cried Meg at the foot of the garret stairs . `` Here ! '' answered a husky voice from above , and , running up , Meg found her sister eating apples and crying over the Heir of Redclyffe , wrapped up in a comforter on an old three-legged sofa by the sunny window . This was Jo 's favorite refuge , and here she loved to retire with half a dozen russets and a nice book , to enjoy the quiet and the society of a pet rat who lived near by and did n't mind her a particle . As Meg appeared , Scrabble whisked into his hole . Jo shook the tears off her cheeks and waited to hear the news . `` Such fun ! Only see ! A regular note of invitation from Mrs. Gardiner for tomorrow night ! '' cried Meg , waving the precious paper and then proceeding to read it with girlish delight . '' ` Mrs. Gardiner would be happy to see Miss March and Miss Josephine at a little dance on New Year 's Eve . ' Marmee is willing we should go , now what shall we wear ? '' `` What 's the use of asking that , when you know we shall wear our poplins , because we have n't got anything else ? '' answered Jo with her mouth full . `` If I only had a silk ! '' sighed Meg . `` Mother says I may when I 'm eighteen perhaps , but two years is an everlasting time to wait . '' `` I 'm sure our pops look like silk , and they are nice enough for us . Yours is as good as new , but I forgot the burn and the tear in mine . Whatever shall I do ?
The XXXXX shows badly , and I ca n't take any out . ''
Gardiner Jo Mother Redclyffe Scrabble burn comforter garret russets years