Chapter 3 The Laurence Boy

　　`Jo! Jo! where are you?' cried Meg, at the foot of the garret stairs.

　　`Here!' answered a husky voice from above; and, running up, Meg found her sister eating apples and crying over the Heir of Redclyffe, wrapped up in a comforter on an old three-legged sofa by the sunny window. This was Jo's favourite refuge; and here she loved to retire with half a dozen russets and a nice book, to enjoy the quiet and the society of a pet rat who lived near by, and didn't mind her a particle. As Meg appeared, Scrabble whisked into his hole. Jo shook the tears off her cheeks, and waited to hear the news.

　　`Such fun! only see! a regular note of invitation from Mrs. Gardiner for tomorrow night!' cried Meg, waving the precious paper, and then proceeding to read it, with girlish delight.

　　`"Mrs. Gardiner would be happy to see Miss March and Miss Josephine at a little party on New Year's Eve." Marmee is willing we should go; now what shall we wear?'

　　`What's the use of asking that, when you know we shall wear our poplins because we haven't got anything else?' answered Jo, with her mouth full.

　　`If I only had a silk!' sighed Meg. `Mother says I may when I'm eighteen, perhaps; but two years is an everlasting time to wait.'

　　`I'm sure our pops look like silk, and they are nice enough for us. Yours is as good as new, but I forgot the burn and the tear in mine. Whatever shall I do? the burn shows badly and I can't take any out.'

　　`You must sit still all you can, and keep your back out of sight; the front is all right. I shall have a new ribbon for my hair, and Marmee will lend me her little pearl pin, and my new slippers are lovely, and my gloves will do, though they aren't as nice as I'd like.'

　　`Mine are spoilt with lemonade, and I can't get any new ones, so I shall have to go without,' said Jo, who never troubled herself much about dress.

　　`You must have gloves, or I won't go,' cried Meg decidedly, `gloves are more important than anything else. I should be so mortified if you didn't have them.'

　　`Then I'll stay where I am.'

　　`You can't ask Mother for new ones, they are so expensive, and you are so careless. She said, when you spoilt the others, that she shouldn't get you any more this winter. Can't you make them do?' asked Meg anxiously.

　　`I can hold them crumpled up in my hand, so no one will know how stained they are; that's all I can do. No, I'll tell you how we can manage-each wear one good one and carry a bad one; don't you see?'

　　`Your hands are bigger than mine, and you will stretch my glove dreadfully,' began Meg, whose gloves were a tender point with her.

　　`Then I'll go without. I don't care what people say!' cried Jo, taking up her book.

　　`You may have it, you may! only don't stain it, and do behave nicely. Don't put your hands behind you, or stare, "Christopher Columbus!" will you?'

　　`Don't worry about me; I'll be as prim as I can, and not get into any scrapes, if I can help it. Now go and answer your note; and let me finish this splendid story.'

　　So Meg went away to `accept with thanks', look over her dress, and sing blithely as she did up her one real lace frill; while Jo finished her story, her four apples, and had a game of romps with Scrabble.

　　On New Year's Eve the parlour was deserted, for the two younger girls played dressing-maids, and the two older were absorbed in the all-important business of `getting ready for the party'. Simple as the toilets were, there was a great deal of running up and down, laughing and talking, and at one time a strong smell of burnt hair pervaded the house. Meg wanted a few curls about her face, and Jo undertook to pinch the papered locks with a pair of hot tongs.

　　`Ought they to smoke like that?' asked Beth, from her perch on the bed.

　　`It's the dampness drying,' replied Jo.

　　`What a queer smell! it's like burnt feathers,' observed Amy, smoothing her own pretty curls with a superior air.

　　`There, now I'll take off the papers and you'll see a cloud of little ringlets,' said Jo, putting down the tongs.

　　She did take off the papers, but no cloud of ringlets appeared, for the hair came with the papers, and the horrified hairdresser laid a row of little scorched bundles on the bureau before her victim.

　　`Oh, oh, oh! what have you done? I'm spoilt! I can't go! My hair, oh, my hair!' wailed Meg, looking with despair at the uneven frizzle on her forehead.

　　`Just my luck; you shouldn't have asked me to do it; I always spoil everything. I'm so sorry, but the tongs were too hot, and so I've made a mess,' groaned poor Jo, regarding the black pancakes with tears of regret.

　　`It isn't spoilt: just frizzle it, and tie your ribbon so the ends come on your forehead a bit, and it will look like the last fashion. I've seen many girls do it so,' said Amy, consolingly.

　　`Serves me right for trying to be fine. I wish I'd let my hair alone,' cried Meg, petulantly.

　　`So do I, it was so smooth and pretty. But it will soon grow out again,' said Beth, coming to kiss and comfort the shorn sheep.

