air--love, I mean--and she's going very fast.
She's got most of the symptoms--is twittery and cross, doesn't eat,
lies awake, and mopes in corners. I caught her singing that song he
gave her, and once she said 'John', as you do, and then turned as red
as a poppy. Whatever shall we do?" said Jo, looking ready for any
measures, however violent.

"Nothing but wait. Let her alone, be kind and patient, and Father's
coming will settle everything," replied her mother.

"Here's a note to you, Meg, all sealed up. How odd! Teddy never seals
mine," said Jo next day, as she distributed the contents of the little
post office.

Mrs. March and Jo were deep in their own affairs, when a sound from Meg
made them look up to see her staring at her note with a frightened face.

"My child, what is it?" cried her mother, running to her, while Jo
tried to take the paper which had done the mischief.

"It's all a mistake, he didn't send it. Oh, Jo, how could you do it?"
and Meg hid her face in her hands, crying as if her heart were quite
broken.

"Me! I've done nothing! What's she talking about?" cried Jo,
bewildered.

Meg's mild eyes kindled with anger as she pulled a crumpled note from
her pocket and threw it at Jo, saying reproachfully, "You wrote it, and
that bad boy helped you. How could you be so rude, so mean, and cruel
to us both?"

Jo hardly heard her, for she and her mother were reading the note,
which was written in a peculiar hand.

"My Dearest Margaret,

"I can no longer restrain my passion, and must know my fate before I
return. I dare not tell your parents yet, but I think they would
consent if they knew that we adored one another. Mr. Laurence will
help me to some good place, and then, my sweet girl, you will make me
happy. I implore you to say nothing to your family yet, but to send
one word of hope through Laurie to,

"Your devoted John."

"Oh, the little villain! That's the way he meant to pay me for keeping
my word to Mother. I'll give him a hearty scolding and bring him over
to beg pardon," cried Jo, burning to execute immediate justice. But
her mother held her back, saying, with a look she seldom wore...

"Stop, Jo, you must clear yourself first. You have played so many
pranks that I am afraid you have had a hand in this."

"On my word, Mother, I haven't! I never saw that note before, and
don't know anything about it, as true as I live!" said Jo, so earnestly
that they believed her.