Little Women (V)

M. Albers 于洋

Chapter 8  Beth is Sick

The girls said goodbye to their mother. Every day they did their work， but they thought about her.

One day， Beth said to Jo and Meg， “Please go and see the Hummels.”

“I can't go. Can you go， Jo？” Meg asked.

“No， I have a cold，” Jo answered.

“Can you go， Beth？” Meg asked.

“I go every day， because Mother isn't here. But one child is very sick and I can't help her. Please go.”

“I can go tomorrow，” Meg said.

Beth went to the Hummel's house. Later， she came home. She was very unhappy.

“What's wrong， Beth？”Jo asked.

“Oh， Jo. The child's dead. I stayed with her and Mrs Hummel went to the doctor's house. He came， but the child was dead. It was scarlet fever（猩紅热）. And now I'm sick too.”

“Oh no！”Jo said. “I'm going to get  Hannah.”

Hannah looked at Beth and called Dr Bangs.

“Amy，” Jo said，“you're going to Aunt March's house.”

“No！” Amy said.

“Yes，” Hannah said. “Do you want scarlet fever？”

Later in the week， Beth was very sick. Jo stayed with her. She washed her sister's face and talked to her. But Beth didn't know Jo， Meg， or Hannah. Jo wanted her mother， but her father was sick too. They didn't write to Mrs March about Beth.

Dr Bangs came every day. One day， he looked at Beth and said， “Please write to Mrs March now.”

Then Laurie came to the house.

“Your mother knows about Beth，” he said. “Your father isn't very sick now， and she's coming home this evening. I didn't wait—”

“Oh， Laurie？” Jo said. “Thank you！”

In Beth's bedroom， Meg and Jo looked at Beth's face. It was white.

Jo thought， “Oh no， my sister's dead！” She kissed her and said， “Goodbye Beth， goodbye.”

But Hannah looked at the child and smiled.

“Beth isn't dead，” she said. “She's sleeping！ She's going to be well again！”

There was a noise at the door.

“Listen， girls！” Hannah said.

Laurie called， “She's here！ Mrs March is home！”

Mrs March came into the room. Meg and Jo kissed her.

Then Beth slowly opened her eyes and smiled.

Mrs March stayed with her all night. In the morning， Jo went into Beth's room.

“Mother， I want to talk to you，” she said. “Mr Brooke loves Meg. Did you know that？ I don't like it.”

“I know，” Mrs March said.“John Brooke talked to your father and me in Washington. Does Meg love him too？”

“I don't know，” Jo said. “I don't know about love. I liked Mr Brooke's letters about Father， and I like his eyes. But I want Meg here， at home with us.”

“John's a very good man，” said Mrs March. “He helped Father. But don't think about it now. Christmas is coming.”

On Christmas Day， Beth was in bed but Amy was home again. It was a good day. There were beautiful presents from Laurie and Mr Laurence.

Then Laurie arrived.

“And here's a big Christmas present for the March family！” he said.

He opened the door again， and there was Mr March. The girls went to their father and kissed him. They were very， very happy.

“Quietly， girls！” Mrs March said. “Beth is sleeping！”

But Beth came down from her bedroom.

“Oh， Father， it's you！” she said.

In the morning， Mr Brooke talked to Meg.

“I love you，” he said. “Do you love me？”

“I'm only seventeen，” Meg said.“I don't know...”

Then Aunt March came into the room. Mr Brooke went out quickly.

“Where are your mother and father？” Aunt March said. “And what's that man saying to you？”

“He's father's friend， Aunt March！” Meg said.

“Then why is your face red？”Aunt March said. “You can't marry him. He doesn't have any money！ I'm not going to give you my money.”

Meg was very angry.

“I don't want your money， Aunt March！ John loves me， and he's a good man. We can work for our money. I am going to marry him.”

“Marry him， then！ I don't want to see you again！”

Aunt March walked out of the house.

Meg didn't move. She looked out the window at her aunt's back.

Mr Brooke came into the room again.

“My love—I listened. Thank you， thank you，” he said.“Can I ask you again...？”

Meg looked into his eyes.

“Oh， John， the answer's yes. I'm going to marry you—and we're going to be very     happy.”

Later， Jo talked to Laurie.

“I love Meg， and I want her with me，” she said. “But  she's going to be happy， and that's good. And I'm happy today. Mother and Father are here. Beth is well again.

Meg loves John. Amy and I are friends—and you and I are friends too. I'm writing， and people like my stories.

But Laurie， are we going to be happy in a year， or in two years？ Who knows？”

（The End）

1. Answer the questions

1. Why is Beth sick？

2. When does Mr March come home？

2. Work with a friend

A： You're Meg. You're going to marry John Brook. Talk to Jo about it.

B： You're Jo. Meg is your friend. You want her at home with you. Talk to her about it.

Writing： Which sister do you like？ Why？ Write about her.