beautifully, if you try, that I'm proud of you. I'm afraid to
go alone; do come and take care of me."

"You're an artful little puss to flatter and wheedle your cross
old sister in that way. The idea of my being aristocratic and
well-bred, and your being afraid to go anywhere alone I
don' which is the most absurd. Well, I'll go if I must,
and do my best. You shall be commander of the expedition,
and I'll obey blindly; will that satisfy you?" said Jo, with a
sudden change from perversity to lamb-like submission.

"You're a perfect cherub Now put on all your best things,
and I'll tell you how to behave at each place, so that you will
make a good impression. I want people to like you, and they
would if you'd only try to be a little more agreeable. Do
your hair the pretty way, and put the pink rose in your bonnet;
it's becoming, and you look too sober in your plain suit. Take
your light gloves and the embroidered handkerchief. We'll
stop at Meg's, and borrow her white sunshade, and then you
can have my dove-colored one."

While Amy dressed, she issued orders, and Jo obeyed them;
not without entering her protest, however, for she sighed as she
rustled into her new organdie, frowned darkly at herself as
she tied her bonnet strings in an irreproachable bow, wrestled
viciously with pins as she put on her collar, wrinkled up her
features generally as she shook out the handkerchief, whose
embroidery was as irritating to her nose as the present mission
was to her feelings; and when she had squeezed her hands into
tight gloves with three buttons and a tassel, as the last touch
of elegance, she turned to Amy with an imbecile expression of
countenance, saying meekly,--

"I'm perfectly miserable; but if you consider me presentable,
I die happy."

"You are highly satisfactory; turn slowly round, and let
me get a careful view." Jo revolved, and Amy gave a touch
here and there, then fell back, with her head on one side, observ-
ing graciously, "Yes, you'll do; your head is all I could ask,
for that white bonnet with the rose is quite ravishing. Hold

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