Touchedtotheheart，Mrs。Marchcouldonlystretchoutherarms，asiftogatherchildrenandgrandchildrentoherself，andsay，withfaceandvoicefullofmotherlylove，gratitude，andhumility……
\"Oh，mygirls，howeverlongyoumaylive，Inevercanwishyouagreaterhappinessthanthis！\"
GoodWives:Chapter3CHAPTER3ArtisticAttemptsIttakespeoplealongtimetolearnthedifferencebetweentalentandgenius，especiallyambitiousyoungmenandwomen。Amywaslearningthisdistinctionthroughmuchtribulation，formistakingenthusiasmforinspiration，sheattemptedeverybranchofartwithyouthfulaudacity。Foralongtimetherewasalullinthe`mud—pie’business，andshedevotedherselftothefinestpen—and—inkdrawing，inwhichsheshowedsuchtasteandskillthathergracefulhandiworkprovedbothpleasantandprofitable。Butover—strainedeyescausedpenandinktobelaidasideforaboldattemptatpokersketching。
Whilethisattacklasted，thefamilylivedinconstantfearofaconflagration，fortheodorofburningwoodpervadedthehouseatallhours，smokeissuedfromatticandshedwithalarmingfrequency，red—hotpokerslayaboutpromiscuously，andHannahneverwenttobedwithoutapailofwaterandthedinnerbellatherdoorincaseoffire。Raphael’sfacewasfoundboldlyexecutedontheundersideofthemouldingboard，andBacchusontheheadofabeerbarrel。Achantingcherubadornedthecoverofthesugarbucket，andattemptstoportrayRomeoandJulietsuppliedkindlingforsometime。
Fromfiretooilwasanaturaltransitionforburnedfingers，andAmyfelltopaintingwithundiminishedardor。Anartistfriendfittedheroutwithhiscastoffpalettes，brushes，andcolors，andshedaubedaway，producingpastoralandmarineviewssuchaswereneverseenonlandorsea。Hermonstrositiesinthewayofcattlewouldhavetakenprizesatanagriculturalfair，andtheperilouspitchingofhervesselswouldhaveproducedseasicknessinthemostnauticalobserver，iftheutterdisregardtoallknownrulesofshipbuildingandrigginghadnotconvulsedhimwithlaughteratthefirstglance。Swarthyboysanddark—eyedMadonnas，staringatyoufromonecornerofthestudio，suggestedMurillo。Oilybrownshadowsoffaceswithaluridstreakinthewrongplace，meantRembrandt。Buxomladiesanddropiscalinfants，Rubens，andTurnerappearedintempestsofbluethunder，orangelightning，brownrain，andpurpleclouds，withatomato—coloredsplashinthemiddle，whichmightbethesunorabouy，asailor’sshirtoraking’srobe，asthespectatorpleased。
Charcoalportraitscamenext，andtheentirefamilyhunginarow，lookingaswildandcrockyasifjustevokedfromacoalbin。Softenedintocrayonsketches，theydidbetter，forthelikenessesweregood，andAmy’shair，Jo’snose，Meg’smouth，andLaurie’seyeswerepronounced`wonderfullyfine’。Areturntoclayandplasterfollowed，andghostlycastsofheracquaintanceshauntedcornersofthehouse，ortumbledoffclosetshelvesontopeople’sheads。Childrenwereenticedinasmodels，tilltheirincoherentaccountsofhermysteriousdoingscausedMissAmytoberegardedinthelightofayoungogress。Hereffortsinthisline，however，werebroughttoanabruptclosebyanuntowardaccident，whichquenchedherardor。Othermodelsfailingherforatime，sheundertooktocastherownprettyfoot，andthefamilywereonedayalarmedbyanunearthlybumpingandscreamingandrunningtotherescue，foundtheyoungenthusiasthoppingwildlyabouttheshedwithherfootheldfastinapanfullofplaster，whichhadhardenedwithunexpectedrapidity。Withmuchdifficultyandsomedangershewasdugout，forJowassoovercomewithlaughterwhilesheexcavatedthatherknifewenttoofar，cutthepoorfoot，andleftalastingmemorialofoneartisticattempt，atleast。
