“Prut!Wewillmakethetime，andwefailnottofindthesense。AtefeningIshallgifalittlelessonwithmuchgladness，forlookyou，MeesMarsch，Ihafthisdebttopay。“Andhepointedtomywork`Yes，’theysaytooneanother，thesesokindladies，`heisastupidoldfellow，hewillseenotwhatwedo，hewillneverobservethathissockheelsgonotinholesanymore，hewillthinkhisbuttonsgrowoutnewwhentheyfall，andbelievethatstringsmaketheirselves。’“Ah!ButIhafaneye，andIseemuch。Ihafaheart，andIfeelthanksforthis。
Come，alittlelessonthenandnow，ornomoregoodfairyworksformeandmine。“
OfcourseIcouldn’tsayanythingafterthat，andasitreallyisasplendidopportunity，Imadethebargain，andwebegan。Itookfourlessons，andthenIstuckfastinagrammaticalbog。TheProfessorwasverypatientwithme，butitmusthavebeentormenttohim，andnowandthenhe’dlookatmewithsuchanexpressionofmilddespairthatitwasatoss-upwithmewhethertolaughorcry。Itriedbothways，andwhenitcametoasnifforuttermortificationandwoe，hejustthrewthegrammarontothefloorandmarchedoutoftheroom。
Ifeltmyselfdisgracedanddesertedforever，butdidn’tblamehimaparticle，andwasscramblingmypaperstogether，meaningtorushupstairsandshakemyselfhard，wheninhecame，asbriskandbeamingasifI’dcoveredmyselfinglory。
“Nowweshalltryanewway。YouandIwillreadthesepleasantlittleMARCHENtogether，anddignomoreinthatdrybook，thatgoesinthecornerformakingustrouble。“
Hespokesokindly，andopenedHansAndersons’sfairytalessoinvitinglybeforeme，thatIwasmoreashamedthanever，andwentatmylessoninaneck-or-nothingstylethatseemedtoamusehimimmensely。Iforgotmybashfulness，andpeggedawaynootherwordwillexpressitwithallmymight，tumblingoverlongwords，pronouncingaccordingtoinspirationoftheminute，anddoingmyverybest。WhenIfinishedreadingmyfirstpage，andstoppedforbreath，heclappedhishandsandcriedoutinhisheartyway，“Dasistgut!’Nowwegowell!Myturn。IdohiminGerman，gifmeyourear。“Andawayhewent，rumblingoutthewordswithhisstrongvoiceandarelishwhichwasgoodtoseeaswellashear。FortunatelythestorywastheCONSTANTTINSOLDIER，whichisdroll，youknow，soIcouldlaugh，andIdid，thoughIdidn’tunderstandhalfheread，forIcouldn’thelpit，hewassoearnest，Isoexcited，andthewholethingsocomical。
Afterthatwegotonbetter，andnowIreadmylessonsprettywell，forthiswayofstudyingsuitsme，andIcanseethatthegrammargetstuckedintothetalesandpoetryasonegivespillsinjelly。Ilikeitverymuch，andhedoesn’tseemtiredofityet，whichisverygoodofhim，isn’tit？ImeantogivehimsomethingonChristmas，forIdarenotoffermoney。
Tellmesomethingnice，Marmee。
I’mgladLaurieseemssohappyandbusy，thathehasgivenupsmokingandletshishairgrow。YouseeBethmanageshimbetterthanIdid。I’mnotjealous，dear，doyourbest，onlydon’tmakeasaintofhim。I’mafraidIcouldn’tlikehimwithoutaspiceofhumannaughtiness。Readhimbitsofmyletters。Ihaven’ttimetowritemuch，andthatwilldojustaswell。ThankHeavenBethcontinuessocomfortable。
JANUARY
AHappyNewYeartoyouall，mydearestfamily，whichofcourseincludesMr。L。andayoungmanbythenameofTeddy。
Ican’ttellyouhowmuchIenjoyedyourChristmasbundle，forididn’tgetittillnightandhadgivenuphoping。Yourlettercameinthemorning，butyousaidnothingaboutaparcel，meaningitforasurprise，soIwasdisappointed，forI’dhada`kindoffeeling’thatyouwouldn’tforgetme。
IfeltalittlelowinmymindasIsatupinmyroomaftertea，andwhenthebig，muddy，battered-lookingbundlewasbroughttome，Ijusthuggeditandpranced。ItwassohomeyandrefreshingthatIsatdownonthefloorandreadandlookedandateandlaughedandcried，inmyusualabsurdway。ThethingswerejustwhatIwanted，andallthebetterforbeingmadeinsteadofbought。Beth’snew`inkbib’wascapital，andHannah’sboxofhardgingerbreadwillbeatreasure。I’llbesureandweartheniceflannelsyousent，Marmee，andreadcarefullythebooksFatherhasmarked。Thankyouall，heapsandheaps!
