How old I shall be , twenty-seven ! '' exclaimed Meg , who felt grown up already , having just reached seventeen . `` You and I will be twenty-six , Teddy , Beth twenty-four , and Amy twenty-two . What a venerable party ! '' said Jo . `` I hope I shall have done something to be proud of by that time , but I 'm such a lazy dog , I 'm afraid I shall dawdle , Jo . '' `` You need a motive , Mother says , and when you get it , she is sure you 'll work splendidly . '' `` Is she ? By Jupiter , I will , if I only get the chance ! '' cried Laurie , sitting up with sudden energy . `` I ought to be satisfied to please Grandfather , and I do try , but it 's working against the grain , you see , and comes hard . He wants me to be an India merchant , as he was , and I 'd rather be shot . I hate tea and silk and spices , and every sort of rubbish his old ships bring , and I do n't care how soon they go to the bottom when I own them . Going to college ought to satisfy him , for if I give him four years he ought to let me off from the business . But he 's set , and I 've got to do just as he did , unless I break away and please myself , as my father did . If there was anyone left to stay with the old gentleman , I 'd do it tomorrow . '' Laurie spoke excitedly , and looked ready to carry his threat into execution on the slightest provocation , for he was growing up very fast and , in spite of his indolent ways , had a young man 's hatred of subjection , a young man 's restless longing to try the world for himself . `` I advise you to sail away in one of your ships , and never come home again till you have tried your own way , '' said Jo , whose imagination was fired by the thought of such a daring exploit , and whose sympathy was excited by what she called ` Teddy 's Wrongs ' . `` That 's not right , Jo . You must n't talk in that way , and Laurie must n't take your bad advice .
You should do just what your grandfather wishes , my dear boy , '' said XXXXX in her most maternal tone .
India Jo Jupiter Laurie Meg Mother execution right subjection years