AfterthisAmysubsided，tillamaniaforsketchingfromnaturesethertohauntingriver，field，andwood，forpicturesquestudies，andsighingforruinstocopy。Shecaughtendlesscoldssittingondampgrasstobook`deliciousbit’，composedofastone，astump，onemushroom，andabrokenmulleinstalk，or`aheavenlymassofclouds’，thatlookedlikeachoicedisplayoffeatherbedswhendone。Shesacrificedhercomplexionfloatingontheriverinthemidsummersuntostudylightandshade，andgotawrinkleoverhernosetryingafter`pointsofsight’，orwhateverthesquint—and—stringperformanceiscalled。
If`geniusiseternalpatience’，asMichelangeloaffirms，Amyhadsomeclaimtothedivineattribute，forsheperseveredinspiteofallobstacles，failures，anddiscouragements，firmlybelievingthatintimesheshoulddosomethingworthytobecalled`highart’。
Shewaslearning，doing，andenjoyingotherthings，meanwhile，forshehadresolvedtobeanattractiveandaccomplishedwoman，evenifsheneverbecameagreatartist。Hereshesucceededbetter，forshewasoneofthosehappilycreatedbeingswhopleasewithouteffort，makefriendseverywhere，andtakelifesogracefullyandeasilythatlessfortunatesoulsaretemptedtobelievethatsucharebornunderaluckystar。Everybodylikedher，foramonghergoodgiftswastact。Shehadaninstinctivesenseofwhatwaspleasingandproper，alwayssaidtherightthingtotherightperson，didjustwhatsuitedthetimeandplace，andwassoself—possessedthathersistersusedtosay，\"IfAmywenttocourtwithoutanyrehearsalbeforehand，she’dknowexactlywhattodo。\"
Oneofherweaknesseswasadesiretomovein`ourbestsociety’，withoutbeingquitesurewhatthebestreallywas。Money，position，fashionableaccomplishments，andelegantmannersweremostdesirablethingsinhereyes，andshelikedtoassociatewiththosewhopossessedthem，oftenmistakingthefalseforthetrue，andadmiringwhatwasnotadmirable。Neverforgettingthatbybirthshewasagentlewoman，shecultivatedheraristocratictastesandfeelings，sothatwhentheopportunitycameshemightbereadytotaketheplacefromwhichpovertynowexcludedher。
\"Mylady，\"asherfriendscalledher，sincerelydesiredtobeagenuinelady，andwassoatheart，buthadyettolearnthatmoneycannotbuyrefinementofnature，thatrankdoesnotalwaysconfernobility，andthattruebreedingmakesitselffeltinspiteofexternaldrawbacks。
\"Iwanttoaskafavorofyou，Mamma，\"Amysaid，cominginwithanimportantaironeday。
\"Well，littlegirl，whatisit？\"repliedhermother，inwhoseeyesthestatelyyoungladystillremained`thebaby’。
\"Ourdrawingclassbreaksupnextweek，andbeforethegirlsseparateforthesummer，Iwanttoaskthemouthereforaday。Theyarewildtoseetheriver，sketchthebrokenbridge，andcopysomeofthethingstheyadmireinmybook。Theyhavebeenverykindtomeinmanyways，andIamgrateful，fortheyareallrichandIknowIampoor，yettheynevermadeanydifference。\"
\"Whyshouldthey？\"AndMrs。Marchputthequestionwithwhatthegirlscalledher`MariaTheresaair’。
\"YouknowaswellasIthatitdoesmakeadifferencewithnearlyeveryone，sodon’truffleuplikeadear，motherlyhen，whenyourchickensgetpeckedbysmarterbirds。Theuglyducklingturnedoutaswan，youknow。\"AndAmysmiledwithoutbitterness，forshepossessedahappytemperandhopefulspirit。
