Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little WomenJo glanced at the sheet and saw a pleasing illustrationcomposed of a lunatic, a corpse, a villian, and a viper. Shedid not like it, but the impulse that made her turn it overwas not one of displeasure but fear, because for a minuteshe fancied the paper was the Volcano. It was not,however, and her panic subsided as she remembered thateven if it had been and one of her own tales in it, therewould have been no name to betray her. She had betrayedherself, however, by a look and a blush, for though anabsent man, the Professor saw a good deal more thanpeople fancied. He knew that Jo wrote, and had met herdown among the newspaper offices more than once, but asshe never spoke of it, he asked no questions in spite of astrong desire to see her work. Now it occurred to himthat she was doing what she was ashamed to own, and ittroubled him. He did not say to himself, ‘It is none of mybusiness. I’ve no right to say anything,’ as many peoplewould have done. He only remembered that she wasyoung and poor, a girl far away from mother’s love andfather’s care, and he was moved to help her with animpulse as quick and natural as that which would prompthim to put out his hand to save a baby from a puddle. Allthis flashed through his mind in a minute, but not a traceof it appeared in his face, and by the time the paper was622 of 861