Leavinghersistertoherowndevices，Amyproceededtoenjoyherselftoherheart’scontent。Mr。Tudor’sunclehadmarriedanEnglishladywhowasthirdcousintoalivinglord，andAmyregardedthewholefamilywithgreatrespect，forinspiteofherAmericanbirthandbreeding，shepossessedthatreverencefortitleswhichhauntsthebestofus——thatunacknowledgedloyaltytotheearlyfaithinkingswhichsetthemostdemocraticnationunderthesuninfermentatthecomingofaroyalyellow-hairedladdie，someyearsago，andwhichstillhassomethingtodowiththelovetheyoungcountrybearstheold，likethatofabigsonforanimperiouslittlemother，whoheldhimwhileshecould，andlethimgowithafarewellscoldingwhenherebelled。ButeventhesatisfactionoftalkingwithadistantconnectionoftheBritishnobilitydidnotrenderAmyforgetfuloftime，andwhenthepropernumberofminuteshadpassed，shereluctantlytoreherselffromthisaristocraticsociety，andlookedaboutforJo，ferventlyhopingthatherincorrigiblesisterwouldnotbefoundinanypositionwhichshouldbringdisgraceuponthenameofMarch。
　　Itmighthavebeenworse，butAmyconsidereditbad。ForJosatonthegrass，withanencampmentofboysabouther，andadirty-footeddogreposingontheskirtofherstateandfestivaldress，assherelatedoneofLaurie’sprankstoheradmiringaudience。
　　OnesmallchildwaspokingturtleswithAmy’scherishedparasol，asecondwaseatinggingerbreadoverJo’sbestbonnet，andathirdplayingballwithhergloves。butallwereenjoyingthemselves，andwhenJocollectedherdamagedpropertytogo，herescortaccompaniedher，begginghertocomeagain，“ItwassuchfuntohearaboutLaurie’slarks。“
　　“Capitalboys，aren’tthey？Ifeelquiteyoungandbriskagainafterthat。“saidJo，strollingalongwithherhandsbehindher，partlyfromhabit，partlytoconcealthebespatteredparasol。
　　“WhydoyoualwaysavoidMr。Tudor？“askedAmy，wiselyrefrainingfromanycommentuponJo’sdilapidatedappearance。
　　“Don’tlikehim，heputsonairs，snubshissisters，worrieshisfather，anddoesn’tspeakrespectfullyofhismother。Lauriesaysheisfast，andIdon’tconsiderhimadesirableacquaintance，soIlethimalone。“
　　“Youmighttreathimcivilly，atleast。Yougavehimacoolnod，andjustnowyoubowedandsmiledinthepolitestwaytoTommyChamberlain，whosefatherkeepsagrocerystore。Ifyouhadjustreversedthenodandthebow，itwouldhavebeenright，“
　　saidAmyreprovingly。
　　“No，itwouldn’t，“returnedJo，“Ineitherlike，respect，noradmireTudor，thoughhisgrandfather’suncle’snephew’sniecewasathirdcousintoalord。Tommyispoorandbashfulandgoodandveryclever。Ithinkwellofhim，andliketoshowthatIdo，forheisagentlemaninspiteofthebrownpaperparcels。“
　　“It’snousetryingtoarguewithyou，“beganAmy。
　　“Nottheleast，mydear，“interruptedJo，“soletuslookamiable，anddropacardhere，astheKingsareevidentlyout，forwhichI’mdeeplygrateful。“
　　Thefamilycardcasehavingdoneitsdutythegirlswalkedon，andJoutteredanotherthanksgivingonreachingthefifthhouse，andbeingtoldthattheyoungladieswereengaged。
　　“nowletusgohome，andnevermindAuntMarchtoday。Wecanrundownthereanytime，andit’sreallyapitytotrailthroughthedustinourbestbibsandtuckers，whenwearetiredandcross。“
　　“Speakforyourself，ifyouplease。AuntMarchlikestohaveuspayherthecomplimentofcominginstyle，andmakingaformalcall。
　　It’salittlethingtodo，butitgivesherpleasure，andIdon’tbelieveitwillhurtyourthingshalfsomuchaslettingdirtydogsandclumpingboysspoilthem。Stoopdown，andletmetakethecrumbsoffofyourbonnet。“
