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This episode is brought to you by Hasty Sketchings.

Tonight, we'll read the next chapter of Good Wives, written by Luisa May Alcott titled Lazy Lawrence. This is also known as the second half of the Little Women novel

and is considered the 39th chapter as part of that work as a whole. In the last episode, we followed Meg's life as a new mom of twins and her struggles to balance her roles of mother with wife. The motherly side had taken completely over for months and her relationship with John was more distant than either of them liked. Luckily, Meg sought the good advice from her mother, and found creative ways to find time not just for her husband, but for herself, along with her babies. Tonight's chapter shifts the focus back to Laurie, who, after his time in Europe, has settled into a state of idleness and self-indulgence. Still nursing the wounds of Joe's rejection, he lounges about, feeling purposeless despite his wealth and charm. He has fallen into the role of a lazy young man, avoiding serious

work or ambition, much to the disapproval of Amy.

Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. Lori went to niece, intending to stay a week and remained a month. He was tired of wandering about alone, and Amy's familiar presence seemed to give a home-like charm to the foreign scenes in which she bore a part. He rather missed the petting he used to receive, and enjoyed a taste of it again. For no attentions, however flattering from strangers, were half so pleasant as the sisterly adoration of the girls at home. Amy never would pet him like the others, but she was very glad to see him now and quite clung to him, feeling that he was the representative of the dear family for whom she longed more than she would confess. They naturally took comfort in each other's society, and were much together, riding, walking, dancing, or doodling, for, at least, no one can be very industrious during the gay season. But while apparently amusing themselves in the most careless fashion, they were half consciously making discoveries and forming opinions about each other. Amy rose daily in the estimation of her friend, but he sunken hers, and each felt the truth before a word was spoken. Amy tried to please and succeeded, for she was grateful for the many pleasures he gave her, and repaid him with the little services to which womanly women know how to lend an indescribable charm. Laurie made no effort of any kind, but just let himself drift along as comfortably as possible, trying to forget, and feeling that all women owed him a kind word because one had been cold to him. It cost him no effort to be generous, and he would have given Amy all the trinkets and niece if she would have taken them. But, at the same time, he felt that he could not change the opinion she was forming of him, And he rather dreaded the keen blue eyes that seemed to watch him with such half sorrowful, half-scornful surprise. All the rest have gone to Monaco for the day. I preferred to stay at home and write letters. They are done now, and I am going to Velro so to sketch. "'Will you come?' said Amy. As she joined Lori, one lovely day when he lounged in, as usual, about noon. Well, yes, but isn't it rather warm for such a long walk?' He answered slowly, for the shaded salon looked inviting

after the glare without.

I'm going to have a little carriage

and Baptiste can drive.

So you live nothing to do,

but hold your umbrella and keep your gloves nice.

Returned Amy with a sarcastic glance

at the immaculate kids, which were a weak point with Laurie. Then I'll go with pleasure, and he put out his hand for her sketchbook. But she tucked it under her arm with a sharp, don't trouble yourself. It's no exertion to me, but you don't look equal to it."

Laurie lifted his eyebrows and followed at a leisurely pace as she ran downstairs. But when they got into the carriage, he took the reins himself and left little bathees nothing to do but fold his arms and fall asleep on his perch. The two never quarreled. Amy was too well bred, and just now Laurie was too lazy, so in a minute he peeped under her hat-brem with an inquiring air. answered with a smile, and they went on together in the most amicable manner. It was a lovely drive along winding roads rich in the picturesque scenes that delight beauty-loving eyes. Here an ancient monastery, once the solemn chanting of the monks came down to them. There, a bare-legged shepherd in wooden shoes pointed at and rough jacket over one shoulder sat piping on a stone while his goats skipped among the rocks or lay at his feet. Meek, mouse-colored donkeys laid in with paniers of freshly cut grass, passed by with a pretty girl sitting between the green piles, or an old woman spinning as she went.

