“Naturalindolence，youmean。It’sreallydreadful!“
AndAmylookedsevere。
“Notsobadasitseems，forIshouldonlyplaguehimifI
went，soImightaswellstayandplagueyoualittlelonger，youcanbearitbetter，infactIthinkitagreeswithyouexcellently。“
AndLauriecomposedhimselfforaloungeonthebroadledgeofthebalustrade。
Amyshookherheadandopenedhersketchbookwithanairofresignation，butshehadmadeuphermindtolecture`thatboy’andinaminuteshebeganagain。
“Whatareyoudoingjustnow？“
“Watchinglizards。“
“No，no。Imeanwhatdoyouintendandwishtodo？“
“Smokeacigarette，ifyou’llallowme。“
“Howprovokingyouare!Idon’tapproveofcigarsandIwillonlyallowitonconditionthatyouletmeputyouintomysketch。Ineedafigure。“
“Withallthepleasureinlife。Howwillyouhaveme，fulllengthorthree-quarters，onmyheadormyheels？Ishouldrespectfullysuggestarecumbentposture，thenputyourselfinalsoandcallit`Dolcefarniente’。“
“Stayasyouare，andgotosleepifyoulike。Iintendtoworkhard，“saidAmyinhermostenergetictone。
“Whatdelightfulenthusiasm!“Andheleanedagainstatallurnwithanirofentiresatisfaction。
“WhatwouldJosayifshesawyounow？“askedAmyimpatiently，hopingtostirhimupbythementionofherstillmoreenergeticsister’sname。
“Asusual，`Goaway，Teddy。I’mbusy!’“Helaughedashespoke，butthelaughwasnotnatural，andashadepassedoverhisface，fortheutteranceofthefamiliarnametouchedthewoundthatwasnothealedyet。BothtoneandshadowstruckAmy，forshehadseenandheardthembefore，andnowshelookedupintimetocatchanewexpressiononLaurie’sface——ahardbitterlook，fullofpain，dissatisfaction，andregret。Itwasgonebeforeshecouldstudyitandthelistlessexpressionbackagain。
Shewatchedhimforamomentwithartisticpleasure，thinkinghowlikeanItalianhelooked，ashelaybaskinginthesunwithuncoveredheadandeyesfullofsoutherndreaminess，forheseemedtohaveforgottenherandfallenintoareverie。
“Youlookliketheeffigyofayoungknightasleeponhistomb，“shesaid，carefullytracingthewell-cutprofiledefinedagainstthedarkstone。
“WishIwas!“
“That’safoolishwish，unlessyouhavespoiledyourlife。
Youaresochanged，Isometimesthink——“ThereAmystopped，withahalf-timid，half-wistfullook，moresignificantthanherunfinishedspeech。
Lauriesawandunderstoodtheaffectionateanxietywhichshehesitatedtoexpress，andlookingstraightintohereyes，said，justasheusedtosayittohermother，“It’sallright，ma’am。“
Thatsatisfiedherandsetatrestthedoubtsthathadbeguntoworryherlately。Italsotouchedher，andsheshowedthatitdid，bythecordialtoneinwhichshesaid……
“I’mgladofthat!Ididn’tthinkyou’dbeenaverybadboy，butIfanciedyoumighthavewastedmoneyatthatwickedBaden-Baden，lostyourhearttosomecharmingFrenchwomanwithahusband，orgotintosomeofthescrapesthatyoungmenseemtoconsideranecessarypartofaforeigntour。Don’tstayoutthereinthesun，comeandlieonthegrasshereand`letusbefriendly’，asJousedtosaywhenwegotinthesofacornerandtoldsecrets。“
Laurieobedientlythrewhimselfdownontheturf，andbegantoamusehimselfbystickingdaisiesintotheribbonsofAmy’shat，thatlaythere。
“I’mallreadyforthesecrets。“Andheglancedupwithadecidedexpressionofinterestinhiseyes。
“I’venonetotell。Youmaybegin。“
