Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little WomenWhat those two creatures did in her absence, she neverknew, but Mr. scott was not taken ‘up to Mother’s’, andwhen Meg descended, after they had strolled awaytogether, she found traces of a promiscuous lunch whichfilled her with horror. Lotty reported that they had eaten‘a much, and greatly laughed, and the master bid herthrow away all the sweet stuff, and hide the pots.’Meg longed to go and tell Mother, but a sense ofshame at her own short comings, of loyalty to John, ‘whomight be cruel, but nobody should know it,’ restrainedher, and after a summary cleaning up, she dressed herselfprettily, and sat down to wait for John to come and beforgiven.Unfortunately, John didn’t come, not seeing the matterin that light. He had carried it off as a good joke withScott, excused his little wife as well as he could, andplayed the host so hospitably that his friend enjoyed theimpromptu dinner, and promised to come again, but Johnwas angry, though he did not show it, he felt that Meghad deserted him in his hour of need. ‘It wasn’t fair to tella man to bring folks home any time, with perfect freedom,and when he took you at your word, to flame up andblame him, and leave him in the lurch, to be laughed at orpitied. No, by George, it wasn’t! And Meg must know it.’487 of 861