“Youdon’tmeantosayyouhaveforgottenthatyoupromisedtomakehalfadozencallswithmetoday？“
　　“I’vedoneagoodmanyrashandfoolishthingsinmylife，butIdon’tthinkIeverwasmadenoughtosayI’dmakesixcallsinoneday，whenasingleoneupsetsmeforaweek。“
　　“Yes，youdid，itwasabargainbetweenus。IwastofinishthecrayonofBethforyou，andyouweretogoproperlywithme，andreturnourneighbors’visits。“
　　“Ifitwasfair，thatwasinthebond，andIstandtotheletterofmybond，Shylock。Thereisapileofcloudsintheeast，it’snotfair，andIdon’tgo。“
　　“Now，that’sshirking。It’salovelyday，noprospectofrain，andyouprideyourselfonkeeping；promises，sobehonorable，comeanddoyourduty，andthenbeatpeaceforanothersixmonths。“
　　AtthatminuteJowasparticularlyabsorbedindressmaking，forshewasmantua-makergeneraltothefamily，andtookespecialcredittoherselfbecauseshecoulduseaneedleaswellasapen。
　　Itwasveryprovokingtobearrestedintheactofafirsttryingon，andorderedouttomakecallsinherbestarrayonawarmJulyday。
　　Shehatedcallsoftheformalsort，andnevermadeanytillAmycompelledherwithabargain，bribe，orpromise。Inthepresentinstancetherewasnoescape，andhavingclashedherscissorsrebelliously，whileprotestingthatshesmelledthunder，shegavein，putawayherwork，andtakingupherhatandgloveswithanairofresignation，toldAmythevictimwasready。
　　“JoMarch，youareperverseenoughtoprovokeasaint!Youdon’tintendtomakecallsinthatstate，Ihope，“criedAmy，surveyingherwithamazement。
　　“Whynot？I’mneatandcoolandcomfortable，quiteproperforadustywalkonawarmday。Ifpeoplecaremoreformyclothesthantheydoforme，Idon’twishtoseethem。Youcandressforboth，andbeaselegantasyouplease。Itpaysforyoutobefine。Itdoesn’tforme，andfurbelowsonlyworryme。“
　　“Oh，dear!“sighedAmy，“nowshe’sinacontraryfit，andwilldrivemedistractedbeforeIcangetherproperlyready。
　　I’msureit’snopleasuretometogotoday，butit’sadebtweowesociety，andthere’snoonetopayitbutyouandme。I’lldoanythingforyou，Jo，ifyou’llonlydressyourselfnicely，andcomeandhelpmedothecivil。Youcantalksowell，looksoaristocraticinyourbestthings，andbehavesobeautifully，ifyoutry，thatI’mproudofyou。I’mafraidtogoalone，docomeandtakecareofme。“
　　“You’reanartfullittlepusstoflatterandwheedleyourcrossoldsisterinthatway。Theideaofmybeingaristocraticandwell-bred，andyourbeingafraidtogoanywherealone!I
　　don’tknowwhichisthemostabsurd。Well，I’llgoifImust，anddomybest。Youshallbecommanderoftheexpedition，andI’llobeyblindly，willthatsatisfyyou？“saidJo，withasuddenchangefromperversitytolamblikesubmission。
　　“You’reaperfectcherub!Nowputonallyourbestthings，andI’lltellyouhowtobehaveateachplace，sothatyouwillmakeagoodimpression。Iwantpeopletolikeyou，andtheywouldifyou’donlytrytobealittlemoreagreeable。Doyourhairtheprettyway，andputthepinkroseinyourbonnet。It’sbecoming，andyoulooktoosoberinyourplainsuit。Takeyourlightglovesandtheembroideredhandkerchief。We’llstopatMeg’s，andborrowherwhitesunshade，andthenyoucanhavemydove-coloredone。“
　　WhileAmydressed，sheissuedherorders，andJoobeyedthem，notwithoutenteringherprotest，however，forshesighedassherustledintoherneworgandie，frowneddarklyatherselfasshetiedherbonnetstringsinanirreproachablebow，wrestledviciouslywithpinsassheputonhercollar，wrinkledupherfeaturesgenerallyassheshookoutthehandkerchief，whoseembroiderywasasirritatingtohernoseasthepresentmissionwastoherfeelings，andwhenshehadsqueezedherhandsintotightgloveswiththreebuttonsandatassel，asthelasttouchofelegance，sheturnedtoAmywithanimbecileexpressionofcountenance，sayingmeekly……