SpeakingofbooksremindsmethatI’mgettingrichinthatline，foronNewYear’sDayMr。BhaergavemeafineShakespeare。
Itisonehevaluesmuch，andI’veoftenadmiredit，setupintheplaceofhonorwithhisGermanBible，Plato，Homer，andMilton，soyoumayimaginehowIfeltwhenhebroughtitdown，withoutitscover，andshowedmemyownnameinit，“frommyfriendFriedrichBhaer“。
“Yousayoftenyouwishalibrary。HereIgifyouone，forbetweentheselidshemeantcoversismanybooksinone。Readhimwell，andhewillhelpyoumuch，forthestudyofcharacterinthisbookwillhelpyoutoreaditintheworldandpaintitwithyourpen。“
IthankedhimaswellasIcould，andtalknowabout`mylibrary’，asifIhadahundredbooks。IneverknewhowmuchtherewasinShakespearebefore，butthenIneverhadaBhaertoexplainittome。Nowdon’tlaughathishorridname。
Itisn’tpronouncedeitherBearorBeer，aspeoplewillsayit，butsomethingbetweenthetwo，asonlyGermanscangiveit。
I’mgladyoubothlikewhatItellyouabouthim，andhopeyouwillknowhimsomeday。Motherwouldadmirehiswarmheart，Fatherhiswisehead。Iadmireboth，andfeelrichinmynew`friendFriedrichBhaer’。
Nothavingmuchmoney，orknowingwhathe’dlike，Igotseverallittlethings，andputthemabouttheroom，wherehewouldfindthemunexpectedly。Theywereuseful，pretty，orfunny，anewstandishonhistable，alittlevaseforhisflower，healwayshasone，orabitofgreeninaglass，tokeephimfresh，hesays，andaholderforhisblower，sothatheneedn’tburnupwhatAmycalls`mouchoirs’。ImadeitlikethoseBethinvented，abigbutterflywithafatbody，andblackandyellowwings，worstedfeelers，andbeadeyes。
Ittookhisfancyimmensely，andheputitonhismantlepieceasanarticleofvirtue，soitwasratherafailureafterall。
Poorasheis，hedidn’tforgetaservantorachildinthehouse，andnotasoulhere，fromtheFrenchlaundrywomantoMissNortonforgothim。Iwassogladofthat。
Theygotupamasquerade，andhadagaytimeNewYear’sEve。Ididn’tmeantogodown，havingnodress。Butatthelastminute，Mrs。Kirkerememberedsomeoldbrocades，andMissNortonlentmelaceandfeathers。SoIdressedupasMrs。
Malaprop，andsailedinwithamaskon。Nooneknewme，forI
disguisedmyvoice，andnoonedreamedofthesilent，haughtyMissMarchfortheythinkIamverystiffandcool，mostofthem，andsoIamtowhippersnapperscoulddanceanddress，andburstoutintoa`nicederangementofepitaphs，likeanallegoryonthebanksoftheNile’。Ienjoyeditverymuch，andwhenweunmaskeditwasfuntoseethemstareatme。I
heardoneoftheyoungmentellanotherthatheknewI’dbeenanactress，infact，hethoughtherememberedseeingmeatoneoftheminortheaters。Megwillrelishthatjoke。Mr。
BhaerwasNickBottom，andTinawasTitania，aperfectlittlefairyinhisarms。Toseethemdancewas`quitealandscape’，touseaTeddyism。
IhadaveryhappyNewYear，afterall，andwhenIthoughtitoverinmyroom，IfeltasifIwasgettingonalittleinspiteofmymanyfailures，forI’mcheerfulallthetimenow，workwithawill，andtakemoreinterestinotherpeoplethanIusedto，whichissatisfactory。Blessyouall!Everyourloving……JoChapter34CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
Thoughveryhappyinthesocialatmosphereabouther，andverybusywiththedailyworkthatearnedherbreadandmadeitsweeterfortheeffort，Jostillfoundtimeforliterarylabors。
