suggestedLaurie。
Noonewasinsight，thesmoothroadslopedinvitinglybeforeher，andfindingthetemptationirresistible，Jodartedaway，soonleavinghatandcombbehindherandscatteringhairpinsassheran。
Lauriereachedthegoalfirstandwasquitesatisfiedwiththesuccessofhistreatment，forhisAtalantacamepantingupwithflyinghair，brighteyes，ruddycheeks，andnosignsofdissatisfactioninherface。
“IwishIwasahorse，thenIcouldrunformilesinthissplendidair，andnotlosemybreath。Itwascapital，butseewhataguyit’smademe。Go，pickupmythings，likeacherub，asyouare，“saidJo，droppingdownunderamapletree，whichwascarpetingthebankwithcrimsonleaves。
Laurieleisurelydepartedtorecoverthelostproperty，andJobundledupherbraids，hopingnoonewouldpassbytillshewastidyagain。Butsomeonedidpass，andwhoshoulditbebutMeg，lookingparticularlyladylikeinherstateandfestivalsuit，forshehadbeenmakingcalls。
“Whatintheworldareyoudoinghere？“sheasked，regardingherdisheveledsisterwithwell-bredsurprise。
“Gettingleaves，“meeklyansweredJo，sortingtherosyhandfulshehadjustsweptup。
“Andhairpins，“addedLaurie，throwinghalfadozenintoJo’slap。“Theygrowonthisroad，Meg，sodocombsandbrownstrawhats。“
“Youhavebeenrunning，Jo。Howcouldyou？Whenwillyoustopsuchrompingways？“saidMegreprovingly，asshesettledhercuffsandsmoothedherhair，withwhichthewindhadtakenliberties。
“NevertillI’mstiffandoldandhavetouseacrutch。Don’ttrytomakemegrowupbeforemytime，Meg。It’shardenoughtohaveyouchangeallofasudden。LetmebealittlegirlaslongasIcan。“
Asshespoke，Jobentovertheleavestohidethetremblingofherlips，forlatelyshehadfeltthatMargaretwasfastgettingtobeawoman，andLaurie’ssecretmadeherdreadtheseparationwhichmustsurelycomesometimeandnowseemedverynear。HesawthetroubleinherfaceanddrewMeg’sattentionfromitbyaskingquickly，“Wherehaveyoubeencalling，allsofine？“
“AttheGardiners’，andSalliehasbeentellingmeallaboutBelleMoffat’swedding。Itwasverysplendid，andtheyhavegonetospendthewinterinParis。Justthinkhowdelightfulthatmustbe!“
“Doyouenvyher，Meg？“saidLaurie。
“I’mafraidIdo。“
“I’mgladofit!“mutteredJo，tyingonherhatwithajerk。
“Why？“askedMeg，lookingsurprised。
“Becauseifyoucaremuchaboutriches，youwillnevergoandmarryapoorman，“saidJo，frowningatLaurie，whowasmutelywarninghertomindwhatshesaid。
“Ishallnever`goandmarry’anyone，“observedMeg，walkingonwithgreatdignitywhiletheothersfollowed，laughing，whispering，skippingstones，and`behavinglikechildren’，asMegsaidtoherself，thoughshemighthavebeentemptedtojointhemifshehadnothadherbestdresson。
Foraweekortwo，Jobehavedsoqueerlythathersisterswerequitebewildered。Sherushedtothedoorwhenthepostmanrang，wasrudetoMr。Brookewhenevertheymet，wouldsitlookingatMegwithawoe-begoneface，occasionallyjumpinguptoshakeandthenkissherinaverymysteriousmanner。Laurieandshewerealwaysmakingsignstooneanother，andtalkingabout`SpreadEagles’tillthegirlsdeclaredtheyhadbothlosttheirwits。OnthesecondSaturdayafterJogotoutofthewindow，Meg，asshesatsewingatherwindow，wasscandalizedbythesightofLauriechasingJoalloverthegardenandfinallycapturingherinAmy’sbower。Whatwentonthere，Megcouldnotsee，butshrieksoflaughterwereheard，followedbythemurmurofvoicesandagreatflappingofnewspapers。
