`` Who ? '' cried Jo , staring . `` Mr. Brooke . I call him ` John ' now . We fell into the way of doing so at the hospital , and he likes it . '' `` Oh , dear ! I know you 'll take his part . He 's been good to Father , and you wo n't send him away , but let Meg marry him , if she wants to . Mean thing ! To go petting Papa and helping you , just to wheedle you into liking him . '' And Jo pulled her hair again with a wrathful tweak . `` My dear , do n't get angry about it , and I will tell you how it happened . John went with me at Mr. Laurence 's request , and was so devoted to poor Father that we could n't help getting fond of him . He was perfectly open and honorable about Meg , for he told us he loved her , but would earn a comfortable home before he asked her to marry him . He only wanted our leave to love her and work for her , and the right to make her love him if he could . He is a truly excellent young man , and we could not refuse to listen to him , but I will not consent to Meg 's engaging herself so young . '' `` Of course not . It would be idiotic ! I knew there was mischief brewing . I felt it , and now it 's worse than I imagined .
I just wish I could marry XXXXX myself , and keep her safe in the family . ''
Brooke Father Jo John Laurence Meg hospital leave right tweak