Fearing to betray herself , she slipped away , murmuring something about needing more paper . `` Mercy on me , Beth loves Laurie ! '' she said , sitting down in her own room , pale with the shock of the discovery which she believed she had just made . `` I never dreamed of such a thing . What will Mother say ? I wonder if her ... '' there Jo stopped and turned scarlet with a sudden thought . `` If he should n't love back again , how dreadful it would be . He must . I 'll make him ! '' and she shook her head threateningly at the picture of the mischievous-looking boy laughing at her from the wall . `` Oh dear , we are growing up with a vengeance . Here 's Meg married and a mamma , Amy flourishing away at Paris , and Beth in love . I 'm the only one that has sense enough to keep out of mischief . '' Jo thought intently for a minute with her eyes fixed on the picture , then she smoothed out her wrinkled forehead and said , with a decided nod at the face opposite , `` No thank you , sir , you 're very charming , but you 've no more stability than a weathercock . So you need n't write touching notes and smile in that insinuating way , for it wo n't do a bit of good , and I wo n't have it . '' Then she sighed , and fell into a reverie from which she did not wake till the early twilight sent her down to take new observations , which only confirmed her suspicion . Though Laurie flirted with Amy and joked with Jo , his manner to Beth had always been peculiarly kind and gentle , but so was everybody 's . Therefore , no one thought of imagining that he cared more for her than for the others . Indeed , a general impression had prevailed in the family of late that ` our boy ' was getting fonder than ever of Jo , who , however , would n't hear a word upon the subject and scolded violently if anyone dared to suggest it . If they had known the various tender passages which had been nipped in the bud , they would have had the immense satisfaction of saying , `` I told you so . ''
But XXXXX hated ` philandering ' , and would n't allow it , always having a joke or a smile ready at the least sign of impending danger .
Amy Beth Jo Laurie Meg Mother Paris minute twilight weathercock