Atteatimetheycomparednotes,andallagreedthatithadbeenadelightful,thoughunusuallylongday。Meg,whowentshoppingintheafternoonandgota`sweetbluemuslin,haddiscovered,aftershehadcutthebreadthsoff,thatitwouldn’twash,whichmishapmadeherslightlycross。Johadburnedtheskinoffhernoseboating,andgotaragingheadachebyreadingtoolong。Bethwasworriedbytheconfusionofherclosetandthedifficultyoflearningthreeorfoursongsatonce,andAmydeeplyregrettedthedamagedoneherfrock,forKatyBrown’spartywastobethenextdayandnowlikeFloraMcFlimsey,shehad`nothingtowear’。Buttheseweremeretrifles,andtheyassuredtheirmotherthattheexperimentwasworkingfinely。Shesmiled,saidnothing,andwithHannah’shelpdidtheirneglectedwork,keepinghomepleasantandthedomesticmachineryrunningsmoothly。Itwasastonishingwhatapeculiaranduncomfortablestateofthingswasproducedbythe`restingandreveling’process。Thedayskeptgettinglongerandlonger,theweatherwasunusuallyvariableandsoweretempers,andunsettledfeelingpossessedeveryone,andSatanfoundplentyofmischieffortheidlehandstodo。Astheheightofluxury,Megputoutsomeofhersewing,andthenfoundtimehangsoheavilythatshefelltosnippingandspoilingherclothesinherattemptstofurbishthemupa`laMoffat。Joreadtillhereyesgaveoutandshewassickofbooks,gotsofidgetythatevengood-naturedLauriehadaquarrelwithher,andsoreducedinspiritsthatshedesperatelywishedshehadgonewithAuntMarch。Bethgotonprettywell,forshewasconstantlyforgettingthatitwastobeallplayandnowork,andfellbackintoheroldwaysnowandthen。Butsomethingintheairaffectedher,andmorethanoncehertranquilitywasmuchdisturbed,somuchsothatononeoccasionsheactuallyshookpoordearJoannaandtoldhershewasafright’。Amyfaredworstofall,forherresourcesweresmall,andwhenhersisterslefthertoamuseherself,shesoonfoundthataccomplishedandimportantlittleselfagreatburden。Shedidn’tlikedolls,fairytaleswerechildish,andonecouldn’tdrawallthetime。Teapartiesdidn’tamounttomuchneitherdidpicnicsunlessverywellconducted。“Ifonecouldhaveafinehouse,fullofnicegirls,orgotraveling,thesummerwouldbedelightful,buttostayathomewiththreeselfishsistersandagrown-upboywasenoughtotrythepatienceofaBoaz,“
  complainedMissMalaprop,afterseveraldaysdevotedtopleasure,fretting,andennui。
  Noonewouldownthattheyweretiredoftheexperiment,butbyFridaynighteachacknowledgedtoherselfthatshewasgladtheweekwasnearlydone。Hopingtoimpressthelessonmoredeeply,Mrs。March,whohadagooddealofhumor,resolvedtofinishoffthetrialinanappropriatemanner,soshegaveHannahaholidayandletthegirlsenjoythefulleffectoftheplaysystem。
  WhentheygotuponSaturdaymorning,therewasnofireinthekitchen,nobreakfastinthediningroom,andnomotheranywheretobeseen。
  “Mercyonus!Whathashappened?“criedJo,staringaboutherindismay。
  Megranupstairsandsooncamebackagain,lookingrelievedbutratherbewildered,andalittleashamed。
  “Motherisn’tsick,onlyverytired,andshesayssheisgoingtostayquietlyinherroomalldayandletusdothebestwecan。It’saveryqueerthingforhertodo,shedoesn’tactabitlikeherself。Butshesaysithasbeenahardweekforher,sowemustn’tgrumblebuttakecareofourselves。“
  “That’seasyenough,andIliketheidea,I’machingforsomethingtodo,thatis,somenewamusement,youknow,“addedJoquickly。
