ou?' cried Meg at t

rs.

husky voice from ab

eating apples and c

up in a comforter o

ndow. This was Jo's

tire with half a doz

iet and the society o

mind her a partic

to his hole. Jo sho

ited to hear

! A regular note of

w night!' cried Meg,

ding to read it with

ld be happy to see

le dance on New Yea

go, now what sha

king that, when you k

haven't got anythi

mouth f

!' sighed Meg. 'Mothe

wo years is an everlast

k like silk, and they

new, but I forgot th

I do? The burn show

ny out

ll you can and keep y

. I shall have a new r

er little pearl pin,

will do, though they

e.'

th lemonade, and I c

go without,' said J

ch about d

es, or I won't go,'

ortant than anything

you don't I should be

't care much for compa

I like to fly about

r for new ones, they

he said when you spoil

ou any more this wi

do?

mpled up in my hand,

That's all I can do. N

ear one good one a

you se

r than mine, and you

eg, whose gloves wer

.

. I don't care what p

p her bo

u may! Only don't st

our hands behind yo

Columbus!' wi

. I'll be as prim ad

help it. Now go and

this splendi

'accept with thanks'

she did up her one re

her four apples, and

crabbl

e parlor was deserte

g maids and the two

siness of 'getting r

were, there was a gr

nd talking, and at o

aded the house. Meg

Jo undertook to pi

r of hot t

like that?' asked B

bed.

ness drying,'

It's like burned fe

pretty curls with

ff the papers and you'l

Jo, putting down

papers, but no cloud

h the papers, and the

scorched bundles on

im.

ve you done? I'm spo

wailed Meg, lookin

le on her fo

houldn't have asked

so sorry, but the to

,' groaned poor Jo,

s with tears

t frizzle it, and tie

ad a bit, and it wi

y girls do it so,' sai

trying to be fine.

ed Meg petu

mooth and pretty. But

ing to kiss and comfor

mishaps, Meg was fi

of the entire famil

ey looked very well

, with a blue velvet

aroon, with a stiff, g

hemum or two for her

glove, and carried o

t 'quite easy and fi

ght and hurt her, tho

hairpins all seemed st

not exactly comforta

egant or

aries!' said Mrs. Mar

lk. 'Don't eat much

nd Hannah for you.'

oice cried from

you both got nice pock

e, and Meg has cologn

as they went on, '

ere all running away f

tocratic tastes, and q

by neat boots, glov

a good many little 'a

own.

keep the bad breadt

oes my hair look ver

lass in Mrs. Gardiner

nged pr

t. If you see me doin

will you?' returned J

r head a hast

ylike. I'll lift my e

ou are all right. N

ort steps, and don't

nyone. It isn't

all the proper w

t music g

ng a trifle timid, fo

as this little gatheri

r, a stately old lady

to the eldest of he

at her ease very soo

r girlish gossip, sto

e wall, and felt as

den. Half a dozen jo

her part of the room

ating was one of the

sh to Meg, but the

ared not stir. No one

oup dwindled away til

about and amuse her

o she stared at peopl

g began. M

he tight slippers tr

e guessed the pain

a big red headed y

he meant to engage h

ending to peep and en

her bashful person

rtain fell behind her,

the 'Lauren

know anyone was h

t as speedily as she

and said pleasantl

Don't mind me, sta

disturb

ame here because I d

strange at first

away, please, unless

in and looked at his

nd easy, 'I think I'v

. You live near u

looked up and laughe

s rather funny

ey had chatted ab

the cat

se and she laughed to

did have such a goo

s presen

pa sen

nto his head, did

ss March?' asked the

black eyes sho

Mr. Laurence. But I

urned the you

, I'm only Laurie.' '

name.

odore, but I don't li

I made the say La

, so sentimental! I

osephine. How did y

you Do

shed 'e

arch, so I suppose I s

ed herself wi

ce, Miss Jo?' asked La

name suite

if there is plenty of

e this I'm sure to ups

o something dreadfu

eg sail about. Don

I've been abroad a

company enough yet

here.

'Oh, tell me about it

ibe their tr

to know where to be

im going, and he tol

where the boys never

lake, and for holida

zerland with the

n there!' cried Jo. '

er there.' 'Can you

to speak anything e

but can't pronounce

lle en les pa

s?'

! Let me see...you sa

tty slippers',

demoisel

ret, and you knew it

etty?

ink of the German gir

d dances like

leasure at this boyish

repeat to Meg. Both

ey felt like old ac

ore off, for Jo's

at his ease, and Jo

ress was forgotten a

liked the 'Laurence

d looks at him, so t

they had no brothers,

ost unknown creat

rown skin, big black

s and feet, taller tha

her jolly. Wonder

Jo's tongue to ask, b

ual tact, tried to fin

.

going to college so

no, I mean studying

pegging' which ha

idn't seem shocked,

ear or two. I won't

ay.'

en?' asked Jo, lookin

ned seventeen

next mon

g to college! You don'

'

t grinding or skylarki

, in this country.' '

and to enjoy myself

h to ask what his

ather threatening as

y saying, as her foot

Why don't you go

' he answered, with a

eg I wouldn't, because

ed whether to tell

'You won't tell

rick of standing befo

scorched this one, a

Meg told me to keep

, if you want to. It

ugh. He only looked

ace puzzled Jo when

l tell you how we can

e can dance grandly,

come.

gladly went, wish

the nice, pearl-colo

empty, and they had

and taught her the

full of swing and sp

sat down on th

Laurie was in the mi

t Heidelberg when Me

oned, and Jo reluctantl

he found her on a so

king pa

kle. That stupid hig

aches so, I can hard

ing to get home,' sh

n pai

r feet with those sill

can do, except get a

Jo, softly rubbing

ke.

age without its costi

at all, for most peo

the stable, and no one

nine, and dark as Egy

Sallie has some girls

mes, and then do th

ll go,' said Jo,' looki

d to he

or tell anyone. Get

our things. I can't

over, watch for Ha

she com

t to supper now. I

ather

, and bring me some

stir

ith rubbers well h

the dining room, wh

closet, and opening

r was taking a little

table, she secured

thereby making the

the bac

underbuss I am!' exc

scrubbing her g

id a friendly voice.

e hand and a plate of

something for Meg,

nd here I am in a n

ly from the stained

d glov

ooking for someon

it to your

how you where she is.

only get into another

s if used to waiting

ought a second instal

o obliging that e

ice boy'. They had

and were in the mid

ree other young peop

red. Meg forgot h

as forced to catch

ion of p

thing,' she whispere

oot a little, that's a

. Hannah scolded, Me

e decided to take thi

n down and, finding

iage. It happened to

the neighborhood

Laurie, who had hear

his grandfather's ca

him, he s

can't mean to go yet

itating to accep

do, truly! Please let

know, and it rain

telling him of Meg's

up to bring down t

as much as a cat d

lled away in the lux

and elegant. Laurie w

p, and the girls talk

dom.

. Did you?' asked Jo,

erself comfo

f. Sallie's friend, Ann

to come and spend

going in the spring

ctly splendid, if Mo

heering up at t

with the red headed

nice?

auburn, not red, and

ious redowa w

sshopper in a fit whe

't help laughing. D

rude. What were you

way ther

es, and by the time

many thanks, they

disturb no one, but

nightcaps bobbed u

es cried o

party! Tell abou

d 'a great want of

little girls, and the

hrilling events of

seems like being a f

in a carriage and si

n me,' said Meg, as

and brushed

e young ladies enjoy

of our burned hair,

slippers that spr

nough to wear them,

e ri