第五章 睦邻友好
第五章 睦邻友好
“乔，你到底去干什么？”美格问。一天下午，大雪纷飞，美格看到妹妹脚踏胶靴，身披风袍，头戴风帽，一手拿着扫帚，一手提着铁铲，正踏着坚实的脚步走出过道。
“出去锻炼。”乔顽皮地眨眨眼睛说。
“早上散了两次步，走了那么远，该够了吧！外面又冷又阴沉，劝你还是和我一样，待在火炉边，这里又暖和又干燥。”美格说着不禁打了个冷战。
“我不听劝！不能整天待着不动。我又不是懒猫，可不想在火炉边打瞌睡。我喜欢冒险，想出去找点刺激。”
美格伸腿，继续烤火，读《艾凡赫》[1]。乔开始奋力铲雪。雪下得不厚，乔很快就绕着花园扫出了一条路。这样，太阳出来时，贝丝就可以在花园里散步了，她的病宝宝们需要呼吸新鲜空气呢。马奇家与劳伦斯先生的屋子中间只隔了一个花园。这是城郊，还是有点像农村，到处是树丛、草地、大花园和宁静的街道。一排矮矮的篱笆把两家隔开。篱笆的一边是褐色的老房子，光秃秃的，显得有点破败，夏天缠绕在墙上的藤蔓和屋子周围的花朵都早已凋零。另一边是一座富丽堂皇的石砌楼宇，里面有大马车房和玻璃暖房，庭院修整得干干净净，透过华丽窗帘的缝隙，隐约可以看到里面考究的摆设。这一切都彰显了屋内的舒适和豪华。但是，屋子显得有点孤单，缺乏生气，草地上看不到孩子嬉闹，窗口也见不到母亲的笑脸，除了一位老绅士和他的孙子，很少有人出入。
乔富有想象力。在她眼里，这幢漂亮的房子就像一座魔法宫殿，金碧辉煌，充满赏心乐事，却没人享受。她老早就想去看看那些隐藏于其中的豪华摆设，认识一下劳伦斯家少年。他似乎也想结识人，只是不知如何开头。自从参加舞会以后，她的这种愿望变得更加强烈，并已经设计出许多与他交朋友的方法。可最近没有看到他，乔开始认为他已经走了。一天，她看到楼上窗口有一张晒得黑黑的脸，若有所求地俯视着她们的花园，贝丝和艾美正在那里打雪仗。
“那个男孩正受罪呢，没有朋友，没有欢乐。”她心里想，“他爷爷不知道该给他什么，把他独自关在屋子里。他需要一帮快乐的小伙子来陪他玩，需要活泼开朗的年轻人来做伴。我真想过去看看，把这些话告诉那位老先生！”
想到这里，乔乐了。她胆子大，喜欢做一些鲁莽的事，还常常行为古怪，每每使美格颇为震撼。乔没有忘记过去看看的打算，这天午后，大雪纷飞，她决定见机行事。看到劳伦斯先生乘车出去了，她赶紧开始扫雪，一直扫到篱笆边，然后停下来观察了一番。一切都很安静——楼下的窗户都挂着窗帘，看不到一个仆人，连个人影都瞧不见，只有楼上窗口露出一个黑色鬈发的脑袋，在一只瘦小的手上托着。
“他在那儿。”乔心想，“可怜的小伙子！在这样阴沉的日子里，孤苦伶仃，太不像话了。扔个雪球上去，让他往外看，就可以安慰上几句了。”
乔抓了一把松软的雪，扔了上去。楼上的人马上转过头来，脸上无精打采的神情一扫而光，一双大眼睛闪闪发亮，嘴角露出一丝笑容。乔笑着点点头，挥舞着扫把叫：
“你好，病了吗？”
劳里打开窗，用渡鸦般嘶哑的声音说：
“好多了，谢谢。得了重感冒，已经困在家里一个礼拜了。”
“真不幸。拿什么来消遣呢？”
“什么都没有，这里无聊得像座坟墓。”
“不看书吗？”
“看得不多，他们不让我看。”
“没人读给你听吗？”
“爷爷有时候读给我听，可我的书他不感兴趣，我也不想老是麻烦布鲁克。”
“那么叫人来看你吧。”
“谁都不想见。男孩们太吵，我头疼受不了。”
“难道没有好女孩为你读书消遣吗？女孩们文静，喜欢护理人。”
“没有认识的。”
“可你认识我们啊。”乔开始说，然后大笑起来，很快又停了下来。
“没错！你能来吗？”劳里大声问。
“我不文静啊。要是妈妈答应，我就会来的。我这就去问她。听话，把窗户关上，等我来。”
说着，乔扛起扫把，向家里走去，一路揣摩着家里人都会怎么说。一想到有人做伴，劳里感到一阵惊喜，四处飞奔去做准备。正如马奇太太所说，他是个“小绅士”。为了对来客表示敬意，他梳理了卷曲的头发，换上了干净的衬衣领子，还整理了一下房间；仆人倒有五六个，房间里还是乱得一塌糊涂。不久，听到一声响亮的门铃声，然后是沉着的声音，要找劳里先生，满脸惊奇的仆人跑上来说，一位年轻的小姐来访。
“好的，把她领进来，那是乔小姐。”劳里说着来到小会客室的门口迎接。乔走进来，脸色红润，亲切友好，神情大方；她一手拿着盖着盖子的碟子，一手抱着贝丝的三只小猫。
“我来了，把全部家当都带来了。”她爽朗地说，“妈妈向你问好，要是我能为你做些什么，她会感到高兴的。美格要我带些她亲手做的牛奶冻，她做得很好吃的。贝丝说，她的猫咪可以安慰你。我知道你可能会觉得好笑，可我不能拒绝，要知道，她渴望助人。”
不料，贝丝借出的滑稽猫咪还真管用。劳里对着这些猫咪直笑，顾不得害羞，立刻变得善于交际起来。
乔揭开碟子的盖子，露出牛奶冻，周围是一圈绿叶和艾美最得意的天竺葵红花。“看上去真精美，都叫人舍不得吃。”他说着开心地笑了。
“这算不得什么，只是她们的一点心意，想要表示一下。叫女佣放好，你喝茶的时候吃。就这点小东西，你就吃吧。又软又滑，你喉咙痛，吃下去也不碍事。这房间真舒服！”
“如果收拾干净的话，是很舒服。可是，女佣们都懒，我也拿她们没办法。这让我伤透了脑筋。”
“过两分钟，我就能把房间收拾整齐。只需把壁炉掸一下，这样吧——把壁炉架上的东西放齐，就这样——把书放到这里，把瓶子放到那里，沙发不要对着光，枕头弄松一点。好了，这样你这里就好了。”
他这里真的一切都好了。也就是说笑的那点工夫，乔飞快地把东西整理得井井有条，房间里焕然一新。劳里静静地注视着她，内心充满了敬意。乔示意他在沙发上坐下来，他满意地叹了口气，感激地说：
