“I’llwait，andinthemeantime，youcouldbelearningtolikeme。Woulditbeaveryhardlesson，dear？“
　　“NotifIchosetolearnit，but……“
　　“Pleasechoosetolearn，Meg。Iloveyoutoteach，andthisiseasierthanGerman，“brokeinJohn，gettingpossessionoftheotherhand，sothatshehadnowayofhidingherfaceashebenttolookintoit。
　　Histonewasproperlybeseeching，butstealingashylookathim，Megsawthathiseyesweremerryaswellastender，andthatheworethesatisfiedsmileofonewhohadnodoubtofhissuccess。Thisnettledher。AnnieMoffat’sfoolishlessonsincoquetrycameintohermind，andtheloveofpower，whichsleepsinthebosomsofthebestoflittlewomen，wokeupallofasuddenandtookpossessionofher。Shefeltexcitedandstrange，andnotknowingwhatelsetodo，followedacapriciousimpulse，and，withdrawingherhands，saidpetulantly，“Idon’tchoose。Pleasegoawayandletmebe!“
　　PoorMr。Brookelookedasifhislovelycastleintheairwastumblingabouthisears，forhehadneverseenMeginsuchamoodbefore，anditratherbewilderedhim。
　　“Doyoureallymeanthat？“heaskedanxiously，followingherasshewalkedaway。
　　“Yes，Ido。Idon’twanttobeworriedaboutsuchthings。
　　FathersaysIneedn’t，it’stoosoonandI’drathernot。“
　　“Mayn’tIhopeyou’llchangeyourmindby-and-by？I’llwaitandsaynothingtillyouhavehadmoretime。Don’tplaywithme，Meg。Ididn’tthinkthatofyou。“
　　“Don’tthinkofmeatall。I’dratheryouwouldn’t，“saidMeg，takinganaughtysatisfactionintryingherlover’spatienceandherownpower。
　　Hewasgraveandpalenow，andlookeddecidedlymorelikethenovelheroeswhomsheadmired，butheneitherslappedhisforeheadnortrampedabouttheroomastheydid。Hejuststoodlookingathersowistfully，sotenderly，thatshefoundherheartrelentinginspiteofherself。WhatwouldhavehappenednextIcannotsay，ifAuntMarchhadnotcomehobblinginatthisinterestingminute。
　　Theoldladycouldn’tresistherlongingtoseehernephew，forshehadmetLaurieasshetookherairing，andhearingofMr。March’sarrival，drovestraightouttoseehim。Thefamilywereallbusyinthebackpartofthehouse，andshehadmadeherwayquietlyin，hopingtosurprisethem。ShedidsurprisetwoofthemsomuchthatMegstartedasifshehadseenaghost，andMr。Brookevanishedintothestudy。
　　“Blessme，what’sallthis？“criedtheoldladywitharapofhercaneassheglancedfromthepaleyounggentlemantothescarletyounglady。
　　“It’sFather’sfriend。I’msosurprisedtoseeyou!“stammeredMeg，feelingthatshewasinforalecturenow。
　　“That’sevident，“returnedAuntMarch，sittingdown。“ButwhatisFather’sfriendsayingtomakeyoulooklikeapeony？
　　There’smischiefgoingon，andIinsistuponknowingwhatitis，“withanotherrap。
　　“Wewereonlytalking。Mr。Brookecameforhisumbrella，“
　　beganMeg，wishingthatMr。Brookeandtheumbrellaweresafelyoutofthehouse。
　　“Brooke？Thatboy’stutor？Ah!Iunderstandnow。I
　　knowallaboutit。JoblunderedintoawrongmessageinoneofyourFather’sletters，andImadehertellme。Youhaven’tgoneandacceptedhim，child？“criedAuntMarch，lookingscandalized。
　　“Hush!He’llhear。Shan’tIcallMother？“saidMeg，muchtroubled。
　　“Notyet。I’vesomethingtosaytoyou，andImustfreemymindatonce。Tellme，doyoumeantomarrythisCook？Ifyoudo，notonepennyofmymoneyevergoestoyou。Rememberthat，andbeasensiblegirl，“saidtheoldladyimpressively。
