Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little WomenCHAPTER FOURTEENJo was very busy in the garret, for the October daysbegan to grow chilly, and the afternoons were short. Fortwo or three hours the sun lay warmly in the highwindow, showing Jo seated on the old sofa, writing busily,with her papers spread out upon a trunk before her, whileScrabble, the pet rat, promenaded the beams overhead,accompanied by his oldest son, a fine young fellow, whowas evidently very proud of his whiskers. Quite absorbedin her work, Jo scribbled away till the last page was filled,when she signed her name with a flourish and threw downher pen, exclaiming...‘There, I’ve done my best! If this won’t suit I shall haveto wait till I can do better.’Lying back on the sofa, she read the manuscriptcarefully through, making dashes here and there, andputting in many exclamation points, which looked likelittle balloons. Then she tied it up with a smart red ribbon,and sat a minute looking at it with a sober, wistfulexpression, which plainly showed how ernest her workhad been. Jo’s desk up here was an old tin kitchen whichhung against the wall. It it she kept her papers, and a few262 of 861