雙語譯林·小婦人 第五章 睦鄰友好 BEING NEIGHBORLY
- 第五章 睦鄰友好
- CHAPTER 5 BEING NEIGHBORLY
第五章 睦鄰友好
“喬，你到底去干什么？”美格問。一天下午，大雪紛飛，美格看到妹妹腳踏膠靴，身披風袍，頭戴風帽，一手拿著掃帚，一手提著鐵鏟，正踏著堅實的腳步走出過道。
“出去鍛煉。”喬頑皮地眨眨眼睛說。
“早上散了兩次步，走了那么遠，該夠了吧！外面又冷又陰沉，勸你還是和我一樣，待在火爐邊，這里又暖和又干燥。”美格說著不禁打了個冷戰(zhàn)。
“我不聽勸！不能整天待著不動。我又不是懶貓，可不想在火爐邊打瞌睡。我喜歡冒險，想出去找點刺激。”
美格伸腿，繼續(xù)烤火，讀《艾凡赫》[1]。喬開始奮力鏟雪。雪下得不厚，喬很快就繞著花園掃出了一條路。這樣，太陽出來時，貝絲就可以在花園里散步了，她的病寶寶們需要呼吸新鮮空氣呢。馬奇家與勞倫斯先生的屋子中間只隔了一個花園。這是城郊，還是有點像農(nóng)村，到處是樹叢、草地、大花園和寧靜的街道。一排矮矮的籬笆把兩家隔開?；h笆的一邊是褐色的老房子，光禿禿的，顯得有點破敗，夏天纏繞在墻上的藤蔓和屋子周圍的花朵都早已凋零。另一邊是一座富麗堂皇的石砌樓宇，里面有大馬車房和玻璃暖房，庭院修整得干干凈凈，透過華麗窗簾的縫隙，隱約可以看到里面考究的擺設。這一切都彰顯了屋內的舒適和豪華。但是，屋子顯得有點孤單，缺乏生氣，草地上看不到孩子嬉鬧，窗口也見不到母親的笑臉，除了一位老紳士和他的孫子，很少有人出入。
喬富有想象力。在她眼里，這幢漂亮的房子就像一座魔法宮殿，金碧輝煌，充滿賞心樂事，卻沒人享受。她老早就想去看看那些隱藏于其中的豪華擺設，認識一下勞倫斯家少年。他似乎也想結識人，只是不知如何開頭。自從參加舞會以后，她的這種愿望變得更加強烈，并已經(jīng)設計出許多與他交朋友的方法?？勺罱鼪]有看到他，喬開始認為他已經(jīng)走了。一天，她看到樓上窗口有一張曬得黑黑的臉，若有所求地俯視著她們的花園，貝絲和艾美正在那里打雪仗。
“那個男孩正受罪呢，沒有朋友，沒有歡樂。”她心里想，“他爺爺不知道該給他什么，把他獨自關在屋子里。他需要一幫快樂的小伙子來陪他玩，需要活潑開朗的年輕人來做伴。我真想過去看看，把這些話告訴那位老先生！”
想到這里，喬樂了。她膽子大，喜歡做一些魯莽的事，還常常行為古怪，每每使美格頗為震撼。喬沒有忘記過去看看的打算，這天午后，大雪紛飛，她決定見機行事?？吹絼趥愃瓜壬塑嚦鋈チ?，她趕緊開始掃雪，一直掃到籬笆邊，然后停下來觀察了一番。一切都很安靜——樓下的窗戶都掛著窗簾，看不到一個仆人，連個人影都瞧不見，只有樓上窗口露出一個黑色鬈發(fā)的腦袋，在一只瘦小的手上托著。
“他在那兒。”喬心想，“可憐的小伙子！在這樣陰沉的日子里，孤苦伶仃，太不像話了。扔個雪球上去，讓他往外看，就可以安慰上幾句了。”
喬抓了一把松軟的雪，扔了上去。樓上的人馬上轉過頭來，臉上無精打采的神情一掃而光，一雙大眼睛閃閃發(fā)亮，嘴角露出一絲笑容。喬笑著點點頭，揮舞著掃把叫：
“你好，病了嗎？”
勞里打開窗，用渡鴉般嘶啞的聲音說：
“好多了，謝謝。得了重感冒，已經(jīng)困在家里一個禮拜了。”
“真不幸。拿什么來消遣呢？”
“什么都沒有，這里無聊得像座墳墓。”
“不看書嗎？”
“看得不多，他們不讓我看。”
“沒人讀給你聽嗎？”
“爺爺有時候讀給我聽，可我的書他不感興趣，我也不想老是麻煩布魯克。”
“那么叫人來看你吧。”
“誰都不想見。男孩們太吵，我頭疼受不了。”
“難道沒有好女孩為你讀書消遣嗎？女孩們文靜，喜歡護理人。”
“沒有認識的。”
“可你認識我們啊。”喬開始說，然后大笑起來，很快又停了下來。
“沒錯！你能來嗎？”勞里大聲問。
“我不文靜啊。要是媽媽答應，我就會來的。我這就去問她。聽話，把窗戶關上，等我來。”
說著，喬扛起掃把，向家里走去，一路揣摩著家里人都會怎么說。一想到有人做伴，勞里感到一陣驚喜，四處飛奔去做準備。正如馬奇太太所說，他是個“小紳士”。為了對來客表示敬意，他梳理了卷曲的頭發(fā)，換上了干凈的襯衣領子，還整理了一下房間；仆人倒有五六個，房間里還是亂得一塌糊涂。不久，聽到一聲響亮的門鈴聲，然后是沉著的聲音，要找勞里先生，滿臉驚奇的仆人跑上來說，一位年輕的小姐來訪。
“好的，把她領進來，那是喬小姐。”勞里說著來到小會客室的門口迎接。喬走進來，臉色紅潤，親切友好，神情大方；她一手拿著蓋著蓋子的碟子，一手抱著貝絲的三只小貓。
“我來了，把全部家當都帶來了。”她爽朗地說，“媽媽向你問好，要是我能為你做些什么，她會感到高興的。美格要我?guī)┧H手做的牛奶凍，她做得很好吃的。貝絲說，她的貓咪可以安慰你。我知道你可能會覺得好笑，可我不能拒絕，要知道，她渴望助人。”
不料，貝絲借出的滑稽貓咪還真管用。勞里對著這些貓咪直笑，顧不得害羞，立刻變得善于交際起來。
喬揭開碟子的蓋子，露出牛奶凍，周圍是一圈綠葉和艾美最得意的天竺葵紅花。“看上去真精美，都叫人舍不得吃。”他說著開心地笑了。
“這算不得什么，只是她們的一點心意，想要表示一下。叫女傭放好，你喝茶的時候吃。就這點小東西，你就吃吧。又軟又滑，你喉嚨痛，吃下去也不礙事。這房間真舒服！”
“如果收拾干凈的話，是很舒服。可是，女傭們都懶，我也拿她們沒辦法。這讓我傷透了腦筋。”
“過兩分鐘，我就能把房間收拾整齊。只需把壁爐撣一下，這樣吧——把壁爐架上的東西放齊，就這樣——把書放到這里，把瓶子放到那里，沙發(fā)不要對著光，枕頭弄松一點。好了，這樣你這里就好了。”
他這里真的一切都好了。也就是說笑的那點工夫，喬飛快地把東西整理得井井有條，房間里煥然一新。勞里靜靜地注視著她，內心充滿了敬意。喬示意他在沙發(fā)上坐下來，他滿意地嘆了口氣，感激地說：