　　NowAuntMarchpossessedinperfectiontheartofrousingthespiritofoppositioninthegentlestpeople，andenjoyeddoingit。Thebestofushaveaspiceofperversityinus，especiallywhenweareyoungandinlove。IfAuntMarchhadbeggedMegtoacceptJohnBrooke，shewouldprobablyhavedeclaredshecouldn’tthinkofit，butasshewaspreemptorilyorderednottolikehim，sheimmediatelymadeuphermindthatshewould。Inclinationaswellasperversitymadethedecisioneasy，andbeingalreadymuchexcited，Megopposedtheoldladywithunusualspirit。
　　“IshallmarrywhomIplease，AuntMarch，andyoucanleaveyourmoneytoanyoneyoulike，“shesaid，noddingherheadwitharesoluteair。
　　“Highty-tighty!Isthatthewayyoutakemyadvice，Miss？
　　You’llbesorryforitby-and-by，whenyou’vetriedloveinacottageandfounditafailure。“
　　“Itcan’tbeaworseonethansomepeoplefindinbighouses，“retortedMeg。
　　AuntMarchputonherglassesandtookalookatthegirl，forshedidnotknowherinthisnewmood。Meghardlyknewherself，shefeltsobraveandindependent，sogladtodefendJohnandassertherrighttolovehim，ifsheliked。AuntMarchsawthatshehadbegunwrong，andafteralittlepause，madeafreshstart，sayingasmildlyasshecould，“Now，Meg，mydear，bereasonableandtakemyadvice。Imeanitkindly，anddon’twantyoutospoilyourwholelifebymakingamistakeatthebeginning。Yououghttomarrywellandhelpyourfamily。
　　It’syourdutytomakearichmatchanditoughttobeimpresseduponyou。“
　　“FatherandMotherdon’tthinkso。TheylikeJohnthoughheispoor。“
　　“Yourparents，mydear，havenomoreworldlywisdomthanapairofbabies。“
　　“I’mgladofit，“criedMegstoutly。
　　AuntMarchtooknonotice，butwentonwithherlecture。
　　“ThisRookispoorandhasn’tgotanyrichrelations，hashe？“
　　“No，buthehasmanywarmfriends。“
　　“Youcan’tliveonfriends，tryitandseehowcoolthey’llgrow。Hehasn’tanybusiness，hashe？“
　　“Notyet。Mr。Laurenceisgoingtohelphim。“
　　“Thatwon’tlastlong。JamesLaurenceisacrotchetyoldfellowandnottobedependedon。Soyouintendtomarryamanwithoutmoney，position，orbusiness，andgoonworkingharderthanyoudonow，whenyoumightbecomfortableallyourdaysbymindingmeanddoingbetter？Ithoughtyouhadmoresense，Meg。“
　　“Icouldn’tdobetterifIwaitedhalfmylife!Johnisgoodandwise，he’sgotheapsoftalent，he’swillingtoworkandsuretogeton，he’ssoenergeticandbrave。Everyonelikesandrespectshim，andI’mproudtothinkhecaresforme，thoughI’msopoorandyoungandsilly，“saidMeg，lookingprettierthaneverinherearnestness。
　　“Heknowsyouhavegotrichrelations，child。That’sthesecretofhisliking，Isuspect。“
　　“AuntMarch，howdareyousaysuchathing？Johnisabovesuchmeanness，andIwon’tlistentoyouaminuteifyoutalkso，“
　　criedMegindignantly，forgettingeverythingbuttheinjusticeoftheoldlady’ssuspicions。“MyJohnwouldn’tmarryformoney，anymorethanIwould。Wearewillingtoworkandwemeantowait。
　　I’mnotafraidofbeingpoor，forI’vebeenhappysofar，andIknowI
　　shallbewithhimbecausehelovesme，andI……“
　　Megstoppedthere，rememberingallofasuddenthatshehadn’tmadeuphermind，thatshehadtold`herJohn’togoaway，andthathemightbeoverhearingherinconsistentremarks。
　　AuntMarchwasveryangry，forshehadsetherheartonhavingherprettyniecemakeafinematch，andsomethinginthegirl’shappyyoungfacemadethelonelyoldwomanfeelbothsadandsour。
　　“Well，Iwashmyhandsofthewholeaffair!Youareawillfulchild，andyou’velostmorethanyouknowbythispieceoffolly。
　　No，Iwon’tstop。I’mdisappointedinyou，andhaven’tspiritstoseeyourfathernow。Don’texpectanythingfrommewhenyouaremarried。YourMr。Book’sfriendsmusttakecareofyou。
　　I’mdonewithyouforever。“
