九月的一個下午,天氣晴朗,勞里躺在吊床上舒服地搖來搖去,一邊揣摩著那幾個鄰居在干什么,可又懶得出門去瞧個究竟。這一天他過得毫無收獲,糟糕透頂,為此他正在鬧情緒,恨不得能重新再過一次。悶熱的天氣使他全身懶洋洋的,書也不讀,令布魯克先生無法忍受;又有半個下午在彈琴,弄得爺爺很不開心;他還惡作劇,暗示他的一只狗快要發(fā)瘋,把女傭們嚇得半死;然后又跟馬夫吵了一架,無端地指責對方沒照看好他的馬。最后,他躺在吊床里,為世人皆愚而憤憤不平。陽光明媚,周圍一片寧靜,心情煩躁的他,也漸漸平靜下來。仰望著頭上的七葉樹綠意盎然,他做起了白日夢。他想象著自己在海上顛簸,作環(huán)球航行,一陣說話聲傳來,他從夢中驚醒,回到了岸上。透過吊床的網孔,他看到馬奇家的姑娘們正走出來,好像要出游。
“那些女孩子現在究竟要干嗎?”勞里心想。他睜開蒙眬的睡眼想看個清楚,鄰居姑娘們的穿著確實有點古怪。每個人都頭戴掛著邊的大帽子,肩背棕色亞麻布小袋,手里還拿著一根棍子。美格拿著坐墊,喬夾著書,貝絲拎個籃子,艾美抱著紙夾。她們悄無聲息地穿過花園,從后面一扇小門出去,爬上小山,向河邊走去。
“哎,真行??!”勞里心想,“去野餐也不叫我一聲。她們沒有開船的鑰匙,不可能乘船去。也許是她們忘了,我得給她們拿去,順便看看到底去干什么。”
帽子倒有半打,可他還是費了老長時間才找到一頂,然后又找鑰匙,最后發(fā)現竟在自己的口袋里。等到他翻過籬笆,朝她們跑去時,姑娘們早已不見了。他抄近路來到船庫,等著她們出現,見沒人來,就登上小山放眼遠眺。山坡上長著一片松樹,綠林深處傳來一個聲音,清脆得勝過松林的沙沙聲和蟋蟀昏昏欲睡的鳴叫聲。
“這里風景真美!”勞里暗自贊嘆。他透過灌木叢眺望,頓時精神抖擻,心情舒暢。
眼前果真是風景如畫,姐妹們圍坐在樹蔭下,斑駁的樹影在身上搖曳不定,清風夾著花香撩弄著秀發(fā),輕拂著發(fā)熱的面頰。林中小居民都照常起居,仿佛在場的不是陌生人,而是老朋友。美格坐在坐墊上,雪白的雙手正在靈巧地做針線活,粉紅色的衣裙,在綠色的映襯下,宛如一朵鮮艷的玫瑰。貝絲正在撿松果,不遠處的鐵杉樹下,已經厚厚地堆了一層,她能用這些松果做出漂亮的玩意。艾美正對著一簇蕨草素描。喬邊朗讀邊做編織活。勞里看著看著,臉上陰沉了下來,覺得自己是不請自來,應該離開了??伤€在流連,因為家里實在孤獨,林中這批人雖說安靜無事,可對于不甘寂寞的他又具有巨大的吸引力。他站著紋絲不動,一只忙于覓食的松鼠從身邊的一棵松樹上跳下來,突然看見了他,尖聲責罵著往后一蹦。貝絲聞聲抬頭一看,看到樺樹后那張渴望的臉,于是會心一笑,向他致意。
“請問能過來嗎?打擾你們嗎?”他慢慢地走上前問。
美格皺起眉頭,可喬不服氣地瞪了她一眼,立刻說:“當然可以。本該先問問你的,只是我們覺得,你可能瞧不起這種女孩子的游戲。”
“我向來都喜歡你們的游戲,可要是美格不歡迎的話,我這就走。”
“我并不反對,可你得做點什么。這里可不興閑著沒事干。”美格神情莊重地說,可語氣里又帶有幾分親切。
“多謝。要是能讓我待一會兒,做什么都行。你們知道,家里悶得像撒哈拉大沙漠。要我做什么?做針線、讀書、揀松果、畫素描,要不都做?說吧,我沒問題。”勞里坐下來,一副順從的樣子,看了讓人覺得高興。
“我要把襪子后跟織好,你替我把這故事讀完。”喬說著遞給他一本書。
“遵命,小姐。”勞里溫順地答應,說著就讀起來,他要努力證明,為有幸參加“勤勞大家縫協會”而感激萬分。
故事并不長,讀完后,他斗膽提出幾個問題,犒賞自己。
“請問小姐,能否問問,這個富有魅力和教育意義的機構是不是新組織?”
