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This episode is brought to you by the most inveterate bachelor's.

Tonight, we'll read the next chapter of Good Wives written by Luisa May Alcott titled

My Lord and Lady.

This is also known as the second half of the little women novel and is considered the 45th chapter as part of that work as a whole. In our last chapter, Laurie visits the March Home with Amy and the newlywed Cher Lighthearted banter with Joe and Mrs. March. Laurie reveals his plans to work seriously in business to please his grandfather, while Amy speaks of creating a warm home before stepping into society. Later, at home, they discuss Joe's possible marriage to Professor Bear, with Lorie assuring Amy he would be happy for them. The couple then talked warmly about their shared desire to use their wealth to discreetly help those in need, particularly struggling artists, ambitious young women, and poor gentle folk who cannot ask for aid. They pledged to make generosity a joyful part of their life together, seeing it as a way to strengthen their own marriage while brightening the lives of others. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of discreet. one chapter to the two most precious and important members of it. Daisy and Demi had now arrived at years of discretion. For in this fast-aged babies of three or four assert their rights and get them to, which is more than many of their elders do. If there ever were a pair of twins in danger of being utterly spoiled by adoration, it was these prattling brooks. Of course they were the most remarkable children ever born, as will be shown when I mention that they walked at eight months, talked fluently at twelve months, and at two years, they took their places at table and

Behaved with a propriety which charmed all beholders at three, Daisy demanded a Needler and actually made a bag with four stitches in it She likewise set up housekeeping in the sideboard, and managed a microscopic cooking stove

with a skill that brought tears of pride to Hannah's eyes. While Demi learned his letters with his grandfather, who invented a new mode of teaching the alphabet by forming the letters with his arms and legs, thus uniting gymnastics for head and heels.

The boy early developed a mechanical genius which delighted his father and distracted his mother for he tried to imitate every machine he saw and kept the nursery in a chaotic condition with his so-in-sheen, a mysterious structure of string, chairs, clothespins and spools for wheels to go wound and wound. Also a basket hung over the back of a big chair in which he vanily tried to hoist his two confiding sister, who, with feminine devotion, allowed her little head to be bumped till rescued, when the young inventor indignantly remarked, Why Marmar, that's my lele waiter and me's trying to pull her up. So, utterly unlike in character, the twins got on remarkably well together and seldom quarreled more than thrice a day. Of course, Demi tyrannized over Daisy and gallantly defended her from every other aggressor, while Daisy made a galley slave of herself and adored her brother as the one perfect being in the world. A rosy, chubby, sun-shiny little soul was Daisy, who found her way to everybody's heart and nestled there. One of the captivating children, who seemed made to be kissed and cuddled, adorned and adored like little goddesses, and produced first general approval on all festive occasions. Her small virtues were so sweet that she would have been quite angelic if a few small notenuses had not kept her delightfully human. It was all fair weather in her world, and every morning she scrambled up to the window in her little night-gown to look out and say, no matter whether it rained or shown, Oh, P day, oh pity day, everyone was a friend, and she offered kisses to a stranger so confidingly that the most inveterate bachelor relented, and baby lovers became faithful worshipers. Me loves everybody. She once said, opening her arms with her spoon in one hand and her mug in the other as if eager to embrace and nourish the whole world. As she grew, her mother began to feel that the dovecoat would be blessed by the presence of an inmate as serene and loving as that which had helped to make the old house home, and to pray that she might be spared a loss like that which had lately taught them how long they had entertained an angel on a wears. Her grandfather often called

her Beth, and her grandmother watched over her with untiring devotion, as if trying to atone for some past mistake, which no eye but her own could see. Emmy, like a true Yankee, was of an inquiring turn, wanting to know everything, and often getting much disturbed because he could not get satisfactory answers to his perpetual what-for. He also possessed a philosophic bent to the great delight of his grandfather, who used to hold

socratic conversations with him, in which the precocious pupil occasionally possessed his teacher, to the undisguised satisfaction of the women folk. What makes my legs go dra Drampa, as the young philosopher, surveying those active portions of his frame with a meditative air while resting after a go-to-bed frolic one night? It's your little mind, Demi. Replyed the sage. Stroking the yellow head respectfully. What is a little mine? It is something which makes your body move as the spring made the wheels go in my watch when I showed it to you. Open me. I want to see it go out. I can't do that anymore than you could open the watch. God winds you up and you go till He stops you. Does I? And Demi's brown eyes grew big and bright as he took in the new thought. As I wound it up like a watch. Yes, but I can't show you how, for it is done when we don't see. Demi felt of his back as if expecting to find it like that of the watch, and then gravely remarked, I destod does it when I's asleep. A careful explanation followed to which he listened so attentively that his anxious grandmother said, My dear, do you think it wise to talk about such things to that baby? He's getting great bumps over his eyes and learning to ask the most unanswerable questions. If he is old enough to ask the questions, he is old enough to receive true answers. I'm not putting the thoughts into his head, but helping him unfold those already there. These children are wiser than we are, and I have no doubt the boy understands every word I have said to him. Now, Demi, tell me where you keep your mind. If the boy had replied, by the God's Socrates, I cannot tell, his grandfather would not have been

