cried Aunt March , looking scandalized . `` Hush ! He 'll hear . Sha n't I call Mother ? '' said Meg , much troubled . `` Not yet . I 've something to say to you , and I must free my mind at once . Tell me , do you mean to marry this Cook ? If you do , not one penny of my money ever goes to you . Remember that , and be a sensible girl , '' said the old lady impressively . Now Aunt March possessed in perfection the art of rousing the spirit of opposition in the gentlest people , and enjoyed doing it . The best of us have a spice of perversity in us , especially when we are young and in love . If Aunt March had begged Meg to accept John Brooke , she would probably have declared she could n't think of it , but as she was preemptorily ordered not to like him , she immediately made up her mind that she would . Inclination as well as perversity made the decision easy , and being already much excited , Meg opposed the old lady with unusual spirit . `` I shall marry whom I please , Aunt March , and you can leave your money to anyone you like , '' she said , nodding her head with a resolute air . `` Highty-tighty ! Is that the way you take my advice , Miss ? You 'll be sorry for it by-and-by , when you 've tried love in a cottage and found it a failure . '' `` It ca n't be a worse one than some people find in big houses , '' retorted Meg . Aunt March put on her glasses and took a look at the girl , for she did not know her in this new mood .
XXXXX hardly knew herself , she felt so brave and independent , so glad to defend John and assert her right to love him , if she liked .
Brooke Cook Highty-tighty Meg Mother Sha decision penny people perversity