Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little Women‘Mercy on us! What has happened?’ cried Jo, staringabout her in dismay.Meg ran upstairs and soon came back again, lookingrelieved but rather bewildered, and a little ashamed.‘Mother isn’t sick, only very tired, and she says she isgoing to stay quietly in her room all day and let us do thebest we can. It’s a very queer thing for her to do, shedoesn’t act a bit like herself. But she says it has been a hardweek for her, so we mustn’t grumble but take care ofourselves.’‘That’s easy enough, and I like the idea, I’m aching forsomething to do, that is, some new amusement, youknow,’ added Jo quickly.In fact it was an immense relief to them all to have alittle work, and they took hold with a will, but soonrealized the truth of Hannah’s saying, ‘Housekeeping ain’tno joke.’ There was plenty of food in the larder, and whileBeth and Amy set the table, Meg and Jo got breakfast,wondering as they did why servants ever talked about hardwork.‘I shall take some up to Mother, though she said wewere not to think of her, for she’d take care of herself,’said Meg, who presided and felt quite matronly behind theteapot.198 of 861