“Whatshallwedowiththatgirl？Sheneverwillbehavelikeayounglady，“sighedMeg，asshewatchedtheracewithadisapprovingface。
“Ihopeshewon’t。Sheissofunnyanddearassheis，“saidBeth，whohadneverbetrayedthatshewasalittlehurtatJo’shavingsecretswithanyonebuther。
“It’sverytrying，butwenevercanmakehercommylafo，“
addedAmy，whosatmakingsomenewfrillsforherself，withhercurlstiedupinaverybecomingway。，twoagreeablethingsthatmadeherfeelunusuallyelegantandladylike。
InafewminutesJobouncedin，laidherselfonthesofa，andaffectedtoread。
“Haveyouanythinginterestingthere？“askedMeg，withcondescension。
“Nothingbutastory，won’tamounttomuch，Iguess，“returnedJo，carefullykeepingthenameofthepaperoutofsight。
“You’dbetterreaditaloud。Thatwillamuseusandkeepyououtofmischief，“saidAmyinhermostgrown-uptone。
“What’sthename？“askedBeth，wonderingwhyJokeptherfacebehindthesheet。
“TheRivalPainters。“
“Thatsoundswell。Readit，“saidMeg。
Withaloud“Hem!“andalongbreath，Jobegantoreadveryfast。Thegirlslistenedwithinterest，forthetalewasromantic，andsomewhatpathetic，asmostofthecharactersdiedintheend。
“Ilikethataboutthesplendidpicture，“wasAmy’sapprovingremark，asJopaused。
“Iprefertheloveringpart。ViolaandAngeloaretwoofourfavoritenames，isn’tthatqueer？“saidMeg，wipinghereyes，fortheloveringpartwastragical。
“Whowroteit？“askedBeth，whohadcaughtaglimpseofJo’sface。
Thereadersuddenlysatup，castawaythepaper，displayingaflushedcountenance，andwithafunnymixtureofsolemnityandexcitementrepliedinaloudvoice，“Yoursister。“
“You？“criedMeg，droppingherwork。
“It’sverygood，“saidAmycritically。
“Iknewit!Iknewit!Oh，myJo，Iamsoproud!“AndBethrantohughersisterandexultoverthissplendidsuccess。
Dearme，howdelightedtheyallwere，tobesure!HowMegwouldn’tbelieveittillshesawthewords。“MissJosephineMarch，“actuallyprintedinthepaper。HowgraciouslyAmycritisizedtheartisticpartsofthestory，andofferedhintsforasequel，whichunfortunatelycouldn’tbecarriedout，astheheroandheroineweredead。HowBethgotexcited，andskippedandsangwithjoy。HowHannahcameintoexclaim，“Sakesalive，wellInever!“ingreatastonishmentat`thatJo’sdoin’s’。HowproudMrs。Marchwaswhensheknewit。HowJolaughed，withtearsinhereyes，asshedeclaredshemightaswellbeapeacockanddonewithit。andhowth`SpreadEagle’mightbesaidtoflaphiswingstriumphantlyovertheHouseofMarch，asthepaperpassedfromhandtohand。
“Tellusaboutit。““Whendiditcome？““Howmuchdidyougetforit？““WhatwillFathersay？““Won’tLaurielaugh？“criedthefamily，allinonebreathastheyclusteredaboutJo，forthesefoolish，affectionatepeoplemadajubileeofeverylittlehouseholdjoy。
“Stopjabbering，girls，andI’lltellyoueverything，“
saidJo，wonderingifMissBurneyfeltanygranderoverherEvilinathanshedidoverher`RivalPainters’。Havingtoldhowshedisposedofhertales，Joadded，“AndwhenIwenttogetmyanswer，themansaidhelikedthemboth，butdidn’tpaybeginners，onlyletthemprintinhispaper，andnoticedthestories。Itwasgoodpractice，hesaid，andwhenthebeginnersimproved，anyonewouldpay。SoIlethimhavethetwostories，andtodaythiswassenttome，andLauriecaughtmewithitandinsistedonseeingit，soIlethim。Andhesaiditwasgood，andIshallwritemore，andhe’sgoingtogetthenextpaidfor，andIamsohappy，forintimeImaybeabletosupportmyselfandhelpthegirls。“
