The Laurence Boy (Little Women (Full Cast))

01CHAPTER III.

02THE LAWRENCE BOY Joe!

03Joe!

04Where are you?

05cried Meg at the foot of the garret stairs.

06Here, answered a husky voice from above, and running up Meg found her sister eating apples and crying over the air of Redcliffe, wrapped up in a comforter on an old three-legged sofa by the sunny window.

07This was Joe'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 nearby and didn't mind her a particle.

08As Meg appeared, Scrabble whisked into his hole.

09Joe shook the tears off her cheeks and waited to hear the news.

10Such fun!

11Only see!

12A regular note of invitation from Mrs.

13Gardiner for tomorrow night!

14cried Meg, waving the precious paper and then proceeding to read it with girlish delight.

15Mrs.

16Gardiner would be happy to see Miss March and Miss Josephine at a little dance on New Year's Eve.

17Marmee is willing we should go.

18Now what shall we wear?

19What's the use of asking that, when you know we shall wear our poplins because we haven't got anything else?

20answered Joe, with her mouth full.

21If I only had a silk!

22sighed Meg.

23Mother says I may when I'm eighteen, perhaps, but two years is an everlasting time to wait.

24I'm sure our pops look like silk, and they are nice enough for us.

25Yours is as good as new, but I forgot the burn and the tear in mine.

26Whatever shall I do?

27The burn shows badly, and I can't take any out.

28You must sit still all you can and keep your back out of sight.

29The front is all right.

30I 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.

31Mine are spoiled with lemonade, and I can't get any new ones, so I shall have to go without, said Joe, who never troubled herself much about dress.

32You must have gloves or I won't go, cried Meg decidedly.

33Gloves are more important than anything else.

34You can't dance without them, and if you don't I should be so mortified.

35Then I'll stay still.

36I don't care much for company dancing.

37It's no fun to go sailing round.

38I like to fly about and cut capers.

39You can't ask Mother for new ones.

40They are so expensive and you are so careless.

41She said when you spoiled the others that she shouldn't get you any more this winter.

42Can't you make them do?

43I can hold them crumpled up in my hand so no one will know how stained they are.

44That's all I can do.

45No, I'll tell you how we can manage.

46Each wear one good one and carry a bad one.

47Don't you see?

48Your hands are bigger than mine, and you will stretch my glove dreadfully, began Meg, whose gloves were a tender point with her.

49Then I'll go without.

50I don't care what people say, cried Joe, taking up her book.

51You may have it, you may.

52Only don't stain it and do behave nicely.

53Don't put your hands behind you or stare or say Christopher Columbus, will you?

54Don't worry about me.

55I'll be as prim as I can and not get into any scrapes if I can help it.

56Now go and answer your note and let me finish this splendid story.

57So Meg went away to accept with thanks, look over her dress, and sing blithely as she did up her one real lace frill, while Joe finished her story, her four apples, and had a game of romps with Scrabble.

58On New Year's Eve the parlour was deserted, for the two younger girls played dressing-maids, and the two elder were absorbed in the all-important business of getting ready for the party.

59Simple 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.

60Meg wanted a few curls about her face, and Joe undertook to pinch the papered locks with a pair of hot tongs.

61Ought they to smoke like that?

62asked Beth from her perch on the bed.

63It's the dampness drying, replied Joe.

64What a queer smell!

65It's like burnt feathers, observed Amy, smoothing her own pretty curls with superior air.

66There, now, I'll take off the papers and you'll see a cloud of little ringlets, said Joe, putting down the tongs.

67She 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.

68Oh!

69Oh!

70Oh!

71What have you done?

72I'm spoiled!

73I can't go!

74My hair!

75Oh, my hair!

76wailed Meg, looking with despair at the uneven frizzle on her forehead.

77Oh, just my luck!

78You shouldn't have asked me to do it.

79I always spoil everything.

80I'm so sorry, but the tongs were too hot and so I've made a mess, groaned poor Joe, regarding the little black pancakes with tears of regret.

81It isn't spoiled.

82Just frizzle it and tie your ribbon so the ends come on your forehead a bit, and it will look like the last fashion.

83I've seen many girls do it so, said Amy consolingly.