“Haven’tonetoblessmyselfwith。Ithoughtperhapsyou’dhadsomenewsfromhome……“
“Youhaveheardallthathascomelately。Don’tyouhearoften？IfanciedJowouldsendyouvolumes。“
“She’sverybusy。I’mrovingaboutso，it’simpossibletoberegular，youknow。Whendoyoubeginyourgreatworkofart，Raphaella？’heasked。changingthesubjectabruptlyafteranotherpause，inwhichhehadbeenwonderingifAmyknewhissecretandwantedtotalkaboutit。
“Never，“sheanswered，withadespondentbutdecidedair。
“Rometookallthevanityoutofme，forafterseeingthewondersthere，Ifelttooinsignificanttoliveandgaveupallmyfoolishhopesindespair。“
“Whyshouldyou，withsomuchenergyandtalent？“
“That’sjustwhy，becausetalentisn’tgenius，andnoamountofenergycanmakeitso。Iwanttobegreat，ornothing。
Iwon’tbeacommon-placedauber，soIdon’tintendtotryanymore。“
“Andwhatareyougoingtodowithyourselfnow，ifImayask？“
“Polishupmyothertalents，andbeanornamenttosociety，ifIgetthechance。“
Itwasacharacteristicspeech，andsoundeddaring，butaudacitybecomesyoungpeople，andAmy’sambitionhadagoodfoundation。Lauriesmiled，buthelikedthespiritwithwhichshetookupanewpurposewhenalong-cherishedonedied，andspentnotimelamenting。
“Good!AndhereiswhereFredVaughncomesin，Ifancy。“
Amypreservedadiscreetsilence，buttherewasaconsciouslookinherdowncastfacethatmadeLauriesitupandsaygravely，“NowI’mgoingtoplaybrother，andaskquestions。MayI？“
“Idon’tpromisetoanswer。“
“Yourfacewill，ifyourtonguewon’t。Youaren’twomanoftheworldenoughyettohideyourfeelings，mydear。IheardrumorsaboutFredandyoulastyear，andit’smyprivateopinionthatifhehadnotbeencalledhomesosuddenlyanddetainedsolong，somethingwouldhavecomeofit，hey？“
“That’snotformetosay，“wasAmy’sgrimreply，butherlipswouldsmile，andtherewasatraitoroussparkleoftheeyewhichbetrayedthatsheknewherpowerandenjoyedtheknowledge。
“Youarenotengaged，Ihope？“AndLaurielookedveryelder-brotherlyandgraveallofasudden。
“No。“
“Butyouwillbe，ifhecomesbackandgoesproperlydownonhisknees，won’tyou？“
“Verylikely。“
“ThenyouarefondofoldFred？“
“Icouldbe，ifItried。“
“Butyoudon’tintendtotrytillthepropermoment？Blessmysoul，whatunearthlyprudence!He’sagoodfellow，Amy，butnotthemanIfanciedyou’dlike。“
“Heisrich，agentleman，andhasdelightfulmanners，“
beganAmy，tryingtobequitecoolanddignified，butfeelingalittleashamedofherself，inspiteofthesincerityofherintentions。
“Iunderstand。Queensofsocietycan’tgetonwithoutmoney，soyoumeantomakeagoodmatch，andstartinthatway？Quiterightandproper，astheworldgoes，butitsoundsoddfromthelipsofoneofyourmother’sgirls。“
“True，nevertheless。“
Ashortspeech，butthequietdecisionwithwhichitwasutteredcontrastedcuriouslywiththeyoungspeaker。Lauriefeltthisinstinctivelyandlaidhimselfdownagain，withasenseofdisappointmentwhichhecouldnotexplain。Hislookandsilence，aswellasacertaininwardself-disapproval，ruffledAmy，andmadeherresolvetodeliverherlecturewithoutdelay。
“Iwishyou’ddomethefavortorouseyourselfalittle，“
shesaidsharply。
“Doitforme，there’sadeargirl。“
“Icould，ifItried。“Andshelookedasifshewouldlikedoingitinthemostsummarystyle。
