Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little Womentouched the wound that was not healed yet. Both toneand shadow struck Amy, for she had seen and heard thembefore, and now she looked up in time to catch a newexpression on Laurie’s face—a hard bitter look, full ofpain, dissatisfaction, and regret. It was gone before shecould study it and the listless expression back again. Shewatched him for a moment with artistic pleasure, thinkinghow like an Italian he looked, as he lay basking in the sunwith uncovered head and eyes full of southern dreaminess,for he seemed to have forgotten her and fallen into areverie.‘You look like the effigy of a young knight asleep onhis tomb,’ she said, carefully tracing the well-cut profiledefined against the dark stone.‘Wish I was!’‘That’s a foolish wish, unless you have spoiled your life.You are so changed, I sometimes think—’ There Amystopped, with a half-timid, half-wistful look, moresignificant than her unfinished speech.Laurie saw and understood the affectionate anxietywhich she hesitated to express, and looking straight intoher eyes, said, just as he used to say it to her mother, ‘It’sall right, ma’am.’710 of 861