84Serves me right for trying to be fine.

85I wish I'd let my hair alone, cried Meg petulantly.

86So do I.

87It was so smooth and pretty.

88But it will soon grow out again, said Beth, coming to kiss and comfort the shorn sheep.

89After various lesser mishaps Meg was finished at last, and by the united exertions of the entire family Joe's hair was got up and her dress on.

90They looked very well in their simple suits.

91Meg's in silvery drab with a blue velvet snood, lace frills and the pearl pin.

92Joe in maroon with a stiff gentlemanly linen collar and a white chrysanthemum or two for her only ornament.

93Each put on one nice light glove and carried one soiled one, and all pronounced the effect quite easy and fine.

94Meg's high-heeled slippers were very tight and hurt her, though she would not own it, and Joe's nineteen hairpins all seemed stuck straight into her head, which was not exactly comfortable.

95But dear me, let us be elegant or die.

96Have a good time, dearies, said Mrs.

97March, as the sisters went daintily down the walk.

98Don't eat much supper, and come away at eleven when I send Hannah for you.

99As the gate clashed behind them a voice cried from a window.

100Girls, girls, have you both got nice pocket-handkerchiefs?

101Yes, yes, bandy-nice, and Meg has cologne on hers, cried Joe, adding with a laugh as they went on.

102I do believe Marmee would ask that if we were all running away from an earthquake.

103It is one of her aristocratic tastes, and quite proper, for a real lady is always known by neat boots, glove, and handkerchief, replied Meg, who had a good many little aristocratic tastes of her own.

104Now don't forget to keep the bad breadth out of sight, Joe.

105Is my sash right, and does my hair look very bad, said Meg, as she turned from the glass in Mrs.

106Gardiner's dressing-room after a prolonged prink.

107I know I shall forget.

108If you see me doing anything wrong, just remind me by a wink, will you?

109returned Joe, giving her collar a twitch and her head a hasty brush.

110No, winking isn't ladylike.

111I'll lift my eyebrows if anything is wrong, and nod if you are all right.

112Now hold your shoulders straight and take short steps, and don't shake hands if you are introduced to anyone.

113It isn't the thing.

114How do you learn all the proper ways?

115I never can.

116Isn't that music gay?

117Down they went, feeling a trifle timid, for they seldom went to parties, and informal as this little gathering was.

118It was an event to them.

119Mrs.

120Gardiner, a stately old lady, greeted them kindly and handed them over to the eldest of her six daughters.

121Meg knew Sally and was at her ease very soon, but Joe, 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.

122Half 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.

123She telegraphed her wish to Meg, but the eyebrows went up so alarmingly that she dared not stir.

124No one came to talk to her, and one by one the group dwindled away till she was left alone.

125She could not roam about and amuse herself, for the burned breath would show.

126So she stared at people rather forlornly till the dancing began.

127Meg was asked at once, and the tight slippers tripped about so briskly that none would have guessed the pain their wear suffered smilingly.

128Joe 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.

129Unfortunately another bashful person had chosen the same refuge, for as the curtain fell behind her, she found herself face to face with the Lawrence boy.

130"'Dear me, I didn't know anyone was here,' stammered Joe, preparing to back out as speedily as she had bounced in.

131But the boy laughed and said pleasantly, though he looked a little startled, "'Don't mind me.

132Stay if you like.' "'Shan't I disturb you?' "'Not a bit.

133I only came here because I don't know many people and felt rather strange at first, you know.' "'So did I.

134Don't go away, please, unless you'd rather.' The boy sat down again and looked at his pumps, till Joe said, trying to be polite and easy, "'I think I've had the pleasure of seeing you before.

135You live near us, don't you?' "'Next door.' And he looked up and laughed outright, for Joe's prim manner was rather funny when he remembered how they had chatted about cricket when he brought the cat home.

136That put Joe at her ease, and she laughed too, as she said in 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.

137"'Nicely, thank you, Mr.

138Lawrence.

139But I am not Miss March.

140I'm only Joe,' returned the young lady.

141"'I'm not Mr.

142Lawrence.

143I'm only Laurie.' "'Lorry, Lawrence.