“Try，then。Igiveyouleave，“returnedLaurie，whoenjoyedhavingsomeonetotease，afterhislongabstinencefromhisfavoritepastime。
“You’dbeangryinfiveminutes。“
“I’mneverangrywithyou。Ittakestwoflintstomakeafire。
Youareascoolandsoftassnow。“
“Youdon’tknowwhatIcando。Snowproducesaglowandatingle，ifappliedrightly。Yourindifferenceishalfaffectation，andagoodstirringupwouldproveit。“
“Stiraway，itwon’thurtmeanditmayamuseyou，asthebigmansaidwhenhislittlewifebeathim。Regardmeinthelightofahusbandoracarpet，andbeattillyouaretired，ifthatsortofexerciseagreeswithyou。“
Beingdecidedlynettledherself，andlongingtoseehimshakeofftheapathythatsoalteredhim，Amysharpenedbothtongueandpencil，andbegan。
“FloandIhavegotanewnameforyou。It’sLazyLaurence。
Howdoyoulikeit？“
Shethoughtitwouldannoyhim，butheonlyfoldedhisarmsunderhishead，withanimperturbable，“That’snotbad。
Thankyou，ladies。“
“DoyouwanttoknowwhatIhonestlythinkofyou？“
“Piningtobetold。“
“Well，Idespiseyou。“
Ifshehadevensaid`Ihateyou’inapetulantorcoquettishtone，hewouldhavelaughedandratherlikedit，butthegrave，almostsad，accentinhervoicemadehimopenhiseyes，andaskquickly……
“Why，ifyouplease？“
“Because，witheverychanceforbeinggood，useful，andhappy，youarefaulty，lazy，andmiserable。“
“Stronglanguage，mademoiselle。“
“Ifyoulikeit，I’llgoon。“
“Praydo，it’squiteinteresting。“
“Ithoughtyou’dfinditso。Selfishpeoplealwaysliketotalkaboutthemselves。“
“AmIselfish？“Thequestionslippedoutinvoluntarilyandinatoneofsurprise，fortheonevirtueonwhichhepridedhimselfwasgenerosity。
“Yes，veryselfish，“continuedAmy，inacalm，coolvoice，twiceaseffectivejustthenasanangryone。“I’llshowyouhow，forI’vestudiedyouwhilewewerefrolicking，andI’mnotatallsatisfiedwithyou。Hereyouhavebeenabroadnearlysixmonths，anddonenothingbutwastetimeandmoneyanddisappointyourfriends。“
“Isn’tafellowtohaveanypleasureafterafour-yeargrind？“
“Youdon’tlookasifyou’dhadmuch。Atanyrate，youarenonethebetterforit，asfarasIcansee。Isaidwhenwefirstmetthatyouhadimproved。NowItakeitallback，forI
don’tthinkyouhalfsoniceaswhenIleftyouathome。Youhavegrownabominablylazy，youlikegossip，andwastetimeonfrivolousthings，youarecontentedtobepettedandadmiredbysillypeople，insteadofbeinglovedandrespectedbywiseones。Withmoney，talent，position，health，andbeauty，ahyoulikethatoldVanity!Butit’sthetruth，soIcan’thelpsayingit，withallthesesplendidthingstouseandenjoy，youcanfindnothingtodobutdawdle，andinsteadofbeingthemanyououghttobe，youareonly……“Thereshestopped，withalookthathadbothpainandpityinit。
“SaintLaurenceonagridiron，“addedLaurie，blandlyfinishingthesentence。Butthelecturebegantotakeeffect，fortherewasawide-awakesparkleinhiseyesnowandahalf-angry，half-injuredexpressionreplacedtheformerindifference。
“Isupposedyou’dtakeitso。Youmentellusweareangels，andsaywecanmakeyouwhatwewill，buttheinstantwehonestlytrytodoyougood，youlaughatusandwon’tlisten，whichproveshowmuchyourflatteryisworth。“Amyspokebitterly，andturnedherbackontheexasperatingmartyratherfeet。
