双语译林·小妇人 第二十一章 劳里胡闹，乔来平息 LAURIE MAKES MISCHIEF, AND JO MAKES PEACE
- 第二十一章 劳里胡闹，乔来平息
- CHAPTER 21 LAURIE MAKES MISCHIEF, AND JO MAKES PEACE
第二十一章 劳里胡闹，乔来平息
第二天，乔的脸依旧很费猜详，神秘兮兮，煞有介事。秘密还压在心头，她发现要装出一副若无其事的样子也不容易。美格看在眼里，也不急着打听，她知道对付乔的最佳办法就是逆反心理，所以她敢肯定，要是不问，乔一定会和盘托出的。因此，看到乔依旧沉默不语，她颇感奇怪。乔还摆出一副盛气凌人的架子，这使美格大为恼火，于是她也装出一副高不可攀的样子，只伺候着母亲。这么一来，乔只好另找出路了。马奇太太接替乔担任护理，让长期困在家里的乔休息、锻炼、玩乐。艾美不在，劳里成了乔唯一的伙伴。她虽然喜欢与劳里在一起，此时却有点怕他，因为他喜欢作弄人，简直到了无可救药的地步，乔就怕他从自己嘴里套去秘密。
她一点都没错，这个喜欢胡闹的家伙猜想乔有个秘密，于是就下决心要打探个明白，这就使乔够受的。他哄骗奚落、威逼利诱，要不就骂人，表面上装作毫不在意的样子，其实想出其不意地从乔口中掏走真相。他先宣称自己知道了，随后又说自己不在乎，最后凭借这软磨硬泡的功夫，他满意地发现秘密涉及美格和布鲁克先生。他愤愤不平，自己的家庭教师竟然不跟他推心置腹。他要开动脑筋，想出适当的办法好好报复一下，出出横遭轻慢这口怨气。
美格此时显然已忘记了此事，专心地为父亲的归来做着准备。但突然间，她似乎发生了变故，有一两天简直变得面目全非。听到有人叫她便大吃一惊，人家望她一眼便面红耳赤。整天默默不语，做针线活时独坐一边，羞答答的，心事重重。母亲过问，她回答自己很好，乔问她，她便求她别管。
“她于无形中感受到这种东西——我是指爱情——而且进展得很快。那些症状她几乎全有了——颤抖、暴躁、不吃、不睡，私下里郁郁寡欢。我还发现她在唱他给的那首歌，一次竟然像您一样说‘约翰’，迅即脸红得像朵罂粟花。我们到底该怎么办？”乔说。看样子她准备采取措施，无论多么激烈也在所不惜。
“只有等待。不要理她，要和气耐心，等爸爸回来，事情就能解决了。”母亲回答。
“美格，这里有一封你的信，还封得这么严实！真怪！特迪给我的信从来不封。”第二天，乔边说边分发小信箱中的信件。
马奇太太和乔都在埋头忙各自的活计，突然听到美格一声喊叫。她们抬起头来，只见美格神色惊慌地盯着那封信。
“孩子，怎么了？”母亲跑过去问，这时乔试图夺过这封胡闹的信。
“全乱套了——他可没有写过这样的信。乔，你怎么能这样？”美格用手捂着脸哭，似乎心都碎了。
“我！我什么也没干！她在说什么？”乔疑惑地喊道。
美格温柔的眼睛射出了一道道怒光，她从口袋里掏出已揉成一团的信，一把扔给乔，责骂道：“你写的，那臭小子帮你写的。你怎么能这么无礼，这么卑鄙，对我们两个这么残酷？”
乔差不多什么都没听到，因为她和母亲在读信。这信的笔迹非同寻常。
最亲爱的玛格丽特：
我再也控制不住自己的感情，一定要在回来之前就知道我的命运。我现在还不敢让你的父母知道，可我想，只要他们了解我们深深相爱，就会答应的。劳伦斯先生会帮我找份好工作，再说你，亲爱的宝贝，你会使我幸福。我求你，先瞒着家人，只请写一句希望的话给我，让劳里转交。
深爱你的约翰
“噢，这个小坏蛋！我为妈妈保密，他就这样报答我。我去把他臭骂一顿，押他过来求饶。”乔叫道，恨不得立即法办真凶。但母亲脸上带着一种少见的神情，拦住她说：“站住，乔，你首先得撇清自己。你搞了那么多恶作剧，恐怕这事也插了一手。”
“我发誓，妈妈，没有！根本没看过这封信，也不知情，千真万确！”乔说话时神情极其认真，母亲和美格相信了她，“如果我参与了，会干得更巧妙，写一封合情合理的信。我想你们也知道，布鲁克先生不会写出这种混账东西的。”她接着说，轻蔑地把信抛下。
“这字像是他写的。”美格结结巴巴地说，把这封信和手中的一封作比较。
“哎呀，美格，没回信吧？”马奇太太急问。
“我，我回了！”美格再次掩着脸，羞愧难当。
“那可糟糕！快让我把那坏小子押过来教训一顿，让他解释清楚。不把他抓来我不得安宁哪。”乔又向门口冲去。
“闭嘴！这事我来处理，比我想象的更糟。玛格丽特，把事情从头说清楚。”马奇太太下令，一面在美格身边坐下，一面用手抓着乔不放，以免她溜出去。
“第一封信来自劳里那儿，他看上去似乎不知情的。”美格低着头说，“一开始我担心了，打算告诉您的，后来想起您喜欢布鲁克先生，我便想，即使把这小小的秘密藏上几天，您也不会怪我的。我真傻，以为没有人知道，而当我考虑怎么回答时，我觉得自己就像书里头那些惹上这种事的女孩子。原谅我，妈妈，我做的傻事现在得到了报应，我再也没脸见他了。”
“你跟他说了些什么？”马奇太太问。
“我只说我年龄小，还不考虑这种事情，说我不想瞒着你们，他必须跟父亲说。我对他的善意万分感激，愿做朋友，但仅此而已，其他以后再说。”
马奇太太露出了欣慰的笑容，乔拍手称快：
“你可真是不亚于卡罗琳·珀西，堪称谨言慎行的楷模哩！往下说，美格。他看了怎么说？”
“他回信的写法完全不同，说从来没有寄过什么情书。他很遗憾，我那调皮捣蛋的妹妹乔竟这样轻薄我们的名字。信中态度和善，毕恭毕敬，但想想我有多尴尬！”
美格靠在母亲身上，成了绝望的翻版。乔一面急得直骂劳里，一面在屋里团团乱转。忽然，她停下来，拿起两张纸条，细细比看了，断然说道：“我看，布鲁克根本没有见过这两封信。都是特迪写的，他把你的信留着，用来奚落我，谁叫我不把秘密告诉他。”
“不要藏什么秘密，乔。告诉妈妈，远离麻烦，我本该那么做的，”美格警告道。
“好家伙，孩子！妈妈说过的。”
“行了，乔。我安慰美格，你去把劳里找来。我要细查此事，立即终止这出恶作剧。”
乔跑出去了，马奇太太轻声跟美格说出布鲁克先生的真实感情。“嗯，乖乖，你自己的意思呢？是否爱他？爱得足以等到他有能力为你组织家庭的那一天？或者你宁可暂时无牵无挂？”