“你真是太好了！啊，这房间是需要这么收拾一下。现在请坐到大椅子上，让我做点什么，逗客人开心。”
“不用，我来就是逗你开心的。要我为你读会儿书吗？”乔热切地注视着不远处几本诱人的书。
“谢谢，那些书我都看过了，不介意的话，我宁愿聊天。”劳里回答。
“完全同意。如果你让我讲，我可以讲上一天。贝丝说我从来都不知道刹车。”
“贝丝是不是脸色红润，老是待在家里的那位？她是不是偶尔才拎着个小篮子出来？”劳里饶有兴趣地问。
“是的，那就是贝丝。她很乖，我最疼她了。”
“漂亮的那位是美格，鬈头发的是艾美，是吧？”
“你是怎么知道的？”
劳里脸色霎然绯红，但坦然地说：“怎么了，要知道，我常常听到你们你喊我，我喊你。一个人待在楼上，忍不住要朝你们的房子看。你们姐妹似乎一直都过得很愉快。请原谅我这么无礼，可有时你们忘了把窗帘放下来，就是放着鲜花的那个窗户。灯亮的时候，看到炉火前，你们和妈妈围坐在桌边，就像是看一幅图画。她的脸正好对着我，透过鲜花看上去很亲切，我忍不住要看。你看，我没有妈妈的。”劳里的嘴唇不禁抽搐了一下，但他捅捅炉火，试图掩饰这一切。
劳里孤独、渴望的眼神，令乔热情的心深感震撼。她受到的教育十分单纯，脑子里没有半点杂念，虽然十五岁了，但她还是像个小孩，天真、率直。生病的劳里深感寂寞。想到自己真是富有，能享受家庭的幸福和温暖，乔乐于和他分享这份快乐。她满脸友好的神情，尖嗓门也变得格外文雅，说道：
“我们以后不再拉上那个窗帘，我要让你看个够。我只是希望，你别再偷看，可以过来看看我们的。妈妈人很好，她会给你很多的帮助。要是我求求贝丝的话，她还会为你唱上一曲，艾美会跳舞。我和美格会让你看我们可笑的舞台道具，让你痛快地笑一场。我们会玩得很愉快。你爷爷会让你过来吗？”
“我想，如果你妈妈能跟他说，他会同意我过去的。他其实心地很善良，只是看不出来罢了。只要我喜欢的事，他都会放手让我做的。他只是担心我会打扰陌生人。”劳里说，心情越来越好。
“又不是陌生人，我们是邻居。千万别担心。我们想认识你，我可老早就想这么做了。我们搬到这里的时间还不长，可所有的邻居都认识，除了你们。”
“要知道，爷爷就知道读书，外面发生什么都不管。还有，布鲁克先生，就是我的家庭教师，他不住在这里，没人陪我四处走走。我只能待在家里一个人过。”
“太糟糕了。努力一下，要是有人来请，你应该去拜访的。这样，你就会认识很多朋友，也可以到很多有趣的地方去。别担心害羞，多出去走走，就不会再这样了。”
劳里的脸又红了，乔说他害羞，他可没有生气。乔是出于好意，心直口快中的真情他怎能不领会？
他看着炉火发呆，而乔兴致勃勃地顾盼左右。“你喜欢你的学校吗？”沉默了片刻之后，男孩把话锋一转，问道。
“我可不上学，我是个实干家。我是说，我是个干实事的女孩。我服侍姑婆，她还是个既可爱又专横的老太太。”乔回答。
劳里刚要开口再问，但猛然想起，过多地打听别人的私事不礼貌，于是就及时地住了口，显得有几分尴尬。乔喜欢他有教养，并不介意在他面前开开马奇姑婆的玩笑，于是她有声有色地描绘这位烦躁不安的老太太，她的胖狮子狗，那只能说西班牙语的鹦鹉，还有自己最热衷的藏书室，劳里简直都听得入了迷。她讲到，一次有位老绅士穿戴整齐，来向姑婆求婚，正当甜言蜜语时，鹦哥扯下了他的假发，令他大为丧气。听到这里，劳里身子向后一仰，笑得眼泪都流出来了，连一位女佣都探头进来看个究竟。
“哦！真让我受益匪浅。请接着讲。”劳里说。他在沙发垫子上抬起头来，高兴得脸上红光闪闪。
乔成功了，感到得意扬扬。她便接着讲，讲的都是她们的戏文、打算，对爸爸的希望和担心，以及姐妹们居住的小世界里最有趣的事情。然后他们开始谈书，令乔感到高兴的是，她发现劳里与她一样爱读书，甚至读得比她还多。
“看你这么喜欢书，下来看看我们的书吧。爷爷出去了，不用害怕。”劳里说着站了起来。
“我天不怕地不怕。”乔把头一抬回答道。
“我相信你不怕！”男孩大声道，仰慕地看着她。可他心里还是暗暗地想，如果遇到爷爷心情不好，她一点都不怕才怪呢。
整座屋里的气氛与夏天一样热烈，劳里领着乔逐间观赏，遇到乔感兴趣的地方便驻足细看一番。这样走走停停，最后来到书房，乔见了兴奋得手舞足蹈，她平日特别高兴时都那样。里头一排一排摆满了书本，放着图画、雕塑，小橱柜装满了钱币和古玩，引人注目，还有《睡谷传奇》里那种式样的椅子、古怪的桌子和青铜器，最令人叫绝的是一个精致的花砖砌成的敞开式大壁炉。
“真是金玉满堂啊！”乔赞叹道，一屁股坐在了天鹅绒面椅子上，心满意足地环视周围。“西奥多·劳伦斯，你应该是世界上最幸福的男孩。”她顾盼自雄地说。
“人不能光靠书活着。”劳里摇摇头说，他坐在了对面的桌子上。
他还没来得及多说，门铃响了，乔跳了起来，惶恐地叫道：“天哪！是你爷爷来了！”
“哦，是又怎样呢？不是说，你天不怕地不怕的？”男孩调皮地回答。
“我觉得有点怕他，可不知道为什么怕。妈妈说我可以来，我觉得来了也对你没什么坏处。”乔说。她眼睛盯着门，但努力使自己镇定下来。
“你来后我已经好多了，万分感谢。只是担心，你跟我聊天会很累。谈得真开心，真不忍打断。”劳里感激地说。
“医生来看你了，少爷。”女佣说着招招手。
“失陪一会儿，介意吗？我想得去看医生。”劳里说。
“我不要紧。我在这里乐不可支呢。”乔回答。
劳里走了，客人则自娱自乐。她站在那位老绅士精美的肖像前，这时门又开了，但乔没有回头，果敢地说：“我肯定不会怕他的。嘴巴冷酷，却慈眉善目，看样子挺有主见。没有我外公那么潇洒，可我喜欢他。”
“承蒙夸奖，小姐。”一个声音在她背后生硬地说。劳伦斯老先生就站在那里，这令她大为懊丧。