“你真是太好了！啊，這房間是需要這么收拾一下。現(xiàn)在請坐到大椅子上，讓我做點什么，逗客人開心。”
“不用，我來就是逗你開心的。要我為你讀會兒書嗎？”喬熱切地注視著不遠處幾本誘人的書。
“謝謝，那些書我都看過了，不介意的話，我寧愿聊天。”勞里回答。
“完全同意。如果你讓我講，我可以講上一天。貝絲說我從來都不知道剎車。”
“貝絲是不是臉色紅潤，老是待在家里的那位？她是不是偶爾才拎著個小籃子出來？”勞里饒有興趣地問。
“是的，那就是貝絲。她很乖，我最疼她了。”
“漂亮的那位是美格，鬈頭發(fā)的是艾美，是吧？”
“你是怎么知道的？”
勞里臉色霎然緋紅，但坦然地說：“怎么了，要知道，我常常聽到你們你喊我，我喊你。一個人待在樓上，忍不住要朝你們的房子看。你們姐妹似乎一直都過得很愉快。請原諒我這么無禮，可有時你們忘了把窗簾放下來，就是放著鮮花的那個窗戶。燈亮的時候，看到爐火前，你們和媽媽圍坐在桌邊，就像是看一幅圖畫。她的臉正好對著我，透過鮮花看上去很親切，我忍不住要看。你看，我沒有媽媽的。”勞里的嘴唇不禁抽搐了一下，但他捅捅爐火，試圖掩飾這一切。
勞里孤獨、渴望的眼神，令喬熱情的心深感震撼。她受到的教育十分單純，腦子里沒有半點雜念，雖然十五歲了，但她還是像個小孩，天真、率直。生病的勞里深感寂寞。想到自己真是富有，能享受家庭的幸福和溫暖，喬樂于和他分享這份快樂。她滿臉友好的神情，尖嗓門也變得格外文雅，說道：
“我們以后不再拉上那個窗簾，我要讓你看個夠。我只是希望，你別再偷看，可以過來看看我們的。媽媽人很好，她會給你很多的幫助。要是我求求貝絲的話，她還會為你唱上一曲，艾美會跳舞。我和美格會讓你看我們可笑的舞臺道具，讓你痛快地笑一場。我們會玩得很愉快。你爺爺會讓你過來嗎？”
“我想，如果你媽媽能跟他說，他會同意我過去的。他其實心地很善良，只是看不出來罷了。只要我喜歡的事，他都會放手讓我做的。他只是擔心我會打擾陌生人。”勞里說，心情越來越好。
“又不是陌生人，我們是鄰居。千萬別擔心。我們想認識你，我可老早就想這么做了。我們搬到這里的時間還不長，可所有的鄰居都認識，除了你們。”
“要知道，爺爺就知道讀書，外面發(fā)生什么都不管。還有，布魯克先生，就是我的家庭教師，他不住在這里，沒人陪我四處走走。我只能待在家里一個人過。”
“太糟糕了。努力一下，要是有人來請，你應該去拜訪的。這樣，你就會認識很多朋友，也可以到很多有趣的地方去。別擔心害羞，多出去走走，就不會再這樣了。”
勞里的臉又紅了，喬說他害羞，他可沒有生氣。喬是出于好意，心直口快中的真情他怎能不領會？
他看著爐火發(fā)呆，而喬興致勃勃地顧盼左右。“你喜歡你的學校嗎？”沉默了片刻之后，男孩把話鋒一轉，問道。
“我可不上學，我是個實干家。我是說，我是個干實事的女孩。我服侍姑婆，她還是個既可愛又專橫的老太太。”喬回答。
勞里剛要開口再問，但猛然想起，過多地打聽別人的私事不禮貌，于是就及時地住了口，顯得有幾分尷尬。喬喜歡他有教養(yǎng)，并不介意在他面前開開馬奇姑婆的玩笑，于是她有聲有色地描繪這位煩躁不安的老太太，她的胖獅子狗，那只能說西班牙語的鸚鵡，還有自己最熱衷的藏書室，勞里簡直都聽得入了迷。她講到，一次有位老紳士穿戴整齊，來向姑婆求婚，正當甜言蜜語時，鸚哥扯下了他的假發(fā)，令他大為喪氣。聽到這里，勞里身子向后一仰，笑得眼淚都流出來了，連一位女傭都探頭進來看個究竟。
“哦！真讓我受益匪淺。請接著講。”勞里說。他在沙發(fā)墊子上抬起頭來，高興得臉上紅光閃閃。
喬成功了，感到得意揚揚。她便接著講，講的都是她們的戲文、打算，對爸爸的希望和擔心，以及姐妹們居住的小世界里最有趣的事情。然后他們開始談書，令喬感到高興的是，她發(fā)現(xiàn)勞里與她一樣愛讀書，甚至讀得比她還多。
“看你這么喜歡書，下來看看我們的書吧。爺爺出去了，不用害怕。”勞里說著站了起來。
“我天不怕地不怕。”喬把頭一抬回答道。
“我相信你不怕！”男孩大聲道，仰慕地看著她?？伤睦镞€是暗暗地想，如果遇到爺爺心情不好，她一點都不怕才怪呢。
整座屋里的氣氛與夏天一樣熱烈，勞里領著喬逐間觀賞，遇到喬感興趣的地方便駐足細看一番。這樣走走停停，最后來到書房，喬見了興奮得手舞足蹈，她平日特別高興時都那樣。里頭一排一排擺滿了書本，放著圖畫、雕塑，小櫥柜裝滿了錢幣和古玩，引人注目，還有《睡谷傳奇》里那種式樣的椅子、古怪的桌子和青銅器，最令人叫絕的是一個精致的花磚砌成的敞開式大壁爐。
“真是金玉滿堂??！”喬贊嘆道，一屁股坐在了天鵝絨面椅子上，心滿意足地環(huán)視周圍。“西奧多·勞倫斯，你應該是世界上最幸福的男孩。”她顧盼自雄地說。
“人不能光靠書活著。”勞里搖搖頭說，他坐在了對面的桌子上。
他還沒來得及多說，門鈴響了，喬跳了起來，惶恐地叫道：“天哪！是你爺爺來了！”
“哦，是又怎樣呢？不是說，你天不怕地不怕的？”男孩調皮地回答。
“我覺得有點怕他，可不知道為什么怕。媽媽說我可以來，我覺得來了也對你沒什么壞處。”喬說。她眼睛盯著門，但努力使自己鎮(zhèn)定下來。
“你來后我已經(jīng)好多了，萬分感謝。只是擔心，你跟我聊天會很累。談得真開心，真不忍打斷。”勞里感激地說。
“醫(yī)生來看你了，少爺。”女傭說著招招手。
“失陪一會兒，介意嗎？我想得去看醫(yī)生。”勞里說。
“我不要緊。我在這里樂不可支呢。”喬回答。
勞里走了，客人則自娛自樂。她站在那位老紳士精美的肖像前，這時門又開了，但喬沒有回頭，果敢地說：“我肯定不會怕他的。嘴巴冷酷，卻慈眉善目，看樣子挺有主見。沒有我外公那么瀟灑，可我喜歡他。”
“承蒙夸獎，小姐。”一個聲音在她背后生硬地說。勞倫斯老先生就站在那里，這令她大為懊喪。