　　After various lesser mishaps, Meg was finished at last, and by the united exeons of the family, Jo's hair was got up and her dress on. They looked very well in their simple suits. Meg in silvery drab, with a blue velvet snood, lace frills, and the pearl pin; Jo in maroon, with a stiff, gentlemanly linen collar and a white chrysanthemum or two for her only ornament. Each put on the one nice light glove, and carried one soiled one, and all pronounced the effect `quite easy and fine'. Meg's high-heeled slippers were very tight, and hurt her, though she would not own it, and Jo's nineteen hairpins all seemed stuck straight into her head, which was not exactly comfortable; but, dear me, let us be elegant or die!

　　`Have a good time, dearies!' said Mrs. March, as the sisters went daintily down the walk. `Don't eat much supper, and come away at eleven, when I send Hannah for you.' As the gate clashed behind them, a voice cried from a window:

　　`Girls, girls! have you both got nice pocket-handkerchiefs?'

　　`Yes, yes, spandy nice, and Meg has cologne on hers,' cried Jo, adding with a laugh, as they we nt on, `I do believe Marmee would ask that if we were all running away - from an earthquake.'

　　`It is one of her aristocratic tastes, and quite proper, for a real lady is always known by neat boots, gloves, and handkerchief,' replied Meg, who had a good many little `aristocratic tastes' of her own.

　　`Now don't forget to keep the bad breadth out of sight, Jo. Is my sash right? and does my hair look very bad?' said Meg, as she turned from the glass in Mrs. Gardiner's dressing room, after a prolonged prink.

　　`I know I shall forget. If you see me doing anything wrong just remind me by a wink, will you?' returned Jo, giving her collar a twitch and her hair a hasty brush.

　　`No, winking isn't lady-like; I'll lift my eyebrows if anything is wrong, and nod if you are all right. Now hold your shoulders straight and take short steps, and don't shake hands if you are introduced to anyone: it isn't the thing.'

　　`How do you learn all the proper ways? I never can. Isn't that music gay?'

　　Down they went, feeling a trifle timid, for they seldom went to parties, and, informal as this little gathering was, it was an event to them. Mrs. Gardiner, a stately old lady, greeted them kindly, and handed them over to the eldest of her six daughters. Meg knew Sallie, and was at her ease very soon; but Jo, who didn't care much for girls or girlish gossip, stood about, with her back carefully against the wall and felt as much out of place as a colt in a flower-garden. Half a dozen jovial lads were talking about skates in another part of the room, and she longed to go and join them, for skating was one of the joys of her life. She telegraphed her wish to Meg, but the eyebrows went up so alarmingly that she dared not stir. No one came to talk to her, and one by one the group near her dwindled away, till she was left alone. She could not roam about and amuse herself, for the burnt breadth would show, so she stared at people rather forlornly till the dancing began. Meg was asked at once, and the tight slippers tripped about so briskly that none would have guessed the pain their wearer suffered smilingly. Jo saw a big red-headed youth approaching her corner, and fearing he meant to engage her, she slipped into a curtained recess, intending to peep and enjoy herself in peace. Unfortunately, another bashful person had chosen the same refuge; for, as the curtain fell behind her, she found herself face to face with the `Laurence boy'.

　　`Dear me, I didn't know anyone was here!' stammered Jo, preparing to back out as speedily as she had bounced in.

　　But the boy laughed, and said pleasantly, though he looked a little startled:

　　`Don't mind me; stay if you like.'

　　`Shan't I disturb you?'

　　`Not a bit; I only came here because I don't know many people, and I felt rather strange at first, you know.'

　　`So did I. Don't go away, please, unless you'd rather.' The boy sat down again and looked at his pumps, till Jo said, trying to be polite and easy:

　　`I think I've had the pleasure of seeing you before; you live near us, don't you?'

　　`Next door'; and he looked up and laughed outright, for Jo's prim manner was rather funny, when he remembered how they had chatted about cricket when he brought the cat home.

　　That put Jo at her ease; and she laughed too, as she said, her heartiest way:

　　`We did have such a good time over your nice Christmas present.'

　　`Grandpa sent it.'

　　`But you put it into his head, didn't you, now?'

　　`How is your cat, Miss March?' asked the boy, trying to look sober, while his black eyes shone with fun.

　　`Nicely, thank you, Mr. Laurence; but I am not Miss March, I'm only Jo,' returned the young lady.

　　`I'm not Mr. Laurence, I'm only Laurie.'

　　`Laurie Laurence - what an odd name!'

　　`My first name is Theodore, but I don't like it, for the fellows called me Dora, so I made them say Laurie instead.'

　　`I hate my name, too - so sentimental! I wish everyone would say Jo, instead of Josephine. How did you make the boys stop calling you Dora?'

　　`I thrashed 'em.'

　　`I can't thrash Aunt March, so I suppose I shall have to bear it'; and Jo resigned herself with a sigh.

　　`Do you like parties?' she asked in a moment.

　　`Sometimes; you see I've been abroad a good many years, and haven't been in company enough yet to know how you do things here.'

　　`Abroad!' cried Jo. `Oh, tell me about it! I love dearly to hear people describe their travels.'

　　Laurie didn't seem to know where to begin; but Jo's eager questions soon set him going, and he told her how he had been at school in Vevey, where the boys never wore hats, and had a fleet of boats on the lake, and for holiday fun went walking trips about Switzerland with their teachers.

