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，andnowfrequentlydebarredbyitfromtheseathemostcovetednexttoJointhesofacorner。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，Ifancy。\"
\"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。\"
\"Well，youcan’t，thereisn’troom。Goandmakeyourselfuseful，sinceyouaretoobigtobeornamental。Ithoughtyouhatedtobetiedtoawoman’sapronstring？\"retortedJo，quotingcertainrebelliouswordsofhisown。
\"Ah，thatdependsonwhowearstheapron！\"andLauriegaveanaudacioustweakatthetassel。
\"Areyougoing？\"demandedJo，divingforthepillow。
Hefledatonce，andtheminuteitwaswell，\"UpwiththebonnetsofbonnieDundee，\"sheslippedawaytoreturnnomoretilltheyounggentlemandepartedinhighdudgeon。
Jolaylongawakethatnight，andwasjustdroppingoffwhenthesoundofastifledsobmadeherflytoBeth’sbedside，withtheanxiousinquiry，\"Whatisit，dear？\"
\"Ithoughtyouwereasleep，\"sobbedBeth。
\"Isittheoldpain，myprecious？’
\"No，it’sanewone，butIcanbearit。\"AndBethtriedtocheckhertears。
\"Tellmeallaboutit，andletmecureitasIoftendidtheother。\"
\"Youcan’t，thereisnocure。\"ThereBeth’svoicegaveway，andclingingtohersister，shecriedsodespairinglythatJowasfrightened。
\"Whereisit？ShallIcallMother？\"
\"No，no，don’tcallher，don’ttellher。Ishallbebettersoon。Liedownhereand`poor’myhead。I’llbequietandgotosleep，indeedIwill。\"Joobeyed，butasherhandwentsoftlytoandfroacrossBeth’shotforeheadandweteyelids，herheartwasveryfullandshelongedtospeak。Butyoungasshewas，Johadlearnedthathearts，likeflowers，cannotberudelyhandled，butmustopennaturally，sothoughshebelievedsheknewthecauseofBeth’snewpain，sheonlysaid，inhertenderesttone，\"Doesanythingtroubleyou，deary？\"
\"Yes，Jo，\"afteralongpause。
\"Wouldn’titcomfortyoutotellmewhatitis？\"
\"notnow，notyet。\"
\"ThenIwon’task，butremember，Bethy，thatMotherandJoarealwaysgladtohearandhelpyou，iftheycan。\"
\"Iknowit。I’lltellyouby—and—by。\"
\"Isthepainbetternow？\"
\"Oh，yes，muchbetter，youaresocomfortable，Jo。\"
\"Gotosleep，dear。I’llstaywithyou。\"
Socheektocheektheyfellasleep，andonthemorrowBethseemedquiteherselfagain，forateighteenneitherheadsnorheartsachelong，andalovingwordcanmedicinemostills。
ButJohadmadeuphermind，andafterponderingoveraprojectforsomedays，sheconfidedittohermother。
\"Youaskedmetheotherdaywhatmywisheswere。I’lltellyouoneofthem，Marmee，\"shebegan，astheysatalongtogether。\"Iwanttogoawaysomewherethiswinterforachange。\"
\"Why，Jo？\"Andhermotherlookedupquickly，asifthewordssuggestedadoublemeaning。
WithhereyesonherworkJoansweredsoberly，\"Iwantsomethingnew。Ifeelrestlessandanxioustobeseeing，doing，andlearningmorethanIam。Ibroodtoomuchovermyownsmallaffairs，andneedstirringup，soasIcanbesparedthiswinter，I’dliketohopalittlewayandtrymywings。\"
\"Wherewillyouhop？\"
\"ToNewYork。Ihadabrightideayesterday，andthisisit。YouknowMrs。Kirkewrotetoyouforsomerespectableyoungpersontoteachherchildrenandsew。It’sratherhardtofindjustthething，butIthinkIshouldsuitifItried。\"
\"Mydear，goouttoserviceinthatgreatboardinghouse！\"AndMrs。Marchlookedsurprised，butnotdispleased。
\"It’snotexactlygoingouttoservice，forMrs。Kirkeisyourfriend——thekindestsoulthateverlived——andwouldmakethingspleasantforme，Iknow。Herfamilyisseparatefromtherest，andnooneknowsmethere。Don’tcareiftheydo。It’shonestwork，andI’mnotashamedofit。\"
\"NorI。Butyourwriting？\"
\"Allthebetterforthechange。Ishallseeandhearnewthings，getnewideas，andevenifIhaven’tmuchtimethere，Ishallbringhomequantitiesofmaterialformyrubbish。\"
\"Ihavenodoubtofit，butaretheseyouronlyreasonsforthissuddenfancy？’
\"No，Mother。\"
\"MayIknowtheothers？\"
JolookedupandJolookeddown，thensaidslowly，withsuddencolorinhercheeks。\"Itmaybevainandwrongtosayit，but——I’mafraid——Laurieisgettingtoofondofme。\"
