Jo’sfacewasastudynextday，forthesecretratherweigheduponher，andshefoundithardnottolookmysteriousandimportant。Megobservedit，butdidnottroubleherselftomakeinquiries，forshehadlearnedthatthebestwaytomanageJowasbythelawofcontraries，soshefeltsureofbeingtoldeverythingifshedidnotask。Shewasrathersurprised，therefore，whenthesilenceremainedunbroken，andJoassumedapatronizingair，whichdecidedlyaggravatedMeg，whointurnassumedanairofdignifiedreserveanddevotedherselftohermother。ThisleftJotoherowndevices，forMrs。Marchhadtakenherplaceasnurse，andbadeherrest，exercise，andamuseherselfafterherlongconfinement。Amybeinggone，Lauriewasheronlyrefuge，andmuchassheenjoyedhissociety，sheratherdreadedhimjustthen，forhewasanincorrigibletease，andshefearedhewouldcoaxthesecretfromher。
Shewasquiteright，forthemischief-lovingladnosoonersuspectedamysterythanhesethimselftofinditout，andledJoatryinglifeofit。Hewheedled，bribed，ridiculed，threatened，andscolded；affectedindifference，thathemightsurprisethetruthfromher；declaredherknew，thenthathedidn’tcare；
andatlast，bydintofperseverance，hesatisfiedhimselfthatitconcernedMegandMr。Brooke。Feelingindignantthathewasnottakenintohistutor’sconfidence，hesethiswitstoworktodevisesomeproperretaliationfortheslight。
Megmeanwhilehadapparentlyforgottenthematterandwasabsorbedinpreparationsforherfather’sreturn，butallofasuddenachangeseemedtocomeoverher，and，foradayortwo，shewasquiteunlikeherself。Shestartedwhenspokento，blushedwhenlookedat，wasveryquiet，andsatoverhersewing，withatimid，troubledlookonherface。Tohermother’sinquiriessheansweredthatshewasquitewell，andJo’sshesilencedbybeggingtobeletalone。
“Shefeelsitintheair——love，Imean——andshe’sgoingveryfast。She’sgotmostofthesymptoms——istwitteryandcross，doesn’teat，liesawake，andmopesincorners。Icaughthersingingthatsonghegaveher，andonceshesaid`John’，asyoudo，andthenturnedasredasapoppy。whatevershallwedo？“
saidJo，lookingreadyforanymeasures，howeverviolent。
“Nothingbutwait。Letheralone，bekindandpatient，andFather’scomingwillsettleeverything，“repliedhermother。
“Here’sanotetoyou，Meg，allsealedup。Howodd!Teddyneversealsmine，“saidJonextday，asshedistributedthecontentsofthelittlepostoffice。
Mrs。MarchandJoweredeepintheirownaffairs，whenasoundfromMegmadethemlookuptoseeherstaringathernotewithafrightenedface。
“Mychild，whatisit？“criedhermother，runningtoher，whileJotriedtotakethepaperwhichhaddonethemischief。
“It’sallamistake，hedidn’tsendit。Oh，Jo，howcouldyoudoit？“andMeghidherfaceinherhands，cryingasifherheartwerequitebroken。
“Me!I’vedonenothing!What’sshetalkingabout？“criedJo，bewildered。
Meg’smildeyeskindledwithangerasshepulledacrumplednotefromherpocketandthrewitatJo，sayingreproachfully，“Youwroteit，andthatbadboyhelpedyou。Howcouldyoubesorude，somean，andcrueltousboth？“
Johardlyheardher，forsheandhermotherwerereadingthenote，whichwaswritteninapeculiarhand。
“MyDearestMargaret，“Icannolongerrestrainmypassion，andmustknowmyfatebeforeIreturn。Idarenottellyourparentsyet，butIthinktheywouldconsentiftheyknewthatweadoredoneanother。Mr。
