Little Tranquillity

Beth Tries to be Neighbourly

Beth sat sewing happily when Laurie poked his head round the door and asked if she wanted a ride. She laughed, and said with a sly smile, 'Are you coming for me, Laurie, because there is no other people willing to frolic with you?'

He grinned, and replied, 'You are the only March sister left, and of course my grandfather is not to go a-flying with me. Come, you will keep me jolly, won't you, Beth?'

Beth smiled, touched her forehead with a little nod of her pretty head, and away for her bonnet and permission. She returned with her mother, and an indulgent little smile which probably said 'bring on the bears, Theodore Laurence, I am not afraid of you'.

Mrs March gave him a little wink when they drove away, and the poor boy spent his day wondering what that meant. Beth was amiable, as usual, and did not talk about Jo, as usual. They were half way into town, when she began suddenly, 'Jo has been in Europe for 'most a month.' He started, not knowing what to say, and she continued, 'Has she not written to you?'

He looked at the little girl next to him with disbelief. 'No,' he said gruffly, after a few moments' pause.

'Shan't you write to her?'

'Harrumph,' was the only answer she received.

Beth turned away with displeasure, and a little bit of disgust, disappointed at his passiveness. She had expected something more, and perhaps just a little bit of melancholy reveries, but not on her life did she suppose he would reply with such an - an annoying manner. She had only begun to think of how she should punish him for being rude, when he said quickly, 'I'm greatly sorry, Beth, what a great donkey I was, for being so rude and unthoughtful. I deserve the utmost scolding, do I not, Beth?'

She chose not to reply, only turning away with a look that went through his heart. They remained silent thought the ride and at last they stopped at the park, and Laurie said, trying to be amiable when he offered his hand, 'Come, Miss Elizabeth, allow your knight to help you.'

Beth stole a glance at him, and replied, with the most saucy smile she could manage, 'Well, my knight that isn't in shining armour, do you think I aught forgive you for your rudeness some ten minutes ago, or should I give you some grave punishment?'

'Pray, princess, if you think I deserve to be snubbed for the next week, feel free to do so, for I am certain you cannot manage to remain so for more than three days.'

'Now, do not think me so very weak, for now Jo is gone, and I am the only one left to keep you from causing havoc, I must do all I can to discipline you.'

'Now,' he cried at once. 'That stabbed me right through the heart, Beth! Do you truly think me so insensible, as to end the world?'

'To think about what you gave Meg those few weeks I suppose if Jo had not growled at you what would have happened I tremble to think!'

'You speak constantly of Jo, and if you are to continue so I shall be displeased no end. And pray, I have no idea at all of what your intentions are, but I assure you I am no happy person over it.'

Beth turned away, making no efforts to hide her disgust and disappointment. Laurie could only feel that she has changed, not negatively, but it did not suit him as it used to. Her change was equal. Had her neighbour not said anything, anything about matrimony at all to her sister her esteem of him would not have lessened, but things have been said, and cannot be unsaid, she felt it quite impossible to see him plainly as her friend. She could recollect, when Jo had come home, red, flustered and dishevelled, having learnt of the matter, how shocked she had been! But she could not have blamed anyone but herself for not noticing, for it was evident, that the boy was growing much too fond of Jo. She knew she should have guessed that it was only the matter of time. Laurie's marrying Jo: it seemed, to her, almost natural, yet it was an impossibility. She knew their dispositions. They would quarrel all their lives and kill each other. Beth shuddered at the thought.

'You are unlike yourself,' he continued, 'the old Beth will always try to please me.'

'I must not pet you, you know,' she said slowly, carefully. 'Now that the person, whoever that may be, that would always keep you in order is gone, I must be obliged to help with the job. Look out, there is a puddle, I shall hate to see your new boots ruined. Do you not think, Mr Theodore, that you are quite talented? You have managed to make me turn away to calm myself twice in an afternoon. Do you not think that impressive?'

Laurie laughed with an incredulous look. Now I wonder, thought he, whatever in the world has caused the little creature to change so. Jo March? impossible. She was Jo's favourite sister for all her life. Quite impossible for her to be changed all of a sudden. Aunt March? rather unlikely. It was not as if Aunt March was capable of affecting young people of such dispositions. He tried to be merry, and not be ridiculous, but failed as miserably as any person could. Beth glanced at him, feeling a little awkward, turned away for fear he might see her flushed face.

'Well, I'm horridly sorry, I felt rather silly, just then, and - '

'Ah, pray, child. If you could be a little more like Jo, I suppose, it would be so much the better.'

Beth turned into the colour of a beet. Good God, thought she. If the boy goes on in this manner I shall be sadly defeated. And I shall have to run away from him every time he comes near lest he be the end of me! 'May we go home now? It is getting quite cold, and it seems as if it is about to rain. I should hate to soil my new bonnet.'

'Of course, child. Come.'