It would have been selfish to frighten you all when Marmee was so anxious about Meg, and Amy away, and you so happy with Laurie--at least I thought so then." "And I thought you loved him, Beth, and I went away because I couldn't," cried Jo, glad to say all the truth.
Beth looked so amazed at the idea that Jo smiled in spite of her pain, and added softly, "Then you didn't, dearie?
I was afraid it was so, and imagined your poor little heart full of lovelornity all that while." "Why, Jo, how could I, when he was so fond of you ?" asked Beth, as innocently as a child.

"I do love him dearly.

He is so good to me, how can I help It?
But he could never be anything to me but my brother.

I hope he truly will be, sometime." "Not through me," said Jo decidedly.

"Amy is left for him, and they would suit excellently, but I have no heart for such things, now.