Buthedid，ohblessyou，yes，hundredsoftimes，andsodidMeg，bothdeclaringthatitwasthesweetestjellytheyevermade，forfamilypeacewaspreservedinthatlittlefamilyjar。
Afterthis，MeghadMr。Scotttodinnerbyspecialinvitation，andservedhimupapleasantfeastwithoutacookedwifeforthefirstcourse，onwhichoccasionshewassogayandgracious，andmadeeverythinggooffsocharmingly，thatMr。ScotttoldJohnhewasaluckyfellow，andshookhisheadoverthehardshipsofbachelorhoodallthewayhome。
Intheautumn，newtrialsandexperiencescametoMeg。SallieMoffatrenewedherfriendship，wasalwaysrunningoutforadishofgossipatthelittlehouse，orinviting`thatpoordear’tocomeinandspendthedayatthebighouse。Itwaspleasant，forindullweatherMegoftenfeltlonely。Allwerebusyathome，Johnabsenttillnight，andnothingtodobutsew，orread，orpotterabout。
SoitnaturallyfelloutthatMeggotintothewayofgaddingandgossipingwithherfriend。SeeingSallie’sprettythingsmadeherlongforsuch，andpityherselfbecauseshehadnotgotthem。Salliewasverykind，andoftenofferedherthecovetedtrifles，butMegdeclinedthem，knowingthatJohnwouldn’tlikeit，andthenthisfoolishlittlewomanwentanddidwhatJohndislikedevenworse。
Sheknewherhusband’sincome，andshelovedtofeelthathetrustedher，notonlywithhishappiness，butwhatsomemenseemtovaluemore——hismoney。Sheknewwhereitwas，wasfreetotakewhatsheliked，andallheaskedwasthatsheshouldkeepaccountofeverypenny，paybillsonceamonth，andrememberthatshewasapoorman’swife。Tillnowshehaddonewell，beenprudentandexact，keptherlittleaccountbooksneatly，andshowedthemtohimmonthlywithoutfear。ButthatautumntheserpentgotintoMeg’sparadise，andtemptedherlikemanyamodernEve，notwithapples，butwithdress。Megdidn’tliketobepitiedandmadetofeelpoor。Itirritatedher，butshewasashamedtoconfessit，andnowandthenshetriedtoconsoleherselfbybuyingsomethingpretty，sothatSallieneedn’tthinkshehadtoeconomize。Shealwaysfeltwickedafterit，fortheprettythingswereseldomnecessaries，butthentheycostsolittle，itwasn’tworthworryingabout，sothetriflesincreasedunconsciously，andintheshoppingexcursionsshewasnolongerapassivelooker-on。
Butthetriflescostmorethanonewouldimagine，andwhenshecastupheraccountsattheendofthemonththesumtotalratherscaredher。Johnwasbusythatmonthandleftthebillstoher，thenextmonthhewasabsent，butthethirdhehadagrandquarterlysettlingup，andMegneverforgotit。Afewdaysbeforeshehaddoneadreadfulthing，anditweigheduponherconscience。Salliehadbeenbuyingsilks，andMeglongedforanewone，justahandsomelightoneforparties，herblacksilkwassocommon，andthinthingsforeveningwearwereonlyproperforgirls。AuntMarchusuallygavethesistersapresentoftwenty-fivedollarsapieceatNewYear’s。
Thatwasonlyamonthtowait，andherewasalovelyvioletsilkgoingatabargain，andshehadthemoney，ifsheonlydaredtotakeit。
Johnalwayssaidwhatwashiswashers，butwouldhethinkitrighttospendnotonlytheprospectivefive-and-twenty，butanotherfive-and-twentyoutofthehouseholdfund？Thatwasthequestion。
Salliehadurgedhertodoit，hadofferedtolendthemoney，andwiththebestintentionsinlifehadtemptedMegbeyondherstrength。
Inanevilmomenttheshopmanheldupthelovely，shimmeringfolds，andsaid，“Abargain，Iassure，you，ma’am。“Sheanswered，“I’lltakeit，“anditwascutoffandpaidfor，andSalliehadexulted，andshehadlaughedasifitwereathingofnoconsequence，anddrivenaway，feelingasifshehadstolensomething，andthepolicewereafterher。