“你們愿意告訴他嗎?”美格問三個妹妹。
“他會笑的。”艾美警告道。
“管他呢?”喬說。
“我想他會喜歡的。”貝絲接著說。
“我當然會喜歡!保證不笑。說出來吧,喬,別害怕。”
“誰怕你啊!哦,你知道我們過去常常表演《天路歷程》。我們整個冬季和夏季都兢兢業(yè)業(yè)的,沒有放棄。”
“是的,我知道。”勞里說,機靈地點點頭。
“誰告訴你的?”喬問。
“小精靈。”
“不,是我。那天晚上你們都出去了,他委靡不振,我便告訴了他,逗他樂呢。他很喜歡,所以別罵,姐。”貝絲怯怯地說。
“你守不住秘密。不過算了,現在倒省事了。”
“請接著說吧。”勞里看到喬有點兒不高興,專心做活兒,便說。
“噢,難道她沒告訴你我們這個新計劃嗎?喏,為了盡量不虛度假期,每人都定下一個任務,并全力執(zhí)行。假期即將結束,定額也全部完成了,我們真高興,沒有蹉跎歲月。”
“不錯,我看做得很好。”勞里想到自己無所事事地打發(fā)日子,十分后悔。
“媽媽要我們盡量到外面走走,所以我們把活計拿出來,順便散散心。為了助興,我們打扮成朝圣者的樣子,東西放在袋子里,戴上舊帽子,拄著拐杖來爬山,幾年前就經常這樣玩。我們管這座山叫做‘逍遙山’,登高望遠,可以看到我們向往居住的鄉(xiāng)村。”
勞里坐起來,順著喬的指點望去。透過樹林的縫隙,可以看到一條碧綠的大河,河對岸是茫茫的草地,一直看到大城市的郊區(qū),舉目遠眺還可以看見一脈高聳入云的青山。正值秋日,夕陽西下,天邊霞光四射,蔚為壯觀。金色的紫霞縈繞著山頂,銀白色的山峰在萬道紅光的照耀下,閃閃發(fā)光,宛如天城仙宇的塔尖。
“真美!”勞里輕聲贊嘆。他一向都很善于欣賞美。
“景色總是這么美,我們都喜歡欣賞的。從不千篇一律,總是氣象萬千。”艾美答道,希望自己能把這美景畫下來。
“喬談到了我們向往居住的地方。她說的可是真正的鄉(xiāng)下,有豬呀、雞呀,還可以曬干草。那該多好,不過我希望真有這樣美麗的地方,那樣,我們就可以去了。”貝絲若有所思地說。
“還有個地方比這里更美。等我們學好了,就能慢慢過去了。”美格甜美的聲音答道。
“要等這么久,又這么難,我真想馬上插翅飛過去,和那些燕子一樣,飛進那扇壯麗的大門。”
“貝絲,你遲早都會到達的,不用擔心。”喬說,“只有我要奮斗、要拼搏、要攀登、要等待,最終可能永遠都進不去。”
“要是能安慰你的話,我會陪著你。我先要長途旅行,才能看得見你的天城。萬一我遲到了,你要替我說句好話,你會嗎,貝絲?”
小伙子臉上的表情讓他的這位小朋友感到不安??伤齼裳勰赝兓貌欢ǖ脑贫?,打氣說:“要是人們真的想去,真的一生都在努力,我想就會進去的。我相信那扇門上沒有鎖,門口也沒人把守著。我老想,肯定和圖畫中畫的一樣,當可憐的基督徒蹚過河水升天的時候,閃著金光的天神會伸出雙手來迎接。”
“要是我們夢中的空中樓閣都能實現的話,我們都能住進去,那是不是很有趣?”喬沉默片刻后問。
“我有這么多夢想,真不知道該選哪個好?”勞里平躺在地上說著,把一顆松果扔向剛才暴露了他行蹤的松鼠。
“要選最喜歡的那個。是什么?”美格問。
“要是我說了,你也會說嗎?”
