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Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" Chapters 39-47 320 words

Vocabulary study list for Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" (Chapters 39-47).

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  1. sequester
    keep away from others
    Burdened with the guilty consciousness of the sequestered tarts, and fearing that Dodo's sharp eyes would pierce the thin disguise of cambric and merino which hid their booty, the little sinners attached themselves to 'Dranpa', who hadn't his spect
  2. tantalize
    harass with persistent criticism or carping
    But her faith in the good spot which exists in the heart of the naughtiest, sauciest, most tantalizing little ragamuffin gave her patience, skill, and in time success, for no mortal boy could hold out long with Father Bhaer shining on him as benevo
  3. clarifying
    that makes clear
    It was evident that his mind was not in working order yet, and his ideas needed clarifying, for often in the middle of a plaintive strain, he would find himself humming a dancing tune that vividly recalled the Christmas ball at Nice, especially the
  4. crumple
    to gather something into small wrinkles or folds
    There was a sort of poetic justice about it, after all, for the old lady had been the terror of the boys for miles around, and now the exiles feasted freely on forbidden plums, kicked up the gravel with profane boots unreproved, and played cricket in the
  5. dawdle
    hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.
    They naturally took comfort in each other's society and were much together, riding, walking, dancing, or dawdling, for at Nice no one can be very industrious during the gay season.
  6. diaphanous
    so thin as to transmit light
    This phantom wore many faces, but it always had golden hair, was enveloped in a diaphanous cloud, and floated airily before his mind's eye in a pleasing chaos of roses, peacocks, white ponies, and blue ribbons.
  7. salubrious
    promoting health; healthful
    Don't know anything about the north, but am altogether salubrious and balmy, hey, my lady?"
  8. ragamuffin
    a dirty shabbily clothed urchin
    If all the pupils are little ragamuffins, I'm afraid your crop won't be profitable in a worldly sense, Mrs. Bhaer."
  9. rummage
    search haphazardly
    But he did not write the letter that day, for as he rummaged out his best paper, he came across something which changed his purpose.
  10. dabble
    bob forward and under so as to feed off the bottom of a body of water
    Amy had been dabbling her hand in the water during the little pause that fell between them, and when she looked up, Laurie was leaning on his oars with an expression in his eyes that made her say hastily, merely for the sake of saying something .
  11. wiggle
    move to and fro
    Demi's miracle of mechanical skill, though the cover wouldn't shut, Rob's footstool had a wiggle in its uneven legs that she declared was soothing, and no page of the costly book Amy's child gave her was so fair as that on which appeared in tipsy c
  12. sere
    (used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
    Grasshoppers skipped briskly in the sere grass, and crickets chirped like fairy pipers at a feast.
  13. captivate
    attract; cause to be enamored
    She asked his opinion on all subjects, she was interested in everything he did, made charming little presents for him, and sent him two letters a week, full of lively gossip, sisterly confidences, and captivating sketches of the lovely scenes about
  14. warble
    sing or play with trills, alternating with the half note above or below
    But she would have consented if he had proposed to sing a whole opera, and warbled away, blissfully regardless of time and tune.
  15. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    You shall trudge away, and do your errands in the rain, and if you catch your death and ruin your bonnet, it's no more than you deserve.
  16. supine
    lying face upward
    In the ruffled mane, the rider's breezy hair and erect attitude, there was a suggestion of suddenly arrested motion, of strength, courage, and youthful buoyancy that contrasted sharply with the supine grace of the '_Dolce far Niente_' sketch.
  17. exasperate
    make furious
    Amy spoke bitterly, and turned her back on the exasperating martyr at her feet.
  18. confiscate
    take temporary possession of as a security, by legal authority
    Whereat Mr. Bhaer confiscated her purse, produced his own, and finished the marketing by buying several pounds of grapes, a pot of rosy daisies, and a pretty jar of honey, to be regarded in the light of a demijohn.
  19. abnegation
    the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief
    CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
    ALL ALONE
    It was easy to promise self-abnegation when self was wrapped up in another, and heart and soul were purified by a sweet example.
  20. wraith
    a mental representation of some haunting experience
    He did not give the complacent wraith any name, but he took her for his heroine and grew quite fond of her, as well he might, for he gifted her with every gift and grace under the sun, and escorted her, unscathed, through trials which would have an
  21. congregate
    come together, usually for a purpose
    The dry-goods stores were not down among the counting-houses, banks, and wholesale warerooms, where gentlemen most do congregate, but Jo found herself in that part of the city before she did a single errand, loitering along as if waiting for someon
  22. patronize
    assume sponsorship of
    Some persons might have considered these pleasing liberties as bribes, but Demi didn't see it in that light, and continued to patronize the 'the bear-man' with pensive affability, while Daisy bestowed her small affections upon him at the third call
  23. recumbent
    lying down; in a position of comfort or rest
    I should respectfully suggest a recumbent posture, then put yourself in also and call it 'Dolce far niente'."
  24. delusive
    inappropriate to reality or facts
    The fresh winds blew away desponding doubts, delusive fancies, and moody mists.
  25. quizzical
    perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
    He wanted desperately to go to Nice, but would not till he was asked, and Amy would not ask him, for just then she was having little experiences of her own, which made her rather wish to avoid the quizzical eyes of 'our boy'.
  26. nestle
    move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position
    She only saw his chest rise and fall, with a long breath that might have been a sigh, and the hand that wore the ring nestled down into the grass, as if to hide something too precious or too tender to be spoken of.
  27. humdrum
    tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
    Poor Jo, these were dark days to her, for something like despair came over her when she thought of spending all her life in that quiet house, devoted to humdrum cares, a few small pleasures, and the duty that never seemed to grow any easier.
  28. intractable
    not tractable; difficult to manage or mold
    When he looked about him for another and a less intractable damsel to immortalize in melody, memory produced one with the most obliging readiness.
  29. prattle
    speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
    If there ever were a pair of twins in danger of being utterly spoiled by adoration, it was these prattling Brookes.
  30. unscathed
    not injured
    He did not give the complacent wraith any name, but he took her for his heroine and grew quite fond of her, as well he might, for he gifted her with every gift and grace under the sun, and escorted her, unscathed, through trials which would have an
  31. promiscuous
    casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
    Laurence!'" muttered old Hannah, who could not resist frequent "peeks" through the slide as she set the table in a most decidedly promiscuous manner.
  32. incorrigible
    impervious to correction by punishment
    We never shall be rich, and Plumfield may burn up any night, for that incorrigible Tommy Bangs will smoke sweet-fern cigars under the bed-clothes, though he's set himself afire three times already.
  33. agitate
    move or cause to move back and forth
    Jo couldn't even lose her heart in a decorous manner, but sternly tried to quench her feelings, and failing to do so, led a somewhat agitated life.
  34. headstrong
    habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition
    I was a boy then, headstrong and violent, and it took a hard lesson to show me my mistake.
  35. despondent
    without or almost without hope
    "Never," she answered, with a despondent but decided air.
  36. petulant
    easily irritated or annoyed
    If she had even said 'I hate you' in a petulant or coquettish tone, he would have laughed and rather liked it, but the grave, almost sad, accent in her voice made him open his eyes, and ask quickly .
  37. beguile
    attract; cause to be enamored
    Often when she woke Jo found Beth reading in her well-worn little book, heard her singing softly, to beguile the sleepless night, or saw her lean her face upon her hands, while slow tears dropped through the transparent fingers, and Jo would lie wa
  38. nectar
    a sweet liquid secretion that is attractive to pollinators
    Sweets to the sweet, mannling," and Mr. Bhaer offered Jo some, with a look that made her wonder if chocolate was not the nectar drunk by the gods.