  Infactitwasanimmenserelieftothemalltohavealittlework,andtheytookholdwithawill,butsoonrealizedthetruthofHannah’ssaying,“Housekeepingain’tnojoke。“Therewasplentyoffoodinthelarder,andwhileBethandAmysetthetable,MegandJogotbreakfast,wonderingastheydidwhyservantsevertalkedabouthardwork。
  “IshalltakesomeuptoMother,thoughshesaidwewerenottothinkofher,forshe’dtakecareofherself,“saidMeg,whopresidedandfeltquitematronlybehindtheteapot。
  Soatraywasfittedoutbeforeanyonebegan,andtakenupwiththecook’scompliments。Theboiledteawasverybitter,theomeletscorched,andthebiscuitsspeckledwithsaleratus,butMrs。MarchreceivedherrepastwiththanksandlaughedheartilyoveritafterJowasgone。
  “Poorlittlesouls,theywillhaveahardtime,I’mafraid,buttheywon’tsuffer,anditwilldothemgood,“shesaid,producingthemorepalatableviandswithwhichshehadprovidedherself,anddisposingofthebadbreakfast,sothattheirfeelingsmightnotbehurt,amotherlylittledeceptionforwhichtheyweregrateful。
  Manywerethecomplaintsbelow,andgreatthechagrinoftheheadcookatherfailures。“Nevermind,I’llgetthedinnerandbeservant,youbemistress,keepyourhandsnice,seecompany,andgiveorders,“saidJo,whoknewstilllessthanMeg,aboutculinaryaffairs。
  Thisobligingofferwasgladlyaccepted,andMargaretretiredtotheparlor,whichshehastilyputinorderbywhiskingthelitterunderthesofaandshuttingtheblindstosavethetroubleofdusting。Jo,withperfectfaithinherownpowersandafriendlydesiretomakeupthequarrel,immediatelyputanoteintheoffice,invitingLaurietodinner。
  “You’dbetterseewhatyouhavegotbeforeyouthinkofhavingcompany,“saidMeg,wheninformedofthehospitablebutrashact。
  “Oh,there’scornedbeefandplentyofpoatoes,andIshallgetsomeasparagusandalobster,`forarelish’,asHannahsays。
  We’llhavelettuceandmakeasalad。Idon’tknowhow,butthebooktells。I’llhaveblancmangeandstrawberriesfordessert,andcoffeetoo,ifyouwanttobeelegant。“
  “Don’ttrytoomanymesses,Jo,foryoucan’tmakeanythingbutgingerbreadandmolassescandyfittoeat。Iwashmyhandsofthedinnerparty,andsinceyouhaveaskedLaurieonyourownresponsibility,youmayjusttakecareofhim。“
  “Idon’twantyoutodoanythingbutbeciviltohimandhelptothepudding。You’llgivemeyouradviceifIgetinamuddle,won’tyou?“askedJo,ratherhurt。
  “Yes,butIdon’tknowmuch,exceptaboutbreadandafewtrifles。YouhadbetteraskMother’sleavebeforeyouorderanything,“returnedMegprudently。
  “OfcourseIshall。I’mnotafool。“AndJowentoffinahuffatthedoubtsexpressedofherpowers。
  “Getwhatyoulike,anddon’tdisturbme。I’mgoingouttodinnerandcan’tworryaboutthingsathome,“saidMrs。March,whenJospoketoher。“Ineverenjoyedhousekeeping,andI’mgoingtotakeavacationtoday,andread,write,govisiting,andamusemyself。“
  TheunusualspectacleofherbusymotherrockingcomfortablyandreadingearlyinthemorningmadeJofeelasifsomeunnaturalphenomenonhadoccurred,foraneclipse,anearthquake,oravolcaniceruptionwouldhardlyhaveseemedstranger。
  “Everythingisoutofsorts,somehow,“shesaidtoherself,goingdownstairs。“There’sBethcrying,that’sasuresignthatsomethingiswronginthisfamily。IfAmyisbothering,I’llshakeher。“
  Feelingverymuchoutofsortsherself,JohurriedintotheparlortofindBethsobbingoverPip,thecanary,wholaydeadinthecagewithhislittleclawspatheticallyextended,asifimploringthefoodforwantofwhichhehaddied。
  “It’sallmyfault,Iforgothim,thereisn’taseedoradropleft。Oh,Pip!Oh,Pip!HowcouldIbesocrueltoyou?“
  criedBeth,takingthepoorthinginherhandsandtryingtorestorehim。
