Chapter 11 Experiments

　　`The first of June! The Kings are off to the seashore tomorrow, and I'm free. Three months' vacation - how I shall enjoy it!' exclaimed Meg, coming home one warm day to find Jo laid upon the sofa in an unusual state of exhaustion, while Beth took off her dusty boots, and Amy made lemonade for the refreshment of the whole party.

　　`Aunt March went today, for which, oh, be joyful!' said Jo. `I was mortally afraid she'd ask me to go with her; if she had, I should have felt as if I ought to do it; but Plumfield is about as gay as a churchyard, you know, and I'd rather be excused.

　　`We had a flurry getting the old lady off, and I had a fright every time she spoke to me, for I was in such a hurry to be through that I was uncommonly helpful and sweet, and feared she'd find it impossible to part from me. I quaked till she was fairly in the carriage, and had a final fright, for, as it drove off, she popped out her head, saying, "Josyphine, won't you - ?" I didn't hear any more, for I basely turned and fled; I did actually run, and whisked round the corner, where I felt safe.'

　　`Poor old Jo! she came in looking as if bears were after her,' said Beth, as she cuddled her sister's feet with a motherly air.

　　`Aunt March is a regular samphire, is she not?' observed Amy, tasting her mixture critically.

　　`She means vampire, no seaweed; but it doesn't matter; it's too warm to be particular about one's parts of speech,' murmured Jo.

　　`What shall you do all your vacation?' asked Amy, changing the subject, with tact. `I shall lie abed late and do nothing,' replied Meg, from the depths of the rocking-chair. `I've been routed up early all winter, and had to spend my days working for other people; so now I'm going to rest and revel to my heart's content.'

　　`No,' said Jo; `that dosy way wouldn't suit me. I've laid in a heap of books, and I'm going to improve my shining hours reading on my perch in the old apple-tree, when I'm not having l——'

　　`Don't say "larks"!' implored Amy, as a return snub for the `samphire' correction.

　　`I'll say "nightingales", then, with Laurie; that's proper and appropriate, since he's a warbler.'

　　`Don't let us do any lessons, Beth, for a while, but play all the time, and rest, as the girls mean to,' proposed Amy.

　　`Well, I will, if Mother doesn't mind. I want to learn some new songs, and my children need fitting up for the summer; they are dreadfully out of order, and really suffering for clothes.'

　　`May we, Mother?' asked Meg, turning to Mrs. March, who sat sewing in what they called `Marmee's corner'.

　　`You may try your experiment for a week, and see how you like it. I think by Saturday night you will find that all play and no work is as bad as all work and no play.'

　　`Oh, dear, no! it will be delicious, I'm sure,' said Meg, complacently.

　　`I now propose a toast, as my "friend and pardner, Sairy Gamp", says. Fun for ever, and no grubbing!' cried Jo, rising, glass in hand, as the lemonade went round.

　　They all drank it merrily, and began the experiment by lounging for the rest of the day. Next morning Meg did not appear till ten o'clock; her solitary breakfast did not taste nice and the room seemed lonely and untidy; for Jo had not filled the vases, Beth had not dusted, and Amy's books lay scattered about. Nothing was neat and pleasant but `Marmee's corner', which looked as usual; and there Meg sat, to `rest and read', which meant yawn, and imagine what pretty summer dresses she would get with her salary. Jo spent the morning on the river with Laurie, and the afternoon reading and crying over The Wide, Wide World, up in the apple-tree. Beth began by rummaging everything out of the big closet where her family resided; but, getting tired before half done, she left her establishment topsy-turvy, and went to her music, rejoicing that she had no dishes to wash. Amy arranged her bower, put on her best white frock, smoothed her curls, and sat down to draw, under the honeysuckles, hoping someone would see and inquire who the young artist was. As no one appeared but an inquisitive daddy long-legs, who examined her work with interest, she went for a walk, got caught in a shower, and came home dripping.

　　At tea-time they compared notes, and all agreed that it had been a delightful, though unusually long day. Meg, who went shopping in the afternoon, and got a `sweet blue muslin', had discovered, after she had cut the breadths off, that it wouldn't wash, which mishap made her slightly cross. Jo had burnt the skin off her nose boating, and got a raging headache by reading too long. Beth was worried by the confusion of her closet, and the difficulty of Teaming three or four songs at once; and Amy deeply regretted the damage done her frock, for Katy Brown's party was to be the next day, and now, like Flora M'Flimsey, she had `nothing to wear'. But these were mere trifles; and they assured their mother that the experiment was working finely. She smiled, said nothing, and, with Hannah's help, did their neglected work, keeping home pleasant, and the domestic machinery running smoothly. It was astonishing what a peculiar and uncomfortable state of things was produced by the `resting and revelling' process. The days kept getting longer and longer; the weather was unusually variable, and so were tempers; an unsettled feeling possessed everyone, and Satan found plenty of mischief for the idle hands to do. As the height of luxury, Meg put out some of her sewing, and then found time hang so heavily that she fell to snipping and spoiling her clothes, in her attempts to furbish them up * la Moffat. Jo read till her eyes gave out, and she was sick of books; got so fidgety that even good-natured Laurie had a quarrel with her, and so reduced in spirits that she desperately wished she had gone out with Aunt March. Beth got on pretty well, for she was constantly forgetting that it was to be all play, and no work, an fell back into her old ways now and then; but something in the air affected her, and more than once her tranquillity was much disturbed; so much so, that, on one occasion, she actually shook poor dear Joanna, and told her she was a `fright'. Amy fared worst of all, for her resources were small; and when her sisters left her to amuse and care for herself, she soon found that accomplished and important little self a great burden. She didn't like dolls, fairy tales were childish, and one couldn't draw all the time; tea parties didn't amount to much, neither did picnics, unless very well conducted. `If one could have a fine house, full of nice girls, or go travelling, the summer would be delightful; but to stay at home with three selfish sisters and a grown-up boy was enough to try the patience of a "Boaz",' complained Miss Malaprop, after several days devoted to pleasure, fretting, and ennui. No one would own that they were tired of the experiment; but, by Friday night, each acknowledged to herself that she was glad the week was nearly done. Hoping to impress the lesson more deeply, Mrs. March, who had a good deal of humour, resolved to finish off the trial in an appropriate manner; so she gave Hannah a holiday, and let the girls enjoy the full effect of the play system. When they got up on Saturday morning, there was no fire in the kitchen, no breakfast in the dining room, and no mother anywhere to be seen.