Inaminuteahandcamedownoverthepage，sothatshecouldnotdraw，andLaurie’svoicesaid，withadrollimitationofapenitentchild，“Iwillbegood，oh，Iwillbegood!“
ButAmydidnotlaugh，forshewasinearnest，andtappingontheoutspreadhandwithherpencil，saidsoberly，“Aren’tyouashamedofahandlikethat？It’sassoftandwhiteasawoman’s，andlooksasifitneverdidanythingbutwearJouvin’sbestglovesandpickflowersforladies。Youarenotadandy，thankHeaven，soI’mgladtoseetherearenodiamondsorbigsealringsonit，onlythelittleoldoneJogaveyousolongago。Dearsoul，Iwishshewasheretohelpme!“
“SodoI!“
Thehandvanishedassuddenlyasitcame，andtherewasenergyenoughintheechoofherwishtosuitevenAmy。Sheglanceddownathimwithanewthoughtinhermind，buthewaslyingwithhishathalfoverhisface，asifforshade，andhismustachehidhismouth。Sheonlysawhischestriseandfall，withalongbreaththatmighthavebeenasigh，andthehandthatworetheringnestleddownintothegrass，asiftohidesomethingtoopreciousortootendertobespokenof。
AllinaminutevarioushintsandtriflesassumedshapeandsignificanceinAmy’smind，andtoldherwhathersisterneverhadconfidedtoher。SherememberedthatLaurieneverspokevoluntarilyofJo，sherecalledtheshadowonhisfacejustnow，thechangeinhischaracter，andthewearingofthelittleoldringwhichwasnoornamenttoahandsomehand。Girlsarequicktoreadsuchsignsandfeeltheireloquence。Amyhadfanciedthatperhapsalovetroublewasatthebottomofthealteration，andnowshewassureofit。Herkeeneyesfilled，andwhenshespokeagain，itwasinavoicethatcouldbebeautifullysoftandkindwhenshechosetomakeitso。
“IknowIhavenorighttotalksotoyou，Laurie，andifyouweren’tthesweetest-temperedfellowintheworld，you’dbeveryangrywithme。Butweareallsofondandproudofyou，Icouldn’tbeartothinktheyshouldbedisappointedinyouathomeasIhavebeen，though，perhapstheywouldunderstandthechangebetterthanIdo。“
“Ithinktheywould，“camefromunderthehat，inagrimtone，quiteastouchingasabrokenone。
“Theyoughttohavetoldme，andnotletmegoblunderingandscolding，whenIshouldhavebeenmorekindandpatientthanever。IneverdidlikethatMissRandalandnowIhateher!“saidartfulAmy，wishingtobesureofherfactsthistime。
“HangMissRandal!“AndLaurieknockedthehatoffhisfacewithalookthatleftnodoubtofhissentimentstowardthatyounglady。
“Ibegpardon，Ithought……“Andthereshepauseddiplomatically。
“No，youdidn’t，youknewperfectlywellInevercaredforanyonebutJo，“Lauriesaidthatinhisold，impetuoustone，andturnedhisfaceawayashespoke。
“Ididthinkso，butastheyneversaidanythingaboutit，andyoucameaway，IsupposedIwasmistaken。AndJowouldn’tbekindtoyou？Why，Iwassureshelovedyoudearly。“
“Shewaskind，butnotintherightway，andit’sluckyforhershedidn’tloveme，ifI’mthegood-for-nothingfellowyouthinkme。It’sherfaultthough，andyoumaytellherso。“
Thehard，bitterlookcamebackagainashesaidthat，andittroubledAmy，forshedidnotknowwhatbalmtoapply。
“Iwaswrong，Ididn’tknow。I’mverysorryIwassocross，butIcan’thelpwishingyou’dbearitbetter，Teddy，dear。“
“Don’t，that’shernameforme!“AndLaurieputuphishandwithaquickgesturetostopthewordsspokeninJo’shalf-kind，half-reproachfultone。“Waittillyou’vetriedityourself，“headdedinalowvoice，ashepulledupthegrassbythehandful。