Page 153 - LITTLE WOMEN

Little Women

‘How old is he?’
‘Sixteen or seventeen, I should say,’ replied another
voice.
‘It would be a grand thing for one of those girls,

wouldn’t it? Sallie says they are very intimate now, and the
old man quite dotes on them.’
‘Mrs. M. has made her plans, I dare say, and will play
her cards well, early as it is. The girl evidently doesn’t
think of it yet,’ said Mrs. Moffat.
‘She told that fib about her momma, as if she did
know, and colored up when the flowers came quite
prettily. Poor thing! She’d be so nice if she was only got
up in style. Do you think she’d be offended if we offered
to lend her a dress for Thursday?’ asked another voice.
‘She’s proud, but I don’t believe she’d mind, for that
dowdy tarlatan is all she has got. She may tear it tonight,
and that will be a good excuse for offering a decent one.’
Here Meg’s partner appeared, to find her looking much
flushed and rather agitated. She was proud, and her pride
was useful just then, for it helped her hide her
mortification, anger, and disgust at what she had just
heard. For, innocent and unsuspicious as she was, she
could not help understanding the gossip of her friends. She
tried to forget it, but could not, and kept repeating to

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