Page 281 - LITTLE WOMEN
P. 281
Little Women
come home my Lady Something in a blaze of splendor
and elegance.’
‘People don’t have fortunes left them in that style
nowadays, men have to work and women marry for
money. It’s a dreadfully unjust world,’ said Meg bitterly.
‘Jo and I are going to make fortunes for you all. Just
wait ten years, and see if we don’t,’ said Amy, who sat in a
corner making mud pies, as Hannah called her little clay
models of birds, fruit, and faces.
‘Can’t wait, and I’m afraid I haven’t much faith in ink
and dirt, though I’m grateful for your good intentions.
Meg sighed, and turned to the frostbitten garden again.
Jo groaned and leaned both elbows on the table in a
despondent attitude, but Amy spatted away energetically,
and Beth, who sat at the other window, said, smiling,
‘Two pleasant things are going to happen right away.
Marmee is coming down the street, and Laurie is tramping
through the garden as if he had something nice to tell.’
In they both came, Mrs. March with her usual
question, ‘Any letter from Father, girls?’ and Laurie to say
in his persuasive way, ‘Won’t some of you come for a
drive? I’ve been working away at mathematics till my head
is in a muddle, and I’m going to freshen my wits by a brisk
turn. It’s a dull day, but the air isn’t bad, and I’m going to
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