Neither had read it , but they knew it was a love story , and each privately wondered if it was half as interesting as their own . Amy had been dabbling her hand in the water during the little pause that fell between them , and when she looked up , Laurie was leaning on his oars with an expression in his eyes that made her say hastily , merely for the sake of saying something ... `` You must be tired . Rest a little , and let me row . It will do me good , for since you came I have been altogether lazy and luxurious . '' `` I 'm not tired , but you may take an oar , if you like . There 's room enough , though I have to sit nearly in the middle , else the boat wo n't trim , '' returned Laurie , as if he rather liked the arrangement . Feeling that she had not mended matters much , Amy took the offered third of a seat , shook her hair over her face , and accepted an oar . She rowed as well as she did many other things , and though she used both hands , and Laurie but one , the oars kept time , and the boat went smoothly through the water . `` How well we pull together , do n't we ? '' said Amy , who objected to silence just then . `` So well that I wish we might always pull in the same boat . Will you , Amy ? '' very tenderly . `` Yes , Laurie , '' very low . Then they both stopped rowing , and unconsciously added a pretty little tableau of human love and happiness to the dissolving views reflected in the lake . CHAPTER FORTY-TWO ALL ALONE It was easy to promise self-abnegation when self was wrapped up in another , and heart and soul were purified by a sweet example . But when the helpful voice was silent , the daily lesson over , the beloved presence gone , and nothing remained but loneliness and grief , then Jo found her promise very hard to keep . How could she ` comfort Father and Mother ' when her own heart ached with a ceaseless longing for her sister , how could she ` make the house cheerful ' when all its light and warmth and beauty seemed to have deserted it when Beth left the old home for the new , and where in all the world could she ` find some useful , happy work to do ' , that would take the place of the loving service which had been its own reward ? She tried in a blind , hopeless way to do her duty , secretly rebelling against it all the while , for it seemed unjust that her few joys should be lessened , her burdens made heavier , and life get harder and harder as she toiled along . Some people seemed to get all sunshine , and some all shadow .
It was not fair , for she tried more than XXXXX to be good , but never got any reward , only disappointment , trouble and hard work .
Amy Father Jo Laurie Mother left oar rowing self-abnegation third