Mrs。Marchlaughed，andsmootheddownhermaternalprideassheasked，\"Well，myswan，whatisyourplan？\"
\"Ishouldliketoaskthegirlsouttolunchnextweek，totakethemforadrivetotheplacestheywanttosee，arowontheriver，perhaps，andmakealittleartisticfêeteforthem。\"
\"Thatlooksfeasible。Whatdoyouwantforlunch？Cake，sandwiches，fruit，andcoffeewillbeallthatisnecessary，Isuppose？\"
\"Oh，dear，no！Wemusthavecoldtongueandchicken，Frenchchocolateandicecream，besides。Thegirlsareusedtosuchthings，andIwantmylunchtobeproperandelegant，thoughIdoworkformyliving。\"
\"Howmanyyoungladiesarethere？\"askedhermother，beginningtolooksober。
\"Twelveorfourteenintheclass，butIdaresaytheywon’tallcome。\"
\"Blessme，child，youwillhavetocharteranomnibustocarrythemabout。\"
\"Why，Mother，howcanyouthinkofsuchathing？Notmorethansixoreightwillprobablycome，soIshallhireabeachwagonandborrowMr。Laurence’scherry—bounce。\"（Hannah’spronunciationofcharabanc。）
\"Allofthiswillbeexpensive，Amy。\"
\"Notvery。I’vecalculatedthecost，andI’llpayforitmyself。\"
\"Don’tyouthink，dear，thatasthesegirlsareusedtosuchthings，andthebestwecandowillbenothingnew，thatsomesimplerplanwouldbepleasantertothem，asachangeifnothingmore，andmuchbetterforusthanbuyingorborrowingwhatwedon’tneed，andattemptingastylenotinkeepingwithourcircumstances？\"
\"IfIcan’thaveitasIlike，Idon’tcaretohaveitatall。IknowthatIcancarryitoutperfectlywell，ifyouandthegirlswillhelpalittle，andIdon’tseewhyIcan’tifI’mwillingtopayforit，\"saidAmy，withthedecisionwhichoppositionwasapttochangeintoobstinacy。
Mrs。Marchknewthatexperiencewasanexcellentteacher，andwhenitwaspossiblesheleftherchildrentolearnalonethelessonswhichshewouldgladlyhavemadeeasier，iftheyhadnotobjectedtotakingadviceasmuchastheydidsaltsandsenna。
\"Verywell，Amy，ifyourheartissetuponit，andyouseeyourwaythroughwithouttoogreatanoutlayofmoney，time，andtemper，I’llsaynomore。Talkitoverwiththegirls，andwhicheverwayyoudecide，I’lldomybesttohelpyou。\"
\"Thanks，Mother，youarealwayssokind。\"AndawaywentAmytolayherplanbeforehersisters。Megagreedatonce，andpromisedtoheraid，gladlyofferinganythingshepossessed，fromherlittlehouseitselftoherverybestsaltspoons。ButJofrowneduponthewholeprojectandwouldhavenothingtodowithitatfirst。
\"Whyintheworldshouldyouspendyourmoney，worryyourfamily，andturnthehouseupsidedownforaparcelofgirlswhodon’tcareasixpenceforyou？IthoughtyouhadtoomuchprideandsensetotruckletoanymortalwomanjustbecauseshewearsFrenchbootsandridesinacoupé，\"saidJo，who，beingcalledfromthetragicclimaxofhernovel，wasnotinthebestmoodforsocialenterprises。
\"Idon’ttruckle，andIhatebeingpatronizedasmuchasyoudo！\"returnedAmyindignantly，forthetwostilljangledwhensuchquestionsarose。\"Thegirlsdocareforme，andIforthem，andthere’sagreatdealofkindnessandsenseandtalentamongthem，inspiteofwhatyoucallfashionablenonsense。Youdon’tcaretomakepeoplelikeyou，togointogoodsociety，andcultivateyourmannersandtastes。Ido，andImeantomakethemostofeverychancethatcomes。Youcangothroughtheworldwithyourelbowsoutandyournoseintheair，andcallitindependence，ifyoulike。That’snotmyway。\"
