WithwhatMegcalled`agreatwantofmanners’Johadsavedsomebonbonsforthelittlegirls，andtheysoonsubsided，afterhearingthemostthrillingeventsoftheevening。
　　“Ideclare，itreallyseemslikebeingafineyounglady，tocomehomefromthepartyinacarriageandsitinmydressinggownwitamaidtowaitonme，“saidMeg，asJoboundupherfootwitharnicaandbrushedherhair。
　　“Idon’tbelievefineyoungladiesenjoythemselvesabitmorethanwedo，inspiteofourburnedhair，oldgowns，onegloveapieceandtightslippersthatsprainourankleswhenwearesillyenoughtowearthem，“AndIthinkJowasquiteright。
　　“Oh，dear，howharditdoesseemtotakeupourpacksandgoon，“sighedMegthemorningaftertheparty，fornowtheholidayswereover，theweekofmerrymakingdidnotfitherforgoingoneasilywiththetasksheneverliked。
　　“IwishitwasChristmasorNewYear’sallthetime。
　　Wouldn’titbefun？“answeredJo，yawningdismally。
　　“Weshouldn’tenjoyourselveshalfsomuchaswedonow。
　　Butitdoesseemsonicetohavelittlesuppersandbouquets，andgotoparties，anddrivehome，andreadandrest，andnotwork。It’slikeotherpeople，youknow，andIalwaysenvygirlswhodosuchthings，I’msofondofluxury，“saidMeg，tryingtodecidewhichoftwoshabbygownswastheleastshabby。
　　“Well，wecan’thaveit，sodon’tletusgrumblebutshoulderourbundlesandtrudgealongascheerfullyasMarmeedoes。I’msureAuntMarchisaregularOldManoftheSeatome，butIsupposewhenI’velearnedtocarryherwithoutcomplaining，shewilltumbleoff，orgetsolightthatIshan’tmindher。“
　　ThisideatickledJo’sfancyandputheringoodspirits，butMegdidn’tbrighten，forherburden，consistingoffourspoiledchildren，seemedheavierthanever。
　　Shehadnotheartenougheventomakeherselfprettyasusualbyputtingonablueneckribbonanddressingherhairinthemostbecomingway。
　　“Where’stheuseoflookingnice，whennooneseesmebutthosecrossmidgets，andnoonecareswhetherI’mprettyornot？“shemuttered，shuttingherdrawerwithajerk。“I
　　shallhavetotoilandmoilallmydays，withonlylittlebitsoffunnowandthen，andgetoldanduglyandsour，becauseI’mpoorandcan’tenjoymylifeasothergirlsdo。
　　It’sashame!“
　　SoMegwentdown，wearinganinjuredlook，andwasn’tatallagreeableatbreakfasttime。Everyoneseemedratheroutofsortsandinclinedtocroak。
　　Bethhadaheadacheandlayonthesofa，tryingtocomfortherselfwiththecatandthreekittens。Amywasfrettingbecauseherlessonswerenotlearned，andshecouldn’tfindherrubbers。Jowouldwhistleandmakeagreatracketgettingready。
　　Mrs。Marchwasverybusytryingtofinishaletter，whichmustgoatonce，andHannahhadthegrumps，forbeinguplatedidn’tsuither。
　　“Thereneverwassuchacrossfamily!“criedJo，losinghertemperwhenshehadupsetaninkstand，brokenbothbootlacings，andsatdownuponherhat。
　　“You’rethecrossestpersoninit!“returnedAmy，washingoutthesumthatwasallwrongwiththetearsthathadfallenonherslate。
　　“Beth，ifyoudon’tkeepthesehorridcatsdowncellarI’llhavethemdrowned，“exclaimedMegangrilyasshetriedtogetridofthekittenwhichhadscrambledupherbackandstucklikeaburrjustoutofreach。
　　Jolaughed，Megscolded，Bethimplored，andAmywailedbecauseshecouldn’trememberhowmuchninetimestwelvewas。
　　“Girls，girls，dobequietoneminute!Imustgetthisoffbytheearlymail，andyoudrivemedistractedwithyourworry，“criedMrs。March，crossingoutthethirdspoiledsentenceinherletter。
　　Therewasamomentarylull，brokenbyHannah，whostalkedin，laidtwohotturnoversonthetable，andstalkedoutagain。
　　Theseturnoverswereaninstitution，andthegirlscalledthem`muffs’，fortheyhadnoothersandfoundthehotpiesverycomfortingtotheirhandsoncoldmornings。
　　Hannahneverforgottomakethem，nomatterhowbusyorgrumpyshemightbe，forthewalkwaslongandbleak。
　　Thepoorthingsgotnootherlunchandwereseldomhomebeforetwo。
　　“Cuddleyourcatsandgetoveryourheadache，Bethy。
　　Goodbye，Marmee。Weareasetofrascalsthismorning，butwe’llcomehomeregularangels。Nowthen，Meg!“AndJotrampedaway，feelingthatthepilgrimswerenotsettingoutastheyoughttodo。