  39. gnarled
    used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
    Gnarled olive trees covered the hills with their dusky foliage, fruit hung golden in the orchard, and great scarlet anemones fringed the roadside, while beyond green slopes and craggy heights, the Maritime Alps rose sharp and white against the blue
  40. homily
    a sermon on a moral or religious topic
    Jo must have fallen asleep (as I dare say my reader has during this little homily), for suddenly Laurie's ghost seemed to stand before her, a substantial, lifelike ghost, leaning over her with the very look he used to wear when he felt a good deal
  41. demonstrative
    a pronoun that points out an intended referent
    Then the Professor thanked him so heartily, and looked so suddenly illuminated with satisfaction, that Laurie thought him the most delightfully demonstrative old fellow he ever met.
  42. menagerie
    a collection of live animals for study or display
    A regular menagerie appeared in barn and shed, for pet animals were allowed.
  43. imperturbable
    not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure
    She thought it would annoy him, but he only folded his arms under his head, with an imperturbable, "That's not bad.
  44. infantile
    of or relating to infants or infancy
    Demi, with infantile penetration, soon discovered that Dodo like to play with 'the bear-man' better than she did him, but though hurt, he concealed his anguish, for he hadn't the heart to insult a rival who kept a mine of chocolate drops in his wai
  45. sodden
    wet through and through; thoroughly wet
    CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
    UNDER THE UNBRELLA
    While Laurie and Amy were taking conjugal strolls over velvet carpets, as they set their house in order, and planned a blissful future, Mr. Bhaer and Jo were enjoying promenades of a different sort, along muddy roads a
  46. amaze
    affect with wonder
    He flattered himself that he knew Jo pretty well, and was, therefore, much amazed by the contradictions of voice, face, and manner, which she showed him in rapid succession that day, for she was in half a dozen different moods in the course of half
  47. edible
    suitable for use as food
    The little girls had a private tea party, and Ted roved among the edibles at his own sweet will.
  48. nettle
    any of numerous plants having stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact (especially of the genus Urtica or family Urticaceae)
    Being decidedly nettled herself, and longing to see him shake off the apathy that so altered him, Amy sharpened both tongue and pencil, and began.
  49. baffle
    be a mystery or bewildering to
    A drop of rain on her cheek recalled her thoughts from baffled hopes to ruined ribbons.
  50. vagary
    an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.)
    Laurie turned the matter over in his mind so often that he soon brought himself to confess that he had been selfish and lazy, but then when a man has a great sorrow, he should be indulged in all sorts of vagaries till he has lived it down.
  51. illuminate
    make lighter or brighter
    The moment Mrs. Carrol saw the girl's altered face, she was illuminated with a new idea, and exclaimed to herself, "Now I understand it all--the child has been pining for young Laurence.
  52. cornice
    the topmost projecting part of an entablature
    Roses covered the walls of the house, draped the cornices, climbed the pillars, and ran riot over the balustrade of the wide terrace, whence one looked down on the sunny Mediterranean, and the white-walled city on its shore.
  53. detriment
    a damage or loss
    Mr. Bhaer's face had lost the absent-minded expression, and looked all alive with interest in the present moment, actually young and handsome, she thought, forgetting to compare him with Laurie, as she usually did strange men, to their great detriment<
  54. silky
    having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
    "It's just what you need to bring out the tender womanly half of your nature, Jo. You are like a chestnut burr, prickly outside, but silky-soft within, and a sweet kernal, if one can only get at it.
  55. amicable
    characterized by friendship and good will
    She answered him with a smile, and they went on together in the most amicable manner.
  56. talisman
    a trinket or piece of jewelry usually hung about the neck and thought to be a magical protection against evil or disease
    They could not help it, for he carried the talisman that opens all hearts, and these simple people warmed to him at once, feeling even the more friendly because he was poor.
  57. blighted
    affected by blight; anything that mars or prevents growth or prosperity
    He felt that his blighted affections were quite dead now, and though he should never cease to be a faithful mourner, there was no occasion to wear his weeds ostentatiously.
  58. precocious
    characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
    I flatter myself I'm a 'gentleman growed' as Peggotty said of David, and when you see Amy, you'll find her rather a precocious infant," said Laurie, looking amused at her maternal air.
  59. bashful
    self-consciously timid
    He could not get any further, for he too turned bashful all of a sudden, and did not quite know what to say.
  60. conjugal
    of or relating to marriage or to the relationship between a wife and husband
    CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
    UNDER THE UNBRELLA
    While Laurie and Amy were taking conjugal strolls over velvet carpets, as they set their house in order, and planned a blissful future, Mr. Bhaer and Jo were enjoying promenades of a different sort, along muddy
  61. annihilate
    kill in large numbers
    He did not give the complacent wraith any name, but he took her for his heroine and grew quite fond of her, as well he might, for he gifted her with every gift and grace under the sun, and escorted her, unscathed, through trials which would have annihi
  62. blithe
    carefree and happy and lighthearted
    Within lie snoods that bound her hair, Slippers that have danced their last, Faded flowers laid by with care, Fans whose airy toils are past, Gay valentines, all ardent flames, Trifles that have borne their part In girlish hopes an
  63. exhilarating
    making lively and joyful
    Then he seemed quite inspired, though the burial customs of the ancients, to which the conversation had strayed, might not be considered an exhilarating topic.
  64. outwit
    beat through cleverness and wit
    He reluctantly departs, but his wrongs weigh upon his spirit, and by-and-by when an opportunity comes to redress them, he outwits Mamma by a shrewd bargain.
  65. artless
    simple and natural; without cunning or deceit
    "I kissed her," began Demi, with artless frankness.
  66. subside
    sink to a lower level or form a depression
    There was only a comfortable glow that warmed and did him good without putting him into a fever, and he was reluctantly obliged to confess that the boyish passion was slowly subsiding into a more tranquil sentiment, very tender, a little sad and re
  67. fleck
    a small contrasting part of something
    She looked up at the lowering sky, down at the crimson bow already flecked with black, forward along the muddy street, then one long, lingering look behind, at a certain grimy warehouse, with 'Hoffmann, Swartz, & Co.' over the door, and said to her
  68. chasten
    censure severely
    Sacred moments, when heart talked to heart in the silence of the night, turning affliction to a blessing, which chastened grief and strengthned love.
  69. balmy
    mild and pleasant
    Don't know anything about the north, but am altogether salubrious and balmy, hey, my lady?"
  70. bounce
    spring back; spring away from an impact
    "Now you have been good children, and I'll play anything you like," says Meg, as she leads her assistant cooks upstairs, when the pudding is safely bouncing in the pot.
  71. perturb
    disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed
    Talking wearied her, faces troubled her, pain claimed her for its own, and her tranquil spirit was sorrowfully perturbed by the ills that vexed her feeble flesh.
  72. squabble
    a quarrel about petty points
    I wanted to be the one to tell you the grand surprise, and have 'first skim' as we used to say when we squabbled about the cream."
  73. tempestuous
    characterized by violent emotions or behavior
    His first wooing had been of the tempestuous order, and he looked back upon it as if through a long vista of years with a feeling of compassion blended with regret.
  74. desultory
    marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another
    Whatever it was, it simmered to some purpose, for he grew more and more discontented with his desultory life, began to long for some real and earnest work to go at, soul and body, and finally came to the wise conclusion that everyone who loved musi
  75. clarify
    make clear by removing impurities or solids, as by heating
    It was evident that his mind was not in working order yet, and his ideas needed clarifying, for often in the middle of a plaintive strain, he would find himself humming a dancing tune that vividly recalled the Christmas ball at Nice, especially the
  76. despicable
    morally reprehensible
    I'll tell you all about it sometime, she never will, because after telling me that she despised and was ashamed of me, she lost her heart to the despicable party and married the good-for-nothing."
  77. ballast
    any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
    He says he feels as if he 'could make a prosperous voyage now with me aboard as mate, and lots of love for ballast'.
  78. prim
    affectedly dainty or refined
    Gentlemen, which means boys, be courteous to the old maids, no matter how poor and plain and prim, for the only chivalry worth having is that which is the readiest to pay deference to the old, protect the feeble, and serve womankind, regardless of
  79. propitious
    presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success
    A stealthy glance now and then refreshed her like sips of fresh water after a dusty walk, for the sidelong peeps showed her several propitious omens.
