Noonedidforseveralmonths，buttheword`fete’alwaysproducedageneralsmile，andLaurie’sbirthdaygifttoAmywasatinycorallobsterintheshapeofacharmforherwatchguard。
Chapter27CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
FortunesuddenlysmileduponJo，anddroppedagoodluckpennyinherpath。Notagoldenpenny，exactly，butIdoubtifhalfamillionwouldhavegivenmorerealhappinessthendidthelittlesumthatcametoherinthiswise。
Everyfewweeksshewouldshutherselfupinherroom，putonherscribblingsuit，and`fallintoavortex’，assheexpressedit，writingawayathernovelwithallherheartandsoul，fortillthatwasfinishedshecouldfindnopeace。Her`scribblingsuit’
consistedofablackwoolenpinaforeonwhichshecouldwipeherpenatwill，andacapofthesamematerial，adornedwithacheerfulredbow，intowhichshebundledherhairwhenthedeckswereclearedforaction。Thiscapwasabeacontotheinquiringeyesofherfamily，whoduringtheseperiodskepttheirdistance，merelypoppingintheirheadssemi-occasionallytoask，withinterest，“Doesgeniusburn，Jo？“Theydidnotalwaysventureeventoaskthisquestion，buttookanobservationofthecap，andjudgedaccordingly。Ifthisexpressivearticleofdresswasdrawnlowupontheforehead，itwasasignthathardworkwasgoingon，inexcitingmomentsitwaspushedrakishlyaskew，andwhendespairseizedtheauthoritwaspluckedwhollyoff，andcastuponthefloor，andcastuponthefloor。Atsuchtimestheintrudersilentlywithdrew，andnotuntiltheredbowwasseengailyerectuponthegiftedbrow，didanyonedareaddressJo。
Shedidnotthinkherselfageniusbyanymeans，butwhenthewritingfitcameon，shegaveherselfuptoitwithentireabandon，andledablissfullife，unconsciousofwant，care，orbadweather，whileshesatsafeandhappyinanimaginaryworld，fulloffriendsalmostasrealanddeartoherasanyintheflesh。Sleepforsookhereyes，mealsstooduntasted，dayandnightwerealltooshorttoenjoythehappinesswhichblessedheronlyatsuchtimes，andmadethesehoursworthliving，eveniftheyborenootherfruit。Thedevineafflatususuallylastedaweekortwo，andthensheemergedfromher`vortex’，hungry，sleepy，cross，ordespondent。
ShewasjustrecoveringfromoneoftheseattackswhenshewasprevailedupontoescortMissCrockertoalecture，andinreturnforhervirtuewasrewardedwithanewidea。ItwasaPeople’sCourse，thelectureonthePyramids，andJoratherwonderedatthechoiceofsuchasubjectforsuchanaudience，buttookitforgrantedthatsomegreatsocialevilwouldberemediedorsomegreatwantsuppliedbyunfoldingthegloriesofthePharaohstoanaudiencewhosethoughtswerebusywiththepriceofcoalandflour，andwhoseliveswerespentintryingtosolveharderriddlesthanthatoftheSphinx。
Theywereearly，andwhileMissCrockersettheheelofherstocking，Joamusedherselfbyexaminingthefacesofthepeoplewhooccupiedtheseatwiththem。Onherleftweretwomatrons，withmassiveforeheadsandbonnetstomatch，discussingWomen’sRightsandmakingtatting。Beyondsatapairofhumblelovers，artlesslyholdingeachotherbythehand，asomberspinstereatingpeppermintsoutofapaperbag，andanoldgentlemantakinghispreparatorynapbehindayellowbandanna。Onherright，heronlyneighborwasastudiouslookingladabsorbedinanewspaper。