　　`Mercy on us! what has happened?' cried Jo, staring about her in dismay.

　　Meg ran upstairs, and soon came back again, looking relieved, but rather bewildered, and a little ashamed.

　　`Mother isn't sick, only very tired, and she says she is going to stay quietly in her room all day, and let us do the best we can. It's a very queer thing for her to do, she doesn't act a bit like herself; but she says it has been a hard week for her, so we mustn't grumble, but take care of ourselves.'

　　`That's easy enough, and I like the idea; I'm aching for something to do - that is, some new amusement, you know,' added Jo, quickly.

　　In fact it was an immense relief to them all to have a little work, and they k hold with a will, but soon realized the truth of Hannah's saying, `Housekeeping ain't no joke.' There was plenty of food in the larder, and, while Beth and Amy set the table, Meg and Jo got breakfast, wondering, as they did so, why servants ever talked about hard work.

　　`I shall take some up to Mother, though she said we were not to think of her, for she'd take care of herself,' said Meg, who presided, and felt quite matronly behind the teapot.

　　So a tray was fitted out before anyone began, and taken up with the cook's compliments. The boiled tea was very bitter, the omelette scorched, and the biscuits speckled with saleratus; but Mrs. March received her repast with thanks, and laughed heartily over it after Jo was gone.

　　`Poor little souls, they will have a hard time, I'm afraid; but they won't suffer, and it will do them good,' she said, producing the more palatable viands with which she had provided herself, and disposing of the bad breakfast, so that their feelings might not be hurt - a motherly little deception for which they were grateful.

　　Many were the complaints below, and great the chagrin of the head cook at her failures. `Never mind, I'll get the dinner and be servant; you be mistress, keep your hands nice, see company, and give orders,' said Jo, who knew still less than Meg about culinary affairs.

　　This obliging offer was gladly accepted; and Margaret retired to the parlour, which she hastily put in order by whisking the litter under the sofa, and shutting the blinds, to save the trouble of dusting. Jo, with perfect faith in her own powers, and a friendly desire to make up the quarrel, immediately put a note in the office, inviting Laurie to dinner.

　　`You'd better see what you have got before you think about having company,' said Meg, when informed of the hospitable but rash act.

　　`Oh, there's corned beef and plenty of potatoes; and I shall get some asparagus, and a lobster, "for a relish", as Hannah says. We'll have lettuce, and make a salad. I don't know how, but the book tells. I'll have blancmange and strawberries for dessert; and coffee, too, if you want to be elegant.'

　　`Don't try too many messes, Jo, for you can't make anything but gingerbread and molasses candy fit to eat. I wash my hands of the dinner-party; and since you have asked Laurie on your own responsibility, you may just take care of him.'

　　`I don't want you to do anything but be civil to him, and help with the pudding. You'll give me your advice if I get in a muddle, won't you?' asked Jo, rather hurt.

　　`Yes; but I don't know much, except about bread, and a few trifles. You had better ask Mother's leave before you order anything,' returned Meg, prudently.

　　`Of course I shall; I'm not a fool,' and Jo went off in a huff at the doubts expressed of her powers.

　　`Get what you like, and don't disturb me; I'm going out to dinner, and can't worry about things at home,' said Mrs. March, when Jo spoke to her.

　　`I never enjoyed housekeeping, and I'm going to take a vacation today, and read, and write, go visiting, and amuse myself.'

　　The unusual spectacle of her busy mother rocking comfortably and reading, early in the morning, made Jo feel as if some natural phenomenon had occurred; for an eclipse, an earthquake, or a volcanic eruption would hardly have seemed stranger.

　　`Everything is out of sorts somehow,' she said to herself, going downstairs. `There's Beth crying; that's a sure sign that something is wrong with this family. If Amy is bothering, I'll shake her.'

　　Feeling very much out of sorts herself, Jo hurried into the parlour to find Beth sobbing over Pip, the canary, who lay dead in the cage, with his little claws pathetically extended, as if imploring the food for want of which he had died.

　　`It's all my fault - I forgot him - there isn't a seed or a drop left. O Pip! O Pip! how could I be so cruel to you?' cried Beth, taking the poor thing in her hands, and trying to restore him.

　　Jo peeped into his half-open eye, felt his little heart, and finding him stiff and cold shook her bead, and offered her domino box for a coffin.