“我吃够了担惊受怕的苦头，起码很长一段时间，我都不想跟情郎有什么瓜葛了，也许永远都不。”美格使着性子说道，“如果约翰不知道这桩荒唐事，那就别告诉他，让乔和劳里闭上嘴。我不想被人蒙在鼓里当傻子耍——有多难为情啊！”
马奇太太看到向来温柔的美格被激怒了，恶作剧伤害了她的自尊心，于是安慰美格，向她保证闭口不提此事，以后也会审慎处理。听到过道里传来劳里的脚步声，美格立刻跑进了书房，马奇太太独自接见了罪人。乔怕他不肯来，没有说为什么找他。可他一看到马奇太太的脸就明白了。他站在一边转着帽子，一副惭愧的样子，一看就知道是他干的。乔被支开了，但她在过道里踱来踱去，宛如害怕犯人跑掉的哨兵。客厅里说了半个钟头，声音忽高忽低，可接见时到底发生了什么，姑娘们都不知道。
她们被叫进来时，劳里站在母亲身旁，一脸悔过的样子，乔当场就原谅他了，只是觉得此时表露出来并不明智。劳里低声下气地向美格道歉，听到劳里保证布鲁克对此玩笑一无所知时，美格心里大为宽慰。
“我到死都不会跟他说——一言既出，驷马难追。美格，请原谅我。为了表示我不折不扣的歉意，我愿意为您做牛做马。”他接着说，一副羞愧难当的样子。
“我尽力吧，可这样做确实没有绅士风度。想不到你竟然会这么狡诈，这么恶毒。”美格答道。她尽量用严肃的语气责备劳里，借以掩饰少女的尴尬。
“总之，这实在可恶，一个月没人理我，也是活该，可你还是会理我的，是吧？”劳里拱起双手抱拳，做出一个恳求的姿势，那语气的说服力简直无法抗拒。虽然他干了坏事，可大家没法再对他横眉冷对。美格原谅了他，马奇太太虽然努力显得严肃，可听到他宣称愿意做牛做马来赎罪，又在受辱的小姐面前表现得低声下气，她板着的脸也舒展开来。
这时，乔远远地站在一边，试图要硬了心肠对待劳里，也就装出一副不以为然的样子。劳里瞟了她两眼，可她毫无容情之意，他深感冤屈，于是转身背对着她。等到其他人都说完了，劳里深深地向她鞠了一躬，然后一声不吭地走了。
劳里一走，乔就后悔，自己应该再宽容些的。等母亲和美格上了楼，她又感到一阵寂寞，渴望着见到特迪。犹豫片刻之后，她还是控制不了这种冲动，便抱上一本要还的书，来到了大房子。
“劳伦斯先生在吗？”乔问正在下楼的女仆。
“在，小姐。恐怕暂时不想见人。”
“怎么啦？病了吗？”
“唉，不，小姐。他刚跟劳里少爷吵了一架。少爷不知怎么了，大发脾气，使老先生大为恼火，我也不敢靠近他。”
“劳里在哪里？”
“自己锁在房间里，我敲了半天，就是不开门。饭菜已经做好了，没人吃，不知道该怎么办。”
“我去看看是怎么回事。他们两个我谁都不怕。”
乔上楼，猛敲劳里小书房的门。
“别敲了，小心我开门收拾你！”小绅士朝门外扬言道。
乔马上又敲，门突然开了。劳里还没回过神来，乔就跳了进去。乔看到劳里真的在发脾气，可她知道怎么对付他。于是，她摆出一副懊悔的样子，双膝款款跪下，温顺地说：“我脾气不好，请原谅我吧。我是来讲和的，你不答应，我就不走了。”
“没关系，起来吧，别做憨鹅。”她的请求得到了这么一个简慢的回答。
“谢谢，我会的。请问出了什么事？你似乎心里不大畅快。”
“我被人推搡了，忍无可忍！”劳里愤怒地吼道。
“谁推搡你了？”乔问。
“爷爷。如果换了别人，我早就——”受伤的年轻人右臂狠狠一挥，把话止住。
“那有什么。我也常常推搡你，你不生气的。”乔安慰道。
“呸！你是姑娘家，那样推搡很来劲，但不允许男人推搡我。”
“如果你像现在这样暴跳如雷，我想没人要一试身手的。为什么那样对你？”
“就因为我不肯告诉他，你妈妈为什么把我叫去。我答应过不说的，当然不能食言。”
“难道不能换个说法满足爷爷吗？”
“不能，他就是要说出真相，全部真相，只说真相。假如能不牵涉到美格，倒可以告诉他我那部分糊涂真相。既然不能，我便一言不发，由他去骂，最后老头竟一把抓住我的领口。我气坏了，赶紧脱身溜掉，担心自己失控。”
“这样是不对，但我知道他后悔了，还是下去和解吧。我来帮你说。”
“死也不去的！我不过开了一个玩笑，难道你们要人人教训一顿，痛打一下不成？我是对不起美格，也已经堂堂正正地道了歉。但我现在没有做错事，所以我决不道歉。”
“但他并不知道的呀。”
“他应该信任我，不要把我当婴儿对待。没有用的，乔，他得明白我能够照顾自己，不需要拉着人家的围裙带子走路的。”
“你们都是辣椒罐子！”乔叹道，“你打算这事怎么解决？”
“哦，爷爷应该道歉。说过这大惊小怪的事不能告诉他，就应该相信我的。”
“哎呀！他不会道歉的。”
“不道歉就不下去。”
“哎，特迪，理智一点。就让这事过去吧，我会尽力解释清楚的。总不能老待在这里吧，这么任性可不好？”
“我本来就不打算在这里久留。我要悄悄溜走，浪迹天涯。爷爷想我时，很快就会回心转意了。”
“但恐怕不该这样让他担心的。”
“别说教了。我要去华盛顿看布鲁克。那地方充满乐趣，我要丢下忧愁，痛快一下。”
“那样多有趣！恨不得我也能出走。”乔脑海里泛起一幅幅生动的首都军营生活画面，立刻忘记了自己的良师益友角色。
“那就一起走吧，嗨！为什么不呢？你给父亲一个惊喜，我给布鲁克一个突然袭击。这个玩笑妙不可言。干吧，乔。我们留一封平安信，然后立即出发。我有足够的钱。你是去看父亲啊，百利而无一害。”
乔一度似乎就要同意了，这个计划虽然轻率，却正合她的性格。她早已厌倦了操心和禁闭的生活，渴望改变一下环境，想到父亲，想到新奇、充满魅力的军营和医院，想到自由自在的游乐生活，那是多么令人向往。她憧憬地向窗外望去，眼睛闪闪发亮，但目光落到了对面的老屋上面。她摇摇头，伤心地做出了决定。
“假如我是个男孩子，我们就可以一起出走，玩个痛痛快快。但我是悲惨的女孩子，只能规矩地待在家里。别引诱我了，特迪，这是个疯狂的计划。”
“乐趣正在这里呀。”劳里说。他天生任性，冲动之下，疯狂地打算冲破束缚。
“住嘴！”乔捂着耳朵叫道，“‘装腔作势’就是我的宿命。我趁早认命吧。我是来感化你的，不是来听你说令我落荒而逃的勾当的。”
“我知道美格会给这种计划泼冷水，还以为你更有胆识呢。”劳里用激将法。
“坏小子，收声吧！坐下好好反思自己的罪过，别煽动我罪上加罪。如果我动员你爷爷来向你赔个不是，你就不出走了吧？”乔严肃地问。
“是啊，但你办不到。”劳里答道。他愿意和解，但觉得必须先平息自己的怨气。
