likethisroommostofallinmybabyhouse，“addedMeg，aminuteafter，astheywentupstairsandshelookedintoherwell-storedlinencloset。
　　Bethwasthere，layingthesnowypilessmoothlyontheshelvesandexultingoverthegoodlyarray。AllthreelaughedasMegspoke，forthatlinenclosetwasajoke。Yousee，havingsaidthatifMegmarried`thatBrooke’sheshouldn’thaveacentofhermoney，AuntMarchwasratherinaquandarywhentimehadappeasedherwrathandmadeherrepenthervow。Sheneverbrokeherword，andwasmuchexercisedinhermindhowtogetroundit，andatlastdevisedaplanwherebyshecouldsatisfyherself。Mrs。Carrol，Florence’smamma，wasorderedtobuy，havemade，andmarkedageneroussupplyofhouseandtablelinen，andsenditasherpresent，allofwhichwasfaithfullydone，butthesecretleakedout，andwasgreatlyenjoyedbythefamily，forAuntMarchtriedtolookutterlyunconscious，andinsistedthatshecouldgivenothingbuttheold-fashionedpearlslongpromisedtothefirstbride。
　　“That’sahousewifelytastewhichIamgladtosee。Ihadayoungfriendwhosetuphousekeepingwithsixsheets，butshehadfingerbowlsforcompanyandthatsatisfiedher，“saidMrs。March，pattingthedamasktablecloths，withatrulyfeminineappreciationoftheirfineness。
　　“Ihaven’tasinglefingerbowl，butthisisasetoutthatwilllastmeallmydays，Hannahsays。“AndMeglookedquitecontented，aswellshemight。
　　Atall，broad-shoulderedyoungfellow，withacroppedhead，afeltbasinofahat，andaflyawaycoat，cametrampingdowntheroadatagreatpace，walkedoverthelowfencewithoutstoppingtoopenthegate，straightuptoMrs。March，withbothhandsoutandahearty……
　　“HereIam，Mother!Yes，it’sallright。“
　　Thelastwordswereinanswertothelooktheelderladygavehim，akindlyquestioninglookwhichthehandsomeeyesmetsofranklythatthelittleceremonyclosed，asusual，withamotherlykiss。
　　“ForMrs。JohnBrooke，withthemaker’scongratulationsandcompliments。Blessyou，Beth!Whatarefreshingspectacleyouare，Jo。Amy，youaregettingaltogethertoohandsomeforasinglelady。“
　　AsLauriespoke，hedeliveredabrownpaperparceltoMeg，pilledBeth’shairribbon，staredatJo’sbibpinafore，andfellintoanattitudeofmockrapturebeforeAmy，thenshookhandsallround，andeveryonebegantotalk。
　　“WhereisJohn？“askedMeganxiously。
　　“Stoppedtogetthelicensefortomorrow，ma’am。“
　　“Whichsidewonthelastmatch，Teddy？“inquiredJo，whopersistedinfeelinganinterestinmanlysportsdespitehernineteenyears。
　　“Ours，ofcourse。Wishyou’dbeentheretosee。“
　　“HowisthelovelyMissRandal？“askedAmywithasignificantsmile。
　　“Morecruelthanever。Don’tyouseehowI’mpiningaway？“
　　AndLauriegavehisbroadchestasoundingslapandheavedamelodramaticsigh。
　　“What’sthelastjoke？Undothebundleandsee，Meg，“saidBeth，eyingtheknobbyparcelwithcuriosity。
　　“It’sausefulthingtohaveinthehouseincaseoffireorthieves，“observedLaurie，asawatchman’srattleappeared，amidthelaughterofthegirls。
　　“AnytimewhenJohnisawayandyougetfrightened，Mrs。
　　Meg，justswingthatoutofthefrontwindow，anditwillrousetheneighborhoodinajiffy。Nicething，isn’tit？“AndLauriegavethemasampleofitspowersthatmadethemcoveruptheirears。