Laurencewillhelpmetosomegoodplace，andthen，mysweetgirl，youwillmakemehappy。Iimploreyoutosaynothingtoyourfamilyyet，buttosendonewordofhopethroughLaurieto，“YourdevotedJohn。“
“Oh，thelittlevillain!That’sthewayhemeanttopaymeforkeepingmywordtoMother。I’llgivehimaheartyscoldingandbringhimovertobegpardon，“criedJo，burningtoexecuteimmediatejustice。Buthermotherheldherback，saying，withalooksheseldomwore……
“Stop，Jo，youmustclearyourselffirst。YouhaveplayedsomanypranksthatIamafraidyouhavehadahandinthis。“
“Onmyword，Mother，Ihaven’t!Ineversawthatnotebefore，anddon’tknowanythingaboutit，astrueasIlive!“
saidJo，soearnestlythattheybelievedher。“IfIhadtakenpartinitI’dhavedoneitbetterthanthis，andhavewrittenasensiblenote。Ishouldthinkyou’dhaveknownMr。Brookewouldn’twritesuchstuffasthat，“sheadded，scornfullytossingdownthepaper。
“It’slikehiswriting，“falteredMeg，comparingitwiththenoteinherhand。
“Oh，Meg，youdidn’tanswerit？“criedMrs。Marchquickly。
“Yes，Idid!“andMeghidherfaceagain，overcomewithshame。
“Here’sascrape!Doletmebringthatwickedboyovertoexplainandbelectured。Ican’tresttillIgetholdofhim。“
AndJomadeforthedooragain。
“Hush!Letmehandlethis，foritisworsethanIthought。
Margaret，tellmethewholestory，“commandedMrs。March，sittingdownbyMeg，yetkeepingholdofJo，lestsheshouldflyoff。
“IreceivedthefirstletterfromLaurie，whodidn’tlookasifheknewanythingaboutit，“beganMeg，withoutlookingup。
“Iwasworriedatfirstandmeanttotellyou，thenIrememberedhowyoulikedMr。Brooke，soIthoughtyouwouldn’tmindifI
keptmylittlesecretforafewdays。I’msosillythatIlikedtothinknooneknew，andwhileIwasdecidingwhattosay，I
feltlikethegirlsinbooks，whohavesuchthingstodo。Forgiveme，Mother，I’mpaidformysillinessnow。Inevercanlookhiminthefaceagain。“
“Whatdidyousaytohim？’askedMrs。March。
“IonlysaidIwastooyoungtodoanythingaboutityet，thatIdidn’twishtohavesecretsfromyou，andhemustspeaktofather。Iwasverygratefulforhiskindness，andwouldbehisfriend，butnothingmore，foralongwhile。“
Mrs。Marchsmiled，asifwellpleased，andJoclappedherhands，exclaiming，withalaugh，“YouarealmostequaltoCarolinePercy，whowasapatternofprudence!Tellon，Meg。
Whatdidhesaytothat？“
“Hewritesinadifferentwayentirely，tellingmethatheneversentanyloveletteratall，andisverysorrythatmyroguishsister，Jo，shouldtakelibertieswithournames。It’sverykindandrespectful，butthinkhowdreadfulforme!“
Megleanedagainsthermother，lookingtheimageofdespair，andJotrampedabouttheroom，callingLaurienames。Allofasuddenshestopped，caughtupthetwonotes，andafterlookingatthemclosely，saiddecidedly，“Idon’tbelieveBrookeeversaweitheroftheseletters。Teddywroteboth，andkeepsyourstocrowovermewithbecauseIwouldn’ttellhimmysecret。“
“Don’thaveanysecrets，Jo。TellittoMotherandkeepoutoftrouble，asIshouldhavedone，“saidMegwarningly。
“Blessyou，child!Mothertoldme。“
“Thatwilldo，Jo。I’llcomfortMegwhileyougoandgetLaurie。Ishallsiftthemattertothebottom，andputastoptosuchpranksatonce。“
AwayranJo，andMrs。MarchgentlytoldMegMr。Brooke’srealfeelings。“Now，dear，whatareyourown？Doyoulovehimenoughtowaittillhercanmakeahomeforyou，orwillyoukeepyourselfquitefreeforthepresent？“
