Iquitelongtoseethedearman，“addedMrs。March。
Joheardthat，butmadenoanswer，excepttokisshermother，andwalkrapidlyaway，thinkingwithaglowofgratitude，inspiteofherheartache，“Howgoodsheistome!Whatdogirlsdowhohaven’tanymotherstohelpthemthroughtheirtroubles？“
Thedry-goodsstoreswerenotdownamongthecounting-houses，banks，andwholesalewarerooms，wheregentlemenmostdocongregate，butJofoundherselfinthatpartofthecitybeforeshedidasingleerrand，loiteringalongasifwaitingforsomeone，examiningengineeringinstrumentsinonewindowandsamplesofwoolinanother，withmostunfeminineinterest，tumblingoverbarrels，beinghalf-smotheredbydescendingbales，andhustledunceremoniouslybybusymenwholookedasiftheywondered`howthedeuceshegotthere’。Adropofrainonhercheekrecalledherthoughtsfrombaffledhopestoruinedribbons。Forthedropscontinuedtofall，andbeingawomanaswellasalover，shefeltthat，thoughitwastoolatetosaveherheart，shemightherbonnet。Nowsherememberedthelittleumbrella，whichshehadforgottentotakeinherhurrytobeoff，butregretwasunavailing，andnothingcouldbedonebutborrowoneorsubmittotoadrenching。Shelookedupattheloweringsky，downatthecrimsonbowalreadyfleckedwithblack，forwardalongthemuddystreet，thenonelong，lingeringlookbehind，atacertaingrimywarehouse，with`Hoffmann，Swartz，&；Co。’overthedoor，andsaidtoherself，withasternlyreproachfulair……
“Itservesmeright!whatbusinesshadItoputonallmybestthingsandcomephilanderingdownhere，hopingtoseetheProfessor？Jo，I’mashamedofyou!No，youshallnotgotheretoborrowanumbrella，orfindoutwhereheis，fromhisfriends。
Youshalltrudgeaway，anddoyourerrandsintherain，andifyoucatchyourdeathandruinyourbonnet，it’snomorethanyoudeserve。Nowthen!“