When Amy had whetted her tongue and freed her mind she usually got the best of it , for she seldom failed to have common sense on her side , while Jo carried her love of liberty and hate of conventionalities to such an unlimited extent that she naturally found herself worsted in an argument . Amy 's definition of Jo 's idea of independence was such a good hit that both burst out laughing , and the discussion took a more amiable turn . Much against her will , Jo at length consented to sacrifice a day to Mrs. Grundy , and help her sister through what she regarded as ' a nonsensical business ' . The invitations were sent , nearly all accepted , and the following Monday was set apart for the grand event . Hannah was out of humor because her week 's work was deranged , and prophesied that `` ef the washin ' and ironin ' war n't done reg ` lar , nothin ' would go well anywheres '' . This hitch in the mainspring of the domestic machinery had a bad effect upon the whole concern , but Amy 's motto was ` Nil desperandum ' , and having made up her mind what to do , she proceeded to do it in spite of all obstacles . To begin with , Hannah 's cooking did n't turn out well . The chicken was tough , the tongue too salty , and the chocolate would n't froth properly . Then the cake and ice cost more than Amy expected , so did the wagon , and various other expenses , which seemed trifling at the outset , counted up rather alarmingly afterward . Beth got a cold and took to her bed . Meg had an unusual number of callers to keep her at home , and Jo was in such a divided state of mind that her breakages , accidents , and mistakes were uncommonly numerous , serious , and trying . If it was not fair on Monday , the young ladies were to come on Tuesday , an arrangement which aggravated Jo and Hannah to the last degree . On Monday morning the weather was in that undecided state which is more exasperating than a steady pour . It drizzled a little , shone a little , blew a little , and did n't make up its mind till it was too late for anyone else to make up theirs . Amy was up at dawn , hustling people out of their beds and through their breakfasts , that the house might be got in order . The parlor struck her as looking uncommonly shabby , but without stopping to sigh for what she had not , she skillfully made the best of what she had , arranging chairs over the worn places in the carpet , covering stains on the walls with homemade statuary , which gave an artistic air to the room , as did the lovely vases of flowers Jo scattered about . The lunch looked charming , and as she surveyed it , she sincerely hoped it would taste well , and that the borrowed glass , china , and silver would get safely home again . The carriages were promised , Meg and Mother were all ready to do the honors , Beth was able to help Hannah behind the scenes , Jo had engaged to be as lively and amiable as an absent mind , and aching head , and a very decided disapproval of everybody and everything would allow , and as she wearily dressed , Amy cheered herself with anticipations of the happy moment when , lunch safely over , she should drive away with her friends for an afternoon of artistic delights , for the ` cherry bounce ' and the broken bridge were her strong points . Then came the hours of suspense , during which she vibrated from parlor to porch , while public opinion varied like the weathercock . A smart shower at eleven had evidently quenched the enthusiasm of the young ladies who were to arrive at twelve , for nobody came , and at two the exhausted family sat down in a blaze of sunshine to consume the perishable portions of the feast , that nothing might be lost .
`` No doubt about the weather today , they will certainly come , so we must fly round and be ready for them , '' said XXXXX , as the sun woke her next morning .
Amy Grundy breakages china conventionalities hours morning reg war week