可怜的乔，脸红得不能再红了。回想起自己刚才所说的话，她的心开始怦怦直跳。霎时她想到了跑，但那是懦夫的行为，姐妹们会嘲笑的。于是，她决定留下来，并尽可能摆脱窘境。她又看了他一眼，发现灰色的浓眉下一双充满活力的眼睛，比画中的双眼要慈祥得多，目光中闪着一丝诡秘，这使她心中轻松了许多。在那可怕的沉默之后，老先生生硬地说：“你不怕我，是吗？”他沙哑的声音变得更沙哑了。
“不太怕，先生。”
“你觉得我没有你外公那么潇洒。”
“是的，先生。”
“我挺有主见，是吗？”
“我这么认为。”
“即使这样，你还是喜欢我，是吗？”
“是的，还是喜欢，先生。”
听了这回答，老先生十分高兴。他微微一笑，握握她的手，用手指托起她的下巴，把她的脸往上一抬，严肃地仔细端详，然后放下手点头说：“长得不像你过世的外公，倒还继承了他的精神。他是个好人，孩子。更难得的是，他勇敢、诚实，我很自豪与他有交情。”
“谢谢你，先生。”他的话正中乔的下怀，乔听了以后心里很惬意。
“喂，你对我家孙子干了什么？”老先生尖锐地提出了下一个问题。
“我只想尽力做个好邻居，先生。”乔告诉了来访的缘由。
“你认为他需要开心一点，是吗？”
“是的，先生。他好像有点孤独，年轻人或许能帮助他。我们只是女孩子，可要是能帮得上忙，我们倒很愿意的。您送的圣诞礼物很棒，我们还没有忘记。”乔热情地说。
“啧，啧，啧！那可是孩子出的主意。穷女人现在怎么样了？”
“她很好，先生。”乔快嘴快舌，把胡梅尔家的所有情况讲了一遍，并告诉他，妈妈已经说服几个殷实的朋友来帮助他们。
“和她父亲一样助人为乐。告诉你母亲，抽空我要去看看她。用茶的铃声响了，由于男孩的缘故，我们早点用茶。下楼来吧，继续做个好邻居。”
“只要您喜欢请我，先生。”
“我要是不喜欢的话，就不会请你。”劳伦斯先生用传统的礼节，向乔伸出手臂。
“不知美格对此会怎么说？”乔边走边想，想到自己回家后要描述这里的情景，眼睛高兴得一闪一闪的。
劳里跑下楼来，看到乔竟然和令人生畏的爷爷手挽着手，满脸惊诧地站住。“嘿！怎么了，这孩子碰到什么鬼了？”老先生问。
“不知道您已经来了，先生。”他开口说。乔给他使了个眼色，一副得意扬扬的样子。
“明摆着的，看你冲下楼的样子就行了。来喝茶吧，少爷，拿出点绅士的风度。”劳伦斯先生慈爱地扯了扯男孩的头发，继续往前走。劳里跟在他们身后，好一会儿才反应过来，滑稽的样子引得乔差点哈哈大笑起来。
老先生喝了四杯茶，没有多说话，只是注视着两位年轻人。两人很快就跟老朋友似的聊开了，孙子的变化没有逃过他的眼睛。现在，男孩脸色红润，充满生气，仪态活泼，连笑声中也充满了真挚的欢乐。
“她说的没错，小家伙确实孤独。我倒要看看，这些小姑娘家能帮他做些什么。”劳伦斯先生看着听着，心里琢磨着。他喜欢乔，因为她古怪、率直的做事方式正合他的心意，也因为她似乎十分了解这个男孩，她自己简直就像是个男孩。
如果劳伦斯祖孙真的如乔原来所说的那样循规蹈矩、死气沉沉，她完全不会与他们合得来，因为这样的人往往使她害羞、尴尬。但她现在却发现他们坦率、随和，这就使自己感到无拘无束，也给人留下了美好的印象。他们起身时，她提出要走，但劳里说，还想请她再看些东西，遂带她来到暖房。灯火已经特地为她点亮。乔在走道上徘徊，借柔和的灯光，欣赏着两边墙上盛开的鲜花、四周美妙的藤蔓树木，尽情呼吸芳香宜人的潮湿空气，仿佛置身于仙境。这时，新朋友剪了满满的一捧美不胜收的鲜花，扎起来，带着令她愉快的神情说：“请把这些鲜花交给你妈妈，就说我很感谢她送来的药。”
他们来到大客厅，只见劳伦斯先生站在炉火前，可乔的注意力却被打开着的大钢琴深深吸引了。
“你弹琴吗？”她转向劳里问，脸上露出敬佩的表情。
“有时候弹。”他谦虚地回答。
“现在请弹弹吧。我想听听，回去再跟贝丝说。”
“你先请吧。”
“不会弹，太笨了，学不会，可我很喜欢音乐的。”
于是劳里弹，乔把鼻子埋入天芥菜花和香水月季丛中聆听着，十分惬意。他弹得美妙无比，没有半点造作，这增加了她对劳伦斯家少年的敬重。她希望贝丝能够听到他弹琴，可没有说出来，只是赞不绝口，直到他感到局促不安，最后还是爷爷前来解围。
“好了，好了，小姐，甜言蜜语太多，对他可不好。他弹得是不错，可我希望他在正经事上能同样做得出色。要走了吗？好吧，我很感激你，希望下次再来。替我向你母亲问好。晚安，乔医生。”
他亲切地与她握手作别，但显得好像有什么事不高兴。走到过道时，乔问劳里，她是否说错了话，他摇摇头。
“没有，都怪我，他不喜欢听我弹琴。”
“为什么？”
“以后再告诉你。约翰会送你回家，我不行，恕不远送。”
“不必了，我又不是娇小姐，何况没几步路。自己多保重，好吗？”
“我会的，希望你能再来。”
“只要你答应我，病好以后来看我们。”
“我会的。”
“晚安，劳里！”
“晚安，乔，晚安！”
乔把下午的经历告诉大家，惹得一家人想全体出动去拜访。每个人都发现，篱笆另一边的大房子里，有一种说不出的魅力。马奇太太想跟老人谈谈自己的父亲，因为老人还没有忘记他；美格渴望到暖房去走走；贝丝憧憬着那架大钢琴；艾美则很想观摩一下精美的图画和雕塑。
“妈妈，劳伦斯先生为什么不喜欢劳里弹琴呢？”生性好问的乔问道。
“我也不太清楚，想必是他儿子的缘故。劳里的爸爸娶了位搞音乐的意大利姑娘，老人的自尊心极强，心里很不高兴。虽然这姑娘贤淑可爱、多才多艺，可老先生就是不喜欢。他们婚后，他没有再见儿子一面。劳里很小的时候，父母就双双去世了，是爷爷把他领回了家。这孩子生在意大利，身体不太健壮，我猜想是老先生唯恐失去他，因此才谨小慎微的。劳里和他妈妈一样，天生就爱音乐，我敢说，爷爷是怕他也想当音乐家吧。无论如何，他的琴艺使老人想起不投缘的媳妇，所以他‘瞪眼睛’，正如乔说的那样。”
