Buthedid，ohblessyou，yes，hundredsoftimes，andsodidMeg，bothdeclaringthatitwasthesweetestjellytheyevermade，forfamilypeacewaspreservedinthatlittlefamilyjar。
　　Afterthis，MeghadMr。Scotttodinnerbyspecialinvitation，andservedhimupapleasantfeastwithoutacookedwifeforthefirstcourse，onwhichoccasionshewassogayandgracious，andmadeeverythinggooffsocharmingly，thatMr。ScotttoldJohnhewasaluckyfellow，andshookhisheadoverthehardshipsofbachelorhoodallthewayhome。
　　Intheautumn，newtrialsandexperiencescametoMeg。SallieMoffatrenewedherfriendship，wasalwaysrunningoutforadishofgossipatthelittlehouse，orinviting`thatpoordear’tocomeinandspendthedayatthebighouse。Itwaspleasant，forindullweatherMegoftenfeltlonely。Allwerebusyathome，Johnabsenttillnight，andnothingtodobutsew，orread，orpotterabout。
　　SoitnaturallyfelloutthatMeggotintothewayofgaddingandgossipingwithherfriend。SeeingSallie’sprettythingsmadeherlongforsuch，andpityherselfbecauseshehadnotgotthem。Salliewasverykind，andoftenofferedherthecovetedtrifles，butMegdeclinedthem，knowingthatJohnwouldn’tlikeit，andthenthisfoolishlittlewomanwentanddidwhatJohndislikedevenworse。
　　Sheknewherhusband’sincome，andshelovedtofeelthathetrustedher，notonlywithhishappiness，butwhatsomemenseemtovaluemore——hismoney。Sheknewwhereitwas，wasfreetotakewhatsheliked，andallheaskedwasthatsheshouldkeepaccountofeverypenny，paybillsonceamonth，andrememberthatshewasapoorman’swife。Tillnowshehaddonewell，beenprudentandexact，keptherlittleaccountbooksneatly，andshowedthemtohimmonthlywithoutfear。ButthatautumntheserpentgotintoMeg’sparadise，andtemptedherlikemanyamodernEve，notwithapples，butwithdress。Megdidn’tliketobepitiedandmadetofeelpoor。Itirritatedher，butshewasashamedtoconfessit，andnowandthenshetriedtoconsoleherselfbybuyingsomethingpretty，sothatSallieneedn’tthinkshehadtoeconomize。Shealwaysfeltwickedafterit，fortheprettythingswereseldomnecessaries，butthentheycostsolittle，itwasn’tworthworryingabout，sothetriflesincreasedunconsciously，andintheshoppingexcursionsshewasnolongerapassivelooker-on。
　　Butthetriflescostmorethanonewouldimagine，andwhenshecastupheraccountsattheendofthemonththesumtotalratherscaredher。Johnwasbusythatmonthandleftthebillstoher，thenextmonthhewasabsent，butthethirdhehadagrandquarterlysettlingup，andMegneverforgotit。Afewdaysbeforeshehaddoneadreadfulthing，anditweigheduponherconscience。Salliehadbeenbuyingsilks，andMeglongedforanewone，justahandsomelightoneforparties，herblacksilkwassocommon，andthinthingsforeveningwearwereonlyproperforgirls。AuntMarchusuallygavethesistersapresentoftwenty-fivedollarsapieceatNewYear’s。
　　Thatwasonlyamonthtowait，andherewasalovelyvioletsilkgoingatabargain，andshehadthemoney，ifsheonlydaredtotakeit。
　　Johnalwayssaidwhatwashiswashers，butwouldhethinkitrighttospendnotonlytheprospectivefive-and-twenty，butanotherfive-and-twentyoutofthehouseholdfund？Thatwasthequestion。
　　Salliehadurgedhertodoit，hadofferedtolendthemoney，andwiththebestintentionsinlifehadtemptedMegbeyondherstrength。
　　Inanevilmomenttheshopmanheldupthelovely，shimmeringfolds，andsaid，“Abargain，Iassure，you，ma’am。“Sheanswered，“I’lltakeit，“anditwascutoffandpaidfor，andSalliehadexulted，andshehadlaughedasifitwereathingofnoconsequence，anddrivenaway，feelingasifshehadstolensomething，andthepolicewereafterher。