　　`Don't I wish I'd been there!' cried Jo. `Did you go to Paris?'

　　`We spent last winter there.'

　　`Can you talk French?'

　　`We were not allowed to speak anything else at Vevey.'

　　`Do say some! I can read it, but can't pronounce.'

　　`Quel nom a cette jeune demoiselle en les pantoufles jolies?' said Laurie, good-naturedly.

　　`How nicely you do it! Let me see - you said, "Who is the young lady in the pretty slippers," didn't you?'

　　`Oui, mademoiselle.'

　　`It's my sister Margaret, and you knew it was! Do you think she is pretty?'

　　`Yes; she makes me think of the German girls, she looks so fresh and quiet.'

　　Jo quite glowed with pleasure at this boyish praise of her sister, and stored it up to repeat to Meg.

　　Both peeped and criticized and chatted, till they felt like old acquaintances. Laurie's bashfulness soon wore off; for Jo's gentlemanly demeanour amused and set him at his ease, and Jo was her merry self again, because her dress was forgotten, and nobody lifted their eyebrows at her.

　　She liked the `Laurence boy' better than ever, and took several good looks at him, so that she might describe him to the girls; for they had no brothers, very few male cousins, and boys were almost unknown creatures to them.

　　`Curly black hair; brown skin; big, black eyes; handsome nose; fine teeth; small hands and feet; taller than I am, very polite for a boy, and altogether jolly. Wonder how old he is?'

　　It was on the tip of Jo's tongue to ask; but she checked herself in time, and with unusual tact, tried to find out in a roundabout way.

　　`I suppose you are going to college soon? I see you pegging away at your books - no, I mean studying hard'; and Jo blushed at the dreadful `pegging' which had escaped her.

　　Laurie smiled, but didn't seem shocked, and answered, with a shrug:

　　`Not for a year or two; I won't go before seventeen, anyway.'

　　`Aren't you but fifteen?' asked Jo, looking at the tall lad, whom she had imagined seventeen already.

　　`Sixteen, next month.'

　　`How I wish I was going to college! You don't look as if you liked it.'

　　`I hate it! Nothing but grinding or skylarking. And I don't like the way fellows do either in this country.'

　　`What do you like?'

　　`To live in Italy, and to enjoy myself in my own way.'

　　Jo wanted very much to ask what his own way was: but his black brows looked rather threatening as he knit them; so she changed the subject by saying, as her foot kept time, `That's a splendid piano in the next room. Why don't you go and try it?'

　　`If you will come too,' he answered, with a gallant little bow.

　　`I can't; for I told Meg I wouldn't, because——' There Jo stopped, and looked undecided whether to tell or to laugh. `Because what?' asked Laurie, curiously.

　　`You won't tell?'

　　`Never!'

　　`Well, I have a bad trick of standing before the fire, and so I burn my frocks, and I scorched this one; and though it's nicely mended, it shows, and Meg told me to keep still, so no one would see it. You may laugh, if you want to; it is funny, I know.' But Laurie didn't laugh; he only looked down a minute, and the expression of his face puzzled Jo, when he said very gently: `Never mind that. Please come.'

　　Jo thanked him, and gladly went, wishing she had two neat gloves, when she saw the nice, pearl-coloured ones her partner wore.

　　When the music stopped, they sat down; and Laurie was in the midst of an account of a students' festival at Heidelberg, when Meg appeared in search of her sister. She beckoned, and Jo reluctantly followed her into a side room, where she found her on a sofa, holding her foot, and looking pale. `I've sprained my ankle. That stupid high heel turned, and gave me a sad wrench. It aches so I can hardly stand, and I don't know how I'm ever going to get home,' she said, rocking to and fro in pain.

　　`I knew you'd hurt your feet with those silly shoes. I'm sorry. But I don't see what you can do, except get a carriage, or stay here all night,' answered Jo, softly rubbing the poor ankle as she spoke.

　　`I can't have a carriage, without its costing ever so much.'

　　I daresay I can't get one at all; for most people come in their own, and it's a long way to the stable, and no one to lend.'

　　`I'll go.'

　　`No, indeed! It's past nine, and dark as Egypt. I can't stop here, for the house is full. Sallie has some girls staying with her. I'll rest till Hannah comes, and then do the best I can.'

　　`I'll ask Laurie; he will go,' said Jo, looking relieved as the idea occurred to her.

　　`Mercy, no! Don't ask or tell anyone. Get me my rubbers, and put these slippers with our things. As soon as supper is over, watch for Hannah, and tell me the minute she comes.'

　　`They are going out to supper now. I'll stay with you; I'd rather.'

　　`No, dear, run along, and bring me some coffee. I'm so tired, I can't stir!'

　　So Meg reclined, with rubbers well hidden, and Jo went blundering away to the dining room, which she found after going into a china-closet, and opening the door of a room where old Mr. Gardiner was taking a little private refreshment. Making a dart at the table, she secured the coffee, which she immediately spilt, making the front of her dress as bad as the back.