“我既然能对付小的，就能对付老的。”乔走开时咕哝着。劳里双手托着脑袋，盯着铁路图看。
乔敲响了劳伦斯先生的门。“进来！”老先生的声音听起来更加沙哑了。
“是我呀，先生，来还书的。”她泰然地回答，说着走了进去。
“还要再借吗？”老人脸色十分难看，心烦意乱，却尽量掩饰着。
“要的。我迷上了约翰逊[1]，想读读第二部的。”乔答道。希望靠再借一本鲍斯韦尔[2]的《约翰逊传》，来平息老人的心情，他曾经力荐这本生动传神的著作。
他把踏梯推到放约翰逊文学的书架前，紧锁的浓眉舒展了一些。乔跳上去，坐在踏梯顶上，假装找书，心里却在盘算着怎样开口，才能提起她来访的危险目的。劳伦斯先生似乎猜到了她心里有事，他在屋子里快步兜了几圈，然后转头看着她，突然发问，吓得乔失手，《拉塞拉斯王子传》[3]封面朝下扑到了地上。
“那孩子干了些什么？别护着他。看他回来时那副架势，我就知道肯定淘气了。他一句话都掏不出来。我就扬言要推搡他，逼他说出真相，他就冲到楼上，把自己锁在房间里。”
“他是做错了事，可我们原谅他了，而且都答应跟谁也不说的。”乔迟疑地说。
“那不行，不能因为你们姑娘们心肠软就答应，便可以逍遥躲起来了。如果他干了错事，就应该坦白道歉，并受到惩罚。说出来吧，乔，我可不想被蒙在鼓里。”
劳伦斯先生脸色可怖，声调严厉，可能的话，乔真想拔腿就跑。但她正坐在高高的踏梯上，而他就站在脚下，俨如一只挡道的狮子。她只好原地不动，鼓足勇气开了口。
“真的，先生，不能说。妈妈不许说。劳里已经坦白了，道歉了，并受到了足够的重罚。我们不说出来，不是护着他，而是要护着另一个人。如果你干预，只会增加麻烦。请高抬贵手不管吧。我也有部分责任，不过现在没事了。我们还是把它忘掉，谈谈《漫游者》或什么令人愉快的东西吧。”
“去他的《漫游者》！爬下来向我保证，我家那冒冒失失的小子没有做出什么忘恩负义、鲁莽无礼的事情。如果他做了，尽管你们对他这么好，我还是要亲手鞭打他。”
此话听起来十分可怕，却并没有吓倒乔。她知道这个性格暴躁的老头绝不会动他的孙子一个指头的，不管他怎么扬言。她顺从地走下踏梯，把恶作剧尽量轻描淡写地复述了一遍，既不泄露美格，也不遗漏事实。
“嗯——哈——好吧，要是这孩子不肯说，不是由于顽固不化，而是由于答应过你们，那就饶他算了。他很固执，很难管的。”劳伦斯先生一边说着，一边不停地搔头发，直到头上仿佛被大风吹过一样怒发冲冠。这时，他松了口气，紧皱的眉头也舒展开来。
“我也很固执，千军万马都管不了我，可一句好话就能让我服服帖帖的。”乔努力为朋友说句好话。要知道，劳里是刚摆脱了一种困境，又陷入了另一种麻烦。
“你觉得我待他不好，是吧？”老人厉声对道。
“天哪，不是的，先生，您有时候待他太好了。他考验您的耐心时，您就会急不可耐，恨铁不成钢的。您看是不是这样？”
乔决定一吐为快，表面上尽量显得平静，不过等她壮着胆子说完后，不由得哆嗦了一下。老人只是把眼镜啪地往桌上一扔，坦诚地大声道：“没错，丫头，是这样！我爱这孩子，可他常让我受不了，要是我们老是这样，真不知道该如何了结。”这回答虽然出乎意料，却使她松了口气。
“我跟您说吧，他要出走。”这话一出口，乔就后悔了。她本意是告诫老人，劳里不会忍受太多的束缚，希望他更加容忍这小伙子。
老先生红润的脸立刻就变色了。他坐下来，沮丧地朝挂在桌子上方的美男子像瞟了一眼。那是劳里的父亲，年纪轻轻就出走了，违拗这位固执老人的意志结了婚。乔猜想他想起了往事，并为之深感遗憾。真希望刚才自己什么都没说。
“除非他真的心烦意乱，不然不会这么做的。有时他书读厌了也会说，可那只是说说而已。我倒常想出走，特别是剪了头发以后。所以，要是您发现我们丢了的话，可以发个寻人启事，找两个男孩子，也可以到开往印度的船上找找。”
她边说边笑，劳伦斯先生神态放松了，显然只把这当成了一个笑话。
“你这娘们，怎么敢那样讲？眼里还有我吗？这么没规矩。愿上帝保佑他们！如今的姑娘、小伙子真是麻烦，可少了他们，我们也活不了。”说着，他愉快地在乔脸上捏了一把，“去，叫这孩子下来吃饭，告诉他没事了，叫他最好别在爷爷面前哭丧着脸。那样，我受不了。”
“他不会来的，先生。他心情很坏，当时说不便跟您说，您却不信。我想您的推搡大大挫伤了他的感情。”
乔努力装出一副可怜的样子，可肯定没成功，因为老先生忍不住笑了，乔明白大功告成了。
“那事我很抱歉，我想，还得感谢他没有推搡我。那小子到底想要什么呢？”老人对自己暴躁的脾气显得有点惭愧。
“先生，如果我是您，就会给他写一封致歉信。他说，您不道歉，他是不会下楼的。他还谈到了要出走华盛顿，而且越说越荒唐。一封正式的致歉信会让他明白自己是多么愚蠢，再说，他也会和颜悦色地下楼。写一封吧，他喜欢开玩笑，这比嘴上说好多了。我拿上去，教他该怎么行孝道。”
劳伦斯先生瞪了她一眼，戴上眼镜，慢慢地说：“真是个狡猾的丫头，可被你和贝丝摆布，我也不在乎。好吧，拿纸来，让我们把这无聊的事情结束掉。”
这封信言辞恳切，就像一位绅士深深得罪另一位绅士后表达歉意。乔在老先生的秃顶上丢下了一个吻，跑上楼把致歉信从劳里的门缝下面塞进去，透过钥匙孔劝他要听话、有涵养，又讲了一些好听的大道理。看到门又锁上了，她便把信留在那儿发酵，自己则打算悄悄走开，可年轻人已经从楼梯扶手上滑了下去，站在下面等她，面孔流露出一种无比贤明的神情。“你真是好人，乔！刚才有没有挨训？”他笑着说。
“没有，总的说来，他相当心平气和呢。”
“啊！我全想通了。连你都把我丢弃在那里，我感到要去见鬼了呢。”他内疚地说。
“别这么说，翻开新的一页，重新开始，特迪，我的孩子。”
“我不断翻开新的一页，又一一糟蹋掉，就像小时候糟蹋掉抄写本一样。我开的头太多了，永远不会有终结的。”他悲哀地说道。
“去吃你的饭吧，吃过就会好受些。男人肚子饿的时候喜欢发牢骚。”乔说完飞步走出了前门。
“这是对‘我派’的‘标榜’。”劳里学着艾美的话回答，孝敬地陪爷爷进赔罪餐去了。此后一整天，老人心情奇佳，言谈举止也特别谦和体谅了。
大家都以为乌云散去，事情就此了结，可毕竟创伤已经无法弥补，别人可以忘了，美格却还记得。她从不跟人提及某人，可又常常想起他，也做了更多的梦。有一次，乔在姐姐的书桌里翻箱倒柜找邮票时，发现了一张小纸片，上面潦草地写满了“约翰·布鲁克太太”。乔见了悲叹着把它扔进了炉火中，觉得劳里的胡闹加快了那罪恶一天的到来。
