Хорошие жёны / Good wives. Уровень 3

”

“Is the pain better now?”

“Oh, yes, much better, you are so comfortable, Jo.”

“Go to sleep, dear. I’ll stay with you.”

So cheek to cheek they fell asleep.

But Jo had made up her mind, and after pondering over a project for some days, she confided it to her mother.

“You asked me the other day what my wishes were. I’ll tell you one of them, Mummy,” she began, as they sat along together. “I want to go away somewhere this winter for a change.”

“Why, Jo?” and her mother looked up quickly.

With her eyes on her work Jo answered soberly,

“I want something new. I feel restless and anxious to be seeing, doing, and learning more than I am.”

“Where will you go?”

“To New York. I had a bright idea yesterday, and this is it. You know Mrs. Kirke wrote to you for some respectable young person to teach her children and sew. It’s rather hard to find just the thing, but I think I will fit if I try.”

“My dear, go out to service in that great boarding house[26 - boarding house – пансион]!” and Mrs.

“It’s not exactly going out to service, for Mrs. Kirke is your friend and would make things pleasant for me, I know. It’s honest work, and I’m not ashamed of it.”

“Nor I. But your writing?”

“All the better for the change. I shall see and hear new things, get new ideas.”

“I have no doubt of it, but are these your only reasons for this sudden fancy?”

“No, Mother.

“May I know the others?”

Jo looked up and down, then said slowly, with sudden color in her cheeks.

“It may be vain and wrong to say it, but – I’m afraid – Laurie is getting too fond of me.”

“Then you don’t care for him in the way it is evident he begins to care for you?” and Mrs. March looked anxious as she put the question.

“Mercy, no! I love the dear boy, as I always have, and am immensely proud of him, but as for anything more, it’s out of the question.

“I’m glad of that, Jo.”

“Why, please?”

“Because, dear, I don’t think you suited to one another. As friends you are very happy. But I fear you will both rebel if you are married. You are too much alike and too fond of freedom, not to mention hot tempers and strong wills, to get on happily together.”

“That’s just the feeling I had, though I couldn’t express it. It would trouble me sadly to make him unhappy.