  Jopeepedintohishalf-openeye,felthislittleheart,andfindinghimstiffandcold,shookherhead,andofferedherdominoboxforacoffin。
  “Puthimintheoven,andmaybehiswillgetwarmandrevive,“
  saidAmyhopefully。
  “He’sbeenstarved,andheshan’tbebakednowhe’sdead。I’llmakehimashroud,andheshallbeburiedinthegarden,andI’llneverhaveanotherbird,never,myPip!ForIamtoobadtoownone,“murmuredBeth,sittingonthefloorwithherpetfoldedinherhands。
  “Thefuneralshallbethisafternoon,andwewillallgo。Now,don’tcry,Bethy。It’sapity,butnothinggoesrightthisweek,andPiphashadtheworstoftheexperiment。Maketheshroud,andlayhiminmybox,andafterthedinnerparty,we’llhaveanicelittlefuneral,“saidJo,beginningtofeelasifshehadundertakenagooddeal。
  LeavingtheotherstoconsoleBeth,shedepartedtothekitchen,whichwasinamostdiscouragingstateofconfusion。Puttingonabigapron,shefelltoworkandgotthedishespiledupreadyforwashing,whenshediscoveredthatthefirewasout。
  “Here’sasweetprospect!“mutteredJo,slammingthestovedooropen,andpokingvigorouslyamongthecinders。
  Havingrekindledthefire,shethoughtshewouldgotomarketwhilethewaterheated。Thewalkrevivedherspirits,andflatteringherselfthatshehadmadegoodbargins,shetrudgedhomeagain,afterbuyingaveryyounglobster,someveryoldasparagus,andtwoboxesofacidstrawberries。Bythetimeshegotclearedup,thedinnerarrivedandthestovewasred-hot。Hannahhadleftapanofbreadtorise,Meghadworkeditupearly,setitonthehearthforasecondrising,andforgottenit。MegwasentertainingSallieGardinerintheparlor,whenthedoorflewopenandafloury,crocky,flushed,anddisheveledfigureappeared,demandingtartly……
  “Isay,isn’tbread`riz’enoughwhenitrunsoverthepans?“
  Salliebegantolaugh,butMegnoddedandliftedhereyebrowsashighastheywouldgo,whichcausedtheapparitiontovanishandputthesourbreadintotheovenwithoutfurtherdelay。Mrs。Marchwentout,afterpeepinghereandtheretoseehowmatterswent,alsosayingawordofcomforttoBeth,whosatmakingawindingsheet,whilethedeardepartedlayinstateinthedominobox。Astrangesenseofhelplessnessfelluponthegirlsasthegraybonnetvanishedroundthecorner,anddespairseizedthemwhenafewminuteslaterMissCrockerappeared,andsaidshe’dcometodinner。Nowthisladywasathin,yellowspinster,withasharpnoseandinquisitiveeyes,whosaweverythingandgossipedaboutallshesaw。
  Theydislikedher,buthadbeentaughttobekindtoher,simplybecauseshewasoldandpoorandhadfewfriends。SoMeggavehertheeasychairandtriedtoentertainher,whilesheaskedquestions,critsizedeverything,andtoldstoriesofthepeoplewhomsheknew。
  Languagecannotdescribetheanxieties,experiences,andexertionswhichJounderwentthatmorning,andthedinnersheservedupbecameastandingjoke。Fearingtoaskanymoreadvice,shedidherbestalone,anddiscoveredthatsomethingmorethanenergyandgoodwillisnecessarytomakeacook。Sheboiledtheasparagusforanhourandwasgrievedtofindtheheadscookedoffandthestalksharderthanever。
  Thebreadburnedblack,forthesaladdressingsoaggravatedherthatshecouldnotmakeitfittoear。Thelobsterwasascarletmysterytoher,butshehammeredandpokedtillitwasunshelledanditsmeagerproportionsconcealedinagroveoflettuceleaves。Thepotatoeshadtobehurried,nottokeeptheasparaguswaiting,andwerenotdoneatthelast。Theblancmangewaslumpy,andthestrawberriesnotasripeastheylooked,havingbeenskilfully`deaconed’。