\"Thenyoudon’tcareforhiminthewayitisevidenthebeginstocareforyou？’AndMrs。Marchlookedanxiousassheputthequestion。
\"Mercy，no！Ilovethedearboy，asIalwayshave，andamimmenselyproudofhim，butasforanythingmore，it’soutofthequestion。\"
\"I’mgladofthat，Jo。\"
\"Why，please？’
\"Because，dear，Idon’tthinkyousuitedtooneanother。Asfriendsyouareveryhappy，andyourfrequentquarrelssoonblowover，butIfearyouwouldbothrebelifyouwerematedforlife。Youaretoomuchalikeandtoofondoffreedom，nottomentionhottempersandstrongwills，togetonhappilytogether，inarelationwhichneedsinfinitepatienceandforbearance，aswellaslove。\"
\"That’sjustthefeelingIhad，thoughIcouldn’texpressit。I’mgladyouthinkheisonlybeginningtocareforme。Itwouldtroublemesadlytomakehimunhappy，forIcouldn’tfallinlovewiththedearoldfellowmerelyoutofgratitude，couldI？\"
\"Youaresureofhisfeelingforyou？\"
ThecolordeepenedinJo’scheeksassheanswered，withthelookofmingledpleasure，pride，andpainwhichyounggirlswearwhenspeakingoffirstlovers，\"I’mafraiditisso，Mother。Hehasn’tsaidanything，buthelooksagreatdeal。IthinkIhadbettergoawaybeforeitcomestoanything。\"
\"Iagreewithyou，andifitcanbemanagedyoushallgo。\"
Jolookedrelieved，andafterapause，said，smiling，\"HowMrs。Moffatwouldwonderatyourwantofmanagement，ifsheknew，andhowshewillrejoicethatAnniemaystillhope。\"
\"AH，Jo，mothersmaydifferintheirmanagement，butthehopeisthesameinall——thedesiretoseetheirchildrenhappy。Megisso，andIamcontentwithhersuccess。YouIleavetoenjoyyourlibertytillyoutireofit，foronlythenwillyoufindthatthereissomethingsweeter。Amyismychiefcarenow，buthergoodsensewillhelp;her。ForBeth，Iindulgenohopesexceptthatshemaybewell。Bytheway，sheseemsbrighterthislastdayortwo。Haveyouspokentoher？’
\"Yes，sheownedshehadatrouble，andpromisedtotellmeby—and—by。Isaidnomore，forIthinkIknowit，\"AndJotoldherlittlestory。
Mrs。Marchshookherhead，anddidnottakesoromanticaviewofthecase，butlookedgrave，andrepeatedheropinionthatforLaurie’ssakeJoshouldgoawayforatime。
\"Letussaynothingaboutittohimtilltheplanissettled，thenI’llrunawaybeforehecancollecthiswitsandbetragic。BethmustthinkI’mgoingtopleasemyself，asIam，forIcan’ttalkaboutLaurietoher。ButshecanpetandcomforthimafterI’mgone，andsocurehimofthisromanticnotion。He’sbeenthroughsomanylittletrialsofthesort，he’susedtoit，andwillsoongetoverhislovelornity。\"
Jospokehopefully，butcouldnotridherselfoftheforebodingfearthatthis`littletrial’wouldbeharderthantheothers，andthatLauriewouldnotgetoverhis`lovelornity’aseasilyasheretofore。
Theplanwastalkedoverinafamilycouncilandagreedupon，forMrs。KirkegladlyacceptedJo，andpromisedtomakeapleasanthomeforher。Theteachingwouldrenderherindependent，andsuchleisureasshegotmightbemadeprofitablebywriting，whilethenewscenesandsocietywouldbebothusefulandagreeable。Jolikedtheprospectandwaseagertobegone，forthehomenestwasgrowingtoonarrowforherrestlessnatureandadventurousspirit。Whenallwassettled，withfearandtremblingshetoldLaurie，buttohersurprisehetookitveryquietly。Hehadbeengraverthanusualoflate，butverypleasant，andwhenjokinglyaccusedofturningoveranewleaf，heansweredsoberly，\"SoIam，andImeanthisoneshallstayturned。\"
Jowasverymuchrelievedthatoneofhisvirtuousfitsshouldcomeonjustthen，andmadeherpreparationswithalightenedheart，forBethseemedmorecheerful，andhopedshewasdoingthebestforall。
\"OnethingIleaveinyourespecialcare，\"shesaid，thenightbeforesheleft。
\"Youmeanyourpapers？\"askedBeth。\"No，myboy。Beverygoodtohim，won’tyou？\"
\"OfcourseIwill，butIcan’tfillyourplace，andhe’llmissyousadly。\"
\"Itwon’thurthim，soremember，Ileavehiminyourcharge，toplague，pet，andkeepinorder。\"
\"I’lldomybest，foryoursake，\"promisedBeth，wonderingwhyJolookedathersoqueerly。
WhenLauriesaidgood—by，hewhisperedsignificantly，\"Itwon’tdoabitofgood，Jo。Myeyeisonyou，somindwhatyoudo，orI’llcomeandbringyouhome。\"