`` Ah ! I got it all round . Even you cast me off over there , and I felt just ready to go to the deuce , '' he began apologetically . `` Do n't talk that way , turn over a new leaf and begin again , Teddy , my son . '' `` I keep turning over new leaves , and spoiling them , as I used to spoil my copybooks , and I make so many beginnings there never will be an end , '' he said dolefully . `` Go and eat your dinner , you 'll feel better after it . Men always croak when they are hungry , '' and Jo whisked out at the front door after that . `` That 's a ` label ' on my ` sect ' , '' answered Laurie , quoting Amy , as he went to partake of humble pie dutifully with his grandfather , who was quite saintly in temper and overwhelmingly respectful in manner all the rest of the day . Everyone thought the matter ended and the little cloud blown over , but the mischief was done , for though others forgot it , Meg remembered . She never alluded to a certain person , but she thought of him a good deal , dreamed dreams more than ever , and once Jo , rummaging her sister 's desk for stamps , found a bit of paper scribbled over with the words , ` Mrs. John Brooke ' , whereat she groaned tragically and cast it into the fire , feeling that Laurie 's prank had hastened the evil day for her . CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO PLEASANT MEADOWS Like sunshine after a storm were the peaceful weeks which followed . The invalids improved rapidly , and Mr. March began to talk of returning early in the new year . Beth was soon able to lie on the study sofa all day , amusing herself with the well-beloved cats at first , and in time with doll 's sewing , which had fallen sadly behind-hand . Her once active limbs were so stiff and feeble that Jo took her for a daily airing about the house in her strong arms . Meg cheerfully blackened and burned her white hands cooking delicate messes for ` the dear ' , while Amy , a loyal slave of the ring , celebrated her return by giving away as many of her treasures as she could prevail on her sisters to accept . As Christmas approached , the usual mysteries began to haunt the house , and Jo frequently convulsed the family by proposing utterly impossible or magnificently absurd ceremonies , in honor of this unusually merry Christmas . Laurie was equally impracticable , and would have had bonfires , skyrockets , and triumphal arches , if he had had his own way . After many skirmishes and snubbings , the ambitious pair were considered effectually quenched and went about with forlorn faces , which were rather belied by explosions of laughter when the two got together . Several days of unusually mild weather fitly ushered in a splendid Christmas Day . Hannah ` felt in her bones ' that it was going to be an unusually fine day , and she proved herself a true prophetess , for everybody and everything seemed bound to produce a grand success .
To begin with , Mr. March wrote that he should soon be with them , then Beth felt uncommonly well that morning , and , being dressed in her mother 's gift , a soft crimson merino wrapper , was borne in high triumph to the window to behold the offering of Jo and XXXXX .
Beth Brooke Laurie day deuce fire first prophetess skyrockets weeks