  “Well,theycaneatbeefandbreadandbutter,iftheyarehungry,onlyit’smortifyingtohavetospendyourwholemorningfornothing,“thoughtJo,assherangthebellhalfanhourlaterthanusual,andstood,hot,tired,anddispirited,surveyingthefeastspreadbeforeLaurie,accustomedtoallsortsofelegance,andMissCrocker,whosetattlingtonguewouldreportthemfarandwide。
  PoorJowouldgladlyhavegoneunderthetable,asonethingafteranotherwastastedandleft,whileAmygiggled,Meglookeddistressed,MissCrockerpursedherlips,andLaurietalkedandlaughedwithallhismighttogiveacheerfultonetothefestivescene。Jo’sonestrongpointwasthefruit,forshehadsugareditwell,andhadapitcherofrichcreamtoeatwithit。Herhotcheekscooledatrifle,andshedrewalongbreathastheprettyglassplateswentround,andeveryonelookedgraciouslyatthelittlerosyislandsfloatinginaseaofcream。MissCrockertastedfirst,madeawryface,anddranksomewaterhastily。Jo,whorefused,thinkingtheremightnotbeenough,fortheydwindledsadlyafterthepickingover,glancedatLaurie,buthewaseatingawaymanfully,thoughtherewasaslightpuckerabouthismouthandhekepthiseyefixedonhisplate。Amy,whowasfondofdelicatefare,tookaheapingspoonful,choked,hidherfaceinhernapkin,andleftthetableprecipitately。
  “Oh,whatisit?“exclaimedJo,trembling。
  “Saltinsteadofsugar,andthecreamissour,“repliedMegwithatragicgesture。
  Joutteredagroanandfellbackinherchair,rememberingthatshehadgivenalasthastypowderingtotheberriesoutofoneofthetwoboxesonthekitchentable,andhadneglectedtoputthemilkintherefrigerator。Sheturnedscarletandwasonthevergeofcrying,whenshemetLaurie’seyes,whichwouldlookmerryinspiteofhisheroicefforts。Thecomicalsideoftheaffairsuddenlystruckher,andshelaughedtillthetearsrandownhercheeks。
  Sodideveryoneelse,even`Croaker’asthegirlscalledtheoldlady,andtheunfortunatedinnerendedgaily,withbreadandbutter,olivesandfun。
  “Ihaven’tstrengthofmindenoughtoclearupnow,sowewillsoberourselveswithafuneral,“saidJo,astheyrose,andMissCrockermadereadytogo,beingeagertotellthenewstoryatanotherfriend’sdinnertable。
  TheydidsoberthemselvesforBeth’ssake。Lauriedugagraveunderthefernsinthegrove,littlePipwaslaidin,withmanytearsbyhistender-heartedmistress,andcoveredwithmoss,whileawreathofvioletsandchickweedwashungonthestonewhichborehisepitaph,composedbyJowhileshestruggledwiththedinner。
  HereliesPipMarch,Whodiedthe7thofJune;
  Lovedandlamentedsore,Andnotforgottensoon。
  Attheconclusionoftheceremonies,Bethretiredtoherroom,overcomewithemotionandlobster,buttherewasnoplaceofrepose,forthebedswerenotmade,andshefoundhergriefmuchassuagedbybeatingupthepillowsandputtingthingsinorder。MeghelpedJoclearawaytheremainsofthefeast,whichtookhalftheafternoonandleftthemsotiredthattheyagreedtobecontentedwithteaandtoastforsupper。
  LaurietookAmytodrive,whichwasadeedofcharity,forthesourcreamseemedtohavehadabadeffectuponhertemper。Mrs。
  Marchcamehometofindthethreeoldergirlshardatworkinthemiddleoftheafternoon,andaglanceattheclosetgaveheranideaofthesuccessofonepartoftheexperiment。
  Beforethehousewivescouldrest,severalpeoplecalled,andtherewasascrambletogetreadytoseethem。Thenteamustbegot,errandsdone,andoneortwonecessarybitsofsewingneglecteduntilthelastminute。Astwilightfell,dewyandstill,onebyonetheygatheredontheporchwheretheJuneroseswerebuddingbeautifully,andeachgroanedorsighedasshesatdown,asiftiredortroubled。