Маленькие женщины / Little Women. Уровень 3

“Watch and pray, dear, never get tired of trying, and never think it is impossible to conquer your fault. I've been trying to cure my temper for forty years, and have only succeeded in controlling it. I am angry nearly every day of my life, Jo, but I have learned not to show it, and I still hope to learn not to feel it, though it may take me another forty years to do so.”

“Mother, are you angry when you fold your lips tight together and go out of the room sometimes, when Aunt March scolds or people worry you?” asked Jo, feeling nearer and dearer to her mother than ever before.

“Yes, I've learned to check the hasty words that rise to my lips, and when I feel that they mean to break out against my will, I just go away for a minute, and give myself a little shake for being so weak and wicked,” answered Mrs. March with a sigh and a smile, as she smoothed and fastened up Jo's disheveled hair.

“How did you learn to keep still? That is what troubles me, for the sharp words fly out before I know what I'm about to say, and the more I say the worse I get, till it's a pleasure to hurt people's feelings and say dreadful things.

Tell me how you do it, Marmee dear.”

“My good mother used to help me…”

“As you do us…” interrupted Jo, with a grateful kiss.

“But I lost her when I was a little older than you are, and for years had to struggle on alone, for I was too proud to confess my weakness to anyone else. Then your father came, and I was so happy that I found it easy to be good.

He helped and comforted me, and showed me that I must try to practice all the virtues I would have my little girls possess. I hope you will be a great deal better, dear. Remember it, and try with heart and soul to master this quick temper.”

“I will try, Mother, I truly will. But you must help me, remind me, and keep me from flying out. I used to see Father sometimes put his finger on his lips, and look at you with a very kind but sober face, and you always folded your lips tight and went away.

Was he reminding you then?” asked Jo softly.

“Yes. I asked him to help me so, and he never forgot it, but saved me a lot of times by that little gesture and kind look.”

Amy stirred and sighed in her sleep, and as if eager to begin at once to mend her fault, Jo looked up with an expression on her face which it had never worn before.

“I let the sun go down on my anger.