“會的,要是妹妹們也說的話。”
“我們會的,勞里,該你了。”
“我打算,先把世界游個遍,再在德國定居,盡情享受音樂。我要成為著名的樂師,世人都跑來聽我表演。我永遠都不用擔心金錢和生意,只想享受生活,做想做的事。這就是我的鐘愛樓閣。你的呢,美格?”
瑪格麗特似乎覺得說出來有點難。她拿起一根蕨草在眼前揮動著,仿佛要驅散其實并不存在的小昆蟲。她慢吞吞地說:“我夢想有一座漂亮的宅子,里面盡是各種豪華的東西——美味的食品、漂亮的衣服、闊氣的家具,還有和善的人和大把大把的鈔票。我要當女主人,有很多用人,一切都按我的意思來安排,那樣我就一點都不用打工了。我會多么開心!到那時,我不會偷閑,只會多做好事,讓每個人都深深地愛我。”
“那你夢想的樓閣里就不要男主人了?”勞里頑皮地問。
“我說了‘和善的人’,知道不?”美格說話時仔細地把鞋系好,才沒讓大家看到她的臉。
“你干嗎不說想要個好丈夫,他博學多才、溫柔體貼,再養(yǎng)幾個小孩,要像天使一樣?要是少了他們,你的樓閣可不會十全十美。”喬率直地說。她現在還想象不到纏綿的愛情,更瞧不起浪漫故事,可對小說里的那些,她卻情有獨鐘。
“你的樓閣里什么都沒有,只有幾匹馬、幾個墨水瓶,再加上幾本小說。”美格氣憤地回答。
“這哪里不好?我要一個馬廄,養(yǎng)滿阿拉伯駿馬,幾間屋子,里面堆滿書,再用魔法墨水瓶來寫東西,這樣我的作品就會和勞里的音樂齊名。在搬進樓閣之前,我想先干一番大事——英勇的、杰出的大事,總之是等我死了都難被忘記的大事?,F在還不知道是什么,可我時刻準備著,說不定哪一天能石破天驚。我想我得寫書,名利雙收,才合我心意,這就是我最大的夢想。”
“我的夢想是平平安安地待在家里,和爸爸、媽媽住在一起,幫他們看家。”貝絲心滿意足地說。
“難道別的什么都不想嗎?”勞里問。
“有了那架小鋼琴,我已經很知足了。只希望我們都能身體健康,能守在一起,就足夠了。”
“我有很多愿望,可最中意的是想成為畫家,去羅馬,畫一些漂亮的畫,成為世界上最好的畫家。”這是艾美一個小小的心愿。
“我們個個胸懷大志,對吧?我們每個人,貝絲除外,都想名利雙收,在每個方面都做得很出色。我在納悶,我們中間有誰能如愿以償。”勞里說著嚼起了青草,活像一頭冥思苦想的牛犢。
“我有打開樓閣的鑰匙,不過能不能打開這扇門,還要等著瞧。”喬神秘地說。
“我有打開樓閣的鑰匙,不過就是不讓我打開。去他的大學!”勞里咕噥著,一邊不耐煩地嘆息道。
“這是我的鑰匙!”艾美揮動著鉛筆喊道。
“我可沒有。”美格失望地說。
“不,你有。”勞里立刻回答。
“在哪里?”
“你的臉上。”
“胡說。那有什么用?”
