They are dreadfully out of order and really suffering for clothes . '' `` May we , Mother ? '' asked Meg , turning to Mrs. March , who sat sewing in what they called ` Marmee 's corner ' . `` You may try your experiment for a week and see how you like it . I think by Saturday night you will find that all play and no work is as bad as all work and no play . '' `` Oh , dear , no ! It will be delicious , I 'm sure , '' said Meg complacently . `` I now propose a toast , as my ` friend and pardner , Sairy Gamp ' , says . Fun forever , and no grubbing ! '' cried Jo , rising , glass in hand , as the lemonade went round . They all drank it merrily , and began the experiment by lounging for the rest of the day . Next morning , Meg did not appear till ten o'clock . Her solitary breakfast did not taste good , and the room seemed lonely and untidy , for Jo had not filled the vases , Beth had not dusted , and Amy 's books lay scattered about . Nothing was neat and pleasant but ` Marmee 's corner ' , which looked as usual . And there Meg sat , to ` rest and read ' , which meant to yawn and imagine what pretty summer dresses she would get with her salary . Jo spent the morning on the river with Laurie and the afternoon reading and crying over The Wide , Wide World , up in the apple tree . Beth began by rummaging everything out of the big closet where her family resided , but getting tired before half done , she left her establishment topsy-turvy and went to her music , rejoicing that she had no dishes to wash . Amy arranged her bower , put on her best white frock , smoothed her curls , and sat down to draw under the honeysuckle , hoping someone would see and inquire who the young artist was . As no one appeared but an inquisitive daddy-longlegs , who examined her work with interest , she went to walk , got caught in a shower , and came home dripping . At teatime they compared notes , and all agreed that it had been a delightful , though unusually long day .
Meg , who went shopping in the XXXXX and got a ` sweet blue muslin ' , had discovered , after she had cut the breadths off , that it would n't wash , which mishap made her slightly cross .
Amy Beth Laurie Meg Mother afternoon morning o'clock teatime week