Johnwouldhavepreferredhisownfiresideifithadnotbeensolonely，butasitwashegratefullytookthenextbestthingandenjoyedhisneighbor’ssociety。
Megratherapprovedofthenewarrangementatfirst，andfounditarelieftoknowthatJohnwashavingagoodtimeinsteadofdozingintheparlor，ortrampingaboutthehouseandwakingthechildren。Butby-and-by，whentheteethingworrywasoverandtheidolswenttosleepatproperhours，leavingMammatimetorest，shebegantomissJohn，andfindherworkbasketdullcompany，whenhewasnotsittingoppositeinhisolddressinggown，comfortablyscorchinghisslippersonthefender。Shewouldnotaskhimtostayathome，butfeltinjuredbecausehedidnotknowthatshewantedhimwithoutbeingtold，entirelyforgettingthemanyeveningshehadwaitedforherinvain。Shewasnervousandwornoutwithwatchingandworry，andinthatunreasonableframeofmindwhichthebestofmothersoccasionallyexperiencewhendomesticcaresoppressthem。Wantofexerciserobsthemofcheerfulness，andtoomuchdevotiontothatidolofAmericanwomen，theteapot，makesthemfeelasiftheywereallnerveandnomuscle。
“Yes，“shewouldsay，lookingintheglass，“I’mgettingoldandugly。Johndoesn’tfindmeinterestinganylonger，soheleaveshisfadedwifeandgoestoseehisprettyneighbor，whohasnoincumbrances。Well，thebabiesloveme，theydon’tcareifIamthinandpaleandhaven’ttimetocrimpmyhair，theyaremycomfort，andsomedayJohnwillseewhatI’vegladlysacrificedforthem，won’the，myprecious？“
Towhichpatheticappealdaisywouldanswerwithacoo，orDemiwithacrow，andMegwouldputbyherlamentationsforamaternalrevel，whichsoothedhersolitudeforthetimebeing。
ButthepainincreasedaspoliticsabsorbedJohn，whowasalwaysrunningovertodiscussinterestingpointswithScott，quiteunconsciousthatMegmissedhim。Notaworddidshesay，however，tillhermotherfoundherintearsoneday，andinsistedonknowingwhatthematterwas，forMeg’sdroopingspiritshadnotescapedherobservation。
“Iwouldn’ttellanyoneexceptyou，Mother，butIreallydoneedadvice，forifJohngoesonmuchlongerImightaswellbewidowed，“repliedMrs。Brooke，dryinghertearsonDaisy’sbibwithaninjuredair。
“Goesonhow，mydear？“askedhermotheranxiously。
“He’sawayallday，andatnightwhenIwanttoseehim，heiscontinuallygoingovertotheScotts’。Itisn’tfairthatIshouldhavethehardestwork，andneveranyamusement。
Menareveryselfish，eventhebestofthem。“
“Soarewomen。Don’tblameJohntillyouseewhereyouarewrongyourself。“
“Butitcan’tberightforhimtoneglectme。“
“Don’tyouneglecthim？“
“Why，Mother，Ithoughtyou’dtakemypart!“
“SoIdo，asfarassympathizinggoes，butIthinkthefaultisyours，Meg。“
“Idon’tseehow。“
“Letmeshowyou。DidJohneverneglectyou，asyoucallit，whileyoumadeitapointtogivehimyoursocietyofanevening，hisonlyleisuretime？“
“No，butIcan’tdoitnow，withtwobabiestotend。“
“Ithinkyoucould，dear，andIthinkyouought。MayI
speakquitefreely，andwillyourememberthatit’sMotherwhoblamesaswellasMotherwhosympathizes？“
“IndeedIwill!SpeaktomeasifIwerelittleMegagain。
IoftenfeelasifIneededteachingmorethaneversincethesebabieslooktomeforeverything。“
Megdrewherlowchairbesidehermother’s，andwithalittleinterruptionineitherlap，thetwowomenrockedandtalkedlovinglytogether，feelingthatthetieofmotherhoodmadethemmoreonethanever。
“Youhaveonlymadethemistakethatmostyoungwivesmake-forgottenyourdutytoyourhusbandinyourloveforyourchildren。
Averynaturalandforgivablemistake，Meg，butonethathadbetterberemediedbeforeyoutaketodifferentways，forchildrenshoulddrawyounearerthanever，notseparateyou，asiftheywereallyours，andJohnhadnothingtodobutsupportthem。I’veseenitforsomeweeks，buthavenotspoken，feelingsureitwouldcomerightintime。“
“I’mafraiditwon’t。IfIaskhimtostay，he’llthinkI’mjealous，andIwouldn’tinsulthimbysuchanidea。Hedoesn’tseethatIwanthim，andIdon’tknowhowtotellhimwithoutwords。“
“Makeitsopleasanthewon’twanttogoaway。Mydear，he’slongingforhislittlehome，butitisn’thomewithoutyou，andyouarealwaysinthenursery。“
“Oughtn’tItobethere？“
