Little Women - Chapter 35

Whatever his motive ¹ might have been, Laurie studied to some purpose that year, for he graduated with honor, and gave the Latin oration ² with the grace of a Phillips and the eloquence ³ of a Demosthenes, so his friends said. They were all there, his grandfather - oh, so proud - Mr. and Mrs. March, John and Meg, Jo and Beth, and all exulted ⁴ over him with the sincere admiration ⁵ which boys make light of at the time, but fail to win from the world by any after-triumphs., ,"I've got to stay for this confounded supper, but I shall be home early tomorrow. You'll come and meet me as usual, girls?" Laurie said, as he put the sisters into the carriage after the joys of the day were over. He said 'girls', but he meant Jo, for she was the only one who kept up the old custom. She had not the heart to refuse her splendid, successful boy anything, and answered warmly . . ., ,"I'll come, Teddy, rain or shine, and march before you, playing 'Hail the conquering hero comes' on a jew's-harp.", , ,Evening meditation ⁶ and morning work somewhat allayed ⁷ her fears, and having decided ⁸ that she wouldn't be vain enough to think people were going to propose when she had given them every reason to know what her answer would be, she set forth ⁹ at the appointed time, hoping Teddy wouldn't do anything to make her hurt his poor feelings. A call at Meg's, and a refreshing ¹⁰ sniff ¹¹ and sip ¹² at the Daisy and Demijohn, still further fortified ¹³ her for the tete-a-tete, but when she saw a stalwart figure looming ¹⁴ in the distance, she had a strong desire to turn about and run away., ,"Where's the jew's-harp, Jo?" cried Laurie, as soon as he was within speaking distance., ,He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。,He delivered an oration on the decline of family values.他发表了有关家庭价值观的衰退的演说 。