Itwasapictorialsheet，andJoexaminedtheworkofartnearesther，idlywonderingwhatfortuitousconcatenationofcircumstancesneededthemelodramaticillustrationofanIndianinfullwarcostume，tumblingoveraprecipicewithawolfathisthroat，whiletwoinfuriatedyounggentlemen，withunnaturallysmallfeetandbigeyes，werestabbingeachothercloseby，andadisheveledfemalewasflyingawayinthebackgroundwithhermouthwideopen。Pausingtoturnapage，theladsawherlookingand，withboyishgoodnatureofferedhalfhispaper，sayingbluntly，“wanttoreadit？That’safirst-ratestory。“
Joaccepteditwithasmile，forshehadneveroutgrownherlikingforlads，andsoonfoundherselfinvolvedintheusuallabyrinthoflove，mystery，andmurder，forthestorybelongedtothatclassoflightliteratureinwhichthepassionshaveaholiday，andwhentheauthor’sinventionfails，agrandcatastropheclearsthestageofonehalfthedramatispersonae，leavingtheotherhalftoexultovertheirdownfall。
“Prime，isn’tit？“askedtheboy，ashereyewentdownthelastparagraphofherportion。
“IthinkyouandIcoulddoaswellasthatifwetried，“
returnedJo，amusedathisadmirationofthetrash。
“IshouldthinkIwasaprettyluckychapifIcould。Shemakesagoodlivingoutofsuchstories，theysay。“AndhepointedtothenameofMrs。S。L。A。N。G。Northbury，underthetitleofthetale。
“Doyouknowher？“askedJo，withsuddeninterest。
“No，butIreadallherpieces，andIknowafellowwhoworksintheofficewherethispaperisprinted。“
“Doyousayshemakesagoodlivingoutofstorieslikethis？“
AndJolookedmorerespectfullyattheagitatedgroupandthicklysprinkledexclamationpointsthatadornedthepage。
“Guessshedoes!Sheknowsjustwhatfolkslike，andgetspaidwellforwritingit。“
Herethelecturebegan，butJoheardverylittleofit，forwhileProfessorSandswasprosingawayaboutBelzoni，Cheops，scarabei，andhieroglyphics，shewascovertlytakingdowntheaddressofthepaper，andboldlyresolvingtotryforthehundred-dollarprizeofferedinitscolumnsforasensationalstory。Bythetimethelectureendedandtheaudienceawoke，shehadbuiltupasplendidfortuneforherselfnotthefirstfoundedonpaper，andwasalreadydeepintheconcoctionofherstory，beingunabletodecidewhethertheduelshouldcomebeforetheelopementorafterthemurder。
shesaidnothingofherplanathome，butfelltoworknextday，muchtothedisquietofhermother，whoalwayslookedalittleanxiouswhen`geniustooktoburning’。Johadnevertriedthisstylebefore，contentingherselfwithverymildromancesforTHESPREADEAGLE。
Herexperienceandmiscellaneousreadingwereofservicenow，fortheygavehersomeideaofdramaticeffect，andsuppliedplot，language，andcostumes。Herstorywasasfullofdesperationanddespairasherlimitedacquaintancewiththoseuncomfortableemotionsenabledhertomakeit，andhavinglocateditinLisbon，shewoundupwithanearthquake，asastrikingandappropriatedenouement。Themanuscriptwasprivatelydispatched，accompaniedbyanote，modestlysayingthatifthetaledidn’tgettheprize，whichthewriterhardlydaredexpect，shewouldbeverygladtoreceiveanysumitmightbeconsideredworth。
Sixweeksisalongtimetowait，andastilllongertimeforagirltokeepasecret，butJodidboth，andwasjustbeginningtogiveupallhopeofeverseeinghermanuscriptagain，whenaletterarrivedwhichalmosttookherbreathaway，foronopeningit，acheckforahundreddollarsfellintoherlap。Foraminuteshestaredatitasifithadbeenasnake，thenshereadherletterandbegantocry。Iftheamiablegentlemanwhowrotethatkindlynotecouldhaveknownwhatintensehappinesshewasgivingafellowcreature，Ithinkhewoulddevotehisleisurehours，ifhehasany，tothatamusement，forJovaluedthelettermorethanthemoney，becauseitwasencouraging，andafteryearsofeffortitwassopleasanttofindthatshehadlearnedtodosomething，thoughitwasonlytowriteasensationstory。