Whenshegothome，shetriedtoassuagethepangsofremorsebyspreadingforththelovelysilk，butitlookedlesssilverynow，didn’tbecomeher，afterall，andthewords`fiftydollars’seemedstampedlikeapatterndowneachbreadth。Sheputitaway，butithauntedher，notdelightfullyasanewdressshould，butdreadfullyliketheghostofafollythatwasnoteasilylaid。WhenJohngotouthisbooksthatnight，Meg’sheartsank，andforthefirsttimeinhermarriedlife，shewasafraidofherhusband。Thekind，browneyeslookedasiftheycouldbestern，andthoughhewasunusuallymerry，shefanciedhehadfoundherout，butdidn’tmeantoletherknowit。Thehousebillswereallpaid，thebooksallinorder。
Johnhadpraisedher，andwasundoingtheoldpocketbookwhichtheycalledthe`bank’，whenMeg，knowingthatitwasquiteempty，stoppedhishand，sayingnervously……
“Youhaven’tseenmyprivateexpensebookyet。“
Johnneveraskedtoseeit，butshealwaysinsistedonhisdoingso，andusedtoenjoyhismasculineamazementatthequeerthingswomenwanted，andmadehimguesswhatpipingwas，demandfiercelythemeaningofahug-me-tight，orwonderhowalittlethingcomposedofthreerosebuds，abitofvelvet，andapairofstrings，couldpossiblybeabonnet，andcostsixdollars。Thatnighthelookedasifhewouldlikethefunofquizzingherfiguresandpretendingtobehorrifiedatherextravagance，asheoftendid，beingparticularlyproudofhisprudentwife。
Thelittlebookwasbroughtslowlyoutandlaiddownbeforehim。
Meggotbehindhischairunderpretenseofsmoothingthewrinklesoutofhistiredforehead，andstandingthere，shesaid，withherpanicincreasingwitheveryword……
“John，dear，I’mashamedtoshowyoumybook，forI’vereallybeendreadfullyextravagantlately。IgoaboutsomuchImusthavethings，youknow，andSallieadvisedmygettingit，soIdid，andmyNewYear’smoneywillpartlypayforit，butIwassorryafterIhaddoneit，forIknewyou’dthinkitwronginme。“
Johnlaughed，anddrewherroundbesidehim，sayinggoodhumoredly，“Don’tgoandhide。Iwon’tbeatyouifyouhavegotapairofkillingboots。I’mratherproudofmywife’sfeet，anddon’tmindifshedoespayeightorninedollarsforherboots，iftheyaregoodones。“
Thathadbeenoneofherlast`trifles’，andJohn’seyehadfallenonitashespoke。“Oh，whatwillhesaywhenhecomestothatawfulfiftydollars!“thoughtMeg，withashiver。
“It’sworsethanboots，it’sasilkdress，“shesaid，withthecalmnessofdesperation，forshewantedtheworstover。
“Well，dear，whatisthe`dem’dtotal’，asMr。Mantalinisays？“
Thatdidn’tsoundlikeJohn，andsheknewhewaslookingupatherwiththestraightforwardlookthatshehadalwaysbeenreadytomeetandanswerwithoneasfranktillnow。Sheturnedthepageandherheadatthesametime，pointingtothesumwhichwouldhavebeenbadenoughwithoutthefifty，butwhichwasappallingtoherwiththatadded。Foraminutetheroomwasverystill，thenJohnsaidslowly——butshecouldfeelitcosthimanefforttoexpressnodispleasure……
“Well，Idon’tknowthatfiftyismuchforadress，withallthefurbelowsandnotionsyouhavetohavetofinishitoffthesedays。“
“Itisn’tmadeortrimmed，“sighedMeg，faintly，forasuddenrecollectionofthecoststilltobeincurredquiteoverwhelmedher。
“Twenty-fiveyardsofsilkseemsagooddealtocoveronesmallwoman，butI’venodoubtmywifewilllookasfineasNedMoffat’swhenshegetsiton，“saidJohndryly。
“Iknowyouareangry，John，butIcan’thelpit。Idon’tmeantowasteyourmoney，andIdidn’tthinkthoselittlethingswouldcountupso。Ican’tresistthemwhenIseeSalliebuyingallshewants，andpityingmebecauseIdon’t。Itrytobecontented，butitishard，andI’mtiredofbeingpoor。“
Thelastwordswerespokensolowshethoughthedidnothearthem，buthedid，andtheywoundedhimdeeply，forhehaddeniedhimselfmanypleasuresforMeg’ssake。Shecouldhavebittenhertongueouttheminuteshehadsaidit，forJohnpushedthebooksawayandgotup，sayingwithalittlequiverinhisvoice，“Iwasafraidofthis。Idomybest，Meg。“Ifhehadscoldedher，orevenshakenher，itwouldnothavebrokenherheartlikethosefewwords。Sherantohimandheldhimclose，crying，withrepentanttears，“Oh，John，mydear，kind，hard-workingboy。Ididn’tmeanit!Itwassowicked，sountrueandungrateful，howcouldIsayit!
