Thisisn’tlikeBeth，anditworriesme。“
“Haveyouaskedheraboutit？’
“Ihavetriedonceortwice，butsheeitherevadedmyquestionsorlookedsodistressedthatIstopped。Ineverforcemychildren’sconfidence，andIseldomhavetowaitforlong。“
Mrs。MarchglancedatJoasshespoke，butthefaceoppositeseemedquiteunconsciousofanysecretdisquietudebutBeth’s，andaftersewingthoughtfullyforaminute，Josaid，“Ithinksheisgrowingup，andsobeginstodreamdreams，andhavehopesandfearsandfidgets，withoutknowingwhyorbeingabletoexplainthem。Why，Mother，Beth’seighteen，butwedon’trealizeit，andtreatherlikeachild，forgettingshe’sawoman。“
“Sosheis。Dearheart，howfastyoudogrowup，“returnedhermotherwithasighandasmile。
“Can’tbehelped，Marmee，soyoumustresignyourselftoallsortsofworries，andletyourbirdshopoutofthenest，onebyone。Ipromisenevertohopveryfar，ifthatisanycomforttoyou。“
“It’sagreatcomfort，Jo。Ialwaysfeelstrongwhenyouareathome，nowMegisgone。BethistoofeebleandAmytooyoungtodependupon，butwhenthetugcomes，youarealwaysready。“
“Why，youknowIdon’tmindhardjobsmuch，andtheremustalwaysbeonescrubinafamily。AmyissplendidinfineworksandI’mnot，butIfeelinmyelementwhenallthecarpetsaretobetakenup，orhalfthefamilyfallsickatonce。
Amyisdistinguishingherselfabroad，butifanythingisamissathome，I’myourman。“
“IleaveBethtoyourhands，then，forshewillopenhertenderlittlehearttoherJosoonerthantoanyoneelse。Beverykind，anddon’tletherthinkanyonewatchesortalksabout；her。Ifsheonlywouldgetquitestrongandcheerfulagain，Ishouldn’thaveawishintheworld。“
“Happywoman!I’vegotheaps。“
“Mydear，whatarethey？“
“I’llsettleBethy’stroubles，andthenI’lltellyoumine。
Theyarenotverywearing，sothey’llkeep。“AndJostitchedaway，withawisenodwhichsethermother’sheartatrestaboutherforthepresentatleast。
Whileapparentlyabsorbedinherownaffairs，JowatchedBeth，andaftermanyconflictingconjectures，finallysettledupononewhichseemedtoexplainthechangeinher。AslightincidentgaveJothecluetothemystery，shethought，andlivelyfancy，lovingheartdidtherest。ShewasaffectingtowritebusilyoneSaturdayafternoon，whensheandBethwerealonetogether。Yetasshescribbled，shekepthereyeonhersister，whoseemedunusuallyquiet。Sittingatthewindow，Beth’sworkoftendroppedintoherlap，andsheleanedherheaduponherhand，inadejectedattitude，whilehereyesrestedonthedull，autumnallandscape。Suddenlysomeonepassedbelow，whistlinglikeanoperaticblackbird，andavoicecalledout，“Allserene!