“Notallthetime，toomuchconfinementmakesyounervous，andthenyouareunfittedforeverything。Besides，youowesomethingtoJohnaswellastothebabies。Don’tneglecthusbandforchildren，don’tshuthimoutofthenursery，butteachhimhowtohelpinit。Hisplaceisthereaswellasyours，andthechildrenneedhim。Lethimfeelthathehasaparttodo，andhewilldoitgladlyandfaithfully，anditwillbebetterforyouall。“
“Youreallythinkso，Mother？“
“Iknowit，Meg，forI’vetriedit，andIseldomgiveadviceunlessI’veproveditspracticability。WhenyouandJowerelittle，Iwentonjustasyouare，feelingasifIdidn’tdomydutyunlessIdevotedmyselfwhollytoyou。PoorFathertooktohisbooks，afterIhadrefusedalloffersofhelp，andleftmetotrymyexperimentalone。IstruggledalongaswellasIcould，butJowastoomuchforme。Inearlyspoiledherbyindulgence。Youwerepoorly，andIworriedaboutyoutillIfellsickmyself。ThenFathercametotherescue，quietlymanagedeverything，andmadehimselfsohelpfulthatIsawmymistake，andneverhavebeenabletogotonwithouthimsince。Thatisthesecretofourhomehappiness。
Hedoesnotletbusinessweanhimfromthelittlecaresanddutiesthataffectusall，andItrynottoletdomesticworriesdestroymyinterestinhispursuits。Eachdoourpartaloneinmanythings，butathomeweworktogether，always。“
“Itisso，Mother，andmygreatwishistobetomyhusbandandchildrenwhatyouhavebeentoyours。Showmehow，I’lldoanythingyousay。“
“Youwerealwaysmydociledaughter。Well，dear，ifIwereyou，I’dletJohnhavemoretodowiththemanagementofDemi，fortheboyneedstraining，andit’snonetoosoontobegin。
ThenI’ddowhatIhaveoftenproposed，letHannahcomeandhelpyou。Sheisacapitalnurse，andyoumaytrustthepreciousbabiestoherwhileyoudomorehousework。Youneedtheexercise，Hannahwouldenjoytherest，andJohnwouldfindhiswifeagain。
Gooutmore，keepcheerfulaswellasbusy，foryouarethesunshine-makerofthefamily，andifyougetdismalthereisnofairweather。ThenI’dtrytotakeaninterestinwhateverJohnlikes——talkwithhim，lethimreadtoyou，exchangeideas，andhelpeachotherinthatway。Don’tshutyourselfupinabandboxbecauseyouareawoman，butunderstandwhatisgoingon，andeducateyourselftotakeyourpartintheworld’swork，foritallaffectsyouandyours。“
“Johnissosensible，I’mafraidhewillthinkI’mstupidifIaskquestionsaboutpoliticsandthings。“
“Idon’tbelievehewould。Lovecoversamultitudeofsins，andofwhomcouldyouaskmorefreelythanofhim？Tryit，andseeifhedoesn’tfindyoursocietyfarmoreagreeablethanMrs。
Scott’ssuppers。“
“Iwill。PoorJohn!I’mafraidIhaveneglectedhimsadly，butIthoughtIwasright，andheneversaidanything。“
“Hetriednottobeselfish，buthehasfeltratherforlorn，Ifancy。Thisisjustthetime，Meg，whenyoungmarriedpeopleareapttogrowapart，andtheverytimewhentheyoughttobemosttogether，forthefirsttendernesssoonwearsoff，unlesscareistakentopreserveit。Andnotimeissobeautifulandprecioustoparentsasthefirstyearsofthelittlelivesgiventothemtotrain。Don’tletJohnbeastrangertothebabies，fortheywilldomoretokeephimsafeandhappyinthisworldoftrialandtemptationthananythingelse，andthroughthemyouwilllearntoknowandloveoneanotherasyoushould。Now，dear，good-by。ThinkoverMother’spreachment，actuponitifitseemsgood，andGodblessyouall。“
Megdidthinkitover，founditgood，andacteduponit，thoughthefirstattemptwasnotmadeexactlyassheplannedtohaveit。Ofcoursethechildrentyrannizedoverher，andruledthehouseassoonastheyfoundoutthatkickingandsquallingbroughtthemwhatevertheywanted。Mammawasanabjectslavetotheircaprices，butPapawasnotsoeasilysubjugated，andoccasionallyafflictedhistenderspousebyanattemptatpaternaldisciplinewithhisobstreperousson。
ForDemiinheritedatrifleofhissire’sfirmnessofcharacter，wewon’tcallitobstinacy，andwhenhemadeuphislittletohaveortodoanything，alltheking’shorsesandalltheking’smencouldnotchangethatpertinaciouslittlemind。Mammathoughtthedeartooyoungtobetaughttoconquerhisprejudices，butPapabelievedthatitneverwastoosoontolearnobedience。SoMasterDemiearlydiscoveredthatwhenheundertookto`wrastle’with`Parpar’，healwaysgottheworstofit，yetliketheEnglishman，babyrespectedthemanwhoconqueredhim，andlovedthefatherwhosegrave“No，no，“wasmoreimpressivethanallMamma’slovepats。
