第十三章 空中楼阁
第十三章 空中楼阁
九月的一个下午，天气晴朗，劳里躺在吊床上舒服地摇来摇去，一边揣摩着那几个邻居在干什么，可又懒得出门去瞧个究竟。这一天他过得毫无收获，糟糕透顶，为此他正在闹情绪，恨不得能重新再过一次。闷热的天气使他全身懒洋洋的，书也不读，令布鲁克先生无法忍受；又有半个下午在弹琴，弄得爷爷很不开心；他还恶作剧，暗示他的一只狗快要发疯，把女佣们吓得半死；然后又跟马夫吵了一架，无端地指责对方没照看好他的马。最后，他躺在吊床里，为世人皆愚而愤愤不平。阳光明媚，周围一片宁静，心情烦躁的他，也渐渐平静下来。仰望着头上的七叶树绿意盎然，他做起了白日梦。他想象着自己在海上颠簸，作环球航行，一阵说话声传来，他从梦中惊醒，回到了岸上。透过吊床的网孔，他看到马奇家的姑娘们正走出来，好像要出游。
“那些女孩子现在究竟要干吗？”劳里心想。他睁开蒙眬的睡眼想看个清楚，邻居姑娘们的穿着确实有点古怪。每个人都头戴挂着边的大帽子，肩背棕色亚麻布小袋，手里还拿着一根棍子。美格拿着坐垫，乔夹着书，贝丝拎个篮子，艾美抱着纸夹。她们悄无声息地穿过花园，从后面一扇小门出去，爬上小山，向河边走去。
“哎，真行啊！”劳里心想，“去野餐也不叫我一声。她们没有开船的钥匙，不可能乘船去。也许是她们忘了，我得给她们拿去，顺便看看到底去干什么。”
帽子倒有半打，可他还是费了老长时间才找到一顶，然后又找钥匙，最后发现竟在自己的口袋里。等到他翻过篱笆，朝她们跑去时，姑娘们早已不见了。他抄近路来到船库，等着她们出现，见没人来，就登上小山放眼远眺。山坡上长着一片松树，绿林深处传来一个声音，清脆得胜过松林的沙沙声和蟋蟀昏昏欲睡的鸣叫声。
“这里风景真美！”劳里暗自赞叹。他透过灌木丛眺望，顿时精神抖擞，心情舒畅。
眼前果真是风景如画，姐妹们围坐在树荫下，斑驳的树影在身上摇曳不定，清风夹着花香撩弄着秀发，轻拂着发热的面颊。林中小居民都照常起居，仿佛在场的不是陌生人，而是老朋友。美格坐在坐垫上，雪白的双手正在灵巧地做针线活，粉红色的衣裙，在绿色的映衬下，宛如一朵鲜艳的玫瑰。贝丝正在捡松果，不远处的铁杉树下，已经厚厚地堆了一层，她能用这些松果做出漂亮的玩意。艾美正对着一簇蕨草素描。乔边朗读边做编织活。劳里看着看着，脸上阴沉了下来，觉得自己是不请自来，应该离开了。可他还在流连，因为家里实在孤独，林中这批人虽说安静无事，可对于不甘寂寞的他又具有巨大的吸引力。他站着纹丝不动，一只忙于觅食的松鼠从身边的一棵松树上跳下来，突然看见了他，尖声责骂着往后一蹦。贝丝闻声抬头一看，看到桦树后那张渴望的脸，于是会心一笑，向他致意。
“请问能过来吗？打扰你们吗？”他慢慢地走上前问。
美格皱起眉头，可乔不服气地瞪了她一眼，立刻说：“当然可以。本该先问问你的，只是我们觉得，你可能瞧不起这种女孩子的游戏。”
“我向来都喜欢你们的游戏，可要是美格不欢迎的话，我这就走。”
“我并不反对，可你得做点什么。这里可不兴闲着没事干。”美格神情庄重地说，可语气里又带有几分亲切。
“多谢。要是能让我待一会儿，做什么都行。你们知道，家里闷得像撒哈拉大沙漠。要我做什么？做针线、读书、拣松果、画素描，要不都做？说吧，我没问题。”劳里坐下来，一副顺从的样子，看了让人觉得高兴。
“我要把袜子后跟织好，你替我把这故事读完。”乔说着递给他一本书。
“遵命，小姐。”劳里温顺地答应，说着就读起来，他要努力证明，为有幸参加“勤劳大家缝协会”而感激万分。
故事并不长，读完后，他斗胆提出几个问题，犒赏自己。
“请问小姐，能否问问，这个富有魅力和教育意义的机构是不是新组织？”
“你们愿意告诉他吗？”美格问三个妹妹。
“他会笑的。”艾美警告道。
“管他呢？”乔说。
“我想他会喜欢的。”贝丝接着说。
“我当然会喜欢！保证不笑。说出来吧，乔，别害怕。”
“谁怕你啊！哦，你知道我们过去常常表演《天路历程》。我们整个冬季和夏季都兢兢业业的，没有放弃。”
“是的，我知道。”劳里说，机灵地点点头。
“谁告诉你的？”乔问。
“小精灵。”
“不，是我。那天晚上你们都出去了，他委靡不振，我便告诉了他，逗他乐呢。他很喜欢，所以别骂，姐。”贝丝怯怯地说。
“你守不住秘密。不过算了，现在倒省事了。”
“请接着说吧。”劳里看到乔有点儿不高兴，专心做活儿，便说。
“噢，难道她没告诉你我们这个新计划吗？喏，为了尽量不虚度假期，每人都定下一个任务，并全力执行。假期即将结束，定额也全部完成了，我们真高兴，没有蹉跎岁月。”
“不错，我看做得很好。”劳里想到自己无所事事地打发日子，十分后悔。
“妈妈要我们尽量到外面走走，所以我们把活计拿出来，顺便散散心。为了助兴，我们打扮成朝圣者的样子，东西放在袋子里，戴上旧帽子，拄着拐杖来爬山，几年前就经常这样玩。我们管这座山叫做‘逍遥山’，登高望远，可以看到我们向往居住的乡村。”