Aprouderyoungwomanwasseldomseenthanshe，when，havingcomposedherself，sheelectrifiedthefamilybyappearingbeforethemwiththeletterinonehand，thecheckintheother，announcingthatshehadwontheprize。Ofcoursetherewasagreatjubilee，andwhenthestorycameeveryonereadandpraisedit，thoughafterherfatherhadtoldherthatthelanguagewasgood，theromancefreshandhearty，andthetragedyquitethrilling，heshookhishead，andsaidinhisunworldlyway……
“Youcandobetterthanthis，Jo。Aimatthehighest，andnevermindthemoney。“
“Ithinkthemoneyisthebestpartofit。Whatwillyoudowithsuchafortune？“askedAmy，regardingthemagicslipofpaperwithareverentialeye。
“SendBethandMothertotheseasideforamonthortwo，“answeredJopromptly。
Totheseasidetheywent，aftermuchdiscussion，andthoughBethdidn’tcomehomeasplumpandrosyascouldbedesired，shewasmuchbetter，whileMrs。Marchdeclaredshefelttenyearsyounger。
SoJowassatisfiedwiththeinvestmentofherprizemoney，andfelltoworkwithacheeryspirit，bentonearningmoreofthosedelightfulchecks。
Shedidearnseveralthatyear，andbegantofeelherselfapowerinthehouse，forbythemagicofapen，her`rubbish’turnedintocomfortsforthemall。TheDuke’sDaughterpaidthebutcher’sbill，APhantomHandputdownanewcarpet，andtheCurseoftheCoventrysprovedtheblessingoftheMarchesinthewayofgroceriesandgowns。
Wealthiscertainlyamostdesirablething，butpovertyhasitssunnyside，andoneofthesweetusesofadversityisthegenuinesatisfactionwhichcomesfromheartyworkofheadorhand，andtotheinspirationofnecessity，weowehalfthewise，beautiful，andusefulblessingsoftheworld。Joenjoyedatasteofthissatisfaction，andceasedtoenvyrichergirls，takinggreatcomfortintheknowledgethatshecouldsupplyherownwants，andneedasknooneforapenny。
Littlenoticewastakenofherstories，buttheyfoundamarket，andencouragedbythisfact，sheresolvedtomakeaboldstrokeforfameandfortune。Havingcopiedhernovelforthefourthtime，readittoallherconfidentialfriends，andsubmitteditwithfearandtremblingtothreepublishers，sheatlastdisposedofit，onconditionthatshewouldcutitdownonethird，andomitallthepartswhichsheparticularlyadmired。
“NowImusteitherbundleitbackintomytinkitchentomold，payforprintingitmyself，orchopituptosuitpurchasersandgetwhatIcanforit。Fameisaverygoodthingtohaveinthehouse，butcashismoreconvenient，soIwishtotakethesenseofthemeetingonthisimportantsubject，“saidJo，callingafamilycouncil。
“Don’tspoilyourbook，mygirl，forthereismoreinitthanyouknow，andtheideaiswellworkedout。Letitwaitandripen，“
washerfather’sadvice，andhepracticedwhathepreached，havingwaitedpatientlythirtyyearsforfruitofhisowntoripen，andbeinginnohastetogatheritevennowwhenitwassweetandmellow。
“ItseemstomethatJowillprofitmorebytakingthetrialthanbywaiting，“saidMrs。March。“Criticismisthebesttestofsuchwork，foritwillshowherbothunsuspectedmeritsandfaults，andhelphertodobetternexttime。Wearetoopartial，butthepraiseandblameofoutsiderswillproveuseful，evenifshegetsbutlittlemoney。“
“Yes，“saidJo，knittingherbrows，“that’sjustit。I’vebeenfussingoverthethingsolong，Ireallydon’tknowwhetherit’sgood，bad，orindifferent。Itwillbeagreathelptohavecool，impartialpersonstakealookatit，andtellmewhattheythinkofit。“