可憐的喬，臉紅得不能再紅了?；叵肫鹱约簞偛潘f的話，她的心開始怦怦直跳。霎時她想到了跑，但那是懦夫的行為，姐妹們會嘲笑的。于是，她決定留下來，并盡可能擺脫窘境。她又看了他一眼，發(fā)現(xiàn)灰色的濃眉下一雙充滿活力的眼睛，比畫中的雙眼要慈祥得多，目光中閃著一絲詭秘，這使她心中輕松了許多。在那可怕的沉默之后，老先生生硬地說：“你不怕我，是嗎？”他沙啞的聲音變得更沙啞了。
“不太怕，先生。”
“你覺得我沒有你外公那么瀟灑。”
“是的，先生。”
“我挺有主見，是嗎？”
“我這么認為。”
“即使這樣，你還是喜歡我，是嗎？”
“是的，還是喜歡，先生。”
聽了這回答，老先生十分高興。他微微一笑，握握她的手，用手指托起她的下巴，把她的臉往上一抬，嚴肅地仔細端詳，然后放下手點頭說：“長得不像你過世的外公，倒還繼承了他的精神。他是個好人，孩子。更難得的是，他勇敢、誠實，我很自豪與他有交情。”
“謝謝你，先生。”他的話正中喬的下懷，喬聽了以后心里很愜意。
“喂，你對我家孫子干了什么？”老先生尖銳地提出了下一個問題。
“我只想盡力做個好鄰居，先生。”喬告訴了來訪的緣由。
“你認為他需要開心一點，是嗎？”
“是的，先生。他好像有點孤獨，年輕人或許能幫助他。我們只是女孩子，可要是能幫得上忙，我們倒很愿意的。您送的圣誕禮物很棒，我們還沒有忘記。”喬熱情地說。
“嘖，嘖，嘖！那可是孩子出的主意。窮女人現(xiàn)在怎么樣了？”
“她很好，先生。”喬快嘴快舌，把胡梅爾家的所有情況講了一遍，并告訴他，媽媽已經(jīng)說服幾個殷實的朋友來幫助他們。
“和她父親一樣助人為樂。告訴你母親，抽空我要去看看她。用茶的鈴聲響了，由于男孩的緣故，我們早點用茶。下樓來吧，繼續(xù)做個好鄰居。”
“只要您喜歡請我，先生。”
“我要是不喜歡的話，就不會請你。”勞倫斯先生用傳統(tǒng)的禮節(jié)，向喬伸出手臂。
“不知美格對此會怎么說？”喬邊走邊想，想到自己回家后要描述這里的情景，眼睛高興得一閃一閃的。
勞里跑下樓來，看到喬竟然和令人生畏的爺爺手挽著手，滿臉驚詫地站住。“嘿！怎么了，這孩子碰到什么鬼了？”老先生問。
“不知道您已經(jīng)來了，先生。”他開口說。喬給他使了個眼色，一副得意揚揚的樣子。
“明擺著的，看你沖下樓的樣子就行了。來喝茶吧，少爺，拿出點紳士的風度。”勞倫斯先生慈愛地扯了扯男孩的頭發(fā)，繼續(xù)往前走。勞里跟在他們身后，好一會兒才反應過來，滑稽的樣子引得喬差點哈哈大笑起來。
老先生喝了四杯茶，沒有多說話，只是注視著兩位年輕人。兩人很快就跟老朋友似的聊開了，孫子的變化沒有逃過他的眼睛?，F(xiàn)在，男孩臉色紅潤，充滿生氣，儀態(tài)活潑，連笑聲中也充滿了真摯的歡樂。
“她說的沒錯，小家伙確實孤獨。我倒要看看，這些小姑娘家能幫他做些什么。”勞倫斯先生看著聽著，心里琢磨著。他喜歡喬，因為她古怪、率直的做事方式正合他的心意，也因為她似乎十分了解這個男孩，她自己簡直就像是個男孩。
如果勞倫斯祖孫真的如喬原來所說的那樣循規(guī)蹈矩、死氣沉沉，她完全不會與他們合得來，因為這樣的人往往使她害羞、尷尬。但她現(xiàn)在卻發(fā)現(xiàn)他們坦率、隨和，這就使自己感到無拘無束，也給人留下了美好的印象。他們起身時，她提出要走，但勞里說，還想請她再看些東西，遂帶她來到暖房。燈火已經(jīng)特地為她點亮。喬在走道上徘徊，借柔和的燈光，欣賞著兩邊墻上盛開的鮮花、四周美妙的藤蔓樹木，盡情呼吸芳香宜人的潮濕空氣，仿佛置身于仙境。這時，新朋友剪了滿滿的一捧美不勝收的鮮花，扎起來，帶著令她愉快的神情說：“請把這些鮮花交給你媽媽，就說我很感謝她送來的藥。”
他們來到大客廳，只見勞倫斯先生站在爐火前，可喬的注意力卻被打開著的大鋼琴深深吸引了。
“你彈琴嗎？”她轉向勞里問，臉上露出敬佩的表情。
“有時候彈。”他謙虛地回答。
“現(xiàn)在請彈彈吧。我想聽聽，回去再跟貝絲說。”
“你先請吧。”
“不會彈，太笨了，學不會，可我很喜歡音樂的。”
于是勞里彈，喬把鼻子埋入天芥菜花和香水月季叢中聆聽著，十分愜意。他彈得美妙無比，沒有半點造作，這增加了她對勞倫斯家少年的敬重。她希望貝絲能夠聽到他彈琴，可沒有說出來，只是贊不絕口，直到他感到局促不安，最后還是爺爺前來解圍。
“好了，好了，小姐，甜言蜜語太多，對他可不好。他彈得是不錯，可我希望他在正經(jīng)事上能同樣做得出色。要走了嗎？好吧，我很感激你，希望下次再來。替我向你母親問好。晚安，喬醫(yī)生。”
他親切地與她握手作別，但顯得好像有什么事不高興。走到過道時，喬問勞里，她是否說錯了話，他搖搖頭。
“沒有，都怪我，他不喜歡聽我彈琴。”
“為什么？”
“以后再告訴你。約翰會送你回家，我不行，恕不遠送。”
“不必了，我又不是嬌小姐，何況沒幾步路。自己多保重，好嗎？”
“我會的，希望你能再來。”
“只要你答應我，病好以后來看我們。”
“我會的。”
“晚安，勞里！”
“晚安，喬，晚安！”
喬把下午的經(jīng)歷告訴大家，惹得一家人想全體出動去拜訪。每個人都發(fā)現(xiàn)，籬笆另一邊的大房子里，有一種說不出的魅力。馬奇太太想跟老人談談自己的父親，因為老人還沒有忘記他；美格渴望到暖房去走走；貝絲憧憬著那架大鋼琴；艾美則很想觀摩一下精美的圖畫和雕塑。
“媽媽，勞倫斯先生為什么不喜歡勞里彈琴呢？”生性好問的喬問道。
“我也不太清楚，想必是他兒子的緣故。勞里的爸爸娶了位搞音樂的意大利姑娘，老人的自尊心極強，心里很不高興。雖然這姑娘賢淑可愛、多才多藝，可老先生就是不喜歡。他們婚后，他沒有再見兒子一面。勞里很小的時候，父母就雙雙去世了，是爺爺把他領回了家。這孩子生在意大利，身體不太健壯，我猜想是老先生唯恐失去他，因此才謹小慎微的。勞里和他媽媽一樣，天生就愛音樂，我敢說，爺爺是怕他也想當音樂家吧。無論如何，他的琴藝使老人想起不投緣的媳婦，所以他‘瞪眼睛’，正如喬說的那樣。”
