25-第1节

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　CHAPTER　TWENTY…FIVE

The　June　roses　over　the　porch　were　awake　bright　and　early　on　that　morning；　rejoicing　with　all　their　hearts　in　the　cloudless　sunshine；　like　friendly　little　neighbors；　as　they　were。　Quite　flushed　with　excitement　were　their　ruddy　faces；　as　they　swung　in　the　wind；　whispering　to　one　another　what　they　had　seen；　for　some　peeped　in　at　the　dining　room　windows　where　the　feast　was　spread；　some　climbed　up　to　nod　and　smile　at　the　sisters　as　they　dressed　the　bride；　others　waved　a　welcome　to　those　who　came　and　went　on　various　errands　in　garden；　porch；　and　hall；　and　all；　from　the　rosiest　full…blown　flower　to　the　palest　baby　bud；　offered　their　tribute　of　beauty　and　fragrance　to　the　gentle　mistress　who　had　loved　and　tended　them　so　long。　
Meg　looked　very　like　a　rose　herself；　for　all　that　was　best　and　sweetest　in　heart　and　soul　seemed　to　bloom　into　her　face　that　day；　making　it　fair　and　tender；　with　a　charm　more　beautiful　than　beauty。　Neither　silk；　lace；　nor　orange　flowers　would　she　have。　〃I　don't　want　a　fashionable　wedding；　but　only　those　about　me　whom　I　love；　and　to　them　I　wish　to　look　and　be　my　familiar　self。〃　
So　she　made　her　wedding　gown　herself；　sewing　into　it　the　tender　hopes　and　innocent　romances　of　a　girlish　heart。　her　sisters　braided　up　her　pretty　hair；　and　the　only　ornaments　she　wore　were　the　lilies　of　the　valley；　which　‘her　John'　liked　best　of　all　the　flowers　that　grew。　
〃You　do　look　just　like　our　own　dear　Meg；　only　so　very　sweet　and　lovely　that　I　should　hug　you　if　it　wouldn't　crumple　your　dress；〃　cried　Amy；　surveying　her　with　delight　when　all　was　done。　
〃Then　I　am　satisfied。　But　please　hug　and　kiss　me；　everyone；　and　don't　mind　my　dress。　I　want　a　great　many　crumples　of　this　sort　put　into　it　today。〃　And　Meg　opened　her　arms　to　her　sisters；　who　clung　about　her　with　April　faces　for　a　minute；　feeling　that　the　new　love　had　not　changed　the　old。　
〃Now　I'm　going　to　tie　John's　cravat　for　him；　and　then　to　stay　a　few　minutes　with　Father　quietly　in　the　study。〃　And　Meg　ran　down　to　perform　these　little　ceremonies；　and　then　to　follow　her　mother　wherever　she　went；　conscious　that　in　spite　of　the　smiles　on　the　motherly　face；　there　was　a　secret　sorrow　hid　in　the　motherly　heart　at　the　flight　of　the　first　bird　from　the　nest。　
As　the　younger　girls　stand　together；　giving　the　last　touches　to　their　simple　toilet；　it　may　be　a　good　time　to　tell　of　a　few　changes　which　three　years　have　wrought　in　their　appearance；　for　all　are　looking　their　best　just　now。　
Jo's　angles　are　much　softened；　she　has　learned　to　carry　herself　with　ease；　if　not　grace。　The　curly　crop　has　lengthened　into　a　thick　coil；　more　becoming　to　the　small　head　atop　of　the　tall　figure。　There　is　a　fresh　color　in　her　brown　cheeks；　a　soft　shine　in　her　eyes；　and　only　gentle　words　fall　from　her　sharp　tongue　today。　
Beth　has　grown　slender；　pale；　and　more　quiet　than　ever。　The　beautiful；　kind　eyes　are　larger；　and　in　them　lies　an　expression　that　saddens　one；　although　it　is　not　sad　itself。　It　is　the　shadow　of　pain　which　touches　the　young　face　with　such　pathetic　patience；　but　Beth　seldom　complains　and　always　speaks　hopefully　of　‘being　better　soon'。　