　　`Oh, dear, what a blunderbuss I am!' exclaimed Jo, finishing Meg's glove by scrubbing her gown with it.

　　`Can I help you?' said a friendly voice; and there was Laurie, with a full cup in one hand, and a plate of ice in the other.

　　`I was trying to get something for Meg, who is very tired, and someone shook me; and here I am, in a nice state,' answered Jo, glancing dismally from the stained skirt to the coffee-coloured glove.

　　`Too bad! I was looking for someone to give this to. May I take it to your sister?'

　　`Oh, thank you! I'll show you where she is. I don't offer to take it myself, for I should only get into another scrape if I did.'

　　Jo led the way; and, as if used to waiting on ladies, Laurie drew up a little table, brought a second instalment of coffee and ice for Jo, and was so obliging that even particular Meg pronounced him a `nice boy'. They had a merry time over the bonbons and mottoes, and were in the midst of a quiet game of `Buzz', with two or three other young people who had strayed in, when Hannah appeared. Meg forgot her foot, and rose so quickly that she was forced to catch hold of Jo, with an exclamation of pain.

　　`Hush! Don't say anything,' she whispered, adding aloud, `It's nothing. I turned my foot a little, that's all'; and limped upstairs to put her things on.

　　Hannah scolded, Meg cried, and Jo was at her wit's end, till she decided to take things into her own hands. Slipping out, she ran down, and, finding a servant, asked if he could get her a carriage. It happened to be a hired waiter, who knew nothing about the neighbourhood; and Jo was looking round for help, when Laurie, who had heard what she said, came up, and offered his grandfather's carriage, which had just come for him, he said.

　　`It's so early! You can't mean to go yet?' began Jo, looking relieved, but hesitating to accept the offer.

　　`I always go early - I do, truly! Please let me take you home. It's all on my way, you know, and it rains, they say.'

　　That settled it; and, telling him of Meg's mishap, Jo gratefully accepted, and rushed up to bring down the rest of the party. Hannah hated rain as much as a cat does; so she made no trouble, and they rolled away in the luxurious close carriage, feeling very festive and elegant. Laurie went on the box; so Meg could keep her foot up, and the girls talked over their party in freedom.

　　`I had a capital time. Did you?' asked Jo, rumpling up her hair, and making herself comfortable.

　　`Yes, till I hurt myself. Sallies friend, Annie Moffat, took a fancy to me, and asked me to come and spend a week with her when Sallie does. She is going in the spring, when the opera comes; and it will be perfectly splendid, if Mother only lets me go,' answered Meg, cheering up at the thought.

　　`I saw you with the red-headed man I ran away from.

　　Was he nice?'

　　`Oh, very! His hair is auburn, not red; and he is very polite.'

　　`He looked like a grasshopper in a fit. Laurie and I couldn't help laughing. Did you hear us?'

　　`No; but it was very rude. What were you about all that time, hidden away there?'

　　Jo told her adventures, and, by the time she had finished, they were at home. With many thanks, they said `Good night', and crept in, hoping to disturb no one; but the instant their door creaked, two little night-caps bobbed up, and two sleepy but eager voices cried out:

　　`Tell about the party! tell about the party' With what Meg called "a great want of manners", Jo had saved some bonbons for the little girls; and they soon subsided, after hearing the most thrilling events of the evening. `I declare, it really seems like being a fine young lady to come home from the party in a carriage, and sit in my dressing-gown with a maid to wait on me,' said Meg, as Jo bound up her foot with arnica, and brushed her hair.

　　`I don't believe fine young ladies enjoy themselves a bit more than we do, in spite of our burnt hair, old gowns, one glove apiece, and tight slippers that sprain our ankles when we are silly enough to wear them.' And I think Jo was quite right.

 

“乔！乔！你在哪里？”梅格站在阁楼楼梯脚下叫道。

“在这里！”上面一个嘶哑的声音应道。梅格跑上去，只见自己的妹妹身上裹着一条羊毛围巾，坐在靠着向阳窗户的一张旧三脚沙发上，一边吃苹果一边抹着眼泪读《莱德克力夫的继承人》。这里是乔最钟爱的避护所；她喜欢带上五六个苹果和一本好书在此逍遥，享受这里的宁静以及和爱鼠作伴的滋味。爱鼠叫做扒扒，住在近处，对她全无顾忌。看到梅格走来，扒扒飞窜入洞。乔抹掉脸颊上的泪珠，看有什么事情。

