Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little Womenasked Mr. Dashwood, who felt a natural desire to knowwho his new contributor might be.‘I’ll call. Good morning, Sir.’As she departed, Mr. Dashwood put up his feet, withthe graceful remark, ‘Poor and proud, as usual, but she’lldo.’Following Mr. Dashwood’s directions, and makingMrs. Northbury her model, Jo rashly took a plunge intothe frothy sea of sensational literature, but thanks to thelife preserver thrown her by a friend, she came up againnot much the worse for her ducking.Like most young scribblers, she went abroad for hercharacters and scenery, and banditti, counts, gypsies, nuns,and duchesses appeared upon her stage, and played theirparts with as much accuracy and spirit as could beexpected. Her readers were not particular about suchtrifles as grammar, punctuation, and probability, and Mr.Dashwood graciously permitted her to fill his columns atthe lowest prices, not thinking it necessary to tell her thatthe real cause of his hospitality was the fact that one of hishacks, on being offered higher wages, had basely left himin the lurch.She soon became interested in her work, for heremaciated purse grew stout, and the little hoard she was611 of 861