“Iwouldn’tleaveawordoutofit。You’llspoilitifyoudo，fortheinterestofthestoryismoreinthemindsthanintheactionsofthepeople，anditwillbeallamuddleifyoudon’texplainasyougoon，“saidMeg，whofirmlybelievedthatthisbookwasthemostremarkablenoveleverwritten。
“ButMr。Allensays，`Leaveouttheexplanations，makeitbriefanddramatic，andletthecharacterstellthestory’，“interruptedJo，turningtothepublisher’snote。
“Doashetellsyou。Heknowswhatwillsale，andwedon’t。
Makeagood，popularbook，andgetasmuchmoneyasyoucan。
By-and-by，whenyou’vegotaname，youcanaffordtodigress，andhavephilosophicalandmetaphysicalpeopleinyournovels，“
saidAmy，whotookastrictlypracticalviewofthesubject。
“Well，“saidJo，laughing，“ifmypeopleare`philosophicalandmetaphysical’，itisn’tmyfault，forIknownothingaboutsuchthings，exceptwhatIhearfathersay；，sometimes。IfI’vegotsomeofhiswiseideasjumbledupwithmyromance，somuchthebetterforme。Now，Beth，whatdoyousay？“
“Ishouldsoliketoseeitprintedsoon，“wasallBethsaid，andsmiledinsayingit。Buttherewasanunconsciousemphasisonthelastword，andawistfullookintheeyesthatneverlosttheirchildlikecandor，whichchilledJo’sheartforaminutewithaforbodingfear，anddecidedhertomakeherlittleventure`soon’。
So，withSpartanfirmness，theyoungauthoresslaidherfirst-bornonhertable，andchoppeditupasruthlesslyasanyogre。Inthehopeofpleasingeveryone，shetookeveryone’sadvice，andliketheoldmanandhisdonkeyinthefablesuitednobody。
Herfatherlikedthemetaphysicalstreakwhichhadunconsciouslygotintoit，sothatwasallowedtoremainthoughshehadherdoubtsaboutit。Hermotherthoughtthattherewasatrifletoomuchdescription。Out，thereforeitcame，andwithitmanynecessarylinksinthestory。Megadmiredthetragedy，soJopileduptheagonytosuither，whileAmyobjectedtothefun，and，withthebestintentionsinlife，Joquenchedthespritlysceneswhichrelievedthesombercharacterofthestory。Then，tocomplicatetheruin，shecutitdownonethird，andconfidinglysentthepoorlittleromance，likeapickedrobin，outintothebig，busyworldtotryitsfate。
Well，itwasprinted，andshegotthreehundreddollarsforit，likewiseplentyofpraiseandblame，bothsomuchgreaterthansheexpectedthatshewasthrownintoastateofbewildermentfromwhichittookhersometimetorecover。
“Yousaid，Mother，thatcriticismwouldhelpme。Buthowcanit，whenit’ssocontradictorythatIdon’tknowwhetherI’vewrittenapromisingbookorbrokenallthetencommandments？“criedpoorJo，turningoveraheapofnotices，theperusalofwhichfilledherwithprideandjoyoneminute，wrathanddismaythenext。“Thismansays，`Anexquisitebook，fulloftruth，beauty，andearnestness。
Allissweet，pure，andhealthy。’“continuedtheperplexedauthoress。“Thenext，`Thetheoryofthebookisbad，fullofmorbidfancies，spiritualisticideas，andunnaturalcharacters。’
Now，asIhadnotheoryofanykind，don’tbelieveinSpiritualism，andcopiedmycharactersfromlife，Idon’tseehowthiscriticcanberight。Anothersays，`It’soneofthebestAmericannovelswhichhasappearedforyears。’Iknowbetterthanthat，andthenextassertsthat`Thoughitisoriginal，andwrittenwithgreatforceandfeeling，itisadangerousbook。’’Tisn’t!Somemakefunofit，someoverpraise，andnearlyallinsistthatIhadadeeptheorytoexpound，whenIonlywroteitforthepleasureandthemoney。
I