  80. whiff
    a short light gust of air
    Did you ever see such roses?" asked Amy, pausing on the terrace to enjoy the view, and a luxurious whiff of perfume that came wandering by.
  81. depravity
    moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
    "Natural depravity, I suppose."
  82. energetically
    in an energetic manner
    While waiting for an answer he did nothing, but he did it energetically, for he was in a fever of impatience.
  83. rampant
    unrestrained and violent
    Of course it was uphill work at first, and Jo made queer mistakes, but the wise Professor steered her safely into calmer waters, and the most rampant ragamuffin was conquered in the end.
  84. irrepressible
    impossible to repress or control
    "Father, Mother, this is my friend, Professor Bhaer," she said, with a face and tone of such irrepressible pride and pleasure that she might as well have blown a trumpet and opened the door with a flourish.
  85. wean
    gradually deprive (infants and young mammals) of mother's milk
    Often when she woke Jo found Beth reading in her well-worn little book, heard her singing softly, to beguile the sleepless night, or saw her lean her face upon her hands, while slow tears dropped through the transparent fingers, and Jo would lie watching
  86. sniff
    perceive by inhaling through the nose
    "What will we buy?" asked Jo, ignoring the latter part of his speech, and sniffing the mingled odors with an affectation of delight as they went in.
  87. reverent
    feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
    With tears and prayers and tender hands, Mother and sisters made her ready for the long sleep that pain would never mar again, seeing with grateful eyes the beautiful serenity that soon replaced the pathetic patience that had wrung their hearts so long, a
  88. complacent
    contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
    He did not give the complacent wraith any name, but he took her for his heroine and grew quite fond of her, as well he might, for he gifted her with every gift and grace under the sun, and escorted her, unscathed, through trials which would have an
  89. resolving
    analysis into clear-cut components
    Come away, Impertinence, and don't shock my family by calling me names before their faces," answered Amy, resolving that there should be a home with a good wife in it before she set up a salon as a queen of society.
  90. voluminous
    large in volume or bulk
    CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
    HARVEST TIME
    For a year Jo and her Professor worked and waited, hoped and loved, met occasionally, and wrote such voluminous letters that the rise in the price of paper was accounted for, Laurie said.
  91. concoct
    make a concoction (of) by mixing
    Old Hannah never wearied of concocting dainty dishes to tempt a capricious appetite, dropping tears as she worked, and from across the sea came little gifts and cheerful letters, seeming to bring breaths of warmth and fragrance from lands that know
  92. trinket
    cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
    It cost him no effort to be generous, and he would have given Amy all the trinkets in Nice if she would have taken them, but at the same time he felt that he could not change the opinion she was forming of him, and he rather dreaded the keen blue e
  93. ethereal
    characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air
    But whether the sorrow was too vast to be embodied in music, or music too ethereal to uplift a mortal woe, he soon discovered that the Requiem was beyond him just at present.
  94. hovel
    small crude shelter used as a dwelling
    Brown, soft-eyed children ran out from the quaint stone hovels to offer nosegays, or bunches of oranges still on the bough.
  95. unearthly
    suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
    Bless my soul, what unearthly prudence!
  96. festive
    offering fun and gaiety
    One of the captivating children, who seem made to be kissed and cuddled, adorned and adored like little goddesses, and produced for general approval on all festive occasions.
  97. chaotic
    completely unordered and unpredictable and confusing
    Jo glanced into them, and when she came to her own, leaned her chin on the edge, and stared absently at the chaotic collection, till a bundle of old exercise books caught her eye.
  98. betoken
    be a signal for or a symptom of
    For Amy's face was full of the soft brightness which betokens a peaceful heart, her voice had a new tenderness in it, and the cool, prim carriage was changed to a gentle dignity, both womanly and winning.
  99. sonorous
    full and loud and deep
    Prone upon the floor lay Mr. March, with his respectable legs in the air, and beside him, likewise prone, was Demi, trying to imitate the attitude with his own short, scarlet-stockinged legs, both grovelers so seriously absorbed that they were unconscious
  100. listless
    lacking zest or vivacity
    It was gone before she could study it and the listless expression back again.
  101. immaculate
    completely neat and clean
    "I'm going to have the little carriage, and Baptiste can drive, so you'll have nothing to do but hold your umbrella, and keep your gloves nice," returned Amy, with a sarcastic glance at the immaculate kids, which were a weak point with Laurie.
  102. atone
    turn away from sin or do penitence
    Her grandfather often called her 'Beth', and her grandmother watched over her with untiring devotion, as if trying to atone for some past mistake, which no eye but her own could see.
  103. bereft
    sorrowful through loss or deprivation
    Though a very social man, I think Mr. Bhaer would have gone decorously away, and come again another day, but how could he, when Jo shut the door behind him, and bereft him of his hat?
  104. mentor
    a wise and trusted guide and advisor
    My Dear Mentor, Please make my adieux to your aunt, and exult within yourself, for 'Lazy Laurence' has gone to his grandpa, like the best of boys.
  105. dutiful
    willingly obedient out of a sense of duty and respect
    So taught by love and sorrow, Jo wrote her little stories, and sent them away to make friends for themselves and her, finding it a very charitable world to such humble wanderers, for they were kindly welcomed, and sent home comfortable tokens to their mot
  106. inveterate
    habitual
    Everyone was a friend, and she offered kisses to a stranger so confidingly that the most inveterate bachelor relented, and baby-lovers became faithful worshipers.
  107. relent
    give in, as to influence or pressure
    Everyone was a friend, and she offered kisses to a stranger so confidingly that the most inveterate bachelor relented, and baby-lovers became faithful worshipers.
  108. oblivious
    (followed by `to' or `of') lacking conscious awareness of
    Passers-by probably thought them a pair of harmless lunatics, for they entirely forgot to hail a bus, and strolled leisurely along, oblivious of deepening dusk and fog.
  109. millennium
    a span of 1000 years
    The twins pranced behind, feeling that the millennium was at hand, for everyone was so busy with the newcomers that they were left to revel at their own sweet will, and you may be sure they made the most of the opportunity.
  110. accumulate
    get or gather together
    "Rich people have no right to sit down and enjoy themselves, or let their money accumulate for others to waste.
  111. dilapidated
    in deplorable condition
    The fact that a somewhat dilapidated blue one remained stationary above the unprotected bonnet attracted her attention, and looking up, she saw Mr. Bhaer looking down.
  112. bask
    be exposed
    She watched him for a moment with artistic pleasure, thinking how like an Italian he looked, as he lay basking in the sun with uncovered head and eyes full of southern dreaminess, for he seemed to have forgotten her and fallen into a reverie.
  113. droll
    comical in an odd or whimsical manner
    In a minute a hand came down over the page, so that she could not draw, and Laurie's voice said, with a droll imitation of a penitent child, "I will be good, oh, I will be good!"
  114. effigy
    a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
    "You look like the effigy of a young knight asleep on his tomb," she said, carefully tracing the well-cut profile defined against the dark stone.
  115. prank
    a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
    There might have been cause for maternal anxiety, if Demi had not given convincing proofs that he was a true boy, as well as a budding philosopher, for often, after a discussion which caused Hannah to prophesy, with ominous nods, "That child ain't long fo
  116. revolve
    turn on or around an axis or a center
    It was better still to see Amy pay him the daughterly duty and affection which completely won his old heart, and best of all, to watch Laurie revolve about the two, as if never tired of enjoying the pretty picture they made.
  117. balm
    semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation
    The hard, bitter look came back again as he said that, and it troubled Amy, for she did not know what balm to apply.
  118. submissive
    inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination
    Happy, thoughtful times there in the old study which Jo called 'the church of one member', and from which she came with fresh courage, recovered cheerfulness, and a more submissive spirit.