　　“I’mperfectlymiserable，butifyouconsidermepresentable，Idiehappy。“
　　“You’rehighlysatisfactory。turnslowlyround，andletmegetacarefulview。“Jorevolved，andAmygaveatouchhereandthere，thenfellback，withherheadononeside，observinggraciously，“Yes，you’lldo。YourheadisallIcouldask，forthatwhitebonnetwiththeroseisquiteravishing。Holdbackyourshoulders，andcarryyourhandseasily，nomatterifyourglovesdopinch。There’sonethingyoucandowell，Jo，thatis，wearashawl。Ican’t，butit’sverynicetoseeyou，andI’msogladAuntMarchgaveyouthatlovelyone。It’ssimple，buthandsome，andthosefoldsoverthearmarereallyartistic。Isthepointofmymantleinthemiddle，andhaveIloopedmydressevenly？I
　　liketoshowmyboots，formyfeetarepretty，thoughmynoseisn’t。“
　　“Youareathingofbeautyandajoyforever，“saidJo，lookingthroughherhandwiththeairofaconnoisseuratthebluefeatheragainstthegoldenhair。“AmItodragmybestdressthroughthedust，orloopitup，please，ma’am？“
　　“Holdityupwhenyouwalk，butdropitinthehouse。Thesweepingstylesuitsyoubest，andyoumustlearntotrailyourskirtsgracefully。Youhaven’thalfbuttonedonecuff，doitatonce。You’llneverlookfinishedifyouarenotcarefulaboutthelittledetails，fortheymakeyupthepleasingwhole。“
　　Josighed，andproceededtoburstthebuttonsoffherglove，indoinguphercuff，butatlastbothwereready，andsailedaway，lookingas`prettyaspicters’，Hannahsaid，asshehungoutoftheupperwindowtowatchthem。
　　“Now，Jodear，theChestersconsiderthemselvesveryelegantpeople，soIwantyoutoputonyourbestdeportment。Don’tmakeanyofyourabruptremarks，ordoanythingodd，willyou？Justbecalm，cool，andquiet，that’ssafeandladylike，andyoucaneasilydoitforfifteenminutes，“saidAmy，astheyapproachedthefirstplace，havingborrowedthewhiteparasolandbeeninspectedbyMeg，withababyoneacharm。
　　“Letmesee。`Calm，cool，andquiet’，yes，IthinkIcanpromisethat。I’veplayedthepartofaprimyoungladyonthestage，andI’lltryitoff。Mypowersaregreat，asyoushallsee，sobeeasyinyourmind，mychild。“
　　Amylookedrelieved，butnaughtyJotookheratherword，forduringthefirstcallshesatwitheverylimbgracefullycomposed，everyfoldcorrectlydraped，calmasasummersea，coolasasnowbank，andassilentasthesphinx。InvainMrs。Chesteralludedtoher`charmingnovel’，andtheMissesChesterintroducedparties，picnics，theopera，andthefashions。Eachandallwereansweredbyasmile，abow，andademure“Yes“or“No“withthechillon。
　　InvainAmytelegraphedtheword`talk’，triedtodrawherout，andadministeredcovertpokeswithherfoot。Josatasifblandlyunconciousofitall，withdeportmentlikeMaud’sface，`icilyregular，splendidlynull’。
　　“Whatahaughty，uninterestingcreaturethatoldestMissMarchis!“
　　wastheunfortunatelyaudibleremarkofoneoftheladies，asthedoorclosedupontheirguests。Jolaughednoiselesslyallthroughthehall，butAmylookeddisgustedatthefailureofherinstructions，andverynaturallylaidtheblameuponJo。
　　“Howcouldyoumistakemeso？Imerelymeantyoutobeproperlydignifiedandcomposed，andyoumadeyourselfaperfectstockandstone。TrytobesociableattheLamb’s’。Gossipasothergirlsdo，andbeinterestedindressandflirtationsandwhatevernonsensecomesup。Theymoveinthebestsociety，arevaluablepersonsforustoknow，andIwouldn’tfailtomakeagoodimpressionthereforanything。“
