| You've grown bigger and bonnier, but you are the same scapegrace as ever
"Now really, Jo, you ought to treat me with more respect," began Laurie, who enjoyed it all immensely
"How can I, when the mere idea of you, married and settled, is so irresistibly funny that I can't keep sober!" answered Jo, smiling all over her face, so infectiously that they had another laugh, and then settled down for a good talk, quite in the pleasant old fashion
"It's no use your going out in the cold to get Amy, for they are all coming up presentlyI wanted to be the one to tell you the grand surprise, and have `first skim' as we used to say when we squabbled about the cream
"Of course you did, and spoiled your story by beginning at the wrong endNow, start right, and tell me how it all happened
"Well, I did it to please Amy," began Laurie, with a twinkle that made Jo exclaimAmy did it to please youGo on, and tell the truth, if you can, sir
"Now she's beginning to marm itIsn't it jolly to hear her?" said Laurie to the fire, and the fire glowed and sparkled as if it quite agreed"It's all the same, you know, she and I being oneWe planned to come home with the Carrols, a month or more ago, but they suddenly changed their minds, and decided to pass another winter in ParisBut Grandpa wanted to come homeHe went to please me, and I couldn't let him go along, neither could I leave Amy, and MrsCarrol had got English notions about chaperons and such nonsense, and wouldn't let Amy come with usSo I just settled the difficulty by saying, `Let's be married, and then we can do as we like'
"Of course you didYou always have things to suit you And something in Laurie's voice made Jo say hastily
"How did you ever get Aunt to cartier santos 100 watch agree?"
"It was hard work, but between us, we talked her over, for we had heaps of good reasons on our sideThere wasn't time to write and ask leave, but you all liked it, had consented to it by-and-by, and it was only `taking time by the fetlock', as my wife says
"Aren't we proud of those two word, and don't we like to say them?" interrupted Jo, addressing the fire in her turn, and watching with delight the happy light it seemed to kindle in the eyes that had been so tragically gloomy when she saw them last"A trifle, perhaps, she's such a captivating little woman I can't help being proud of herWell, then Uncle and Aunt were there to play proprietyWe were so absorbed in one another we were of no mortal use apart, and that charming arrangement woul make everything easy all round, so we did it
"When, where, how?" asked Jo, in a fever of feminine interest and curiosity, for she could not realize it a particle
"Six weeks ago, at the American consul's, in Paris, a very quiet wedding of course, for even in our happiness we didn't forget dear little Beth
Jo put her hand in his as he said that, and Laurie gently smoothed the little red pillow, which he remembered well
"Why didn't you let us know afterward?" asked Jo, in a quieter tone, when they had sat quite still a minute
"We wanted to surprise youWe thought we were coming directly home, at first, but the dear old gentleman, as soon as we were married, found he couldn't be ready under a month, at least, and sent us off to spend our honeymoon wherever we likedAmy had once called Valrosa a regular honeymoon home, so we went there, and were as happy as people are but once in their livesMy faith! Wasn't it love among the roses!"
Laurie seemed to tiffany |
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