I am getting stout , and I do n't like it ; and my liver 's torpid , and I have palpitations and headache . Overwork , mother says ; but it may be overeating . ' And Stuffy gave a sigh of mingled regret for the good things he renounced , and relief as he finished loosening his belt as soon as his hand was free . ' I will ; follow it , and in a year you 'll be a man and not a meal-bag . Now , Dolly ' ; and Mrs Jo turned to the other culprit , who shook in his shoes and wished he had n't come . ` Are you studying French as industriously as you were last winter ? ' ` No ma'am ; I do n't care for it -- that is , I , I 'm busy with G-Greek just now , ' answered Dolly , beginning bravely , quite in the dark as to what that odd question meant till a sudden memory made him stutter and look at his shoes with deep interest . ` Oh , he does n't study it ; only reads French novels and goes to the theatre when the opera bouffe is here , ' said Stuffy , innocently confirming Mrs Jo 's suspicions . ` So I understood ; and that is what I want to speak about . Ted had a sudden desire to learn French in that way , from something you said , Dolly ; so I went myself , and was quite satisfied that it was no place for a decent boy . Your men were out in full force ; and I was glad to see that some of the younger ones looked as ashamed as I felt . The older fellows enjoyed it , and when we came out were waiting to take those painted girls to supper . Did you ever go with them ? ' ` Once . ' ` Did you like it ? ' ` No 'm ; I -- I came away early , ' stammered Dolly , with a face as red as his splendid tie . ` I 'm glad you have not lost the grace of blushing yet ; but you will soon , if you keep up this sort of study and forget to be ashamed . The society of such women will unfit you for that of good ones , and lead you into trouble and sin and shame . Oh , why do n't the city fathers stop that evil thing , when they know the harm it does ? It made my heart ache to see those boys , who ought to be at home and in their beds , going off for a night of riot which would help to ruin some of them for ever . '
The youths looked scared at Mrs Jo 's energetic protest against one of the fashionable pleasures of the day , and waited in conscience-stricken silence -- Stuffy glad that he never went to those gay suppers , and XXXXX deeply grateful that he ` came away early ' .
Dolly G-Greek Overwork Stuffy Ted meal-bag night palpitations stutter year