　　Whenshegothome，shetriedtoassuagethepangsofremorsebyspreadingforththelovelysilk，butitlookedlesssilverynow，didn’tbecomeher，afterall，andthewords`fiftydollars’seemedstampedlikeapatterndowneachbreadth。Sheputitaway，butithauntedher，notdelightfullyasanewdressshould，butdreadfullyliketheghostofafollythatwasnoteasilylaid。WhenJohngotouthisbooksthatnight，Meg’sheartsank，andforthefirsttimeinhermarriedlife，shewasafraidofherhusband。Thekind，browneyeslookedasiftheycouldbestern，andthoughhewasunusuallymerry，shefanciedhehadfoundherout，butdidn’tmeantoletherknowit。Thehousebillswereallpaid，thebooksallinorder。
　　Johnhadpraisedher，andwasundoingtheoldpocketbookwhichtheycalledthe`bank’，whenMeg，knowingthatitwasquiteempty，stoppedhishand，sayingnervously……
　　“Youhaven’tseenmyprivateexpensebookyet。“
　　Johnneveraskedtoseeit，butshealwaysinsistedonhisdoingso，andusedtoenjoyhismasculineamazementatthequeerthingswomenwanted，andmadehimguesswhatpipingwas，demandfiercelythemeaningofahug-me-tight，orwonderhowalittlethingcomposedofthreerosebuds，abitofvelvet，andapairofstrings，couldpossiblybeabonnet，andcostsixdollars。Thatnighthelookedasifhewouldlikethefunofquizzingherfiguresandpretendingtobehorrifiedatherextravagance，asheoftendid，beingparticularlyproudofhisprudentwife。
　　Thelittlebookwasbroughtslowlyoutandlaiddownbeforehim。
　　Meggotbehindhischairunderpretenseofsmoothingthewrinklesoutofhistiredforehead，andstandingthere，shesaid，withherpanicincreasingwitheveryword……
　　“John，dear，I’mashamedtoshowyoumybook，forI’vereallybeendreadfullyextravagantlately。IgoaboutsomuchImusthavethings，youknow，andSallieadvisedmygettingit，soIdid，andmyNewYear’smoneywillpartlypayforit，butIwassorryafterIhaddoneit，forIknewyou’dthinkitwronginme。“
　　Johnlaughed，anddrewherroundbesidehim，sayinggoodhumoredly，“Don’tgoandhide。Iwon’tbeatyouifyouhavegotapairofkillingboots。I’mratherproudofmywife’sfeet，anddon’tmindifshedoespayeightorninedollarsforherboots，iftheyaregoodones。“
　　Thathadbeenoneofherlast`trifles’，andJohn’seyehadfallenonitashespoke。“Oh，whatwillhesaywhenhecomestothatawfulfiftydollars!“thoughtMeg，withashiver。
　　“It’sworsethanboots，it’sasilkdress，“shesaid，withthecalmnessofdesperation，forshewantedtheworstover。
　　“Well，dear，whatisthe`dem’dtotal’，asMr。Mantalinisays？“
　　Thatdidn’tsoundlikeJohn，andsheknewhewaslookingupatherwiththestraightforwardlookthatshehadalwaysbeenreadytomeetandanswerwithoneasfranktillnow。Sheturnedthepageandherheadatthesametime，pointingtothesumwhichwouldhavebeenbadenoughwithoutthefifty，butwhichwasappallingtoherwiththatadded。Foraminutetheroomwasverystill，thenJohnsaidslowly——butshecouldfeelitcosthimanefforttoexpressnodispleasure……
　　“Well，Idon’tknowthatfiftyismuchforadress，withallthefurbelowsandnotionsyouhavetohavetofinishitoffthesedays。“
　　“Itisn’tmadeortrimmed，“sighedMeg，faintly，forasuddenrecollectionofthecoststilltobeincurredquiteoverwhelmedher。
　　“Twenty-fiveyardsofsilkseemsagooddealtocoveronesmallwoman，butI’venodoubtmywifewilllookasfineasNedMoffat’swhenshegetsiton，“saidJohndryly。
　　“Iknowyouareangry，John，butIcan’thelpit。Idon’tmeantowasteyourmoney，andIdidn’tthinkthoselittlethingswouldcountupso。Ican’tresistthemwhenIseeSalliebuyingallshewants，andpityingmebecauseIdon’t。Itrytobecontented，butitishard，andI’mtiredofbeingpoor。“
　　Thelastwordswerespokensolowshethoughthedidnothearthem，buthedid，andtheywoundedhimdeeply，forhehaddeniedhimselfmanypleasuresforMeg’ssake。Shecouldhavebittenhertongueouttheminuteshehadsaidit，forJohnpushedthebooksawayandgotup，sayingwithalittlequiverinhisvoice，“Iwasafraidofthis。Idomybest，Meg。“Ifhehadscoldedher，orevenshakenher，itwouldnothavebrokenherheartlikethosefewwords。Sherantohimandheldhimclose，crying，withrepentanttears，“Oh，John，mydear，kind，hard-workingboy。Ididn’tmeanit!Itwassowicked，sountrueandungrateful，howcouldIsayit!