Amy　is　with　truth　considered　‘the　flower　of　the　family'；　for　at　sixteen　she　has　the　air　and　bearing　of　a　full…grown　woman；　not　beautiful；　but　possessed　of　that　indescribable　charm　called　grace。　One　saw　it　in　the　lines　of　her　figure；　the　make　and　motion　of　her　hands；　the　flow　of　her　dress；　the　droop　of　her　hair；　unconscious　yet　harmonious；　and　as　attractive　to　many　as　beauty　itself。　Amy's　nose　still　afflicted　her；　for　it　never　would　grow　Grecian；　so　did　her　mouth；　being　too　wide；　and　having　a　decided　chin。　These　offending　features　gave　character　to　her　whole　face；　but　she　never　could　see　it；　and　consoled　herself　with　her　wonderfully　fair　complexion；　keen　blue　eyes；　and　curls　more　golden　and　abundant　than　ever。　
All　three　wore　suits　of　thin　silver　gray　（their　best　gowns　for　the　summer）；　with　blush　roses　in　hair　and　bosom；　and　all　three　looked　just　what　they　were；　fresh…faced；　happy…hearted　girls；　pausing　a　moment　in　their　busy　lives　to　read　with　wistful　eyes　the　sweetest　chapter　in　the　romance　of　womanhood。
There　were　to　be　no　ceremonious　performances；　everything　was　to　be　as　natural　and　homelike　as　possible；　so　when　Aunt　March　arrived；　she　was　scandalized　to　see　the　bride　come　running　to　welcome　and　lead　her　in；　to　find　the　bridegroom　fastening　up　a　garland　that　had　fallen　down；　and　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　paternal　minister　marching　upstairs　with　a　grave　countenance　and　a　wine　bottle　under　each　arm。　
〃Upon　my　word；　here's　a　state　of　things！〃　cried　the　old　lady；　taking　the　seat　of　honor　prepared　for　her；　and　settling　the　folds　of　her　lavender　moire　with　a　great　rustle。　〃You　oughtn't　to　be　seen　till　the　last　minute；　child。〃　
〃I'm　not　a　show；　Aunty；　and　no　one　is　coming　to　stare　at　me；　to　criticize　my　dress；　or　count　the　cost　of　my　luncheon。　I'm　too　happy　to　care　what　anyone　says　or　thinks；　and　I'm　going　to　have　my　little　wedding　just　as　I　like　it。　John；　dear；　here's　your　hammer。〃　And　away　went　Meg　to　help　‘that　man'　in　his　highly　improper　employment。　
Mr。　Brooke　didn't　even　say；　〃Thank　you；〃　but　as　he　stooped　for　the　unromantic　tool；　he　kissed　his　little　bride　behind　the　folding　door；　with　a　look　that　made　Aunt　March　whisk　out　her　pocket　handkerchief　with　a　sudden　dew　in　her　sharp　old　eyes。　
A　crash；　a　cry；　and　a　laugh　from　Laurie；　accompanied　by　the　indecorous　exclamation；　〃Jupiter　Ammon！　Jo's　upset　the　cake　again！〃　caused　a　momentary　flurry；　which　was　hardly　over　when　a　flock　of　cousins　arrived；　and　‘the　party　came　in'；　as　Beth　used　to　say　when　a　child。　
〃Don't　let　that　young　giant　come　near　me；　he　worries　me　worse　than　mosquitoes；〃　whispered　the　old　lady　to　Amy；　as　the　rooms　filled　and　Laurie's　black　head　towered　above　the　rest。　
〃He　has　promised　to　be　very　good　today；　and　he　can　be　perfectly　elegant　if　he　likes；〃　returned　Amy；　and　gliding　away　to　warn　Hercules　to　beware　of　the　dragon；　which　warning　caused　him　to　haunt　the　old　lady　with　a　devotion　that　nearly　distracted　her。　
