# ■ 3 The Laurence boy

Look！'said Meg，excitedly，a day or two later．

She waved a piece of paper at Jo．'An invitation to a New Year's party at Sallie Gardiner's house，and it's for both of us．Mother says we can go， but what shall we wear？'

Our best cotton dresses，'said Jo， 'because we haven't got anything else Yours is as good as new， but mine has a burn and a hole in the back．'

Then you must keep your back out of sight，'said Meg．'I'll have a new ribbon for my hair， and my new slippers．And my gloves are all right．'

Mine are stained，soI'll have to go without．'

You must wear gloves to a dance， Jo！ cried Meg．

Then we'll each wear one good one and carry a bad one，'said Jo．

Meg looked worried．'All right， but you will behave nicely，won't you？Don't stare，or put your hands behind your back．'

On New Year's Eve，the two younger sisters watched the two older girls get ready for the party．There was a lot of running up and down，and laughing and talking．Meg wanted some curls around her face，so Jo began to work on the papered ends of Meg's hair with a pair of hot tongs．

Should they smoke like that？'asked Beth．

It's the wetness drying，'said Jo．

What a strange burning smell！'said Amy．

I'll take the papers off now，'said Jo，'and you'll see lots of little curls．

She took the papers off-and，to her horror，the burnt hair came off with them！

Oh，oh！What have you done to my hair！'cried Meg．

I always get things wrong，'said Jo unhappily．'I'm so sorry．I suppose the tongs were too hot．'

Don't worry，'Amy told Meg， who was crying．'Just tie your ribbon so that the ends come on to your forehead a little，and it will look quite fashionable．'

At last，Meg and Jo were ready and went off to the Gardiners'house where Mrs Gardiner welcomed them kindly．Meg immediately began to enjoy herself with Sallie，but Jo wasn't interested in girlish talk and stood with her back carefully against wall，watching the dancing．Soon Meg was asked to dance，then Jo saw a big red-haired boy coming towards her and she quickly went through a door into a small room．Unfortunately， another shy person was already hiding there and she found herself looking at the'Laurence boy'．

Oh dear，I didn't know any one was here！'Jo said．

The boy laughed．'Don't go． I came in here because I don't know any people， but I think I've seen you before，'he said，'You live near us，don't you？'

Next door， said Jo．'We enjoyed your nice Christmas present．'

My grandfather sent it，Miss March．'

But you gave your grandfather the idea，didn't you， Mr Laurence？

I'm not Mr Laurence，only Laurie，'he said．

And I'm not Miss March，only Jo，'she said．'Do you like parties？

Sometimes，'he answered．I've been abroad a lot recent ly，and I don't know how you do things here．'

Abroad！'said Jo．'Oh，did you go to Paris？'

We went there last winter．'

Can you speak French？'she asked．

He said something in French， and Jo listened carefully．'You asked，“Who is the young lady in the pretty slippers？”It's my sister，Meg，and you knew it was！Do you think she's pretty？'

Yes，'he said．'She looks so fresh and quiet．'

This pleased Jo very much， and soon the two of them were talking easily， like old friends．'I hear you're always studying hard，'said Jo．'Are you going to college soon？'

Not for a year or two，'he said．'I'm sixteen next month，and I won't go before I'm seventeen．'

I wish I was going to college，said Jo．

I hate even the idea of it！'said Laurie．

Jo wanted to know why， but he looked so serious that instead of asking she said，'Why don't you go and dance？'

I will if you'll come too，'be answered．

I can't because—' Jo stopped．

Because what？'

You won't tell？'

Never！'

I' ve a bad habit of standing near a fire，and I burn my dresses，'said Jo．'I have to keep still so that no one will see the burn on this one． Laugh if you like．'

But Laurie didn't laugh．'Never mind that，he said gently．'Please come．'

Jo smiled．'All right，'she said．'Thank you．'

When the music stopped， they sat down and began to talk，but Jo saw Meg waving at her． She went over and followed her sister into a side room．

I've turned my foot over and hurt my ankle，'said Meg．'I can't walk on it， and I don't know how I'm going to get home．'

I'm not surprised you turned your foot over in those stupid high shoes，'said Jo．'You'll have to get a carriage or stay here all night．'