  119. abstinence
    the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)
    I give you leave," returned Laurie, who enjoyed having someone to tease, after his long abstinence from his favorite pastime.
  120. marred
    blemished by injury or rough wear
    No little affectations marred it, and the cordial sweetness of her manner was more charming than the new beauty or the old grace, for it stamped her at once with the unmistakable sign of the true gentlewoman she had hoped to become.
  121. abash
    cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious
    Jo unfolded it, and looked much abashed, for it was one of her own contributions to a paper that paid for poetry, which accounted for her sending it an occasional attempt.
  122. simile
    a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with `like' or `as')
    "Weathercock can without the wind," suggested Jo, as he paused for a simile.
  123. sheaf
    a package of several things tied together for carrying or storing
    "A large sheaf, but I know there's room in your heart for it, Marmee dear," added Meg's tender voice.
  124. disperse
    move away from each other
    After this, the boys dispersed for a final lark, leaving Mrs. March and her daughters under the festival tree.
  125. fastidious
    giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness
    "Now, Laurie, don't be too fastidious and worldly-minded.
  126. downcast
    filled with melancholy and despondency
    Amy preserved a discreet silence, but there was a conscious look in her downcast face that made Laurie sit up and say gravely, "Now I'm going to play brother, and ask questions.
  127. hale
    exhibiting or restored to vigorous good health
    Mr. Laurence, hale and hearty as ever, was quite as much improved as the others by his foreign tour, for the crustiness seemed to be nearly gone, and the old-fashioned courtliness had received a polish which made it kindlier than ever.
  128. pedestrian
    a person who travels by foot
    The moment he read it, he packed his knapsack, bade adieu to his fellow pedestrians, and was off to keep his promise, with a heart full of joy and sorrow, hope and suspense.
  129. apathy
    an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
    Being decidedly nettled herself, and longing to see him shake off the apathy that so altered him, Amy sharpened both tongue and pencil, and began.
  130. uneven
    (of a contest or contestants) not fairly matched as opponents
    Demi's miracle of mechanical skill, though the cover wouldn't shut, Rob's footstool had a wiggle in its uneven legs that she declared was soothing, and no page of the costly book Amy's child gave her was so fair as that on which appeared in tipsy c
  131. plaintive
    expressing sorrow
    It was evident that his mind was not in working order yet, and his ideas needed clarifying, for often in the middle of a plaintive strain, he would find himself humming a dancing tune that vividly recalled the Christmas ball at Nice, especially the
  132. daunt
    cause to lose courage
    Somewhat daunted, Jo righted herself, spread her handkerchief over the devoted ribbons, and putting temptation behind her, hurried on, with increasing dampness about the ankles, and much clashing of umbrellas overhead.
  133. stationary
    not capable of being moved
    The fact that a somewhat dilapidated blue one remained stationary above the unprotected bonnet attracted her attention, and looking up, she saw Mr. Bhaer looking down.
  134. benediction
    a ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection
    But a bird sang blithely on a budding bough, close by, the snowdrops blossomed freshly at the window, and the spring sunshine streamed in like a benediction over the placid face upon the pillow, a face so full of painless peace that those who loved
  135. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    He felt as if suddenly shaken out of a pensive dream and found it impossible to go to sleep again.
  136. perverse
    deviating from what is considered moral or right or proper or good
    But memory turned traitor, and as if possessed by the perverse spirit of the girl, would only recall Jo's oddities, faults, and freaks, would only show her in the most unsentimental aspects--beating mats with her head tied up in a bandanna, barrica
  137. grotto
    a small cave (usually with attractive features)
    Every shadowy nook, where seats invited one to stop and rest, was a mass of bloom, every cool grotto had its marble nymph smiling from a veil of flowers and every fountain reflected crimson, white, or pale pink roses, leaning down to smile at their
  138. pinnacle
    (architecture) a slender upright spire at the top of a buttress of tower
    Then on hearing his destination, she said, "So far away!" in a tone of despair that lifted him on to a pinnacle of hope, but the next minute she tumbled him down again by observing, like one entirely absorbed in the matter .
  139. loiter
    be about
    The dry-goods stores were not down among the counting-houses, banks, and wholesale warerooms, where gentlemen most do congregate, but Jo found herself in that part of the city before she did a single errand, loitering along as if waiting for someon
  140. mortify
    cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
    Now, if she had been the heroine of a moral storybook, she ought at this period of her life to have become quite saintly, renounced the world, and gone about doing good in a mortified bonnet, with tracts in her pocket.
  141. rustle
    make a dry crackling sound
    A pleasant old garden on the borders of the lovely lake, with chestnuts rustling overhead, ivy climbing everywhere, and the black shadow of the tower falling far across the sunny water.
  142. kindle
    catch fire
    "Aren't we proud of those two words, and don't we like to say them?" interrupted Jo, addressing the fire in her turn, and watching with delight the happy light it seemed to kindle in the eyes that had been so tragically gloomy when she saw them las
  143. genteel
    marked by refinement in taste and manners
    It's a superior article, a most desirable color, quite chaste and genteel," he said, shaking out a comfortable gray shawl, and throwing it over Jo's shoulders.
  144. capricious
    determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
    Old Hannah never wearied of concocting dainty dishes to tempt a capricious appetite, dropping tears as she worked, and from across the sea came little gifts and cheerful letters, seeming to bring breaths of warmth and fragrance from lands that know
  145. posed
    arranged for pictorial purposes
    He also possessed a philosophic bent, to the great delight of his grandfather, who used to hold Socratic conversations with him, in which the precocious pupil occasionally posed his teacher, to the undisguised satisfaction of the womenfolk.
  146. inconsistency
    the quality of being inconsistent and lacking a harmonious uniformity among things or parts
    I'm interested in other people's experiences and inconsistencies, and though I can't explain, I remember and use them for my own benefit.
  147. rousing
    capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement
    He tried to resume his former easy, indifferent air, but it was an affectation now, for the rousing had been more effacious than he would confess.
  148. tracing
    a drawing created by superimposing a semitransparent sheet of paper on the original image and copying on it the lines of the original image
    "You look like the effigy of a young knight asleep on his tomb," she said, carefully tracing the well-cut profile defined against the dark stone.
  149. solace
    comfort in disappointment or misery
    "I'll try, Beth." and then and there Jo renounced her old ambition, pledged herself to a new and better one, acknowledging the poverty of other desires, and feeling the blessed solace of a belief in the immortality of love.
  150. aspire
    have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
    The warm spring sunshine brought out all sorts of aspiring ideas, tender hopes, and happy thoughts.
  151. ceaseless
    uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
    How could she 'comfort Father and Mother' when her own heart ached with a ceaseless longing for her sister, how could she 'make the house cheerful' when all its light and warmth and beauty seemed to have deserted it when Beth left the old home for
  152. precipitate
    hurl or throw violently
    With that she rushed across the street so impetuously that she narrowly escaped annihilation from a passing truck, and precipitated herself into the arms of a stately old gentleman, who said, "I beg pardon, ma'am," and looked mortally offended.
  153. penitent
    feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds
    In a minute a hand came down over the page, so that she could not draw, and Laurie's voice said, with a droll imitation of a penitent child, "I will be good, oh, I will be good!"
  154. abject
    of the most contemptible kind
    "A characteristic, but not exactly complimentary, congratulation," returned Laurie, still in an abject attitude, but beaming with satisfaction.
  155. discourage
    try to prevent; show opposition to
    Then, sitting in Beth's little chair close beside him, Jo told her troubles, the resentful sorrow for her loss, the fruitless efforts that discouraged her, the want of faith that made life look so dark, and all the sad bewilderment which we call de
  156. foreboding
    a feeling of evil to come
    If it is a feminine delusion, leave us to enjoy it while we may, for without it half the beauty and the romance of life is lost, and sorrowful forebodings would embitter all our hopes of the brave, tenderhearted little lads, who still love their mo
  157. indulgent
    characterized by or given to yielding to the wishes of someone
    Little Teddy bore a charmed life, for nothing ever happened to him, and Jo never felt any anxiety when he was whisked up into a tree by one lad, galloped off on the back of another, or supplied with sour russets by his indulgent papa, who labored u
  158. surveying
    the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
    "What makes my legs go, Dranpa?" asked the young philosopher, surveying those active portions of his frame with a meditative air, while resting after a go-to-bed frolic one night.
