Atteatimetheycomparednotes，andallagreedthatithadbeenadelightful，thoughunusuallylongday。Meg，whowentshoppingintheafternoonandgota`sweetbluemuslin，haddiscovered，aftershehadcutthebreadthsoff，thatitwouldn’twash，whichmishapmadeherslightlycross。Johadburnedtheskinoffhernoseboating，andgotaragingheadachebyreadingtoolong。Bethwasworriedbytheconfusionofherclosetandthedifficultyoflearningthreeorfoursongsatonce，andAmydeeplyregrettedthedamagedoneherfrock，forKatyBrown’spartywastobethenextdayandnowlikeFloraMcFlimsey，shehad`nothingtowear’。Buttheseweremeretrifles，andtheyassuredtheirmotherthattheexperimentwasworkingfinely。Shesmiled，saidnothing，andwithHannah’shelpdidtheirneglectedwork，keepinghomepleasantandthedomesticmachineryrunningsmoothly。Itwasastonishingwhatapeculiaranduncomfortablestateofthingswasproducedbythe`restingandreveling’process。Thedayskeptgettinglongerandlonger，theweatherwasunusuallyvariableandsoweretempers，andunsettledfeelingpossessedeveryone，andSatanfoundplentyofmischieffortheidlehandstodo。Astheheightofluxury，Megputoutsomeofhersewing，andthenfoundtimehangsoheavilythatshefelltosnippingandspoilingherclothesinherattemptstofurbishthemupa`laMoffat。Joreadtillhereyesgaveoutandshewassickofbooks，gotsofidgetythatevengood-naturedLauriehadaquarrelwithher，andsoreducedinspiritsthatshedesperatelywishedshehadgonewithAuntMarch。Bethgotonprettywell，forshewasconstantlyforgettingthatitwastobeallplayandnowork，andfellbackintoheroldwaysnowandthen。Butsomethingintheairaffectedher，andmorethanoncehertranquilitywasmuchdisturbed，somuchsothatononeoccasionsheactuallyshookpoordearJoannaandtoldhershewasafright’。Amyfaredworstofall，forherresourcesweresmall，andwhenhersisterslefthertoamuseherself，shesoonfoundthataccomplishedandimportantlittleselfagreatburden。Shedidn’tlikedolls，fairytaleswerechildish，andonecouldn’tdrawallthetime。Teapartiesdidn’tamounttomuchneitherdidpicnicsunlessverywellconducted。“Ifonecouldhaveafinehouse，fullofnicegirls，orgotraveling，thesummerwouldbedelightful，buttostayathomewiththreeselfishsistersandagrown-upboywasenoughtotrythepatienceofaBoaz，“
complainedMissMalaprop，afterseveraldaysdevotedtopleasure，fretting，andennui。
Noonewouldownthattheyweretiredoftheexperiment，butbyFridaynighteachacknowledgedtoherselfthatshewasgladtheweekwasnearlydone。Hopingtoimpressthelessonmoredeeply，Mrs。March，whohadagooddealofhumor，resolvedtofinishoffthetrialinanappropriatemanner，soshegaveHannahaholidayandletthegirlsenjoythefulleffectoftheplaysystem。
WhentheygotuponSaturdaymorning，therewasnofireinthekitchen，nobreakfastinthediningroom，andnomotheranywheretobeseen。
“Mercyonus!Whathashappened？“criedJo，staringaboutherindismay。