Brown soft-eyed children ran out from the quaint stone huffles to offer nose gaze, or bunches of oranges still on the bow. Nerald olive trees covered the hills with their dusky foliage, fruit hung golden in the orchard, and great scarlet anemones fringe the roadside. While beyond green slopes and craggy heights, the maritime alps rose sharp and white against the blue, Italian sky. Rosa wella will deserve its name,

four, in that climate of perpetual summer, roses blossomed everywhere. They overhung the archway, thrust themselves between the bars of the great gate with a sweet welcome to passers-by, and lined the avenue, winding through lemon trees and feathery palms up to the villa on the hill. Every shadowy nook, where seats invited, one to stop and rest, was a mass of bloom. Every cool grotto had its marble nymph smiling from a veil of flowers. And every fountain reflected crimson, white, or pale pink roses, leaning down to smile at their own beauty. Rose's covered the walls of the house, draped the cornices, climbed the pillars, and ran riot over the balustrade of the wide terrace, whence one looked down on the sunny Mediterranean, and the white walled city on its shore. This is a regular honeymoon paradise, isn't it? Did you ever see such roses? Asked Amy, pausing on the terrace to enjoy the view, and a luxurious whiff of perfume that came wandering by. No, nor felt such thorns, returned Laurie, with his thumb in his mouth. After a vain attempt to capture a solitary scarlet flower, they grew just beyond his reach. Try lower down and pick those that have no thorns," said Amy, gathering three of the tiny cream-colored ones that starred the wall behind her. She put them in his buttonhole as a peace offering, and he stood a minute, looking down at them with a curious expression. For, in the Italian part of his nature, there was a touch of superstition, and he was just then in that state of half-sweet, half-bitter melancholy, when imaginative young men find significance in trifles, and food for romance everywhere. He had thought of Joe in reaching after the thorny red rose, for vivid flowers became her, and she had often worn ones like that from the greenhouse at home. The pale roses Amy gave him were the sort that the Italians lay in dead hands. Never in bridal wreaths. And for a moment, he wondered if the Omen was for Joe or for him, but the next instant, his American common sense got the better of sentimentality, and he laughed a heartier laugh than Amy had heard since he came. It's good advice. You'd better take it and save your fingers," she said, thinking her speech amused him. Thank you, I will," he answered in just. And a few months later, he did it in earnest. Laurie, when are you going to your grandfather? She asked presently, as she settled herself on a rustic seat. Very soon. You have said that a dozen times within the last three weeks. I dare say, short answers save trouble. He expects you, and you really ought to go. Hospital creature, or I know it. Then why don't you do it? Natural depravity, I suppose. indence, you mean? It's really dreadful. And Amy looks severe. Not so bad as it seems. For I should only plague him if I went. So I might as well stay away and plague you a little longer. You can bear it better. In fact, I think it agrees with you excellently. And Lori composed himself for a lounge on the broad ledge of the Ballastrade. Amy shook her head and opened her sketchbook with an air of resignation. But she had made a permine to lecture that boy, and in a minute she began again. What are you doing just now? Watching lizards? No, no, I mean, what do you intend and wish to do? Smoke a cigarette if you'll allow me. How provoking you are. I don't approve of cigars, and I will allow it only on the condition that you let me put you into my sketch. I need a figure. With all the pleasure in life, how will you have me? Full length or three quarters? On my head or my heels? I should respectfully suggest a recumbent posture, then put yourself in also. Stay as you are, and go to sleep if you like. I intend to work hard," said Amy in her most energetic tone. What delightful enthusiasm, and as he leaned against a tall urn, there was an air of entire satisfaction. What would Joe say if she saw you now? Asked Amy impatiently, hoping to stir him up by the mention of her still more energetic sister's name. As usual, go away Teddy, I'm busy. He laughed as he spoke, but the laugh was not natural, and a shade passed over his face. For the utterance of the familiar name touched the wound that was not healed yet. Both tone and shadow struck Amy, for she had seen and heard them before, and now she looked up in time to catch a new expression on Lori's face, a hard, bitter look, full of pain, dissatisfaction, and regret. It was gone before she could study it, and the listless expression back again. She watched him for a moment with artistic pleasure, thinking how like an Italian he looked, as he lay basking in the sun with uncovered head and eyes full of southern dreaminess. for he seemed to have forgotten her and fallen into a reverie. You look like the effigy of a young knight asleep on his doom," she said, carefully tracing the the well-cut profile defined against the dark stone.

Wish I was.

