“I wish I could, and be done with it,” said I, trying not to be saucy.

“Then she gave me a long lecture on my sins, and told me to sit and think them over while she just ‘lost’ herself for a moment.  She never finds herself very soon, so the minute her cap began to bob like a top-heavy dahlia, I whipped the Vicar of Wakefield out of my pocket, and read away, with one eye on him and one on Aunt.  I’d just got to where they all tumbled into the water when I forgot and laughed out loud.  Aunt woke up and, being more good-natured after her nap, told me to read a bit and show what frivolous work I preferred to the worthy and instructive Belsham.  I did my very best, and she liked it, though she only said . . .

“’I don’t understand what it’s all about.  Go back and begin it, child.’”

“Back I went, and made the Primroses as interesting as ever I could.  Once I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place, and say meekly, ‘I’m afraid it tires you, ma’am.  Shan’t I stop now?’”

“She caught up her knitting, which had dropped out of her hands, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her short way, ’Finish the chapter, and don’t be impertinent, miss’.”

“Did she own she liked it?” asked Meg.

“Oh, bless you, no!  But she let old Belsham rest, and when I ran back after my gloves this afternoon, there she was, so hard at the Vicar that she didn’t hear me laugh as I danced a jig in the hall because of the good time coming.  What a pleasant life she might have if only she chose!  I don’t envy her much, in spite of her money, for after all rich people have about as many worries as poor ones, I think,” added Jo.

“That reminds me,” said Meg, “that I’ve got something to tell.  It isn’t funny, like Jo’s story, but I thought about it a good deal as I came home.  At the Kings’ today I found everybody in a flurry, and one of the children said that her oldest brother had done something dreadful, and Papa had sent him away.  I heard Mrs. King crying and Mr. King talking very loud, and Grace and Ellen turned away their faces when they passed me, so I shouldn’t see how red and swollen their eyes were.  I didn’t ask any questions, of course, but I felt so sorry for them and was rather glad I hadn’t any wild brothers to do wicked things and disgrace the family.”

“I think being disgraced in school is a great deal tryinger than anything bad boys can do,” said Amy, shaking her head, as if her experience of life had been a deep one.  “Susie Perkins came to school today with a lovely red carnelian ring.  I wanted it dreadfully, and wished I was her with all my might.  Well, she drew a picture of Mr. Davis, with a monstrous nose and a hump, and the words, ‘Young ladies, my eye is upon you!’ coming out of his mouth in a balloon thing.  We were laughing over it when all of a sudden his eye was on us, and he ordered Susie to bring up her slate.  She was parrylized with fright, but she went, and oh, what do you think he did?  He took her by the ear—­the ear!  Just fancy how horrid!—­and led her to the recitation platform, and made her stand there half an hour, holding the slate so everyone could see.”