“多有趣！加德纳夫人正式邀请我们参加明天的晚会。你瞧，这是邀请书！”梅格一边叫一边扬扬那张宝贝字条，以女孩子特有的兴致读起来。

“'加德纳夫人诚邀马奇小姐和约瑟芬小姐参加新年除夕的小舞会。'妈咪也同意我们参加，只是我们穿什么好呢？”“问这个有什么意思？你知道我们除了穿府绸衣裳外，别无选择，”乔嘴里塞得满满的，答道。“如果我有一件丝绸衣裳就好了！”梅格叹息道，”妈妈说我到十八岁时或许会有，但还要等上两年，简直是遥遥无期。”“我敢说我们的府绸衣裳看上去就像丝绸的一样，我们穿上也挺漂亮的。你的就跟新的一样，我倒忘了我那件给烧坏了，而且还裂了个口子。这可该怎么办呢？那块焦痕很明显，而我又拿不出其他衣服来。”“你必须老老实实地坐着不动，不要把背部给人看到；前面是不成问题的。我要用一条新丝带扎头发，妈妈会把她的小珍珠发夹借给我，我的新鞋子很漂亮，手套虽然没有我希望的那么漂亮，但也算可以出出场面。”“我那双被柠檬汁糟蹋了，我又拿不出新的，到时候就不戴了，”乔说。她向来不大注重打扮。

“你一定要戴上手套，否则我就不去，”梅格断然说道，”手套比什么都重要；不戴手套就不能跳舞。如果你不带，我可要羞死了。”“那么我不跳好了。我不大喜欢跟别人跳舞。这么装仪作态地转来转去没趣得很。我喜欢随意走动，轻松谈笑。”“你不能叫妈妈买新的，因为太贵了，而你又这么粗心。

你弄脏了那些手套的时候她就说过今年冬天不该再给你买。

你能让旧的凑合着使吗？”梅格焦虑地问。

“我可以把手套揉成一团握在手里，这样就没有人知道它们有多脏了；我只能做到这样。不！不如这样--我俩各戴上一只好的，拿着一只脏的，你明白吗？”“你的手比我的大，准会把我的手套撑坏，”梅格说道。她视手套如心肝宝贝。

“那么我就不戴好了。我不在乎别人怎么说！”乔一边叫一边拿起书来。

“你可以戴我的，可以！只是别把它弄脏了，而且一定要言行检点。别把手放在身后，不要瞪着眼看人，不要说'我的天哪！'好吗？”“别担心。我会尽量板着面孔，不去闯祸，如果我能做到的话。你现在去给人家回个条吧，让我把这个精彩故事看完。”梅格于是去写她的"万分感谢地接受"等话，把衣裳再过了一次目，又愉快地唱着歌儿把网眼花边镶好。这边乔读完故事，吃掉四个苹果，又和扒扒嬉戏了一番。

除夕，客厅里显得特别的静，两个姐姐在专心致志地做异常重要的事情- "为晚会做准备"，两个妹妹则侍候她们化妆。虽然化妆并不复杂，姐妹们还是跑上跑下，又说又笑，有一阵子屋子里弥漫着一股强烈的烧焦头发的异味。梅格想弄几缕卷曲的刘海，乔便将的头发用纸片包起来，再用一把烧热的火钳夹祝"头发会这样冒烟吗？”贝思倚在床上问。

“这是湿气在蒸发哩，”乔答。

“味道真怪！像是烧焦了的羽毛，”艾美一边评论一边自豪地摸摸自己美丽的曲发。

“好了，我把纸片拿开，你们就会看到一堆小鬈发了，”乔说着放下火钳。

她确实拿开了纸片，但却不见那堆小鬈发，因为头发都断送在纸片里了。吓坏了的发型师把一段烧焦的发束放在受害人前面的柜子上。

“噢，噢，噢！你都干了些什么呀？全完了！教我怎么见人！我的头发，噢，我的头发！”梅格绝望地看着额前参差不齐的头发疙瘩，失声痛哭。

“唉，又倒霉了！你本来就不该叫我来弄。我总是把事情弄得一塌糊涂。真对不起，火钳太烫，所以我弄糟了，”可怜的乔哼哼着说。望着那些黑色烧饼，她心中懊悔万分，泪水夺眶而出。

“没有完哩，把头发卷曲起来，上面扎根丝带，靠近额前打个结，这样看上就像是最时髦的发型。我看到很多女孩子都这样打扮，”艾美安慰道。

“真是活该，谁叫自己臭美。如果我不去动自己的头发就没事了，”梅格使着性子哭道。

“我也这样想，可惜了这一头秀发。不过头发很快就会长出来的。”贝思边安慰边走过来亲吻这头剪了毛的小羊。

又经历了一连串小意外后，梅格终于装扮好了，经过家人的一致努力，乔也弄好了头发，穿上衣裳。虽然衣饰简单，她们却显得相当好看 -梅格身穿银灰色斜纹布衣裳，配蓝色天鹅绒发网，喱士饰边，珍珠发夹；乔一身栗色衣裳，配一件笔挺的男式亚麻布衣领，身上唯一的点缀是两朵白菊花。

两人各戴一只精致干净的手套，拿一只污手套，众人一致称赞这种效果"既自如又优美"。梅格的高跟鞋太紧，脚被夹得生疼，却又不愿承认；乔的十九个齿的发夹似乎要直插入她的脑袋，令她非常不自在；不过，嘿，不潇洒，毋宁死！

