Little Women

‘I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough! It’s cold and dull out; and I advise you to stay warm and dry, by the fire, as I do,’ said Meg, with a shiver.

‘Never take advice! Can’t keep still all day, and, not being a pussy-cat, I don’t like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I’m going to find some.’

Meg went back to toast her feet and read Ivanhoe; and Jo began to dig paths with great energy. The snow was light, and with her broom she soon swept a path all round the garden, for Beth to walk in when the sun came out; and the invalid dolls needed air. Now the garden separated the Marches’ house from that of Mr Laurence. Both stood in a suburb of the city, which was still country-like, with groves and lawns, large gardens, and quiet streets. A low hedge parted the two estates. On one side was an old, brown house, looking rather bare and shabby, robbed of the vines that in summer covered its walls, and the flowers which then surrounded it. On the other side was a stately stone mansion, plainly betokening every sort of comfort and luxury, from the big coach-house and well-kept grounds to the conservatory and the glimpses of lovely things one caught between the rich curtains. Yet it seemed a lonely, lifeless sort of house; for no children frolicked on the lawn, no motherly face ever smiled at the windows, and few people went in and out, except the old gentleman and his grandson.

To Jo’s lively fancy, this fine house seemed a kind of enchanted palace, full of splendours and delights, which no one enjoyed. She had long wanted to behold these hidden glories, and to know the ‘Laurence boy’, who looked as if he would like to be known, if he only knew how to begin. Since the party, she had been more eager than ever, and had planned many ways of making friends with him; but he had not been seen lately, and Jo began to think he had gone away, when she one day spied a brown face at an upper window, looking wistfully down into their garden, where Beth and Amy were snowballing one another.

‘That boy is suffering for society and fun,’ she said to herself. ‘His grandpa does not know what’s good for him, and keeps him shut up all alone. He needs a party of jolly boys to play with, or somebody young and lively. I’ve a great mind to go over and tell the old gentleman so!’

The idea amused Jo, who liked to do daring things, and was always scandalizing Meg by her queer performances. The plan of ‘going over’ was not forgotten; and when the snowy afternoon came, Jo resolved to try what could be done. She saw Mr Laurence drive off, and then sallied out to dig her way down to the hedge, where she paused and took a survey. All quiet – curtains down at the lower windows; servants out of sight, and nothing human visible but a curly black head leaning on a thin hand at the upper window.

‘There he is,’ thought Jo, ‘poor boy! all alone and sick this dismal day. It’s a shame! I’ll toss up a snowball, and make him look out, and then say a kind word to him.’

Up went a handful of soft snow, and the head turned at once, showing a face which lost its listless look in a minute, as the big eyes brightened and the mouth began to smile. Jo nodded and laughed, and flourished her broom as she called out:

‘How do you do? Are you sick?’

Laurie opened the window, and croaked out as hoarsely as a raven,

‘Better, thank you. I’ve had a bad cold, and been shut up a week.’

‘I’m sorry. What do you amuse yourself with?’

‘Nothing; it’s as dull as tombs up here.’

‘Don’t you read?’

‘Not much; they won’t let me.’

‘Can’t somebody read to you?’

‘Grandpa does, sometimes; but my books don’t interest him and I hate to ask Brooke all the time.’

‘Have someone come and see you, then.’

‘There isn’t anyone I’d like to see. Boys make such a row, and my head is weak.’

‘Isn’t there some nice girl who’d read and amuse you? Girls are quiet, and like to play nurse.’

‘Don’t know any.’

‘You know us,’ began Jo, then laughed, and stopped.

‘So I do! Will you come, please?’ cried Laurie.

‘I’m not quiet and nice; but I’ll come, if Mother will let me. I’ll go ask her. Shut that window, like a good boy, and wait till I come.’

With that, Jo shouldered her broom and marched into the house, wondering what they would all say to her. Laurie was in a flutter of excitement at the idea of having company, and flew about to get ready; for, as Mrs March said, he was ‘a little gentleman’, and did honour to the coming guest by brushing his curly pate, putting on a fresh collar, and trying to tidy up the room, which, in spite of half a dozen servants, was anything but neat. Presently there came a loud ring, then a decided voice, asking for ‘Mr Laurie’, and a surprised-looking servant came running up to announce a young lady.

‘All right, show her up, it’s Miss Jo,’ said Laurie, going to the door of his little parlour to meet Jo, who appeared, looking rosy and kind and quite at her ease, with a covered dish in one hand and Beth’s three kittens in the other.

