It was a sort of written duet , wherein each glorified the other in loverlike fashion , very pleasant to read and satisfactory to think of , for no one had any objection to make . `` You like it , Mother ? '' said Jo , as they laid down the closely written sheets and looked at one another . `` Yes , I hoped it would be so , ever since Amy wrote that she had refused Fred . I felt sure then that something better than what you call the ` mercenary spirit ' had come over her , and a hint here and there in her letters made me suspect that love and Laurie would win the day . '' `` How sharp you are , Marmee , and how silent ! You never said a word to me . '' `` Mothers have need of sharp eyes and discreet tongues when they have girls to manage . I was half afraid to put the idea into your head , lest you should write and congratulate them before the thing was settled . '' `` I 'm not the scatterbrain I was . You may trust me . I 'm sober and sensible enough for anyone 's confidante now . '' `` So you are , my dear , and I should have made you mine , only I fancied it might pain you to learn that your Teddy loved someone else . '' `` Now , Mother , did you really think I could be so silly and selfish , after I 'd refused his love , when it was freshest , if not best ? '' `` I knew you were sincere then , Jo , but lately I have thought that if he came back , and asked again , you might perhaps , feel like giving another answer . Forgive me , dear , I ca n't help seeing that you are very lonely , and sometimes there is a hungry look in your eyes that goes to my heart . So I fancied that your boy might fill the empty place if he tried now . '' `` No , Mother , it is better as it is , and I 'm glad Amy has learned to love him . But you are right in one thing . I am lonely , and perhaps if Teddy had tried again , I might have said ` Yes ' , not because I love him any more , but because I care more to be loved than when he went away . ''
`` I 'm glad of that , XXXXX , for it shows that you are getting on .
Amy Fred Jo Laurie Mother Teddy love need right scatterbrain