　　“There’sgratitudeforyou!AndspeakingofgratituderemindsmetomentionthatyoumaythankHannahforsavingyourweddingcakefromdestruction。IsawitgoingintoyourhouseasIcameby，andifshehadn’tdefendeditmanfullyI’dhavehadapickatit，foritlookedlikearemarkablyplummyone。“
　　“Iwonderifyouwillevergrowup，Laurie，“saidMeginamatronlytone。
　　“I’mdoingmybest，ma’am，butcan’tgetmuchhigher，I’mafraid，assixfeetisaboutallmencandointhesedegeneratedays，“
　　respondedtheyounggentleman，whoseheadwasaboutlevelwiththelittlechandelier。
　　“Isupposeitwouldbeprofanationtoeatanythinginthisspick-and-spanbower，soasI’mtremendouslyhungry，Iproposeanadjournment，“headdedpresently。
　　“MotherandIaregoingtowaitforJohn。Therearesomelastthingstosettle，“saidMeg，bustlingaway。
　　“BethandIaregoingovertoKittyBryant’stogetmoreflowersfortomorrow，“addedAmy，tyingapicturesquehatoverherpicturesquecurls，andenjoyingtheeffectasmuchasanybody。
　　“Come，Jo，don’tdesertafellow。I’minsuchastateofexhaustionIcan’tgethomewithouthelp。Don’ttakeoffyourapron，whateveryoudo，it’speculiarlybecoming，“saidLaurie，asJobestowedhisespecialaversioninhercapaciouspocketandofferedherarmtosupporthisfeeblesteps。
　　“Now，Teddy，Iwanttotalkseriouslytoyouabouttomorrow，“
　　beganJo，astheystrolledawaytogether。“Youmustpromisetobehavewell，andnotcutupanypranks，andspoilourplans。“
　　“Notaprank。“
　　“Anddon’tsayfunnythingswhenweoughttobesober。“
　　“Ineverdo。Youaretheoneforthat。“
　　“AndIimploreyounottolookatmeduringtheceremony。I
　　shallcertainlylaughifyoudo。“
　　“Youwon’tseeme，you’llbecryingsohardthatthethickfogroundyouwillobscuretheprospect。“
　　“Inevercryunlessforsomegreataffliction。“
　　“Suchasfellowsgoingtocollege，hey？“cutinLaurie，withsuggestivelaugh。
　　“Don’tbeapeacock。Ionlymoanedatrifletokeepthegirlscompany。“
　　“Exactly。Isay，Jo，howisGrandpathisweek？Prettyamiable？“
　　“Very。Why，haveyougotintoascrapeandwanttoknowhowhe’lltakeit？“askedJorathersharply。
　　“Now，Jo，doyouthinkI’dlookyourmotherinthefaceandsay`Allright’，ifitwasn’t？“AndLauriestoppedshort，withaninjuredair。
　　“No，Idon’t。“
　　“Thendon’tgoandbesuspicious。Ionlywantsomemoney，“saidLaurie，walkingonagain，appeasedbyherheartytone。
　　“Youspendagreatdeal，Teddy。“
　　“Blessyou，Idon’tspendit，itspendsitselfsomehow，andisgonebeforeIknowit。“
　　“Youaresogenerousandkind-heartedthatyouletpeopleborrow，andcan’tsay`No’toanyone。WeheardaboutHenshawandallyoudidforhim。Ifyoualwaysspentmoneyinthatway，noonewouldblameyou，“saidJowarmly。
　　“Oh，hemadeamountainoutofamolehill。Youwouldn’thavemeletthatfinefellowworkhimselftodeathjustforwantofalittlehelp，whenheisworthadozenofuslazychaps，wouldyou？“
　　“Ofcoursenot，butIdon’tseetheuseofyourhavingseventeenwaistcoats，endlessneckties，andanewhateverytimeyoucomehome。
　　Ithoughtyou’dgotoverthedandyperiod，buteverynowandthenitbreaksoutinanewspot。Justnowit’sthefashiontobehideous，tomakeyourheadlooklikeascrubbingbrush，wearastraitjacket，orangegloves，andclumpingsquare-toedboots。Ifitwascheapugliness，I’dsaynothing，butitcostsasmuchastheother，andI
　　don’tgetanysatisfactionoutofit。“
　　Lauriethrewbackhishead，andlaughedsoheartilyatthisattack，thatthefelthatfelloff，andJowalkedonit，whichinsultonlyaffordedhimanopportunityforexpatiatingontheadvantagesofarough-and-readycostume，ashefoldedupthemaltreatedhat，andstuffeditintohispocket。