劳里坐起来，顺着乔的指点望去。透过树林的缝隙，可以看到一条碧绿的大河，河对岸是茫茫的草地，一直看到大城市的郊区，举目远眺还可以看见一脉高耸入云的青山。正值秋日，夕阳西下，天边霞光四射，蔚为壮观。金色的紫霞萦绕着山顶，银白色的山峰在万道红光的照耀下，闪闪发光，宛如天城仙宇的塔尖。
“真美！”劳里轻声赞叹。他一向都很善于欣赏美。
“景色总是这么美，我们都喜欢欣赏的。从不千篇一律，总是气象万千。”艾美答道，希望自己能把这美景画下来。
“乔谈到了我们向往居住的地方。她说的可是真正的乡下，有猪呀、鸡呀，还可以晒干草。那该多好，不过我希望真有这样美丽的地方，那样，我们就可以去了。”贝丝若有所思地说。
“还有个地方比这里更美。等我们学好了，就能慢慢过去了。”美格甜美的声音答道。
“要等这么久，又这么难，我真想马上插翅飞过去，和那些燕子一样，飞进那扇壮丽的大门。”
“贝丝，你迟早都会到达的，不用担心。”乔说，“只有我要奋斗、要拼搏、要攀登、要等待，最终可能永远都进不去。”
“要是能安慰你的话，我会陪着你。我先要长途旅行，才能看得见你的天城。万一我迟到了，你要替我说句好话，你会吗，贝丝？”
小伙子脸上的表情让他的这位小朋友感到不安。可她两眼默默地望着变幻不定的云朵，打气说：“要是人们真的想去，真的一生都在努力，我想就会进去的。我相信那扇门上没有锁，门口也没人把守着。我老想，肯定和图画中画的一样，当可怜的基督徒蹚过河水升天的时候，闪着金光的天神会伸出双手来迎接。”
“要是我们梦中的空中楼阁都能实现的话，我们都能住进去，那是不是很有趣？”乔沉默片刻后问。
“我有这么多梦想，真不知道该选哪个好？”劳里平躺在地上说着，把一颗松果扔向刚才暴露了他行踪的松鼠。
“要选最喜欢的那个。是什么？”美格问。
“要是我说了，你也会说吗？”
“会的，要是妹妹们也说的话。”
“我们会的，劳里，该你了。”
“我打算，先把世界游个遍，再在德国定居，尽情享受音乐。我要成为著名的乐师，世人都跑来听我表演。我永远都不用担心金钱和生意，只想享受生活，做想做的事。这就是我的钟爱楼阁。你的呢，美格？”
玛格丽特似乎觉得说出来有点难。她拿起一根蕨草在眼前挥动着，仿佛要驱散其实并不存在的小昆虫。她慢吞吞地说：“我梦想有一座漂亮的宅子，里面尽是各种豪华的东西——美味的食品、漂亮的衣服、阔气的家具，还有和善的人和大把大把的钞票。我要当女主人，有很多用人，一切都按我的意思来安排，那样我就一点都不用打工了。我会多么开心！到那时，我不会偷闲，只会多做好事，让每个人都深深地爱我。”
“那你梦想的楼阁里就不要男主人了？”劳里顽皮地问。
“我说了‘和善的人’，知道不？”美格说话时仔细地把鞋系好，才没让大家看到她的脸。
“你干吗不说想要个好丈夫，他博学多才、温柔体贴，再养几个小孩，要像天使一样？要是少了他们，你的楼阁可不会十全十美。”乔率直地说。她现在还想象不到缠绵的爱情，更瞧不起浪漫故事，可对小说里的那些，她却情有独钟。
“你的楼阁里什么都没有，只有几匹马、几个墨水瓶，再加上几本小说。”美格气愤地回答。
“这哪里不好？我要一个马厩，养满阿拉伯骏马，几间屋子，里面堆满书，再用魔法墨水瓶来写东西，这样我的作品就会和劳里的音乐齐名。在搬进楼阁之前，我想先干一番大事——英勇的、杰出的大事，总之是等我死了都难被忘记的大事。现在还不知道是什么，可我时刻准备着，说不定哪一天能石破天惊。我想我得写书，名利双收，才合我心意，这就是我最大的梦想。”
“我的梦想是平平安安地待在家里，和爸爸、妈妈住在一起，帮他们看家。”贝丝心满意足地说。
“难道别的什么都不想吗？”劳里问。
“有了那架小钢琴，我已经很知足了。只希望我们都能身体健康，能守在一起，就足够了。”
“我有很多愿望，可最中意的是想成为画家，去罗马，画一些漂亮的画，成为世界上最好的画家。”这是艾美一个小小的心愿。
“我们个个胸怀大志，对吧？我们每个人，贝丝除外，都想名利双收，在每个方面都做得很出色。我在纳闷，我们中间有谁能如愿以偿。”劳里说着嚼起了青草，活像一头冥思苦想的牛犊。
“我有打开楼阁的钥匙，不过能不能打开这扇门，还要等着瞧。”乔神秘地说。
“我有打开楼阁的钥匙，不过就是不让我打开。去他的大学！”劳里咕哝着，一边不耐烦地叹息道。
“这是我的钥匙！”艾美挥动着铅笔喊道。
“我可没有。”美格失望地说。
“不，你有。”劳里立刻回答。
“在哪里？”
“你的脸上。”
“胡说。那有什么用？”
“等着瞧吧，看它是否会给你带来好事。”小伙子回答。他想到自己知道一个小秘密，不由放声大笑。
美格用蕨草遮着涨得通红的脸，可什么都没问，只是望着河对岸，脸上流露出渴望的神情。那天布鲁克讲骑士故事的时候，脸上也带着同样的表情。
“如果十年后还都活着，我们再聚首，看看有多少人如愿以偿，或者接近了多少。”乔说，她总是胸有成竹的。
