`` It 's a mercy you did n't , Mother ! '' laughed Jo , looking at her boots . `` But we 'll have another play sometime that he can see . Perhaps he 'll help act . Would n't that be jolly ? '' `` I never had such a fine bouquet before ! How pretty it is ! '' And Meg examined her flowers with great interest . `` They are lovely . But Beth 's roses are sweeter to me , '' said Mrs. March , smelling the half-dead posy in her belt . Beth nestled up to her , and whispered softly , `` I wish I could send my bunch to Father . I 'm afraid he is n't having such a merry Christmas as we are . '' CHAPTER THREE THE LAURENCE BOY `` Jo ! Jo ! Where are you ? '' cried Meg at the foot of the garret stairs . `` Here ! '' answered a husky voice from above , and , running up , Meg found her sister eating apples and crying over the Heir of Redclyffe , wrapped up in a comforter on an old three-legged sofa by the sunny window . This was Jo 's favorite refuge , and here she loved to retire with half a dozen russets and a nice book , to enjoy the quiet and the society of a pet rat who lived near by and did n't mind her a particle . As Meg appeared , Scrabble whisked into his hole .
XXXXX shook the tears off her cheeks and waited to hear the news .
Beth Father Jo Meg Mother Redclyffe Scrabble comforter garret posy