“等著瞧吧,看它是否會給你帶來好事。”小伙子回答。他想到自己知道一個小秘密,不由放聲大笑。
美格用蕨草遮著漲得通紅的臉,可什么都沒問,只是望著河對岸,臉上流露出渴望的神情。那天布魯克講騎士故事的時候,臉上也帶著同樣的表情。
“如果十年后還都活著,我們再聚首,看看有多少人如愿以償,或者接近了多少。”喬說,她總是胸有成竹的。
“天哪!到時我該多大了——二十七歲!”美格喊道?,F在她剛剛十七,卻以為是大人了。
“你和我將是二十六歲,特迪[1],貝絲二十四,艾美二十二。那時,我們將年高德劭了!”喬說。
“希望在此前做出一些值得自豪的事情??晌沂莻€懶漢,恐怕要蹉跎了,喬。”
“需要一個動機,媽媽說,一旦有了動機,你肯定就會干得十分出色。”
“真的?我對天發(fā)誓一定努力,但愿有這樣的機會!”勞里叫道,突然來了勁頭,坐起來,“我能討爺爺的歡心,就很應該知足了;我也確實盡力而為,但你們知道,這樣做跟我的性格犯沖,真難哪。他要我像他年輕時一樣,做個印度商人,但這還不如把我斃掉。我痛恨茶葉、絲綢、香料,痛恨他的破船運來的每一種垃圾。這些船只歸我所有后,什么時候沉到海底我都不會在乎。我去讀大學,應該遂了他的心愿吧,我獻給他四年,他就該放我一馬,不用做生意,但他頑固不化,非要我亦步亦趨地學他,除非我像父親一樣離家出走,自得其樂。如果家里有人陪著老人的話,我明天就遠走高飛。”
勞里言辭激烈,仿佛一點點挑釁就能惹得他把這番說辭付諸行動。他正處于突飛猛進的發(fā)育時期,雖然行動懶洋洋的,卻有一種年輕人的逆反心理,內心躁動不安,渴望能獨自闖天下。
“我有個主意,你乘坐你們家的大船出走,闖蕩一番后再回家。”喬說。想到這么大膽的英雄行為,她任想象力馳騁,同情心也被她所謂的“特迪的冤屈”激發(fā)起來。
“那樣不對,喬,不可以這樣說話,勞里也不能聽從你的壞主意。應該按照爺爺的意愿去做,好孩子。”美格的口吻母性十足,“要刻苦努力上大學,看到你盡自己的能力來取悅他,我肯定他對你不會這么強硬,這么不講理。正像你所說的,家里沒有人來陪伴他,愛他了。如果你擅自把他拋下,你也永遠不會原諒自己的。不要消沉,不要煩惱,要盡心盡責,這樣你就能得到報償,受人敬愛,就像好人布魯克先生一樣。”
“你知道他些什么?”勞里問。他對這個好建議心存感激,但對這番教誨卻不以為然,剛才他不同尋常地發(fā)泄了一番,現在很高興把話題從自己身上轉開。
“只知道你爺爺告訴我們的那些——他精心照顧老母,直到為她送終;由于不愿拋下母親,國外很好的人家請他當私人教師他也不去;還有,他現在贍養(yǎng)一位護理過他母親的老太太,卻從不告訴別人,而是盡力而為,慷慨、耐心、善良。”
“沒錯,是個大好人!”勞里由衷地說。而美格這時沉默不語,雙頰通紅,神情熱切。“爺爺就是喜歡這樣,背地里把人家了解得一清二楚,然后到處宣揚他的美德,使大家都喜歡他。布魯克不會明白,為什么你母親會待他這樣好。她請他跟我一同過去做客,以禮相待,親切周到。他認為她簡直十全十美,回來后好些天都把她掛在嘴邊,接著又熱情洋溢地談論你們眾姐妹。若我有朝一日如愿以償,會讓你們看到我為布魯克做點什么。”
“不如從現在做起,不要再把他折磨得生不如死。”美格尖刻地說。
“你怎么知道我讓他生氣呢,小姐?”
“每次他離開的時候看臉色就知道了。如果你表現好,他就顯得心滿意足,腳步輕快;如果你淘氣了,他就臉色陰沉,腳步拖拉,仿佛要回去改進工作。”
“好啊,這樣不錯耶!原來,你通過布魯克的臉色,就把我的成績好壞全都登記著,對吧?我只看到他經過你家窗口時躬身微笑,卻不知道你從中悟出一封電報呢。”
“沒有的事。別生氣,還有,噢,別告訴他我說了什么!我這么說,只是關心你的進步而已。你知道這里說的全是悄悄話兒。”美格叫起來,想到說話一時大意,不禁有點害怕起來。
“我從不搬弄是非的。”勞里答道,臉上露出特有的“大人物”的神氣,喬如此描述他偶然露出的一種表情。“不過,既然布魯克要做晴雨表,我就得注意,讓他報告好天氣就是了。”
“請別動氣。我剛才并非是要說教或搬弄是非,也并非出于無聊。我只是覺得,喬這么慫恿你,日后你會為那種情緒后悔的。你對我們這么好,我們把你當作親兄弟,把心里話兒都掏出來的。對不起了,我是一片好心。”美格熱情而又靦腆地打了個手勢,伸出手來。
想到自己剛才一時懊惱,勞里不好意思了,他緊緊握住那只小手,坦誠地說:“說對不起的應該是我。我脾氣暴躁,而且今天一整天都心情不好。你指出我的缺點,像親姐妹一樣待我,我心里高興。一時有莽撞得罪之處,請不要放在心上,我還要謝謝你呢。”
他一心要表示自己沒有動氣,盡量表現得和顏悅色——為美格繞棉線,替喬朗誦詩歌,幫貝絲搖落松果,幫艾美畫蕨葉,證明自己是名副其實的“勤勞大家縫協會”會員。正當他們熱火朝天地討論著烏龜(河里剛剛爬出了這么一只和藹可親的動物)的馴養(yǎng)習性的時候,一陣鈴聲遠遠飄過來,通知她們漢娜已把茶泡開了,現在趕回家吃晚飯時間剛剛好。
“我可以再來嗎?”勞里問。
“可以,可你要好好表現,好好讀書,就像識字課本上要求孩子們做的那樣。”美格笑著說。
“我會努力的。”
“那你就來吧,我會教你打毛線,跟蘇格蘭男子一樣?,F在襪子的需求很大呢。”喬補充說,她揮動著手中的襪子,就像揮舞藍色的毛線大旗一樣。這樣,她們便在大門口分手了。
那天晚上,貝絲在月光下為勞倫斯先生彈琴。勞里站在門簾的陰影里,聆聽小樂師的表演。那樸素的旋律總能使他浮躁的心情平靜下來。勞里注視著坐在一邊的老人,只見他一手托著滿頭白發(fā)的腦袋,深情地回憶著死去的小孫女。想起當天下午的對話,男孩決定心甘情愿地做出犧牲,心里暗自說:“讓我的空中樓閣滾蛋吧,我要和親愛的老人守在一起。他需要我,因為我是他的一切。”
* * *
[1]對勞里正式的名字西奧多的昵稱。
LAURIE LAY luxuriously swinging to and fro in his hammock, one warm September afternoon, wondering what his neighbors were about, but too lazy to go and find out. He was in one of his moods, for the day had been both unprofitable and unsatisfactory, and he was wishing he could live it over again. The hot weather made him indolent, and he had shirked his studies, tried Mr. Brooke's patience to the utmost, displeased his grandfather by practicing half the afternoon, frightened the maidservants half out of their wits by mischievously hinting that one of his dogs was going mad, and, after high words with