That's a foolish wish, unless you have spoiled your life. You are so changed, I sometimes think. They are Amy stomped, with a half timid, half wistful look, more significant than her unfinished speech. Laurie saw and understood the affectionate anxiety which she hesitated to express, and looking straight into her eyes, said, just as he used to say it to her mother. It's alright, ma ma'am. That satisfied her, and said at rest the doubts that had begun to worry her lately. It also touched her, and she showed that it did, by the cordial tone in which she said, I'm glad of that. I didn't think that you'd have been a very bad boy, but I fancied you might have wasted money at that wicked boden-boden. Lost your heart to some charming French woman with a husband, or got into some of the scrapes that young men seem to consider a necessary part of a foreign tour. Don't stay out there in the sun. Come and lie on the grass here. And let us be friendly, as Joe used to say when we got in the sofa corner and told secrets. Laurie obediently threw himself down on the turf and began to amuse himself by sticking daisies into the ribbons on Amy's hat that lay there. I'm already for the secrets. Any glance up with a decided expression of interest in his eyes? I've none to tell. You may begin. Haven't won to bless myself with. I thought perhaps you'd have some news from home. You have heard all that has come lately. Don't you hear often? I fancy Joe would send you volumes. She's very busy. I'm roving about so it's impossible to be regular, you know. When do you begin your great work of art, Raphaela? He asked, changing the subject abruptly after another pause, in which he had been wondering if Amy knew his secret and wanted to talk about it. Never, she answered, with a despondent but decided air. Rome took all the vanity out of me, for after seeing the wonders there, I felt too insignificant to live and gave up all my foolish hopes and despair. Why should you, with so much energy and talent? That's just why, because talent isn't genius, and no amount of energy can make it so. I want to be great or nothing. I won't be a commonplace dober, so I don't intend to try anymore.

And what are you going to do with yourself now, if I may ask?

Polish up my other talents and be an ornament to society, if I get a chance.

It was a characteristic speech and sounded daring, but audacity becomes young people, and Amy's ambition had a good foundation. Lori smiled, but he liked the spirit with which she took up a new purpose when a long cherished one died and spent no time lamenting. Good, and here is where Fred Vaugh in, I fancy. Amy preserved a discreet silence, but there was a conscious look in her downcast face that made Laurie sit up and say gravely. Now I'm going to play brother and ask questions. May I? I don't promise to answer. Your face will, if your tongue won't. You aren't woman of the world enough yet to hide your feelings, my dear. I heard rumors about Fred and you last year, and it's my private opinion that, if he had not been called home so suddenly and detained so long, something would have come of it, okay? That's not for me to say. Was Amy's prim reply, but her lips would smile and there was a traitorous sparkle of the eye, which betrayed that she knew her power and enjoyed the knowledge. You are not engaged, I hope. And Laurie looked very elder brotherly and grave all of a sudden. No. But you will be if he comes back and goes properly down upon his knees, won't you? Very likely. Then you are fond of old Fred. It could be if I tried. But you don't intend to try till the proper moment? Bless my soul, what unearthly prudence. He's a good fellow, Amy, but not the man I fancy, you'd like. He is rich, a gentleman, and has delightful manners. Begin, Amy, trying to be quite cool and dignified, but feeling a little ashamed of herself, in spite of the sincerity of her intentions. I understand, queens of society can't get on without money, so you mean to make a good match and start in that way? Quite right and proper as the world goes, but it sounds odd from the lips of one of your mother's girls. True, nevertheless. A short speech, but the quiet decision with which it was uttered contrasted curiously with the young speaker. Laurie felt this instinctively and laid himself down again with a sense of disappointment, she could not explain. His look and silence, as well as a certain inward self-disapproval, ruffled Amy, and made her resolve to deliver her lecture without delay. I wish you'd do me the favor to rouse yourself a little," she said sharply. Do it for me. There's a dear girl. I could if I tried, and she looked as if she would like doing it in the most summary style. Try, then. I give you leave," returned Laurie, who enjoyed having someone to tease after his long abstinence from his favorite pastime. You'd be angry in five minutes. I'm never angry with you. It takes two flints to make a fire. You are as cool and soft as snow. You don't know what I can do. Snow produces a glow and a tingle, if applied rightly. Your indifference is half-affectation, and a good stirring-up would prove it. Stir away. It won't hurt me, and it may amuse you, as the big man said when his little wife beat him, regard me in the light of a husband or a carpet

and beat till you are tired if that sort of exercise agrees with you.

...