PART 1
8. CHAPTER EIGHT
(continued)
"I don't like that half as well as going with you and Laurie.
Please let me. I've been sick with this cold so long, and shut
up, I'm dying for some fun. Do, Meg! I'll be ever so good,"
pleaded Amy, looking as pathetic as she could.
"Suppose we take her. I don't believe Mother would mind,
if we bundle her up well," began Meg.
"If she goes I shan't, and if I don't, Laurie won't like it,
and it will be very rude, after he invited only us, to go and
drag in Amy. I should think she'd hate to poke herself where
she isn't wanted," said Jo crossly, for she disliked the trouble
of overseeing a fidgety child when she wanted to enjoy herself.
Her tone and manner angered Amy, who began to put her boots
on, saying, in her most aggravating way, "I shall go. Meg says I
may, and if I pay for myself, Laurie hasn't anything to do with it."
"You can't sit with us, for our seats are reserved, and you
mustn't sit alone, so Laurie will give you his place, and that
will spoil our pleasure. Or he'll get another seat for you, and
that isn't proper when you weren't asked. You shan't stir a
step, so you may just stay where you are," scolded Jo, crosser
than ever, having just pricked her finger in her hurry.
Sitting on the floor with one boot on, Amy began to cry
and Meg to reason with her, when Laurie called from below, and
the two girls hurried down, leaving their sister wailing. For
now and then she forgot her grown-up ways and acted like a
spoiled child. Just as the party was setting out, Amy called
over the banisters in a threatening tone, "You'll be sorry for
this, Jo March, see if you ain't."
"Fiddlesticks!" returned Jo, slamming the door.
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