I should n't . I 'm homely and awkward and odd and old , and you 'd be ashamed of me , and we should quarrel -- we ca n't help it even now , you see -- and I should n't like elegant society and you would , and you 'd hate my scribbling , and I could n't get on without it , and we should be unhappy , and wish we had n't done it , and everything would be horrid ! '' `` Anything more ? '' asked Laurie , finding it hard to listen patiently to this prophetic burst . `` Nothing more , except that I do n't believe I shall ever marry . I 'm happy as I am , and love my liberty too well to be in a hurry to give it up for any mortal man . '' `` I know better ! '' broke in Laurie . `` You think so now , but there 'll come a time when you will care for somebody , and you 'll love him tremendously , and live and die for him . I know you will , it 's your way , and I shall have to stand by and see it , '' and the despairing lover cast his hat upon the ground with a gesture that would have seemed comical , if his face had not been so tragic . `` Yes , I will live and die for him , if he ever comes and makes me love him in spite of myself , and you must do the best you can ! '' cried Jo , losing patience with poor Teddy . `` I 've done my best , but you wo n't be reasonable , and it 's selfish of you to keep teasing for what I ca n't give . I shall always be fond of you , very fond indeed , as a friend , but I 'll never marry you , and the sooner you believe it the better for both of us -- so now ! '' That speech was like gunpowder . Laurie looked at her a minute as if he did not quite know what to do with himself , then turned sharply away , saying in a desperate sort of tone , `` You 'll be sorry some day , Jo . '' `` Oh , where are you going ? '' she cried , for his face frightened her . `` To the devil ! '' was the consoling answer .
For a minute Jo 's heart stood still , as he swung himself down the bank toward the river , but it takes much folly , sin or misery to send a young man to a violent death , and XXXXX was not one of the weak sort who are conquered by a single failure .
Jo Laurie burst day ground liberty minute patience speech spite