“哎哟，真浪漫！”美格嚷道。
“真傻帽！”乔说，“他喜欢当音乐家就让他当呗，他讨厌上大学，就不要把他送进去受罪好了。”
“我想，所以嘛，他才有一双漂亮的黑眼睛和优雅的举止。意大利人总是风度翩翩。”美格说。她有点多情。
“他的眼睛和举止你知道什么呀？你没跟他说过话，几乎没有。”乔嚷道。她可并不多情。
“我在晚会里见过他的，你讲的东西说明了他懂得举止得体。他说的妈妈送药那几句话多有意思。”
“想必他是指牛奶冻吧。”
“真是个笨孩子！他是指你，绝对没错。”
“是吗？”乔睁大眼睛，仿佛以前从没有这样想过。
“从来没有见过这样的女孩！人家恭维你还不知道。”美格说，摆出对这种事情熟门熟路的小姐的样子。
“我认为这种事是胡说八道。别这么傻，扫我的兴，我倒要谢谢了。劳里是个好男孩，我喜欢他，我不要听什么恭维呀之类的废话，太多情。我们都要待他好，他没了亲娘。他可以过来看我们的，您说对吗，妈咪？”
“对，乔，非常欢迎你的小朋友。我也希望美格记住，少女不应该过早搞得这么复杂。”
“我认为自己不算少女，我还不到十三岁呢，”艾美说，“你说呢，贝丝？”
“我正在考虑我们的《天路历程》。”贝丝答道。她一句话也没有听进去。“考虑我们如何下定决心学好，以便走出‘深渊’，穿过‘边门’，努力爬上陡坡；也许那边那座装满漂亮东西的屋子，便是我们的‘丽宫’呢。”
“我们得先偷过狮子群身边啦。”乔仿佛憧憬着。
* * *
[1]英国名著。
CHAPTER 5 BEING NEIGHBORLY
CHAPTER 5 BEING NEIGHBORLY
“WHAT IN the world are you going to do now, Jo? ” asked Meg one snowy afternoon, as her sister came tramping through the hall, in rubber boots, old sack, and hood, with a broom in one hand and a shovel in the other.
“Going out for exercise, ” answered Jo with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough! It's cold and dull out, and I advise you to stay warm and dry by the fire, as I do, ” said Meg with a shiver.
“Never take advice! Can't keep still all day, and not being a pussycat, I don't like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I'm going to find some.”
Meg went back to toast her feet and read Ivanhoe, and Jo began to dig paths with great energy. The snow was light, and with her broom she soon swept a path all round the garden, for Beth to walk in when the sun came out and the invalid dolls needed air. Now, the garden separated the Marches' house from that of Mr. Laurence. Both stood in a suburb of the city, which was still country-like, with groves and lawns, large gardens, and quiet streets. A low hedge parted the two estates. On one side was an old, brown house, looking rather bare and shabby, robbed of the vines that in summer covered its walls and the flowers, which then surrounded it. On the other side was a stately stone mansion, plainly betokening every sort of comfort and luxury, from the big coach house and well-kept grounds to the conservatory and the glimpses of lovely things one caught between the rich curtains.
Yet it seemed a lonely, lifeless sort of house, for no children frolicked on the lawn, no motherly face ever smiled at the windows, and few people went in and out, except the old gentleman and his grandson.
