likethisroommostofallinmybabyhouse，“addedMeg，aminuteafter，astheywentupstairsandshelookedintoherwell-storedlinencloset。
Bethwasthere，layingthesnowypilessmoothlyontheshelvesandexultingoverthegoodlyarray。AllthreelaughedasMegspoke，forthatlinenclosetwasajoke。Yousee，havingsaidthatifMegmarried`thatBrooke’sheshouldn’thaveacentofhermoney，AuntMarchwasratherinaquandarywhentimehadappeasedherwrathandmadeherrepenthervow。Sheneverbrokeherword，andwasmuchexercisedinhermindhowtogetroundit，andatlastdevisedaplanwherebyshecouldsatisfyherself。Mrs。Carrol，Florence’smamma，wasorderedtobuy，havemade，andmarkedageneroussupplyofhouseandtablelinen，andsenditasherpresent，allofwhichwasfaithfullydone，butthesecretleakedout，andwasgreatlyenjoyedbythefamily，forAuntMarchtriedtolookutterlyunconscious，andinsistedthatshecouldgivenothingbuttheold-fashionedpearlslongpromisedtothefirstbride。
“That’sahousewifelytastewhichIamgladtosee。Ihadayoungfriendwhosetuphousekeepingwithsixsheets，butshehadfingerbowlsforcompanyandthatsatisfiedher，“saidMrs。March，pattingthedamasktablecloths，withatrulyfeminineappreciationoftheirfineness。
“Ihaven’tasinglefingerbowl，butthisisasetoutthatwilllastmeallmydays，Hannahsays。“AndMeglookedquitecontented，aswellshemight。
Atall，broad-shoulderedyoungfellow，withacroppedhead，afeltbasinofahat，andaflyawaycoat，cametrampingdowntheroadatagreatpace，walkedoverthelowfencewithoutstoppingtoopenthegate，straightuptoMrs。March，withbothhandsoutandahearty……
“HereIam，Mother!Yes，it’sallright。“
Thelastwordswereinanswertothelooktheelderladygavehim，akindlyquestioninglookwhichthehandsomeeyesmetsofranklythatthelittleceremonyclosed，asusual，withamotherlykiss。
“ForMrs。JohnBrooke，withthemaker’scongratulationsandcompliments。Blessyou，Beth!Whatarefreshingspectacleyouare，Jo。Amy，youaregettingaltogethertoohandsomeforasinglelady。“
AsLauriespoke，hedeliveredabrownpaperparceltoMeg，pilledBeth’shairribbon，staredatJo’sbibpinafore，andfellintoanattitudeofmockrapturebeforeAmy，thenshookhandsallround，andeveryonebegantotalk。
“WhereisJohn？“askedMeganxiously。
“Stoppedtogetthelicensefortomorrow，ma’am。“
“Whichsidewonthelastmatch，Teddy？“inquiredJo，whopersistedinfeelinganinterestinmanlysportsdespitehernineteenyears。
“Ours，ofcourse。Wishyou’dbeentheretosee。“
“HowisthelovelyMissRandal？“askedAmywithasignificantsmile。
“Morecruelthanever。Don’tyouseehowI’mpiningaway？“
AndLauriegavehisbroadchestasoundingslapandheavedamelodramaticsigh。
“What’sthelastjoke？Undothebundleandsee，Meg，“saidBeth，eyingtheknobbyparcelwithcuriosity。
“It’sausefulthingtohaveinthehouseincaseoffireorthieves，“observedLaurie，asawatchman’srattleappeared，amidthelaughterofthegirls。
“AnytimewhenJohnisawayandyougetfrightened，Mrs。
Meg，justswingthatoutofthefrontwindow，anditwillrousetheneighborhoodinajiffy。Nicething，isn’tit？“AndLauriegavethemasampleofitspowersthatmadethemcoveruptheirears。