“I’vebeensoscaredandworried，Idon’twanttohaveanythingtodowithloversforalongwhile，perhapsnever，“
answeredMegpetulantly。“IfJohndoesn’tknowanythingaboutthisnonsense，don’ttellhim，andmakeJoandLaurieholdtheirtongues。Iwon’tbedeceivedandplaguedandmadeafoolof。
It’sashame!“
SeeingMeg’susuallygentletemperwasrousedandherpridehurtbythismischievousjoke，Mrs。Marchsoothedherbypromisesofentiresilenceandgreatdiscretionforthefuture。TheinstantLaurie’sstepwasheardinthehall，Megfledintothestudy，andMrs。Marchreceivedtheculpritalone。
Johadnottoldhimwhyhewaswanted，fearinghewouldn’tcome，butheknewtheminutehesawMrs。March’sface，andstoodtwirlinghishatwithaguiltyairwhichconvictedhimatonce。
Jowasdismissed，butchosetomarchupanddownthehalllikeasentinel，havingsomefearthattheprisonermightbolt。Thesoundofvoicesintheparlorroseandfellforhalfanhour，butwhathappenedduringthatinterviewthegirlsneverknew。
Whentheywerecalledin，LauriewasstandingbytheirmotherwithsuchapenitentfacethatJoforgavehimonthespot，butdidnotthinkitwisetobetraythefact。Megreceivedhishumbleapology，andwasmuchcomfortedbytheassurancethatBrookeknewnothingofthejoke。
“I’llnevertellhimtomydyingday，wildhorsesshan’tdragitoutofme，soyou’llforgiveme，Meg，andI’lldoanythingtoshowhowout-and-outsorryIam，“headded，lookingverymuchashamedofhimself。
“I’lltry，butitwasaveryungentlemanlythingtodo，I
didn’tthinkyoucouldbesoslyandmalicious，Laurie，“repliedMeg，tryingtohidhermaidenlyconfusionunderagravelyreproachfulair。
“Itwasaltogetherabominable，andIdon’tdeservetobespokentoforamonth，butyouwill，though，won’tyou？“AndLauriefoldedhishandstogetherwithsuchandimploringgesture，ashespokeinhisirresistiblypersuasivetone，thatitwasimpossibletofrownuponhiminspiteofhisscandalousbehavior。
Megpardonedhim，andMrs。March’sgravefacerelaxed，inspiteofhereffortstokeepsober，whensheheardhimdeclarethathewouldatoneforhissinsbyallsortsofpenances，andabasehimselflikeawormbeforetheinjureddamsel。
Jostoodaloof，meanwhile，tryingtohardenherheartagainsthim，andsucceedingonlyinprimmingupherfaceintoanexpressionofentiredisapprobation。Laurielookedatheronceortwice，butassheshowednosignofrelenting，hefeltinjured，andturnedhisbackonhertilltheothersweredonewithhim，whenhemadeheralowbowandwalkedoffwithoutaword。
Assoonashehadgone，shewishedshehadbeenmoreforgiving，andwhenMegandhermotherwentupstairs，shefeltlonelyandlongedforTeddy。Afterresistingforsometime，sheyieldedtotheimpulse，andarmedwithabooktoreturn，wentovertothebighouse。
“IsMr。Laurencein？“askedJo，ofahousemaid，whowascomingdownstairs。
“Yes，Miss，butIdon’tbelievehe’sseeablejustyet。“
“Whynot？Isheill？“
“La，noMiss，buthe’shadascenewithMr。Laurie，whoisinoneofhistantrumsaboutsomething，whichvexestheoldgentleman，soIdursn’tgonighhim。“
“WhereisLaurie？’
“Shutupinhisroom，andhewon’tanswer，thoughI’vebeena-tapping。Idon’tknowwhat’stobecomeofthedinner，forit’sready，andthere’snoonetoeatit。“
“I’llgoandseewhatthematteris。I’mnotafraidofeitherofthem。“
UpwentJo，andknockedsmartlyonthedoorofLaurie’slittlestudy。
