Experiments

           "ThefirstofJune!TheKingsareofftotheseashoretomorrow,andI’mfree.Threemonths’vacation—howIshallenjoyit!"exclaimedMeg,cominghomeonewarmdaytofindJolaiduponthesofainanunusualstateofexhaustion,whileBethtookoffherdustyboots,andAmymadelemonadefortherefreshmentofthewholeparty.

           "AuntMarchwenttoday,forwhich,oh,bejoyful!"saidJo."Iwasmortallyafraidshe’daskmetogowithher.Ifshehad,IshouldhavefeltasifIoughttodoit,butPlumfieldisaboutasgayasachurchyard,youknow,andI’dratherbeexcused.Wehadaflurrygettingtheoldladyoff,andIhadafrighteverytimeshespoketome,forIwasinsuchahurrytobethroughthatIwasuncommonlyhelpfulandsweet,andfearedshe’dfinditimpossibletopartfromme.Iquakedtillshewasfairlyinthecarriage,andhadafinalfright,forasitdroveof,shepoppedoutherhead,saying,‘Josyphine,won’tyou—?’Ididn’thearanymore,forIbaselyturnedandfled.Ididactuallyrun,andwhiskedroundthecornerwhereIfeltsafe."

           "PooroldJo!Shecameinlookingasifbearswereafterher,"saidBeth,asshecuddledhersister’sfeetwithamotherlyair.

           "AuntMarchisaregularsamphire,isshenot?"observedAmy,tastinghermixturecritically.

           "Shemeansvampire,notseaweed,butitdoesn’tmatter.It’stoowarmtobeparticularaboutone’spartsofspeech,"murmuredJo.

           "Whatshallyoudoallyourvacation?"askedAmy,changingthesubjectwithtact.