　　“Whatagoodgirlyouare，Amy!“saidJo，witharepentantglancefromherowndamagedcostumetothatofhersister，whichwasfreshandspotlessstill。“Iwishitwasaseasyformetodolittlethingstopleasepeopleasitisforyou。Ithinkofthem，butittakestoomuchtimetodothem，soIwaitforachancetoconferagreatfavor，andletthesmallonesslip，buttheytellbestintheend，Ifancy。“
　　Amysmiledandwasmollifiedatonce，sayingwithamaternalair，“Womenshouldlearntobeagreeable，particularlypoorones，fortheyhavenootherwayofrepayingthekindnessestheyreceive。
　　Ifyou’drememberthat，andpracticeit，you’dbebetterlikedthanIam，becausethereismoreofyou。“
　　“I’macrotchetyoldthing，andalwaysshallbe，butI’mwillingtoownthatyouareright，onlyit’seasierformetoriskmylifeforapersonthantobepleasanttohimwhenIdon’tfeellikeit。It’sagreatmisfortunetohavesuchstronglikesanddislikes，isn’tit？“
　　“It’sagreaternottobeabletohidethem。Idon’tmindsayingthatIdon’tapproveofTudoranymorethanyoudo，butI’mnotcalledupontotellhimso。Neitherareyou，andthereisnouseinmakingyourselfdisagreeablebecauseheis。“
　　“ButIthinkgirlsoughttoshowwhentheydisapproveofyoungmen，andhowcantheydoitexceptbytheirmanners？
　　Preachingdoesnotdoanygood，asIknowtomysorrow，sinceI’vehadTeddietomanage。ButtherearemanylittlewaysinwhichIcaninfluencehimwithoutaword，andIsayweoughttodoittoothersifwecan。“
　　“Teddyisaremarkableboy，andcan’tbetakenasasampleofotherboys，“saidAmy，inatoneofsolemnconviction，whichwouldhaveconvulsedthe`remarkableboy’ifhehadheardit。
　　“Ifwewerebelles，orwomenofwealthandposition，wemightdosomething，perhaps，butforustofrownatonesetofyounggentlemenbecausewedon’tapproveofthem，andsmileuponanothersetbecausewedo，wouldn’thaveaparticleofeffect，andweshouldonlybeconsideredoddandpuritanical。“
　　“Sowearetocountenancethingsandpeoplewhichwedetest，merelybecausewearenotbellesandmillionaires，arewe？
　　That’sanicesortofmorality。“
　　“Ican’targueaboutit，Ionlyknowthatit’sthewayoftheworld，andpeoplewhosetthemselvesagainstitonlygetlaughedatfortheirpains。Idon’tlikereformers，andIhopeyounevertrytobeone。“
　　“Idolikethem，andIshallbeoneifIcan，forinspiteofthelaughingtheworldwouldnevergetonwithoutthem。Wecan’tagreeaboutthat。foryoubelongtotheoldset，andItothenew。
　　Youwillgetonthebest，butIshallhavetheliveliesttimeofit。
　　Ishouldratherenjoythebrickbatsandhooting，Ithink。“
　　“Well，composeyourselfnow，anddon’tworryAuntwithyournewideas。“
　　“I’lltrynotto，butI’malwayspossessedtoburstoutwithsomeparticularlybluntspeechorrevolutionarysentimentbeforeher。It’smydoom，andIcan’thelpit。“
　　TheyfoundAuntCarrolwiththeoldlady，bothabsorbedinsomeveryinterestingsubject，buttheydroppeditasthegirlscamein，withaconsciouslookwhichbetrayedthattheyhadbeentalkingabouttheirnieces。Jowasnotinagoodhumor，andtheperversefitreturned，butAmy，whohadvirtuouslydoneherduty，kepthertemperandpleasedeverybody，wasinamostangelicframeofmind。Thisamiablespiritwasfeltatonce，andbothaunts`mydeared’heraffectionately，lookingwhattheyafterwardsaidemphatically，“Thatchildimproveseveryday。“
　　“Areyougoingtohelpaboutthefair，dear？“askedMrs。Carrol，asAmysatdownbesideherwiththeconfidingairelderlypeoplelikesowellintheyoung。
　　“Yes，Aunt。Mrs。ChesteraskedmeifIwould，andIofferedtotendatable，asIhavenothingbutmytimetogive。“
