“I’ll right it up in two minutes; for it only needs to have the hearth brushed, so—and the things made straight on the mantelpiece so—and the books put here, and the bottles there, and your sofa turned from the light, and the pillows plumped up a bit. Now, then, you’re fixed.”
And so he was; for, as she laughed and talked, Jo had whisked things into place, and given quite a different air to the room. Laurie watched her in respectful silence; and when she beckoned him to his sofa, he sat down with a sigh of satisfaction, saying gratefully—
“How kind you are! Yes, that’s what it wanted. Now please take the big chair, and let me do something to amuse my company.”
“No; I came to amuse you. Shall I read aloud?” and Jo looked affectionately toward some inviting books near by.
“Thank you; I’ve read all those, and if you don’t mind, I’d rather talk,” answered Laurie.
“Not a bit; I’ll talk all day if you’ll only set me going. Beth says I never know when to stop.”
“Is Beth the rosy one, who stays at home a good deal, and sometimes goes out with a little basket?” asked Laurie, with interest.
“Yes, that’s Beth; she’s my girl, and a regular good one she is, too.”
“The pretty one is Meg, and the curly-haired one is Amy, I believe?”
“How did you find that out?”
Laurie colored up, but answered frankly, “Why, you see, I often hear you calling to one another, and when I’m alone up here, I can’t help 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