‘Here I am, bag and baggage,’ she said briskly. ‘Mother sent her love, and was glad if I could do anything for you. Meg wanted me to bring some of her blancmange; she makes it very nicely, and Beth thought her cats would be comforting. I knew you’d laugh at them, but I couldn’t refuse, she was so anxious to do something.’

It so happened that Beth’s funny loan was just the thing; for, in laughing over the kits, Laurie forgot his bashfulness, and grew sociable at once.

‘That looks too pretty to eat,’ he said, smiling with pleasure, as Jo uncovered the dish, and showed the blancmange, surrounded by a garland of green leaves, and the scarlet flowers of Amy’s pet geranium.

‘It isn’t anything, only they all felt kindly, and wanted to show it. Tell the girl to put it away for your tea; it’s so simple, you can eat it; and, being soft, it will slip down without hurting your sore throat. What a cosy room this is!’

‘It might be if it was kept nice; but the maids are lazy, and I don’t know how to make them mind. It worries me, though.’

‘I’ll right it up in two minutes; for it only needs to have the hearth brushed, so – and the things made straight on the mantelpiece, so – and the books put here and the bottles there, and your sofa turned from the light, and the pillows plumped up a bit. Now, then, you’re fixed.’

And so he was; for, as she laughed and talked, Jo had whisked things into place, and given quite a different air to the room. Laurie watched her in respectful silence; and when she beckoned him to his sofa, he sat down with a sigh of satisfaction, saying gratefully:

‘How kind you are! Yes, that’s what it wanted. Now please take the big chair, and let me do something to amuse my company.’

‘No. I came to amuse you. Shall I read aloud?’ and Jo looked affectionately towards some inviting books near by.

‘Thank you; I’ve read all those, and if you don’t mind I’d rather talk,’ answered Laurie.

‘Not a bit; I’ll talk all day if you’ll only set me going. Beth says I never know when to stop.’

‘Is Beth the rosy one, who stays at home a good deal, and sometimes goes out with a little basket?’ asked Laurie, with interest.

‘Yes, that’s Beth; she’s my girl, and a regular good one she is, too.’

‘The pretty one is Meg, and the curly-haired one is Amy, I believe?’

‘How did you find that out?’

Laurie coloured up, but answered frankly, ‘Why, you see, I often hear you calling to one another, and when I’m alone up here, I can’t help looking over at your house, you always seem to be having such good times. I beg your pardon for being so rude, but sometimes you forget to put down the curtain at the window where the flowers are; and when the lamps are lighted, it’s like looking at a picture to see the fire, and you all round the table with your mother; her face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the flowers, I can’t help watching it. I haven’t got any mother, you know,’ and Laurie poked the fire to hide a little twitching of the lips that he could not control.

The solitary, hungry look in his eyes went straight to Jo’s warm heart. She had been so simply taught that there was no nonsense in her head, and at fifteen she was as innocent and frank as any child. Laurie was sick and lonely; and, feeling how rich she was in home-love and happiness, she gladly tried to share it with him. Her face was very friendly and her sharp voice unusually gentle as she said:

‘We’ll never draw that curtain any more, and I give you leave to look as much as you like. I just wish, though, instead of peeping, you’d come over and see us. Mother is so splendid, she’d do you heaps of good, and Beth would sing to you if I begged her to, and Amy would dance; Meg and I would make you laugh over our funny stage properties, and we’d have jolly times. Wouldn’t your grandpa let you?’

‘I think he would, if your mother asked him. He’s very kind, though he does not look so; and he lets me do what I like, pretty much, only he’s afraid I might be a bother to strangers,’ began Laurie, brightening more and more.

‘We are not strangers, we are neighbours, and you needn’t think you’d be a bother. We want to know you, and I’ve been trying to do this ever so long. We haven’t been here a great while, you know, but we have got acquainted with all our neighbours but you.’

‘You see grandpa lives among his books, and doesn’t mind much what happens outside. Mr Brooke, my tutor, doesn’t stay here, you know, and I have no one to go about with me, so I just stop at home and get on as I can.’

‘That’s bad. You ought to make an effort, and go visiting everywhere you are asked; then you’ll have plenty of friends, and pleasant places to go to. Never mind being bashful; it won’t last long if you keep going.’

Laurie turned red again, but wasn’t offended at being accused of bashfulness; for there was so much goodwill in Jo, it was impossible not to take her blunt speeches as kindly as they were meant.

‘Do you like your school?’ asked the boy, changing the subject, after a little pause, during which he stared at the fire, and Jo looked about her, well pleased.