To Jo's lively fancy, this fine house seemed a kind of enchanted palace, full of splendors and delights which no one enjoyed. She had long wanted to behold these hidden glories, and to know the “Laurence boy”, who looked as if he would like to be known, if he only knew how to begin. Since the party, she had been more eager than ever, and had planned many ways of making friends with him; but he had not been seen lately, and Jo began to think he had gone away, when she one day spied a brown face at an upper window, looking wistfully down into their garden, where Beth and Amy were snowballing one another.
“That boy is suffering for society and fun, ” she said to herself. “His grandpa does not know what's good for him, and keeps him shut up all alone. He needs a party of jolly boys to play with, or somebody young and lively. I've a great mind to go over and tell the old gentleman so! ”
The idea amused Jo, who liked to do daring things and was always scandalizing Meg by her queer performances. The plan of “going over”was not forgotten. And when the snowy afternoon came, Jo resolved to try what could be done. She saw Mr. Lawrence drive off, and then sallied out to dig her way down to the hedge, where she paused and took a survey. All quiet—curtains down at the lower windows, servants out of sight, and nothing human visible but a curly black head leaning on a thin hand at the upper window.
“There he is, ” thought Jo, “Poor boy! All alone and sick this dismal day. It's a shame! I'll toss up a snowball and make him look out, and then say a kind word to him.”
Up went a handful of soft snow, and the head turned at once, showing a face which lost its listless look in a minute, as the big eyes brightened and the mouth began to smile. Jo nodded and laughed, and flourished her broom as she called out—
“How do you do? Are you sick? ”
Laurie opened the window, and croaked out as hoarsely as a raven—
“Better, thank you. I've had a bad cold, and been shut up a week.”
“I'm sorry. What do you amuse yourself with? ”
“Nothing. It's dull as tombs up here.”
“Don't you read? ”
“Not much. They won't let me.”
“Can't somebody read to you? ”
“Grandpa does sometimes, but my books don't interest him, and I hate to ask Brooke all the time.”