* * *
[1]英国作家（1709—1784）。
[2]苏格兰作家（1740—1795）。
[3]约翰逊的小说。
CHAPTER 21 LAURIE MAKES MISCHIEF, AND JO MAKES PEACE
JO'S FACE was a study next day, for the secret rather weighed upon her, and she found it hard not to look mysterious and important. Meg observed it, but did not trouble herself to make inquiries, for she had learned that the best way to manage Jo was by the law of contraries, so she felt sure of being told everything if she did not ask. She was rather surprised, therefore, when the silence remained unbroken, and Jo assumed a patronizing air, which decidedly aggravated Meg, who in turn assumed an air of dignified reserve and devoted herself to her mother. This left Jo to her own devices, for Mrs. March had taken her place as nurse, and bade her rest, exercise, and amuse herself after her long confinement. Amy being gone, Laurie was her only refuge, and much as she enjoyed his society, she rather dreaded him just then, for he was an incorrigible tease, and she feared he would coax the secret from her.
She was quite right, for the mischief-loving lad no sooner suspected a mystery than he set himself to find it out, and led Jo a trying life of it. He wheedled, bribed, ridiculed, threatened, and scolded; affected indifference, that he might surprise the truth from her; declared he knew, then that he didn't care; and at last, by dint of perseverance, he satisfied himself that it concerned Meg and Mr. Brooke. Feeling indignant that he was not taken into his tutor's confidence, he set his wits to work to devise some proper retaliation for the slight.
Meg meanwhile had apparently forgotten the matter and was absorbed in preparations for her father's return, but all of a sudden a change seemed to come over her, and, for a day or two, she was quite unlike herself. She started when spoken to, blushed when looked at, was very quiet, and sat over her sewing, with a timid, troubled look on her face. To her mother's inquiries she answered that she was quite well, and Jo's she silenced by begging to be let alone.
“She feels it in the air—love, I mean—and she's going very fast. She's got most of the symptoms—is twittery and cross, doesn't eat, lies awake, and mopes in corners. I caught her singing that song he gave her, and once she said ‘John', as you do, and then turned as red as a poppy. Whatever shall we do? ” said Jo, looking ready for any measures, however violent.
“Nothing but wait. Let her alone, be kind and patient, and Father's coming will settle everything, ” replied her mother.
