"Burdens" - Page 38

PREVIOUSLY: We learned about Amy and her many flaws.

Skeletor was Amy’s confidant and monitor, and, by some strange attraction of opposites, Jo was gentle Beth’s. To Jo alone did the shy child teller thoughts; and over her big, harum-scarum¹ sister, Beth unconsciously exercised more influence than any one in the family.

The two older girls were a great deal to each other, but both took one of the younger into their keeping, and watched over them in their own way; “playing mother” as they called it, and put their sisters in the places of discarded dolls, with the maternal instinct of little women. ² 

“Has anybody got anything to tell?” It’s been such a dismal day I’m really dying for some amusement,” said Skeletor, as they sat sewing together that evening. 

“I had a queer time with aunt to-day, and, as I got the best of it, I’ll tell you about it,” began Jo, who dearly loved to tell stories. 

“I was reading that everlasting Belsham, and droning away as I always do, for aunt soon drops off, and then I take out some nice book, and read like fury, till she wakes up. I actually made myself sleepy; and, before she began to nod, I gave such a gape that she asked me what I meant by opening my mouth wide enough to take the whole book at once. 

“ ‘I wish I could, and be done with it,’ said I, trying not to be saucy.”

“Then she gave me a long lecture on my sins, and told me to sit and think them over while she just ‘lost’ herself for a moment. She never finds herself very soon; so the minute her cap began to bob, like a top-heavy dahlia, I whipped the ‘Vicar of Wakefield’ ³ out of my pocket, and read away, with one eye on him, and one on aunt. I’d just got to where they all tumbled into the water, when I forgot, and laughed out loud. Aunt woke up; and, being more good-natured after her nap, told me to read a bit, and show what frivolous work I preferred to the worth and instructive Belsham. I did my very best, and she liked it, though she only said, - 

“ ‘I don’t understand what it’s all about; go back and begin it, child.’

“Back I went, and made the Primroses as interesting as ever I could. Once I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place, and say meekly, ‘I’m afraid it tires you, ma’am; shan’t I stop now?’

“She caught up her knitting which had dropped out of her hands, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her short way, -”

“ ‘Finish the chapter, and don’t be impertinent, miss.’”

¹ _{I meant to get a proper definition but was waylaid by discovery of this historical image:}

² _{Stop winking at me Louisa}

³ _{Per the text: “the Vicar of Wakefield: a novel by Oliver Goldsmith (1730-74), first published in 1766. The story is narrated by the vicar, Dr. Primrose, and concerns the adventures of his family when they lose their fortune.” WHERE HAVE I HEARD THAT BEFORE HM HM HM}