“Have someone come and see you, then.”
“There isn't anyone I'd like to see. Boys make such a row, and my head is weak.”
“Isn't there some nice girl who'd read and amuse you? Girls are quiet and like to play nurse.”
“Don't know any.”
“You know us, ” began Jo, then laughed and stopped.
“So I do! Will you come, please? ” cried Laurie.
“I'm not quiet and nice, but I'll come, if Mother will let me. I'll go ask her. Shut the window, like a good boy, and wait till I come.”
With that, Jo shouldered her broom and marched into the house, wondering what they would all say to her. Laurie was in a flutter of excitement at the idea of having company, and flew about to get ready;for as Mrs. March said, he was “a little gentleman”, and did honor to the coming guest by brushing his curly pate, putting on a fresh color, and trying to tidy up the room, which in spite of half a dozen servants, was anything but neat. Presently there came a loud ring, than a decided voice, asking for“Mr. Laurie”, and a surprised-looking servant came running up to announce a young lady.
“All right, show her up, it's Miss Jo, ” said Laurie, going to the door of his little parlor to meet Jo, who appeared, looking rosy and quite at her ease, with a covered dish in one hand and Beth's three kittens in the other.
“Here I am, bag and baggage, ” she said briskly. “Mother sent her love, and was glad if I could do anything for you. Meg wanted me to bring some of her blancmange, she makes it very nicely, and Beth thought her cats would be comforting. I knew you'd laugh at them, but I couldn't refuse, she was so anxious to do something.”
It so happened that Beth's funny loan was just the thing, for in laughing over the kits, Laurie forgot his bashfulness, and grew sociable at once.
“That looks too pretty to eat, ” he said, smiling with pleasure, as Jo uncovered the dish, and showed the blancmange, surrounded by a garland of green leaves, and the scarlet flowers of Amy's pet geranium.
“It isn't anything, only they all felt kindly and wanted to show it. Tell the girl to put it away for your tea. It's so simple you can eat it, and being soft, it will slip down without hurting your sore throat. What a cozy room this is! ”
“It might be if it was kept nice, but the maids are lazy, and I don't know how to make them mind. It worries me, though.”
“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 the curtain at the window where the flowers are. And when the lamps are lighted, it's like looking at a picture to see the fire, and you all around the table with your mother. Her face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the flowers, I can't help watching it. I haven't got any mother, you know.” And Laurie poked the fire to hide a little twitching of the lips that he could not control.
The solitary, hungry look in his eyes went straight to Jo's warm heart. She had been so simply taught that there was no nonsense in her head,and at fifteen she was as innocent and frank as any child. Laurie was sick and lonely, and feeling how rich she was in home love and happiness, she gladly tried to share it with him. Her face was very friendly and her sharp voice unusually gentle as she said—
“We'll never draw that curtain any more, and I give you leave to look as much as you like. I just wish, though, instead of peeping, you'd come over and see us. Mother is so splendid, she'd do you heaps of good, and Beth would sing to you if I begged her to, and Amy would dance. Meg and I would make you laugh over our funny stage properties, and we'd have jolly times. Wouldn't your grandpa let you? ”
“I think he would, if your mother asked him. He's very kind, though he does not look so; and he lets me do what I like, pretty much, only he's afraid I might be a bother to strangers, ” began Laurie, brightening more and more.
“We are not strangers, we are neighbors, and you needn't think you'd be a bother.We want to know you,and I've been trying to do it this ever so long. We haven't been here a great while, you know, but we have got acquainted with all our neighbors but you.”
“You see, Grandpa lives among his books, and doesn't mind much what happens outside. Mr. Brooke, my tutor, doesn't stay here, you know, and I have no one to go about with me, so I just stop at home and get on as I can.”
“That's bad. You ought to make an effort and go visiting everywhere you are asked, then you'll have plenty of friends, and pleasant places to go to. Never mind being bashful. It won't last long if you keep going.”
Laurie turned red again, but wasn't offended at being accused of bashfulness, for there was so much good will in Jo it was impossible not to take her blunt speeches as kindly as they were meant.
“Do you like your school? ” asked the boy, changing the subject, after a little pause, during which he stared at the fire and Jo looked about her, well pleased.
“Don't go to school; I'm a businessman—girl, I mean. I go to wait on my great-aunt, and a dear, cross old soul she is, too, ” answered Jo.
Laurie opened his mouth to ask another question, but remembering just in time that it wasn't manners to make too many inquiries into people's affairs, he shut it again, and looked uncomfortable. Jo liked his good breeding, and didn't mind having a laugh at Aunt March, so she gave him a lively description of the fidgety old lady, her fat poodle, the parrot that talked Spanish, and the library where she reveled. Laurie enjoyed that immensely, and when she told about the prim old gentleman who came once to woo Aunt March, and, in the middle of a fine speech, how Poll had tweaked his wig off to his great dismay, the boy lay back and laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks, and a maid popped her head in to see what was the matter.
“Oh! That does me no end of good. Tell on, please, ” he said, taking his face out of the sofa cushion, red and shining with merriment.
Much elated with her success, Jo did “tell on, ” all about their plays and plans, their hopes and fears for Father, and the most interesting events of the little world in which the sisters lived. Then they got to talking about books, and to Jo's delight, she found that Laurie loved them as well as she did, and had read even more than herself.