“There’sgratitudeforyou!AndspeakingofgratituderemindsmetomentionthatyoumaythankHannahforsavingyourweddingcakefromdestruction。IsawitgoingintoyourhouseasIcameby，andifshehadn’tdefendeditmanfullyI’dhavehadapickatit，foritlookedlikearemarkablyplummyone。“
“Iwonderifyouwillevergrowup，Laurie，“saidMeginamatronlytone。
“I’mdoingmybest，ma’am，butcan’tgetmuchhigher，I’mafraid，assixfeetisaboutallmencandointhesedegeneratedays，“
respondedtheyounggentleman，whoseheadwasaboutlevelwiththelittlechandelier。
“Isupposeitwouldbeprofanationtoeatanythinginthisspick-and-spanbower，soasI’mtremendouslyhungry，Iproposeanadjournment，“headdedpresently。
“MotherandIaregoingtowaitforJohn。Therearesomelastthingstosettle，“saidMeg，bustlingaway。
“BethandIaregoingovertoKittyBryant’stogetmoreflowersfortomorrow，“addedAmy，tyingapicturesquehatoverherpicturesquecurls，andenjoyingtheeffectasmuchasanybody。
“Come，Jo，don’tdesertafellow。I’minsuchastateofexhaustionIcan’tgethomewithouthelp。Don’ttakeoffyourapron，whateveryoudo，it’speculiarlybecoming，“saidLaurie，asJobestowedhisespecialaversioninhercapaciouspocketandofferedherarmtosupporthisfeeblesteps。
“Now，Teddy，Iwanttotalkseriouslytoyouabouttomorrow，“
beganJo，astheystrolledawaytogether。“Youmustpromisetobehavewell，andnotcutupanypranks，andspoilourplans。“
“Notaprank。“
“Anddon’tsayfunnythingswhenweoughttobesober。“
“Ineverdo。Youaretheoneforthat。“
“AndIimploreyounottolookatmeduringtheceremony。I
shallcertainlylaughifyoudo。“
“Youwon’tseeme，you’llbecryingsohardthatthethickfogroundyouwillobscuretheprospect。“
“Inevercryunlessforsomegreataffliction。“
“Suchasfellowsgoingtocollege，hey？“cutinLaurie，withsuggestivelaugh。
“Don’tbeapeacock。Ionlymoanedatrifletokeepthegirlscompany。“
“Exactly。Isay，Jo，howisGrandpathisweek？Prettyamiable？“
“Very。Why，haveyougotintoascrapeandwanttoknowhowhe’lltakeit？“askedJorathersharply。
“Now，Jo，doyouthinkI’dlookyourmotherinthefaceandsay`Allright’，ifitwasn’t？“AndLauriestoppedshort，withaninjuredair。
“No，Idon’t。“
“Thendon’tgoandbesuspicious。Ionlywantsomemoney，“saidLaurie，walkingonagain，appeasedbyherheartytone。
“Youspendagreatdeal，Teddy。“
“Blessyou，Idon’tspendit，itspendsitselfsomehow，andisgonebeforeIknowit。“
“Youaresogenerousandkind-heartedthatyouletpeopleborrow，andcan’tsay`No’toanyone。WeheardaboutHenshawandallyoudidforhim。Ifyoualwaysspentmoneyinthatway，noonewouldblameyou，“saidJowarmly。
“Oh，hemadeamountainoutofamolehill。Youwouldn’thavemeletthatfinefellowworkhimselftodeathjustforwantofalittlehelp，whenheisworthadozenofuslazychaps，wouldyou？“
“Ofcoursenot，butIdon’tseetheuseofyourhavingseventeenwaistcoats，endlessneckties，andanewhateverytimeyoucomehome。
Ithoughtyou’dgotoverthedandyperiod，buteverynowandthenitbreaksoutinanewspot。Justnowit’sthefashiontobehideous，tomakeyourheadlooklikeascrubbingbrush，wearastraitjacket，orangegloves，andclumpingsquare-toedboots。Ifitwascheapugliness，I’dsaynothing，butitcostsasmuchastheother，andI
don’tgetanysatisfactionoutofit。“
Lauriethrewbackhishead，andlaughedsoheartilyatthisattack，thatthefelthatfelloff，andJowalkedonit，whichinsultonlyaffordedhimanopportunityforexpatiatingontheadvantagesofarough-and-readycostume，ashefoldedupthemaltreatedhat，andstuffeditintohispocket。