“Here's a note to you, Meg, all sealed up. How odd! Teddy never seals mine, ” said Jo next day, as she distributed the contents of the little post office.
Mrs. March and Jo were deep in their own affairs, when a sound from Meg made them look up to see her staring at her note with a frightened face.
“My child, what is it? ” cried her mother, running to her, while Jo tried to take the paper which had done the mischief.
“It's all a mistake, he didn't send it. Oh, Jo, how could you do it? ” and Meg hid her face in her hands, crying as if her heart were quite broken.
“Me! I've done nothing! What's she talking about? ” cried Jo, bewildered.
Meg's mild eyes kindled with anger as she pulled a crumpled note from her pocket and threw it at Jo, saying reproachfully, “You wrote it, and that bad boy helped you. How could you be so rude, so mean, and cruel to us both? ”
Jo hardly heard her, for she and her mother were reading the note, which was written in a peculiar hand.
My Dearest Margaret,
I can no longer restrain my passion, and must know my fate before I return. I dare not tell your parents yet, but I think they would consent if they knew that we adored one another. Mr. Laurence will help me to some good place, and then, my sweet girl, you will make me happy. I implore you to say nothing to your family yet, but to send one word of hope through Laurie to.
Your devoted
JOHN
“Oh, the little villain! That's the way he meant to pay me for keeping my word to Mother. I'll give him a hearty scolding and bring him over to beg pardon, ” cried Jo, burning to execute immediate justice. But her mother held her back, saying, with a look she seldom wore—
“Stop, Jo, you must clear yourself first. You have played so many pranks that I am afraid you have had a hand in this.”
“On my word, Mother, I haven't! I never saw that note before, and don't know anything about it, as true as I live! ” said Jo, so earnestly that they believed her.“If I had taken part in it I'd have done it better than this, and have written a sensible note. I should think you'd have known Mr. Brooke wouldn't write such stuff as that, ” she added, scornfully tossing down the paper.
“It's like his writing, ” faltered Meg, comparing it with the note in her hand.
“Oh, Meg, you didn't answer it? ” cried Mrs. March quickly.
“Yes, I did! ” and Meg hid her face again, overcome with shame.
“Here's a scrape!Do let me bring that wicked boy over to explain and be lectured. I can't rest till I get hold of him.” And Jo made for the door again.
