Little Women

' cried Meg, at the foo

ee-legged sofa by the sunny window. This was Jo's favourite refuge; and here she loved to retire with half a dozen russets and a nice book, to enjoy the quiet and the society

Gardiner for tomorrow night!' cried Meg, waving the precious

Miss Josephine at a little party on New Year's Eve."

we shall wear our poplins because we haven't got

er says I may when I'm eighteen, perhaps; b

Yours is as good as new, but I forgot the burn and the tear in mine.

. I shall have a new ribbon for my hair, and Marmee will lend me her little pearl pin, and

any new ones, so I shall have to go without,' sa

cidedly, `gloves are more important than anything els

ll stay wh

so careless. She said, when you spoilt the others, that she shouldn't g

stained they are; that's all I can do. No, I'll tell you how we can

will stretch my glove dreadfully,' began Meg

on't care what people say!'

and do behave nicely. Don't put your hands behin

not get into any scrapes, if I can help it. Now go and

sing blithely as she did up her one real lace frill; while Jo finis

ess of `getting ready for the party'. Simple as the toilets were, there was a great deal of running up and down, laughing and talking, and at one time a

ike that?' asked Beth, f

ampness dryin

feathers,' observed Amy, smoothing he

and you'll see a cloud of little ring

or the hair came with the papers, and the horrified hairdresser lai

n't go! My hair, oh, my hair!' wailed Meg, looking

erything. I'm so sorry, but the tongs were too hot, and so I've made a m

ends come on your forehead a bit, and it will look like the last

o be fine. I wish I'd let my ha

t it will soon grow out again,' said Beth,

s, and the pearl pin; Jo in maroon, with a stiff, gentlemanly linen collar and a white chrysanthemum or two for her only ornament. Each put on the one nice light glove, and carried one soiled one, and all pronounced the effect `quite easy

down the walk. `Don't eat much supper, and come away at eleven, when I send H

e you both got nice

o, adding with a laugh, as they we nt on, `I do believe Marmee

l lady is always known by neat boots, gloves, and handkerchief,' rep

sh right? and does my hair look very bad?' said Meg, as she turned fro

wrong just remind me by a wink, will you?' returned Jo,

d nod if you are all right. Now hold your shoulders straight and take short st

he proper ways? I never c

dozen jovial lads were talking about skates in another part of the room, and she longed to go and join them, for skating was one of the joys of her life. She telegraphed her wish to Meg, but the eyebrows went up so alarmingly that she dared not stir. No one came to talk to her, and one by one the group near her dwindled away, till she was left alone. She could not roam about and amuse herself, for the burnt breadth would show, so she stared at people rather forlornly till the dan

ere!' stammered Jo, preparing to back

said pleasantly, though h

d me; stay i

t I dist

e I don't know many people, and I fel

rather.' The boy sat down again and looked at his

sure of seeing you before; y

Jo's prim manner was rather funny, when he remembered how

and she laughed too, as s

good time over your ni

ndpa s

t into his head,

ked the boy, trying to look sober,

e; but I am not Miss March, I'm o

Laurence, I'm

rence - what

't like it, for the fellows called me D

everyone would say Jo, instead of Josephine. H

hrashe

suppose I shall have to bear it'; a

parties?' she a

od many years, and haven't been in company

me about it! I love dearly to he

told her how he had been at school in Vevey, where the boys never wore hats, and had a fleet of

een there!' cried Jo.

t last win

ou talk

owed to speak anyt

can read it, but

iselle en les pantoufles jolie

- you said, "Who is the young lady i

mademo

t, and you knew it was! D

of the German girls, she

this boyish praise of her sister,

ulness soon wore off; for Jo's gentlemanly demeanour amused and set him at his ease, and Jo was

s at him, so that she might describe him to the girls; for they had no brot

se; fine teeth; small hands and feet; taller than I am, very

t she checked herself in time, and with unusu

ging away at your books - no, I mean studying hard'; and

dn't seem shocked, and

two; I won't go befor

Jo, looking at the tall lad, whom

en, next

g to college! You don't

r skylarking. And I don't like the w

do you

y, and to enjoy my

er threatening as he knit them; so she changed the subject by saying, as her foot

oo,' he answered, wit

ere Jo stopped, and looked undecided whether to tell

won't

Nev

it shows, and Meg told me to keep still, so no one would see it. You may laugh, if you want to; it is funny, I know.' But Laurie didn't

she had two neat gloves, when she saw the

She beckoned, and Jo reluctantly followed her into a side room, where she found her on a sofa, holding her foot, and looking pale. `I've sprained my ankle. That stup

ut I don't see what you can do, except get a carriage, or stay here

rriage, without its

st people come in their own, and it's a lo

'll

here, for the house is full. Sallie has some girls staying with

o,' said Jo, looking relieved

and put these slippers with our things. As soon as supper i

o supper now. I'll stay

d bring me some coffee. I'

nto a china-closet, and opening the door of a room where old Mr. Gardiner was taking a little private refreshment. Making

m!' exclaimed Jo, finishing Meg's g

and there was Laurie, with a full cup in

omeone shook me; and here I am, in a nice state,' answered Jo, gla

r someone to give this to. M

s. I don't offer to take it myself, for I s

en particular Meg pronounced him a `nice boy'. They had a merry time over the bonbons and mottoes, and were in the midst of a quiet game of `Buzz', with two or three ot

aloud, `It's nothing. I turned my foot a little, t

ding a servant, asked if he could get her a carriage. It happened to be a hired waiter, who knew nothing about the neighbourhood; and Jo was looki

go yet?' began Jo, looking relieved,

ase let me take you home. It's all on m

Hannah hated rain as much as a cat does; so she made no trouble, and they rolled away in the luxurious close carriage, feeling v

?' asked Jo, rumpling up her hai

and spend a week with her when Sallie does. She is going in the spring, when the opera comes; and i

the red-headed m

he n

is auburn, not red;

in a fit. Laurie and I couldn't

. What were you about all t

hanks, they said `Good night', and crept in, hoping to disturb no one; but the instant thei

ey soon subsided, after hearing the most thrilling events of the evening. `I declare, it really seems like being a fine young lady to come home from

ite of our burnt hair, old gowns, one glove apiece, and tight slippers that sprain