　　Theyalwayslookedbackbeforeturningthecorner，fortheirmotherwasalwaysatthewindowtonodandsmile，andwaveherhandtothem。Somehowitseemedasiftheycouldn’thavegotthroughthedaywithoutthat，forwhatevertheirmoodmightbe，thelastglimpseofthatmotherlyfacewassuretoaffectthemlikesunshine。
　　“IfMarmeeshookherfistinsteadofkissingherhandtous，itwouldserveusright，formoreungratefulwretchesthanwearewereneverseen，“criedJo，takingaremorsefulsatisfactioninthesnowywalkandbitterwind。
　　“Don’tusesuchdreadfulexpressions，“repliedMegfromthedepthsoftheveilinwhichshehadshroudedherselflikeanunsickoftheworld。
　　“Ilikegoodstrongwordsthatmeansomething，“repliedJo，catchingherhatasittookaleapoffherheadpreparatorytoflyingawayaltogether。
　　“Callyourselfanynamesyoulike，butIamneitherarascalnorawretchandIdon’tchoosetobecalledso。“
　　“You’reablightedbeing，anddecidedlycrosstodaybecauseyoucan’tsitinthelapofluxuryallthetime。Poordear，justwaittillImakemyfortune，andyoushallrevelincarriagesandicecreamandhigh-heeledslippers，andposies，andred-headedboystodancewith。“
　　“Howridiculousyouare，Jo!“ButMeglaughedatthenonsenseandfeltbetterinspiteofherself。
　　“LuckyforyouIam，forifIputoncrushedairsandtriedtobedismal，asyoudo，weshouldbeinanicestate。
　　Thankgoodness，Icanalwaysfindsomethingfunnytokeepmeup。Don’tcroakanymore，butcomehomejolly，there’sadear。“
　　Jogavehersisteranencouragingpatontheshoulderastheypartedfortheday，eachgoingadifferentway，eachhuggingherlittlewarmturnover，andeachtryingtobecheerfulinspiteofwintryweather，hardwork，andtheunsatisfieddesiresofpleasure-lovingyouth。
　　WhenMr。Marchlosthispropertyintryingtohelpanunfortunatefriend，thetwooldestgirlsbeggedtobeallowedtodosomethingtowardtheirownsupport，atleast。Believingthattheycouldnotbegintooearlytocultivateenergy，industry，andindependence，theirparentsconsented，andbothfelltoworkwiththeheartygoodwillwhichinspiteofallobstaclesissuretosucceedatlast。
　　Margaretfoundaplaceasnurserygovernessandfeltrichwithhersmallsalary。Asshesaid，shewas`fondofluxury’，andherchieftroublewaspoverty。Shefoundithardertobearthantheothersbecauseshecouldrememberatimewhenhomewasbeautiful，lifefullofeaseandpleasure，andwantofanykindunknown。Shetriednottobeenviousordiscontented，butitwasverynaturalthattheyounggirlshouldlongforprettythings，gayfriends，accomplishments，andahappylife。AttheKings’shedailysawallshewanted，forthechildren’soldersisterswerejustout，andMegcaughtfrequentglimpsesofdaintyballdressesandbouquets，heardlivelygossipabouttheaters，concerts，sleighingparties，andmerrymakingsofallkinds，andsawmoneylavishedontrifleswhichwouldhavebeensoprecioustoher。PoorMegseldomcomplained，butasenseofinjusticemadeherfeelbittertowardeveryonesometimes，forshehadnotyetlearnedtoknowhowrichshewasintheblessingswhichalonecanmakelifehappy。
　　JohappenedtosuitAuntMarch，whowaslameandneededanactivepersontowaituponher。Thechildlessoldladyhadofferedtoadoptoneofthegirlswhenthetroublescame，andwasmuchoffendedbecauseherofferwasdeclined。OtherfriendstoldtheMarchesthattheyhadlostallchanceofbeingrememberedinthericholdlady’swill，buttheunworldlyMarchesonlysaid……
　　“Wecan’tgiveupourgirlsforadozenfortunes。Richorpoor，wewillkeeptogetherandbehappyinoneanother。“
　　Theoldladywouldn’tspeaktothemforatime，buthappeningtomeetJoatatafriend’s，somethinginhercomicalfaceandbluntmannersstrucktheoldlady’sfancy，andsheproposedtotakeherforacompanion。ThisdidnotsuitJoatall，butsheacceptedtheplacesincenothingbetterappearedand，toeveryone’ssurprise，gotonremarkablywellwithherirasciblerelative。Therewasanoccasionaltempest，andonceJomarchedhome，declaringshecouldn’tbearitlonger，butAuntMarchalwaysclearedupquickly，andsentforhertocomebackagainwithsuchurgencythatshecouldnotrefuse，forinherheartsheratherlikedthepepperyoldlady。
