Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,
Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.
It is time to relax and fully let go.
There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.
Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.
This is your time and your space.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.
There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.
Happy listening.
Aunt March put on her glasses and took a look at the girl for she did not know her in this new mood.
Meg hardly knew herself.
She felt so brave and independent,
So glad to defend John and assert her right to love him if she liked.
Aunt March saw she had been wrong and after a little pause made a fresh start saying,
As mild as she could,
Now Meg,
My dear,
Be reasonable and take my advice.
I mean it kindly.
I don't want you to spoil your whole life by making a mistake at the beginning.
You ought to marry well and help your family.
It's your duty to make a rich match and it ought to be impressed upon.
Father and mother don't think so.
They like John,
Though he is poor.
Your parents,
My dear,
Have no more worldly wisdom than two babies.
I'm glad of it,
Cried Meg stoutly.
Aunt March took no notice but went on with her lecture.
This rook is poor.
He hasn't got any rich relations,
Has he?
No,
But he has many warm friends.
You can't live on friends.
Try to see how cool they'll grow.
He hasn't any business,
Has he?
Not yet.
Mr.
Lawrence is going to help him.
That won't last long.
James Lawrence is a crotchety old fellow and not to be depended upon.
So you intend to marry a man without money,
Position or business and go on working harder than you do now when you might be comfortable all your days by minding me and doing better?
I thought you had more sense,
Meg.
I couldn't do any better if I waited half my life.
John is good and wise.
He's got heaps of talent.
He's willing to work and sure to get on.
He's so energetic and brave.
Everyone likes and respects him and I'm proud to think he cares for me.
I'm so poor and young and silly,
Said Meg,
Looking prettier than ever in her earnestness.
He knows you've got rich relations,
Child.
That's the secret of his liking,
I suspect.
Aunt March,
How dare you say such a thing?
John is above such meanness and I won't listen to you a minute if you talk so,
Cried Meg indignantly,
Forgetting everything but the injustice of the old lady's suspicions.
My John wouldn't marry for money any more than I would.
We are willing to work and we mean to wait.
I'm not afraid of being poor for I've been happy so far and I know I shall be with him because he loves me and I.
.
.
Meg stopped there,
Remembering all of a sudden she hadn't made up her mind yet.
She had told her John to go away and she didn't want him overhearing her inconsistent remarks.
Aunt March was very angry.
She had set her heart on having her pretty niece make such a fine match and something in the girl's happy young face made the lonely old woman feel sad and sour.
Well,
I wash my hands of the whole affair.
You are a willful child and you lost more than you know by this piece of folly.
No,
I won't stop.
I'm disappointed in you and haven't spirits to see your father now.
Don't expect anything from me when you're married.
Your Mr.
Book's friends must take care of you.
I've done with you forever.
Then slamming the door in Meg's face,
Aunt March drove off in a high dodgion.
She seemed to take all the girl's courage with her for when left alone,
Meg stood a moment and decided whether to laugh or cry.
Before she could make up her mind,
She was taken possession of by Mr.
Brook who said all in one breath,
I couldn't help hearing Meg.
Thank you for defending me and Aunt March for proving that you do care for me a little bit.
I didn't know how much until she abused you,
Began Meg,
And I needn't go away but may stay and be happy,
May I dear?
Here was another fine chance to make the crushing speech and the stately exit but Meg never thought of doing either and disgraced herself forever in Joe's eyes by meekly whispering,
Yes John,
And hiding her face on Mr.
Brook's waistcoat.
Fifteen minutes after Aunt March's departure,
Joe came softly downstairs,
Paused an instant at the parlour door and hearing no sound within,
Nodded and smiled with a satisfied expression saying to herself,
She sent him away as we planned and that affair's settled.
I'll go and hear the fun and have a good laugh over it.
But poor Joe never got her laugh for she was transfixed upon the threshold by a spectacle which held her there,
Staring with her mouth nearly as wide open as her eyes.
Going to exult over a fallen enemy and to praise a strong-minded sister for the banishment of an objectionable lover,
It certainly was a shock to behold the aforesaid enemy serenely sitting on the sofa with the strong-minded sister enthroned upon his knee and wearing an expression of the most abject submission.
Joe gave a sort of gasp as if a cold shower bath had suddenly fallen upon her for such an unexpected turning of the tables actually took her breath away.
At the odd sound the lovers turned and saw her.
Meg jumped up looking both proud and shy but that man,
As Joe called him,
Actually laughed and said coolly as he kissed the astonished newcomer,
Sister Joe,
Congratulate us.
That was adding insult to injury.
It was altogether too much and making some wild demonstration with her hands Joe vanished without a word.
Rushing upstairs she startled the invalids by exclaiming tragically she burst into the room.
Oh do someone go down quick!