“玩得开开心心，宝贝！”马奇太太对优雅地走下人行道的两姐妹说，”晚饭不要吃得太多，十一点钟就回家，我让罕娜来接你们。”大门在她们身后砰地关上了。这时窗子里又传来了喊声- “姑娘们，姑娘们！都带上漂亮的小手帕了吗？”“带上了，漂亮极啦，梅格的还洒上了古龙香水，”乔大声答道，一头走着又笑了一声，“我相信就算我们遇上地震狼狈逃窜，妈妈也要这样问的。”“这是妈妈的一种高贵品味，而且相当合乎体统，因为真正的淑女可以根据洁净的靴子、手套和手帕看出来，”梅格回答。她本人就颇具这些"高贵品味儿"。

“现在记住不要把烧坏了的一面让别人看到，乔。我的腰带这样行吗？头发看上是不是很糟糕？”梅格在加德纳夫人的梳妆室对镜理妆，好一会才转过身来说道。

“我知道我一定会忘掉的。如果你看到我做错了什么事，就眨眨眼提醒我，好吗？”乔说着把衣领一拉，又匆匆理理头发。

“不行，眨眼并非淑女所为。如果你做错了事我就抬抬眼眉，如果做对了就点点头。现在挺直腰，迈小步。如果把你介绍给别人时，不要握手：那不合规矩。“这些规矩你都是怎样学来的？我就是老学不会。听，音乐多轻快！”姐妹两人略带羞怯地走过去。虽然这只是个非正式的小舞会，对于她们来说却是件盛事。加德纳夫人是位神态庄重的老太太，有六个女儿。她和霭可亲地接待了她们，并把她们交给大女儿莎莉。梅格和莎莉相熟，很快便不再拘束，而乔呢，对女孩子和女孩子的闲言碎语一向不大着意，只得站在那里，小心翼翼地背靠着墙，觉得自己就像一匹关在花园里的小野马，很不得要领。五六个快活的小伙子在房间的另一头大谈溜冰，她心痒难禁，恨不得也走过去参与，因为溜冰是她生活中的一大乐趣。她把心头愿望向梅格流露，但梅格的眉毛抬得老高，令她不敢轻举妄动。没有人过来跟他说话；身边的一群人也渐走渐少，最后只剩下她孤零零一个。因为怕露出烧坏了的衣幅，她不敢四处走动去寻找乐趣，只能可怜巴巴地站在那里盯着别人看。这时舞曲响起，梅格马上被请进了舞池。她步态轻快，笑脸盈盈，没有人会想象得到她双脚正被那双鞋子折磨得生疼。乔看到一个大个子红头发的年轻人向她走来，担心会请她跳舞，便赶快溜进一间挂着帘幕的休息室，准备独自一人偷偷窥视，悄悄欣赏。谁料到另一个害羞的人已先看中了这个庇身之处：当帘幕在身后落下时，乔发现自己正与"劳伦斯家的男孩"面对着面。

“噢，我不知道这里有人！”乔张口结舌，准备转身冲出去。

但男孩笑了，愉快地说：“别管我，你喜欢就呆着吧，”尽管他看上去也有点吃惊。

“我会打扰你吗？”

“一点也不会。我进来是因为这里有很多人我都不认识，你知道一开始总有点陌生感。”“我也一样。请不要走开，除非你真的想这样。”男孩又坐下来，低头望着自己的浅口无带皮鞋。乔尽量用礼貌轻松的口吻说：“我想我曾幸会过阁下。阁下就住在我们附近吧？”“隔壁。”他抬起头笑出声来，因为他想起了把猫送回她家时两人一起谈论板球的情景。相比之下，乔这副一本正经的神态显得十分逗趣。

乔轻松下来，也笑了。她诚挚地说：“你送来的美妙的圣诞礼物真令我们开心极了。”“是爷爷送的。”“但这是你出的主意，没错吧？”“你的猫好吗，马奇小姐？”男孩试图严肃一点，但黑色眼睛里却闪着调皮的光芒。

“很好，谢谢，劳伦斯先生；不过我不是什么马奇小姐，我叫乔，”年轻女士答道。

“我也不是劳伦斯先生，我叫劳里。”

“劳里，劳伦斯， -这名字真怪！”

“我的名字是西奥多，但我不喜欢，因为伙伴们把我叫做多拉，所以我让他们改叫劳里。”“我也不喜欢我的名字- 多么伤感！我希望人人都叫我乔，而不叫约瑟芬。你是怎么使那些男孩不再叫你多拉的？”“痛打他们。”“我不可以痛打马奇婶婶，所以我只好随她怎么叫。”乔失望地叹了一口气。

“喜欢跳舞吗，乔小姐？”劳里问，似乎认为这个称呼挺适合她。

“如果场地开阔，大家也都兴高采烈，我倒是挺喜欢的。

但是这样的场合我总会打翻点东西，踩着别人的脚趾头，或者出一些糟糕透顶的洋相，所以我不去胡闹，只由梅格去跳。

你跳舞吗？”

“有时也跳。我在外国生活了好些年，在这里交友尚少，还不大熟悉你们的生活方式。”“外国！”乔叫道，”呵，给我讲讲吧！我最爱听人家谈自己的旅游见闻。”劳里似乎不知道该从哪里说起，但见乔问得热切，便也打开了话匣子，谈他在韦威的学校生活，告诉她那边的男孩从来不戴帽子，而且他们在湖上都有一队小船，休假时大家跟老师们一起走过瑞士等等。