　　AndslammingthedoorinMeg’sface，AuntMarchdroveoffinhighdudgeon。Sheseemedtotakeallthegirl’scouragewithher，forwhenleftalone，Megstoodforamoment，undecidedwhethertolaughorcry。Beforeshecouldmakeuphermind，shewastakenpossessionofbyMr。Brooke，whosaidallinonebreath，“Icouldn’thelphearing，Meg。Thankyoufordefendingme，andAuntMarchforprovingthatyoudocareformealittlebit。“
　　“Ididn’tknowhowmuchtillsheabusedyou，“beganMeg。
　　“AndIneedn’tgoaway，butmystayandbehappy，mayI，dear？“
　　Herewasanotherfinechancetomakethecrushingspeechandthestatelyexit，butMegneverthoughtofdoingeither，anddisgracedherselfforeverinJo’seyesbymeeklywhispering，“Yes，John，“andhidingherfaceonMr。Brooke’swaistcoat。
　　FifteenminutesafterAuntMarch’sdeparture，Jocamesoftlydownstairs，pausedaninstantattheparlordoor，andhearingnosoundwithin，noddedandsmiledwithasatisfiedexpression，sayingtoherself，“Shehasseenhimawayasweplanned，andthataffairissettled。I’llgoandhearthefun，andhaveagoodlaughoverit。“
　　ButpoorJonevergotherlaugh，forshewastransfixeduponthethresholdbyaspectaclewhichheldherthere，staringwithhermouthnearlyaswideopenashereyes。Goingintoexultoverafallenenemyandtopraiseastrong-mindedsisterforthebanishmentofanobjectionablelover，itcertainlywasashocktobeholdtheaforesaidenemyserenelysittingonthesofa，withthestrongmindedsisterenthroneduponhiskneeandwearinganexpressionofthemostabjectsubmission。Jogaveasortofgasp，asifacoldshowerbathhadsuddenlyfallenuponher，forsuchanunexpectedturningofthetablesactuallytookherbreathaway。Attheoddsoundtheloversturnedandsawher。Megjumpedup，lookingbothproudandshy，but`thatman’，asJocalledhim，actuallylaughedandsaidcoolly，ashekissedtheastonishednewcomer，“SisterJo，congratulateus!“
　　Thatwasaddinginsulttoinjury，itwasaltogethertoomuch，andmakingsomewilddemonstrationwithherhands，Jovanishedwithoutaword。Rushingupstairs，shestartledtheinvalidsbyexclaimingtragicallyassheburstintotheroom，“Oh，dosomebodygodownquick!JohnBrookeisactingdreadfully，andMeglikesit!“
　　Mr。andMrs。Marchlefttheroomwithspeed，andcastingherselfuponthebe，JocriedandscoldedtempestuouslyasshetoldtheawfulnewstoBethandAmy。Thelittlegirls，however，considereditamostagreeableandinterestingevent，andJogotlittlecomfortfromthem，soshewentuptoherrefugeinthegarret，andconfidedhertroublestotherats。
　　Nobodyeverknewwhatwentonintheparlorthatafternoon，butagreatdealoftalkingwasdone，andquietMr。Brookeastonishedhisfriendsbytheeloquenceandspiritwithwhichhepleadedhissuit，toldhisplans，andpersuadedthemtoarrangeeverythingjustashewantedit。
　　TheteabellrangbeforehehadfinisheddescribingtheparadisewhichhemeanttoearnforMeg，andheproudlytookherintosupper，bothlookingsohappythatJohadn’tthehearttobejealousordismal。
　　AmywasverymuchimpressedbyJohn’sdevotionandMeg’sdignity，Bethbeamedatthemfromadistance，whileMr。andMrs。MarchsurveyedtheyoungcouplewithsuchtendersatisfactionthatitwasperfectlyevidentAuntMarchwasrightincallingthemas`unworldlyasapairofbabies’。Nooneatemuch，buteveryonelookedveryhappy，andtheoldroomseemedtobrightenupamazinglywhenthefirstromanceofthefamilybeganthere。
　　“Youcan’tsaynothingpleasanteverhappensnow，canyou，Meg？“
　　saidAmy，tryingtodecidehowshewouldgrouptheloversinasketchshewasplanningtomake。
　　“No，I’msureIcan’t。HowmuchhashappenedsinceIsaidthat!