“天哪！到时我该多大了——二十七岁！”美格喊道。现在她刚刚十七，却以为是大人了。
“你和我将是二十六岁，特迪[1]，贝丝二十四，艾美二十二。那时，我们将年高德劭了！”乔说。
“希望在此前做出一些值得自豪的事情。可我是个懒汉，恐怕要蹉跎了，乔。”
“需要一个动机，妈妈说，一旦有了动机，你肯定就会干得十分出色。”
“真的？我对天发誓一定努力，但愿有这样的机会！”劳里叫道，突然来了劲头，坐起来，“我能讨爷爷的欢心，就很应该知足了；我也确实尽力而为，但你们知道，这样做跟我的性格犯冲，真难哪。他要我像他年轻时一样，做个印度商人，但这还不如把我毙掉。我痛恨茶叶、丝绸、香料，痛恨他的破船运来的每一种垃圾。这些船只归我所有后，什么时候沉到海底我都不会在乎。我去读大学，应该遂了他的心愿吧，我献给他四年，他就该放我一马，不用做生意，但他顽固不化，非要我亦步亦趋地学他，除非我像父亲一样离家出走，自得其乐。如果家里有人陪着老人的话，我明天就远走高飞。”
劳里言辞激烈，仿佛一点点挑衅就能惹得他把这番说辞付诸行动。他正处于突飞猛进的发育时期，虽然行动懒洋洋的，却有一种年轻人的逆反心理，内心躁动不安，渴望能独自闯天下。
“我有个主意，你乘坐你们家的大船出走，闯荡一番后再回家。”乔说。想到这么大胆的英雄行为，她任想象力驰骋，同情心也被她所谓的“特迪的冤屈”激发起来。
“那样不对，乔，不可以这样说话，劳里也不能听从你的坏主意。应该按照爷爷的意愿去做，好孩子。”美格的口吻母性十足，“要刻苦努力上大学，看到你尽自己的能力来取悦他，我肯定他对你不会这么强硬，这么不讲理。正像你所说的，家里没有人来陪伴他，爱他了。如果你擅自把他抛下，你也永远不会原谅自己的。不要消沉，不要烦恼，要尽心尽责，这样你就能得到报偿，受人敬爱，就像好人布鲁克先生一样。”
“你知道他些什么？”劳里问。他对这个好建议心存感激，但对这番教诲却不以为然，刚才他不同寻常地发泄了一番，现在很高兴把话题从自己身上转开。
“只知道你爷爷告诉我们的那些——他精心照顾老母，直到为她送终；由于不愿抛下母亲，国外很好的人家请他当私人教师他也不去；还有，他现在赡养一位护理过他母亲的老太太，却从不告诉别人，而是尽力而为，慷慨、耐心、善良。”
“没错，是个大好人！”劳里由衷地说。而美格这时沉默不语，双颊通红，神情热切。“爷爷就是喜欢这样，背地里把人家了解得一清二楚，然后到处宣扬他的美德，使大家都喜欢他。布鲁克不会明白，为什么你母亲会待他这样好。她请他跟我一同过去做客，以礼相待，亲切周到。他认为她简直十全十美，回来后好些天都把她挂在嘴边，接着又热情洋溢地谈论你们众姐妹。若我有朝一日如愿以偿，会让你们看到我为布鲁克做点什么。”
“不如从现在做起，不要再把他折磨得生不如死。”美格尖刻地说。
“你怎么知道我让他生气呢，小姐？”
“每次他离开的时候看脸色就知道了。如果你表现好，他就显得心满意足，脚步轻快；如果你淘气了，他就脸色阴沉，脚步拖拉，仿佛要回去改进工作。”
“好啊，这样不错耶！原来，你通过布鲁克的脸色，就把我的成绩好坏全都登记着，对吧？我只看到他经过你家窗口时躬身微笑，却不知道你从中悟出一封电报呢。”
“没有的事。别生气，还有，噢，别告诉他我说了什么！我这么说，只是关心你的进步而已。你知道这里说的全是悄悄话儿。”美格叫起来，想到说话一时大意，不禁有点害怕起来。
“我从不搬弄是非的。”劳里答道，脸上露出特有的“大人物”的神气，乔如此描述他偶然露出的一种表情。“不过，既然布鲁克要做晴雨表，我就得注意，让他报告好天气就是了。”
“请别动气。我刚才并非是要说教或搬弄是非，也并非出于无聊。我只是觉得，乔这么怂恿你，日后你会为那种情绪后悔的。你对我们这么好，我们把你当作亲兄弟，把心里话儿都掏出来的。对不起了，我是一片好心。”美格热情而又腼腆地打了个手势，伸出手来。
想到自己刚才一时懊恼，劳里不好意思了，他紧紧握住那只小手，坦诚地说：“说对不起的应该是我。我脾气暴躁，而且今天一整天都心情不好。你指出我的缺点，像亲姐妹一样待我，我心里高兴。一时有莽撞得罪之处，请不要放在心上，我还要谢谢你呢。”
他一心要表示自己没有动气，尽量表现得和颜悦色——为美格绕棉线，替乔朗诵诗歌，帮贝丝摇落松果，帮艾美画蕨叶，证明自己是名副其实的“勤劳大家缝协会”会员。正当他们热火朝天地讨论着乌龟（河里刚刚爬出了这么一只和蔼可亲的动物）的驯养习性的时候，一阵铃声远远飘过来，通知她们汉娜已把茶泡开了，现在赶回家吃晚饭时间刚刚好。
“我可以再来吗？”劳里问。
“可以，可你要好好表现，好好读书，就像识字课本上要求孩子们做的那样。”美格笑着说。
“我会努力的。”
“那你就来吧，我会教你打毛线，跟苏格兰男子一样。现在袜子的需求很大呢。”乔补充说，她挥动着手中的袜子，就像挥舞蓝色的毛线大旗一样。这样，她们便在大门口分手了。