“Don’tlectureanymore，there’sagoodsoul!Ihaveenoughallthroughtheweek，andliketoenjoymyselfwhenIcomehome。
I’llgetmyselfupregardlessofexpensetomorrowandbeasatisfactiontomyfriends。“
“I’llleaveyouinpeaceifyou’llonlyletyourhairgrow。
I’mnotaristocratic，butIdoobjecttobeingseenwithapersonwholookslikeayoungprizefighter，“observedJoseverely。
“Thisunassumingstylepromotesstudy，that’swhyweadoptit，“
returnedLaurie，whocertainlycouldnotbeaccusedofvanity，havingvoluntarilysacrificedahandsomecurlycroptothedemandforquarterinch-longstubble。
“Bytheway，Jo，IthinkthatlittleParkerisreallygettingdesperateaboutAmy。Hetalksofherconstantly，writespoetry，andmoonsaboutinamostsuspiciousmanner。He’dbetterniphislittlepassioninthebud，hadn’the？“addedLaurie，inaconfidential，elderbrotherlytone，afteraminute’ssilence。
“Ofcoursehehad。Wedon’twantanymoremarryinginthisfamilyforyearstocome。Mercyonus，whatarethechildrenthinkingof？“AndJolookedasmuchscandalizedasifAmyandlittleParkerwerenotyetintheirteens。
“It’safastage，andIdon’tknowwhatwearecomingto，ma’am。
Youareamereinfant，butyou’llgonext，Jo，andwe’llbeleftlamenting，“saidLaurie，shakinghisheadoverthedegeneracyofthetimes。
“Don’tbealarmed。I’mnotoneoftheagreeablesort。Nobodywillwantme，andit’samercy，forthereshouldalwaysbeoneoldmaidinafamily。“
“Youwon’tgiveanyoneachance，“saidLaurie，withasidelongglanceandalittlemorecolorthanbeforeinhissunburnedface。
“Youwon’tshowthesoftsideofyourcharacter，andifafellowgetsapeepatitbyaccidentandcan’thelpshowingthathelikesit，youtreathimasMrs。Gummidgedidhersweetheart，throwcoldwateroverhim，andgetsothornynoonedarestouchorlookatyou。“
“Idon’tlikethatsortofthing。I’mtoobusytobeworriedwithnonsense，andIthinkit’sdreadfultobreakupfamiliesso。
Nowdon’tsayanymoreaboutit。Meg’sweddinghasturnedallourheads，andwetalkofnothingbutloversandsuchabsurdities。
I
don’twishtogetcross，solet’schangethesubject。“AndJolookedquitereadytoflingcoldwaterontheslightestprovocation。
Whateverhisfeelingsmighthavebeen，Lauriefoundaventfortheminalonglowwhistleandthefearfulpredictionastheypartedatthegate，“Markmywords，Jo，you’llgonext。“
TheJunerosesovertheporchwereawakebrightandearlyonthatmorning，rejoicingwithalltheirheartsinthecloudlesssunshine，likefriendlylittleneighbors，astheywere。Quiteflushedwithexcitementweretheirruddyfaces，astheyswunginthewind，whisperingtooneanotherwhattheyhadseen，forsomepeepedinatthediningroomwindowswherethefeastwasspread，someclimbeduptonodandsmileatthesistersastheydressedthebride，otherswavedawelcometothosewhocameandwentonvariouserrandsingarden，porch，andhall，andall，fromtherosiestfull-blownflowertothepalestbabybud，offeredtheirtributeofbeautyandfragrancetothegentlemistresswhohadlovedandtendedthemsolong。
Meglookedverylikearoseherself，forallthatwasbestandsweetestinheartandsoulseemedtobloomintoherfacethatday，makingitfairandtender，withacharmmorebeautifulthanbeauty。