Jo’sbreathgaveouthere，andwrappingherheadinthepaper，shebedewedherlittlestorywithafewnaturaltears，fortobeindependentandearnthepraiseofthoseshelovedwerethedearestwishesofherheart，andthisseemedtobethefirststeptowardthathappyend。
Chapter15CHAPTERFIFTEEN
“Novemberisthemostdisagreeablemonthinthewholeyear，“
saidMargaret，standingatthewindowonedullafternoon，lookingoutatthefrostbittengarden。
“That’sthereasonIwasborninit，“observedJopensively，quiteunconsciousoftheblotonhernose。
“Ifsomethingverypleasantshouldhappennow，weshouldthinkitadelightfulmonth，“saidBeth，whotookahopefulviewofeverything，evenNovember。
“Idaresay，butnothingpleasanteverdoeshappeninthisfamily，“saidMeg，whowasoutofsorts。“Wegogrubbingalongdayafterday，withoutabitofchange，andverylittlefun。Wemightaswellbeinatreadmill。“
“Mypatience，howblueweare!“criedJo。“Idon’tmuchwonder，poordear，foryouseeothergirlshavingsplendidtimes，whileyougrind，grind，yearinandyearout。Oh，don’tIwishIcouldmanagethingsforyouasIdoformyheroines!You’reprettyenoughandgoodenoughalready，soI’dhavesomerichrelationleaveyouafortuneunexpectedly。Thenyou’ddashoutasanheiress，scorneveryonewhohasslightedyou，goabroad，andcomehomemyLadySomethinginablazeofsplendorandelegance。“
“Peopledon’thavefortuneslefttheminthatstylenowadays，menhavetoworkandwomenmarryformoney。It’sadreadfullyunjustworld，“saidMegbitterly。
“JoandIaregoingtomakefortunesforyouall。Justwaittenyears，andseeifwedon’t，“saidAmy，whosatinacornermakingmudpies，asHannahcalledherlittleclaymodelsofbirds，fruit，andfaces。
“Can’twait，andI’mafraidIhaven’tmuchfaithininkanddirt，thoughI’mgratefulforyourgoodintentions。
Megsighed，andturnedtothefrostbittengardenagain。Jogroanedandleanedbothelbowsonthetableinadespondentattitude，butAmyspattedawayenergetically，andBeth，whosatattheotherwindow，said，smiling，“Twopleasantthingsaregoingtohappenrightaway。Marmeeiscomingdownthestreet，andLaurieistrampingthroughthegardenasifhehadsomethingnicetotell。“
Intheybothcame，Mrs。Marchwithherusualquestion，“AnyletterfromFather，girls？“andLaurietosayinhispersuasiveway，“Won’tsomeofyoucomeforadrive？I’vebeenworkingawayatmathematicstillmyheadisinamuddle，andI’mgoingtofreshenmywitsbyabriskturn。It’sadullday，buttheairisn’tbad，andI’mgoingtotakeBrookehome，soitwillbegayinside，ifitisn’tout。Come，Jo，youandBethwillgo，won’tyou？“
“Ofcoursewewill。“
“Muchobliged，butI’mbusy。“AndMegwhiskedoutherworkbasket，forshehadagreedwithhermotherthatitwasbest，forheratleast，nottodrivetoooftenwiththeyounggentleman。
“Wethreewillbereadyinaminute，“criedAmy，runningawaytowashherhands。
“CanIdoanythingforyou，MadamMother？“askedLaurie，leaningoverMrs。March’schairwiththeaffectionatelookandtonehealwaysgaveher。
“No，thankyou，exceptcallattheoffice，ifyou’llbesokind，dear。It’sourdayforaletter，andthepostmanhasn’tbeen。
Fatherisasregularasthesun，butthere’ssomedelayontheway，perhaps。“
Asharpringinterruptedher，andaminuteafterHannahcameinwithaletter。
