Heartache

           Whateverhismotivemighthavebeen,Lauriestudiedtosomepurposethatyear,forhegraduatedwithhonor,andgavetheLatinorationwiththegraceofaPhillipsandtheeloquenceofaDemosthenes,sohisfriendssaid.Theywereallthere,hisgrandfather—oh,soproud—Mr.andMrs.March,JohnandMeg,JoandBeth,andallexultedoverhimwiththesincereadmirationwhichboysmakelightofatthetime,butfailtowinfromtheworldbyanyafter-triumphs.

           "I’vegottostayforthisconfoundedsupper,butIshallbehomeearlytomorrow.You’llcomeandmeetmeasusual,girls?"Lauriesaid,asheputthesistersintothecarriageafterthejoysofthedaywereover.Hesaid‘girls’,buthemeantJo,forshewastheonlyonewhokeptuptheoldcustom.Shehadnotthehearttorefusehersplendid,successfulboyanything,andansweredwarmly...

           "I’llcome,Teddy,rainorshine,andmarchbeforeyou,playing‘Hailtheconqueringherocomes’onajew’s-harp."

           Lauriethankedherwithalookthatmadeherthinkinasuddenpanic,"Oh,dearyme!Iknowhe’llsaysomething,andthenwhatshallIdo?"

           Eveningmeditationandmorningworksomewhatallayedherfears,andhavingdecidedthatshewouldn’tbevainenoughtothinkpeopleweregoingtoproposewhenshehadgiventhemeveryreasontoknowwhatheranswerwouldbe,shesetforthattheappointedtime,hopingTeddywouldn’tdoanythingtomakeherhurthispoorfeelings.