“哎喲，真浪漫！”美格嚷道。
“真傻帽！”喬說，“他喜歡當音樂家就讓他當唄，他討厭上大學，就不要把他送進去受罪好了。”
“我想，所以嘛，他才有一雙漂亮的黑眼睛和優(yōu)雅的舉止。意大利人總是風度翩翩。”美格說。她有點多情。
“他的眼睛和舉止你知道什么呀？你沒跟他說過話，幾乎沒有。”喬嚷道。她可并不多情。
“我在晚會里見過他的，你講的東西說明了他懂得舉止得體。他說的媽媽送藥那幾句話多有意思。”
“想必他是指牛奶凍吧。”
“真是個笨孩子！他是指你，絕對沒錯。”
“是嗎？”喬睜大眼睛，仿佛以前從沒有這樣想過。
“從來沒有見過這樣的女孩！人家恭維你還不知道。”美格說，擺出對這種事情熟門熟路的小姐的樣子。
“我認為這種事是胡說八道。別這么傻，掃我的興，我倒要謝謝了。勞里是個好男孩，我喜歡他，我不要聽什么恭維呀之類的廢話，太多情。我們都要待他好，他沒了親娘。他可以過來看我們的，您說對嗎，媽咪？”
“對，喬，非常歡迎你的小朋友。我也希望美格記住，少女不應該過早搞得這么復雜。”
“我認為自己不算少女，我還不到十三歲呢，”艾美說，“你說呢，貝絲？”
“我正在考慮我們的《天路歷程》。”貝絲答道。她一句話也沒有聽進去。“考慮我們如何下定決心學好，以便走出‘深淵’，穿過‘邊門’，努力爬上陡坡；也許那邊那座裝滿漂亮東西的屋子，便是我們的‘麗宮’呢。”
“我們得先偷過獅子群身邊啦。”喬仿佛憧憬著。
* * *
[1]英國名著。
CHAPTER 5 BEING NEIGHBORLY
“WHAT IN the world are you going to do now, Jo? ” asked Meg one snowy afternoon, as her sister came tramping through the hall, in rubber boots, old sack, and hood, with a broom in one hand and a shovel in the other.
“Going out for exercise, ” answered Jo with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“I should think two long walks this morning would have been enough! It's cold and dull out, and I advise you to stay warm and dry by the fire, as I do, ” said Meg with a shiver.
“Never take advice! Can't keep still all day, and not being a pussycat, I don't like to doze by the fire. I like adventures, and I'm going to find some.”
Meg went back to toast her feet and read Ivanhoe, and Jo began to dig paths with great energy. The snow was light, and with her broom she soon swept a path all round the garden, for Beth to walk in when the sun came out and the invalid dolls needed air. Now, the garden separated the Marches' house from that of Mr. Laurence. Both stood in a suburb of the city, which was still country-like, with groves and lawns, large gardens, and quiet streets. A low hedge parted the two estates. On one side was an old, brown house, looking rather bare and shabby, robbed of the vines that in summer covered its walls and the flowers, which then surrounded it. On the other side was a stately stone mansion, plainly betokening every sort of comfort and luxury, from the big coach house and well-kept grounds to the conservatory and the glimpses of lovely things one caught between the rich curtains.
Yet it seemed a lonely, lifeless sort of house, for no children frolicked on the lawn, no motherly face ever smiled at the windows, and few people went in and out, except the old gentleman and his grandson.