144What an odd name!' "'My first name is Theodore.

145But I don't like it, for the fellows called me Dora.

146So I made them say Laurie instead.' "'I hate my name, too.

147So sentimental.

148I wish everyone would say Joe instead of Josephine.

149How did you make the boys stop calling you Dora?' "'I thrashed him.' "'I can't thrash Aunt March, so I suppose I shall have to bear it.' And Joe resigned herself with a sigh.

150"'Don't you like to dance, Miss Joe?' asked Laurie, looking as if he thought the name suited her.

151"'I like it well enough if there is plenty of room and everyone is lively.

152In a place like this I'm sure to upset something, tread on people's toes, or do something dreadful, so I keep out of mischief and let Meg sail about.

153Don't you dance?' "'Sometimes.

154You see, I've been abroad a good many years, and haven't been into company enough yet to know how you do things here.' "'Abroad!' cried Joe.

155"'Oh, tell me about it.

156I love dearly to hear people describe their travels.' Laurie didn't seem to know where to begin, but Joe's eager questions soon set him going, and he told her how he had been at school in Vivay, where the boys never wore hats and had a fleet of boats on the lake, and for holiday fun went on walking trips about Switzerland with their teachers.

157"'Don't I wish I'd been there!' cried Joe.

158"'Did you go to Paris?' "'We spent last winter there.' "'Can you talk French?' "'We're not allowed to speak anything else at Vivay.' "'Oh, do say some.

159I can read it, but can't pronounce.' "'Qu'est-ce que me a cette jeune demoiselle en les pantoufles jolis?' "'How nicely you do it!

160Let me see.

161You said, "'Who is the young lady in the pretty slippers?

162Didn't you?' "'Oui, mademoiselle.' "'It's my sister Margaret, and you knew it was.

163Do you think she's pretty?' "'Yes, she makes me think of the German girls.

164She looks so fresh and quiet, and dances like a lady.' Joe quite glowed with pleasure at this boyish praise of her sister, and stored it up to repeat to Meg.

165Both peeped and criticized and chatted till they felt like old acquaintances.

166Laurie's bashfulness soon wore off, for Joe's gentlemanly demeanor amused and set him at his ease, and Joe was her merry self again, because her dress was forgotten and nobody lifted their eyebrows at her.

167She liked the Lawrence 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.

168Curly 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.

169I wonder how old he is.' It was on the tip of Joe's tongue to ask, but she checked herself in time, and with unusual tact tried to find out in a roundabout way.

170"'I suppose you're going to college soon.

171I see you pegging away at your books—uh, no, I mean studying hard.' And Joe blushed at the dreadful pegging which had escaped her.

172Laurie smiled but didn't seem shocked, and answered with a shrug.

173"'Not for a year or two.

174I won't go before seventeen, anyway.' "'Aren't you but fifteen?' asked Joe, looking at the tall lad, whom she had imagined seventeen already.

175"'Sixteen.

176Next month.' "'How I wish I was going to college.

177You don't look as if you liked it.' "'I hate it.

178Nothing but grinding or skylarking.

179And I don't like the way fellows do either in this country.' "'What do you like?' "'To live in Italy and enjoy myself in my own way.' Joe 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 polka.

180Won't you go and try it?' "'If you will come too,' he answered with a gallant little bow.

181"'I can't, for I told Meg I wouldn't, because—' "'There Joe stopped and looked undecided whether to tell or to laugh.' "'Because what?' "'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.

182You may laugh if you want to.

183It is funny, I know.' But Laurie didn't laugh.

184He only looked down a minute, and the expression of his face puzzled Joe when he said very gently, "'Never mind that.

185I'll tell you how we can manage.

186There's a long hall out there, and we can dance grandly and no one will see us.

187Please come.' Joe thanked him and gladly went, wishing she had two neat gloves when she saw the nice pearl-colored ones her partner wore.

188The hall was empty, and they had a grand polka, for Laurie danced well, and taught her the German step which delighted Joe, being full of swing and spring.

189When the music stopped they sat down on the stairs to get their breath, and Laurie was in the midst of an account of a student's festival at Heidelberg when Meg appeared in search of her sister.