the stableman about some fancied neglect of his horse, he had flung himself into his hammock to fume over the stupidity of the world in general, till the peace of the lovely day quieted him in spite of himself. Staring up into the green gloom of the horse-chestnut trees above him, he dreamed dreams of all sorts, and was just imagining himself tossing on the ocean in a voyage round the world, when the sound of voices brought him ashore in a flash. Peeping through the meshes of the hammock, he saw the Marches coming out, as if bound on some expedition.
“What in the world are those girls about now? ” thought Laurie, opening his sleepy eyes to take a good look, for there was something rather peculiar in the appearance of his neighbors. Each wore a large, flapping hat, a brown linen pouch slung over one shoulder, and carried a long staff. Meg had a cushion, Jo a book, Beth a basket, and Amy a portfolio. All walked quietly through the garden, out at the little back gate, and began to climb the hill that lay between the house and river.
“Well, that's cool, ” said Laurie to himself, “to have a picnic and never ask me! They can't be going in the boat, for they haven't got the key. Perhaps they forgot it. I'll take it to them, and see what's going on.”
Though possessed of half a dozen hats, it took him some time to find one, then there was a hunt for the key, which was at last discovered in his pocket, so that the girls were quite out of sight when he leaped the fence and ran after them. Taking the shortest way to the boathouse, he waited for them to appear, but no one came, and he went up the hill to take an observation. A grove of pines covered one part of it, and from the heart of this green spot came a clearer sound than the soft sigh of the pines or the drowsy chirp of the crickets.
“Here's a landscape! ” thought Laurie, peeping through the bushes, and looking wide-awake and good-natured already.
It was a rather pretty little picture,for the sisters sat together in the shady nook, with sun and shadow flickering over them, the aromatic wind lifting their hair and cooling their hot cheeks, and all the little wood people going on with their affairs as if these were no strangers but old friends. Meg sat upon her cushion, sewing daintily with her white hands, and looking as fresh and sweet as a rose in her pink dress among the green. Beth was sorting the cones that lay thick under the hemlock near by, for she made pretty things with them. Amy was sketching a group of ferns, and Jo was knitting as she read aloud. A shadow passed over the boy's face as he watched them, feeling that he ought to go away because uninvited;yet lingering because home seemed very lonely and this quiet party in the woods most attractive to his restless spirit. He stood so still that a squirrel, busy with its harvesting, ran down a pine close beside him, saw him suddenly and skipped back, scolding so shrilly that Beth looked up, espied the wistful face behind the birches, and beckoned with a reassuring smile.