To Jo's lively fancy, this fine house seemed a kind of enchanted palace, full of splendors and delights which no one enjoyed. She had long wanted to behold these hidden glories, and to know the “Laurence boy”, who looked as if he would like to be known, if he only knew how to begin. Since the party, she had been more eager than ever, and had planned many ways of making friends with him; but he had not been seen lately, and Jo began to think he had gone away, when she one day spied a brown face at an upper window, looking wistfully down into their garden, where Beth and Amy were snowballing one another.
“That boy is suffering for society and fun, ” she said to herself. “His grandpa does not know what's good for him, and keeps him shut up all alone. He needs a party of jolly boys to play with, or somebody young and lively. I've a great mind to go over and tell the old gentleman so! ”
The idea amused Jo, who liked to do daring things and was always scandalizing Meg by her queer performances. The plan of “going over”was not forgotten. And when the snowy afternoon came, Jo resolved to try what could be done. She saw Mr. Lawrence drive off, and then sallied out to dig her way down to the hedge, where she paused and took a survey. All quiet—curtains down at the lower windows, servants out of sight, and nothing human visible but a curly black head leaning on a thin hand at the upper window.
“There he is, ” thought Jo, “Poor boy! All alone and sick this dismal day. It's a shame! I'll toss up a snowball and make him look out, and then say a kind word to him.”
Up went a handful of soft snow, and the head turned at once, showing a face which lost its listless look in a minute, as the big eyes brightened and the mouth began to smile. Jo nodded and laughed, and flourished her broom as she called out—
“How do you do? Are you sick? ”
Laurie opened the window, and croaked out as hoarsely as a raven—
“Better, thank you. I've had a bad cold, and been shut up a week.”
“I'm sorry. What do you amuse yourself with? ”
“Nothing. It's dull as tombs up here.”
“Don't you read? ”
“Not much. They won't let me.”
“Can't somebody read to you? ”
“Grandpa does sometimes, but my books don't interest him, and I hate to ask Brooke all the time.”
“Have someone come and see you, then.”
“There isn't anyone I'd like to see. Boys make such a row, and my head is weak.”
“Isn't there some nice girl who'd read and amuse you? Girls are quiet and like to play nurse.”
