As the laugh subsided, Mrs.March began to thank Mr.Brooke for his faithful care of her husband, at which Mr.Brooke suddenly remembered that Mr.March needed rest, and seizing Laurie, he precipitately retired.

Then the two invalids were ordered to repose, which they did, by both sitting in one big chair and talking hard.
Mr.March told how he had longed to surprise them, and how, when the fine weather came, he had been allowed by his doctor to take advantage of it, how devoted Brooke had been, and how he was altogether a most estimable and upright young man.

Why Mr.March paused a minute just there, and after a glance at Meg, who was violently poking the fire, looked at his wife with an inquiring lift of the eyebrows, I leave you to imagine.

Also why Mrs.March gently nodded her head and asked, rather abruptly, if he wouldn't like to have something to eat.

Jo saw and understood the look, and she stalked grimly away to get wine and beef tea, muttering to herself as she slammed the door, "I hate estimable young men with brown eyes!" There never was such a Christmas dinner as they had that day.