　　“I’llbeagreeable。I’llgossipandgiggle，andhavehorrorsandrapturesoveranytrifleyoulike。Iratherenjoythis，andnowI’llimitatewhatiscalled`acharminggirl’。Icandoit，forIhaveMayChesterasamodel，andI’llimproveuponher。
　　SeeiftheLambsdon’tsay，`Whatalively，nicecreaturethatJoMarchis!“
　　Amyfeltanxious，aswellshemight，forwhenJoturnedfreakishtherewasnoknowingwhereshewouldstop。Amy’sfacewasastudywhenshesawhersisterskimintothenextdrawingroom，kissalltheyoungladieswitheffusion，beamgraciouslyupontheyounggentlemen，andjoininthechatwithaspiritwhichamazedthebeholder。
　　AmywastakenpossessionofbyMrs。Lamb，withwhomshewasafavorite，andforcedtohearalongaccountofLucretia’slastattack，whilethreedelightfulyounggentlemenhoverednear，waitingforapausewhentheymightrushinandrescueher。Sosituated，shewaspowerlesstocheckJo，whoseemedpossessedbyaspiritofmischief，andtalkedawayasvolublyasthelady。
　　A
　　knotofheadsgatheredabouther，andAmystrainedherearstohearwhatwasgoingon，forbrokensentencesfilledherwithcuriosity，andfrequentpealsoflaughtermadeherwildtosharethefun。
　　Onemayimaginehersufferingonoverhearingfragmentsofthissortofconversation。
　　“Sheridessplendidly。whotaughther？“
　　“Noone。Sheusedtopracticemounting，holdingthereins，andsittingstraightonanoldsaddleinatree。Nowsheridesanything，forshedoesn’tknowwhatfearis，andthestablemanletsherhavehorsescheapbecauseshetrainsthemtocarryladiessowell。
　　Shehassuchapassionforit，Ioftentellherifeverythingelsefails，shecanbeahorsebreaker，andgetherlivingso。“
　　AtthisawfulspeechAmycontainedherselfwithdifficulty，fortheimpressionwasbeinggiventhatshewasratherafastyounglady，whichwasherespecialaversion。Butwhatcouldshedo？
　　Fortheoldladywasinthemiddleofherstory，andlongbeforeitwasdone，Jowasoffagain，makemoredrollrevelationsandcommittingstillmorefearfulblunders。
　　“Yes，Amywasindespairthatday，forallthegoodbeastsweregone，andofthreeleft，onewaslame，oneblind，andtheothersobalkythatyouhadtoputdirtinhismouthbeforehewouldstart。
　　Niceanimalforapleasureparty，wasn’tit？“
　　“Whichdidshechoose？“askedoneofthelaughinggentlemen，whoenjoyedthesubject。
　　“Noneofthem。Sheheardofayounghorseatthefarmhouseovertheriver，andthoughaladyhadneverriddenhim，sheresolvedtotry，becausehewashandsomeandspirited。Herstruggleswerereallypathetic。Therewasnoonetobringthehorsetothesaddle，soshetookthesaddletothehorse。Mydearcreature，sheactuallyroweditovertheriver，putitonherhead，andmarcheduptothebarntotheutteramazementoftheoldman!“
　　“Didsheridethehorse？’
　　“Ofcourseshedid，andhadacapitaltime。Iexpectedtoseeherbroughthomeinfragments，butshemanagedhimperfectly，andwasthelifeoftheparty。“
　　“Well，Icallthatplucky!“AndyoungMr。LambturnedanapprovingglanceuponAmy，wonderingwhathismothercouldbesayingtomakethegirllooksoredanduncomfortable。
　　Shewasstillredderandmoreuncomfortableamomentafter，whenasuddenturnintheconversationintroducedthesubjectofdress。OneoftheyoungladiesaskedJowhereshegottheprettydrabhatsheworetothepicnicandstupidJo，insteadofmentioningtheplacewhereitwasboughttwoyearsago，mustneedsanswerwithunnecessaryfrankness，“Oh，Amypaintedit。Youcan’tbuythosesoftshades，sowepaintoursanycolorwelike。It’sagreatcomforttohaveanartisticsister。“
