than the King children, for they were fighting and fretting all
the time, in spite of their money."

"So I did, Beth. Well, I think we are. For though we do
have to work, we make fun of ourselves, and are a pretty jolly
set, as Jo would say."

"Jo does use such slang words!" observed Amy, with a
reproving look at the long figure stretched on the rug.

Jo immediately sat up, put her hands in her pockets, and
began to whistle.

"Don't, Jo. It's so boyish!"

"That's why I do it."

"I detest rude, unladylike girls!"

"I hate affected, niminy-piminy chits!"

"Birds in their little nests agree," sang Beth, the
peacemaker, with such a funny face that both sharp voices
softened to a laugh, and the "pecking" ended for that time.

"Really, girls, you are both to be blamed," said Meg,
beginning to lecture in her elder-sisterly fashion. "You are old
enough to leave off boyish tricks, and to behave better,
Josephine. It didn't matter so much when you were a little
girl, but now you are so tall, and turn up your hair, you should