190She beckoned, and Joe reluctantly followed her into a side room where she found her on a sofa, holding her foot and looking pale.

191"'I've sprained my ankle.

192That stupid high heel turned and gave me a sad wrench.

193It 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.

194"'I knew you'd hurt your feet with those silly shoes.

195I'm sorry, but I don't see what you can do except get a carriage or stay here all night,' answered Joe, softly rubbing the poor ankle as she spoke.

196"'I can't have a carriage without its costing ever so much.

197I dare say 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 send.' "'I'll go.' "'No, indeed.

198It's past nine and dark as Egypt.

199I can't stop here for the house is full.

200Sally has some girls staying with her.

201I'll rest till Hannah comes and then do the best I can.' "'I'll ask Laurie.

202He will go,' said Joe, looking relieved as the idea occurred to her.

203"'Mercy, no, don't ask or tell anyone.

204Get me my rubbers and put these slippers with our things.

205I can't dance any more.

206But as soon as supper is over watch for Hannah and tell me the minute she comes.' "'They are going out to supper now.

207I'll stay with you.

208I'd rather.' "'No, dear.

209Run along and bring me some coffee.

210I'm so tired I can't stir.' So Meg reclined with rubbers well hidden, and Joe 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.

211Gardiner was taking a little private refreshment.

212Making a dart at the table she secured the coffee, which she immediately spilled, thereby making the front of her dress as bad as the back.

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

214"'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.

215"'I was trying to get something for Meg, who was very tired, and someone shook me, and here I am in a nice state,' answered Joe, glancing dismally from the stained skirt to the coffee-colored glove.

216"'Ah, too bad.

217I was looking for someone to give this to.

218May I take it to your sister?' "'Oh, thank you.

219I'll show you where she is.

220I don't offer to take it myself, for I should only get into another scrape if I did.' Joe led the way, and as if used to waiting on ladies, Laurie drew up a little table, brought a second installment of coffee and ice for Joe, and was so obliging that even particular Meg pronounced him a nice boy.

221They had a merry time over the bonbons and mottos, 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.

222Meg forgot her foot and rose so quickly that she was forced to catch hold of Joe, with an exclamation of pain.

223"'Hush, don't say anything,' she whispered, adding aloud.

224"'It's nothing.

225I turned my foot a little, that's all,' and limped upstairs to put her things on.

226Hannah scolded, Meg cried, and Joe was at her wit's end, till she decided to take things into her own hands.

227Slipping out, she ran down, and finding a servant, asked if he could get her a carriage.

228It happened to be a hired waiter who knew nothing about the neighborhood, and Joe 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.

229"'It's so early.

230You can't mean to go yet,' began Joe, looking relieved, but hesitating to accept the offer.

231"'I always go early.

232I do, truly.

233Please let me take you home.

234It's all on my way, you know, and it rains, they say.' That settled it, and telling him of Meg's mishap, Joe gratefully accepted and rushed up to bring down the rest of the party.

235Hannah 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.

236Laurie went on the box so Meg could keep her foot up, and the girls talked over their party in freedom.

237"'I had a capital time.

238Did you?' asked Joe, rumbling up her hair and making herself comfortable.

239"'Yes, till I hurt myself.

240Sally's friend Annie Moffat took a fancy to me, and asked me to come and spend a week with her when Sally does.

241She 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.

242"'I saw you dancing with the red-headed man I ran away from.

243Was he nice?' "'Oh, very.

244His hair is auburn, not red, and he was very polite, and I had a delicious redawa with him.' "'He looked like a grasshopper in a fit when he did the new step.

245Laurie and I couldn't help laughing.

246Did you hear us?' "'No, but it was very rude.

247What were you about all that time, hidden away there?' Joe told her adventures, and by the time she had finished they were at home.

248With many thanks they said good-night and crept in, hoping to disturb no one, but the instant their door creaked, two little nightcaps bobbed up, and two sleepy but eager voices cried out.

249With what Meg called a great want of manners, Joe had saved some bonbons for the little girls, and they soon subsided after hearing the most thrilling events of the evening.

250"'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 Joe bound up her foot with Arnica and brushed her hair.

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

252End of chapter 3