“如果我能去该有多好！”乔叫道，”你去过巴黎吗？”“去年我们在那里过冬。“你能讲法语吗？”“在韦威只许讲法语。”“讲几句吧！我可以读，但不会说。“Ｑｕｅｌｎｏｍａｃｅｔｔｅｊｅｕｎｅｄｅｍｏｉｓｅｌｌｅｅｎｌｅｓｐａｎｔｏｕeｌｅｓｊｏｌｉｓ？”劳里友善地说。

“说得好极了！让我想想--你是说：'那位穿着漂亮鞋子的年轻女士是谁'，可对？”“Ｏｕｉ，ｍａｄｅｍｏｉｓｅｌｌｅ。”“是我姐姐玛格丽特，你早就知道的！你说她漂亮吗？”“漂亮。她使我想起德国姑娘，她看上去俏丽娴雅，舞姿也很优美。”听到一个男孩子这样夸赞自己的姐姐，乔高兴得脸上放光，忙把这些话记在心中，留待回家转告梅格。他们悄悄看着舞池，一边指点一边交谈，彼此都觉得似乎相知已久。劳里很快便不再害羞，乔的男儿气使他感到十分轻松愉快，乔也倍感快乐，因为她忘掉了自己的衣裳，而且现在没有人对她抬眼眉了。她对“劳伦斯家的男孩"越发感到喜爱，不禁再认真地棒打量了几眼，准备回家把他描述给姐妹们，因为她们没有兄弟，也没有什么表兄弟，对男孩子几乎一无所知。

“卷曲的黑头发，棕色皮肤，黑色的大眼睛，好看的鼻子，牙齿洁白，手脚不大，比我略高，显得温文尔雅，不乏风趣。

只是不知他多大年纪？”

乔正开口要问，却又及时收住，转而机智地换了一种婉转的口吻。

“我想你很快就要念大学了吧？我看到你在啃书本 不，我是指用功读书。“乔为自己冲口说了个不雅的"啃"字而涨红了脸。

劳里并没有在意，他微笑着耸耸肩回答：“这一两年内都不会；要到十七岁我才念大学。”“你才十五岁吗？”乔望着这位高高的小伙子问。她以为他已经十七岁了。

“下个月满十六岁。”

“如果我可以念大学就好了！而你似乎不大喜欢呢。”“我讨厌读文学，一味只是灌输和玩乐。我也不喜欢这个国家的生活方式。”“你喜欢什么呢？”“住在意大利，按自己的方式做事。”乔非常想问问他自己的方式是什么，但他锁起双眉，样子显得极为严肃，乔便一边用脚踏着节拍，一边换了个话题：“这支波尔卡舞曲棒极了！你为什么不去跳？”“如果你也一起来的话，”他说道，并颇有修养地轻轻一躬身子。

“我不能，因为我跟梅格说过我不跳，因为— "乔欲言又止，思量着是说出来呢还是一笑了之。

“因为什么？”劳里好奇地问。

“你不会说出去吧？”

“绝对不会！”

“是这样，我有个坏习惯，喜欢站在炉火前烘衣服，一次便把这件衣服烧坏了，虽经精心缝补，还是可以看出来。梅格要我别乱动，这样就不会让人看到。你要笑就尽管笑吧。我知道这很好笑。”但劳里没有笑，他低头沉思了一会，带着令乔诧异的神情轻声说：“不要紧，我告诉你一个办法：那边有一个长长的走廊，我们可以尽兴起舞，没有人会看见我们。请来吧。”乔谢过他，高兴地走过去。看到舞伴戴着精致的乳白色手套，她恨不得自己也有两只干净手套。走廊空无一人，他们在那里尽兴地跳了一曲波尔卡舞。劳里跳得很好，他教乔跳德国舞步，这种舞步活泼轻快，乔十分喜欢。音乐停下后，他们坐在楼梯上喘口气，劳里跟乔谈着海德堡的学生庆祝会，梅格过来找妹妹。她招招手，乔不大情愿地跟着她走进一个侧间，却看到她坐在沙发上，手托着脚，脸色苍白。

“我扭伤了脚踝。那只讨厌的高跟鞋一歪，把我狠狠地扭了一下。真痛呵，我几乎都站不稳了，真不知道该怎么走回家，”她一边说一边痛得直摇晃。

“我早就知道那双笨鞋会弄伤你的脚。我很难过。但我想不出什么法子，除非去叫一辆马车，或者在这里过夜，”乔答道，边说边轻轻擦着梅格那受伤的脚踝。

“叫一辆马车要花不少钱，再说根本也叫不到，因为大多数人都是坐自己的马车来的。这里离马厩有好长一段路，也找不着人去叫。”“我去。”“千万别去！已经过九点了，外面黑黢黢一片。我不能呆在这里，因为屋里满是人。莎莉有几个女孩子陪着。我在这里等罕娜来，到时候再尽我所能吧。”“我去叫劳里；他会去的，”乔说。想到这个主意，她松了一口气。

