19 Little Women Read By Stephanie Poppins

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now,

And nowhere you need to go.

Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.

This is your time and your space.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

There is nothing you need to be doing now,

And nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

Chapter Nine Further,

Further Continued Meg leaned her forehead on the cool pane and stood half hidden by the curtains,

Never minding that her favourite song had begun,

Till someone touched her.

And turning,

She saw Laurie looking penitent,

As he said with his very best bow,

Please forgive my rudeness and come and dance with me.

I'm afraid it will be too disagreeable to you,

She said,

Trying to look offended and failing entirely.

Not a bit of it.

I'm dying to do it.

Come,

I'll be good.

I don't like your gown,

But I do think you are just splendid.

Then Laurie waved his hands as if words failed to express his admiration.

Meg smiled and relented and whispered,

Take care my skirt doesn't trip you up.

It's the plague of my life and I was a goose to wear it.

Pin it round your neck and then it'll be useful,

Said Laurie,

Looking down at the little blue boots which he evidently approved of.

Then away they went fleetly and gracefully.

Having practised at home,

They were well matched and the blithe young couple were a pleasant sight to see as they twirled merrily round and round,

Feeling more friendly than after their small tiff.

Laurie,

I want you to do me a favour,

Will you,

Said Meg as he stood fanning her when her breath gave out.

Won't I,

Said Laurie with alacrity.

Please don't tell them at home about my dress tonight.

They won't understand the joke and it'll worry Mother.

Then why did you do it?

I should tell them myself all about it and fester Mother how silly I've been,

But I'd rather do it myself.

You'll not tell,

Will you?

I'll give you my word I won't,

But what will I say when they ask me?

Just say I look nice and I was having a good time.

I'll say the first with all my heart,

But how about the other?

You don't look as if you're having a good time.

Don't think I'm horrid.

I just wanted a little fun,

But this sort doesn't pay and I'm getting tired of it.

Here comes Ned Moffat.

What does he want,

Said Laurie knitting his black brows as if he did not regard this young host in the light of a pleasant addition to the party.

What a bore,

Said Meg,

Assuming a languid air.

This amused Laurie immensely.

He did not speak to her again until supper time when he saw her drinking champagne with Ned and his friend Fisher.

They were behaving like a pair of fools,

He said to himself,

For Laurie felt a brotherly sort of right to watch over the marches and fight their battles whenever a defender was needed.

You'll have a splitting headache tomorrow if you drink that stuff,

I wouldn't Meg,

Your mother doesn't like it,

He whispered as he leant over her chair.

Ned turned to refill her glass and Fisher stooped to pick up her fan.

I'm not Meg,

Tonight I'm a doll who does all sorts of crazy things,

She answered.

Tomorrow I shall put away my fuss and feathers and be desperately good again.

I wish tomorrow was here then,

Muttered Laurie,

Walking off,

Ill pleased at the change he saw in her.

That night Meg danced and flirted,

Chatted and giggled,

Just as all the other girls did,

And after supper she undertook the German and blundered through it,

Nearly upsetting her partner with her long skirt and romping in a way that scandalised Laurie,

Who looked on and meditated a lecture,

But he got no chance to deliver it for Meg kept away from him until he came to say goodnight.

Remember,

Said she,

Trying to smile for the splitting headache had already begun.

Silence à la morte,

Replied Laurie with a melodramatic flourish.

This little bit of bioplay excited Annie's curiosity,

But Meg was too tired for gossip and she went to bed feeling as if she'd been to a masquerade and hadn't enjoyed herself half as much as she expected to.

She was sick all the next day,

And on Saturday she went home quite used up with her fortnight's fun and feeling that she had sat in the lap of luxury quite long enough.

It does seem pleasant to be quiet and not have company manners on all the time,

She said.

Home is a nice place,

Although it isn't splendid.

I'm glad to hear you say so,

Dear,

Said Mother,

For I was afraid home would seem dull after your fine quarters.

She had given her daughter many anxious looks that day,

Her motherly eyes are quick to see any change in children's faces.

Meg had told her adventures gaily and said over and over again what a charming time she had had,

But something still seemed to weigh upon her spirits.

As the clock struck nine and Jo proposed bed,

She suddenly left her chair and taking Beth's stool,

Leaned her elbows on her mother's knee and said bravely,

Mommy,

I want to fess.

I thought so.

What is it,

Dear?

Shall I go away?

Asked Jo discreetly.

Of course not.

Don't I always tell you everything?

I was ashamed to speak of it before the children,

But I want you to know all the dreadful things I did at the Moffat's.

We are prepared,

Said Mrs March,

Smiling.

I told you they dressed me up,

But I didn't tell you they powdered and squeezed and fizzled and made me look like a fashion plate.

Laurie thought I wasn't proper,

I know he did,

Although he didn't say so,

And one man called me a doll.