　　`Put him in the oven, and maybe he will get warm and revive,' said Amy, hopefully.

　　`He's been starved, and he shan't be baked, now he's dead. I'll make him a shroud, and he shall be buried in the garden; and I'll never have another bird, never, my Pip! for I'm too bad to own one,' murmured Beth, sitting on the floor with her pet folded in her hands.

　　`The funeral shall be this afternoon, and we will all go. Now, don't cry, Betty; it's a pity, but nothing goes right this week, and Pip has had the worst of the experiment. Make the shroud, and lay him in my box; and, after the dinner party, we'll have a nice little funeral,' said Jo, beginning to feel as if she had undertaken a good deal.

　　Leaving the others to console Beth, she departed to the kitchen, which was in a most discouraging state of confusion. Putting on a big apron she fell to work, and got the dishes piled up ready for washing, when she discovered that the fire was out. `Here's a sweet prospect!' muttered Jo, slamming the stove-door open, and poking vigorously among the cinders.

　　Having rekindled the fire, she thought she would go to market while the water heated. The walk revived her spirits; and flattering herself that she had made good bargains, she trudged home again, after buying a very young lobster, some very old asparagus, and two boxes of acid strawberries. By the time she got cleared up the dinner arrived, and the stove was red-hot. Hannah had left a pan of bread to rise, Meg had worked it up early, set it on the hearth for a second rising, and forgotten it. Meg was entertaining Sallie Gardiner in the parlour, when the door flew open, and a floury, crocky, flushed, and dishevelled figure appeared, demanding tartly:

　　`I say, isn't bread "riz" enough when it runs over the pans?'

　　Sallie began to laugh; but Meg nodded, and lifted her eyebrows as high as they would go, which caused the apparition to vanish, and put the sour bread into the oven without further delay. Mrs. March went out, after peeping here and there to see how matters went, also saying a word of comfort to Beth, who sat making a winding sheet, while the dear departed lay in state in the domino box. A strange sense of helplessness fell upon the girls as the grey bonnet vanished round the comer; and despair seized them when, a few minutes later, Miss Crocker appeared, and said she'd come to dinner. Now, this lady was a thin, yellow spinster, with a sharp nose and inquisitive eyes, who saw everything, and gossiped about all she saw. They disliked her, but had been taught to be kind to her, simply because she was old and poor, and had few friends. So Meg gave her the easy-chair, and tried to entertain her, while she asked questions, criticized everything, and told stories of the people who she knew.

　　Language cannot describe the anxieties, experiences, and exertions which Jo underwent that morning; and the dinner she served up became a standing joke. Fearing to ask any more advice, she did her best alone, and discovered that something more than energy and goodwill is necessary to make a cook. She boiled the asparagus for an hour, and was grieved to find the heads cooked off and the stalks harder than ever. The bread burnt black, for the salad-dressing so aggravated her that she let everything else go till she had convinced herself that she could not make it fit to eat. The lobster was a scarlet mystery to her, but she hammered and poked till it was unshelled, and its meagre proportions concealed in a grove of lettuce leaves. The potatoes had to be hurried, not to keep the asparagus waiting, and were not done at last. The blancmange was lumpy, and the strawberries not as ripe as they looked, having been skilfully `deaconed'

　　`Well, they can eat beef, and bread and butter, if they are hungry; only it's mortifying to have to spend your whole morning for nothing,' thought Jo, as she rang the bell half an hour later than usual, and stood, hot, tired, and dispirited, surveying the feast spread for Laurie, accustomed to all sorts of elegance, and Miss Crocker, whose curious eyes would mark all failures, and whose tattling tongue would report them far and wide.

　　Poor Jo would gladly have gone under the table, as one thing after another was tasted and left; while Amy giggled, Meg looked distressed, Miss Crocker pursed up her lips, and Laurie talked and laughed with all his might, to give a cheerful tone to the festive scene. Jo's one strong point was the fruit, for she had sugared it well, and had a pitcher of rich cream to eat with it. Her hot cheeks cooled a trifle, and she drew a long breath, as the pretty glass plates went round, and everyone looked graciously at the little rosy islands floating in a sea of cream. Miss Crocker tasted first, made a wry face, and drank some water hastily. Jo, who had refused, thinking there might not be enough, for they dwindled sadly after the picking over, glanced at Laurie, but he was eating away manfully, though there was a slight pucker about his mouth, and he kept his eye fixed on his plate. Amy, who was fond of delicate fare, took a heaping spoonful, choked, hid her face in her napkin, and left the table precipitately.

　　`Oh, what is it?' exclaimed Jo, trembling.

　　`Salt instead of sugar, and the cream is sour,' replied Meg, with a tragic gesture.

　　Jo uttered a groan, and fell back in her chair; remembering that she had given a last hasty powdering to the berries out of one of the two boxes on the kitchen table, and had neglected to put the milk in the refrigerator. She turned scarlet, and was on the verge of crying, when she met Laurie's eyes, which would look merry in spite of his heroic efforts; the comical side of the affair suddenly struck her, and she laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks. So did everyone else, even `Croaker', as the girls called the old lady; and the unfortunate dinner ended gaily, with bread and butter, olives, and fun.