“May I come in, please? Or shall I be a bother? ” he asked, advancing slowly.
Meg lifted her eyebrows, but Jo scowled at her defiantly and said at once, “Of course you may. We should have asked you before, only we thought you wouldn't care for such a girl's game as this.”
“I always like your games; but if Meg doesn't want me, I'll go away.”
“I've no objection, if you do something. It's against the rules to be idle here, ” replied Meg gravely but graciously.
“Much obliged. I'll do anything if you'll let me stop a bit, for it's as dull as the Desert of Sahara down there. Shall I sew, read, cone, draw, or do all at once? Bring on your bears. I'm ready.” And Laurie sat down with a submissive expression delightful to behold.
“Finish this story while I set my heel, ” said Jo, handing him the book.
“Yes'm” was the meek answer, as he began, doing his best to prove his gratitude for the favor of admission into the “Busy Bee Society”.
The story was not a long one, and when it was finished, he ventured to ask a few questions as a reward of merit.
“Please, ma'am, could I inquire if this highly instructive and charming institution is a new one? ”
“Would you tell him? ” asked Meg of her sisters.
“He'll laugh, ” said Amy warningly.
“Who cares? ” said Jo.
“I guess he'll like it, ” added Beth.
“Of course I shall! I give you my word I won't laugh. Tell away, Jo,and don't be afraid.”
“The idea of being afraid of you! Well, you see we used to play Pilgrim's Progress, and we have been going on with it in earnest, all winter and summer.”
“Yes, I know, ” said Laurie, nodding wisely.
“Who told you? ” demanded Jo.
“Spirits.”
“No, I did. I wanted to amuse him one night when you were all away, and he was rather dismal. He did like it, so don't scold, Jo, ” said Beth meekly.
“You can't keep a secret. Never mind, it saves trouble now.”
“Go on, please, ” said Laurie, as Jo became absorbed in her work, looking a trifle displeased.
“Oh, didn't she tell you about this new plan of ours? Well, we have tried not to waste our holiday, but each has had a task and worked at it with a will. The vacation is nearly over, the stints are all done, and we are ever so glad that we didn't dawdle.”
“Yes, I should think so.” And Laurie thought regretfully of his own idle days.
“Mother likes to have us out-of-doors as much as possible, so we bring our work here and have nice times. For the fun of it we bring our things in these bags, wear the old hats, use poles to climb the hill, and play pilgrims, as we used to do years ago. We call this hill the Delectable Mountain, for we can look far away and see the country where we hope to live some time.”
Jo pointed, and Laurie sat up to examine, for through an opening in the wood one could look cross the wide, blue river, the meadows on the other side, far over the outskirts of the great city, to the green hills that rose to meet the sky. The sun was low, and the heavens glowed with the splendor of an autumn sunset. Gold and purple clouds lay on the hilltops, and rising high into the ruddy light were silvery white peaks that shone like the airy spires of some Celestial City.
“How beautiful that is! ” said Laurie softly, for he was quick to see and feel beauty of any kind.
“It's often so, and we like to watch it, for it is never the same, but always splendid, ” replied Amy, wishing she could paint it.
“Jo talks about the country where we hope to live some time—the real country, she means, with pigs and chickens and haymaking. It would be nice, but I wish the beautiful country up there was real, and we could ever go to it, ” said Beth musingly.
“There is a lovelier country even than that,where we shall go,by-and-by, when we are good enough, ” answered Meg with her sweetest voice.
“It seems so long to wait, so hard to do. I want to fly away at once, as those swallows fly, and go in at that splendid gate.”
“You'll get there, Beth, sooner or later, no fear of that, ” said Jo. “I'm the one that will have to fight and work, and climb and wait, and maybe never get in after all.”
“You'll have me for company, if that's any comfort. I shall have to do a deal of traveling before I come in sight of your Celestial City. If I arrive late, you'll say a good word for me, won't you, Beth? ”
Something in the boy's face troubled his little friend, but she said cheerfully, with her quiet eyes on the changing clouds, “If people really want to go, and really try all their lives, I think they will get in, for I don't believe there are any locks on that door or any guards at the gate. I always imagine it is as it is in the picture, where the shining ones stretch out their hands to welcome poor Christian as he comes up from the river.”
“Wouldn't it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true, and we could live in them? ” said Jo, after a little pause.
