`` Girls , girls , do be quiet one minute ! I must get this off by the early mail , and you drive me distracted with your worry , '' cried Mrs. March , crossing out the third spoiled sentence in her letter . There was a momentary lull , broken by Hannah , who stalked in , laid two hot turnovers on the table , and stalked out again . These turnovers were an institution , and the girls called them ` muffs ' , for they had no others and found the hot pies very comforting to their hands on cold mornings . Hannah never forgot to make them , no matter how busy or grumpy she might be , for the walk was long and bleak . The poor things got no other lunch and were seldom home before two . `` Cuddle your cats and get over your headache , Bethy . Goodbye , Marmee . We are a set of rascals this morning , but we 'll come home regular angels . Now then , Meg ! '' And Jo tramped away , feeling that the pilgrims were not setting out as they ought to do . They always looked back before turning the corner , for their mother was always at the window to nod and smile , and wave her hand to them . Somehow it seemed as if they could n't have got through the day without that , for whatever their mood might be , the last glimpse of that motherly face was sure to affect them like sunshine . `` If Marmee shook her fist instead of kissing her hand to us , it would serve us right , for more ungrateful wretches than we are were never seen , '' cried Jo , taking a remorseful satisfaction in the snowy walk and bitter wind . `` Do n't use such dreadful expressions , '' replied Meg from the depths of the veil in which she had shrouded herself like a nun sick of the world . `` I like good strong words that mean something , '' replied Jo , catching her hat as it took a leap off her head preparatory to flying away altogether . `` Call yourself any names you like , but I am neither a rascal nor a wretch and I do n't choose to be called so . '' `` You 're a blighted being , and decidedly cross today because you ca n't sit in the lap of luxury all the time . Poor dear , just wait till I make my fortune , and you shall revel in carriages and ice cream and high-heeled slippers , and posies , and red-headed boys to dance with . '' `` How ridiculous you are , Jo ! ''
But XXXXX laughed at the nonsense and felt better in spite of herself .
Bethy Jo Meg minute morning muffs posies third turnovers wretches