　　`I haven't strength of mind enough to clear up now, so we will sober ourselves with a funeral,' said Jo, as they rose; and Miss Crocker made ready to go, being eager to tell the new story at another friend's dinner-table. They did sober themselves for Beth's sake; Laurie dug a grave under the ferns in the grove, little Pip was laid in, with many tears, by his tender-hearted mistress, and covered with moss, while a wreath of violets and chickweed was hung on the stone which bore his epitaph, composed by Jo while she struggled with the dinner:

　　Here lies Pip March,

　　Who died the 7th of June;

　　Loved and lamented sore,

　　And not forgotten soon.

　　At the conclusion of the ceremonies, Beth retired to her room, overcome with emotion and lobster; but there was no place of repose, for the beds were not made, and she found her grief much assuaged by beating up pillows and putting things in order. Meg helped Jo clear away the remains of the feast, which took half the afternoon, and left them so tired that they agreed to be contented with tea and toast for supper. Laurie took Amy for a drive, which was a deed of charity, for the sour cream seemed to have had a bad effect upon her temper. Mrs. March came home to find the three older girls hard at work in the middle of the afternoon, and a glance at the closet gave her an idea of the success of one part of the experiment.

　　Before the housewives could rest several people called, and there was a scramble to get ready to see them; then tea must be got, errands done; and one or two necessary bits of sewing neglected till the last minute. As twilight fell, dewy and still, one by one they gathered in the porch where the June roses were budding beautifully, and each groaned or sighed as she sat down as if tired or troubled.

　　`What a dreadful day this has been!' began Jo, usually the first to speak.

　　`It has seemed shorter than usual, but so uncomfortable,' said Meg.

　　`Not a bit like home,' added Amy.

　　`It can't seem so without Marmee and little Pip,' sighed Beth, glancing with full eyes at the empty cage above her head.

　　`Here's Mother, dear; and you shall have another bird tomorrow, if you want it.'

　　As she spoke, Mrs. March came and took her place among them, looking as if her holiday had not been much pleasanter than theirs.

　　`Are you satisfied with your experiment, girls, or do you want another week of it?' she asked, as Beth nestled up to her, and the rest turned towards her with brightening faces, as flowers turn towards the sun.

　　`I don't,' cried Jo, decidedly.

　　`Nor I,' echoed the others.

　　`You think, then, that it is better to have a few duties, and live a little for others, do you?'

　　`Longing and larking doesn't pay,' observed Jo, shaking her head. `I'm tired of it, and mean to go to work at something right off.'

　　`Suppose you learn plain cooking; that's a useful accomplishment which no woman should be without,' said Mrs. March, laughing inaudibly at the recollection of Jo's dinner-party; for she had met Miss Crocker, and heard her account of it.

　　`Mother, did you go away and let everything be, just to see how we'd get on?' cried Meg, who had had suspicions all day.

　　`Yes; I wanted you to see how the comfort of all depends on each doing her share faithfully. While Hannah and I did your work you got on pretty well, though I don't think you were very happy or amiable; so I thought, as a little lesson, I would show you what happens when everyone thinks only of herself. Don't you feel that it is pleasanter to help one another, to have dally duties which make leisure sweet when it comes, and to bear and forbear, that home may be comfortable and lovely to us all?'

　　`We do, Mother, we do!' cried the girls.

　　`Then let me advise you to take up your little burdens again; for though they seem heavy sometimes, they are good for us, and lighten as we learn to carry them. Work is wholesome, and there is plenty for everyone; it keeps us from ennui an mischief, is good for health and spirits, and gives us a sense of power and independence better than money or fashion.'

　　`We'll work like bees, and love it too; see if we don't!' said Jo. `I'll learn plain cooking for my holiday task; and the next dinner-party I have shall be a success.'

　　`I'll make the set of shirts for Father, instead of letting you do it, Marmee. I can and I will, though I'm not fond of sewing; that will be better than fussing over my own things, which are plenty nice enough as they are,' said Meg.

　　`I'll do my lessons every day, and not spend so much time with my music and dolls. I am a stupid thing, and ought to be studying, not playing,' was Beth's resolution; while Amy followed their example by heroically declaring, `I shall learn to make buttonholes, and attend to my parts of speech.'

　　`Very good! then I am quite satisfied with the experiment, and fancy that we shall not have to repeat it; only don't go to the other extreme, and delve like slaves. Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, in spite of poverty.'

　　`We'll remember, Mother!' and they did.

 

“六月一号！明天金斯一家便要到海滩去，我自由了。三个月的假期--我一定玩得很开心！”梅格叫道。这天天气和暖，她回家时发现乔疲倦不堪地躺在沙发上，贝思帮她脱下沾满尘土的靴子，艾美在做柠檬汁为大家提神。

“马奇婶婶今天走了，噢，我可真高兴！”乔说，”我很害怕她会叫我跟她一起去；如果她开口，我就会觉得自己也应该去，但梅园却跟教堂的墓地一样沉闷，你知道，我宁可她放过我。我们慌慌张张地打发老太太起程，每次她开口跟我说话，我心里都打个愣儿，因为我为了早点完事，干得特别卖力特别殷勤，所以怕她反而离不开了。她终于上了马车，我这才松了一口气。谁知车子正要开时，她伸出头来说：'约瑟芬，你能不能- ？'这一吓可非同小可，我转身撒腿就逃，下面的话也没听清楚，一直跑到拐角处才放下心来。”“可怜的乔！她进来的样子就像身后有只熊追她似的，”贝思像慈母一样抱着姐姐的双脚说道。

