`` Very well , then , come on . It 's a secret , and if I tell you , you must tell me yours . '' `` I have n't got any , '' began Jo , but stopped suddenly , remembering that she had . `` You know you have -- you ca n't hide anything , so up and ` fess , or I wo n't tell , '' cried Laurie . `` Is your secret a nice one ? '' `` Oh , is n't it ! All about people you know , and such fun ! You ought to hear it , and I 've been aching to tell it this long time . Come , you begin . '' `` You 'll not say anything about it at home , will you ? '' `` Not a word . '' `` And you wo n't tease me in private ? '' `` I never tease . '' `` Yes , you do . You get everything you want out of people . I do n't know how you do it , but you are a born wheedler . '' `` Thank you . Fire away . '' `` Well , I 've left two stories with a newspaperman , and he 's to give his answer next week , '' whispered Jo , in her confidant 's ear . `` Hurrah for Miss March , the celebrated American authoress ! ''
cried XXXXX , throwing up his hat and catching it again , to the great delight of two ducks , four cats , five hens , and half a dozen Irish children , for they were out of the city now .
Fire Jo Laurie authoress everything fess left newspaperman stories wheedler