WhenAmyhadwhettedhertongueandfreedhermindsheusuallygotthebestofit，forsheseldomfailedtohavecommonsenseonherside，whileJocarriedherloveoflibertyandhateofconventionalitiestosuchanunlimitedextentthatshenaturallyfoundherselfworstedinanargument。Amy’sdefinitionofJo’sideaofindependencewassuchagoodhitthatbothburstoutlaughing，andthediscussiontookamoreamiableturn。Muchagainstherwill，JoatlengthconsentedtosacrificeadaytoMrs。Grundy，andhelphersisterthroughwhatsheregardedas`anonsensicalbusiness’。
Theinvitationsweresent，nearlyallaccepted，andthefollowingMondaywassetapartforthegrandevent。Hannahwasoutofhumorbecauseherweek’sworkwasderanged，andprophesiedthat\"efthewashin’andironin’warn’tdonereg’lar，nothin’wouldgowellanywheres\"。Thishitchinthemainspringofthedomesticmachineryhadabadeffectuponthewholeconcern，butAmy’smottowas`Nildesperandum’，andhavingmadeuphermindwhattodo，sheproceededtodoitinspiteofallobstacles。Tobeginwith，Hannah’scookingdidn’tturnoutwell。Thechickenwastough，thetonguetoosalt，andthechocolatewouldn’tfrothproperly。ThenthecakeandicecostmorethanAmyexpected，sodidthewagon，andvariousotherexpenses，whichseemedtriflingattheoutset，countedupratheralarminglyafterward。Bethgotacoldandtooktoherbed。Meghadanunusualnumberofcallerstokeepherathome，andJowasinsuchadividedstateofmindthatherbreakages，accidents，andmistakeswereuncommonlynumerous，serious，andtrying。
IfitwasnotfaironMonday，theyoungladiesweretocomeonTuesday，andarrangementwhichaggravatedJoandHannahtothelastdegree。OnMondaymorningtheweatherwasinthatundecidedstatewhichismoreexasperatingthanasteadypour。Itdrizzledalittle，shonealittle，blewalittle，anddidn’tmakeupitsmindtillitwastoolateforanyoneelsetomakeuptheirs。Amywasupatdawn，hustlingpeopleoutoftheirbedsandthroughtheirbreakfasts，thatthehousemightbegotinorder。Theparlorstruckheraslookinguncommonlyshabby，butwithoutstoppingtosighforwhatshehadnot，sheskillfullymadethebestofwhatshehad，arrangingchairsoverthewornplacesinthecarpet，coveringstainsonthewallswithhome—madestatuary，whichgaveanartisticairtotheroom，asdidthelovelyvasesofflowersJoscatteredabout。
Thelunchlookedcharming，andasshesurveyedit，shesincerelyhopeditwouldtastewell，andthattheborrowedglass，china，andsilverwouldgetsafelyhomeagain。Thecarriageswerepromised，MegandMotherwereallreadytodothehonors，BethwasabletohelpHannahbehindthescenes，Johadengagedtobeaslivelyandamiableasanabsentmind，andachinghead，andaverydecideddisapprovalofeverybodyandeverythingwouldallow，andasshewearilydressed，Amycheeredherselfwithanticipationsofthehappymomentwhen，lunchsafelyover，sheshoulddriveawaywithherfriendsforanafternoonofartisticdelights，forthe`cherrybounce’andthebrokenbridgewereherstrongpoints。
Thencamethehoursofsuspense，duringwhichshevibratedfromparlortoporch，whilepublicopinionvariedliketheweathercock。Asmartshoweratelevenhadevidentlyquenchedtheenthusiasmoftheyoungladieswhoweretoarriveattwelve，fornobodycame，andattwotheexhaustedfamilysatdowninablazeofsunshinetoconsumetheperishableportionsofthefeast，thatnothingmightbelost。
\"Nodoubtabouttheweathertoday，theywillcertainlycome，sowemustflyroundandbereadyforthem，\"saidAmy，asthesunwokehernextmorning。Shespokebriskly，butinhersecretsoulshewishedshehadsaidnothingaboutTuesday，forherinterestlikehercakewasgettingalittlestale。