“马奇婶婶真是个海蓬子，对吗？”艾美一边评论一边挑剔地品尝着她的混合饮料。

“她是说吸血鬼，不是海草，不过也无伤大雅；天气这么暖和，不必对修辞太讲究，”乔咕哝道。

“你们这个假期怎么过？”艾美问，巧妙地转开话题。

“我要躺在床上，什么也不做，”梅格从摇椅深处回答，”我这个冬季每天一早就被唤醒，整天为别人操劳，现在我要随心所欲，美美地睡个痛快。”“不成，”乔说，”这种养神功夫不适合我。我搬进了一大堆书，我要躲到那棵苹果树上头充实我的好时光，如果不玩— ”“别说玩耍！”艾美要求道，借以回击"海蓬子"这一箭之仇。

“那我就说'玩唱'；和劳里一起，这词够贴切了，反正他歌唱得好。”“我们别做功课了，贝思，让我们玩个痛快，好好歇歇，女孩子们应该那样，”艾美建议。

“嗯，如果妈妈没意见的话，我就不做了。我想学几首新歌，夏天到了，我的孩子们也要添置点东西；它们衣服短缺，一派混乱。”“行吗，妈妈？”梅格把头转向坐在她们称之为"妈咪角"的地方做针线活的马奇太太，问道。

“你们可以试上一个星期，看看滋味如何。我想到了星期六晚上你们就会发现，光玩不干活和光干活不玩一样难受。”“噢，哎哟，不会的！我肯定这一定会其乐无穷，”梅格美滋滋地说。

“现在我提议大家干一杯。永远快乐，不用辛劳！”这时柠檬汁传过来，乔站起来，举杯在手，叫道。

大家快乐地一饮而尽，于是试验开始，那天的剩余时间便被懒洋洋地打发过去了。第二天早上，梅格直到十点钟才露面。她独个儿吃早餐，却食之无味；由于乔没有在花瓶里插上花，贝思也没有打扫，艾美又把书丢得满地都是，房间显得空空落落，十分零乱，只有"妈咪角"仍然跟平常一样井井有条，令人愉快。梅格便坐在那里，”休息读书"，也就是说一面打呵欠一面胡思乱想，盘算着用自己的薪水买什么式样的漂亮夏装。乔在河边和劳里玩了一个早上，下午爬到苹果树上读《大世界》读得泪流满面。贝思从洋娃娃家族居住的大衣柜里头把东西全部翻出来整理，未及一半便倦了，于是把她的大家族横七竖八地躲在一边去弹钢琴，暗暗庆幸自己不用洗碗碟。艾美把花荫收拾一番，穿上漂亮的白色上衣，把鬈发梳理一遍，坐在忍冬花下画画，希望有人看到她，询问这位年轻的艺术家是谁。可惜只来了一只好事的长脚蜘蛛，饶有兴趣地把她的作品审视一番，她只好去散步，却遭大雨淋了一顿，回家时湿得像个落汤鸡。

到了喝茶的时候，她们互相交流心得，一致认为这天过得相当愉快，只是日子似乎格外长。梅格下午上街买了一幅"漂亮的蓝薄纱"，把幅面裁开后才发现这种布不经洗，这一小小的不幸令她脾气有点暴躁。乔划船时晒脱了鼻子上的皮，长时间看书又害得她脑袋生疼。贝思因为衣柜混乱不堪而忧心忡忡，一下子学三四首歌又力不从心。艾美淋湿了上衣，后悔不迭，第二天就是凯蒂·布朗的晚会，现在，她就像弗洛拉·麦克弗里姆西一样，”没有衣服穿"。不过，这些都只是小事一桩，她们告诉母亲进展顺利。母亲笑笑，不做声，和罕娜一起把姐妹们丢下的工作接过来，把家操持得整齐舒适，使家庭机构顺利运作。这种"休息和享乐”产生的结果出人意料：大家都有一种奇怪的、极不自在的感觉。日子变得越来越长，天气也跟她们的脾气一样变化无常，大家心里全都无头无绪，空空落落。而魔鬼撒旦可不会让你两手白闲着，他总会找出一些事来让你做。作为最高享受，梅格把一些针线活拿出去让人做，但接着便发现时间十分沉闷，熬不住又操起裁剪活，结果在莫法特家刷新衣服时因为使劲太大而把自己的衣服弄坏了。乔书不离手，一直读得两眼昏花，见书生厌，脾气也变得异常烦躁，连性子极好的劳里也跟她吵了一架，她于是伤心落泪，只恨未能早跟了马奇婶婶去。贝思倒过得相当安稳，因为她常常忘记了这是光玩不工作时间，不时重新操起旧活；但大家的情绪感染了她，性子一向温柔平和的她也变得有几分烦躁不安 -一次甚至把可怜的宠儿乔安娜摇了几下，骂她是个"怪物"。最难受的要数艾美，她的娱乐圈子窄，三位姐姐把她丢下，让她自己玩并自己照顾自己，她很快发现自己这个多才多艺、举足轻重的小人儿其实是个大包袱。她不喜欢洋娃娃，童话故事又太幼稚，而人也总不能一天到晚光画画；茶会没什么意思，野餐也不过如此，除非组织得极好。”如果能有一栋漂亮的房子，里头住满了善解人意的姑娘，或者外出旅游，这夏天才会过得开心。但跟三个自私的姐姐和一个大男孩呆在家里，（圣）神人也会发火，”我们的错词小姐心里抱怨道。这几天她充分体验了欢乐、烦恼，继而厌倦无聊的况味。