  159. lizard
    relatively long-bodied reptile with usually two pairs of legs and a tapering tail
    "Watching lizards."
  160. stalwart
    having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
    She never had much to show when she came home, but was studying nature, I dare say, while she sat for hours, with her hands folded, on the terrace at Valrosa, or absently sketched any fancy that occurred to her, a stalwart knight carved on a tomb,
  161. implore
    call upon in supplication; entreat
    Such heavy days, such long, long nights, such aching hearts and imploring prayers, when those who loved her best were forced to see the thin hands stretched out to them beseechingly, to hear the bitter cry, "Help me, help me!" and to feel that ther
  162. gull
    mostly white aquatic bird having long pointed wings and short legs
    They had been floating about all the morning, from gloomy St. Gingolf to sunny Montreux, with the Alps of Savoy on one side, Mont St. Bernard and the Dent du Midi on the other, pretty Vevay in the valley, and Lausanne upon the hill beyond, a cloudless b
  163. amiss
    in an improper or mistaken or unfortunate manner
    But owing to the flutter she was in, everything went amiss.
  164. motley
    consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
    "Jo" on the next lid, scratched and worn, And within a motley store Of headless dolls, of schoolbooks torn, Birds and beasts that speak no more, Spoils brought home from the fairy ground Only trod by youthful feet, Dreams of
  165. subdue
    put down by force or intimidation
    The handsome brute, just subdued, stood arching his neck under the tightly drawn rein, with one foot impatiently pawing the ground, and ears pricked up as if listening for the voice that had mastered him.
  166. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    You are so changed, I sometimes think--" there Amy stopped, with a half-timid, half-wistful look, more significant than her unfinished speech.
  167. morsel
    a small amount of solid food; a mouthful
    A literary spinster, with a pen for a spouse, a family of stories for children, and twenty years hence a morsel of fame, perhaps, when, like poor Johnson, I'm old and can't enjoy it, solitary, and can't share it, independent, and don't need it.
  168. serenity
    the absence of mental stress or anxiety
    With tears and prayers and tender hands, Mother and sisters made her ready for the long sleep that pain would never mar again, seeing with grateful eyes the beautiful serenity that soon replaced the pathetic patience that had wrung their hearts so
  169. betrothed
    pledged to be married
    See, then, my Jo--ah, the dear, funny little name--I had a wish to tell something the day I said goodbye in New York, but I thought the handsome friend was betrothed to thee, and so I spoke not.
  170. impetuous
    characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation
    "No, you didn't, you knew perfectly well I never cared for anyone but Jo," Laurie said that in his old, impetuous tone, and turned his face away as he spoke.
  171. quay
    wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline
    He knew Vevay well, and as soon as the boat touched the little quay, he hurried along the shore to La Tour, where the Carrols were living en pension.
  172. eclipse
    one celestial body obscures another
    A sad eclipse of the serene soul, a sharp struggle of the young life with death, but both were mercifully brief, and then the natural rebellion over, the old peace returned more beautiful than ever.
  173. bankrupt
    financially ruined
    Daisy, who was fond of going about peddling kisses, lost her best customer and became bankrupt.
  174. chilly
    appreciably or disagreeably cold
    I'm going to take care of you, so don't cry any more, but come and walk about with me, the wind is too chilly for you to sit still," he said, in the half-caressing, half-commanding way that Amy liked, as he tied on her hat, drew her arm through his
  175. chaste
    abstaining from unlawful sexual intercourse
    It's a superior article, a most desirable color, quite chaste and genteel," he said, shaking out a comfortable gray shawl, and throwing it over Jo's shoulders.
  176. betroth
    give to in marriage
    See, then, my Jo--ah, the dear, funny little name--I had a wish to tell something the day I said goodbye in New York, but I thought the handsome friend was betrothed to thee, and so I spoke not.
  177. bequeath
    leave or give by will after one's death
    Dear, bequeath me that great patience Which has power to sustain A cheerful, uncomplaining spirit In its prison-house of pain.
  178. vehement
    marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid
    She was mortally afraid of being laughed at for surrendering, after her many and vehement declarations of independence.
  179. trio
    a set of three similar things considered as a unit
    Aunt Dodo was chief playmate and confidante of both children, and the trio turned the little house topsy-turvy.
  180. exult
    feel extreme happiness or elation
    My Dear Mentor, Please make my adieux to your aunt, and exult within yourself, for 'Lazy Laurence' has gone to his grandpa, like the best of boys.
  181. asunder
    into parts or pieces
    As she sat with the paper folded between her hands, the charred log fell asunder.
  182. sparkle
    emit or produce sparks
    "That's not for me to say," was Amy's grim reply, but her lips would smile, and there was a traitorous sparkle of the eye which betrayed that she knew her power and enjoyed the knowledge.
  183. frivolous
    not serious in content or attitude or behavior
    You have grown abominably lazy, you like gossip, and waste time on frivolous things, you are contented to be petted and admired by silly people, instead of being loved and respected by wise ones.
  184. pastime
    a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)
    I give you leave," returned Laurie, who enjoyed having someone to tease, after his long abstinence from his favorite pastime.
  185. mercenary
    a person hired to fight for another country than their own
    "You don't really think I am such a mercenary creature as I tried to be once, do you?
  186. naughty
    badly behaved
    There might have been cause for maternal anxiety, if Demi had not given convincing proofs that he was a true boy, as well as a budding philosopher, for often, after a discussion which caused Hannah to prophesy, with ominous nods, "That child ain't long fo
  187. profane
    grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred
    There was a sort of poetic justice about it, after all, for the old lady had been the terror of the boys for miles around, and now the exiles feasted freely on forbidden plums, kicked up the gravel with profane boots unreproved, and played cricket
  188. redress
    make reparations or amends for
    He reluctantly departs, but his wrongs weigh upon his spirit, and by-and-by when an opportunity comes to redress them, he outwits Mamma by a shrewd bargain.
  189. investigating
    the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically
    The children went to him like bees to a honeypot, and establishing themselves on each knee, proceeded to captivate him by rifling his pockets, pulling his beard, and investigating his watch, with juvenile audacity.
  190. ripple
    a small wave on the surface of a liquid
    Earthly joys and hopes and sorrows Break like ripples on the strand Of the deep and solemn river Where her willing feet now stand.
  191. pierce
    penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument
    Burdened with the guilty consciousness of the sequestered tarts, and fearing that Dodo's sharp eyes would pierce the thin disguise of cambric and merino which hid their booty, the little sinners attached themselves to 'Dranpa', who hadn't his spect
  192. effectual
    producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
    It was evident that his mind was not in working order yet, and his ideas needed clarifying, for often in the middle of a plaintive strain, he would find himself humming a dancing tune that vividly recalled the Christmas ball at Nice, especially the stout
  193. quench
    satisfy (thirst)
    Jo quite glowed with triumph when Teddy got quenched in an argument, and thought to herself, as she watched her father's absorbed face, "How he would enjoy having such a man as my Professor to talk with every day!"
  194. capability
    the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally
    Jo rather prided herself upon her shopping capabilities, and particularly wished to impress her escort with the neatness and dispatch with which she would accomplish the business.
  195. soothe
    cause to feel better
    For, as quick to hear her sobbing as she had been to hear her sister's faintest whisper, her mother came to comfort her, not with words only, but the patient tenderness that soothes by a touch, tears that were mute reminders of a greater grief than
  196. meek
    humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
    Meek, mouse-colored donkeys, laden with panniers of freshly cut grass passed by, with a pretty girl in a capaline sitting between the green piles, or an old woman spinning with a distaff as she went.