Oh，howcouldIsayit!“
Hewasverykind，forgaveherreadily，anddidnotutteronereproach，butMegknewthatshehaddoneandsaidathingwhichwouldnotbeforgottensoon，althoughhemightneveralludetoitagain。Shehadpromisedtolovehimforbetterorworse，andthenshe，hiswife，hadreproachedhimwithhispoverty，afterspendinghisearningsrecklessly。Itwasdreadful，andtheworstofitwasJohnwentonsoquietlyafterward，justasifnothinghadhappened，exceptthathestayedintownlater，andworkedatnightwhenshehadgonetocryherselftosleep。AweekorremorsenearlymadeMegsick，andthediscoverythatJohnhadcountermandedtheorderforhisnewgreatcoatreducedhertoastateofdespairwhichwaspathetictobehold。Hehadsimplysaid，inanswertohersurprisedinquiriesastothechange，“Ican’taffordit，mydear。“
Megsaidnomore，butafewminutesafterhefoundherinthehallwithherfaceburiedintheoldgreatcoat，cryingasifherheartwouldbreak。
Theyhadalongtalkthatnight，andMeglearnedtoloveherhusbandbetterforhispoverty，becauseitseemedtohavemadeamanofhim，givenhimthestrengthandcouragetofighthisownway，andtaughthimatenderpatiencewithwhichtobearandcomfortthenaturallongingsandfailuresofthoseheloved。
Nextdaysheputherprideinherpocket，wenttoSallie，toldthetruth，andaskedhertobuythesilkasafavor。Thegood-
naturedMrs。Moffatwillinglydidso，andhadthedelicacynottomakeherapresentofitimmediatelyafterward。ThenMegorderedhomethegreatcoat，andwhenJohnarrived，sheputiton，andaskedhimhowhelikedhernewsilkgown。Onecanimaginewhatanswerhemade，howhereceivedhispresent，andwhatablissfulstateofthingsensued。Johncamehomeearly，Meggaddednomore，andthatgreatcoatwasputoninthemorningbyaveryhappyhusband，andtakenoffatnightbyamostdevotedlittlewife。Sotheyearrolledround，andatmidsummertherecametoMeganewexperience，thedeepestandtenderestofawoman’slife。
LauriecamesneakingintothekitchenoftheDovecoteoneSaturday，withanexcitedface，andwasreceivedwiththeclashofcymbals，forHannahclappedherhandswithasaucepaninoneandthecoverintheother。
“How’sthelittlemamma？Whereiseverybody？Whydidn’tyoutellmebeforeIcamehome？“beganLaurieinaloudwhisper。
“Happyasaqueen，thedear!Everysoulof`emisupstairsaworshipin’。Wedidn’twantnohurrycanesround。Nowyougointotheparlor，andI’llsend`emdowntoyou，“withwhichsomewhatinvolvedreplyHannahvanished，chucklingecstatically。
PresentlyJoappeared，proudlybearingaflannelbundlelaidforthuponalargepillow。Jo’sfacewasverysober，buthereyestwinkled，andtherewasanoddsoundinhervoiceofrepressedemotionofsomesort。
“Shutyoureyesandholdoutyourarms，“shesaidinvitingly。
Lauriebackedprecipitatelyintoacorner，andputhishandsbehindhimwithanimploringgesture。“No，thankyou。I’drathernot。Ishalldropitorsmashit，assureasfate。“
“Thenyoushan’tseeyournevvy，“saidJodecidedly，turningasiftogo。