“I've made such quantities it would be hard to choose which I'd have, ” said Laurie, lying flat and throwing cones at the squirrel who had betrayed him.
“You'd have to take your favorite one. What is it? ” asked Meg.
“If I tell mine, will you tell yours? ”
“Yes, if the girls will too.”
“We will. Now, Laurie.”
“After I'd seen as much of the world as I want to, I'd like to settle in Germany and have just as much music as I choose. I'm to be a famous musician myself, and all creation is to rush to hear me. And I'm never to be bothered about money or business, but just enjoy myself and live for what I like. That's my favorite castle. What's yours, Meg? ”
Margaret seemed to find it a little hard to tell hers, and waved a brake before her face, as if to disperse imaginary gnats, while she said slowly, “I should like a lovely house, full of all sorts of luxurious things—nice food, pretty clothes, handsome furniture, pleasant people, and heaps of money. I am to be mistress of it, and manage it as I like, with plenty of servants, so I never need work a bit. How I should enjoy it! For I wouldn't be idle, but do good, and make everyone love me dearly.”
“Wouldn't you have a master for your castle in the air? ” asked Laurie slyly.
“I said ‘pleasant people', you know.” And Meg carefully tied up her shoe as she spoke, so that no one saw her face.
“Why don't you say you'd have a splendid, wise, good husband and some angelic little children? You know your castle wouldn't be perfect without, ” said blunt Jo, who had no tender fancies yet, and rather scorned romance, except in books.
“You'd have nothing but horses, inkstands, and novels in yours, ”answered Meg petulantly.
“Wouldn't I though? I'd have a stable full of Arabian steeds, rooms piled high with books, and I'd write out of a magic inkstand, so that my works should be as famous as Laurie's music. I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle—something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all some day. I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous,that would suit me,so that is my favorite dream.”
“Mine is to stay at home safe with Father and Mother, and help take care of the family, ” said Beth contentedly.
“Don't you wish for anything else? ” asked Laurie.
“Since I had my little piano, I am perfectly satisfied. I only wish we may all keep well and be together, nothing else.”
“I have ever so many wishes, but the pet one is to be an artist, and go to Rome, and do fine pictures, and be the best artist in the whole world”was Amy's modest desire.
“We're an ambitious set, aren't we? Every one of us, but Beth, wants to be rich and famous, and gorgeous in every respect. I do wonder if any of us will ever get our wishes, ” said Laurie, chewing grass like a meditative calf.
“I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen, ” observed Jo mysteriously.
“I've got the key to mine, but I'm not allowed to try it. Hang college! ”muttered Laurie with an impatient sigh.
“Here's mine! ” And Amy waved her pencil.
“I haven't got any, ” said Meg forlornly.
“Yes, you have, ” said Laurie at once.
“Where? ”
“In your face.”
“Nonsense, that's of no use.”
“Wait and see if it doesn't bring you something worth having, ” replied the boy, laughing at the thought of a charming little secret which he fancied he knew.
Meg colored behind the brake, but asked no questions and looked across the river with the same expectant expression which Mr. Brooke had worn when he told the story of the knight.
“If we are all alive ten years hence, let's meet, and see how many of us have got our wishes, or how much nearer we are then than now, ” said Jo, always ready with a plan.
“Bless me! How old I shall be—twenty-seven! ” exclaimed Meg, who felt grown up already, having just reached seventeen.
“You and I will be twenty-six, Teddy, Beth twenty-four, and Amy twenty-two. What a venerable party! ” said Jo.
“I hope I shall have done something to be proud of by that time, but I'm such a lazy dog, I'm afraid I shall ‘dawdle', Jo.”
“You need a motive, Mother says; and when you get it, she is sure you'll work splendidly.”
“Is she? By Jupiter, I will, if I only get the chance! ” cried Laurie, sitting up with sudden energy. “I ought to be satisfied to please Grandfather, and I do try, but it's working against the grain, you see, and comes hard. He wants me to be an India merchant, as he was, and I'd rather be shot. I hate tea and silk and spices, and every sort of rubbish his old ships bring, and I don't care how soon they go to the bottom when I own them. Going to college ought to satisfy him, for if I give him four years he ought to let me off from the business. But he's set, and I've got to do just as he did, unless I break away and please myself, as my father did. If there was anyone left to stay with the old gentleman, I'd do it tomorrow.”