I knew it was silly,

But they flattered me and said I was beauty in quantities of nonsense,

So I let them made the fool of me.

Is that all?

Asked Jo,

As Mrs March looked silently at the downcast face of her pretty daughter.

No,

I drank champagne and romped and tried to flirt and was altogether abominable.

There is something more,

I think,

Mrs March smoothed the soft cheek,

Which suddenly grew rosy.

Yes,

It's very silly,

But I want to tell it,

Because I hate to have people say and think such things about us and Laurie.

Then she told the various bits of gossip she'd heard at the Moffat's,

And as she spoke,

Jo saw her mother fold her lips tightly,

As if ill-pleased that such ideas should be put into Meg's innocent mind.

Well,

If that isn't the greatest rubbish I ever heard,

Cried Jo indignantly,

Why didn't you pop up and tell them so on the spot?

I couldn't,

It was so embarrassing for me,

I couldn't help hearing at first,

And then I was so angry and ashamed I didn't remember I ought to go away.

Just wait till I see Annie Moffat,

And I'll show you how to settle such ridiculous stuff.

The idea of having plans and being kind to Laurie because he's rich and may marry us by and by,

Won't he shout when I tell him what those silly things say about us poor children?

Then Jo laughed,

As if on second thoughts the thing struck her as a good joke.

If you tell Laurie,

I'll never forgive you,

Said Meg,

Looking distressed.

She mustn't,

Must she,

Mother?

No,

Said Mrs March gravely,

Never repeat that foolish gossip and forget it as soon as you can.

I was very unwise to let you go among people of whom I know so little.

Kind I dare say,

But worldly,

Ill-bred and full of these vulgar ideas about young people.

I'm more sorry than I can express for the mischief this visit may have done you,

Meg.

Don't be sorry,

I won't let it hurt me.

I'll forget all the bad and remember only the good,

For I did enjoy a great deal.

And thank you very much for letting me go,

Marmy.

I'll not be sentimental or dissatisfied.

I know I'm a silly little girl,

And I'll stay with you till I'm fit to take care of myself.

But it is nice to be praised and admired.

I can't help saying I like it.

Meg looked half ashamed of the confession.

That is perfectly natural and quite harmless if the liking does not become a passion and lead to do foolish or maidenly things.

Learn to know and value the praise which is worth having,

And to excite the admiration of excellent people by being modest as well as pretty,

Meg.

Margaret sat thinking a moment while Jo stood with her hands behind her looking both interested and a little perplexed,

For it was a new thing to see Meg blushing and talking about admiration,

Lovers and things of that sort.

Jo felt as if during that fortnight her sister had grown up amazingly and was drifting away from her into a world where she could not follow.

Mother,

Do you have plans,

As Mrs Moffat said,

Asked Meg bashfully.

Yes,

My dear,

I have a great many.

All mothers do.

But mine differ somewhat from Mrs Moffat's.

I'll tell you some of them for the time has come when a word may set this romantic little head and heart of yours right.

Jo went and sat on the arm of one chair looking as if she thought they were about to join in some very solemn affair.

Then holding a hand of each and watching the two young faces wistfully,

Mrs March began in her serious yet cheery way.

I want my daughters to be beautiful,

Accomplished and good,

To be admired,

Loved and respected,

To have a happy youth,

Well and wisely married and lead useful,

Pleasant lives with as little care and sorrow to try them as God sees fit to send.

To be loved and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience.

It's natural to think of it,

Meg.

Right to hope and wait for it and wise to prepare for it so that when that happy time comes you may feel ready for the duties and worthy of the joy.

I am ambitious for you but not to have you make a dash in the world,

Marry rich men merely because they're rich or have splendid houses which are not homes because love is wanting.

Money is a needful and precious thing and well used it's a noble thing but I never want you to think of it as if it was the first or only prize to strive for.

I'd rather see you poor men's wives if you were happy and contented than queens on thrones without self-respect and peace.

But poor girls don't stand any chance,

Belle says,

Unless they put themselves forward,

Sighed Meg.

Then we'll be old maids,

Said Jo stoutly.

Right,

Jo,

Better be old maids than unhappy wives or unmaidenly girls running about to find husbands,

Said Mrs March decidedly.

Don't be troubled,

Meg.

Poverty seldom daunts a sincere lover.

Some of the best and most honoured women I know were poor girls but so love worthy they were not allowed to be old maids.

Leave these things to time.

Make this home happy so you may be fit for homes of your own if they're offered you and contented if they are not.

One thing to remember,

Mother is always ready to be your confidante,

Father to be your friend and both of us trust and hope that our daughters,

Whether married or single,

Will be the pride and comfort of our lives.

We will,

Mommy,

We will,

Cried Meg and Jo with all their hearts as their mother bade them goodnight.