“Don't know any.”
“You know us, ” began Jo, then laughed and stopped.
“So I do! Will you come, please? ” cried Laurie.
“I'm not quiet and nice, but I'll come, if Mother will let me. I'll go ask her. Shut the window, like a good boy, and wait till I come.”
With that, Jo shouldered her broom and marched into the house, wondering what they would all say to her. Laurie was in a flutter of excitement at the idea of having company, and flew about to get ready;for as Mrs. March said, he was “a little gentleman”, and did honor to the coming guest by brushing his curly pate, putting on a fresh color, and trying to tidy up the room, which in spite of half a dozen servants, was anything but neat. Presently there came a loud ring, than a decided voice, asking for“Mr. Laurie”, and a surprised-looking servant came running up to announce a young lady.
“All right, show her up, it's Miss Jo, ” said Laurie, going to the door of his little parlor to meet Jo, who appeared, looking rosy and quite at her ease, with a covered dish in one hand and Beth's three kittens in the other.
“Here I am, bag and baggage, ” she said briskly. “Mother sent her love, and was glad if I could do anything for you. Meg wanted me to bring some of her blancmange, she makes it very nicely, and Beth thought her cats would be comforting. I knew you'd laugh at them, but I couldn't refuse, she was so anxious to do something.”
It so happened that Beth's funny loan was just the thing, for in laughing over the kits, Laurie forgot his bashfulness, and grew sociable at once.
“That looks too pretty to eat, ” he said, smiling with pleasure, as Jo uncovered the dish, and showed the blancmange, surrounded by a garland of green leaves, and the scarlet flowers of Amy's pet geranium.
“It isn't anything, only they all felt kindly and wanted to show it. Tell the girl to put it away for your tea. It's so simple you can eat it, and being soft, it will slip down without hurting your sore throat. What a cozy room this is! ”
“It might be if it was kept nice, but the maids are lazy, and I don't know how to make them mind. It worries me, though.”
“I'll right it up in two minutes, for it only needs to have the hearth brushed, so—and the things made straight on the mantelpiece, so—and the books put here, and the bottles there, and your sofa turned from the light, and the pillows plumped up a bit. Now, then, you're fixed.”
And so he was; for, as she laughed and talked, Jo had whisked things into place and given quite a different air to the room. Laurie watched her in respectful silence, and when she beckoned him to his sofa, he sat down with a sigh of satisfaction, saying gratefully—
“How kind you are! Yes, that's what it wanted. Now please take the big chair and let me do something to amuse my company.”
“No, I came to amuse you. Shall I read aloud? ” and Jo looked affectionately toward some inviting books near by.
“Thank you! I've read all those, and if you don't mind, I'd rather talk, ”answered Laurie.
“Not a bit. I'll talk all day if you'll only set me going. Beth says I never know when to stop.”
“Is Beth the rosy one, who stays at home a good deal and sometimes goes out with a little basket? ” asked Laurie with interest.
“Yes, that's Beth. She's my girl, and a regular good one she is, too.”
“The pretty one is Meg, and the curly-haired one is Amy, I believe? ”
“How did you find that out? ”
Laurie colored up, but answered frankly, “Why, you see I often hear you calling to one another, and when I'm alone up here, I can't help looking over at your house, you always seem to be having such good times. I beg your pardon for being so rude, but sometimes you forget to put down the curtain at the window where the flowers are. And when the lamps are lighted, it's like looking at a picture to see the fire, and you all around the table with your mother. Her face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the flowers, I can't help watching it. I haven't got any mother, you know.” And Laurie poked the fire to hide a little twitching of the lips that he could not control.
The solitary, hungry look in his eyes went straight to Jo's warm heart. She had been so simply taught that there was no nonsense in her head,and at fifteen she was as innocent and frank as any child. Laurie was sick and lonely, and feeling how rich she was in home love and happiness, she gladly tried to share it with him. Her face was very friendly and her sharp voice unusually gentle as she said—
“We'll never draw that curtain any more, and I give you leave to look as much as you like. I just wish, though, instead of peeping, you'd come over and see us. Mother is so splendid, she'd do you heaps of good, and Beth would sing to you if I begged her to, and Amy would dance. Meg and I would make you laugh over our funny stage properties, and we'd have jolly times. Wouldn't your grandpa let you? ”
“I think he would, if your mother asked him. He's very kind, though he does not look so; and he lets me do what I like, pretty much, only he's afraid I might be a bother to strangers, ” began Laurie, brightening more and more.
“We are not strangers, we are neighbors, and you needn't think you'd be a bother.We want to know you,and I've been trying to do it this ever so long. We haven't been here a great while, you know, but we have got acquainted with all our neighbors but you.”
“You see, Grandpa lives among his books, and doesn't mind much what happens outside. Mr. Brooke, my tutor, doesn't stay here, you know, and I have no one to go about with me, so I just stop at home and get on as I can.”
“That's bad. You ought to make an effort and go visiting everywhere you are asked, then you'll have plenty of friends, and pleasant places to go to. Never mind being bashful. It won't last long if you keep going.”
Laurie turned red again, but wasn't offended at being accused of bashfulness, for there was so much good will in Jo it was impossible not to take her blunt speeches as kindly as they were meant.
“Do you like your school? ” asked the boy, changing the subject, after a little pause, during which he stared at the fire and Jo looked about her, well pleased.
“Don't go to school; I'm a businessman—girl, I mean. I go to wait on my great-aunt, and a dear, cross old soul she is, too, ” answered Jo.