　　“Don’tlectureanymore，there’sagoodsoul!Ihaveenoughallthroughtheweek，andliketoenjoymyselfwhenIcomehome。
　　I’llgetmyselfupregardlessofexpensetomorrowandbeasatisfactiontomyfriends。“
　　“I’llleaveyouinpeaceifyou’llonlyletyourhairgrow。
　　I’mnotaristocratic，butIdoobjecttobeingseenwithapersonwholookslikeayoungprizefighter，“observedJoseverely。
　　“Thisunassumingstylepromotesstudy，that’swhyweadoptit，“
　　returnedLaurie，whocertainlycouldnotbeaccusedofvanity，havingvoluntarilysacrificedahandsomecurlycroptothedemandforquarterinch-longstubble。
　　“Bytheway，Jo，IthinkthatlittleParkerisreallygettingdesperateaboutAmy。Hetalksofherconstantly，writespoetry，andmoonsaboutinamostsuspiciousmanner。He’dbetterniphislittlepassioninthebud，hadn’the？“addedLaurie，inaconfidential，elderbrotherlytone，afteraminute’ssilence。
　　“Ofcoursehehad。Wedon’twantanymoremarryinginthisfamilyforyearstocome。Mercyonus，whatarethechildrenthinkingof？“AndJolookedasmuchscandalizedasifAmyandlittleParkerwerenotyetintheirteens。
　　“It’safastage，andIdon’tknowwhatwearecomingto，ma’am。
　　Youareamereinfant，butyou’llgonext，Jo，andwe’llbeleftlamenting，“saidLaurie，shakinghisheadoverthedegeneracyofthetimes。
　　“Don’tbealarmed。I’mnotoneoftheagreeablesort。Nobodywillwantme，andit’samercy，forthereshouldalwaysbeoneoldmaidinafamily。“
　　“Youwon’tgiveanyoneachance，“saidLaurie，withasidelongglanceandalittlemorecolorthanbeforeinhissunburnedface。
　　“Youwon’tshowthesoftsideofyourcharacter，andifafellowgetsapeepatitbyaccidentandcan’thelpshowingthathelikesit，youtreathimasMrs。Gummidgedidhersweetheart，throwcoldwateroverhim，andgetsothornynoonedarestouchorlookatyou。“
　　“Idon’tlikethatsortofthing。I’mtoobusytobeworriedwithnonsense，andIthinkit’sdreadfultobreakupfamiliesso。
　　Nowdon’tsayanymoreaboutit。Meg’sweddinghasturnedallourheads，andwetalkofnothingbutloversandsuchabsurdities。
　　I
　　don’twishtogetcross，solet’schangethesubject。“AndJolookedquitereadytoflingcoldwaterontheslightestprovocation。
　　Whateverhisfeelingsmighthavebeen，Lauriefoundaventfortheminalonglowwhistleandthefearfulpredictionastheypartedatthegate，“Markmywords，Jo，you’llgonext。“
　　TheJunerosesovertheporchwereawakebrightandearlyonthatmorning，rejoicingwithalltheirheartsinthecloudlesssunshine，likefriendlylittleneighbors，astheywere。Quiteflushedwithexcitementweretheirruddyfaces，astheyswunginthewind，whisperingtooneanotherwhattheyhadseen，forsomepeepedinatthediningroomwindowswherethefeastwasspread，someclimbeduptonodandsmileatthesistersastheydressedthebride，otherswavedawelcometothosewhocameandwentonvariouserrandsingarden，porch，andhall，andall，fromtherosiestfull-blownflowertothepalestbabybud，offeredtheirtributeofbeautyandfragrancetothegentlemistresswhohadlovedandtendedthemsolong。
　　Meglookedverylikearoseherself，forallthatwasbestandsweetestinheartandsoulseemedtobloomintoherfacethatday，makingitfairandtender，withacharmmorebeautifulthanbeauty。
