PART 1
2. CHAPTER TWO
(continued)
"I'm glad mine is blue," said Amy. and then the rooms were
very still while the pages were softly turned, and the winter
sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces
with a Christmas greeting.
"Where is Mother?" asked Meg, as she and Jo ran down to
thank her for their gifts, half an hour later.
"Goodness only knows. some poor creeter came a-beggin', and
your ma went straight off to see what was needed. There never was
such a woman for givin' away vittles and drink, clothes and firin',"
replied Hannah, who had lived with the family since Meg was born,
and was considered by them all more as a friend than a servant.
"She will be back soon, I think, so fry your cakes, and have
everything ready," said Meg, looking over the presents which were
collected in a basket and kept under the sofa, ready to be produced
at the proper time. "why, where is Amy's bottle of cologne?"
she added, as the little flask did not appear.
"She took it out a minute ago, and went off with it to put a
ribbon on it, or some such notion," replied Jo, dancing about the
room to take the first stiffness off the new army slippers.
"How nice my handkerchiefs look, don't they? Hannah washed
and ironed them for me, and I marked them all myself," said Beth,
looking proudly at the somewhat uneven letters which had cost her
such labor.
"Bless the child! She's gone and put `Mother' on them instead
of `M. March'. How funny!" cried Jo, taking one up.
"Isn't that right? I thought it was better to do it so,
because Meg's initials are M.M., and I don't want anyone to use
these but Marmee," said Beth;, looking troubled.
"It's all right, dear, and a very pretty idea, quite sensible
too, for no one can ever mistake now. It will please her very much,
I know," said Meg, with a frown for Jo and a smile for Beth.
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