“Stopthat，orI’llopenthedoorandmakeyou!“calledouttheyounggentlemaninathreateningtone。
Joimmediatelyknockedagain。Thedoorflewopen，andinshebouncedbeforeLauriecouldrecoverfromhissurprise。Seeingthathereallywasoutoftemper，Jo，whoknewhowtomanagehim，assumedacontriteexpression，andgoingartisticallydownuponherknees，saidmeekly，“Pleaseforgivemeforbeingsocross。
I
cametomakeitup，andcan’tgoawaytillIhave。“
“It’sallright。Getup，anddon’tbeagoose，Jo，“wasthecavalierreplytoherpetition。
“Thankyou，Iwill。CouldIaskwhat’sthematter？Youdon’tlookexactlyeasyinyourmind。“
“I’vebeenshaken，andIwon’tbearit!“growledLaurieindignantly。
“Whodidit？“demandedJo。
“Grandfather。IfithadbeenanyoneelseI’dhave……“
Andtheinjuredyouthfinishedhissentencebyanenergeticgestureoftherightarm。
“That’snothing。Ioftenshakeyou，andyoudon’tmind，“
saidJosoothingly。
“Pooh!You’reagirl，andit’sfun，butI’llallownomantoshakeme!“
“Idon’tthinkanyonewouldcaretotryit，ifyoulookedasmuchlikeathundercloudasyoudonow。Whywereyoutreatedso？“
“JustbecauseIwouldn’tsaywhatyourmotherwantedmefor。
I’dpromisednottotell，andofcourseIwasn’tgoingtobreakmyword。“
“Couldn’tyousatisfyyourgrandpainanyotherway？“
“No，hewouldhavethetruth，thewholetruth，andnothingbutthetruth。I’dhavetoldmypartofthescrape，ifIcouldwithoutbringingMegin。AsIcouldn’t，Iheldmytongue，andborethescoldingtilltheoldgentlemancollaredme。ThenI
bolted，forfearIshouldforgetmyself。“
“Itwasn’tnice，buthe’ssorry，Iknow，sogodownandmakeup。I’llhelpyou。“
“HangedifIdo!I’mnotgoingtobelecturedandpummelledbyeveryone，justforabitofafrolic。IwassorryaboutMeg，andbeggedpardonlikeaman，butIwon’tdoitagain，whenIwasn’tinthewrong。“
“Hedidn’tknowthat。“
“Heoughttotrustme，andnotactasifIwasababy。It’snouse，Jo，he’sgottolearnthatI’mabletotakecareofmyself，anddon’tneedanyone’sapronstringtoholdonby。“
“Whatpepperpotsyouare!“sighedJo。“Howdoyoumeantosettlethisaffair？“
“Well，heoughttobegpardon，andbelievemewhenIsayI
can’ttellhimwhatthefuss’sabout。“
“Blessyou!Hewon’tdothat。“
“Iwon’tgodowntillhedoes。“
“Now，Teddy，besensible。Letitpass，andI’llexplainwhatIcan。Youcan’tstayhere，sowhat’stheuseofbeingmelodramatic？“
“Idon’tintendtostayherelong，anyway。I’llslipoffandtakeajourneysomewhere，andwhenGrandpamissesmehe’llcomeroundfastenough。“
“Idaresay，butyououghtnottogoandworryhim。“
“Don’tpreach。I’llgotoWashingtonandseeBrooke。It’sgaythere，andI’llenjoymyselfafterthetroubles。“
“Whatfunyou’dhave!IwishIcouldrunofftoo，“saidJo，forgettingherpartofmentorinlivelyvisionsofmartiallifeatthecapital。
“Comeon，then!Whynot？Yougoandsurpriseyourfather，andI’llstirupoldBrooke。Itwouldbeagloriousjoke。
Let’sdoit，Jo。We’llleavealettersayingweareallright，andtrotoffatonce。I’vegotmoneyenough。Itwilldoyougood，andnoharm，asyougotoyourfather。“
ForamomentJolookedasifshewouldagree，forwildastheplanwas，itjustsuitedher。Shewastiredofcareandconfinement，longedforchange，andthoughtsofherfatherblendedtemptinglywiththenovelcharmsofcampsandhospitals，libertyandfun。Hereyeskindledastheyturnedwistfullytowardthewindow，buttheyfellontheoldhouseopposite，andsheshookherheadwithsorrowfuldecision。