　　“I’mnot，“putinJodecidedly。“Ihatetobepatronized，andtheChestersthinkit’sagreatfavortoallowustohelpwiththeirhighlyconnectedfair。Iwonderyouconsented，Amy，theyonlywantyoutowork。“
　　“Iamwillingtowork。It’sforthefreedmenaswellastheChesters，andIthinkitverykindofthemtoletmesharethelaborandthefun。Patronagedoesnottroublemewhenitiswellmeant。“
　　“Quiterightandproper。Ilikeyourgratefulspirit，mydear。
　　It’sapleasuretohelppeoplewhoappreciateourefforts。Somedonot，andthatistrying，“observedAuntMarch，lookingoverherspectaclesatJo，whosatapart，rockingherself，withasomewhatmoroseexpression。
　　IfJohadonlyknownwhatagreathappinesswaswaveringinthebalanceforoneofthem，shewouldhaveturneddove-likeinaminute，butunfortunately，wedon’thavewindowsinourbreasts，andcannotseewhatgoesoninthemindsofourfriends。Betterforusthatwecannotasageneralthing，butnowandthenitwouldbesuchacomfort，suchasavingoftimeandtemper。Byhernextspeech，Jodeprivedherselfofseveralyearsofpleasure，andreceivedatimelylessonintheartofholdinghertongue。
　　“Idon’tlikefavors，theyoppressandmakemefeellikeaslave。I’dratherdoeverythingformyself，andbeperfectlyindependent。“
　　“Ahem!“coughedAuntCarrolsoftly，withalookatAuntMarch。
　　“Itoldyouso，“saidAuntMarch，withadecidednodtoAuntCarrol。
　　Mercifullyunconsciousofwhatshehaddone，Josatwithhernoseintheair，andarevolutionaryaspectwhichwasanythingbutinviting。
　　“DoyouspeakFrench，dear？“askedMrs。Carrol，layingahandonAmy’s。
　　“Prettywell，thankstoAuntMarch，wholetsEsthertalktomeasoftenasIlike，“repliedamy，withagratefullook，whichcausedtheoldladytosmileaffably。
　　“Howareyouaboutlanguages？“askedMrs。CarrolofJO。
　　“Don’tknowaword。I’mverystupidaboutstudyinganything，can’tbearFrench，it’ssuchaslippery，sillysortoflanguage，“
　　wasthebrusquereply。
　　Anotherlookpassedbetweentheladies，andAuntMarchsaidtoAmy，’Youarequitestrongandwellno，dear，Ibelieve？Eyesdon’ttroubleyouanymore，dothey？“
　　“Notatall，thankyou，ma’am。I’mverywell，andmeantodogreatthingsnextwinter，sothatImaybereadyforRome，wheneverthatjoyfultimearrives。“
　　“Goodgirl!Youdeservetogo，andI’msureyouwillsomeday，“saidAuntMarch，withanapproving；patonthehead，asAmypickedupherballforher。
　　Crosspatch，drawthelatch，Sitbythefireandspin，squalledPolly，bendingdownfromhisperchonthebackofherchairtopeepintoJo’sface，withsuchacomicalairofimpertinentinquirythatitwasimpossibletohelplaughing。
　　“Mostobservingbird，“saidtheoldlady。
　　“Comeandtakeawalk，mydear？“criedPolly，hoppingtowardthechinacloset，withalooksuggestiveofalumpofsugar。
　　“Thankyou，Iwill。ComeAmy。“AndJobroughtthevisittoanend，feelingmorestronglythaneverthatcallsdidhaveabadeffectuponherconstitution。Sheshookhandsinagentlemanlymanner，butAmykissedboththeaunts，andthegirlsdeparted，leavingbehindthemtheimpressionofshadowandsunshine，whichimpressioncausedAuntMarchtosay，astheyvanished……
　　“You’dbetterdoit，Mary。I’llsupplythemoney。AndAuntCarroltoreplydecidedly，“Icertainlywill，ifherfatherandmotherconsent。“
　　Chapter30CHAPTERTHIRTY
