Jo’sfacewasastudynextday，forthesecretratherweigheduponher，andshefoundithardnottolookmysteriousandimportant。Megobservedit，butdidnottroubleherselftomakeinquiries，forshehadlearnedthatthebestwaytomanageJowasbythelawofcontraries，soshefeltsureofbeingtoldeverythingifshedidnotask。Shewasrathersurprised，therefore，whenthesilenceremainedunbroken，andJoassumedapatronizingair，whichdecidedlyaggravatedMeg，whointurnassumedanairofdignifiedreserveanddevotedherselftohermother。ThisleftJotoherowndevices，forMrs。Marchhadtakenherplaceasnurse，andbadeherrest，exercise，andamuseherselfafterherlongconfinement。Amybeinggone，Lauriewasheronlyrefuge，andmuchassheenjoyedhissociety，sheratherdreadedhimjustthen，forhewasanincorrigibletease，andshefearedhewouldcoaxthesecretfromher。
Shewasquiteright，forthemischief-lovingladnosoonersuspectedamysterythanhesethimselftofinditout，andledJoatryinglifeofit。Hewheedled，bribed，ridiculed，threatened，andscolded；affectedindifference，thathemightsurprisethetruthfromher；declaredherknew，thenthathedidn’tcare；
andatlast，bydintofperseverance，hesatisfiedhimselfthatitconcernedMegandMr。Brooke。Feelingindignantthathewasnottakenintohistutor’sconfidence，hesethiswitstoworktodevisesomeproperretaliationfortheslight。
Megmeanwhilehadapparentlyforgottenthematterandwasabsorbedinpreparationsforherfather’sreturn，butallofasuddenachangeseemedtocomeoverher，and，foradayortwo，shewasquiteunlikeherself。Shestartedwhenspokento，blushedwhenlookedat，wasveryquiet，andsatoverhersewing，withatimid，troubledlookonherface。Tohermother’sinquiriessheansweredthatshewasquitewell，andJo’sshesilencedbybeggingtobeletalone。
“Shefeelsitintheair——love，Imean——andshe’sgoingveryfast。She’sgotmostofthesymptoms——istwitteryandcross，doesn’teat，liesawake，andmopesincorners。Icaughthersingingthatsonghegaveher，andonceshesaid`John’，asyoudo，andthenturnedasredasapoppy。whatevershallwedo？“