CHILDREN'S BOOK
COLLECTION
LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA looking over at
your house, you always seem to be having such good
times. I beg your pardon for being so rude, but
sometimes you forget to put down the curtain at the
window where the flowers are ; and, when the lamps
are lighted, it's like looking at a picture to see the fire,
and you all round the table with your mother ; her
face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the
flowers, I can't help watching it. I haven't got any
% Being Neighborly. 77
mother, you know ; " and Laurie poked the fire to hide
a little twitching of the lips that he could not control.
The solitary, hungry look in his eyes went straight
to Jo's warm heart. She had been so simply taught
that there was no nonsense in her head, and at
fifteen she was as innocent and frank as any child.
Laurie was sick and lonely ; and, feeling how rich
she was in home-love and happiness, she gladly tried
to share it with him. Her brown face was very
friendly, and her sharp voice unusually gentle, as she
said,
"We'll never draw that curtain any more, and I
give you leave* to look as much as you like. I just
wish, tbpugh, instead of peeping, you'd come over
and see us. Mother is so splendid, she'd do you heaps
of good, and Beth would sing to you if /begged her
to, and Amy would dance ; Meg and I would make
you laugh over our funny stage properties, and we'd
have jolly times. Wouldn't your grandpa let you ? "
" I think he would, if your mother asked him. He's
very kind, though he don't look it ; and he lets me do
what I like, pretty much, only he's afraid I might be
a bother to strangers," began Laurie, brightening'
more and more.
" We ain't strangers, we are neighbors, and you
needn't think you'd be a bother. We want to know
you, and I've been trying to do it this ever so long.
We haven't been here a great while, you know, but we
have got acquainted with all our neighbors but you."
u You see grandpa lives among his books, and don't
mind much what happens outside. Mr. Brooke, my
tutor, don't stay here, you know, and I have no one to
78 Little Women.
go round with me, so I just stop at home and get on
as I can."
" Thafs bad ; you ought to make a dive, and go
visiting everywhere you are asked ; then you'll have
lots of friends, and pleasant places to go to. Never
mind being bashful, it won't last long if you keep
going."
Laurie turned red again, but was'nt offended at
being accused of bashfulness ; for there was so much
good-will in Jo, it was impossible not to take her blunt
speeches as kindly as they were meant.
" Do you like your school?" asked the boy, chang-
ing the subject, after a little pause, during which he
stared at the fire, and Jo looked about her wA pleased.
" Don't go to school ; I'm a business man girl, I
mean. I go to wait on my aunt, and a dear, cross
old soul she is, too," answered Jo.
Laurie opened his mouth to ask another question ;
but remembering just in time that it wasn't manners to
make too many inquiries into people's affairs, he shut
it again, and looked uncomfortable. Jo liked his good
breeding, and didn't mind having a laugh at Aunt
March, so she gave him a lively description of the
fidgety old lady, her fat poodle, the parrot that talked
Spanish, and the library where she revelled. Laurie
enjoyed that immensely ; and when she told about the
prim old gentleman who came once to w r oo Aunt
March, and, in the middle of a fine speech, how Poll
had tweaked his wig off to his great dismay, the
boy lay back and laughed till the tears ran down his
cheeks, and a maid popped her head in to see what
was the matter.
Being Neighborly. 79
" Oh ! that does me lots of good ; tell on, please,"
he said, taking his face out of the sofa-cushion, red and
shining with merriment.
Much elated with her success, Jo did " tell on," all
about their plays and plans, their hopes and fears for
father, and the most interesting events of the little
world in which the sisters lived. Then they got to
talking about books ; and to Jo's delight she found that
Laurie loved them as well as she did, and had read
even more than herself.
" If you like them so much, come down and see
ours. Grandpa is out, so you needn't be afraid," said
Laurie, getting up.
" I'm not afraid of anything," returned Jo, with a
toss of the head.
" I don't believe you are ! " exclaimed the boy, look-
ing at her with much admiration, though he privately
thought she would have good reason to be a trifle
afraid of the old gentleman, if she met him in some
of his moods.
The atmosphere of the whole house being summer-
like, Laurie led the way from room to room, letting
Jo stop to examine whatever struck her fancy ; and so
at last they came to the library, where she clapped
her hands, and pranced, as she always did when
especially delighted. It was lined with books, and
there were pictures and statues, and distracting little
cabinets full of coins and curiosities, and Sleepy-
Hollow chairs, and queer tables, and bronzes ; and,
best of all, a great, open fireplace, with quaint tiles
all round it.
" What richness ! " sighed Jo, sinking into the
80 JL ittle \ \ ^om en .
depths of a velvet chair, and gazing about her with an
air of intense satisfaction. " Theodore Laurence, you
ought to be the happiest boy in the world," she added,
impressively.
" A fellow can't live on books," said Laurie, shaking
his head, as he perched on a table opposite.
