CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
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, feeling that
Laurie’s prank had hastened the evil day for her.