Comingintonight。“
Bethstarted，leanedforward，smiledandnodded，watchedthepasser-bytillhisquicktrampdiedaway，thensaidsoftlyasiftoherself，“Howstrongandwellandhappythatdearboylooks。“
“Hum!“saidJo，stillintentuponhersister’sface，forthebrightcolorfadedasquicklyasitcame，thesmilevanished，andpresentlyatearlayshiningonthewindowledge。Bethwhiskeditoff，andinherhalf-avertedfacereadatendersorrowthatmadeherowneyesfill。Fearingtobetrayherself，sheslippedaway，murmuringsomethingaboutneedingmorepaper。
“Mercyonme，BethlovesLaurie!“shesaid，sittingdowninherownroom，palewiththeshockofthediscoverywhichshebelievedshehadjustmade。“Ineverdreamedofsuchathing。
WhatwillMothersay？Iwonderifher……“thereJostoppedandturnedscarletwithasuddenthought。“Ifheshouldn’tlovebackagain，howdreadfulitwouldbe。Hemust。I’llmakehim!“
Andsheshookherheadthreateninglyatthepictureofthemischievous-
lookingboylaughingatherfromthewall。“Ohdear，wearegrowingupwithavengeance。Here’sMegmarriedandamamma，AmyflourishingawayatParis，andBethinlove。I’mtheonlyonethathassenseenoughtokeepoutofmischief。“Jothoughtintentlyforaminutewithhereyesfixedonthepicture，thenshesmoothedoutherwrinkledforeheadandsaid，withadecidednodatthefaceopposite，“Nothankyou，sir，you’reverycharming，butyou’venomorestabilitythanaweathercock。Soyouneedn’twritetouchingnotesandsmileinthatinsinuatingway，foritwon’tdoabitofgood，andIwon’thaveit。“
Thenshesighed，andfellintoareveriefromwhichshedidnotwaketilltheearlytwilightsentherdowntotakenewobservations，whichonlyconfirmedhersuspicion。ThoughLaurieflirtedwithAmyandjokedwithJo，hismannertoBethhadalwaysbeenpeculiarlykindandgentle，butsowaseverybody’s。
Therefore，noonethoughtofimaginingthathecaredmoreforherthanfortheothers。Indeed，ageneralimpressionhadprevailedinthefamilyoflatethat`ourboy’wasgettingfonderthaneverofJo，who，however，wouldn’thearaworduponthesubjectandscoldedviolentlyifanyonedaredtosuggestit。
Iftheyhadknownthevarioustenderpassageswhichhadbeennippedinthebud，theywouldhavehadtheimmensesatisfactionofsaying，“Itoldyouso。“ButJohated`philandering’，andwouldn’tallowit，alwayshavingajokeorasmilereadyattheleastsignofimpendingdanger。
WhenLauriefirstwenttocollege，hefellinloveaboutonceamonth，butthesesmallflameswereasbriefasardent，didnodamage，andmuchamusedJo，whotookgreatinterestinthealternationsofhop，despair，andresignation，whichwereconfidedtoherintheirweeklyconferences。ButtherecameatimewhenLaurieceasedtoworshipatmanyshrines，hinteddarklyatoneall-absorbingpassion，andindulgedoccasionallyinByronicfitsofgloom。Thenheavoidedthetendersubjectaltogether，wrotephilosophicalnotestoJo，turnedstudious，andgaveoutthathewasgoingto`dig’，intendingtograduateinablazeofglory。Thissuitedtheyoungladybetterthantwilightconfidences，tenderpressuresofthehand，andeloquentglancesoftheeye，forwithJo，braindevelopedearlierthanheart，andshepreferredimaginaryheroestorealones，becausewhentiredofthem，theformercouldbeshutupinthetinkitchentillcalledfor，andthelatterwerelessmanageable。