Thepurposewhichnowtookpossessionofherwasanaturalonetoapoorandambitiousgirl，butthemeansshetooktogainherendwerenotthebest。Shesawthatmoneyconferredpower，therefore，sheresolvedtohave，nottobeusedforherselfalone，butforthosewhomshelovedmorethanlife。
Thedreamoffillinghomewithcomforts，givingBetheverythingshewanted，fromstrawberriesinwintertoanorganinherbedroom，goingabroadherself，andalwayshavingmorethanenough，sothatshemightindulgeintheluxuryofcharity，hadbeenforyearsJo’smostcherishedcastleintheair。
Theprize-storyexperiencehadseemedtoopenawaywhichmight，afterlongtravelingandmuchuphillwork，leadtothisdelightfulchateauenEspagne。Butthenoveldisasterquenchedhercourageforatime，forpublicopinionisagiantwhichhasfrightenedstouter-heartedJacksonbiggerbeanstalksthanhers。
Likethatimmortalhero，shereposedawhileafterthefirstattempt，whichresultedinatumbleandtheleastlovelyofthegiant’streasures，ifIrememberrightly。Butthe`upagainandtakeanother’spiritwasasstronginJoasinJack，soshescrambledupontheshadysidethistimeandgotmorebooty，butnearlyleftbehindherwhatwasfarmorepreciousthanthemoneybags。
Shetooktowritingsensationstories，forinthosedarkages，evenall-perfectAmericareadrubbish。Shetoldnoone，butconcocteda`thrillingtale’，andboldlycarrieditherselftoMr。Dashwood，editoroftheWeeklyVolcano。ShehadneverreadSartorResartus，butshehadawomanlyinstinctthatclothespossessaninfluencemorepowerfulovermanythantheworthofcharacterorthemagicofmanners。Soshedressedherselfinherbest，andtryingtopersuadeherselfthatshewasneitherexcitednornervous，bravelyclimbedtwopairsofdarkanddirtystairstofindherselfinadisorderlyroom，acloudofcigarsmoke，andthepresenceofthreegentlemen，sittingwiththeirheelsratherhigherthantheirhats，whicharticlesofdressnoneofthemtookthetroubletoremoveonherappearance。somewhatdauntedbythisreception，Johesitatedonthethreshold，murmuringinmuchembarrassment……
“Excuseme，IwaslookingfortheWeeklyVolcanooffice。
IwishedtoseeMr。Dashwood。“
Downwentthehighestpairofheels，uprosethesmokiestgentleman，andcarefullycherishinghiscigarbetweenhisfingers，headvancedwithanodandacountenanceexpressiveofnothingbutsleep。Feelingthatshemustgetthroughthemattersomehow，Joproducedhermanuscriptand，blushingredderandredderwitheachsentence，blunderedoutfragmentsofthelittlespeechcarefullypreparedfortheoccasion。
“Afriendofminedesiredmetooffer——astory——justasanexperiment——wouldlikeyouropinion——begladtowritemoreifthissuits。“
Whilesheblushedandblundered，Mr。Dashwoodhadtakenthemanuscript，andwasturningovertheleaveswithapairofratherdirtyfingers，andcastingcriticalglancesupanddowntheneatpages。
“Notafirstattempt，Itakeit？“observingthatthepageswerenumbered，coveredonlyononeside，andnottiedupwitharibbon——suresignofanovice。
“No，sir。Shehashadsomeexperience，andgotaprizeforataleintheBLARNEYSTONEBANNER。“