“Iwill，Iwill!Onlyyoumustberesponsiblefordamages。“
Andobeyingorders，Laurieheroicallyshuthiseyeswhilesomethingwasputintohisarms。ApealoflaughterfromJo，Amy，Mrs。March，Hannah，andJohncausedhimtoopenthemthenextminute，tofindhimselfinvestedwithtwobabiesinsteadofone。
Nowondertheylaughed，fortheexpressionofhisfacewasdrollenoughtoconvulseaQuaker，ashestoodandstaredwildlyfromtheunconsciousinnocentstothehilariousspectatorswithsuchdismaythatJosatdownonthefloorandscreamed。
“Twins，byJupiter!“wasallhesaidforaminute，thenturningtothewomenwithanappealinglookthatwascomicallypiteous，headded，“Take`emquick，somebody!I’mgoingtolaugh，andIshalldrop`em。“
Jorescuedhisbabies，andmarchedupanddown，withoneoneachare，asifalreadyinitiatedintothemysteriesofbabytending，whileLaurielaughedtillthetearsrandownhischeeks。
“It’sthebestjokeoftheseason，isn’tit？Iwouldn’thavetoldyou，forIsetmyheartonsurprisingyou，andIflattermyselfI’vedoneit，“saidJo，whenshegotherbreath。
“Ineverwasmorestaggeredinmylife。Isn’titfun？Aretheyboys？
Whatareyougoingtonamethem？Let’shaveanotherlook。
Holdmeup，Jo，foruponmylifeit’sonetoomanyforme，“returnedLaurie，regardingtheinfantswiththeairofabig，benevolentNewfoundlandlookingatapairofinfantilekittens。
“Boyandgirl。Aren’ttheybeauties？“saidtheproudpapa，beaminguponthelittleredsquirmersasiftheywereunfledgedangels。
“MostremarkablechildrenIeversaw。Whichiswhich？“andLauriebentlikeawell-sweeptoexaminetheprodigies。
“Amyputablueribbonontheboyandapinkonthegirl，Frenchfashion，soyoucanalwaystell。Besides，onehasblueeyesandonebrown。Kissthem，UncleTeddy，“saidwickedJo。
“I’mafraidtheymightn’tlikeit，“beganLaurie，withunusualtimidityinsuchmatters。
“Ofcoursetheywill，theyareusedtoitnow。Doitthisminute，sir!“commandedJo，fearinghemightproposeaproxy。
Lauriescreweduphisfaceandobeyedwithagingerlypeckateachlittlecheekthatproducedanotherlaugh，andmadethebabiessqueal。
“There，Iknewtheydidn’tlikeit!That’stheboy，seehimkick，hehitsoutwithhisfistslikeagoodone。Nowthen，youngBrooke，pitchintoamanofyourownsize，willyou？“criedLaurie，delightedwithapokeinthefacefromatinyfist，flappingaimlesslyabout。
“He’stobenamedJohnLaurence，andthegirlMargaret，aftermotherandgrandmother。WeshallcallherDaisey，soasnottohavetwoMegs，andIsupposethemanniewillbeJack，unlesswefindabettername，“saidAmy，withaunt-likeinterest。
“NamehimDemijohn，andcallhimDemiforshort，“saidLaurie“DaisyandDemi，justthething!IknewTeddywoulddoit，“
criedJoclappingherhands。
Teddycertainlyhaddoneitthattime，forthebabieswere`Daisy’and`Demi’totheendofthechapter。
Chapter29CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
“Come，Jo，it’stime。“
“Forwhat？“