A carriage will cost a lot，' said Meg，'and I can't stay here for the night because the house is full． I'll just rest until Hannah comes to fetch us，then do the best I can．'

They're going in for supper now，'said Jo．'I'll stay with you．

No，run and bring me some coffee，' said Meg．

Jo found the coffee， but immediately dropped some down the front of her dress． She was cleaning it off with Meg's glove when a friendly voice spoke to her．

Gan I help？'said Laurie．He had a cup of coffee in one hand and a plate with a cake on it in the other．

I was trying to get something for Meg，'said Jo．

And I was looking for someone to give this to，' he said．He fetched more coffee and a cake for Jo， then the three of them had a happy time talking together until Hannah arrived．Meg completely forgot about her foot and stood up quickly．She cried out with pain，and when Laurle saw that she could not walk， he immediately offered to take them home in his grandfather's carriage．

But you can't want to go home yet，'said Jo．

I always go early，'said Laurie．

He sat with the driver， and the two girls sat with Hannah inside the carriage and talked excitedly about the party．

I had a wonderful time，did you？' said Jo．

Yes，until I hurt myself，'said Meg．'Salie's friend，Annie Moffat， has asked me to go and stay with her for a week in the spring， when Sallie does．'

Jo told Meg her adventures，and then they were home．They thanked Laurie and went quietly into the house， hoping to wake no one． But as soon as they opened their bedroom door，two little voices cried out：'Tell us about the party！Tell us about the party！'

■ 3 勞倫斯家的男孩

“看哪！”一兩天之後，麥格興奮地喊。她朝瓊揮舞著一張紙片。“一張參加薩麗·加迪那家新年聚會的請柬，是給我們倆的。媽媽說我們可以去，可我們應該穿什麼哪？”

“我們最好的棉製衣裙，”瓊說，“因為我們也沒有別的什麼可以穿的了。你的倒是像新的一樣，而我的衣服在背後燒了一個小洞。”

“那你就該讓後背別對著人家，”麥格說。“我的頭髮要有個新飄帶，還有我的新鞋。我的手套也準備好了。”

“我的弄髒了，所以我就不帶了。”

“你一定得帶著手套參加舞會，瓊！”麥格大喊。

“那我們就每個人都戴一隻好的，手裡拿著一隻壞的，”瓊說道。

麥格看上去很焦慮。“那好吧，可你得表現好點，行嗎？不許盯著人看，或者把手放到背後。”

新年除夕，兩個妹妹看著兩個姐姐為舞會做準備。她們不停地跑上跑下，邊笑邊聊。麥格想把面龐兩側的頭髮弄卷，於是瓊就用一副熱夾子在麥格用紙包好的頭髮梢上做卷。

“它們應該像這樣冒煙嗎？”白絲問。

“這是溼頭髮正在乾燥。”瓊答道。

“像是燒焦的味道！”艾米說。

“我現在就把紙拿下來，”瓊說，“你們就會看到許多的小卷。”

她把紙拿了下來——令她驚駭的是，燒焦的頭髮隨之顯露了出來！

“噢，噢！你對我的頭髮幹了什麼？”麥格哭了。

“我總是把事情弄糟，”瓊沮喪地說，“真抱歉。我想是夾子太燙了。”

“彆著急，”艾米對正在哭泣的麥格說，“把髮帶繫上，這樣髮梢就會靠近額頭一些，看上去很時髦。”

最後，麥格和瓊總算準備好了。她們到了加迪那家，受到了加迪那太太友好的歡迎。麥格馬上就跟薩麗玩了起來，可瓊對女孩子婆婆媽媽的談話不感興趣，於是，她小心地倚牆而立，觀看著舞會。不久麥格就被邀請去跳舞，瓊看到一個紅頭髮男孩正向她走來，她就迅速通過一扇門溜進一間小屋子。不幸的是，另一個怕羞的人已經躲在了那裡面，她發現她眼前面對的是“勞倫斯家的男孩”。

“噢，天哪！我不知道已經有人在這兒，”瓊說。

那男孩笑了。“別走。我到這來是因為我誰也不認識。可我想我以前見過你，”他說，“你是不是住在我家附近？”