“Oh，didshe？“AndMr。DashwoodgaveJOaquicklook，whichseemedtotakenoteofeverythingshehadon，fromthebowinherbonnettothebuttonsonherboots。“Well，youcanleaveit，ifyoulike。We’vemoreofthissortofthingonhandthanweknowwhattodowithatpresent，butI’llrunmyeyeoverit，andgiveyouananswernextweek。“
Now，Jodidnotliketoleaveit，forMr。Dashwooddidn’tsuitheratall，but，underthecircumstances，therewasnothingforhertodobutbowandwalkaway，lookingparticularlytallanddignified，asshewasapttodowhennettledorabashed。
Justthenshewasboth，foritwasperfectlyevidentfromtheknowingglancesexchangedamongthegentlementhatherlittlefictionof`myfriend’wasconsideredagoodjoke，andalaugh，producedbysomeinaudibleremarkoftheeditor，asheclosedthedoor，completedherdiscomfiture。Halfresolvingnevertoreturn，shewenthome，andworkedoffherirritationbystitchingpinaforesvigorously，andinanhourortwowascoolenoughtolaughoverthesceneandlongfornextweek。
Whenshewentagain，Mr。Dashwoodwasalone，whereatsherejoiced。Mr。Dashwoodwasmuchwiderawakethanbefore，whichwasagreeableandMr。Dashwoodwasnottoodeeplyabsorbedinacigartorememberhismanners，sothesecondinterviewwasmuchmorecomfortablethanthefirst。
“We’lltakethiseditorsneversayI，ifyoudon’tobjecttoafewalterations。It’stoolong，butomittingthepassagesI’vemarkedwillmakeitjusttherightlength，“
hesaid，inabusinessliketone。
JohardlyknewherownMSagain，socrumpledandunderscoredwereitspagesandparagraphs，butfeelingasatenderpatentmightonbeingaskedtocutoffherbaby’slegsinorderthatitmightfitintoanewcradle，shelookedatthemarkedpassagesandwassurprisedtofindthatallthemoralreflections——whichshehadcarefullyputinasballastformuchromance——hadbeenstrickenout。
“But，Sir，Ithoughteverystoryshouldhavesomesortofamoral，soItookcaretohaveafewofmysinnersrepent。“
Mr。Dashwoods’seditorialgravityrelaxedintoasmile，forJohadforgottenher`friend’，andspokenasonlyanauthorcould。
“Peoplewanttobeamused，notpreachedat，youknow。Moralsdon’tsellnowadays。“Whichwasnotquiteacorrectstatement，bytheway。
“Youthinkitwoulddowiththesealterations，then？“
“Yes，it’sanewplot，andprettywellworkedup——languagegood，andsoon，“wasMr。Dashwood’saffablereply。
“Whatdoyou——thatis，whatcompensation——“beganJo，notexactlyknowinghowtoexpressherself。
“Oh，yes，well，wegivefromtwenty-fivetothirtyforthingsofthissort。Paywhenitcomesout，“returnedMr。Dashwood，asifthatpointhadescapedhim。Suchtriflesdoescapetheeditorialmind，itissaid。
“Verywell，youcanhaveit，“saidJo，handingbackthestorywithasatisfiedair，forafterthedollar-a-columnwork，eventwenty-fiveseemedgoodpay。
“ShallItellmyfriendyouwilltakeanotherifshehasonebetterthanthis？“askedJo，unconsciousofherlittleslipofthetongue，andemboldenedbyhersuccess。
“Well，we’lllookatit。Can’tpromisetotakeit。Tellhertomakeitshortandspicy，andnevermindthemoral。Whatnamewouldyourfriendliketoputonit？“inacarelesstone。
“Noneatall，ifyouplease，shedoesn’twishhernametoappearandhasnonomdeplume，“saidJo，blushinginspiteofherself。
“Justasshelikes，ofcourse。Thetalewillbeoutnextweek。
Willyoucallforthemoney，orshallIsendit？“askedMr。Dashwood，whofeltanaturaldesiretoknowwhohisnewcontributormightbe。
“I’llcall。Goodmorning，Sir。“