You begin at the other end , Meg , dear , but the lessons you learn now will be of use to you by-and-by when John is a richer man , for the mistress of a house , however splendid , should know how work ought to be done , if she wishes to be well and honestly served . '' `` Yes , Mother , I 'm sure of that , '' said Meg , listening respectfully to the little lecture , for the best of women will hold forth upon the all absorbing subject of house keeping . `` Do you know I like this room most of all in my baby house , '' added Meg , a minute after , as they went upstairs and she looked into her well-stored linen closet . Beth was there , laying the snowy piles smoothly on the shelves and exulting over the goodly array . All three laughed as Meg spoke , for that linen closet was a joke . You see , having said that if Meg married ` that Brooke ' she should n't have a cent of her money , Aunt March was rather in a quandary when time had appeased her wrath and made her repent her vow . She never broke her word , and was much exercised in her mind how to get round it , and at last devised a plan whereby she could satisfy herself . Mrs. Carrol , Florence 's mamma , was ordered to buy , have made , and marked a generous supply of house and table linen , and send it as her present , all of which was faithfully done , but the secret leaked out , and was greatly enjoyed by the family , for Aunt March tried to look utterly unconscious , and insisted that she could give nothing but the old-fashioned pearls long promised to the first bride . `` That 's a housewifely taste which I am glad to see . I had a young friend who set up housekeeping with six sheets , but she had finger bowls for company and that satisfied her , '' said Mrs. March , patting the damask tablecloths , with a truly feminine appreciation of their fineness . `` I have n't a single finger bowl , but this is a setout that will last me all my days , Hannah says . '' And Meg looked quite contented , as well she might . A tall , broad-shouldered young fellow , with a cropped head , a felt basin of a hat , and a flyaway coat , came tramping down the road at a great pace , walked over the low fence without stopping to open the gate , straight up to Mrs. March , with both hands out and a hearty ... `` Here I am , Mother ! Yes , it 's all right . '' The last words were in answer to the look the elder lady gave him , a kindly questioning look which the handsome eyes met so frankly that the little ceremony closed , as usual , with a motherly kiss . `` For Mrs. John Brooke , with the maker 's congratulations and compliments . Bless you , Beth ! What a refreshing spectacle you are , Jo . Amy , you are getting altogether too handsome for a single lady . '' As Laurie spoke , he delivered a brown paper parcel to Meg , pulled Beth 's hair ribbon , stared at Jo 's big pinafore , and fell into an attitude of mock rapture before Amy , then shook hands all round , and everyone began to talk .
`` Where is XXXXX ? ''
Beth Carrol Hannah John Mother damask days first pinafore quandary