Neithersilk，lace，nororangeflowerswouldshehave。“Idon’twantafashionablewedding，butonlythoseaboutmewhomIlove，andtothemIwishtolookandbemyfamiliarself。“
Soshemadeherweddinggownherself，sewingintoitthetenderhopesandinnocentromancesofagirlishheart。hersistersbraidedupherprettyhair，andtheonlyornamentssheworeweretheliliesofthevalley，which`herJohn’likedbestofalltheflowersthatgrew。
“YoudolookjustlikeourowndearMeg，onlysoverysweetandlovelythatIshouldhugyouifitwouldn’tcrumpleyourdress，“
criedAmy，surveyingherwithdelightwhenallwasdone。
“ThenIamsatisfied。Butpleasehugandkissme，everyone，anddon’tmindmydress。Iwantagreatmanycrumplesofthissortputintoittoday。“AndMegopenedherarmstohersisters，whoclungaboutherwithAprilfacesforaminute，feelingthatthenewlovehadnotchangedtheold。
“NowI’mgoingtotieJohn’scravatforhim，andthentostayafewminuteswithFatherquietlyinthestudy。“AndMegrandowntoperformtheselittleceremonies，andthentofollowhermotherwherevershewent，consciousthatinspiteofthesmilesonthemotherlyface，therewasasecretsorrowhidinthemotherlyheartattheflightofthefirstbirdfromthenest。
Astheyoungergirlsstandtogether，givingthelasttouchestotheirsimpletoilet，itmaybeagoodtimetotellofafewchangeswhichthreeyearshavewroughtintheirappearance，forallarelookingtheirbestjustnow。
Jo’sanglesaremuchsoftened，shehaslearnedtocarryherselfwithease，ifnotgrace。Thecurlycrophaslengthenedintoathickcoil，morebecomingtothesmallheadatopofthetallfigure。Thereisafreshcolorinherbrowncheeks，asoftshineinhereyes，andonlygentlewordsfallfromhersharptonguetoday。
Bethhasgrownslender，pale，andmorequietthanever。Thebeautiful，kindeyesarelarger，andinthemliesanexpressionthatsaddensone，althoughitisnotsaditself。Itistheshadowofpainwhichtouchestheyoungfacewithsuchpatheticpatience，butBethseldomcomplainsandalwaysspeakshopefullyof`beingbettersoon’。
Amyiswithtruthconsidered`theflowerofthefamily’，foratsixteenshehastheairandbearingofafull-grownwoman，notbeautiful，butpossessedofthatindescribablecharmcalledgrace。
Onesawitinthelinesofherfigure，themakeandmotionofherhands，theflowofherdress，thedroopofherhair，unconsciousyetharmonious，andasattractivetomanyasbeautyitself。Amy’snosestillafflictedher，foritneverwouldgrowGrecian，sodidhermouth，beingtoowide，andhavingadecidedchin。Theseoffendingfeaturesgavecharactertoherwholeface，butshenevercouldseeit，andconsoledherselfwithherwonderfullyfaircomplexion，keenblueeyes，andcurlsmoregoldenandabundantthanever。
Allthreeworesuitsofthinsilvergraytheirbestgownsforthesummer，withblushrosesinhairandbosom，andallthreelookedjustwhattheywere，fresh-faced，happy-heartedgirls，pausingamomentintheirbusylivestoreadwithwistfuleyesthesweetestchapterintheromanceofwomanhood。
Thereweretobenoceremoniousperformances，everythingwastobeasnaturalandhomelikeaspossible，sowhenAuntMarcharrived，shewasscandalizedtoseethebridecomerunningtowelcomeandleadherin，tofindthebridegroomfasteningupagarlandthathadfallendown，andtocatchaglimpseofthepaternalministermarchingupstairswithagravecountenanceandawinebottleundereacharm。