`` It ca n't seem so without Marmee and little Pip , '' sighed Beth , glancing with full eyes at the empty cage above her head . `` Here 's Mother , dear , and you shall have another bird tomorrow , if you want it . '' As she spoke , Mrs. March came and took her place among them , looking as if her holiday had not been much pleasanter than theirs . `` Are you satisfied with your experiment , girls , or do you want another week of it ? '' she asked , as Beth nestled up to her and the rest turned toward her with brightening faces , as flowers turn toward the sun . `` I do n't ! '' cried Jo decidedly . `` Nor I , '' echoed the others . `` You think then , that it is better to have a few duties and live a little for others , do you ? '' `` Lounging and larking does n't pay , '' observed Jo , shaking her head . `` I 'm tired of it and mean to go to work at something right off . '' `` Suppose you learn plain cooking . That 's a useful accomplishment , which no woman should be without , '' said Mrs. March , laughing inaudibly at the recollection of Jo 's dinner party , for she had met Miss Crocker and heard her account of it . `` Mother , did you go away and let everything be , just to see how we 'd get on ? '' cried Meg , who had had suspicions all day . `` Yes , I wanted you to see how the comfort of all depends on each doing her share faithfully . While Hannah and I did your work , you got on pretty well , though I do n't think you were very happy or amiable . So I thought , as a little lesson , I would show you what happens when everyone thinks only of herself . Do n't you feel that it is pleasanter to help one another , to have daily duties which make leisure sweet when it comes , and to bear and forbear , that home may be comfortable and lovely to us all ? '' `` We do , Mother , we do ! ''
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comfort cooking girls head lesson others rest share sun suspicions