There　was　no　bridal　procession；　but　a　sudden　silence　fell　upon　the　room　as　Mr。　March　and　the　young　couple　took　their　places　under　the　green　arch。　Mother　and　sisters　gathered　close；　as　if　loath　to　give　Meg　up。　The　fatherly　voice　broke　more　than　once；　which　only　seemed　to　make　the　service　more　beautiful　and　solemn。　The　bridegroom's　hand　trembled　visibly；　and　no　one　heard　his　replies。　But　Meg　looked　straight　up　in　her　husband's　eyes；　and　said；　〃I　will！〃　with　such　tender　trust　in　her　own　face　and　voice　that　her　mother's　heart　rejoiced　and　Aunt　March　sniffed　audibly。　
Jo　did　not　cry；　though　she　was　very　near　it　once；　and　was　only　saved　from　a　demonstration　by　the　consciousness　that　Laurie　was　staring　fixedly　at　her；　with　a　comical　mixture　of　merriment　and　emotion　in　his　wicked　black　eyes。　Beth　kept　her　face　hidden　on　her　mother's　shoulder；　but　Amy　stood　like　a　graceful　statue；　with　a　most　becoming　ray　of　sunshine　touching　her　white　forehead　and　the　flower　in　her　hair。　
It　wasn't　at　all　the　thing；　I'm　afraid；　but　the　minute　she　was　fairly　married；　Meg　cried；　〃The　first　kiss　for　Marmee！〃　and　turning；　gave　it　with　her　heart　on　her　lips。　During　the　next　fifteen　minutes　she　looked　more　like　a　rose　than　ever；　for　everyone　availed　themselves　of　their　privileges　to　the　fullest　extent；　from　Mr。　Laurence　to　old　Hannah；　who；　adorned　with　a　headdress　fearfully　and　wonderfully　made；　fell　upon　her　in　the　hall；　crying　with　a　sob　and　a　chuckle；　〃Bless　you；　deary；　a　hundred　times！　The　cake　ain't　hurt　a　mite；　and　everything　looks　lovely。〃　
Everybody　cleared　up　after　that；　and　said　something　brilliant；　or　tried　to；　which　did　just　as　well；　for　laughter　is　ready　when　hearts　are　light。　There　was　no　display　of　gifts；　for　they　were　already　in　the　little　house；　nor　was　there　an　elaborate　breakfast；　but　a　plentiful　lunch　of　cake　and　fruit；　dressed　with　flowers。　Mr。　Laurence　and　Aunt　March　shrugged　and　smiled　at　one　another　when　water；　lemonade；　and　coffee　were　found　to　be　to　only　sorts　of　nectar　which　the　three　Hebes　carried　around。　No　one　said　anything；　till　Laurie；　who　insisted　on　serving　the　bride；　appeared　before　her；　with　a　loaded　salver　in　his　hand　and　a　puzzled　expression　on　his　face。　
〃Has　Jo　smashed　all　the　bottles　by　accident？〃　he　whispered；　〃or　am　I　merely　laboring　under　a　delusion　that　I　saw　some　lying　about　loose　this　morning？〃　
〃No；　your　grandfather　kindly　offered　us　his　best；　and　Aunt　March　actually　sent　some；　but　Father　put　away　a　little　for　Beth；　and　dispatched　the　rest　to　the　Soldier's　Home。　You　know　he　thinks　that　wine　should　be　used　only　in　illness；　and　Mother　says　that　neither　she　nor　her　daughters　will　ever　offer　it　to　any　young　man　under　her　roof。〃　
Meg　spoke　seriously　and　expected　to　see　Laurie　frown　or　laugh；　but　he　did　neither；　for　after　a　quick　look　at　her；　he　said；　in　his　impetuous　way；　〃I　like　that！　For　I've　seen　enough　harm　done　to　wish　other　women　would　think　as　you　do。〃　
〃You　are　not　made　wise　by　experience；　I　hope？〃　And　there　was　an　anxious　accent　in　Meg's　voice。　
〃No。　I　give　you　my　word　for　it。　Don't　think　too　well　of　me；　either；　this　is　not　one　of　my　temptations。　Being　brought　up　where　wine　is　as　common　as　water　and　almost　as　harmless；