　　Neithersilk，lace，nororangeflowerswouldshehave。“Idon’twantafashionablewedding，butonlythoseaboutmewhomIlove，andtothemIwishtolookandbemyfamiliarself。“
　　Soshemadeherweddinggownherself，sewingintoitthetenderhopesandinnocentromancesofagirlishheart。hersistersbraidedupherprettyhair，andtheonlyornamentssheworeweretheliliesofthevalley，which`herJohn’likedbestofalltheflowersthatgrew。
　　“YoudolookjustlikeourowndearMeg，onlysoverysweetandlovelythatIshouldhugyouifitwouldn’tcrumpleyourdress，“
　　criedAmy，surveyingherwithdelightwhenallwasdone。
　　“ThenIamsatisfied。Butpleasehugandkissme，everyone，anddon’tmindmydress。Iwantagreatmanycrumplesofthissortputintoittoday。“AndMegopenedherarmstohersisters，whoclungaboutherwithAprilfacesforaminute，feelingthatthenewlovehadnotchangedtheold。
　　“NowI’mgoingtotieJohn’scravatforhim，andthentostayafewminuteswithFatherquietlyinthestudy。“AndMegrandowntoperformtheselittleceremonies，andthentofollowhermotherwherevershewent，consciousthatinspiteofthesmilesonthemotherlyface，therewasasecretsorrowhidinthemotherlyheartattheflightofthefirstbirdfromthenest。
　　Astheyoungergirlsstandtogether，givingthelasttouchestotheirsimpletoilet，itmaybeagoodtimetotellofafewchangeswhichthreeyearshavewroughtintheirappearance，forallarelookingtheirbestjustnow。
　　Jo’sanglesaremuchsoftened，shehaslearnedtocarryherselfwithease，ifnotgrace。Thecurlycrophaslengthenedintoathickcoil，morebecomingtothesmallheadatopofthetallfigure。Thereisafreshcolorinherbrowncheeks，asoftshineinhereyes，andonlygentlewordsfallfromhersharptonguetoday。
　　Bethhasgrownslender，pale，andmorequietthanever。Thebeautiful，kindeyesarelarger，andinthemliesanexpressionthatsaddensone，althoughitisnotsaditself。Itistheshadowofpainwhichtouchestheyoungfacewithsuchpatheticpatience，butBethseldomcomplainsandalwaysspeakshopefullyof`beingbettersoon’。
　　Amyiswithtruthconsidered`theflowerofthefamily’，foratsixteenshehastheairandbearingofafull-grownwoman，notbeautiful，butpossessedofthatindescribablecharmcalledgrace。
　　Onesawitinthelinesofherfigure，themakeandmotionofherhands，theflowofherdress，thedroopofherhair，unconsciousyetharmonious，andasattractivetomanyasbeautyitself。Amy’snosestillafflictedher，foritneverwouldgrowGrecian，sodidhermouth，beingtoowide，andhavingadecidedchin。Theseoffendingfeaturesgavecharactertoherwholeface，butshenevercouldseeit，andconsoledherselfwithherwonderfullyfaircomplexion，keenblueeyes，andcurlsmoregoldenandabundantthanever。
　　Allthreeworesuitsofthinsilvergraytheirbestgownsforthesummer，withblushrosesinhairandbosom，andallthreelookedjustwhattheywere，fresh-faced，happy-heartedgirls，pausingamomentintheirbusylivestoreadwithwistfuleyesthesweetestchapterintheromanceofwomanhood。
　　Thereweretobenoceremoniousperformances，everythingwastobeasnaturalandhomelikeaspossible，sowhenAuntMarcharrived，shewasscandalizedtoseethebridecomerunningtowelcomeandleadherin，tofindthebridegroomfasteningupagarlandthathadfallendown，andtocatchaglimpseofthepaternalministermarchingupstairswithagravecountenanceandawinebottleundereacharm。