As long as The Spread Eagle paid her a dollar a column for her ` rubbish ' , as she called it , Jo felt herself a woman of means , and spun her little romances diligently . But great plans fermented in her busy brain and ambitious mind , and the old tin kitchen in the garret held a slowly increasing pile of blotted manuscript , which was one day to place the name of March upon the roll of fame . Laurie , having dutifully gone to college to please his grandfather , was now getting through it in the easiest possible manner to please himself . A universal favorite , thanks to money , manners , much talent , and the kindest heart that ever got its owner into scrapes by trying to get other people out of them , he stood in great danger of being spoiled , and probably would have been , like many another promising boy , if he had not possessed a talisman against evil in the memory of the kind old man who was bound up in his success , the motherly friend who watched over him as if he were her son , and last , but not least by any means , the knowledge that four innocent girls loved , admired , and believed in him with all their hearts . Being only ' a glorious human boy ' , of course he frolicked and flirted , grew dandified , aquatic , sentimental , or gymnastic , as college fashions ordained , hazed and was hazed , talked slang , and more than once came perilously near suspension and expulsion . But as high spirits and the love of fun were the causes of these pranks , he always managed to save himself by frank confession , honorable atonement , or the irresistible power of persuasion which he possessed in perfection . In fact , he rather prided himself on his narrow escapes , and liked to thrill the girls with graphic accounts of his triumphs over wrathful tutors , dignified professors , and vanquished enemies . The ` men of my class ' , were heroes in the eyes of the girls , who never wearied of the exploits of ` our fellows ' , and were frequently allowed to bask in the smiles of these great creatures , when Laurie brought them home with him . Amy especially enjoyed this high honor , and became quite a belle among them , for her ladyship early felt and learned to use the gift of fascination with which she was endowed . Meg was too much absorbed in her private and particular John to care for any other lords of creation , and Beth too shy to do more than peep at them and wonder how Amy dared to order them about so , but Jo felt quite in her own element , and found it very difficult to refrain from imitating the gentlemanly attitudes , phrases , and feats , which seemed more natural to her than the decorums prescribed for young ladies . They all liked Jo immensely , but never fell in love with her , though very few escaped without paying the tribute of a sentimental sigh or two at Amy 's shrine . And speaking of sentiment brings us very naturally to the ` Dovecote ' . That was the name of the little brown house Mr. Brooke had prepared for Meg 's first home . Laurie had christened it , saying it was highly appropriate to the gentle lovers who ` went on together like a pair of turtledoves , with first a bill and then a coo ' . It was a tiny house , with a little garden behind and a lawn about as big as a pocket handkerchief in the front . Here Meg meant to have a fountain , shrubbery , and a profusion of lovely flowers , though just at present the fountain was represented by a weather-beaten urn , very like a dilapidated slopbowl , the shrubbery consisted of several young larches , undecided whether to live or die , and the profusion of flowers was merely hinted by regiments of sticks to show where seeds were planted . But inside , it was altogether charming , and the happy bride saw no fault from garret to cellar . To be sure , the hall was so narrow it was fortunate that they had no piano , for one never could have been got in whole , the dining room was so small that six people were a tight fit , and the kitchen stairs seemed built for the express purpose of precipitating both servants and china pell-mell into the coalbin . But once get used to these slight blemishes and nothing could be more complete , for good sense and good taste had presided over the furnishing , and the result was highly satisfactory . There were no marble-topped tables , long mirrors , or lace curtains in the little parlor , but simple furniture , plenty of books , a fine picture or two , a stand of flowers in the bay window , and , scattered all about , the pretty gifts which came from friendly hands and were the fairer for the loving messages they brought .
I do n't think the Parian Psyche Laurie gave lost any of its beauty because XXXXX put up the bracket it stood upon , that any upholsterer could have draped the plain muslin curtains more gracefully than Amy 's artistic hand , or that any store-room was ever better provided with good wishes , merry words , and happy hopes than that in which Jo and her mother put away Meg 's few boxes , barrels , and bundles , and I am morally certain that the spandy new kitchen never could have looked so cozy and neat if Hannah had not arranged every pot and pan a dozen times over , and laid the fire all ready for lighting the minute ` Mis .
Amy Brooke Jo John Laurie coalbin first garret talisman turtledoves