Being Neighborly

           "Whatintheworldareyougoingtodonow,Jo?"askedMegonesnowyafternoon,ashersistercametrampingthroughthehall,inrubberboots,oldsack,andhood,withabroominonehandandashovelintheother.

           "Goingoutforexercise,"answeredJowithamischievoustwinkleinhereyes.

           "Ishouldthinktwolongwalksthismorningwouldhavebeenenough!It’scoldanddullout,andIadviseyoutostaywarmanddrybythefire,asIdo,"saidMegwithashiver.

           "Nevertakeadvice!Can’tkeepstillallday,andnotbeingapussycat,Idon’tliketodozebythefire.Ilikeadventures,andI’mgoingtofindsome."

           MegwentbacktotoastherfeetandreadIvanhoe,andJobegantodigpathswithgreatenergy.Thesnowwaslight,andwithherbroomshesoonsweptapathallroundthegarden,forBethtowalkinwhenthesuncameoutandtheinvaliddollsneededair.Now,thegardenseparatedtheMarches’housefromthatofMr.Laurence.Bothstoodinasuburbofthecity,whichwasstillcountry-like,withgrovesandlawns,largegardens,andquietstreets.Alowhedgepartedthetwoestates.Ononesidewasanold,brownhouse,lookingratherbareandshabby,robbedofthevinesthatinsummercovereditswallsandtheflowers,whichthensurroundedit.Ontheothersidewasastatelystonemansion,plainlybetokeningeverysortofcomfortandluxury,fromthebigcoachhouseandwell-keptgroundstotheconservatoryandtheglimpsesoflovelythingsonecaughtbetweentherichcurtains.