`` In novels , the girls show it by starting and blushing , fainting away , growing thin , and acting like fools . Now Meg does not do anything of the sort . She eats and drinks and sleeps like a sensible creature , she looks straight in my face when I talk about that man , and only blushes a little bit when Teddy jokes about lovers . I forbid him to do it , but he does n't mind me as he ought . '' `` Then you fancy that Meg is not interested in John ? '' `` Who ? '' cried Jo , staring . `` Mr. Brooke . I call him ` John ' now . We fell into the way of doing so at the hospital , and he likes it . '' `` Oh , dear ! I know you 'll take his part . He 's been good to Father , and you wo n't send him away , but let Meg marry him , if she wants to . Mean thing ! To go petting Papa and helping you , just to wheedle you into liking him . '' And Jo pulled her hair again with a wrathful tweak . `` My dear , do n't get angry about it , and I will tell you how it happened . John went with me at Mr. Laurence 's request , and was so devoted to poor Father that we could n't help getting fond of him . He was perfectly open and honorable about Meg , for he told us he loved her , but would earn a comfortable home before he asked her to marry him . He only wanted our leave to love her and work for her , and the right to make her love him if he could .
He is a truly excellent young XXXXX , and we could not refuse to listen to him , but I will not consent to Meg 's engaging herself so young . ''
Papa bit creature face hair hospital leave man part way