Meg had spent the time in working as well as waiting , growing womanly in character , wise in housewifely arts , and prettier than ever , for love is a great beautifier . She had her girlish ambitions and hopes , and felt some disappointment at the humble way in which the new life must begin . Ned Moffat had just married Sallie Gardiner , and Meg could n't help contrasting their fine house and carriage , many gifts , and splendid outfit with her own , and secretly wishing she could have the same . But somehow envy and discontent soon vanished when she thought of all the patient love and labor John had put into the little home awaiting her , and when they sat together in the twilight , talking over their small plans , the future always grew so beautiful and bright that she forgot Sallie 's splendor and felt herself the richest , happiest girl in Christendom . Jo never went back to Aunt March , for the old lady took such a fancy to Amy that she bribed her with the offer of drawing lessons from one of the best teachers going , and for the sake of this advantage , Amy would have served a far harder mistress . So she gave her mornings to duty , her afternoons to pleasure , and prospered finely . Jo meantime devoted herself to literature and Beth , who remained delicate long after the fever was a thing of the past . Not an invalid exactly , but never again the rosy , healthy creature she had been , yet always hopeful , happy , and serene , and busy with the quiet duties she loved , everyone 's friend , and an angel in the house , long before those who loved her most had learned to know it . 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 XXXXX 's first home .
Amy Beth Gardiner Jo Meg Moffat beautifier day garret ladyship