　　“Isn’tthatanoriginalidea？“criedMissLamb，whofoundJogreatfun。
　　“That’snothingcomparedtosomeofherbrilliantperformances。
　　There’snothingthechildcan’tdo。Why，shewantedapairofbluebootsforSallie’sparty，soshejustpaintedhersoiledwhiteonestheloveliestshadeofskyblueyoueversaw，andtheylookedexactlylikesatin，“addedJo，withanairofprideinhersister’saccomplishmentsthatexasperatedAmytillshefeltthatitwouldbearelieftothrowhercardcaseather。
　　“Wereadastoryofyourstheotherday，andenjoyeditverymuch，“
　　observedtheelderMissLamb，wishingtocomplimenttheliterarylady，whodidnotlookthecharacterjustthen，itmustbeconfessed。
　　Anymentionofher`works’alwayshadabadeffectuponJo，whoeithergrewrigidandlookedoffended，orchangedthesubjectwithabrusqueremark，asnow。“Sorryyoucouldfindnothingbettertoread。Iwritethatrubbishbecauseitsells，andordinarypeoplelikeit。AreyougoingtoNewYorkthiswinter？’
　　AsMissLambhad`enjoyed’thestory，thisspeechwasnotexactlygratefulorcomplimentary。TheminuteitwasmadeJosawhermistake，butfearingtomakethematterworse，suddenlyrememberedthatitwasforhertomakethefirstmovetowarddeparture，anddidsowithanabruptnessthatleftthreepeoplewithhalf-
　　finishedsentencesintheirmouths。
　　“Amy，wemustgo。Good-by，dear，docomeandseeus。Wearepiningforavisit。Idon’tdaretoaskyou，Mr。Lamb，butifyoushouldcome，Idon’tthinkIshallhavethehearttosendyouaway。“
　　JosaidthiswithsuchadrollimitationofMayChester’sgushingstylethatAmygotoutoftheroomasrapidlyaspossible，feelingastrongdesiretolaughandcryatthesametime。
　　“Didn’tIdowell？“askedJo，withasatisfiedairastheywalkedaway。
　　“Nothingcouldhavebeenworse，“wasAmy’scrushingreply。
　　“Whatpossessedyoutotellthosestoriesaboutmysaddle，andthehatsandboots，andalltherestofit？“
　　“Why，it’sfunny，andamusespeople。Theyknowwearepoor，soit’snousepretendingthatwehavegrooms，buythreeorfourhatsaseason，andhavethingsaseasyandfineastheydo。“
　　“Youneedn’tgoandtellthemallourlittleshifts，andexposeour；povertyinthatperfectlyunnecessaryway。Youhaven’tabitofproperpride，andneverwilllearnwhentoholdyourtongueandwhentospeak，“saidAmydespairingly。
　　PoorJolookedabashed，andsilentlychafedtheendofhernosewiththestiffhandkerchief，asifperformingapenanceforhermisdemeanors。
　　“HowshallIbehavehere？“sheasked，astheyapproachedthethirdmansion。
　　“Justasyouplease。Iwashmyhandsofyou，“wasAmy’sshortanswer。
　　“ThenI’llenjoymyself。Theboysareathome，andwe’llhaveacomfortabletime。GoodnessknowsIneedalittlechange，forelegancehasabadeffectuponmyconstitution，“returnedJogruffly，beingdisturbedbyherfailuretosuit。
　　Anenthusiasticwelcomefromthreebigboysandseveralprettychildrenspeedilysoothedherruffledfeelings，andleavingAmytoentertainthehostessandMr。Tudor，whohappenedtobecallinglikewise，Jodevotedherselftotheyoungfolksandfoundthechangerefreshing。Shelistenedtocollegestorieswithdeepinterest，caressedpointersandpoodleswithoutamurmur，agreedheartilythat“TomBrownwasabrick，“regardlessoftheimproperformofpraise，andwhenoneladproposedavisittohisturtletank，shewentwithanalacritywhichcausedMammatosmileuponher，asthatmotherlyladysettledthecapwhichwasleftinaruinousconditionbyfilialhugs，bearlikebutaffectionate，anddearertoherthanthemostfaultlesscoiffurefromthehandsofaninspiredFrenchwoman。