“It’soneofthemhorridtelegraphthings，mum，“shesaid，handlingitasifshewasafraiditwouldexplodeanddosomedamage。
Attheword`telegraph’，Mrs。Marchsnatchedit，readthetwolinesitcontained，anddroppedbackintoherchairaswhiteasifthelittlepaperhadsentabullettoherheart。Lauriedasheddownstairsforwater，whileMegandHannahsupportedher，andJoreadaloud，inafrightenedvoice……
Mrs。March：
Yourhusbandisveryill。Comeatonce。
S。HALE
BlankHospital，Washington。
Howstilltheroomwasastheylistenedbreathlessly，howstrangelythedaydarkenedoutside，andhowsuddenlythewholeworldseemedtochange，asthegirlsgatheredabouttheirmother，feelingasifallthehappinessandsupportoftheirliveswasabouttobetakenfromthem。
Mrs。Marchwasherselfagaindirectly，readthemessageover，andstretchedoutherarmstoherdaughters，saying，inatonetheyneverforgot，“Ishallgoatonce，butitmaybetoolate。Oh，children，children，helpmetobearit!“
Forseveralminutestherewasnothingbutthesoundofsobbingintheroom，mingledwithbrokenwordsofcomfort，tenderassurancesofhelp，andhopefulwhispersthatdiedawayintears。PoorHannahwasthefirsttorecover，andwithunconsciouswisdomshesetalltherestagoodexample，forwithher，workwaspanaceaformostafflictions。
“TheLordkeepthedearman!Iwon’twastenotimea-cryin’，butgityourthingsreadyrightaway，mum，“shesaidheartily，asshewipedherfaceonherapron，gavehermistressawarmshakeofthehandwithherownhardone，andwentawaytoworklikethreewomeninone。
“She’sright，there’snotimefortearsnow。Becalm，girls，andletmethink。“
Theytriedtobecalm，poorthings，astheirmothersatup，lookingpalebutsteady，andputawayhergrieftothinkandplanforthem。
“Where’sLaurie？’sheaskedpresently，whenshehadcollectedherthoughtsanddecidedonthefirstdutiestobedone。
“Here，ma’am。Oh，letmedosomething!“criedtheboy，hurryingfromthenextroomwhitherhehadwithdrawn，feelingthattheirfirstsorrowwastoosacredforevenhisfriendlyeyestosee。
“SendatelegramsayingIwillcomeatonce。Thenexttraingoesearlyinthemorning。I’lltakethat。“
“Whatelse？Thehorsesareready。Icangoanywhere，doanything，“hesaid，lookingreadytoflytotheendsoftheearth。
“LeaveanoteatAuntMarch’s。Jo，givemethatpenandpaper。“
Tearingofftheblanksideofoneofhernewlycopiedpages，Jodrewthetablebeforehermother，wellknowingthatmoneyforthelong，sadjourneymustbeborrowed，andfeelingasifshecoulddoanythingtoaddtoalittletothesumforherfather。
“Nowgo，dear，butdon’tkillyourselfdrivingatadesperatepace。Thereisnoneedofthat。“
Mrs。March’swarningwasevidentlythrownaway，forfiveminuteslaterLaurietorebythewindowonhisownfleethorse，ridingasifforhislife。
“Jo，runtotherooms，andtellMrs。KingthatIcan’tcome。
Onthewaygetthesethings。I’llputthemdown，they’llbeneededandImustgopreparedfornursing。Hospitalstoresarenotalwaysgood。Beth，goandaskMr。Laurenceforacoupleofbottlesofoldwine。I’mnottooproudtobegforFather。Heshallhavethebestofeverything。Amy，tellHannahtogetdowntheblacktrunk，andMeg，comeandhelpmefindmythings，forI’mhalfbewildered。“
Writing，thinking，anddirectingallatoncemightwellbewilderthepoorlady，andMegbeggedhertositquietlyinherroomforalittlewhile，andletthemwork。Everyonescatteredlikeleavesbeforeagustofwind，andthequiet，happyhouseholdwasbrokenupassuddenlyasifthepaperhadbeenanevilspell。