`` If Meg had four , the house would n't hold them , and master and missis would have to camp in the garden , '' broke in Jo , who , enveloped in a big blue pinafore , was giving the last polish to the door handles . `` Sallie is n't a poor man 's wife , and many maids are in keeping with her fine establishment . Meg and John begin humbly , but I have a feeling that there will be quite as much happiness in the little house as in the big one . It 's a great mistake for young girls like Meg to leave themselves nothing to do but dress , give orders , and gossip . When I was first married , I used to long for my new clothes to wear out or get torn , so that I might have the pleasure of mending them , for I got heartily sick of doing fancywork and tending my pocket handkerchief . '' `` Why did n't you go into the kitchen and make messes , as Sallie says she does to amuse herself , though they never turn out well and the servants laugh at her , '' said Meg . `` I did after a while , not to ` mess ' but to learn of Hannah how things should be done , that my servants need not laugh at me . It was play then , but there came a time when I was truly grateful that I not only possessed the will but the power to cook wholesome food for my little girls , and help myself when I could no longer afford to hire help . You begin at the other end , Meg , dear , but the lessons you learn now will be of use to you by-and-by when John is a richer man , for the mistress of a house , however splendid , should know how work ought to be done , if she wishes to be well and honestly served . '' `` Yes , Mother , I 'm sure of that , '' said Meg , listening respectfully to the little lecture , for the best of women will hold forth upon the all absorbing subject of house keeping . `` Do you know I like this room most of all in my baby house , '' added Meg , a minute after , as they went upstairs and she looked into her well-stored linen closet . Beth was there , laying the snowy piles smoothly on the shelves and exulting over the goodly array . All three laughed as Meg spoke , for that linen closet was a joke . You see , having said that if Meg married ` that Brooke ' she should n't have a cent of her money , Aunt March was rather in a quandary when time had appeased her wrath and made her repent her vow . She never broke her word , and was much exercised in her mind how to get round it , and at last devised a plan whereby she could satisfy herself . Mrs. Carrol , Florence 's mamma , was ordered to buy , have made , and marked a generous supply of house and table linen , and send it as her present , all of which was faithfully done , but the secret leaked out , and was greatly enjoyed by the family , for Aunt March tried to look utterly unconscious , and insisted that she could give nothing but the old-fashioned pearls long promised to the first bride . `` That 's a housewifely taste which I am glad to see . I had a young friend who set up housekeeping with six sheets , but she had finger bowls for company and that satisfied her , '' said Mrs. March , patting the damask tablecloths , with a truly feminine appreciation of their fineness . `` I have n't a single finger bowl , but this is a setout that will last me all my days , Hannah says . '' And Meg looked quite contented , as well she might .
A tall , broad-shouldered young fellow , with a cropped head , a felt basin of a hat , and a flyaway coat , came tramping down the road at a great pace , walked over the low fence without stopping to open the gate , straight up to Mrs. March , with both hands out and a hearty ... `` Here I am , XXXXX !
Beth Carrol Florence Hannah Mother minute missis pinafore quandary setout