They are not very wearing, so they'll keep." and Jo stitched away, with a wise nod which set her mother's heart at rest about her for the present at least.
While apparently absorbed in her own affairs, Jo watched Beth, and after many conflicting conjectures, finally settled upon one which seemed to explain the change in her.

A slight incident gave Jo the clue to the mystery, she thought, and lively fancy, loving heart did the rest.

She was affecting to write busily one Saturday afternoon, when she and Beth were alone together.

Yet as she scribbled, she kept her eye on her sister, who seemed unusually quiet.

Sitting at the window, Beth's work often dropped into her lap, and she leaned her head upon her hand, in a dejected attitude, while her eyes rested on the dull, autumnal landscape.