“隔壁，”瓊說。“我們很喜歡你的聖誕禮物。”

“是我祖父送的，馬奇小姐。”

“可那是你給你祖父出的主意，是嗎，勞倫斯先生？”

“我不是勞倫斯先生，只是羅瑞，”他說。

“我也不是馬奇小姐，只是瓊，”她說，“你喜歡舞會嗎？”

“有的時候喜歡，”他回答說，“我最近常在國外，不知道你們在這兒是怎麼做的。”

“國外！”瓊問，“噢，你去過巴黎嗎？”

“我們去年冬天去的。”

“那你會說法語嗎？”她問。

他用法語講了幾句話，瓊用心傾聽。“你是在問：'那個穿著漂亮舞鞋的女孩子是誰？'那是我姐姐，麥格，你知道的。你覺得她漂亮嗎？”

“是的，”他答道。“她看上去那麼清純和安靜。”

這讓瓊十分高興，不久他們倆就像老朋友一樣自如地交談起來。“我聽說你學習很用功，”瓊說，“那你不久要去讀大學嗎？”

“一兩年內不會，”他回答。“我下個月滿16歲，17歲以前我不會去。”

“我真希望能上大學，”瓊說。

“我一想到它就感到憎恨！”羅瑞說。

瓊想問為什麼，可他看上去很嚴肅，瓊沒提問，而是說：“你為什麼不去跳舞？”

“如果你也來我就跳，”他回答。

“我不能，因為——，”瓊欲言又止。

“因為什麼？”

“你不說出去嗎？”

“絕不會！”

“我有個壞毛病，總是離火爐很近，結果把裙子燒了，”瓊說，“我只好站直了，好讓人看不出這件衣服上的燒痕。想笑你就笑吧。”

可羅瑞沒笑。“沒關係，”他輕柔地說，“來吧。”

瓊笑了。“好吧，”她說，“謝謝。”

音樂停下的時候，他們坐下來開始聊天，可瓊看見麥格在向她招手。她走過去，隨姐姐走進旁邊的一個房間。

“我的腳轉得太多，腳踝都疼了，”麥格說，“我都不能走路了，真不知道該怎麼回家。”

“你穿著那雙蠢笨的高跟鞋，跳得過度我一點也不吃驚，”瓊說，“你得要一輛馬車，或者在這兒呆一晚上。”

“要輛馬車會花好多錢，”麥格說。“我也不能在這兒呆一晚上，因為房間都住滿了。我只好在海娜來接我們之前休息會兒，然後再想辦法。”

“他們正進去吃晚飯，”瓊說，“我陪著你。”

“不，快去給我弄些咖啡來，”麥格說。

瓊找到了咖啡，可馬上就灑到了裙子上。她正用麥格的手套擦拭時聽到一個友好的聲音在跟她講話。

“我能幫忙嗎？”羅瑞說。他一隻手端著一杯咖啡，另一隻手舉著一個盤子，上面放著一塊蛋糕。

“我正給麥格找點吃的，”瓊說。

“我正找人要把這些吃的送出去，”羅瑞說。他又替瓊取了一些咖啡和一塊蛋糕，然後三個人一起聊天，度過了一段愉快的時光，直到海娜來了。麥格早已完全忘了她腳疼的事，很快站了起來。她痛苦地喊叫了一聲。羅瑞看到她不能走路，就立即邀請她們一起坐他祖父的馬車回家。

“可你還不想回家呢，”瓊說。

“我一向走得很早，”羅瑞回答。

他坐在車伕旁邊，兩個女孩和海娜坐在馬車裡面，興奮地談論舞會的情況。

“我玩得棒極了，你呢？”瓊說。

“我也是，直到我受了傷，”麥格說，“薩麗的朋友安妮·墨菲請我春天到她那兒住一個星期，薩麗也去。”

瓊給麥格講述她的經歷，然後她們就到家了。她們感謝了羅瑞，就悄悄地走進家門，不想驚醒任何人。然而當她們一推開臥室的門，兩個小小的聲音就叫起來：“快給我們講講舞會的事！快給我們講講舞會的事！”