没有人愿意承认自己对这个试验感到厌倦，但到星期五晚上大家都暗暗松了一口气，窃喜一个星期终于熬到了头。富有幽默感的马奇太太为了加深这个教训的印象，决定用一种恰如其分的方式来结束这个试验。她放罕娜一天假，让姑娘们充分享受光玩不干活的滋味。

星期六早上姐妹们一觉醒来，发现厨房里没有生火，饭厅里没有早餐，母亲也不见了影踪。

“嗳呀！出了什么事？”乔嚷道，惊愕地瞪大眼睛四面看。

梅格跑上楼，很快便折回来，神态不再紧张，但却显得颇为困惑，并有几分惭愧。

“妈妈没生病，只是非常累。她说要在自己房间里静养一天，让我们自己好自为之。这真奇怪，一点都不像她平时的作为；但她说这个星期她干得很辛苦，所以我们别发牢骚，还是自己照顾自己吧。”“那还不容易！这主意正合我的心思，我正愁没事干--意思是，没新玩法，你们知道，”乔飞快地又添了一句。

事实上，此时此刻，做一点工作对她们来说是一种很好的放松。她们决心把活干好，但“做家务可不是闹儿戏”，她们很快便会认识到罕娜这话的实际意义了。食品柜里有很多存货，贝思和艾美摆桌子，梅格和乔做早餐，一面做一面还奇怪为什么佣人说家务难做。

“虽然妈妈说我们不用管她，她会自个照顾自己，我还是要拿一些上去，”梅格说。她站在锅碗瓢盆后面指挥，觉得挺像回事儿。

于是她们先匀出一碟，乔把碟子连同厨师的问候一同送上去。虽然茶烧得又苦又涩，鸡蛋煎得焦糊，饼干也被小苏打弄得斑斑点点，马奇太太还是接过了她的早餐，并表示赞赏和感谢；乔走后，她由衷地笑了。

“可怜的小家伙，恐怕她们会十分扫兴呢，不过这样对她们有益无害。”她取出早已备好的食物，把煮坏了的早餐悄悄丢掉，免得伤害了她们的自尊心--这是一种令她们十分感激的母亲式的小蒙蔽。

下面怨声一片，大厨师面对失败委屈极了。”不要紧。午饭我来弄，我做佣人，你做女主人，别弄脏了手，你陪着客人，发号施令就行了，”对烹饪的认识比梅格还要糟糕的乔说。

玛格丽特高兴地接受了这个恳切的提议，退到客厅，把沙发下面乱七八糟的东西扫掉，把窗帘拉上以省却打扫灰尘的麻烦，三两下子便把客厅收拾干净。乔对自己的能力坚信不疑，她想弥补因吵架而造成的隔阂，于是当即写下一张字条，邀请劳里来吃饭。

“你最好先看看有什么好吃的再请人不迟，”梅格获悉后说道。

“噢，这里有咸牛肉，还有大量土豆，我去买些芦笋，买个大螯虾'换个口味'，正如罕娜所说。我们可以弄些莴苣做色拉，我虽不会做，但有烹调书。再弄些牛奶冻和草莓做甜点。如果你想高雅一点还可以弄点咖啡。”“不要好高鹜远，乔，因为你做的东西只有姜饼和糖块可以吃得下去。这个宴会我是洗手不干的，既然是你要叫劳里，那就你来款待他好了。”“我不要你做什么，你只需招呼客人，帮我做布叮如果我遇到麻烦，你来指教我，怎么样？”乔受到了不小的打击。

“可以，但我除了面包和几种小玩意外，其他都不大会做。

你做之前最好先征得妈妈同意，”梅格谨慎地说。

“那当然，我又不是傻瓜，”乔说罢走开。居然有人怀疑自己的能力，她感到十分不快。

“你们喜欢怎么样就怎么样，别来打扰我。我要出去吃饭，不能为你们分忧，“马奇太太对前来讨教的乔说，”我一向不喜欢家务事，今天我要休个假，读书、写字、串门儿，自个好好乐乐。”看到平常忙碌的母亲一早优游轻松地坐在摇椅上读书，乔觉得就好像发生了什么自然现象，因为即使日食、地震、或者火山爆发也不会比这奇怪多少。

“怎么搞的，事情全都古里古怪，”她一面想一面走下楼梯，”贝思在那边哭，不用说，我们家肯定出了什么事情。如果艾美烦我，我一定狠狠摇她几下。”乔心里很不舒服，她匆匆走进客厅，发现贝思正对着她们的金丝雀呜呜咽咽地哭。小鸟直挺挺地躺在笼子里，显然已经饿死，可怜的小爪向前伸出，似乎正在乞求食物。

“都是我的错--我把它忘了--饲料一粒不剩，水也一滴没有。噢，！噢，！我怎么能对你这么残忍？”贝思哭道，把可怜的小鸟放在手里，试图把它救醒。

乔瞄瞄小鸟半开的眼睛，摸摸它的心脏，发现它早已僵硬冰冷，于是摇摇脑袋，主动提出用自己的衣盒来给它装殓。

“把它放在炉边，或者会暖和苏醒过来，”艾美满怀希望地说。

“它是饿坏的。既然已经死了，就不要再去烤它。我要给它做一件寿衣，把它葬在园子里。我以后再不养鸟了，再不了，我不配，”贝思低声哭诉着，双手捧着宠鸟坐在地板上。

“葬礼今天下午举行，我们都参加。好了，别哭了，贝思；这事大家都不好受，但这星期事情全都乱了套，匹普便是这个试验的最大牺牲品。给它做好寿衣，把它放在我的盒子里，宴会后，我们举行一个隆重的小葬礼。”乔开始尝到了苦头。