\"Ican’tgetanylobsters，soyouwillhavetodowithoutsaladtoday，\"saidMr。March，cominginhalfanhourlater，withanexpressionofplaciddespair。
\"Usethechickenthen，thetoughnesswon’tmatterinasalad，\"advisedhiswife。
\"Hannahleftitonthekitchentableaminute，andthekittensgotatit。I’mverysorry，amy，\"addedBeth，whowasstillapatronessofcats。
\"ThenImusthavealobster，fortonguealonewon’tdo，\"saidAmydecidedly。
\"ShallIrushintotownanddemandone？\"askedJo，withthemagnanimityofamartyr。
\"You’dcomebringingithomeunderyourarmwithoutanypaper，justtotryme。I’llgomyself，\"answeredAmy，whosetemperwasbeginningtofail。
Shroudedinathickveilandarmedwithagenteeltravelingbasket，shedeparted，feelingthatacooldrivewouldsootheherruffledspiritandfitherforthelaborsoftheday。Aftersomedelay，theobjectofherdesirewasprocured，likewiseabottleofdressingtopreventfurtherlossoftimeathome，andoffshedroveagain，wellpleasedwithherownforethought。
Astheomnibuscontainedonlyoneotherpassenger，asleepyoldlady，Amypocketedherveilandbeguiledthetediumofthewaybytryingtofindoutwhereallhermoneyhadgoneto。Sobusywasshewithhercardfullofrefractoryfiguresthatshedidnotobserveanewcomer，whoenteredwithoutstoppingthevehicle，tillamasculinevoicesaid，\"Goodmorning，MissMarch，\"and，lookingup，shebeheldoneofLaurie’smostelegantcollegefriends。Ferventlyhopingthathewouldgetoutbeforeshedid，Amyutterlyignoredthebasketatherfeet，andcongratulatingherselfthatshehadonhernewtravelingdress，returnedtheyoungman’sgreetingwithherusualsuavityandspirit。
Theygotonexcellently，forAmy’schiefcarewassoonsetatrestbylearningthatthegentlemanwouldleavefirst，andshewaschattingawayinapeculiarlyloftystrain，whentheoldladygotout。Instumblingtothedoor，sheupsetthebasket，and——ohhorror！——thelobster，inallitsvulgarsizeandbrilliancy，wasrevealedtothehighborneyesofaTudor。
\"ByJove，she’sforgottenherdinner！\"criedtheunconsciousyouth，pokingthescarletmonsterintoitsplacewithhiscane，andpreparingtohandoutthebasketaftertheoldlady。
\"Pleasedon’t——it’s——it’smine，\"murmuredAmy，withafacenearlyasredasherfish。
\"Oh，really，Ibegpardon。It’sanuncommonlyfineone，isn’tit？\"saidTudor，withgreatpresenceofmind，andanairofsoberinterestthatdidcredittohisbreeding。
Amyrecoveredherselfinabreath，setherbasketboldlyontheseat，andsaid，laughing，\"Don’tyouwishyouweretohavesomeofthesaladhe’sgoingtomake，andtoseethecharmingyoungladieswhoaretoeatit？\"
Nowthatwastact，fortwooftherulingfoiblesofthemasculinemindweretouched。Thelobsterwasinstantlysurroundedbyahaloofpleasingreminiscences，andcuriosityabout`thecharmingyoungladies’divertedhismindfromthecomicalmishap。
\"Isupposehe’lllaughandjokeoveritwithLaurie，butIshan’tseethem，that’sacomfort，\"thoughtAmy，asTudorbowedanddeparted。
Shedidnotmentionthismeetingathome（thoughshediscoveredthat，thankstotheupset，hernewdresswasmuchdamagedbytherivuletsofdressingthatmeandereddowntheskirt），butwentthroughwiththepreparationswhichnowseemedmoreirksomethanbefore，andattwelveo’clockallwasreadyagain。feelingthattheneighborswereinterestedinhermovements，shewishedtoeffacethememoryofyesterday’sfailurebyagrandsuccesstoday，sosheorderedthe`cherrybounce’，anddroveawayinstatetomeetandescorthergueststothebanquet。
