# ■ 9 Secrets

One October afternoon，Jo caught a bus into the town and stopped outside a building in one of the busy streets．She went in，looked up the stairs and，after a minute，ran out again．She did this several times，to the great amusement of a young man who was watching from the opposite side of the road．But the fourth time，Jo gave herself a shake and walked up the stairs．

The young man crossed the road and waited．It was Laurie．Ten minutes later，Jo came running out，but did not look pleased to see him．

What are you doing here？'she said．

I'm waiting to walk home with you，'he said．'I've a secret to tell you，but first you must tell me yours．'

You won't say anything at home，will you？'said Jo．

Not a word，promised Laurie．

I've left two of my stories with a newspaper man，'said Jo，'but I'll have to wait until next week before I know if they will be printed．'

Miss March，the famous American writer！'said Laurie，throwing his hat into the air and catching it．

Jo looked pleased．'Now，what's your secret？'

You remember Meg lost a glove at the picnic？'said Laurie．'Well，I know where it is．'

Is that all？'said Jo，looking disappointed．

Wait until I tell you where it is，'he said．

Tell me then，'said Jo．

Laurie whispered three words in Jo's ear．

She stared at him，looking both surprised and displeased．'How do you know？'

I saw it．'

Where？' asked Jo．

Pocket．What's wrong，don't you like it？'

Of course not．It's stupid！What would Meg say if she knew？'

You mustn't tell anyone，'said Laurie．

I didn't promise，'Jo reminded him．

I thought you would be pleased，'he said．

Pleased at the idea of someone coming to take Meg away？'said Jo．'No，thank you．'

She ran off down the hill，but Laurie came after her and reached the bottom first．She came up behind him，her face red and her hair blowing in the wind．

That was fun！'she said，forgetting her crossness in the enjoyment of a good run．

At that moment，someone passed by，then stopped and looked back．It was Meg．

What are you doing here？'she said when she saw Jo．'You've been running，haven't you？Jo，when will you start to behave like a young lady？'

Don't make me grow up yet，Meg，'said Jo，looking sad．'It's hard enough having you change so suddenly．'

Meg was growing into a woman，and Laurie's secret made Jo realize that Meg would leave home one day，perhaps soon．

Two Saturdays after Jo had gone secretly into town，Meg saw Laurie chasing Jo all over the garden before the two of them fell on the grass，laughing and waving a newspaper．

What can we do with that girl？'said Meg．'She never will behave like a young lady．'

Minutes later，Jo came in with the newspaper．She sat down and began to read it．

Are you reading anything interesting？'asked Meg．

Only a story，'said Jo．

Read it aloud，'said Amy．'It may amuse us．'

Jo began to read very fast，and the girls listened．It was a love story about two people called Viola and Angelo，and most of the characters died in the end But the girls enjoyed it，and Meg even cried a little at the sad parts．

Who wrote it？'asked Beth，watching Jo's face．

Jo put down the newspaper．'I did，'she said，her eyes bright and shining．

You？'said Meg，surprised．

It's very good，'said Amy．

I knew it！'said Beth．She ran across and put her arms around her sister．'Oh，Jo，I am so proud！'

And how proud Mrs March was when she was told．

Everyone began to speak at the same time．'Tell us all about it．''How much did you get for it？''What will Father say？''Won't Laurie laugh！'

So Jo told them all about it，and that evening there was no happier or prouder family that the Marches．

■ 9 祕密

10月的一天下午，瓊乘公共汽車到了鎮上，在座落在一條繁華大街上的一幢樓前停了下來。她走了進去，向樓梯上望了望，片刻，又跑出來。她這樣反覆了好幾次，使得在街對面看著她的一個年輕人感到很有意思。可是第四次，瓊鼓了鼓勇氣，走上了樓梯。

那個年輕人過了馬路等候著。那是羅瑞。10分鐘之後，瓊跑了出來，可看上去不太高興見到他。

“你在這兒幹什麼？”她問道。

“我在等著跟你一起回家，”他答道。“我有個祕密要告訴你，可你得先告訴我你的祕密。”

“你什麼也不會對家裡人講，是嗎？”瓊問。

“一個字也不說，”羅瑞發誓說。

“我給一個報紙編輯留下了兩篇我寫的故事，”瓊說，“可我還得等到下個星期才會知道它們會不會被髮表。”

“馬奇小姐，著名的美國作家！”羅瑞說道，一邊把他的帽子扔到空中，然後又接住。

瓊看上去高興起來。“那麼你的祕密是什麼？”

“你還記得麥格野餐的時候丟了一隻手套嗎？”羅瑞說，“哎，我知道它在哪兒。”

“就這個嗎？”瓊說，看上去挺失望。

“別急呀，等我告訴你它在哪兒，”他說。

“那告訴我吧，”瓊說。

羅瑞在瓊耳邊小聲唸叨了三個字。

她盯著他，看上去又驚又喜。“你怎麼知道的？”

“我看見的。”

“在哪兒？”瓊問。

“兜裡。怎麼了，你不喜歡這個消息嗎？”

“當然不。這太愚蠢了！麥格知道了會說什麼？”

“你誰也不許告訴，”羅瑞說。

“我沒發過誓，”瓊提醒他說。

“我以為你會高興呢，”他說。

“為有人來要帶麥格走而感到高興嗎？”瓊說，“不，謝謝。”

她跑下山坡，可羅瑞追上了她並在她之前到達了坡底。她從他後面走過來，臉紅紅的，頭髮飄在風中。

“這真有意思！”她說，她已因為奔跑的快樂而忘記了她的不愉快。

就在那時，有人從他們身旁經過，然後停了下來朝後看。那是麥格。

“你在這兒幹什麼？”她看到瓊，問道：“你剛才奔跑來的，是嗎？瓊，你什麼時候才能像個年輕的淑女？”

“別讓我長大，麥格，”瓊說，看上去挺傷感。“看見你突然的改變就夠難的了。”

麥格正在成長為一個婦人，羅瑞的祕密使瓊意識到麥格有一天會離開家，也許很快。

兩個星期後的星期六，瓊悄悄去了鎮裡，麥格看到羅瑞滿花園地追逐瓊，然後兩人都倒在草地上，笑著舞動著一張報紙。

“我們該把那個女孩子怎麼辦呢，”麥格說，“她永遠也不會像個淑女。”

幾分鐘以後，瓊手中拿著報紙走了進來。她坐下來開始讀那份報。

“你是在讀些有趣的事嗎？”麥格問。

“只是個故事，”瓊答道。

“大聲地讀，”艾米說，“它沒準會逗我們開心。”

瓊開始很快地讀，孩子們傾聽著。那是個關於兩個名叫維奧拉和安尼魯的人的愛情故事，大多數人物在結尾時都死去了。可女孩子喜歡它，麥格甚至在聽到傷感的段落時還哭了。

“誰寫的？”白絲問道，看著瓊的臉。

瓊把報紙放下。“我寫的，”她說，她的眼睛亮閃閃的。

“你？”麥格吃驚地說。

“這太好了，”艾米說。

“我就知道！”白絲說。她跑過去用雙臂摟住她的姐姐，“噢，瓊，我真驕傲！”

當馬奇太太被告知這件事時，她也特別驕傲。

每個人都開始異口同聲地說：“告訴我們這一切吧。”“為這篇文章你得了多少錢？”“爸爸會怎麼說？”“怪不得羅瑞笑呢！”

於是瓊就把一切講給她們聽，那天晚上，沒有比馬奇一家更快樂的家庭了。