那天晚上，贝丝在月光下为劳伦斯先生弹琴。劳里站在门帘的阴影里，聆听小乐师的表演。那朴素的旋律总能使他浮躁的心情平静下来。劳里注视着坐在一边的老人，只见他一手托着满头白发的脑袋，深情地回忆着死去的小孙女。想起当天下午的对话，男孩决定心甘情愿地做出牺牲，心里暗自说：“让我的空中楼阁滚蛋吧，我要和亲爱的老人守在一起。他需要我，因为我是他的一切。”
* * *
[1]对劳里正式的名字西奥多的昵称。
CHAPTER 13 CASTLES IN THE AIR
CHAPTER 13 CASTLES IN THE AIR
LAURIE LAY luxuriously swinging to and fro in his hammock, one warm September afternoon, wondering what his neighbors were about, but too lazy to go and find out. He was in one of his moods, for the day had been both unprofitable and unsatisfactory, and he was wishing he could live it over again. The hot weather made him indolent, and he had shirked his studies, tried Mr. Brooke's patience to the utmost, displeased his grandfather by practicing half the afternoon, frightened the maidservants half out of their wits by mischievously hinting that one of his dogs was going mad, and, after high words with the stableman about some fancied neglect of his horse, he had flung himself into his hammock to fume over the stupidity of the world in general, till the peace of the lovely day quieted him in spite of himself. Staring up into the green gloom of the horse-chestnut trees above him, he dreamed dreams of all sorts, and was just imagining himself tossing on the ocean in a voyage round the world, when the sound of voices brought him ashore in a flash. Peeping through the meshes of the hammock, he saw the Marches coming out, as if bound on some expedition.
“What in the world are those girls about now? ” thought Laurie, opening his sleepy eyes to take a good look, for there was something rather peculiar in the appearance of his neighbors. Each wore a large, flapping hat, a brown linen pouch slung over one shoulder, and carried a long staff. Meg had a cushion, Jo a book, Beth a basket, and Amy a portfolio. All walked quietly through the garden, out at the little back gate, and began to climb the hill that lay between the house and river.