　　Oh，howcouldIsayit!“
　　Hewasverykind，forgaveherreadily，anddidnotutteronereproach，butMegknewthatshehaddoneandsaidathingwhichwouldnotbeforgottensoon，althoughhemightneveralludetoitagain。Shehadpromisedtolovehimforbetterorworse，andthenshe，hiswife，hadreproachedhimwithhispoverty，afterspendinghisearningsrecklessly。Itwasdreadful，andtheworstofitwasJohnwentonsoquietlyafterward，justasifnothinghadhappened，exceptthathestayedintownlater，andworkedatnightwhenshehadgonetocryherselftosleep。AweekorremorsenearlymadeMegsick，andthediscoverythatJohnhadcountermandedtheorderforhisnewgreatcoatreducedhertoastateofdespairwhichwaspathetictobehold。Hehadsimplysaid，inanswertohersurprisedinquiriesastothechange，“Ican’taffordit，mydear。“
　　Megsaidnomore，butafewminutesafterhefoundherinthehallwithherfaceburiedintheoldgreatcoat，cryingasifherheartwouldbreak。
　　Theyhadalongtalkthatnight，andMeglearnedtoloveherhusbandbetterforhispoverty，becauseitseemedtohavemadeamanofhim，givenhimthestrengthandcouragetofighthisownway，andtaughthimatenderpatiencewithwhichtobearandcomfortthenaturallongingsandfailuresofthoseheloved。
　　Nextdaysheputherprideinherpocket，wenttoSallie，toldthetruth，andaskedhertobuythesilkasafavor。Thegood-
　　naturedMrs。Moffatwillinglydidso，andhadthedelicacynottomakeherapresentofitimmediatelyafterward。ThenMegorderedhomethegreatcoat，andwhenJohnarrived，sheputiton，andaskedhimhowhelikedhernewsilkgown。Onecanimaginewhatanswerhemade，howhereceivedhispresent，andwhatablissfulstateofthingsensued。Johncamehomeearly，Meggaddednomore，andthatgreatcoatwasputoninthemorningbyaveryhappyhusband，andtakenoffatnightbyamostdevotedlittlewife。Sotheyearrolledround，andatmidsummertherecametoMeganewexperience，thedeepestandtenderestofawoman’slife。
　　LauriecamesneakingintothekitchenoftheDovecoteoneSaturday，withanexcitedface，andwasreceivedwiththeclashofcymbals，forHannahclappedherhandswithasaucepaninoneandthecoverintheother。
　　“How’sthelittlemamma？Whereiseverybody？Whydidn’tyoutellmebeforeIcamehome？“beganLaurieinaloudwhisper。
　　“Happyasaqueen，thedear!Everysoulof`emisupstairsaworshipin’。Wedidn’twantnohurrycanesround。Nowyougointotheparlor，andI’llsend`emdowntoyou，“withwhichsomewhatinvolvedreplyHannahvanished，chucklingecstatically。
　　PresentlyJoappeared，proudlybearingaflannelbundlelaidforthuponalargepillow。Jo’sfacewasverysober，buthereyestwinkled，andtherewasanoddsoundinhervoiceofrepressedemotionofsomesort。
　　“Shutyoureyesandholdoutyourarms，“shesaidinvitingly。
　　Lauriebackedprecipitatelyintoacorner，andputhishandsbehindhimwithanimploringgesture。“No，thankyou。I’drathernot。Ishalldropitorsmashit，assureasfate。“
　　“Thenyoushan’tseeyournevvy，“saidJodecidedly，turningasiftogo。