她让梅格、艾美留下安慰贝思，自己则走到厨房，里头乱七八糟，一片狼藉。她系上大围裙开始干活，刚堆好碟子准备洗，却发现炉火熄了。

“真是形势大好！”乔咕哝道，砰地打开炉门，使劲捅里头的炉渣。

把炉火重新捅亮后，她想趁烧水的功夫上一趟市常这么一走动，兴致又上来了。她买了一只十分幼小的大螯虾，一些老掉牙的芦笋，还有两盒酸溜溜的草莓。因为做成了几笔廉价交易，她心中十分得意，于是跋涉回家。待她收拾好后，午饭也备齐了，炉子也烧红了。罕姆走前留下一盘要发酵的面包，梅格早早便把面包做好，放在炉边再发酵一次，然后便把它忘掉了。她正在客厅里招呼莎莉·加德纳，门突然飞开，一个身上沾满面粉煤屑、头发蓬乱的怪物露出来，赤红着脸尖叫道- “嘿，面包不沾盘子是不是已经发酵够了？”莎莉被逗笑了，梅格点点头，把眉毛抬得要多高有多高，怪物见状立即消失，赶紧把酸面包放到炉上。贝思坐在一边做寿衣，将心爱的鸟放在衣盒里任人凭吊。马奇太太出来瞅瞅情况，安慰了贝思几句，然后出门而去。当母亲那灰色的帽子消失在拐角处时，姑娘们突然有一种奇怪的孤立无援的感觉。没隔几分钟，克罗克小姐来访，并说是来吃午饭，姑娘们简直陷入了绝望的境地。这位女士是个又黄又瘦的老姑婆，脸上镶着一个尖鼻子和一双好奇的眼睛，她绝不错过任何芝麻绿豆的小事，看到什么都要去绕舌鼓噪一番。她们并不喜欢她，但马奇太太教她们要友善待她，只因她年老家贫，又没有什么朋友。梅格于是把安乐椅给她，并尽量去跟她拉话儿，她则在一边问这问那，指指点点，说西家长，道东家短。

那天早上乔真是被弄得焦头烂额、精疲力尽，其中滋味一言难荆她做的午餐成了一个不折不扣的大笑话。因为不敢再向梅格请教，她独个儿使出浑身解数，发现做个厨师光凭一股劲头和良好的心愿并不够。她把芦笋煮了一个小时，痛苦地发现笋头全都煮掉了，主茎却变得更硬。面包烧得乌黑、因为她做色拉时把味道调得一塌糊涂，一急之下，决定对一切听之任之，直到自信面包已经不能吃为止。大螯虾神秘地变成了猩红色，她捶开虾壳，把里头的肉捅出来，那一丁点儿肉落到莴苣叶堆里便不见了。土豆得快点煮，不能让芦笋等得太久，结果没有煮熟。牛奶冻结成一团一团，草莓被手段高明的小贩弄了假，看上去已经熟透，吃起来却酸溜溜的。

“如果他们肚子饿的话，牛肉、面包和牛油倒也可以吃，只是白白忙活了一整个上午，岂不着死人了，”乔想着拉响开饭铃。这顿饭比平时足足晚了半个小时，乔又热又累，垂头丧气，站在那里审视着为劳里和克罗克小姐准备的盛宴，要知道这两位客人一个是养尊处优惯了的公子，一个是绝不错过任何笑料，专爱搬弄是非的绕舌妇。

菜被一一尝过，然后又被搁置一边，可怜的乔恨不得钻到桌子底下。艾美咯咯直笑，梅格表情悲痛，克罗克小姐噘起嘴，劳里拼命说笑，试图活跃宴席气氛。乔的拿手好戏是水果，因为她放糖放得恰到好处，而且和上了一大罐香喷喷的奶油。当精致的玻璃盘子逐一摆上席面时，乔炽热的脸颊凉了一点，并长长地舒了一口气。大家望着浸在奶油里的呈玫瑰红的小山堆，全都垂涎欲滴。克罗克小姐先尝了一口，做了个鬼脸，急忙喝水。乔看到水果上桌后很快所剩无多，唯恐不够，于是自己不吃，她瞅一眼劳里，见他正勇敢地继续吃下去，但嘴巴却微微噘着，眼睛一直盯着自己的盘子。喜欢美食的艾美满满舀了一调匙，却呛了一口，用餐巾掩着脸，仓促离席。

“噢，怎么回事？”乔颤抖着高声问道。

“你放的是盐，不是糖，奶油也变酸了，”梅格悲痛地打了个手势答道。

乔呻吟了一声，倒在椅子上，方想起最后放糖的时候自己仓促之间把厨房桌上面放着的两个盒子随手拿了一个，匆匆往草莓上一撒了事，牛奶也忘记放冰箱了。她脸色涨得通红，止不住就要哭出来。正在这时，她与劳里恰好四目相对。