“If you like them so much, come down and see ours. Grandfather is out, so you needn't be afraid, ” said Laurie, getting up.
“I'm not afraid of anything, ” returned Jo, with a toss of the head.
“I don't believe you are! ” exclaimed the boy, looking at her with much admiration, though he privately thought she would have good reason to be a trifle afraid of the old gentleman, if she met him in some of his moods.
The atmosphere of the whole house being summerlike, Laurie led the way from room to room, letting Jo stop to examine whatever struck her fancy. And so, at last they came to the library, where she clapped her hands and pranced, as she always did when especially delighted. It was lined with books, and there were pictures and statues, and distracting little cabinets full of coins and curiosities, and Sleepy Hollow chairs, and queer tables, and bronzes, and best of all, a great open fireplace with quaint tiles all round it.
“What richness! ” sighed Jo, sinking into the depth of a velvet chair and gazing about her with an air of intense satisfaction. “Theodore Laurence, you ought to be the happiest boy in the world, ” she added impressively.
“A fellow can't live on books, ” said Laurie, shaking his head as he perched on a table opposite.
Before he could more, a bell rang, and Jo flew up, exclaiming with alarm, “Mercy me! It's your grandpa! ”
“Well, what if it is? You are not afraid of anything, you know, ”returned the boy, looking wicked.
“I think I am a little bit afraid of him, but I don't know why I should be. Marmee said I might come, and I don't think you're any the worse for it, ” said Jo, composing herself, though she kept her eyes on the door.
“I'm a great deal better for it, and ever so much obliged. I'm only afraid you are very tired of talking to me.It was so pleasant,I couldn't bear to stop, ” said Laurie gratefully.
“The doctor to see you, sir, ” and the maid beckoned as she spoke.
“Would you mind if I left you for a minute? I suppose I must see him, ”said Laurie.
“Don't mind me. I'm happy as a cricket here, ” answered Jo.
Laurie went away, and his guest amused herself in her own way. She was standing before a fine portrait of the old gentleman when the door opened again, and without turning, she said decidedly, “I'm sure now that I shouldn't be afraid of him, for he's got kind eyes, though his mouth is grim, and he looks as if he had a tremendous will of his own. He isn't as handsome as my grandfather, but I like him.”
“Thank you, ma'am, ” said a gruff voice behind her, and there, to her great dismay, stood old Mr. Laurence.
Poor Jo blushed till she couldn't blush any redder, and her heart began to beat uncomfortably fast as she thought what she had said. For a minute a wild desire to run away possessed her, but that was cowardly, and the girls would laugh at her, so she resolved to stay and get out of the scrape as she could. A second look showed her that the living eyes, under the bushy eyebrows, were kinder even than the painted ones, and there was a sly twinkle in them, which lessened her fear a good deal. The gruff voice was gruffer than ever, as the old gentleman said abruptly, after the dreadful pause, “So you're not afraid of me, hey? ”
“Not much, sir.”
“And you don't think me as handsome as your grandfather? ”
“Not quite, sir.”
“And I've got a tremendous will, have I? ”
“I only said I thought so.”
“But you like me in spite of it? ”
“Yes, I do, sir.”
That answer pleased the old gentleman. He gave a short laugh, shook hands with her, and, putting his finger under her chin, turned up her face, examined it gravely, and let it go, saying with a nod, “You've got your grandfather's spirit, if you haven't his face. He was a fine man, my dear, but what is better, he was a brave and an honest one, and I was proud to be his friend.”
“Thank you, sir, ” And Jo was quite comfortable after that, for it suited her exactly.
“What have you been doing to this boy of mine, hey? ” was the next question, sharply put.
“Only trying to be neighborly, sir.” And Jo told how her visit came about.
“You think he needs cheering up a bit, do you? ”
“Yes, sir, he seems a little lonely, and young folks would do him good perhaps. We are only girls, but we should be glad to help if we could, for we don't forget the splendid Christmas present you sent us, ” said Jo eagerly.
“Tut, tut, tut! That was the boy's affair. How is the poor woman? ”
“Doing nicely, sir.” And off went Jo, talking very fast, as she told all about the Hummels, in whom her mother had interested richer friends than they were.
“Just her father's way of doing good. I shall come and see your mother some fine day. Tell her so. There's the tea bell, we have it early on the boy's account. Come down and go on being neighborly.”
“If you'd like to have me, sir.”
“Shouldn't ask you, if I didn't.” And Mr. Laurence offered her his arm with old-fashioned courtesy.
“What would Meg say to this? ” thought Jo, as she was marched away, while her eyes danced with fun as she imagined herself telling the story at home.
“Hey! Why, what the dickens has come to the fellow? ” said the old gentleman, as Laurie came running downstairs and brought up with a start of surprise at the astonishing sight of Jo arm in arm with his redoubtable grandfather.
“I didn't know you'd come, sir, ” he began, as Jo gave him a triumphant little glance.
“That's evident, by the way you racket downstairs. Come to your tea, sir, and behave like a gentleman.” And having pulled the boy's hair by way of a caress, Mr. Laurence walked on, while Laurie went through a series of comic evolutions behind their backs, which nearly produced an explosion of laughter from Jo.