“Hush! Let me handle this, for it is worse than I thought. Margaret, tell me the whole story, ” commanded Mrs. March, sitting down by Meg, yet keeping hold of Jo, lest she should fly off.
“I received the first letter from Laurie, who didn't look as if he knew anything about it, ” began Meg, without looking up. “I was worried at first and meant to tell you, then I remembered how you liked Mr. Brooke, so I thought you wouldn't mind if I kept my little secret for a few days. I'm so silly that I liked to think no one knew, and while I was deciding what to say, I felt like the girls in books, who have such things to do. Forgive me, Mother, I'm paid for my silliness now. I never can look him in the face again.”
“What did you say to him? ” asked Mrs. March.
“I only said I was too young to do anything about it yet, that I didn't wish to have secrets from you, and he must speak to father. I was very grateful for his kindness, and would be his friend, but nothing more, for a long while.”
Mrs. March smiled, as if well pleased, and Jo clapped her hands, exclaiming, with a laugh, “You are almost equal to Caroline Percy, who was a pattern of prudence! Tell on, Meg. What did he say to that? ”
“He writes in a different way entirely, telling me that he never sent any love letter at all, and is very sorry that my roguish sister, Jo, should take liberties with our names. It's very kind and respectful, but think how dreadful for me! ”
Meg leaned against her mother, looking the image of despair, and Jo tramped about the room, calling Laurie names. All of a sudden she stopped, caught up the two notes, and after looking at them closely, said decidedly, “I don't believe Brooke ever saw either of these letters. Teddy wrote both, and keeps yours to crow over me with because I wouldn't tell him my secret.”
“Don't have any secrets, Jo. Tell it to Mother and keep out of trouble, as I should have done, ” said Meg warningly.
“Bless you, child! Mother told me.”
“That will do, Jo. I'll comfort Meg while you go and get Laurie. I shall sift the matter to the bottom, and put a stop to such pranks at once.”
Away ran Jo, and Mrs. March gently told Meg Mr. Brooke's real feelings. “Now, dear, what are your own? Do you love him enough to wait till he can make a home for you, or will you keep yourself quite free for the present? ”
“I've been so scared and worried, I don't want to have anything to do with lovers for a long while, perhaps never, ” answered Meg petulantly. “If John doesn't know anything about this nonsense, don't tell him, and make Jo and Laurie hold their tongues. I won't be deceived and plagued and made a fool of. It's a shame! ”
Seeing Meg's usually gentle temper was roused and her pride hurt by this mischievous joke, Mrs. March soothed her by promises of entire silence and great discretion for the future. The instant Laurie's step was heard in the hall, Meg fled into the study, and Mrs. March received the culprit alone. Jo had not told him why he was wanted, fearing he wouldn't come, but he knew the minute he saw Mrs. March's face, and stood twirling his hat with a guilty air which convicted him at once. Jo was dismissed, but chose to march up and down the hall like a sentinel, having some fear that the prisoner might bolt. The sound of voices in the parlor rose and fell for half an hour, but what happened during that interview the girls never knew.
When they were called in, Laurie was standing by their mother with such a penitent face that Jo forgave him on the spot, but did not think it wise to betray the fact. Meg received his humble apology, and was much comforted by the assurance that Brooke knew nothing of the joke.
“I'll never tell him to my dying day—wild horses shan't drag it out of me; so you'll forgive me, Meg, and I'll do anything to show how out-and-out sorry I am, ” he added, looking very much ashamed of himself.
“I'll try, but it was a very ungentlemanly thing to do, I didn't think you could be so sly and malicious, Laurie, ” replied Meg, trying to hide her maidenly confusion under a gravely reproachful air.
“It was altogether abominable, and I don't deserve to be spoken to for a month, but you will, though, won't you? ” And Laurie folded his hands together with such and imploring gesture, as he spoke in his irresistibly persuasive tone, that it was impossible to frown upon him in spite of his scandalous behavior. Meg pardoned him, and Mrs. March's grave face relaxed, in spite of her efforts to keep sober, when she heard him declare that he would atone for his sins by all sorts of penances, and abase himself like a worm before the injured damsel.
Jo stood aloof, meanwhile, trying to harden her heart against him, and succeeding only in primming up her face into an expression of entire disapprobation. Laurie looked at her once or twice, but as she showed no sign of relenting, he felt injured, and turned his back on her till the others were done with him, when he made her a low bow and walked off without a word.
As soon as he had gone, she wished she had been more forgiving, and when Meg and her mother went upstairs, she felt lonely and longed for Teddy. After resisting for some time, she yielded to the impulse, and armed with a book to return, went over to the big house.
“Is Mr. Laurence in? ” asked Jo, of a housemaid, who was coming downstairs.
“Yes, Miss, but I don't believe he's seeable just yet.”
“Why not? Is he ill? ”
“La, no Miss, but he's had a scene with Mr. Laurie, who is in one of his tantrums about something, which vexes the old gentleman, so I dursn't go nigh him.”
“Where is Laurie? ”
“Shut up in his room, and he won't answer, though I've been a-tapping. I don't know what's to become of the dinner, for it's ready, and there's no one to eat it.”
“I'll go and see what the matter is. I'm not afraid of either of them.”
Up went Jo, and knocked smartly on the door of Laurie's little study.
“Stop that, or I'll open the door and make you! ” called out the young gentleman in a threatening tone.
Jo immediately knocked again; the door flew open, and in she bounced before Laurie could recover from his surprise. Seeing that he really was out of temper, Jo, who knew how to manage him, assumed a contrite expression, and going artistically down upon her knees, said meekly, “Please forgive me for being so cross. I came to make it up, and can't go away till I have.”
