"I didn't mean to, but you looked so funny I really couldn't help it," replied Meg, passing over the first part of his reproach, for it was quite true that she had shunned him, remembering the Moffat party and the talk after it
Ned was offended and turned to Sallie for consolation, saying to her rather pettishly, "There isn't a bit of flirt in that girl, is there?"
"Not a particle, but she's a dear," returned Sallie, defending her friend even while confessing her shortcomings
"She's not a stricken deer anyway," said Ned, trying to be witty, and succeeding as well as very young gentlemen usually do
On the lawn where it had gathered, the little party separated with cordial good nights and good-bys, for the Vaughns were going to CanadaAs the four sisters went home through the garden, Miss Kate looked after them, saying, without the patronizing tone in her voice, "In spite of their demonstrative manners, American girls are very nice when one knows them
"I quite agree with you," said Mr
CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Laurie lay luxuriously swinging to and fro in his hammock one warm September afternoon, wondering what his neighbors were about, but too lazy to go and find outHe was in one of his moods, for the day had been http://www.muluxury.com/scategory_2_Chanel.html" target="_blank both unprofitable and unsatisfactory, and he was wishing he could live it over againThe hot weather made him indolent, and he had shirked his studies, tried MrBrooke's patience to the utmost, displeased his grandfather by practicing half the afternoon, frightened the maidservants half out of their wits by mischievously hinting that one of his dogs was going mad, and, after high words with the stableman about some fancied neglect of his horse, he had flung himself into his hammock to fume over the stupidity of the world in general,till the peace of the lovely day quieted him in spite of himselfStaring up into the green gloom of the horse-chestnut trees above him, he dreamed dreams of all sorts, and was just imagining himself tossing on the ocean in a voyage round the world, when the sound of voices brought him ashore in a flashPeeping through the meshes of the hammock, he saw the Marches coming out, as if bound on some expedition
"What in the world are those girls about now?" thought Laurie, opening his sleepy eyes to take a good look, for there was something rather peculiar in the appearance of his neighborsEach wore a large, flapping hat, a brown linen pouch slung over one shoulder, and carried a long staffMeg had http://www.ooluxury.com/scategory_21_Tiffany-Jewelry.html" target="_blank a cushion, Jo a book, Beth a basket, and Amy a portfolioAll walked quietly through the garden, out at the little back gate, and began to climb the hill that lay between the house and river
"Well, that's cool," said Laurie to himself, "to have a picnic and never ask me! They can't be going in the boat, for they haven't got the keyPerhaps they forgot itI'll take it to them, and see what's going on
Though possessed of half a dozen hats, it took him some time to find one, then there was a hunt for the key, which was at last discovered in his pocket, so that the girls were quite out of sight when leaped the fence and ran after themTaking the shortest way to the boathouse, he waited for them to appear, but no one came, and he went up the hill to take an observationA grove of pines covered one part of it, and from the heart of this green spot came a clearer sound than the soft sigh of the pines or the drowsy chirp of the crickets
"Here's a landscape!" thought Laurie, peeping through the bushes, and looking wide-awake and good-natured already
It was a rather pretty little picture, for the sisters sat together in the shady nook, with sun and shadow flickering over them, the aromatic wind lifting their hair and cooling http://www.muluxury.com/scategory_30_Cartier-Watches.html" target="_blank their hot cheeks, and all the little wood people going on with their affairs as if these were no strangers but old friendsMeg sat upon her cushion, sewing daintily with her white hands, and looking as fresh and sweet as a rose in her pink dress among the greenBeth was sorting the cones that lay thick under the hemlock near by, for she made pretty things with themAmy was sketching a group of ferns, and Jo was knitting as she read aloudA shadow passed over the boy's face as he watched them, feeling that he ought to go away because uninvited, yet lingering because home seemed very lonely and this quiet party in the woods most attractive to his restless spiritHe stood so still that a squirrel, busy with it's harvesting, ran dawn a pine close beside him, saw him suddenly and skipped back, scolding so shrilly that Beth looked up, espied the wistful face behind the birches, and beckoned with a reassuring smile
"May I come in, please? Or shall I be a bother?" he asked, advancing slowly
Meg lifted her eyebrows, but Jo scowled at her defiantly and said at once, "Of course you mayWe should have asked you before, only we thought you wouldn't care for such a girl's game as this
"I always like your games, but if Meg doesn't want http://www.ualuxury.com/categorys_105_Chanel-Earrings_1.html" target="_blank me, I'll go away
"I've no objection, if you do somethingIt's against the rules to be idle here," replied Meg gravely but graciouslyI'll do anything if you'll let me stop a bit, for it's as dull as the Desert of Sahara down thereShall I sew, read, cone, draw, or do all at once? Bring on your bears And Laurie sat down with a submissive expression delightful to behold
"Finish this story while I set my heel," said Jo, handing him the book was the meek answer, as he began, doing his best to prove his gratitude for the favor of admission into the `Busy Bee Society'
The story was not a long one, and when it was finished, he ventured to ask a few questions as a reward of merit
"Please, ma'am, could I inquire if this highly instructive and charming institution is a new one?"
"Would you tell him?" asked Meg of her sisters
"He'll laugh," said Amy warningly
"Who cares?" said Jo
"I guess he'll like it," added Beth
"Of course I shall! I give you my word I won't laughTell away, Jo, and don't be afraid
"The idea of being afraid of you! Well, you see we used to play Pilgrim's Progress, and we have been going on with it in earnest, all winter and summer
"Yes, I know," said Laurie, nodding wisely
"Who told you?" demanded http://www.culuxury.com/categorys_89_Coco-Chanel-Jumbo-Flap-Bag_1.html" target="_blank J