“Well, that's cool, ” said Laurie to himself, “to have a picnic and never ask me! They can't be going in the boat, for they haven't got the key. Perhaps they forgot it. I'll take it to them, and see what's going on.”
Though possessed of half a dozen hats, it took him some time to find one, then there was a hunt for the key, which was at last discovered in his pocket, so that the girls were quite out of sight when he leaped the fence and ran after them. Taking the shortest way to the boathouse, he waited for them to appear, but no one came, and he went up the hill to take an observation. A grove of pines covered one part of it, and from the heart of this green spot came a clearer sound than the soft sigh of the pines or the drowsy chirp of the crickets.
“Here's a landscape! ” thought Laurie, peeping through the bushes, and looking wide-awake and good-natured already.
It was a rather pretty little picture,for the sisters sat together in the shady nook, with sun and shadow flickering over them, the aromatic wind lifting their hair and cooling their hot cheeks, and all the little wood people going on with their affairs as if these were no strangers but old friends. Meg sat upon her cushion, sewing daintily with her white hands, and looking as fresh and sweet as a rose in her pink dress among the green. Beth was sorting the cones that lay thick under the hemlock near by, for she made pretty things with them. Amy was sketching a group of ferns, and Jo was knitting as she read aloud. A shadow passed over the boy's face as he watched them, feeling that he ought to go away because uninvited;yet lingering because home seemed very lonely and this quiet party in the woods most attractive to his restless spirit. He stood so still that a squirrel, busy with its harvesting, ran down a pine close beside him, saw him suddenly and skipped back, scolding so shrilly that Beth looked up, espied the wistful face behind the birches, and beckoned with a reassuring smile.
“May I come in, please? Or shall I be a bother? ” he asked, advancing slowly.