  197. maneuver
    a military training exercise
    The maneuver did not succeed as well as she expected, however, for though just in the act of setting fire to a funeral pyre, the Professor dropped his torch, metaphorically speaking, and made a dive after the little blue ball.
  198. wary
    marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    It all came about so naturally that no one could complain, and he knew that everybody would be pleased, even Jo. But when our first little passion has been crushed, we are apt to be wary and slow in making a second trial, so Laurie let the days pa
  199. reverie
    an abstracted state of absorption
    She watched him for a moment with artistic pleasure, thinking how like an Italian he looked, as he lay basking in the sun with uncovered head and eyes full of southern dreaminess, for he seemed to have forgotten her and fallen into a reverie.
  200. allude
    make a more or less disguised reference to
    "'Tisn't in mine head, it's in mine mouf," answered literal Demi, putting out his tongue, with a chocolate drop on it, thinking she alluded to confectionery, not ideas.
  201. labored
    requiring or showing effort
    The excellent papa labored under the delusion that he was, and reveled in long discussions with the kindred spirit, till a chance remark of his more observing grandson suddenly enlightened him.
  202. discreet
    marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
    Amy preserved a discreet silence, but there was a conscious look in her downcast face that made Laurie sit up and say gravely, "Now I'm going to play brother, and ask questions.
  203. maternal
    characteristic of a mother
    The bright-eyed girls are quick to see such traits, and will like you all the better for them, and if death, almost the only power that can part mother and son, should rob you of yours, you will be sure to find a tender welcome and maternal cherish
  204. renounce
    turn away from; give up
    "I'll try, Beth." and then and there Jo renounced her old ambition, pledged herself to a new and better one, acknowledging the poverty of other desires, and feeling the blessed solace of a belief in the immortality of love.
  205. blight
    any plant disease resulting in withering without rotting
    He felt that his blighted affections were quite dead now, and though he should never cease to be a faithful mourner, there was no occasion to wear his weeds ostentatiously.
  206. placid
    (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
    But a bird sang blithely on a budding bough, close by, the snowdrops blossomed freshly at the window, and the spring sunshine streamed in like a benediction over the placid face upon the pillow, a face so full of painless peace that those who loved
  207. console
    give moral or emotional strength to
    At one corner of the wide, low wall was a seat, and here Amy often came to read or work, or console herself with the beauty all about her.
  208. congratulate
    say something to someone that expresses praise
    You've improved immensely since then, and I congratulate you.
  209. prone
    having a tendency (to); often used in combination
    Prone upon the floor lay Mr. March, with his respectable legs in the air, and beside him, likewise prone, was Demi, trying to imitate the attitude with his own short, scarlet-stockinged legs, both grovelers so seriously absorbed that they were unco
  210. lull
    make calm or still
    It was fortunate that tea was at hand, to produce a lull and provide refreshment--for they would have been hoarse and faint if they had gone on much longer.
  211. compose
    form the substance of
    "Not so bad as it seems, for I should only plague him if I went, so I might as well stay and plague you a little longer, you can bear it better, in fact I think it agrees with you excellently," and Laurie composed himself for a lounge on the broad
  212. newcomer
    a recent arrival
    The twins pranced behind, feeling that the millennium was at hand, for everyone was so busy with the newcomers that they were left to revel at their own sweet will, and you may be sure they made the most of the opportunity.
  213. omen
    a sign of something about to happen
    The pale roses Amy gave him were the sort that the Italians lay in dead hands, never in bridal wreaths, and for a moment he wondered if the omen was for Jo or for himself, but the next instant his American common sense got the better of sentimental
  214. tranquil
    (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
    Here, cherished like a household saint in its shrine, sat Beth, tranquil and busy as ever, for nothing could change the sweet, unselfish nature, and even while preparing to leave life, she tried to make it happier for those who should remain behind
  215. forlorn
    marked by or showing hopelessness
    It was not only a pleasure, but a duty to answer them, for the poor fellow was forlorn, and needed petting, since Jo persisted in being stonyhearted.
  216. convincing
    causing one to believe the truth of something
    And Amy, who was very dignified in public and very fond in private, gave convincing proofs of the truth of her words.
  217. rapture
    a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
    So the only way in which he could express his rapture was to look at her, with an expression which glorified his face to such a degree that there actually seemed to be little rainbows in the drops that sparkled on his beard.
  218. fringe
    an ornamental border consisting of short lengths of hanging threads or tassels
    Gnarled olive trees covered the hills with their dusky foliage, fruit hung golden in the orchard, and great scarlet anemones fringed the roadside, while beyond green slopes and craggy heights, the Maritime Alps rose sharp and white against the blue
  219. oblige
    force somebody to do something
    "Much obliged.
  220. frail
    physically weak
    With the wreck of her frail body, Beth's soul grew strong, and though she said little, those about her felt that she was ready, saw that the first pilgrim called was likewise the fittest, and waited with her on the shore, trying to see the Shining
  221. muddy
    (of soil) soft and watery
    CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
    UNDER THE UNBRELLA
    While Laurie and Amy were taking conjugal strolls over velvet carpets, as they set their house in order, and planned a blissful future, Mr. Bhaer and Jo were enjoying promenades of a different sort, along muddy
  222. damaged
    harmed or injured or spoiled
    Now I demand the satisfaction of a gentleman," and with that the tall uncle proceeded to toss and tousle the small nephew in a way that damaged his philosophical dignity as much as it delighted his boyish soul.
  223. investigate
    conduct an inquiry or investigation of
  224. delusion
    a mistaken or unfounded opinion or idea
    If it is a feminine delusion, leave us to enjoy it while we may, for without it half the beauty and the romance of life is lost, and sorrowful forebodings would embitter all our hopes of the brave, tenderhearted little lads, who still love their mo
  225. imitate
    reproduce someone's behavior or looks
    As she used them, Jo found herself humming the songs Beth used to hum, imitating Beth's orderly ways, and giving the little touches here and there that kept everything fresh and cozy, which was the first step toward making home happy, though she di
  226. reluctantly
    with reluctance
    There was only a comfortable glow that warmed and did him good without putting him into a fever, and he was reluctantly obliged to confess that the boyish passion was slowly subsiding into a more tranquil sentiment, very tender, a little sad and re
  227. gorgeous
    dazzlingly beautiful
    She never had much to show when she came home, but was studying nature, I dare say, while she sat for hours, with her hands folded, on the terrace at Valrosa, or absently sketched any fancy that occurred to her, a stalwart knight carved on a tomb, a young
  228. rash
    imprudently incurring risk
    Demi paused to consider the new relationship before he compromised himself by the rash acceptance of a bribe, which took the tempting form of a family of wooden bears from Berne.
  229. affliction
    a cause of great suffering and distress
    With a half-repentant, half-amused expression, Laurie gathered up all Jo's letters, smoothed, folded, and put them neatly into a small drawer of the desk, stood a minute turning the ring thoughtfully on his finger, then slowly drew it off, laid it with th
  230. nursery
    a child's room for a baby
    I wonder if I should blossom out half as well as you have, if I tried it?, always _'perwisin'_ I could," said Jo, as she constructed a kite for Demi in the topsy-turvy nursery.
  231. relish
    vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
    But she certainly did grow a little pale and pensive that spring, lost much of her relish for society, and went out sketching alone a good deal.
  232. serene
    not agitated; without losing self-possession
    A sad eclipse of the serene soul, a sharp struggle of the young life with death, but both were mercifully brief, and then the natural rebellion over, the old peace returned more beautiful than ever.
  233. kindred
    group of people related by blood or marriage
    The women telegraphed their approval to one another, and Mr. March, feeling that he had got a kindred spirit, opened his choicest stores for his guest's benefit, while silent John listened and enjoyed the talk, but said not a word, and Mr. Laurence
  234. cordial
    politely warm and friendly
    It also touched her, and she showed that it did, by the cordial tone in which she said .
