Want of breath brought the impromptu ball to a close , and then people began to go . `` I wish you well , my dear , I heartily wish you well , but I think you 'll be sorry for it , '' said Aunt March to Meg , adding to the bridegroom , as he led her to the carriage , `` You 've got a treasure , young man , see that you deserve it . '' `` That is the prettiest wedding I 've been to for an age , Ned , and I do n't see why , for there was n't a bit of style about it , '' observed Mrs. Moffat to her husband , as they drove away . `` Laurie , my lad , if you ever want to indulge in this sort of thing , get one of those little girls to help you , and I shall be perfectly satisfied , '' said Mr. Laurence , settling himself in his easy chair to rest after the excitement of the morning . `` I 'll do my best to gratify you , Sir , '' was Laurie 's unusually dutiful reply , as he carefully unpinned the posy Jo had put in his buttonhole . The little house was not far away , and the only bridal journey Meg had was the quiet walk with John from the old home to the new . When she came down , looking like a pretty Quakeress in her dove-colored suit and straw bonnet tied with white , they all gathered about her to say ` good-by ' , as tenderly as if she had been going to make the grand tour . `` Do n't feel that I am separated from you , Marmee dear , or that I love you any the less for loving John so much , '' she said , clinging to her mother , with full eyes for a moment . `` I shall come every day , Father , and expect to keep my old place in all your hearts , though I am married . Beth is going to be with me a great deal , and the other girls will drop in now and then to laugh at my housekeeping struggles . Thank you all for my happy wedding day . Good-by , good-by ! '' They stood watching her , with faces full of love and hope and tender pride as she walked away , leaning on her husband 's arm , with her hands full of flowers and the June sunshine brightening her happy face -- and so Meg 's married life began . CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX ARTISTIC ATTEMPTS It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius , especially ambitious young men and women . Amy was learning this distinction through much tribulation , for mistaking enthusiasm for inspiration , she attempted every branch of art with youthful audacity . For a long time there was a lull in the ` mud-pie ' business , and she devoted herself to the finest pen-and-ink drawing , in which she showed such taste and skill that her graceful handiwork proved both pleasant and profitable . But over-strained eyes caused pen and ink to be laid aside for a bold attempt at poker-sketching . While this attack lasted , the family lived in constant fear of a conflagration , for the odor of burning wood pervaded the house at all hours , smoke issued from attic and shed with alarming frequency , red-hot pokers lay about promiscuously , and Hannah never went to bed without a pail of water and the dinner bell at her door in case of fire . Raphael 's face was found boldly executed on the underside of the moulding board , and Bacchus on the head of a beer barrel . A chanting cherub adorned the cover of the sugar bucket , and attempts to portray Romeo and Juliet supplied kindling for some time .
From fire to oil was a natural transition for burned fingers , and XXXXX fell to painting with undiminished ardor .
Amy Beth John Meg Moffat Raphael attack buttonhole morning mud-pie