The old gentleman did not say much as he drank his four cups of tea,but he watched the young people, who soon chatted away like old friends, and the change in his grandson did not escape him. There was color, light, and life in the boy's face now, vivacity in his manner, and genuine merriment in his laugh.
“She's right,the lad is lonely.I'll see what these little girls can do for him, ” thought Mr. Laurence, as he looked and listened. He liked Jo, for her odd, blunt ways suited him, and she seemed to understand the boy almost as well as if she had been one herself.
If the Laurences had been what Jo called “prim and poky”, she would not have got on at all, for such people always made her shy and awkward. But finding them free and easy, she was so herself, and made a good impression. When they rose she proposed to go, but Laurie said he had something more to show her, and took her away to the conservatory, which had been lighted for her benefit. It seemed quite fairylike to Jo, as she went up and down the walks, enjoying the blooming walls on either side, the soft light, the damp sweet air, and the wonderful vines and trees that hung about her, while her new friend cut the finest flowers till his hands were full. Then he tied them up, saying, with the happy look Jo liked to see, “Please give these to your mother, and tell her I like the medicine she sent me very much.”
They found Mr. Laurence standing before the fire in the great drawing room, but Jo's attention was entirely absorbed by a grand piano, which stood open.
“Do you play? ” she asked, turning to Laurie with a respectful expression.
“Sometimes, ” he answered modestly.
“Please do now. I want to hear it, so I can tell Beth.”
“Won't you first? ”
“Don't know how. Too stupid to learn, but I love music dearly.”
So Laurie played and Jo listened, with her nose luxuriously buried in heliotrope and tea roses. Her respect and regard for the “Laurence boy”increased very much, for he played remarkably well and didn't put on any airs. She wished Beth could hear him, but she did not say so, only praised him till he was quite abashed, and his grandfather came to his rescue. “That will do, that will do, young lady. Too many sugarplums are not good for him. His music isn't bad, but I hope he will do as well in more important things. Going? well, I'm much obliged to you, and I hope you'll come again. My respects to your mother. Good night, Doctor Jo.”
He shook hands kindly, but looked as if something did not please him. When they got into the hall, Jo asked Laurie if she had said something amiss. He shook his head.
“No, it was me. He doesn't like to hear me play.”
“Why not? ”
“I'll tell you some day. John is going home with you, as I can't.”
“No need of that. I am not a young lady, and it's only a step. Take care of yourself, won't you? ”
“Yes, but you will come again, I hope? ”
“If you promise to come and see us after you are well.”
“I will.”
“Good night, Laurie! ”
“Good night, Jo, good night! ”
When all the afternoon's adventures had been told, the family felt inclined to go visiting in a body, for each found something very attractive in the big house on the other side of the hedge. Mrs. March wanted to talk of her father with the old man who had not forgotten him, Meg longed to walk in the conservatory, Beth sighed for the grand piano, and Amy was eager to see the fine pictures and statues.
“Mother, why didn't Mr. Laurence like to have Laurie play? ” asked Jo, who was of an inquiring disposition.
“I am not sure, but I think it was because his son, Laurie's father, married an Italian lady, a musician, which displeased the old man, who is very proud. The lady was good and lovely and accomplished, but he did not like her, and never saw his son after he married. They both died when Laurie was a little child, and then his grandfather took him home. I fancy the boy, who was born in Italy, is not very strong, and the old man is afraid of losing him, which makes him so careful. Laurie comes naturally by his love of music, for he is like his mother, and I dare say his grandfather fears that he may want to be a musician. At any rate, his skill reminds him of the woman he did not like, and so he ‘glowered' as Jo said.”
“Dear me, how romantic! ” exclaimed Meg.
“How silly! ” said Jo. “Let him be a musician if he wants to, and not plague his life out sending him to college, when he hates to go.”
“That's why he has such handsome black eyes and pretty manners, I suppose. Italians are always nice, ” said Meg, who was a little sentimental.
“What do you know about his eyes and his manners? You never spoke to him, hardly, ” cried Jo, who was not sentimental.
“I saw him at the party, and what you tell shows that he knows how to behave. That was a nice little speech about the medicine Mother sent him.”
“He meant the blancmange, I suppose.”
“How stupid you are, child! He meant you, of course.”
“Did he? ” And Jo opened her eyes as if it had never occurred to her before.
“I never saw such a girl! You don't know a compliment when you get it, ” said Meg, with the air of a young lady who knew all about the matter.
“I think they are great nonsense, and I'll thank you not to be silly and spoil my fun. Laurie's a nice boy and I like him, and I won't have any sentimental stuff about compliments and such rubbish. We'll all be good to him because he hasn't got any mother,and he may come over and see us, mayn't he, Marmee? ”
“Yes, Jo, your little friend is very welcome, and I hope Meg will remember that children should be children as long as they can.”
“I don't call myself a child, and I'm not in my teens yet, ” observed Amy. “What do you say, Beth? ”
“I was thinking about our ‘Pilgrim's Progress', ” answered Beth, who had not heard a word. “How we got out of the Slough and through the Wicket Gate by resolving to be good, and up the steep hill by trying, and that maybe the house over there, full of splendid things, is going to be our Palace Beautiful.”
“We have got to get by the lions first, ” said Jo, as if she rather liked the prospect.