John Brookes acting dreadfully and Meg likes it!
Mr.
And Mrs.
March left the room with speed and casting herself upon the bed Joe cried and scolded tempestuously as she told the awful news to Beth and Amy.
The little girls however considered it a most agreeable thing and an interesting event and Joe got little comfort from them so she went up to her refuge in the garret and confided her troubles to the rats.
Nobody ever knew what went on in the parlour that afternoon but a great deal of talking was done and quiet Mr.
Brooke astonished his friends by the eloquence and spirit with which he pleaded his suit,
Told his plans and persuaded them to arrange everything just as he wanted it.
The tea bell rang before he'd finished describing the paradise which he meant to earn for Meg and he proudly took her into supper looking so happy that Joe hadn't heart to be jealous or dismal.
Amy was very much impressed by his devotion and Meg's dignity.
Beth beamed at them from a distance while Mr.
And Mrs.
March surveyed the young couple with such tender satisfaction it was perfectly evident Aunt March was right in calling them as unworldly as a pair of babies.
No one ate much but everyone looked very happy and the old room seemed to brighten up amazingly when the first romance of the family began there.
You can't say nothing pleasant ever happens now can you Meg?
Said Amy trying to decide how she would group the lovers in the sketch she was planning to make.
No I'm sure I can't.
How much has happened since I said that?
Seems like a year ago answered Meg who was in a blissful dream lifted far above such common things as bread and butter.
The joys come close upon the sorrows this time and I rather think the changes have begun said Mrs.
March.
In most families there comes now and then a year full of events this has been such a one but it all ends well after all.
Hope the next will end better muttered Joe who found it very hard to see Meg absorbed in a stranger before her.
I hope the third year from this will end better I mean it shall if I live to work out my plans said Mr.
Brooks smiling at Meg as if everything had come possible to him now.
Doesn't it seem very long to wait?
Asked Amy who was in a hurry for the wedding.
I've got so much to learn before I should be ready it seems a short time to me answered Meg with a sweet gravity in her face never seen there before.
You have only to wait and I have to do the work said John beginning his labors by picking up Meg's napkin with an expression which caused Joe to shake her head then say to herself with an air of relief as the front door banged here comes Laurie now we'll have a little sensible conversation but Joe was mistaken for Laurie came prancing in overflowing with spirits bearing a great bridal looking bouquet for Mrs.
John Brooke and evidently laboring under the delusion the whole affair had been brought about by his excellent management.
I knew Brooke would have it all his own way he always does when he makes up his mind to accomplish anything it's done though the sky falls said Laurie when he presented his offering and his congratulations.
Much obliged for that recommendation said Mr.
Brooke I take it as a good omen for the future and invite you to my wedding on the spot I'll come if I'm at the ends of the earth for the sight of Joe's face alone on that occasion will be worth a long journey said Laurie.
You don't look festive mum what's the matter?
I don't approve of the match said Joe solemnly but I've made up my mind to bear it and I'll not say a word against it.
You don't know how hard it is for me to give up Meg she continued with a little quiver in her voice.
Don't give her up you only go halves said Laurie consolingly.
It can never be the same again I've lost my dearest friend sighed Joe.
You got me anyhow I'm not good for much I know said Laurie but I'll stand by you all the days of my life upon my word and Laurie meant what he said.
I know you will I'm ever so much obliged you're a great comfort to me Teddy returned Joe gratefully shaking hands.
Well now don't be dismal there's a good fellow it's all right you'll see Meg's happy Brooke will fly around and get settled immediately grandpa will attend to him and it'll be very jolly to see Meg in her own little house we'll have capital times after she's gone I shall be through college before long then we'll go abroad on some nice trip or another wouldn't that console you?
I rather think it would but there's no knowing what may happen in three years said Joe thoughtfully.
That's true don't you wish you could take a look forward and see where we'll be then I do.
I think not I might see something sad and everyone looks so happy now I don't believe there could be much improved.
Joe's eyes went slowly around the room brightening as they looked for the prospect was a pleasant one.
Father and mother meanwhile sat together quietly reliving the first chapter of the romance which for them began some 20 years ago.
Amy was drawing the lovers who sat apart in a beautiful world of their own the light of which touched their faces with a grace the little artist could not copy.
Beth lay on her sofa talking cheerily with her old friend who held her little hand as if he felt it possessed the power to lead him along the peaceful way she walked.
Joe lounged in her favorite low seat with the grave quiet look which best became her and Laurie leaning on the back of the chair his chin on a level with her curly head smiled with his friendliest aspect and nodded at her in the long glass which reflected them both.
So grouped the curtain falls upon Meg,
Joe,
Beth and Amy whether it ever rises again depends upon the reception given to the first act of the domestic drama called Little Women