Before he could say more, a bell rung, and Jo flew
up, exclaiming with alarm, " Mercy me ! it's your
grandpa ! "
" Well, what if it is ? You are not afraid of any-
thing, you know," returned the boy, looking wicked.
" I think I am a little bit afraid of him, but I don't
know why I should be. Marmee said I might come,
and I don't think you're any the worse for^ it," said
Jo, composing herself, though she kept her eyes on
the door.
" I'm a great deal better for it, and ever so much
obliged. I'm only afraid you are very tired talking to
me ; it was so pleasant, I couldn't bear to stop," said
Laurie, gratefully.
"The doctor to see you, sir," and the maid beck-
oned as she spoke.
" Would you mind if I left you for a minute ? I
suppose I must see him," said Laurie.
" Don't mind me. I'm as happy as a cricket here,"
answered Jo.
Laurie went away, and his guest amused herself in
her own way. She w r as standing before a fine por-
trait of the old gentleman, when the door opened
again, and, without turning, she said decidedly, " I'm
sure now that I shouldn't be afraid of him, for he's got
kind eyes, though his mouth is grim, and he looks as
Being Ne ighborly. 8 1
if he had a tremendous will of his own. He isn't as
handsome as my grandfather, but I like him."
" Thank you, ma'am," said a gruff voice behind
her ; and there, to her great dismay, stood old Mr
Laurence.
Poor Jo blushed till she couldn't blush any redder,
and her heart began to beat uncomfortably fast as she
thought what she had said. For a minute a wild
desire to run away possessed her ; but that was cow-
ardly, and the girls w r ould laugh at her ; so she
resolved to stay, and get out of the scrape as she could.
A second look showed her that the living eyes, under
the bushy gray eyebrows, were kinder even than the
painted ones ; and there was a sly twinkle in them,
which lessened her fear a good deal. The gruff voice
was gruffer than ever, as the old gentleman said ab-
ruptly, after that dreadful pause, " So, you're not afraid
of me, hey?"
" Not much, sir."
"And you don't think me as handsome as your
grandfather ? "
" Not quite, sir."
"And I've got a tremendous will, have I?"
" I only said I thought so."
"But you like me, in spite of it?"
" Yes, I do, sir."
That answer pleased the old gentleman ; he gave a
short laugh, shook hands with her, and putting his
finger under her chin, turned up her face, examined
it gravely, and let it go, saying, with a nod, " You've
got your grandfather's spirit, if you haven't his face.
He was a fine man, my dear ; but, what is better, he
6
82 Little Women:
was a brave and an honest one, and I was proud to be
his friend."
" Thank you, sir ; " and Jo was quite comfortable
after that, for it suited her exactly.
" What have you been doing to this boy of mine,
hey ? " was the next question, sharply put.
" Only trying to be neighborly, sir ; " and Jo told
how her visit came about.
" You think he needs cheering up a bit, do you ? "
" Yes, sir ; he seems a little lonely, and young folks
would do him good, perhaps. We are only girls, but
we should be glad to help if we could, for we don't
forget the splendid Christmas present you sent us,"
said Jo, eagerly.
" Tut, tut, tut ; that was the boy's affair. How is
the poor woman ? "
" Doing nicely, sir ; " and off went Jo, talking very
fast, as she told all about the Hummels, in whom her
mother had interested richer friends than they were.
"Just her father's way of doing good. I shall
come and see your mother some fine day. Tell her
so. There's the tea-bell ; we have it early, on the
boy's account. Come down, and go on being neigh-
borly."
u If you'd like to have me, sir."
" Shouldn't ask you, if I didn't ; " and Mr. Laurence
offered her his arm with old-fashioned courtesy.
"What would 'Meg say to this?" thought Jo, as she
was marched away, while her eyes danced with fun
as she imagined herself telling the story at home.
" Hey ! why what the dickens has come to the fel-
low?" said the old gentleman, as Laurie came run-
Being Neighborly. 83
ning down stairs, and brought up with a start of
surprise at the astonishing sight of Jo arm in arm
with his redoubtable grandfather.
" I didn't know you'd come, sir," he began, as Jo
gave him a triumphant little glance.
" That's evident, by the way you racket down stairs.
Come to your tea, sir, and behave like a gentleman ; "
and having pulled the boy's hair by way of a caress,
Mr. Laurence walked on, while Laurie went through a
series of comic evolutions behind their backs, which
nearly produced an explosion of laughter from Jo.
The old gentleman did not say much as he drank
his four cups of tea, but he watched the young people,
who soon chatted away like old friends, and the
change in his grandson did not escape him. There
was color, light and life in the boy's face now,
vivacity in his manner, and genuine merriment in his
laugh.
" She's right ; the lad is lonely. I'll see what these
little girls can do for him," thought Mr. Laurence, as
he looked and listened. He liked Jo, for her odd,
blunt ways suited him ; and she seemed to understand
the boy almost as well as if she had been one herself.