“It's all right. Get up, and don't be a goose, Jo, ” was the cavalier reply to her petition.
“Thank you, I will. Could I ask what's the matter? You don't look exactly easy in your mind.”
“I've been shaken, and I won't bear it! ” growled Laurie indignantly.
“Who did it? ” demanded Jo.
“Grandfather. If it had been anyone else I'd have—” And the injured youth finished his sentence by an energetic gesture of the right arm.
“That's nothing. I often shake you, and you don't mind, ” said Jo soothingly.
“Pooh!You're a girl,and it's fun,but I'll allow no man to shake me! ”
“I don't think anyone would care to try it, if you looked as much like a thundercloud as you do now. Why were you treated so? ”
“Just because I wouldn't say what your mother wanted me for. I'd promised not to tell, and of course I wasn't going to break my word.”
“Couldn't you satisfy your grandpa in any other way? ”
“No, he would have the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I'd have told my part of the scrape, if I could without bringing Meg in. As I couldn't, I held my tongue, and bore the scolding till the old gentleman collared me. Then I bolted, for fear I should forget myself.”
“It wasn't nice, but he's sorry, I know, so go down and make up. I'll help you.”
“Hanged if I do! I'm not going to be lectured and pummelled by everyone, just for a bit of a frolic. I was sorry about Meg, and begged pardon like a man, but I won't do it again, when I wasn't in the wrong.”
“He didn't know that.”
“He ought to trust me, and not act as if I was a baby. It's no use, Jo, he's got to learn that I'm able to take care of myself, and don't need anyone's apron string to hold on by.”
“What pepper pots you are! ” sighed Jo. “How do you mean to settle this affair? ”
“Well, he ought to beg pardon, and believe me when I say I can't tell him what the fuss's about.”
“Bless you! He won't do that.”
“I won't go down till he does.”
“Now, Teddy, be sensible. Let it pass, and I'll explain what I can. You can't stay here, so what's the use of being melodramatic? ”
“I don't intend to stay here long, anyway. I'll slip off and take a journey somewhere, and when Grandpa misses me he'll come round fast enough.”
“I dare say, but you ought not to go and worry him.”
“Don't preach. I'll go to Washington and see Brooke; it's gay there, and I'll enjoy myself after the troubles.”
“What fun you'd have! I wish I could run off too, ” said Jo, forgetting her part of mentor in lively visions of martial life at the capital.
“Come on, then! Why not? You go and surprise your father, and I'll stir up old Brooke. It would be a glorious joke; let's do it, Jo. We'll leave a letter saying we are all right, and trot off at once. I've got money enough; it will do you good, and no harm, as you go to your father.”
For a moment Jo looked as if she would agree, for wild as the plan was, it just suited her. She was tired of care and confinement, longed for change, and thoughts of her father blended temptingly with the novel charms of camps and hospitals, liberty and fun. Her eyes kindled as they turned wistfully toward the window, but they fell on the old house opposite, and she shook her head with sorrowful decision.
“If I was a boy, we'd run away together, and have a capital time; but as I'm a miserable girl, I must be proper and stop at home. Don't tempt me, Teddy, it's a crazy plan.”
“That's the fun of it, ” began Laurie, who had got a willful fit on him and was possessed to break out of bounds in some way.
“Hold your tongue! ” cried Jo, covering her ears. “‘Prunes and prisms' are my doom, and I may as well make up my mind to it. I came here to moralize, not to hear things that make me skip to think of.”
“I know Meg would wet-blanket such a proposal, but I thought you had more spirit, ” began Laurie insinuatingly.
“Bad boy, be quiet! Sit down and think of your own sins, don't go making me add to mine. If I get your grandpa to apologize for the shaking, will you give up running away? ” asked Jo seriously.
“Yes, but you won't do it, ” answered Laurie, who wished to make up, but felt that his outraged dignity must be appeased first.
“If I can manage the young one, I can the old one, ” muttered Jo, as she walked away, leaving Laurie bent over a railroad map with his head propped up on both hands.
“Come in! ” And Mr. Laurence's gruff voice sounded gruffer than ever, as Jo tapped at his door.
“It's only me, sir, come to return a book, ” she said blandly, as she entered.
“Want any more? ” asked the old gentleman, looking grim and vexed, but trying not to show it.
“Yes, please. I like old Sam so well, I think I'll try the second volume, ” returned Jo, hoping to propitiate him by accepting a second dose of Boswell's Johnson,as he had recommended that lively work.
The shaggy eyebrows unbent a little as he rolled the steps toward the shelf where the Johnsonian literature was placed. Jo skipped up, and sitting on the top step, affected to be searching for her book, but was really wondering how best to introduce the dangerous object of her visit. Mr. Laurence seemed to suspect that something was brewing in her mind, for after taking several brisk turns about the room, he faced round on her, speaking so abruptly that Rasselas tumbled face downward on the floor.
“What has that boy been about? Don't try to shield him. I know he has been in mischief by the way he acted when he came home. I can't get a word from him, and when I threatened to shake the truth out of him he bolted upstairs and locked himself into his room.”
“He did wrong, but we forgave him, and all promised not to say a word to anyone, ” began Jo reluctantly.
“That won't do; he shall not shelter himself behind a promise from you softhearted girls. If he's done anything amiss, he shall confess, beg pardon, and be punished. Out with it, Jo. I won't be kept in the dark.”