虽然劳里努力摆出一副英雄式的样子，但眼神仍透着一股活气劲儿；她突然觉得这件事十分滑稽，于是放声大笑，直笑得眼泪都流了出来。在坐各位，包括被姑娘们称为"呱呱叫"的老小姐也全都笑了起来。大家吃着面包、牛油、橄榄，说说笑笑。这顿不幸的午餐最后在愉快的气氛中结束。

“我现在没有心思洗碗，为了严肃气氛，我们为小鸟举行个葬礼吧，”乔看到大家站起来便说道。克罗克小姐一心赶着要在下一个朋友的餐桌边编派这个新故事，便向大家告辞。

为了贝思，他们全都严肃下来；劳里在丛林里的蕨草下面挖了个墓穴，小匹普被安放在里头，它那柔情万丈的女主人哭得成了个泪人儿。墓穴盖上苔藓，上立一块石碑，碑上挂一个用紫罗兰和繁缕编成的花环，并刻了墓志铭。铭文是乔一面做饭一面想出来的：这里躺着匹普·马奇，它在六月七日死去；黯然断魂，伤心憾事，难忘，难忘记！

仪式一结束，贝思便退回自己的房间，心情十分沉重；但她却找不到地方休息，因为几张床全都没有收拾，她只得把枕头掸拂干净，把各样东西收拾整齐，这样心里倒好受了一些。梅格帮乔收拾碗碟，用了半个下午才洗完。两人都疲倦不堪，于是一致赞成晚饭只吃茶和烤面包。酸奶油似乎对艾美的脾气有种不良的影响，劳里便做好事，把她带出去骑马。

马奇太太回家时发现三个大女儿竟然在午间辛勤工作，再瞅一眼壁橱，便明白实验已经成功了一部分。

几位小主妇未及休息，便有几位客人来访，于是急忙准备招呼客人；接着又得泡茶，跑腿买东西，一两件非做不可的针线活只得放到最后才做。

黄昏带着露珠悄悄降临，姐妹们陆续聚集到门廊，门廊周围开满了六月的玫瑰，花蕾朵朵，十分美丽。大家坐下时或哼哼一声，或叹一口气，似乎筋疲力尽，又似乎烦恼无边。

“今天倒霉透了！”通常第一个说话的乔首先说道。

“日子好像没有平时长，但却很不好过，”梅格说。

“一点都不像个家，”艾美接着说。

“没有妈咪和小匹普，家似乎就不成样子了。”贝思叹口气，深情地望一眼挂在上面的空鸟笼。

“妈妈在这里呢，亲爱的，你明天可以再养一只鸟，如果你想的话。”马奇太太边说边走过来坐在她们中间，看样子，她的假日也并不比她们的愉快多少。

“这个试验你们满意了吗，姑娘们？要不要再试一个星期？”她问。这时贝思依偎到她的身边，共余三姐妹也把头转向她，脸上放光，犹如鲜花朝向太阳。

“我不要！”乔坚决地喊道。

“我也不要，”其他人齐声回答。

“那么，你们的意思是，担负一些责任，替别人着想一下为好，对吧？”“闲混戏耍毫无益处，”乔评论道，摇摇脑袋，”我腻透了，真想现在就做点什么。”“建议你学做饭；这个本事十分有用，女人都得学会，”马奇太太说。想到乔的宴会，她无声地笑了，因为克罗克小姐早就把故事告诉她了。

“妈妈，您走出去什么也不管，是不是故意看我们怎么做？”梅格叫起来。她整天都在怀疑这事。

“是的，我想让你们明白，只有每个人都尽忠职守，大家才能过舒服日子。当我和罕娜替你们工作时，你们过得满不错，但我看你们并不高兴，并不领情；所以我想给你们一个小小的教训，看如果人人都只想着自己时结果会如何。只有彼此帮助，承担日常工作，生活才会更愉快，休闲起来才有意思，宽容忍耐，才会使家庭舒适幸福。你们同意吗？”“同意，妈妈，我们同意！”姑娘们齐声喊道。

“那么我建议你们再一次挑起自己的小担子。虽然有时担子似乎很沉重，但对我们有好处，如果学会了怎么挑，担子就会变轻了。工作是一件好事，而我们每个人都有许多工作要干；它有益于身心健康，使我们不会感到无聊，不会干坏事。比起金钱和时装来，它更能给我们一种能力感和独立感。”“我们会像蜜蜂一样工作，并且热爱工作，看着吧！”乔说，”我要把做饭当作我的假日任务来学，下一次宴会一定会成功。”“我要帮爸爸做衬衣，而不用您来操劳，妈咪。我能做到的，也愿意这样做，虽然我并不喜欢针线活；这样做比成天讲究自己的衣着更有好处，事实上我的衣着也已经很不错了，”梅格说。

“我要每天做功课，不再花这么多时间弹琴和玩洋娃娃。

我天性愚笨，应该多看书学习，而不是玩。”贝思下定了决心。

艾美则学姐姐们的样子大声宣布：“我要学会开钮孔和区分各种词类。”“很好！既然这样，我对这个试验感到很满意，看来我们不必再做一次了，只是不要走到另一极端，劳碌过度。要定时作息，使每一天都过得充实愉快，你们明白时间是无价之宝，那么就更要善于利用时间。这样，即使我们没有钱，青春也会充满快乐，生活也会美满成功，年老的时候也不会有什么遗憾了。”“我们会记住的，妈妈！”她们也确实把话记在了心上。