PART 1
23. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
(continued)
"I thought you were going to tell your speech to that man,"
said Jo, rudely shortening her sister's little reverie.
"Oh, I should merely say, quite calmly and decidedly, `Thank
you, Mr. Brooke, you are very kind, but I agree with Father that
I am too young to enter into any engagement at present, so please
say no more, but let us be friends as we were."
"Hum, that's stiff and cool enough! I don't believe you'll
ever say it, and I know he won't be satisfied if you do. If he
goes on like the rejected lovers in books, you'll give in, rather
than hurt his feelings."
"No, I won't. I shall tell him I've made up my mind, and
shall walk out of the room with dignity."
Meg rose as she spoke, and was just going to rehearse the
dignified exit, when a step in the hall made her fly into her
seat and begin to sew as fast as if her life depended on finishing
that particular seam in a given time. Jo smothered a laugh
at the sudden change, and when someone gave a modest tap, opened
the door with a grim aspect which was anything but hospitable.
"Good afternoon. I came to get my umbrella, that is, to see
how your father finds himself today," said Mr. Brooke, getting a
trifle confused as his eyes went from one telltale face to the other.
"It's very well, he's in the rack. I'll get him, and tell it
you are here." And having jumbled her father and the umbrella well
together in her reply, Jo slipped out of the room to give Meg a
chance to make her speech and air her dignity. But the instant she
vanished, Meg began to sidle toward the door, murmuring...
"Mother will like to see you. Pray sit down, I'll call her."
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