\"There’stherumble，they’recoming！I’llgoontotheporchandmeetthem。Itlookshospitable，andIwantthepoorchildtohaveagoodtimeafterallhertrouble，\"saidMrs。March，suitingtheactiontotheword。Butafteroneglance，sheretired，withanindescribableexpression，forlookingquitelostinthebigcarriage，satAmyandoneyounglady。
\"Run，Beth，andhelpHannahclearhalfthethingsoffthetable。Itwillbetooabsurdtoputaluncheonfortwelvebeforeasinglegirl，\"criedJo，hurryingawaytothelowerregions，tooexcitedtostopevenforalaugh。
IncameAmy，quitecalmanddelightfullycordialtotheoneguestwhohadkeptherpromise。Therestofthefamily，beingofadramaticturn，playedtheirpartsequallywell，andMissEliottfoundthemamosthilariousset，foritwasimpossibletocontrolentirelythemerrimentwhichpossessedthem。Theremodeledlunchbeinggailypartakenof，thestudioandgardenvisited，andartdiscussedwithenthusiasm，Amyorderedabuggy（alasfortheelegantcherry—bounce），anddroveherfriendquietlyabouttheneighborhoodtillsunset，when`thepartywentout’。
Asshecamewalkingin，lookingverytiredbutascomposedasever，sheobservedthateveryvestigeoftheunfortunatefêtehaddisappeared，exceptasuspiciouspuckeraboutthecornersofJo’smouth。
\"You’vehadalovelyafternoonforyourdrive，dear，\"saidhermother，asrespectfullyasifthewholetwelvehadcome。
\"MissEliottisaverysweetgirl，andseemedtoenjoyherself，Ithought，\"observedBeth，withunusualwarmth。
\"Couldyousparemesomeofyourcake？Ireallyneedsome，Ihavesomuchcompany，andIcan’tmakesuchdeliciousstuffasyours，\"askedMegsoberly。
\"Takeitall。I’mtheonlyoneherewholikessweetthings，anditwillmoldbeforeIcandisposeofit，\"answeredAmy，thinkingwithasighofthegenerousstoreshehadlaidinforsuchanendasthis。
\"It’sapityLaurieisn’theretohelpus，\"beganJo，astheysatdowntoicecreamandsaladforthesecondtimeintwodays。
Awarninglookfromhermothercheckedanyfurtherremarks，andthewholefamilyateinheroicsilence，tillMr。Marchmildlyobserved，\"saladwasoneofthefavoritedishesoftheancients，andEvelyn……\"Hereageneralexplosionoflaughtercutshortthe`historyofsalads’，tothegreatsurpriseofthelearnedgentleman。
\"BundleeverythingintoabasketandsendittotheHummels。Germanslikemesses。I’msickofthesightofthis，andthere’snoreasonyoushouldalldieofasurfeitbecauseI’vebeenafool，\"criedAmy，wipinghereyes。\"IthoughtIshouldhavediedwhenIsawyoutwogirlsrattlingaboutinthewhat—you—call—it，liketwolittlekernelsinaverybignutshell，andMotherwaitinginstatetoreceivethethrong，\"sighedJo，quitespentwithlaughter。
\"I’mverysorryyouweredisappointed，dear，butwealldidourbesttosatisfyyou，\"saidMrs。March，inatonefullofmotherlyregret。
\"Iamsatisfied。I’vedonewhatIundertook，andit’snotmyfaultthatitfailed。Icomfortmyselfwiththat，\"saidAmywithalittlequiverinhervoice。\"Ithankyouallverymuchforhelpingme，andI’llthankyoustillmoreifyouwon’talludetoitforamonth，atleast。\"
Noonedidforseveralmonths，buttheword`fête’alwaysproducedageneralsmile，andLaurie’sbirthdaygifttoAmywasatinycorallobsterintheshapeofacharmforherwatchguard。
GoodWives:Chapter4CHAPTER4LiteraryLessonsFortunesuddenlysmileduponJo，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，shehadbuiltupasplendidfortuneforherself（notthefirstfoundedonpaper），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。