You deserve to go , and I 'm sure you will some day , '' said Aunt March , with an approving pat on the head , as Amy picked up her ball for her . Crosspatch , draw the latch , Sit by the fire and spin , squalled Polly , bending down from his perch on the back of her chair to peep into Jo 's face , with such a comical air of impertinent inquiry that it was impossible to help laughing . `` Most observing bird , '' said the old lady . `` Come and take a walk , my dear ? '' cried Polly , hopping toward the china closet , with a look suggestive of a lump of sugar . `` Thank you , I will . Come Amy . '' and Jo brought the visit to an end , feeling more strongly than ever that calls did have a bad effect upon her constitution . She shook hands in a gentlemanly manner , but Amy kissed both the aunts , and the girls departed , leaving behind them the impression of shadow and sunshine , which impression caused Aunt March to say , as they vanished ... `` You 'd better do it , Mary . I 'll supply the money . '' and Aunt Carrol to reply decidedly , `` I certainly will , if her father and mother consent . '' CHAPTER THIRTY CONSEQUENCES Mrs. Chester 's fair was so very elegant and select that it was considered a great honor by the young ladies of the neighborhood to be invited to take a table , and everyone was much interested in the matter . Amy was asked , but Jo was not , which was fortunate for all parties , as her elbows were decidedly akimbo at this period of her life , and it took a good many hard knocks to teach her how to get on easily . The ` haughty , uninteresting creature ' was let severely alone , but Amy 's talent and taste were duly complimented by the offer of the art table , and she exerted herself to prepare and secure appropriate and valuable contributions to it . Everything went on smoothly till the day before the fair opened , then there occurred one of the little skirmishes which it is almost impossible to avoid , when some five-and-twenty women , old and young , with all their private piques and prejudices , try to work together . May Chester was rather jealous of Amy because the latter was a greater favorite than herself , and just at this time several trifling circumstances occurred to increase the feeling . Amy 's dainty pen-and-ink work entirely eclipsed May 's painted vases -- that was one thorn . Then the all conquering Tudor had danced four times with Amy at a late party and only once with May -- that was thorn number two . But the chief grievance that rankled in her soul , and gave an excuse for her unfriendly conduct , was a rumor which some obliging gossip had whispered to her , that the March girls had made fun of her at the Lambs ' . All the blame of this should have fallen upon Jo , for her naughty imitation had been too lifelike to escape detection , and the frolicsome Lambs had permitted the joke to escape .
No hint of this had reached the culprits , however , and Amy 's dismay can be imagined , when , the very evening before the fair , as she was putting the last touches to her pretty table , Mrs. XXXXX , who , of course , resented the supposed ridicule of her daughter , said , in a bland tone , but with a cold look ... `` I find , dear , that there is some feeling among the young ladies about my giving this table to anyone but my girls .
Amy Carrol Chester Lambs Polly akimbo day escape fire piques