　　Itseemsayearago，“answeredMeg，whowasinablissfuldreamliftedfarabovesuchcommonthingsasbreadandbutter。
　　“Thejoyscomecloseuponthesorrowsthistime，andIratherthinkthechangeshavebegun，“saidMrs。March。“Inmostfamiliestherecomes，nowandthen，ayearfullofevents。Thishasbeensuchaone，butitendswell，afterall。“
　　“Hopethenextwillendbetter，“mutteredJo，whofounditveryhardtoseeMegabsorbedinastrangerbeforeherface，forJolovedafewpersonsverydearlyanddreadedtohavetheiraffectionlostorlessenedinanyway。
　　“Ihopethethirdyearfromthiswillendbetter。Imeanitshall，ifIlivetoworkoutmyplans，“saidMr。Brooke，smilingatMeg，asifeverythinghadbecomepossibletohimnow。
　　“Doesn’titseemverylongtowait？“askedAmy，whowasinahurryforthewedding。
　　“I’vegotsomuchtolearnbeforeIshallbeready，itseemsashorttimetome，“answeredMeg，withasweetgravityinherfaceneverseentherebefore。
　　“Youhaveonlytowait，Iamtodothework，“saidJohnbeginninghislaborsbypickingupMeg’snapkin，withanexpressionwhichcausedJotoshakeherhead，andthensaytoherselfwithanairofreliefasthefrontdoorbanged，“HerecomesLaurie。Nowweshallhavesomesensibleconversation。“
　　ButJowasmistaken，forLauriecameprancingin，overflowingwithgoodspirits，bearingagreatbridal-lookingbouquetfor`Mrs。
　　JohnBrooke’，andevidentlylaboringunderthedelusionthatthewholeaffairhadbeenbroughtaboutbyhisexcellentmanagement。
　　“IknewBrookewouldhaveitallhisownway，healwaysdoes，forwhenhemakesuphismindtoaccomplishanything，it’sdonethoughtheskyfalls，“saidLaurie，whenhehadpresentedhisofferingandhiscongratulations。
　　“Muchobligedforthatrecommendation。Itakeitasagoodomenforthefutureandinviteyoutomyweddingonthespot，“
　　answeredMr。Brooke，whofeltatpeacewithallmankind，evenhismischievouspupil。
　　“I’llcomeifI’mattheensoftheearth，forthesightofJo’sfacealoneonthatoccasionwouldbeworthalongjourney。
　　Youdon’tlookfestive，ma’am，what’sthematter？“askedLaurie，followingherintoacorneroftheparlor，whitherallhadadjournedtogreetMr。Laurence。
　　“Idon’tapproveofthematch，butI’vemadeupmymindtobearit，andshallnotsayawordagainstit，“saidJosolemnly。“Youcan’tknowhowharditisformetogiveupMeg，“shecontinuedwithalittlequiverinhervoice。
　　“Youdon’tgiveherup。Youonlygohalves，“saidLaurieconsolingly。
　　“Itcanneverbethesameagain。I’velostmydearestfriend，“
　　sighedJo。
　　“You’vegotme，anyhow。I’mnotgoodformuch，Iknow，butI’llstandbyyou，Jo，allthedaysofmylife。UponmywordI
　　will!“