Part 1: Chapter 3 Summary

The March home is filled with excitement, as Meg and Jo have been invited to a New Year's Eve dance at the Gardiner's. All four girls become involved with helping Jo and Meg dress in the best of their shabby gowns and too-tight shoes.

When the girls arrive at the party, Jo is clearly ill at ease. She stands stiffly on the sidelines longing to join a group of young men in a conversation about skating. She eventually retreats into an alcove to avoid being asked to dance and exposing a burn on the back of her dress. In the alcove she finds Mr. Laurence's grandson, who is also avoiding the crowd.

At first the interactions are stiff and formal, but soon Jo and Laurie (Theodore Laurence's nickname) find themselves absorbed in easy conversation. Jo wants to hear all about Laurie's...