Mr. Laurence looked so alarming and spoke so sharply that Jo would have gladly run away, if she could, but she was perched aloft on the steps, and he stood at the foot, a lion in the path, so she had to stay and brave it out.
“Indeed, sir, I cannot tell. Mother forbade it. Laurie has confessed, asked pardon, and been punished quite enough. We don't keep silence to shield him, but someone else, and it will make more trouble if you interfere. Please don't. It was partly my fault, but it's all right now. So let's forget it, and talk about the Rambler or something pleasant.”
“Hang the Rambler! Come down and give me your word that this harum-scarum boy of mine hasn't done anything ungrateful or impertinent. If he has, after all your kindness to him, I'll thrash him with my own hands.”
The threat sounded awful, but did not alarm Jo, for she knew the irascible old gentleman would never lift a finger against his grandson, whatever he might say to the contrary. She obediently descended, and made as light of the prank as she could without betraying Meg or forgetting the truth.
“Hum—ha—well, if the boy held his tongue because he promised, and not from obstinacy, I'll forgive him. He's a stubborn fellow and hard to manage, ” said Mr. Laurence, rubbing up his hair till it looked as if he had been out in a gale, and smoothing the frown from his brow with an air of relief.
“So am I, but a kind word will govern me when all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't, ” said Jo, trying to say a kind word for her friend, who seemed to get out of one scrape only to fall into another.
“You think I'm not kind to him, hey? ” was the sharp answer.
“Oh, dear, no, sir. You are rather too kind sometimes, and then just a trifle hasty when he tries your patience. Don't you think you are? ”
Jo was determined to have it out now, and tried to look quite placid, though she quaked a little after her bold speech. To her great relief and surprise, the old gentleman only threw his spectacles onto the table with a rattle and exclaimed frankly, “You're right, girl, I am! I love the boy, but he tries my patience past bearing, and I know how it will end, if we go on so.”
“I'll tell you, he'll run away.” Jo was sorry for that speech the minute it was made; she meant to warn him that Laurie would not bear much restraint, and hoped he would be more forebearing with the lad.
Mr. Laurence's ruddy face changed suddenly, and he sat down, with a troubled glance at the picture of a handsome man, which hung over his table.It was Laurie's father,who had run away in his youth,and married against the imperious old man's will. Jo fancied he remembered and regretted the past, and she wished she had held her tongue.
“He won't do it unless he is very much worried, and only threatens it sometimes, when he gets tired of studying. I often think I should like to, especially since my hair was cut, so if you ever miss us, you may advertise for two boys and look among the ships bound for India.”
She laughed as she spoke, and Mr. Laurence looked relieved, evidently taking the whole as a joke.
“You hussy, how dare you talk in that way? Where's your respect for me, and your proper bringing up? Bless the boys and girls! What torments they are, yet we can't do without them, ” he said, pinching her cheeks good-humoredly. “Go and bring that boy down to his dinner, tell him it's all right, and advise him not to put on tragedy airs with his grandfather. I won't bear it.”
“He won't come, sir. He feels badly because you didn't believe him when he said he couldn't tell. I think the shaking hurt his feelings very much.”
Jo tried to look pathetic but must have failed, for Mr. Laurence began to laugh, and she knew the day was won.
“I'm sorry for that, and ought to thank him for not shaking me, I suppose. What the dickens does the fellow expect? ” And the old gentleman looked a trifle ashamed of his own testiness.
“If I were you, I'd write him an apology, sir. He says he won't come down till he has one, and talks about Washington, and goes on in an absurd way. A formal apology will make him see how foolish he is, and bring him down quite amiable. Try it. He likes fun, and this way is better than talking. I'll carry it up, and teach him his duty.”
Mr. Laurence gave her a sharp look, and put on his spectacles, saying slowly, “You're a sly puss, but I don't mind being managed by you and Beth. Here, give me a bit of paper, and let us have done with this nonsense.”
The note was written in the terms which one gentleman would use to another after offering some deep insult. Jo dropped a kiss on the top of Mr. Laurence's bald head, and ran up to slip the apology under Laurie's door, advising him through the keyhole to be submissive, decorous, and a few other agreeable impossibilities. Finding the door locked again, she left the note to do its work, and was going quietly away, when the young gentleman slid down the banisters, and waited for her at the bottom, saying, with his most virtuous expression of countenance, “What a good fellow you are, Jo! Did you get blown up? ” he added, laughing.
“No, he was pretty mild, on the whole.”
“Ah! I got it all round. Even you cast me off over there, and I felt just ready to go to the deuce, ” he began apologetically.
“Don't talk that way, turn over a new leaf and begin again, Teddy,my son.”
“I keep turning over new leaves, and spoiling them, as I used to spoil my copybooks, and I make so many beginnings there never will be an end, ”he said dolefully.
“Go and eat your dinner, you'll feel better after it. Men always croak when they are hungry, ” and Jo whisked out at the front door after that.
“That's a ‘label' on my ‘sect', ” answered Laurie, quoting Amy, as he went to partake of humble pie dutifully with his grandfather, who was quite saintly in temper and overwhelmingly respectful in manner all the rest of the day.
Everyone thought the matter ended and the little cloud blown over, but the mischief was done, for though others forgot it, Meg remembered. She never alluded to a certain person, but she thought of him a good deal, dreamed dreams more than ever, and once Jo, rummaging her sister's desk for stamps, found a bit of paper scribbled over with the words, “Mrs. John Brooke, ” whereat she groaned tragically and cast it into the fire,