Laurie opened his mouth to ask another question, but remembering just in time that it wasn't manners to make too many inquiries into people's affairs, he shut it again, and looked uncomfortable. Jo liked his good breeding, and didn't mind having a laugh at Aunt March, so she gave him a lively description of the fidgety old lady, her fat poodle, the parrot that talked Spanish, and the library where she reveled. Laurie enjoyed that immensely, and when she told about the prim old gentleman who came once to woo Aunt March, and, in the middle of a fine speech, how Poll had tweaked his wig off to his great dismay, the boy lay back and laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks, and a maid popped her head in to see what was the matter.
“Oh! That does me no end of good. Tell on, please, ” he said, taking his face out of the sofa cushion, red and shining with merriment.
Much elated with her success, Jo did “tell on, ” all about their plays and plans, their hopes and fears for Father, and the most interesting events of the little world in which the sisters lived. Then they got to talking about books, and to Jo's delight, she found that Laurie loved them as well as she did, and had read even more than herself.
“If you like them so much, come down and see ours. Grandfather is out, so you needn't be afraid, ” said Laurie, getting up.
“I'm not afraid of anything, ” returned Jo, with a toss of the head.
“I don't believe you are! ” exclaimed the boy, looking at her with much admiration, though he privately thought she would have good reason to be a trifle afraid of the old gentleman, if she met him in some of his moods.
The atmosphere of the whole house being summerlike, Laurie led the way from room to room, letting Jo stop to examine whatever struck her fancy. And so, at last they came to the library, where she clapped her hands and pranced, as she always did when especially delighted. It was lined with books, and there were pictures and statues, and distracting little cabinets full of coins and curiosities, and Sleepy Hollow chairs, and queer tables, and bronzes, and best of all, a great open fireplace with quaint tiles all round it.
“What richness! ” sighed Jo, sinking into the depth of a velvet chair and gazing about her with an air of intense satisfaction. “Theodore Laurence, you ought to be the happiest boy in the world, ” she added impressively.
“A fellow can't live on books, ” said Laurie, shaking his head as he perched on a table opposite.
Before he could more, a bell rang, and Jo flew up, exclaiming with alarm, “Mercy me! It's your grandpa! ”
“Well, what if it is? You are not afraid of anything, you know, ”returned the boy, looking wicked.
“I think I am a little bit afraid of him, but I don't know why I should be. Marmee said I might come, and I don't think you're any the worse for it, ” said Jo, composing herself, though she kept her eyes on the door.
“I'm a great deal better for it, and ever so much obliged. I'm only afraid you are very tired of talking to me.It was so pleasant,I couldn't bear to stop, ” said Laurie gratefully.
“The doctor to see you, sir, ” and the maid beckoned as she spoke.
“Would you mind if I left you for a minute? I suppose I must see him, ”said Laurie.
“Don't mind me. I'm happy as a cricket here, ” answered Jo.
Laurie went away, and his guest amused herself in her own way. She was standing before a fine portrait of the old gentleman when the door opened again, and without turning, she said decidedly, “I'm sure now that I shouldn't be afraid of him, for he's got kind eyes, though his mouth is grim, and he looks as if he had a tremendous will of his own. He isn't as handsome as my grandfather, but I like him.”
“Thank you, ma'am, ” said a gruff voice behind her, and there, to her great dismay, stood old Mr. Laurence.
Poor Jo blushed till she couldn't blush any redder, and her heart began to beat uncomfortably fast as she thought what she had said. For a minute a wild desire to run away possessed her, but that was cowardly, and the girls would laugh at her, so she resolved to stay and get out of the scrape as she could. A second look showed her that the living eyes, under the bushy eyebrows, were kinder even than the painted ones, and there was a sly twinkle in them, which lessened her fear a good deal. The gruff voice was gruffer than ever, as the old gentleman said abruptly, after the dreadful pause, “So you're not afraid of me, hey? ”
“Not much, sir.”
“And you don't think me as handsome as your grandfather? ”
“Not quite, sir.”
“And I've got a tremendous will, have I? ”
“I only said I thought so.”
“But you like me in spite of it? ”
“Yes, I do, sir.”
That answer pleased the old gentleman. He gave a short laugh, shook hands with her, and, putting his finger under her chin, turned up her face, examined it gravely, and let it go, saying with a nod, “You've got your grandfather's spirit, if you haven't his face. He was a fine man, my dear, but what is better, he was a brave and an honest one, and I was proud to be his friend.”
“Thank you, sir, ” And Jo was quite comfortable after that, for it suited her exactly.
“What have you been doing to this boy of mine, hey? ” was the next question, sharply put.
“Only trying to be neighborly, sir.” And Jo told how her visit came about.
“You think he needs cheering up a bit, do you? ”
“Yes, sir, he seems a little lonely, and young folks would do him good perhaps. We are only girls, but we should be glad to help if we could, for we don't forget the splendid Christmas present you sent us, ” said Jo eagerly.
“Tut, tut, tut! That was the boy's affair. How is the poor woman? ”
“Doing nicely, sir.” And off went Jo, talking very fast, as she told all about the Hummels, in whom her mother had interested richer friends than they were.
“Just her father's way of doing good. I shall come and see your mother some fine day. Tell her so. There's the tea bell, we have it early on the boy's account. Come down and go on being neighborly.”
“If you'd like to have me, sir.”
“Shouldn't ask you, if I didn't.” And Mr. Laurence offered her his arm with old-fashioned courtesy.
“What would Meg say to this? ” thought Jo, as she was marched away, while her eyes danced with fun as she imagined herself telling the story at home.
“Hey! Why, what the dickens has come to the fellow? ” said the old gentleman, as Laurie came running downstairs and brought up with a start of surprise at the astonishing sight of Jo arm in arm with his redoubtable grandfather.