Meg lifted her eyebrows, but Jo scowled at her defiantly and said at once, “Of course you may. We should have asked you before, only we thought you wouldn't care for such a girl's game as this.”
“I always like your games; but if Meg doesn't want me, I'll go away.”
“I've no objection, if you do something. It's against the rules to be idle here, ” replied Meg gravely but graciously.
“Much obliged. I'll do anything if you'll let me stop a bit, for it's as dull as the Desert of Sahara down there. Shall I sew, read, cone, draw, or do all at once? Bring on your bears. I'm ready.” And Laurie sat down with a submissive expression delightful to behold.
“Finish this story while I set my heel, ” said Jo, handing him the book.
“Yes'm” was the meek answer, as he began, doing his best to prove his gratitude for the favor of admission into the “Busy Bee Society”.
The story was not a long one, and when it was finished, he ventured to ask a few questions as a reward of merit.
“Please, ma'am, could I inquire if this highly instructive and charming institution is a new one? ”
“Would you tell him? ” asked Meg of her sisters.
“He'll laugh, ” said Amy warningly.
“Who cares? ” said Jo.
“I guess he'll like it, ” added Beth.
“Of course I shall! I give you my word I won't laugh. Tell away, Jo,and don't be afraid.”
“The idea of being afraid of you! Well, you see we used to play Pilgrim's Progress, and we have been going on with it in earnest, all winter and summer.”
“Yes, I know, ” said Laurie, nodding wisely.
“Who told you? ” demanded Jo.
“Spirits.”
“No, I did. I wanted to amuse him one night when you were all away, and he was rather dismal. He did like it, so don't scold, Jo, ” said Beth meekly.
“You can't keep a secret. Never mind, it saves trouble now.”
“Go on, please, ” said Laurie, as Jo became absorbed in her work, looking a trifle displeased.
“Oh, didn't she tell you about this new plan of ours? Well, we have tried not to waste our holiday, but each has had a task and worked at it with a will. The vacation is nearly over, the stints are all done, and we are ever so glad that we didn't dawdle.”
“Yes, I should think so.” And Laurie thought regretfully of his own idle days.
“Mother likes to have us out-of-doors as much as possible, so we bring our work here and have nice times. For the fun of it we bring our things in these bags, wear the old hats, use poles to climb the hill, and play pilgrims, as we used to do years ago. We call this hill the Delectable Mountain, for we can look far away and see the country where we hope to live some time.”
Jo pointed, and Laurie sat up to examine, for through an opening in the wood one could look cross the wide, blue river, the meadows on the other side, far over the outskirts of the great city, to the green hills that rose to meet the sky. The sun was low, and the heavens glowed with the splendor of an autumn sunset. Gold and purple clouds lay on the hilltops, and rising high into the ruddy light were silvery white peaks that shone like the airy spires of some Celestial City.
“How beautiful that is! ” said Laurie softly, for he was quick to see and feel beauty of any kind.
“It's often so, and we like to watch it, for it is never the same, but always splendid, ” replied Amy, wishing she could paint it.
“Jo talks about the country where we hope to live some time—the real country, she means, with pigs and chickens and haymaking. It would be nice, but I wish the beautiful country up there was real, and we could ever go to it, ” said Beth musingly.
“There is a lovelier country even than that,where we shall go,by-and-by, when we are good enough, ” answered Meg with her sweetest voice.
“It seems so long to wait, so hard to do. I want to fly away at once, as those swallows fly, and go in at that splendid gate.”
“You'll get there, Beth, sooner or later, no fear of that, ” said Jo. “I'm the one that will have to fight and work, and climb and wait, and maybe never get in after all.”
“You'll have me for company, if that's any comfort. I shall have to do a deal of traveling before I come in sight of your Celestial City. If I arrive late, you'll say a good word for me, won't you, Beth? ”
Something in the boy's face troubled his little friend, but she said cheerfully, with her quiet eyes on the changing clouds, “If people really want to go, and really try all their lives, I think they will get in, for I don't believe there are any locks on that door or any guards at the gate. I always imagine it is as it is in the picture, where the shining ones stretch out their hands to welcome poor Christian as he comes up from the river.”
“Wouldn't it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true, and we could live in them? ” said Jo, after a little pause.
“I've made such quantities it would be hard to choose which I'd have, ” said Laurie, lying flat and throwing cones at the squirrel who had betrayed him.