  235. sentimental
    given to or marked by sentiment or sentimentality
    I'd rather have a hearty English handshake than all the sentimental salutations in France."
  236. energetic
    possessing or exerting or displaying energy
    I intend to work hard," said Amy in her most energetic tone.
  237. array
    an impressive display
    She never had much to show when she came home, but was studying nature, I dare say, while she sat for hours, with her hands folded, on the terrace at Valrosa, or absently sketched any fancy that occurred to her, a stalwart knight carved on a tomb, a young
  238. mute
    expressed without speech
    For, as quick to hear her sobbing as she had been to hear her sister's faintest whisper, her mother came to comfort her, not with words only, but the patient tenderness that soothes by a touch, tears that were mute reminders of a greater grief than
  239. despise
    look down on with disdain
    "Well, I despise you."
  240. pathetic
    deserving or inciting pity
    With tears and prayers and tender hands, Mother and sisters made her ready for the long sleep that pain would never mar again, seeing with grateful eyes the beautiful serenity that soon replaced the pathetic patience that had wrung their hearts so
  241. devote
    dedicate
    Laurie went back to his grandfather, and was so dutifully devoted for several weeks that the old gentleman declared the climate of Nice had improved him wonderfully, and he had better try it again.
  242. quaint
    attractively old-fashioned (but not necessarily authentic)
    Brown, soft-eyed children ran out from the quaint stone hovels to offer nosegays, or bunches of oranges still on the bough.
  243. distract
    draw someone's attention away from something
    Jo wouldn't be put into the opera at any price, and he had to give her up with a "Bless that girl, what a torment she is!" and a clutch at his hair, as became a distracted composer.
  244. propriety
    correct or appropriate behavior
    Well, then Uncle and Aunt were there to play propriety.
  245. dusk
    the time of day immediately following sunset
    It was her favorite way of spending the hour of dusk.
  246. blunder
    an embarrassing mistake
    "They ought to have told me, and not let me go blundering and scolding, when I should have been more kind and patient than ever.
  247. falter
    move hesitatingly, as if about to give way
    Simple sermons, that went straight to the souls of those who listened, for the father's heart was in the minister's religion, and the frequent falter in the voice gave a double eloquence to the words he spoke or read.
  248. orchard
    garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
    Gnarled olive trees covered the hills with their dusky foliage, fruit hung golden in the orchard, and great scarlet anemones fringed the roadside, while beyond green slopes and craggy heights, the Maritime Alps rose sharp and white against the blue
  249. relic
    an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
    Up in the garret, where Jo's unquiet wanderings ended stood four little wooden chests in a row, each marked with its owners name, and each filled with relics of the childhood and girlhood ended now for all.
  250. resume
    take up or begin anew
    He tried to resume his former easy, indifferent air, but it was an affectation now, for the rousing had been more effacious than he would confess.
  251. discretion
    the power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies
    With praiseworthy discretion, the good lady said nothing, and betrayed no sign of enlightenment, but cordially urged Laurie to stay and begged Amy to enjoy his society, for it would do her more good than so much solitude.
  252. caress
    touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
    I'm going to take care of you, so don't cry any more, but come and walk about with me, the wind is too chilly for you to sit still," he said, in the half-caressing, half-commanding way that Amy liked, as he tied on her hat, drew her arm through his
  253. replace
    put something back where it belongs
    But the lecture began to take effect, for there was a wide-awake sparkle in his eyes now and a half-angry, half-injured expression replaced the former indifference.
  254. compassion
    a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
    His first wooing had been of the tempestuous order, and he looked back upon it as if through a long vista of years with a feeling of compassion blended with regret.
  255. worldly
    characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world
    She didn't want Laurie to think her a heartless, worldly creature.
  256. rejoice
    feel happiness or joy
    When Amy and Laurie wrote of their engagement, Mrs. March feared that Jo would find it difficult to rejoice over it, but her fears were soon set at rest, for though Jo looked grave at first, she took it very quietly, and was full of hopes and plans
  257. bough
    any of the larger branches of a tree
    Brown, soft-eyed children ran out from the quaint stone hovels to offer nosegays, or bunches of oranges still on the bough.
  258. errand
    a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
    The dry-goods stores were not down among the counting-houses, banks, and wholesale warerooms, where gentlemen most do congregate, but Jo found herself in that part of the city before she did a single errand, loitering along as if waiting for someon
  259. betray
    deliver to an enemy by treachery
    "That's not for me to say," was Amy's grim reply, but her lips would smile, and there was a traitorous sparkle of the eye which betrayed that she knew her power and enjoyed the knowledge.
  260. refrain
    resist doing something
    Four little names, one on each lid, Carved out by a boyish hand, And underneath there lieth hid Histories of the happy band Once playing here, and pausing oft To hear the sweet refrain, That came and went on the roof aloft,
  261. plague
    any large scale calamity (especially when thought to be sent by God)
    "Not so bad as it seems, for I should only plague him if I went, so I might as well stay and plague you a little longer, you can bear it better, in fact I think it agrees with you excellently," and Laurie composed himself for a lounge on the broad
  262. convince
    make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something
    And Amy, who was very dignified in public and very fond in private, gave convincing proofs of the truth of her words.
  263. approve
    judge to be right or commendable; think well of
    I don't approve of cigars and I will only allow it on condition that you let me put you into my sketch.
  264. pose
    assume a posture as for artistic purposes
  265. ardent
    characterized by intense emotion
    Demi, with infantile penetration, soon discovered that Dodo like to play with 'the bear-man' better than she did him, but though hurt, he concealed his anguish, for he hadn't the heart to insult a rival who kept a mine of chocolate drops in his waistcoat
  266. tragic
    very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
    It was evident that his mind was not in working order yet, and his ideas needed clarifying, for often in the middle of a plaintive strain, he would find himself humming a dancing tune that vividly recalled the Christmas ball at Nice, especially the stout
  267. gravity
    (physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
    She tried to draw away her hand, but as if he guessed the thought that prompted the half-involuntary impulse, Laurie held it fast, and said, with a manly gravity she had never seen in him before .
  268. resignation
    the act of giving up (a claim or office or possession etc.)
    Amy shook her head and opened her sketchbook with an air of resignation, but she had made up her mind to lecture 'that boy' and in a minute she began again.
  269. knit
    make (textiles) by knitting
    But Jo had her own eyes to take care of, and feeling that they could not be trusted, she prudently kept them on the little sock she was knitting, like a model maiden aunt.
  270. eloquence
    powerful and effective language
    Girls are quick to read such signs and feel their eloquence.
  271. picturesque
    suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
    It was a lovely drive, along winding roads rich in the picturesque scenes that delight beauty-loving eyes.
  272. hearty
    showing warm and heartfelt friendliness
    If you'd only set about another task of some sort, you'd soon be your hearty, happy self again, and forget your trouble."
  273. gratify
    make happy or satisfied
    And Mr. Bhaer cleared his throat with a gratified "Hem!" as he stepped into the corner where Jo stood, saying .
  274. engage
    consume all of one's attention or time
    "You are not engaged, I hope?" and Laurie looked very elder-brotherly and grave all of a sudden.
  275. detain
    cause to be slowed down or delayed
    I heard rumors about Fred and you last year, and it's my private opinion that if he had not been called home so suddenly and detained so long, something would have come of it, hey?"
  276. lament
    a cry of sorrow and grief
    Laurie smiled, but he liked the spirit with which she took up a new purpose when a long-cherished one died, and spent no time lamenting.
  277. stroll
    a leisurely walk (usually in some public place)
    CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
    UNDER THE UNBRELLA
    While Laurie and Amy were taking conjugal strolls over velvet carpets, as they set their house in order, and planned a blissful future, Mr. Bhaer and Jo were enjoying promenades of a different sort, along muddy
  278. resolve
    find the solution
    His look and silence, as well as a certain inward self-disapproval, ruffled Amy, and made her resolve to deliver her lecture without delay.
