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 burn shows badly , and I ca n't take any out . '' `` You must sit still all you can and keep your back out of sight . The front is all right . I shall have a new ribbon for my hair , and Marmee will lend me her little pearl pin , and my new slippers are lovely , and my gloves will do , though they are n't as nice as I 'd like . ''
`` Mine are spoiled with lemonade , and I ca n't get any new ones , so I shall have to go without , '' said XXXXX , who never troubled herself much about dress .
Gardiner Jo Josephine Meg Mother Scrabble burn poplins right years