“You'd have to take your favorite one. What is it? ” asked Meg.
“If I tell mine, will you tell yours? ”
“Yes, if the girls will too.”
“We will. Now, Laurie.”
“After I'd seen as much of the world as I want to, I'd like to settle in Germany and have just as much music as I choose. I'm to be a famous musician myself, and all creation is to rush to hear me. And I'm never to be bothered about money or business, but just enjoy myself and live for what I like. That's my favorite castle. What's yours, Meg? ”
Margaret seemed to find it a little hard to tell hers, and waved a brake before her face, as if to disperse imaginary gnats, while she said slowly, “I should like a lovely house, full of all sorts of luxurious things—nice food, pretty clothes, handsome furniture, pleasant people, and heaps of money. I am to be mistress of it, and manage it as I like, with plenty of servants, so I never need work a bit. How I should enjoy it! For I wouldn't be idle, but do good, and make everyone love me dearly.”
“Wouldn't you have a master for your castle in the air? ” asked Laurie slyly.
“I said ‘pleasant people', you know.” And Meg carefully tied up her shoe as she spoke, so that no one saw her face.
“Why don't you say you'd have a splendid, wise, good husband and some angelic little children? You know your castle wouldn't be perfect without, ” said blunt Jo, who had no tender fancies yet, and rather scorned romance, except in books.
“You'd have nothing but horses, inkstands, and novels in yours, ”answered Meg petulantly.
“Wouldn't I though? I'd have a stable full of Arabian steeds, rooms piled high with books, and I'd write out of a magic inkstand, so that my works should be as famous as Laurie's music. I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle—something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all some day. I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous,that would suit me,so that is my favorite dream.”
“Mine is to stay at home safe with Father and Mother, and help take care of the family, ” said Beth contentedly.
“Don't you wish for anything else? ” asked Laurie.
“Since I had my little piano, I am perfectly satisfied. I only wish we may all keep well and be together, nothing else.”
“I have ever so many wishes, but the pet one is to be an artist, and go to Rome, and do fine pictures, and be the best artist in the whole world”was Amy's modest desire.
“We're an ambitious set, aren't we? Every one of us, but Beth, wants to be rich and famous, and gorgeous in every respect. I do wonder if any of us will ever get our wishes, ” said Laurie, chewing grass like a meditative calf.
“I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen, ” observed Jo mysteriously.
“I've got the key to mine, but I'm not allowed to try it. Hang college! ”muttered Laurie with an impatient sigh.
“Here's mine! ” And Amy waved her pencil.
“I haven't got any, ” said Meg forlornly.
“Yes, you have, ” said Laurie at once.
“Where? ”
“In your face.”
“Nonsense, that's of no use.”
“Wait and see if it doesn't bring you something worth having, ” replied the boy, laughing at the thought of a charming little secret which he fancied he knew.
Meg colored behind the brake, but asked no questions and looked across the river with the same expectant expression which Mr. Brooke had worn when he told the story of the knight.
“If we are all alive ten years hence, let's meet, and see how many of us have got our wishes, or how much nearer we are then than now, ” said Jo, always ready with a plan.
“Bless me! How old I shall be—twenty-seven! ” exclaimed Meg, who felt grown up already, having just reached seventeen.
“You and I will be twenty-six, Teddy, Beth twenty-four, and Amy twenty-two. What a venerable party! ” said Jo.
“I hope I shall have done something to be proud of by that time, but I'm such a lazy dog, I'm afraid I shall ‘dawdle', Jo.”
“You need a motive, Mother says; and when you get it, she is sure you'll work splendidly.”
“Is she? By Jupiter, I will, if I only get the chance! ” cried Laurie, sitting up with sudden energy. “I ought to be satisfied to please Grandfather, and I do try, but it's working against the grain, you see, and comes hard. He wants me to be an India merchant, as he was, and I'd rather be shot. I hate tea and silk and spices, and every sort of rubbish his old ships bring, and I don't care how soon they go to the bottom when I own them. Going to college ought to satisfy him, for if I give him four years he ought to let me off from the business. But he's set, and I've got to do just as he did, unless I break away and please myself, as my father did. If there was anyone left to stay with the old gentleman, I'd do it tomorrow.”
Laurie spoke excitedly, and looked ready to carry his threat into execution on the slightest provocation, for he was growing up very fast and, in spite of his indolent ways, had a young man's hatred of subjection, a young man's restless longing to try the world for himself.