“求求你，不要去！不要让人知道。把我的橡胶套鞋给我，把这对鞋子放到我们带来的包袱里。我不能再跳了。晚饭一吃完就看罕娜来了没有，她一到马上告诉我。”“他们现在出去吃饭了。我陪着你；我宁愿这样。”“不，亲爱的，快到那边给我弄点咖啡。我累得要命，简直不能动了！”梅格说完斜靠在沙发上，把橡胶套鞋藏得恰到好处，乔便跌跌撞撞地朝饭厅跑去。她闯入一个地方，原来是放瓷器的小房间，又推开一扇房门，却发现加德纳先生在那里独自小憩，最后才找到了饭厅。她冲到桌边好不容易倒好咖啡，匆忙中又把它弄溅了，把衣服的前幅弄得跟后幅一样糟糕。

“噢，天呵，我真是个冒失鬼！”乔叫道，忙用梅格的手套擦拭，谁知又赔上了一只手套。

“我可以帮忙吗？”一个友善的声音问道。原来是劳里。他一手拿着装得满满的杯子，一手拿着放有冰块的小盘子。

“我正想弄点咖啡给梅格，她累坏了。不知谁碰了我一下，便成了这付狼狈相，“乔说着沮丧地看看弄脏了的裙子，又看看变成咖啡色的手套。

“真是太糟糕了！不过我手里的东西正要送给人，可以拿给你姐姐吗？”“噢，谢谢你！我来带路。东西还是你拿着吧，我拿着准会闯祸的，”乔说完在前面引路。

劳里似乎惯于侍候女士，他拉过一张小桌子，又再走一趟为乔取来咖啡和冰块，十分殷勤周到，梅格虽然挑剔，也不禁称他为"不错的小伙子"。大家愉快地吃着各式糖果，跟两三个刚进来的年青人安安静静玩一种"霸士"游戏。这时罕娜来了。梅格忘了脚痛，猛站起身，痛得叫了一声，赶紧扶住乔。

“嘘！什么也别说，”她悄悄地说，接着放大嗓门，”没有什么，我的脚稍微扭了一下，小事情。”说完她一瘸一拐地走上楼收拾包袱。

罕娜骂，梅格哭。乔不知所措，最后终于决定亲自收拾残局。她一溜烟跑下去，找到一个佣人，问他是否能帮她叫辆马车。偏巧这位佣人是雇来的侍者，对周围情况一无所知，乔正在东张西望找人，劳里听到她叫车，走过来，告诉她他爷爷的马车刚到，准备接他回家，她们可以用这辆车子。

“时间还早呢！你不是这么快就走了吧？”乔问，她松了一口气，但又犹豫是否该接受这个好意。

“我总是提早走--真的，不骗你！请让我送你们回家。

反正是顺路，你知道。再者，他们说还下着雨呢。”事情就这样定下来了；乔把梅格的灾难告诉他，感激不尽地接受了他的好意，又跑上去把其他人带下来。罕娜跟猫一样痛恨下雨，所以顺顺当当上了车。她们乘着豪华的封闭式四轮马车驶回家，觉得极为高雅，内心十分得意。劳里坐到车夫座位上，腾出位置让梅格把脚架起来，姐妹俩毫无顾忌地谈论刚才的晚会。

“我玩得开心极了。你呢？”乔问，把头发弄乱，使自己舒服一些。

“开心，直到把脚扭伤。莎莉的朋友安妮·莫法特喜欢上我了，请我随莎莉到她家住一个星期。莎莉准备在春天歌剧团来的时候去，如果妈妈让我去就太美了，“梅格答道。想到这里她愉快起来。

“我看到你跟我躲开的那个红头发小伙子跳舞，他人好吗？”“噢，非常好！他的头发是红褐色的，不是红色，他非常有礼貌，我跟他跳了一个漂亮的瑞多瓦呢。” “他学跳新舞步时像个痉挛的草蜢。我和劳里都忍不住笑起来，你听到了吗？“没有，但这样非常无礼。你们一晚上藏在那里头干什么？”乔把自己的经过告诉她，讲完时恰好到家了。她们谢过劳里，又道了晚安，悄悄溜进门去，不想惊动任何人。但随着门吱嘎一声，两个戴着睡帽的小脑袋突然冒出来，两个困乏但热切的声音喊道- “讲讲舞会！讲讲舞会！”尽管梅格认为这样"极无规矩"，乔还是为两个妹妹带了几块夹心糖；她们听了晚会最刺激的情节后，很快便安静下来。

“我敢说，晚会后有马车送回家，穿着晨衣坐在家中有女侍侍候，上流社会的年轻女士也不过如此，”梅格边说边让乔在她脚上敷上山金车酊，并给她梳头发。

“虽然我们的头发被烧掉了，衣裳又破又旧，手套也不成双，紧鞋子又扭伤了脚踝，但我相信我们比上流社会的年轻女士玩得开心多了。”我认为乔说得对。