　　Isuspectthattherealattractionwasalargelibraryoffinebooks，whichwaslefttodustandspiderssinceUncleMarchdied。Jorememberedthekindoldgentleman，whousedtoletherbuildrailroadsandbridgeswithhisbigdictionaries，tellherstoriesaboutqueerpicturesinhisLatinbooks，andbuyhercardsofgingerbreadwheneverhemetherinthestreet。Thedim，dustyroom，withthebustsstaringdownfromthetallbookcases，thecozychairs，theglobes，andbestofall，thewildernessofbooksinwhichshecouldwanderwheresheliked，madethelibraryaregionofblisstoher。
　　ThemomentAuntMarchtookhernap，orwasbusywithcompany，Johurriedtothisquietplace，andcurlingherselfupintheeasychair，devouredpoetry，romance，history，travels，andpictureslikearegularbookworm。But，likeallhappiness，itdidnotlastlong，forassureasshehadjustreachedtheheartofthestory，thesweetestverseofasong，orthemostperilousadventureofhertraveler，ashrillvoicecalled，“Josy-phine!Josy-phine!andshehadtoleaveherparadisetowindyarn，washthepoodle，orreadBelsham’sEssaysbythehourtogether。
　　Jo’sambitionwastodosomethingverysplendid。Whatitwas，shehadnoideaasyet，butleftitfortimetotellher，andmeanwhile，foundhergreatestafflictioninthefactthatshecouldn’tread，run，andrideasmuchassheliked。Aquicktemper，sharptongue，andrestlessspiritwerealwaysgettingherintoscrapes，andherlifewasaseriesofupsanddowns，whichwerebothcomicandpathetic。
　　ButthetrainingshereceivedatAuntMarch’swasjustwhatsheneeded，andthethoughtthatshewasdoingsomethingtosupportherselfmadeherhappyinspiteoftheperpetual“Josy-phine!“
　　Bethwastoobashfultogotoschool。Ithadbeentried，butshesufferedsomuchthatitwasgivenup，andshedidherlessonsathomewithherfather。Evenwhenhewentaway，andhermotherwascalledtodevoteherskillandenergytoSoldiers’AidSocieties，Bethwentfaithfullyonbyherselfanddidthebestshecould。Shewasahousewifelylittlecreature，andhelpedHannahkeephomeneatandcomfortablefortheworkers，neverthinkingofanyrewardbuttobeloved。Long，quietdaysshespent，notlonelynoridle，forherlittleworldwaspeopledwithimaginaryfriends，andshewasbynatureabusybee。Thereweresixdollstobetakenupanddressedeverymorning，forBethwasachildstillandandlovedherpetsaswellasever。Notonewholeorhandsomeoneamongthem，allwereoutcaststillBethtookthemin，forwhenhersistersoutgrewtheseidols，theypassedtoherbecauseAmywouldhavenothingoldorugly。
　　Bethcherishedthemallthemoretenderlyforthatveryreason，andsetupahospitalforinfirmdolls。Nopinswereeverstuckintotheircottonvitals，noharshwordsorblowswereevergiventhem，noneglecteversaddenedtheheartorthemostrepulsive，butallwerefedandclothed，nursedandcaressedwithanaffectionwhichneverfailed。
　　OneforlornfragmentofdollanityhadbelongedtoJoand，havingledatempestuouslife，wasleftawreckintheragbag，fromwhichdrearypoorhouseitwasrescuedbyBethandtakentoherrefuge。Havingnotoptoitshead，shetiedonaneatlittlecap，andasbotharmsandlegsweregone，shehidthesedeficienciesbyfoldingitinablanketanddevotingherbestbedtothischronicinvalid。Ifanyonehadknownthecarelavishedonthatdolly，Ithinkitwouldhavetouchedtheirhearts，evenwhiletheylaughed。
　　Shebroughtitbitsofbouquets，shereadtoit，tookitouttobreathefreshair，hiddenunderhercoat，shesangitlullabiesandneverwenttobewithoutkissingitsdirtyfaceandwhisperingtenderly，“Ihopeyou’llhaveagoodnight，mypoordear。“
　　Bethhadhertroublesaswellastheothers，andnotbeinganangelbutaveryhumanlittlegirl，sheoften`weptalittleweep’asJosaid，becauseshecouldn’ttakemusiclessonsandhaveafinepiano。Shelovedmusicsodearly，triedsohardtolearn，andpracticedawaysopatientlyatthejinglingoldinstrument，thatitdidseemasifsomeonenottohintAuntMarchoughttohelpher。Nobodydid，however，andnobodysawBethwipethetearsofftheyellowkeys，thatwouldn’tkeepintune，whenshewasallalone。