“I advise you to sail away in one of your ships, and never come home again till you have tried your own way, ” said Jo, whose imagination was fired by the thought of such a daring exploit, and whose sympathy was excited by what she called “Teddy's Wrongs”.
“That's not right, Jo. You mustn't talk in that way, and Laurie mustn't take your bad advice. You should do just what your grandfather wishes, my dear boy, ” said Meg in her most maternal tone. “Do your best at college, and when he sees that you try to please him, I'm sure he won't be hard on you or unjust to you. As you say, there is no one else to stay with and love him, and you'd never forgive yourself if you left him without his permission. Don't be dismal or fret, but do your duty and you'll get your reward, as good Mr. Brooke has, by being respected and loved.”
“What do you know about him? ” asked Laurie, grateful for the good advice, but objecting to the lecture, and glad to turn the conversation from himself after his unusual outbreak.
“Only what your grandpa told us about him—how he took good care of his own mother till she died, and wouldn't go abroad as tutor to some nice person because he wouldn't leave her. And how he provides now for an old woman who nursed his mother, and never tells anyone, but is just as generous and patient and good as he can be.”
“So he is, dear old fellow! ” said Laurie heartily, as Meg paused, looking flushed and earnest with her story. “It's like Grandpa to find out all about him without letting him know, and to tell all his goodness to others, so that they might like him. Brooke couldn't understand why your mother was so kind to him, asking him over with me and treating him in her beautiful friendly way. He thought she was just perfect, and talked about it for days and days, and went on about you all in flaming style. If ever I do get my wish, you see what I'll do for Brooke.”
“Begin to do something now by not plaguing his life out, ” said Meg sharply.
“How do you know I do, Miss? ”
“I can always tell by his face when he goes away. If you have been good, he looks satisfied and walks briskly; if you have plagued him, he's sober and walks slowly, as if he wanted to go back and do his work better.”
“Well, I like that? So you keep an account of my good and bad marks in Brooke's face, do you? I see him bow and smile as he passes your window, but I didn't know you'd got up a telegraph.”
“We haven't. Don't be angry, and oh, don't tell him I said anything! It was only to show that I cared how you get on, and what is said here is said in confidence, you know, ” cried Meg, much alarmed at the thought of what might follow from her careless speech.
“I don't tell tales, ” replied Laurie, with his “high and mighty” air, as Jo called a certain expression which he occasionally wore. “Only if Brooke is going to be a thermometer, I must mind and have fair weather for him to report.”
“Please don't be offended. I didn't mean to preach or tell tales or be silly. I only thought Jo was encouraging you in a feeling which you'd be sorry for by-and-by. You are so kind to us, we feel as if you were our brother and say just what we think. Forgive me, I meant it kindly.” And Meg offered her hand with a gesture both affectionate and timid.
Ashamed of his momentary pique, Laurie squeezed the kind little hand, and said frankly, “I'm the one to be forgiven. I'm cross and have been out of sorts all day. I like to have you tell me my faults and be sisterly, so don't mind if I am grumpy sometimes. I thank you all the same.”
Bent on showing that he was not offended, he made himself as agreeable as possible, wound cotton for Meg, recited poetry to please Jo, shook down cones for Beth, and helped Amy with her ferns, proving himself a fit person to belong to the “Busy Bee Society”. In the midst of an animated discussion on the domestic habits of turtles (one of those amiable creatures having strolled up from the river), the faint sound of a bell warned them that Hannah had put the tea “to draw, ” and they would just have time to get home to supper.
“May I come again? ” asked Laurie.
“Yes, if you are good, and love your book, as the boys in the primer are told to do, ” said Meg, smiling.
“I'll try.”
“Then you may come, and I'll teach you to knit as the Scotchmen do. There's a demand for socks just now, ” added Jo, waving hers like a big blue worsted banner as they parted at the gate.
That night, when Beth played to Mr. Laurence in the twilight, Laurie, standing in the shadow of the curtain, listened to the little David, whose simple music always quieted his moody spirit, and watched the old man, who sat with his gray head on his hand, thinking tender thoughts of the dead child he had loved so much. Remembering the conversation of the afternoon, the boy said to himself, with the resolve to make the sacrifice cheerfully, “I'll let my castle go, and stay with the dear old gentleman while he needs me, for I am all he has.”
