Хорошие жёны / Good wives. Уровень 3

“How’s the little mamma? Where is everybody? Why didn’t you tell me before I came home?”

“Happy as a queen, the dear! Now you go into the parlor,” with that reply Hannah vanished, chuckling ecstatically.

Jo appeared, proudly bearing a flannel bundle. Jo’s face was very sober, but her eyes twinkled, and there was an odd sound in her voice of repressed emotion.

“Shut your eyes and hold out your arms,” she said invitingly.

“No, thank you. I’d rather not. I shall drop it or smash it.

”

“Then you shan’t see your nephew,” said Jo decidedly.

“I will, I will! Only you must be responsible for damages.”

Obeying orders, Laurie heroically shut his eyes while something was put into his arms. A peal

of laughter from Jo, Amy, Mrs. March, Hannah, and John caused him to open them the next minute, to find two babies instead of one.

“Twins, by Jupiter!” was all he said, then he added, “Take them quick, somebody! I’m going to laugh, and I shall drop them.

”

“It’s the best joke of the season, isn’t it?” said Jo.

“I never was more staggered in my life. Isn’t it fun? Are they boys? What are you going to name them? Let’s have another look.”

“Boy and girl. Aren’t they beauties?” said the proud papa.

“Most remarkable children I ever saw. Which is which?”

“Amy put a blue ribbon on the boy and a pink on the girl, French fashion, so you can always tell. Besides, one has blue eyes and one brown.

The boy’s name is John Laurence, and the girl Margaret, after mother and grandmother. We shall call her Daisey, so as not to have two Megs. I suppose the boy will be Jack, unless we find a better name,” said Amy.

“Name him Demijohn, and call him Demi for short,” said Laurie.

“Daisy and Demi, just the thing[18 - just the thing – то, что надо]!” cried Jo, clapping her hands.

Calls

“Come, Jo, it’s time.”

“Where?”

“You don’t mean to say you have forgotten that you promised to make half a dozen calls[19 - calls – визиты] with me today? It was a bargain between us.

It’s a lovely day, no prospect of rain. So be honorable, come and do your duty, and then be at peace for another six months.”

Jo hated calls of the formal sort, and never made any. In the present instance there was no escape. They visited a few houses and presently were walking towards Aunt March’s house.