Laurie spoke excitedly, and looked ready to carry his threat into execution on the slightest provocation, for he was growing up very fast and, in spite of his indolent ways, had a young man's hatred of subjection, a young man's restless longing to try the world for himself.
“I advise you to sail away in one of your ships, and never come home again till you have tried your own way, ” said Jo, whose imagination was fired by the thought of such a daring exploit, and whose sympathy was excited by what she called “Teddy's Wrongs”.
“That's not right, Jo. You mustn't talk in that way, and Laurie mustn't take your bad advice. You should do just what your grandfather wishes, my dear boy, ” said Meg in her most maternal tone. “Do your best at college, and when he sees that you try to please him, I'm sure he won't be hard on you or unjust to you. As you say, there is no one else to stay with and love him, and you'd never forgive yourself if you left him without his permission. Don't be dismal or fret, but do your duty and you'll get your reward, as good Mr. Brooke has, by being respected and loved.”
“What do you know about him? ” asked Laurie, grateful for the good advice, but objecting to the lecture, and glad to turn the conversation from himself after his unusual outbreak.
“Only what your grandpa told us about him—how he took good care of his own mother till she died, and wouldn't go abroad as tutor to some nice person because he wouldn't leave her. And how he provides now for an old woman who nursed his mother, and never tells anyone, but is just as generous and patient and good as he can be.”
“So he is, dear old fellow! ” said Laurie heartily, as Meg paused, looking flushed and earnest with her story. “It's like Grandpa to find out all about him without letting him know, and to tell all his goodness to others, so that they might like him. Brooke couldn't understand why your mother was so kind to him, asking him over with me and treating him in her beautiful friendly way. He thought she was just perfect, and talked about it for days and days, and went on about you all in flaming style. If ever I do get my wish, you see what I'll do for Brooke.”
“Begin to do something now by not plaguing his life out, ” said Meg sharply.
“How do you know I do, Miss? ”
“I can always tell by his face when he goes away. If you have been good, he looks satisfied and walks briskly; if you have plagued him, he's sober and walks slowly, as if he wanted to go back and do his work better.”
“Well, I like that? So you keep an account of my good and bad marks in Brooke's face, do you? I see him bow and smile as he passes your window, but I didn't know you'd got up a telegraph.”
“We haven't. Don't be angry, and oh, don't tell him I said anything! It was only to show that I cared how you get on, and what is said here is said in confidence, you know, ” cried Meg, much alarmed at the thought of what might follow from her careless speech.
“I don't tell tales, ” replied Laurie, with his “high and mighty” air, as Jo called a certain expression which he occasionally wore. “Only if Brooke is going to be a thermometer, I must mind and have fair weather for him to report.”
“Please don't be offended. I didn't mean to preach or tell tales or be silly. I only thought Jo was encouraging you in a feeling which you'd be sorry for by-and-by. You are so kind to us, we feel as if you were our brother and say just what we think. Forgive me, I meant it kindly.” And Meg offered her hand with a gesture both affectionate and timid.
Ashamed of his momentary pique, Laurie squeezed the kind little hand, and said frankly, “I'm the one to be forgiven. I'm cross and have been out of sorts all day. I like to have you tell me my faults and be sisterly, so don't mind if I am grumpy sometimes. I thank you all the same.”
Bent on showing that he was not offended, he made himself as agreeable as possible, wound cotton for Meg, recited poetry to please Jo, shook down cones for Beth, and helped Amy with her ferns, proving himself a fit person to belong to the “Busy Bee Society”. In the midst of an animated discussion on the domestic habits of turtles (one of those amiable creatures having strolled up from the river), the faint sound of a bell warned them that Hannah had put the tea “to draw, ” and they would just have time to get home to supper.
“May I come again? ” asked Laurie.
“Yes, if you are good, and love your book, as the boys in the primer are told to do, ” said Meg, smiling.
“I'll try.”
“Then you may come, and I'll teach you to knit as the Scotchmen do. There's a demand for socks just now, ” added Jo, waving hers like a big blue worsted banner as they parted at the gate.
That night, when Beth played to Mr. Laurence in the twilight, Laurie, standing in the shadow of the curtain, listened to the little David, whose simple music always quieted his moody spirit, and watched the old man, who sat with his gray head on his hand, thinking tender thoughts of the dead child he had loved so much. Remembering the conversation of the afternoon, the boy said to himself, with the resolve to make the sacrifice cheerfully, “I'll let my castle go, and stay with the dear old gentleman while he needs me, for I am all he has.”