Chapter 16 Confidential Mrs. March did not leave Beth's side after returning home that morning.
Meg and Joe were able to sleep peacefully now that their mother was home.
The next day was bright and cheerful.
Lori went to see Amy at Aunt March's.
Amy had been wishing and wishing that her sister would get better.
Even though she almost worried herself sick, she also did her best to be brave.
Aunt March had been keeping her busy, but she was still very homesick and longed to be back in the familiar warmth of her family.
Lori smiled as he told her the good news.
She tried hard to conceal her longing to go home and see her mother, but Beth was still sick, so she had to settle for writing a note.
Much to her surprise and delight, her mother arrived at Aunt March's just as she was putting pen to paper.
Amy sat on Marmy's lap, relating her hardships.
Her mother kissed her in return.
That day, Aunt March had given Amy a turquoise ring.
Amy asked her mother if she could keep it.
Marmy replied, "'I think you might be too young.'
"'But I'd like to wear it, to remind me of something.'
"'Of Aunt Marge?'
Amy shook her head.
"'No, to remind me not to be selfish,' she explained.
"'Being selfish is my worst fault.'
Beth isn't selfish, and that's why everyone loves her.
I want to be better, yet I often forget.
But I could if I had something to remind me.
Marmy said, well, do your best, dear, and wear your ring.
Now I must get back to Beth.
You'll be home soon enough.
Later that evening, back at home, Jo slipped upstairs to talk to her mother.
The burden of Lori's secret had become too heavy.
She told her mother about Meg's lost glove.
After she finished, her mother asked, Do you think Meg cares for Mr. Brooks?
Joe responded, Christopher Columbus, I don't know anything about love.
Meg doesn't act like the heroines in my books.
She doesn't faint, and she has all her wits.
Then you think she's not interested in John.
Joe cried, who?
Mr. Brooke, I call him John now, since he was so kind to us at the hospital.
Oh, no, Joe groaned.
You'll let Meg marry him just because he's been kind to father.
Marmy quietly explained that John Brooke was an honorable young man.
He had already spoken to Mr. March about his feelings toward Meg.
He had asked Meg's father permission to work hard for her, to make something of himself.
Although he was an excellent man, Meg's parents still couldn't agree to her becoming engaged while she was only 17.
Joe complained.
I wish I could marry her myself, just to keep her in the family.
Marmy smiled.
Then she asked Joe not to mention anything to Meg.
She first wanted to see how Meg felt about Mr. Brooks.
Mercy me, Joe cried.
My heart will break if he comes back with a fortune and Meg falls in love with him.
Joe, dear, Marmy began.
I want all my girls to have homes of their own in time.
But Meg is still very young and it will be some time before John can make a home for her.
Wouldn't it be better if Meg married a rich man?
Money is useful, part of life, but so are love and virtue.
Being rich with love is always better than having a fortune.
Mrs March encouraged Joe to leave these matters to time, which would settle all questions of love and marriage.
Joe listened carefully, even though it made her terribly sad to think of losing her Meg.
The secret weighed heavily upon Joe the next day.
Meg noticed the change in her sister, though she didn't say anything.
She learned long ago that the best way to get Joe to talk was not to ask questions.
Only this time, Joe remained quiet, assuming a cold manner.
This annoyed Meg, which made Joe even more disagreeable.
Meg took comfort in her mother and soon ignored poor Joe.
Lori became Joe's only escape.
There was one problem.
He knew she had a secret and constantly tried to figure out what it was.
Joe never told him, but Lori figured it had to be about Meg and Mr. Brooke.
Finally, he set up his own bit of mischief.
For a couple of days, Meg was out of sorts.
Joe assumed the worst, that Meg had fallen in love with Mr. Brooke.
What shall we do?
She groaned to her mother.
Nothing, Mrs. March said.
We wait until your father comes home.
He'll settle everything.
The next day, Joe distributed the letters from the post office.
There was a sealed one for Meg, who, after opening it, let out a scream.
What's the matter?
Marmy asked.
It's all a mistake.
He didn't send it, Meg cried.
Joe, how could you do it?
Me, Joe said.
I didn't do anything.
What's she talking about, Marmy?
Meg's eyes were angry as she pulled a crumpled note from her pocket.
She threw it at Joe and said, you and that Lori wrote it.
How could you be so mean?
The note was a love letter, supposedly from Mr. Brooke.
Joe exclaimed, oh, that little villain.
He's playing tricks because I wouldn't tell him the secret.
Marmy, who knew Joe loved pranks, asked sternly, did you really have nothing to do with this?
Absolutely not, I swear.
Mrs. March turned to Meg.
Did you respond?
The elder daughter blushed a deep rose.
I did.
Meg confessed the whole story.
Lori had given Meg the first letter.
She had responded to it with a note to Mr. Brooke saying she was too young to marry.
Then she had received a letter from Mr Brooke saying that he had never sent the first letter and that Joe had played a prank.
Meg was mortified.
Joe examined both letters carefully.
Here's the trick, she exclaimed.
Lori's written both letters.
The rogue!
Mrs. March sent for Lori.
She was going to put an end to such silly behavior.
With Joe gone, she told Meg about Mr. Book's feelings toward her.
Then she gently asked, What are your own?
Meg replied that she didn't really know.
The whole situation with the letters had scared her so much that she might never want to love someone.
She begged Marmy not to tell Mr. Brooke.
Her pride was immensely wounded.
After Lori and Marmy spent a long time in the study, Joe and Meg were called into the room.
Lori looked so ashamed that Joe forgave him right then.
He apologized honestly and profusely.
He swore that he would never do anything like that again.
Everyone forgave Lori, and soon the prank was forgotten, except by lovely Meg.
Her mind wandered often to thoughts of that certain someone.
Once, Joe even found a piece of paper on which Meg had written Mrs. John Brooke.
Joe groaned tragically and threw the paper into the fire.
Lori's prank may very well have quickened the day Meg would leave.
