They disliked her , but had been taught to be kind to her , simply because she was old and poor and had few friends . So Meg gave her the easy chair and tried to entertain her , while she asked questions , criticized everything , and told stories of the people whom she knew . Language can not describe the anxieties , experiences , and exertions which Jo underwent that morning , and the dinner she served up became a standing joke . Fearing to ask any more advice , she did her best alone , and discovered that something more than energy and good will is necessary to make a cook . She boiled the asparagus for an hour and was grieved to find the heads cooked off and the stalks harder than ever . The bread burned black ; for the salad dressing so aggravated her that she could not make it fit to eat . The lobster was a scarlet mystery to her , but she hammered and poked till it was unshelled and its meager proportions concealed in a grove of lettuce leaves . The potatoes had to be hurried , not to keep the asparagus waiting , and were not done at the last . The blanc mange was lumpy , and the strawberries not as ripe as they looked , having been skilfully ` deaconed ' . `` Well , they can eat beef and bread and butter , if they are hungry , only it 's mortifying to have to spend your whole morning for nothing , '' thought Jo , as she rang the bell half an hour later than usual , and stood , hot , tired , and dispirited , surveying the feast spread before Laurie , accustomed to all sorts of elegance , and Miss Crocker , whose tattling tongue would report them far and wide . Poor Jo would gladly have gone under the table , as one thing after another was tasted and left , while Amy giggled , Meg looked distressed , Miss Crocker pursed her lips , and Laurie talked and laughed with all his might to give a cheerful tone to the festive scene . Jo 's one strong point was the fruit , for she had sugared it well , and had a pitcher of rich cream to eat with it . Her hot cheeks cooled a trifle , and she drew a long breath as the pretty glass plates went round , and everyone looked graciously at the little rosy islands floating in a sea of cream . Miss Crocker tasted first , made a wry face , and drank some water hastily . Jo , who refused , thinking there might not be enough , for they dwindled sadly after the picking over , glanced at Laurie , but he was eating away manfully , though there was a slight pucker about his mouth and he kept his eye fixed on his plate . Amy , who was fond of delicate fare , took a heaping spoonful , choked , hid her face in her napkin , and left the table precipitately . `` Oh , what is it ? '' exclaimed Jo , trembling . `` Salt instead of sugar , and the cream is sour , '' replied Meg with a tragic gesture . Jo uttered a groan and fell back in her chair , remembering that she had given a last hasty powdering to the berries out of one of the two boxes on the kitchen table , and had neglected to put the milk in the refrigerator .
She turned scarlet and was on the verge of crying , when she met XXXXX 's eyes , which would look merry in spite of his heroic efforts .
Amy Jo Laurie Meg choked hour left lettuce morning powdering