone’shands，infalliblecementswhichstuckfirmlytonothingbutthefingersofthedeludedbuyer，andeverykindoftinware，fromatoysavingsbankforoddpennies，toawonderfulboilerwhichwouldwasharticlesinitsownsteamwitheveryprospectofexplodingintheprocess。
　　InvainMegbeggedhimtostop。Johnlaughedathim，andJocalledhim`Mr。Toodles’。HewaspossessedwithamaniaforpatronizingYankeeingenuity，andseeinghisfriendsfitlyfurnishedforth。
　　Soeachweekbeheldsomefreshabsurdity。
　　Everythingwasdoneatlast，eventoAmy’sarrangingdifferentcoloredsoapstomatchthedifferentcoloredrooms，andBeth’ssettingthetableforthefirstmeal。
　　“Areyousatisfied？Doesitseemlikehome，anddoyoufeelasifyoushouldbehappyhere？“askedMrs。March，assheandherdaughterwentthroughthenewkingdomarminarm，forjustthentheyseemedtoclingtogethermoretenderlythanever。
　　“Yes，Mother，perfectlysatisfied，thankstoyouall，andsohappythatIcan’ttalkaboutit，“withalookthatwasfarbetterthanwords。
　　“Ifsheonlyhadaservantortwoitwouldbeallright，“saidAmy，comingoutoftheparlor，whereshehadbeentryingtodecidewhetherthebronzeMercurylookedbestonthewhatnotorthemantlepiece。
　　“MotherandIhavetalkedthatover，andIhavemadeupmymindtotryherwayfirst。TherewillbesolittletodothatwithLottytorunmyerrandsandhelpmehereandthere，Ishallonlyhaveenoughworktokeepmefromgettinglazyorhomesick，“answeredMegtranquilly。
　　“SallieMoffathasfour，“beganAmy。
　　“IfMeghadfour，thehousewouldn’tholdthem，andmasterandmissiswouldhavetocampinthegarden，“brokeinJo，who，envelopedinabigbluepinafore，wasgivingthelastpolishtothedoorhandles。
　　“Sallieisn’tapoorman’swife，andmanymaidsareinkeepingwithherfineestablishment。MegandJohnbeginhumbly，butI
　　haveafeelingthattherewillbequiteasmuchhappinessinthelittlehouseasinthebigone。It’sagreatmistakeforyounggirlslikeMegtoleavethemselvesnothingtodobutdress，giveorders，andgossip。WhenIwasfirstmarried，Iusedtolongformynewclothestowearoutorgettorn，sothatimighthavethepleasureofmendingthem，forIgotheartilysickofdoingfancyworkandtendingmypockethandkerchief。“
　　“Whydidn’tyougointothekitchenandmakemesses，asSalliesaysshedoestoamuseherself，thoughtheyneverturnoutwellandtheservantslaughather，“saidMeg。
　　“Ididafterawhile，notto`mess’buttolearnofHannahhowthingsshouldbedone，thatmyservantsneednotlaughatme。
　　Itwasplaythen，buttherecameatimewhenIwastrulygratefulthatInotonlypossessedthewillbutthepowertocookwholesomefoodformylittlegirls，andhelpmyselfwhenIcouldnolongeraffordtohirehelp。Youbeginattheotherend，Meg，dear，butthelessonsyoulearnnowwillbeofusetoyouby-and-bywhenJohnisaricherman，forthemistressofahouse，howeversplendid，shouldknowhowworkoughttobedone，ifshewishestobewellandhonestlyserved。“
　　“Yes，Mother，I’msureofthat，“saidMeg，listeningrespectfullytothelittlelecture，forthebestofwomenwillholdforthupontheallabsorbingsubjectofhousekeeping。“DoyouknowI