　　“Iwill，Iwill!Onlyyoumustberesponsiblefordamages。“
　　Andobeyingorders，Laurieheroicallyshuthiseyeswhilesomethingwasputintohisarms。ApealoflaughterfromJo，Amy，Mrs。March，Hannah，andJohncausedhimtoopenthemthenextminute，tofindhimselfinvestedwithtwobabiesinsteadofone。
　　Nowondertheylaughed，fortheexpressionofhisfacewasdrollenoughtoconvulseaQuaker，ashestoodandstaredwildlyfromtheunconsciousinnocentstothehilariousspectatorswithsuchdismaythatJosatdownonthefloorandscreamed。
　　“Twins，byJupiter!“wasallhesaidforaminute，thenturningtothewomenwithanappealinglookthatwascomicallypiteous，headded，“Take`emquick，somebody!I’mgoingtolaugh，andIshalldrop`em。“
　　Jorescuedhisbabies，andmarchedupanddown，withoneoneachare，asifalreadyinitiatedintothemysteriesofbabytending，whileLaurielaughedtillthetearsrandownhischeeks。
　　“It’sthebestjokeoftheseason，isn’tit？Iwouldn’thavetoldyou，forIsetmyheartonsurprisingyou，andIflattermyselfI’vedoneit，“saidJo，whenshegotherbreath。
　　“Ineverwasmorestaggeredinmylife。Isn’titfun？Aretheyboys？
　　Whatareyougoingtonamethem？Let’shaveanotherlook。
　　Holdmeup，Jo，foruponmylifeit’sonetoomanyforme，“returnedLaurie，regardingtheinfantswiththeairofabig，benevolentNewfoundlandlookingatapairofinfantilekittens。
　　“Boyandgirl。Aren’ttheybeauties？“saidtheproudpapa，beaminguponthelittleredsquirmersasiftheywereunfledgedangels。
　　“MostremarkablechildrenIeversaw。Whichiswhich？“andLauriebentlikeawell-sweeptoexaminetheprodigies。
　　“Amyputablueribbonontheboyandapinkonthegirl，Frenchfashion，soyoucanalwaystell。Besides，onehasblueeyesandonebrown。Kissthem，UncleTeddy，“saidwickedJo。
　　“I’mafraidtheymightn’tlikeit，“beganLaurie，withunusualtimidityinsuchmatters。
　　“Ofcoursetheywill，theyareusedtoitnow。Doitthisminute，sir!“commandedJo，fearinghemightproposeaproxy。
　　Lauriescreweduphisfaceandobeyedwithagingerlypeckateachlittlecheekthatproducedanotherlaugh，andmadethebabiessqueal。
　　“There，Iknewtheydidn’tlikeit!That’stheboy，seehimkick，hehitsoutwithhisfistslikeagoodone。Nowthen，youngBrooke，pitchintoamanofyourownsize，willyou？“criedLaurie，delightedwithapokeinthefacefromatinyfist，flappingaimlesslyabout。
　　“He’stobenamedJohnLaurence，andthegirlMargaret，aftermotherandgrandmother。WeshallcallherDaisey，soasnottohavetwoMegs，andIsupposethemanniewillbeJack，unlesswefindabettername，“saidAmy，withaunt-likeinterest。
　　“NamehimDemijohn，andcallhimDemiforshort，“saidLaurie“DaisyandDemi，justthething!IknewTeddywoulddoit，“
　　criedJoclappingherhands。
　　Teddycertainlyhaddoneitthattime，forthebabieswere`Daisy’and`Demi’totheendofthechapter。
　　Chapter29CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
　　“Come，Jo，it’stime。“
　　“Forwhat？“