Do n't expect anything from me when you are married . Your Mr. Brooke 's friends must take care of you . I 'm done with you forever . '' And slamming the door in Meg 's face , Aunt March drove off in high dudgeon . She seemed to take all the girl 's courage with her , for when left alone , Meg stood for a moment , undecided whether to laugh or cry . Before she could make up her mind , she was taken possession of by Mr. Brooke , who said all in one breath , `` I could n't help hearing , Meg . Thank you for defending me , and Aunt March for proving that you do care for me a little bit . '' `` I did n't know how much till she abused you , '' began Meg . `` And I need n't go away , but may stay and be happy , may I , dear ? '' Here was another fine chance to make the crushing speech and the stately exit , but Meg never thought of doing either , and disgraced herself forever in Jo 's eyes by meekly whispering , `` Yes , John , '' and hiding her face on Mr. Brooke 's waistcoat . Fifteen minutes after Aunt March 's departure , Jo came softly downstairs , paused an instant at the parlor door , and hearing no sound within , nodded and smiled with a satisfied expression , saying to herself , `` She has seen him away as we planned , and that affair is settled . I 'll go and hear the fun , and have a good laugh over it . '' But poor Jo never got her laugh , for she was transfixed upon the threshold by a spectacle which held her there , staring with her mouth nearly as wide open as her eyes . Going in to exult over a fallen enemy and to praise a strong-minded sister for the banishment of an objectionable lover , it certainly was a shock to behold the aforesaid enemy serenely sitting on the sofa , with the strongminded sister enthroned upon his knee and wearing an expression of the most abject submission . Jo gave a sort of gasp , as if a cold shower bath had suddenly fallen upon her , for such an unexpected turning of the tables actually took her breath away . At the odd sound the lovers turned and saw her . Meg jumped up , looking both proud and shy , but ` that man ' , as Jo called him , actually laughed and said coolly , as he kissed the astonished newcomer , `` Sister Jo , congratulate us ! '' That was adding insult to injury , it was altogether too much , and making some wild demonstration with her hands , Jo vanished without a word . Rushing upstairs , she startled the invalids by exclaiming tragically as she burst into the room , `` Oh , do somebody go down quick ! John Brooke is acting dreadfully , and Meg likes it ! ''
Mr. and Mrs. March XXXXX the room with speed , and casting herself upon the bed , Jo cried and scolded tempestuously as she told the awful news to Beth and Amy .
Brooke Jo John Meg Mr. dudgeon invalids laugh left minutes