Page 219 - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE AUNT MARCH SETTLES THE QUESTION the new invalid, who was in a fair way to be killed by kind- ness. As he sat propped up in a big chair by Beth's sofa, with the other three close by, and Hannah popping in her head now and then 'to peek at the dear man', nothing seemed need- ed to complete their happiness. But something was needed, and the elder ones felt it, though none confessed the fact. Mr. and Mrs. March looked at one another with an anxious ex- pression, as their eyes followed Meg. Jo had sudden fits of so- briety, and was seen to shake her fist at Mr. Brooke's umbrel- la, which had been left in the hall. Meg was absent-minded, shy, and silent, started when the bell rang, and colored when John's name was mentioned. Amy said, "Everyone seemed waiting for something, and couldn't settle down, which was queer, since Father was safe at home," and Beth innocently wondered why their neighbors didn't run over as usual. Like bees swarming after their queen, mother and daughters hovered about Mr. March the next day, ne- glecting everything to look at, wait upon, and listen to Laurie went by in the afternoon, and seeing Meg at the win- dow, seemed suddenly possessed with a melodramatic fit, for he fell down on one knee in the snow, beat his breast, tore his hair, and clasped his hands imploringly, as if begging some boon. And when Meg told him to behave himself and go away, he wrung imaginary tears out of his handkerchief, and staggered round the corner as if in utter despair. "What does the goose mean?" said Meg, laughing and trying to look unconscious. "He's showing you how your John will go on by-and-by. Touch- ing, isn't it?" answered Jo scornfully. "Don't say my John, it isn't proper or true," but Meg's voice lin- gered over the words as if they sounded pleasant to her. "Please