“I didn't know you'd come, sir, ” he began, as Jo gave him a triumphant little glance.
“That's evident, by the way you racket downstairs. Come to your tea, sir, and behave like a gentleman.” And having pulled the boy's hair by way of a caress, Mr. Laurence walked on, while Laurie went through a series of comic evolutions behind their backs, which nearly produced an explosion of laughter from Jo.
The old gentleman did not say much as he drank his four cups of tea,but he watched the young people, who soon chatted away like old friends, and the change in his grandson did not escape him. There was color, light, and life in the boy's face now, vivacity in his manner, and genuine merriment in his laugh.
“She's right,the lad is lonely.I'll see what these little girls can do for him, ” thought Mr. Laurence, as he looked and listened. He liked Jo, for her odd, blunt ways suited him, and she seemed to understand the boy almost as well as if she had been one herself.
If the Laurences had been what Jo called “prim and poky”, she would not have got on at all, for such people always made her shy and awkward. But finding them free and easy, she was so herself, and made a good impression. When they rose she proposed to go, but Laurie said he had something more to show her, and took her away to the conservatory, which had been lighted for her benefit. It seemed quite fairylike to Jo, as she went up and down the walks, enjoying the blooming walls on either side, the soft light, the damp sweet air, and the wonderful vines and trees that hung about her, while her new friend cut the finest flowers till his hands were full. Then he tied them up, saying, with the happy look Jo liked to see, “Please give these to your mother, and tell her I like the medicine she sent me very much.”
They found Mr. Laurence standing before the fire in the great drawing room, but Jo's attention was entirely absorbed by a grand piano, which stood open.
“Do you play? ” she asked, turning to Laurie with a respectful expression.
“Sometimes, ” he answered modestly.
“Please do now. I want to hear it, so I can tell Beth.”
“Won't you first? ”
“Don't know how. Too stupid to learn, but I love music dearly.”
So Laurie played and Jo listened, with her nose luxuriously buried in heliotrope and tea roses. Her respect and regard for the “Laurence boy”increased very much, for he played remarkably well and didn't put on any airs. She wished Beth could hear him, but she did not say so, only praised him till he was quite abashed, and his grandfather came to his rescue. “That will do, that will do, young lady. Too many sugarplums are not good for him. His music isn't bad, but I hope he will do as well in more important things. Going? well, I'm much obliged to you, and I hope you'll come again. My respects to your mother. Good night, Doctor Jo.”
He shook hands kindly, but looked as if something did not please him. When they got into the hall, Jo asked Laurie if she had said something amiss. He shook his head.
“No, it was me. He doesn't like to hear me play.”
“Why not? ”
“I'll tell you some day. John is going home with you, as I can't.”
“No need of that. I am not a young lady, and it's only a step. Take care of yourself, won't you? ”
“Yes, but you will come again, I hope? ”
“If you promise to come and see us after you are well.”
“I will.”
“Good night, Laurie! ”
“Good night, Jo, good night! ”
When all the afternoon's adventures had been told, the family felt inclined to go visiting in a body, for each found something very attractive in the big house on the other side of the hedge. Mrs. March wanted to talk of her father with the old man who had not forgotten him, Meg longed to walk in the conservatory, Beth sighed for the grand piano, and Amy was eager to see the fine pictures and statues.
“Mother, why didn't Mr. Laurence like to have Laurie play? ” asked Jo, who was of an inquiring disposition.
“I am not sure, but I think it was because his son, Laurie's father, married an Italian lady, a musician, which displeased the old man, who is very proud. The lady was good and lovely and accomplished, but he did not like her, and never saw his son after he married. They both died when Laurie was a little child, and then his grandfather took him home. I fancy the boy, who was born in Italy, is not very strong, and the old man is afraid of losing him, which makes him so careful. Laurie comes naturally by his love of music, for he is like his mother, and I dare say his grandfather fears that he may want to be a musician. At any rate, his skill reminds him of the woman he did not like, and so he ‘glowered' as Jo said.”
“Dear me, how romantic! ” exclaimed Meg.
“How silly! ” said Jo. “Let him be a musician if he wants to, and not plague his life out sending him to college, when he hates to go.”
“That's why he has such handsome black eyes and pretty manners, I suppose. Italians are always nice, ” said Meg, who was a little sentimental.
“What do you know about his eyes and his manners? You never spoke to him, hardly, ” cried Jo, who was not sentimental.
“I saw him at the party, and what you tell shows that he knows how to behave. That was a nice little speech about the medicine Mother sent him.”
“He meant the blancmange, I suppose.”
“How stupid you are, child! He meant you, of course.”
“Did he? ” And Jo opened her eyes as if it had never occurred to her before.
“I never saw such a girl! You don't know a compliment when you get it, ” said Meg, with the air of a young lady who knew all about the matter.
“I think they are great nonsense, and I'll thank you not to be silly and spoil my fun. Laurie's a nice boy and I like him, and I won't have any sentimental stuff about compliments and such rubbish. We'll all be good to him because he hasn't got any mother,and he may come over and see us, mayn't he, Marmee? ”
“Yes, Jo, your little friend is very welcome, and I hope Meg will remember that children should be children as long as they can.”
“I don't call myself a child, and I'm not in my teens yet, ” observed Amy. “What do you say, Beth? ”
“I was thinking about our ‘Pilgrim's Progress', ” answered Beth, who had not heard a word. “How we got out of the Slough and through the Wicket Gate by resolving to be good, and up the steep hill by trying, and that maybe the house over there, full of splendid things, is going to be our Palace Beautiful.”
“We have got to get by the lions first, ” said Jo, as if she rather liked the prospect.
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