Afewdaysafterthetalkwithhermother，MegresolvedtotryasocialeveningwithJohn，sosheorderedanicesupper，settheparlorinorder，dressedherselfprettily，andputthechildrentobedearly，thatnothingshouldinterferewithherexperiment。ButunfortunatelyDemi’smostunconquerableprejudicewasagainstgoingtobed，andthatnighthedecidedtogoonarampage。SopoorMegsangandrocked，toldstoriesandtriedeverysleep-prevokingwileshecoulddevise，butallinvain，thebigeyeswouldn’tshut，andlongafterDaisyhadgonetobyelow，likethechubbylittlebunchofgoodnatureshewas，naughtyDemilaystaringatthelight，withthemostdiscouraginglywide-awakeexpressionofcountenance。
“WillDemiliestilllikeagoodboy，whileMammarunsdownandgivespoorPapahistea？“askedMeg，asthehalldoorsoftlyclosed，andthewell-knownstepwenttip-toeingintothediningroom。
“Mehastea!“saidDemi，preparingtojoinintherevel。
“No，butI’llsaveyousomelittlecakiesforbreakfast，ifyou’llgobye-bylikeDaisy。Willyou，lovey？“
“Iss!“andDemishuthiseyestight，asiftocatchsleepandhurrythedesiredday。
Takingadvantageofthepropitiousmoment，Megslippedawayandrandowntogreetherhusbandwithasmilingfaceandthelittlebluebowinherhairwhichwashisespecialadmiration。Hesawitatonceandsaidwithpleasedsurprise，“Why，littlemother，howgaywearetonight。Doyouexpectcompany？“
“Onlyyou，dear。“
“No，I’mtiredofbeingdowdy，soIdressedupasachange。Youalwaysmakeyourselfnicefortable，nomatterhowtiredyouare，sowhyshouldn’tIwhenIhavethetime？’
“Idoitoutofrespectforyou，mydear，“saidold-fashionedJohn。
“Ditto，ditto，Mr。Brooke，“laughedMeg，lookingyoungandprettyagain，asshenoddedtohimovertheteapot。
“Well，it’saltogetherdelightful，andlikeoldtimes。Thistastesright。Idrinkyourhealth，dear。“AndJohnsippedhisteawithanairofreposefulrapture，whichwasofveryshortdurationhowever，forasheputdownhiscup，thedoorhandlerattledmysteriously，andalittlevoicewasheard，sayingimpatiently……
“Opydoy。Me’stummin!“
“It’sthatnaughtyboy。Itoldhimtogotosleepalone，andhereheis，downstairs，gettinghisdeatha-coldpatteringoverthatcanvas，“saidMeg，answeringthecall。
“Mornin’now，“announcedDemiinjoyfultoneasheentered，withhislongnightgowngracefullyfestoonedoverhisarmandeverycurlbobbinggaylyasheprancedaboutthetable，eyeingthe`cakies’withlovingglances。
“No，itisn’tmorningyet。Youmustgotobed，andnottroublepoorMamma。Thenyoucanhavethelittlecakewithsugaronit。“
“MelovesParpar，“saidtheartfulone，preparingtoclimbthepaternalkneeandrevelinforbiddenjoys。ButJohnshookhishead，andsaidtoMeg……
“Ifyoutoldhimtostayupthere，andgotosleepalone，makehimdoit，orhewillneverlearntomindyou。“
“Yes，ofcourse。Come，Demi。“AndMegledhersonaway，feelingastrongdesiretospankthelittlemarplotwhohoppedbesideher，laboringunderthedelusionthatthebribewastobeadministeredassoonastheyreachedthenursery。
Norwashedisappointed，forthatshortsightedwomanactuallygavehimalumpofsugar，tuckedhimintohisbed，andforbadeanymorepromenadestillmorning。
“Iss!“saidDemitheperjured，blissfullysuckinghissugar，andregardinghisfirstattemptaseminentlysuccessful。
Megreturnedtoherplace，andsupperwasprogressingpleasantly，whenthelittleghostwalkedagainandexposedthematernaldelinquenciesbyboldlydemanding，“Moresudar，Marmar。“
“Nowthiswon’tdo，“saidJohn，hardeninghisheartagainsttheengaginglittlesinner。“Weshallneverknowanypeacetillthatchildlearnstogotobedproperly。Youhavemadeaslaveofyourselflongenough。Givehimonelesson，andthentherewillbeanendofit。Puthiminhisbedandleavehim，Meg。“
“Hewon’tstaythere，heneverdoesunlessIsitbyhim。“
“I’llmanagehim。Demi，goupstairs，andgetintoyourbed，asMammabidsyou。“
“S’ant!“repliedtheyoungrebel，helpinghimselftothecoveted`cakie’，andbeginningtoeatthesamewithcalmaudacity。
“YoumustneversaythattoPapa。Ishallcarryyouifyoudon’tgoyourself。“
“Go’way，medon’tloveParpar。“AndDemiretiredtohismother’sskirtsforprotection。