　　Mrs。Chester’sfairwassoveryelegantandselectthatitwasconsideredagreathonorbytheyoungladiesoftheneighborhoodtobeinvitedtotakeatable，andeveryonewasmuchinterestinthematter。Amywasasked，butJowasnot，whichwasfortunateforallparties，asherelbowsweredecidedlyakimboatthisperiodofherlife，andittookagoodmanyhardknockstoteachherhowtogetoneasily。The`haughty，uninterestingcreature’wasletseverelyalone，butAmy’stalentandtasteweredulycomplimentedbytheofferofthearttable，andsheexertedherselftoprepareandsecureappropriateandvaluablecontributionstoit。
　　Everythingwentonsmoothlytillthedaybeforethefairopened，thenthereoccurredoneofthelittleskirmisheswhichitisalmostimpossibletoavoid，whensomefive-and-twentywomen，oldandyoung，withalltheirprivatepiquesandprejudices，trytoworktogether。
　　MayChesterwasratherjealousofAmybecausethelatterwasagreaterfavoritethanherself，andjustatthistimeseveraltriflingcircumstancesoccurredtoincreasethefeeling。
　　Amy’sdaintypen-and-inkworkentirelyeclipsedMay’spaintedvases——thatwasonethorn。ThentheallconqueringTudorhaddancedfourtimeswithAmyatalatepartyandonlyoncewithMay——thatwasthornnumbertwo。Butthechiefgrievancethatrankledinhersoul，andgaveanexcuseforherunfriendlyconduct，wasarumorwhichsomeobliginggossiphadwhisperedtoher，thattheMarchgirlshadmadefunofherattheLambs’。
　　AlltheblameofthisshouldhavefallenuponJo，forhernaughtyimitationhadbeentoolifeliketoescapedetection，andthefrolicsomeLambshadpermittedthejoketoescape。Nohintofthishadreachedtheculprits，however，andAmy’sdismaycanbeimagined，when，theveryeveningbeforethefair，asshewasputtingthelasttouchestoherprettytable，Mrs。Chester，who，ofcourse，resentedthesupposedridiculeofherdaughter，said，inablandtone，butwithacoldlook……
　　“Ifind，dear，thatthereissomefeelingamongtheyoungladiesaboutmygivingthistabletoanyonebutmygirls。Asthisisthemostprominent，andsomesaythemostattractivetableofall，andtheyarethechiefgetters-upofthefair，itisthoughtbestforthemtotakethisplace。I’msorry，butI
　　knowyouaretoosincerelyinterestedinthecausetomindalittlepersonaldisappointment，andyoushallhaveanothertableifyoulike。“
　　Mrs。Chesterfanciedbeforehandthatitwouldbeeasytodeliverthislittlespeech，butwhenthetimecame，shefounditratherdifficulttoutteritnaturally，withAmy’sunsuspiciouseyeslookingstraightatherfullofsurpriseandtrouble。
　　“Amyfeltthattherewassomethingbehindthis，butwouldnotguesswhat，andsaidquietly，feelinghurt，andshowingthatshedid，“PerhapsyouhadratherItooknotableatall？“
　　“Now，mydear，don’thaveanyillfeeling，Ibeg。It’smerelyamatterofexpediency，yousee，mygirlswillnaturallytakethelead，andthistableisconsideredtheirproperplace。
　　Ithinkitveryappropriatetoyou，andfeelverygratefulforyoureffortstomakeitsopretty，butwemustgiveupourprivatewishes，ofcourse，andIwillseethatyouhaveagoodplaceelsewhere。Wouldn’tyouliketheflowertable？Thelittlegirlsundertookit，buttheyarediscouraged。Youcouldmakeacharmingthingofit，andtheflowertableisalwaysattractiveyouknow。“
　　“Especiallytogentlemen，“addedMay，withalookwhichenlightenedAmyastoonecauseofhersuddenfallfromfavor。Shecoloredangrily，buttooknoothernoticeofthatgirlishsarcasm，andansweredwithunexpectedamiability……
　　“Itshallbeasyouplease，Mrs。Chester。I’llgiveupmyplacehereatonce，andattendtotheflowers，ifyoulike。“
　　“Youcanputyourownthingsonyourowntable，ifyouprefer，“beganMay，feelingalittleconscience-stricken，asshelookedattheprettyracks，thepaintedshells，andquaintilluminationsAmyhadsocarefullymadeandsogracefullyarranged。