PART 2
32. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
(continued)
"Where will you hop?"
"To New York. I had a bright idea yesterday, and this is
it. You know Mrs. Kirke wrote to you for some respectable
young person to teach her children and sew. It's rather hard
to find just the thing, but I think I should suit if I tried."
"My dear, go out to service in that great boarding house!"
And Mrs. March looked surprised, but not displeased.
"It's not exactly going out to service, for Mrs. Kirke is
your friend--the kindest soul that ever lived--and would make
things pleasant for me, I know. Her family is separate from
the rest, and no one knows me there. Don't care if they do.
It's honest work, and I'm not ashamed of it."
"Nor I. But your writing?"
"All the better for the change. I shall see and hear new
things, get new ideas, and even if I haven't much time there,
I shall bring home quantities of material for my rubbish."
"I have no doubt of it, but are these your only reasons for
this sudden fancy?'
"No, Mother."
"May I know the others?"
Jo looked up and Jo looked down, then said slowly, with
sudden color in her cheeks. "It may be vain and wrong to
say it, but--I'm afraid--Laurie is getting too fond of me."
"Then you don't care for him in the way it is evident he
begins to care for you?' And Mrs. March looked anxious as she
put the question.
"Mercy, no! I love the dear boy, as I always have, and
am immensely proud of him, but as for anything more, it's out
of the question."
"I'm glad of that, Jo."
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