Thingswereinthisstatewhenthegranddiscoverywasmade，andJowatchedLauriethatnightasshehadneverdonebefore。Ifshehadnotgotthenewideaintoherhead，shewouldhaveseennothingunusualinthefactthatBethwasveryquiet，andLaurieverykindtoher。Buthavinggiventhereintoherlivelyfancy，itgallopedawaywithheratagreatpace，andcommonsense，beingratherweakenedbyalongcourseorromancewriting，didnotcometotherescue。AsusualBethlayonthesofaandLauriesatinalowchaircloseby，amusingherwithallsortsofgossip，forshedependedonherweekly`spin’，andheneverdisappointedher。ButthateveningJofanciedthatBeth’seyesrestedonthelively，darkfacebesideherwithpeculiarpleasure，andthatshelistenedwithintenseinteresttoanaccountofsomeexcitingcricketmatch，thoughthephrases，`caughtoffatice’，`stumpedoffhisground’’，and`theleghitforthree’，wereasintelligibletoherasSanskrit。Shealsofancied，havingsetherheartuponseeingit，thatshesawacertainincreaseofgentlenessinLaurie’smanner，thathedroppedhisvoicenowandthen，laughedlessthanusual，wasalittleabsent——minded，andsettledtheafghanoverBeth’sfeetwithanassiduitythatwasreallyalmosttender。
“Whoknows？Strangerthingshavehappened，“thoughtJo，asshefussedabouttheroom。“Shewillmakequiteanangelofhim，andhewillmakelifedelightfullyeasyandpleasantforthedear，iftheyonlyloveeachother。Idon’tseehowhecanhelpit，andIdobelievehewouldiftherestofuswereoutoftheway。“
Aseveryonewasoutofthewaybutherself，Jobegantofeelthatsheoughttodisposeofherselfwithallspeed。Butwhereshouldshego？Andburningtolayherselfupontheshrineofsisterlydevotion，shesatdowntosettlethatpoint。
Now，theoldsofawasaregularpatriarchofasofa——long，broad，well-cushioned，andlow，atrifleshabby，aswellitmightbe，forthegirlshadsleptandsprawledonitasbabies，fishedovertheback，rodeonthearms，andhadmenageriesunderitaschildren，andrestedtiredheads，dreameddreams，andlistenedtotendertalkonitasyoungwomen。Theyalllovedit，foritwasafamilyrefuge，andonecornerhadalwaysbeenJo’sfavoriteloungingplace。Amongthemanypillowsthatadornedthevenerablecouchwasone，hard，round，coveredwithpricklyhorsehair，andfurnishedwithaknobbybuttonateachend。Thisrepulsivepillowwasherespecialproperty，beingusedasaweaponofdefense，abarricade，orasternpreventiveoftoomuchslumber。
Laurieknewthispillowwell，andhadcausetoregarditwithdeepaversion，havingbeenunmercifullypummeledwithitinformerdayswhenrompingwasallowed，andnowfrequentlydebarredbyitfromtheseathemostcovetednextotJointhesofacorner。If`thesausage’asthecalledit，stoodonend，itwasasignthathemightapproachandrepose，butifitlayflatacrossthesofa，woetoman，woman，orchildwhodareddisturbit!ThateveningJoforgottobarricadehercorner，andhadnotbeeninherseatfiveminutes，beforeamassiveformappearedbesideher，andwithbotharmsspreadoverthesofaback，bothlonglegsstretchedoutbeforehim，Laurieexclaimed，withasighofsatisfaction……
“Now，thisisfillingattheprice。“
“Noslang，“snappedJo，slammingdownthepillow。Butitwastoolate，therewasnoroomforit，andcoastingontothefloor，itdisappearedinamostmysteriousmanner。
“Come，Jo，don’tbethorny。Afterstudyinghimselftoaskeletonalltheweek，afellowdeservespettingandoughttogetit。“
“Bethwillpetyou。I’mbusy。“
“No，she’snottobebotheredwithme，butyoulikethatsortofthing，unlessyou’vesuddenlylostyourtasteforit。Haveyou？
Doyouhateyourboy，andwanttofirepillowsathim？“
Anythingmorewheedlesomethanthattouchingappealwasseldomheard，butJoquenched`herboy’byturningonhimwithasternquery，“HowmanybouquetshaveyousentMissRandalthisweek？“