If the Laurences had been what Jo called " prim
and poky," she would not have got on at all, for such
people always made her shy and awkward ; but find-
ing them free and easy, she was so herself, and made
a good impression. When they rose she proposed to
go, but Laurie said he had something more to show
her, and took her away to the conservatory, which
had been lighted for her benefit. It seemed quite
fairy-like to Jo, as she went up and down the walks,
84 Little Women.
enjoying the blooming walls on either side, the soft
light, the damp, sweet air, and the wonderful vines
and trees that hung above her, while her new friend
cut the finest flowers till his hands were full ; then
he tied them up, saying, with the happy look Jo liked
to see, "Please give these to your mother, and tell
her I like the medicine she sent me very much."
They found Mr. Laurence standing before the fire
in the great drawing-room, but Jo's attention was en-
tirely absorbed by a grand piano which stood open.
"Do you play?" she asked, turning to Laurie with
a respectful expression.
" Sometimes," he answered, modestly.
" Please do now ; I want to hear it, so I can tell
Beth."
"Won't you first?"
" Don't know how ; too stupid to learn, but I love
music dearly."
So Laurie played, and Jo listened, with her nose
luxuriously buried in heliotrope and tea roses. Her
respect and regard for the "Laurence boy" increased
very much, for he played remarkably well, and didn't
put on any airs. She wished Beth could hear him,
but she did not say so ; only praised him till he was
quite abashed, and his grandfather came to the rescue.
" That will do, that will do, young lady ; too many
sugar-plums are not good for him. His music isn't
bad, but I hope he will do. as well in more important
things. Going? Well, I'm much obliged to you, and
I hope you'll come again. My respects to your
mother; good-night, Doctor Jo."
He shook hands kindly, but looked as if something
Being Neighborly. 85
did not please him. When they got into the hall, Jo
asked Laurie if she had said anything amiss ; he
shook his head.
4 'No, it was me ; he don't like to hear me play."
"Why not?"
" I'll tell you some day. John is going home with
you, as I can't."
"No need of that ; I ain't a young lady, and it's only
a step. Take care of yourself, won't you? "
" Yes, but you will come again, I hope?"
" If you promise to come and see us after you are
well."
" I will."
, " Good-night, Laurie."
" Good-night, Jo, good-night."
When all the afternoon's adventures had been told,
the family felt inclined to go visiting in a body, for
each found something very attractive in the big house
on the other side of the hedge. Mrs. March wanted
to talk of her father with the old man who had not
forgotten him ; Meg longed to walk in the conserv-
atory ; Beth sighed for the grand piano, and Amy was
eager to see the fine pictures and statues.
" Mother, why didn't Mr. Laurence like to have
Laurie play?" asked Joe, who was of an inquiring
disposition.
u I am not sure, but I think it was because his son,
Laurie's father, married an. Italian lady, a musician,
which displeased the old man, who is very proud.
The lady was good and lovely and accomplished, but
he did not like her, and never saw his son after he
married. Thev both died when Laurie was a little
86 Little Women.
child, and then his grandfather took him home. I
fancy the boy, who was born in Italy, is not very
strong, and the old man is afraid of losing him, which
makes him so careful. Laurie comes naturally by his
love of music, for he is like his mother, and I dare say
his grandfather fears that he may want to be a musi-
cian ; at any rate, his skill reminds him of the woman
he did not like, and so he ' glowered,' as Jo said."
" Dear me, how romantic ! " exclaimed Meg.
" How silly," said Jo ; " let him be a musician, if
he wants to, and not plague his life out sending him
to college, when he hates to go."
" That's why he has such handsome black eyes and
pretty manners, I suppose ; Italians are always nice,"
said Meg, who was a little sentimental.
"What do you know about his eyes and his man-
ners ? you never spoke to him, hardly ; " cried Jo, who
was not sentimental.
" I saw him at the party, and what you tell shows
that he knows how to behave. That was a nice little
speech about the medicine mother sent him."
u He meant the blanc-mange, I suppose."
" How stupid you are, child ; he meant you, of
course."
"Did he?" and Jo opened her eyes as if it had
never occurred to her before.
" I never saw such a girl ! You don't know a com-
pliment when you get it," said Meg, with the air of a
young lady who knew all about the matter.
" I think they are great nonsense, and I'll thank you
not to be silly,, and spoil my fun. Laurie's a nice boy,
and I like him, and I won't have any sentimental stuff
Being Neighborly. 87
about compliments and such rubbish. We'll all be
good to him, because he hasn't got any mother, and
he may come over and see us, mayn't he, Marmee ? "
"Yes, Jo, your little friend is very welcome, and I
hope Meg will remember that children should be chil-
dren as long as they can."
" I don't call myself a child, and I'm not in my
teens yet," observed Amy. "What do you say,
Beth?"
"I was thinking about our 4 Pilgrirn's Progress,'"
answered Beth, who had not heard a word. " How
we got out of the Slough and through the Wicket
Gate by resolving to be good, and up the steep hill, by
trying ; and that maybe the house over there, full of
splendid things, is going to be
