Amy , tell Hannah to get down the black trunk , and Meg , come and help me find my things , for I 'm half bewildered . '' Writing , thinking , and directing all at once might well bewilder the poor lady , and Meg begged her to sit quietly in her room for a little while , and let them work . Everyone scattered like leaves before a gust of wind , and the quiet , happy household was broken up as suddenly as if the paper had been an evil spell . Mr. Laurence came hurrying back with Beth , bringing every comfort the kind old gentleman could think of for the invalid , and friendliest promises of protection for the girls during the mother 's absence , which comforted her very much . There was nothing he did n't offer , from his own dressing gown to himself as escort . But the last was impossible . Mrs. March would not hear of the old gentleman 's undertaking the long journey , yet an expression of relief was visible when he spoke of it , for anxiety ill fits one for traveling . He saw the look , knit his heavy eyebrows , rubbed his hands , and marched abruptly away , saying he 'd be back directly . No one had time to think of him again till , as Meg ran through the entry , with a pair of rubbers in one hand and a cup of tea in the other , she came suddenly upon Mr. Brooke . `` I 'm very sorry to hear of this , Miss March , '' he said , in the kind , quiet tone which sounded very pleasantly to her perturbed spirit . `` I came to offer myself as escort to your mother . Mr. Laurence has commissions for me in Washington , and it will give me real satisfaction to be of service to her there . '' Down dropped the rubbers , and the tea was very near following , as Meg put out her hand , with a face so full of gratitude that Mr. Brooke would have felt repaid for a much greater sacrifice than the trifling one of time and comfort which he was about to take . `` How kind you all are ! Mother will accept , I 'm sure , and it will be such a relief to know that she has someone to take care of her . Thank you very , very much ! '' Meg spoke earnestly , and forgot herself entirely till something in the brown eyes looking down at her made her remember the cooling tea , and lead the way into the parlor , saying she would call her mother . Everything was arranged by the time Laurie returned with a note from Aunt March , enclosing the desired sum , and a few lines repeating what she had often said before , that she had always told them it was absurd for March to go into the army , always predicted that no good would come of it , and she hoped they would take her advice the next time . Mrs. March put the note in the fire , the money in her purse , and went on with her preparations , with her lips folded tightly in a way which Jo would have understood if she had been there . The short afternoon wore away .
All other errands were done , and XXXXX and her mother busy at some necessary needlework , while Beth and Amy got tea , and Hannah finished her ironing with what she called a ` slap and a bang ' , but still Jo did not come .
Amy Beth Brooke Hannah Laurence Laurie Meg Mother Washington rubbers