“Notone，uponmyword。She’sengaged。Nowthen。“
“I’mgladofit，that’soneofyourfoolishextravagances，sendingflowersandthingstogirlsforwhomyoudon’tcaretwopins，“continuedJoreprovingly。
“SensiblegirlsforwhomIdocarewholepapersofpinswon’tletmesendthem`flowersandthings’，sowhatcanIdo？Myfeelingsneeda`vent’。“
“Motherdoesn’tapproveofflirtingeveninfun，andyoudoflirtdesperately，Teddy。“
“I’dgiveanythingifIcouldanswer，`Sodoyou’。AsIcan’t，I’llmerelysaythatIdon’tseeanyharminthatpleasantlittlegame，ifallpartiesunderstandthatit’sonlyplay。“
“Well，itdoeslookpleasant，butIcan’tlearnhowit’sdone。
I’vetried，becauseonefeelsawkwardincompanynottodoaseverybodyelseiddoing，butIdon’tseemtogeton“，saidJo，forgettingtoplaymentor。
“TakelessonsofAmy，shehasaregulartalentforit。“
“Yes，shedoesitveryprettily，andneverseemstogotoofar。Isupposeit’snaturaltosomepeopletopleasewithouttrying，andotherstoalwayssayanddothewrongthinginthewrongplace。“
“I’mgladyoucan’tflirt。It’sreallyrefreshingtoseeasensible，straightforwardgirl，whocanbejollyandkindwithoutmakingafoolofherself。Betweenourselves，Jo，someofthegirlsIknowreallydogoonatsucharateI’mashamedofthem。
Theydon’tmeananyharm，I’msure，butiftheyknewhowwefellowstalkedaboutthemafterward，they’dmendtheirways，I
fancy。“
“Theydothesame，andastheirtonguesarethesharpest，youfellowsgettheworstofit，foryouareassillyasthey，everybit。Ifyoubehavedproperly，theywould，butknowingyouliketheirnonsense，theykeepitup，andthenyoublamethem。“
“Muchyouknowaboutit，ma’am，“saidLaurieinasuperiortone。
“Wedon’tlikerompsandflirts，thoughwemayactasifwedidsometimes。Thepretty，modestgirlsarenevertalkedabout，exceptrespectfully，amonggentleman。
Blessyourinnocentsoul!Ifyoucouldbeinmyplaceforamonthyou’dseethingsthatwouldastonishyouatrifle。
Uponmyword，whenIseeoneofthoseharum-scarumgirls，IalwayswanttosaywithourfriendCockRobin……
“Outuponyou，fieuponyou，Bold-facedjig!“
ItwasimpossibletohelplaughingatthefunnyconflictbetweenLaurie’schivalrousreluctancetospeakillofwomankind，andhisverynaturaldislikeoftheunfemininefollyofwhichfashionablesocietyshowedhimmanysamples。Joknewthat`youngLaurence’wasregardedasamosteligiblepartibyworldlymamas，wasmuchsmileduponbytheirdaughters，andflatteredenoughbyladiesofallagestomakeacoxcombofhim，soshewatchedhimratherjealously，fearinghewouldbespoiled，andrejoicedmorethansheconfessedtofindthathestillbelievedinmodestgirls。Returningsuddenlytoheradmonitorytone，shesaid，droppinghervoice，“Ifyoumusthavea`went’，Teddy，goanddevoteyourselftooneofthe`pretty，modestgirls’whomyoudorespect，andnotwasteyourtimewiththesillyones。“
“Youreallyadviseit？“AndLaurielookedatherwithanoddmixtureofanxietyandmerrimentinhisface。
“Yes，Ido，butyou’dbetterwaittillyouarethroughcollege，onthewhole，andbefittingyourselffortheplacemeantime。You’renothalfgoodenoughfor——well，whoeverthemodestgirlmaybe。“AndJolookedalittlequeerlikewise，foranamehadalmostescapedher。
“ThatI’mnot!“acquiescedLaurie，withanexpressionofhumilityquitenewtohim，ashedroppedhiseyesandabsentlywoundJo’saprontasselroundhisfinger。
“Mercyonus，thiswillneverdo，“thoughtJo，addingaloud，“Goandsingtome。I’mdyingforsomemusic，andalwayslikeyours。“
“I’dratherstayhere，thankyou。“