  279. flutter
    flap the wings rapidly or fly with flapping movements
    Then suddenly he tore up his music sheets, one by one, and as the last fluttered out of his hand, he said soberly to himself .
  280. artistic
    relating to or characteristic of art or artists
    She watched him for a moment with artistic pleasure, thinking how like an Italian he looked, as he lay basking in the sun with uncovered head and eyes full of southern dreaminess, for he seemed to have forgotten her and fallen into a reverie.
  281. clutch
    take hold of; grab
    Jo wouldn't be put into the opera at any price, and he had to give her up with a "Bless that girl, what a torment she is!" and a clutch at his hair, as became a distracted composer.
  282. scratch
    cut the surface of; wear away the surface of
    An hour afterward her mother peeped in and there she was, scratching away, with her black pinafore on, and an absorbed expression, which caused Mrs. March to smile and slip away, well pleased with the success of her suggestion.
  283. altered
    changed in form or character without becoming something else
    Being decidedly nettled herself, and longing to see him shake off the apathy that so altered him, Amy sharpened both tongue and pencil, and began.
  284. perpetual
    continuing forever or indefinitely
    Valrosa well deserved its name, for in that climate of perpetual summer roses blossomed everywhere.
  285. barrier
    a structure or object that impedes free movement
    Both felt it, and for a minute looked at one another as if that invisible barrier cast a little shadow over them.
  286. fancied
    formed or conceived by the imagination
    I didn't think you'd been a very bad boy, but I fancied you might have wasted money at that wicked Baden-Baden, lost your heart to some charming Frenchwoman with a husband, or got into some of the scrapes that young men seem to consider a necessary
  287. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc
    But he exulted in private and longed for the time to come when he could give Jo a piece of plate, with a bear and a ragged staff on it as an appropriate coat of arms.
  288. elegant
    refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style
    The minute she put her eyes upon Amy, Meg became conscious that her own dress hadn't a Parisian air, that young Mrs. Moffat would be entirely eclipsed by young Mrs. Laurence, and that 'her ladyship' was altogether a most elegant and graceful woman.
  289. torment
    intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain
    Jo wouldn't be put into the opera at any price, and he had to give her up with a "Bless that girl, what a torment she is!" and a clutch at his hair, as became a distracted composer.
  290. invisible
    impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
    Both felt it, and for a minute looked at one another as if that invisible barrier cast a little shadow over them.
  291. admire
    feel admiration for
    You have grown abominably lazy, you like gossip, and waste time on frivolous things, you are contented to be petted and admired by silly people, instead of being loved and respected by wise ones.
  292. topic
    the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
    "I don't care," and Jo shut the door, feeling that food was an uncongenial topic just then.
  293. significance
    the quality of being significant
    She put them in his buttonhole as a peace offering, and he stood a minute looking down at them with a curious expression, for in the Italian part of his nature there was a touch of superstition, and he was just then in that state of half-sweet, half-bitte
  294. cherish
    be fond of; be attached to
    Laurie smiled, but he liked the spirit with which she took up a new purpose when a long-cherished one died, and spent no time lamenting.
  295. sphere
    a three-dimensional closed surface such that every point on the surface is equidistant from the center
    "I may be strong-minded, but no one can say I'm out of my sphere now, for woman's special mission is supposed to be drying tears and bearing burdens.
  296. mar
    make imperfect
    With tears and prayers and tender hands, Mother and sisters made her ready for the long sleep that pain would never mar again, seeing with grateful eyes the beautiful serenity that soon replaced the pathetic patience that had wrung their hearts so
  297. harvest
    the gathering of a ripened crop
    But mothers, sisters, and friends may help to make the crop a small one, and keep many tares from spoiling the harvest, by believing, and showing that they believe, in the possibility of loyalty to the virtues which make men manliest in good women'
  298. recover
    regain or make up for
    He was disgusted with himself, surprised at his own fickleness, and full of a queer mixture of disappointment and relief that he could recover from such a tremendous blow so soon.
  299. persist
    be persistent, refuse to stop
    The wound persisted in healing with a rapidity that astonished him, and instead of trying to forget, he found himself trying to remember.
  300. retire
    withdraw from active participation
    The song was considered a great success, and the singer retired covered with laurels.
  301. contribution
    a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause
    Jo unfolded it, and looked much abashed, for it was one of her own contributions to a paper that paid for poetry, which accounted for her sending it an occasional attempt.
  302. bud
    a partially opened flower
    But a bird sang blithely on a budding bough, close by, the snowdrops blossomed freshly at the window, and the spring sunshine streamed in like a benediction over the placid face upon the pillow, a face so full of painless peace that those who loved
  303. escort
    accompany or escort
    He did not give the complacent wraith any name, but he took her for his heroine and grew quite fond of her, as well he might, for he gifted her with every gift and grace under the sun, and escorted her, unscathed, through trials which would have an
  304. lap
    the upper side of the thighs of a seated person
    Everything about her mutely suggested love and sorrow, the blotted letters in her lap, the black ribbon that tied up her hair, the womanly pain and patience in her face, even the little ebony cross at her throat seemed pathetic to Laurie, for he ha
  305. solitary
    of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or colonies
    "No, nor felt such thorns," returned Laurie, with his thumb in his mouth, after a vain attempt to capture a solitary scarlet flower that grew just beyond his reach.
  306. embrace
    squeeze (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
    "Me loves evvybody," she once said, opening her arms, with her spoon in one hand, and her mug in the other, as if eager to embrace and nourish the whole world.
  307. seize
    take hold of; grab
    Leaving his sentence unfinished, he seized pen and paper and wrote to Jo, telling her that he could not settle to anything while there was the least hope of her changing her mind.
  308. woe
    misery resulting from affliction
    But whether the sorrow was too vast to be embodied in music, or music too ethereal to uplift a mortal woe, he soon discovered that the Requiem was beyond him just at present.
  309. feeble
    pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
    The feeble fingers were never idle, and one of her pleasures was to make little things for the school children daily passing to and fro, to drop a pair of mittens from her window for a pair of purple hands, a needlebook for some small mother of man
  310. blossom
    reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
    Valrosa well deserved its name, for in that climate of perpetual summer roses blossomed everywhere.
  311. peaceful
    not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
    It was well for all that this peaceful time was given them as preparation for the sad hours to come, for by-and-by, Beth said the needle was 'so heavy', and put it down forever.
  312. survey
    consider in a comprehensive way
  313. grim
    harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
    "That's not for me to say," was Amy's grim reply, but her lips would smile, and there was a traitorous sparkle of the eye which betrayed that she knew her power and enjoyed the knowledge.
  314. flourish
    grow vigorously
    The correspondence flourished famously, and letters flew to and fro with unfailing regularity all through the early spring.
  315. stout
    having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
    It was evident that his mind was not in working order yet, and his ideas needed clarifying, for often in the middle of a plaintive strain, he would find himself humming a dancing tune that vividly recalled the Christmas ball at Nice, especially the sto
  316. button
    a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
    Why, it seems only yesterday that I was buttoning Amy's pinafore, and pulling your hair when you teased.
  317. invent
    come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
    Couldn't we invent a rich relation, who shall obligingly die out there in Germany, and leave him a tidy little fortune?" said Laurie, when they began to pace up and down the long drawing room, arm in arm, as they were fond of doing, in memory of th
  318. lively
    full of life and energy
    She asked his opinion on all subjects, she was interested in everything he did, made charming little presents for him, and sent him two letters a week, full of lively gossip, sisterly confidences, and captivating sketches of the lovely scenes about
  319. linger
    remain present although waning or gradually dying
    Brooms and dishcloths never could be as distasteful as they once had been, for Beth had presided over both, and something of her housewifely spirit seemed to linger around the little mop and the old brush, never thrown away.
  320. grateful
    feeling or showing gratitude
    Amy tried to please, and succeeded, for she was grateful for the many pleasures he gave her, and repaid him with the little services to which womanly women know how to lend an indescribable charm.