surprised. But when, after standing a moment on one leg, a little meditative stork, he answered, in a tone of calm conviction. In my little belly, the old gentleman could only join in grandma's laugh and dismiss the class in metaphysics. There might have been cause for maternal anxiety, if Demi had not given convincing proofs that he was a true boy, as well as a budding philosopher, for often after a discussion which caused Hannah to prophecy with ominous nods, that child ate long for this world. He would turn about and set her fears at rest by some of the pranks with which dear, dirty, naughty little rascals, distract and delight their parents' souls. Meg made many moral rules and tried to keep them, but what mother was ever proof against the winning wiles, the ingenious evasions, or the tranquil audacity of the miniature men and women who so ever show themselves accomplished artful daughters. No more reasons, Demi. They'll make you sick." Says Mama to the young person who offers

his services in the kitchen with unfailing regularity on plum pudding day. Me likes to be sick.

I don't want to have you, so run away and help Daisy make patty cakes. He reluctantly departs, but his wrongs way upon his spirit, and, by and by, when an opportunity comes to redress them, he outwits mama by a shrewd bargain.

Now, you have been good children, and I'll play anything you like," says Meg. As she leads her assistant cooks upstairs, when the pudding is safely bouncing in the pot. Truly, Marmar, asked Demi with a brilliant idea in his well-powdered head.

Yes, truly, anything you say replies the short-sighted parent, preparing herself to sing the three little kittens half a dozen times over, or to take her family to buy a penny bunbun regardless of wind or limb. But Demi corners her by the cool reply, then we'll go and eat up all the raisins. On Dodo was chief playmate and confidant of both children, and the trio turned the little Housesy turvy. On Amy was as yet only a name to them. On Beth soon faded into a pleasantly vague memory. But on Dodo was a living reality and they made the most of her for which compliment she was deeply grateful.

But when Mr. Bear came, Joan neglected her playfellows, and dismay and desolation fell upon their little souls. Daisy, who was fond of going about peddling kisses, lost her best customer and became bankrupt. Demi, with infantile penetration, soon discovered that Do Do liked to play with the bear man, better than she did with him. But, though hurt, he concealed his anguish, for he hadn't the heart to insult a rival who kept a mine of chocolate drops in his waistcoat pocket, and a watch that could be taken out of its case and freely shaken by ardent admirers. persons might have considered these pleasing liberties as bribes, but Demi didn't see it in that light and continued to patronize the bare man with pensive affability, while Daisy bestowed her small affections upon him at the third call, and considered his shoulder her throne, his arm her refuge, his gifts treasures of surpassing worth. Gentlemen are sometimes seized with sudden fits of admiration for the young relatives of ladies whom they honor with their regard. But this counterfeit, phylo-progenitiveness sits uneasily upon them and does not deceive anybody a particle. Mr. Bear's devotion was sincere, however likewise effective. Her honesty is the best policy in love as in law. He was one of the men who are at home with children, and looked particularly well when little faces made a pleasant contrast with his manly one. His business, whatever it was, detained him from day to day, but evening seldom failed to bring him out to sea. Well, he always asked for Mr. March, so I suppose he was the attraction. The excellent papal labored under the delusion that he was, and reveled in long discussions with the kindred spirit, till a chance remark of his more observing grandson suddenly enlightened him. Mr. Bear came in one evening to pause on the threshold of the study,

astonished by the spectacle that met his eye. Prone upon the floor lay Mr. March with his respectable legs in the air, and beside him, likewise Prone was Demi, trying to imitate the attitude with his own short, scarlet, stocking legs. Both grovelers so seriously absorbed that they were unconscious of spectators, till Mr. Bear laughed his sonorous laugh, and Joe cried out with a scandalized face. Father, father, here's the professor. Down went the black legs, and up came the grey head, as the preceptor said, with undisturbed dignity. Good evening, Mr. Bear. Excuse me for a moment. We are just finishing our lesson. Now, Demi, make the letter and tell its name. I know him, and after a few convulsive efforts, The red legs took the shape of a pair of compasses, and the intelligent pupil triumphantly shouted, It's a Wii, Drempli, it's a Wii! He's a born weller, laugh joe, as her parent gathered himself up, and her nephew tried to stand on his head, as the only mode of expressing his satisfaction that school was over. Would have you been not today, as Mr. Bear picking up the gymnast? me went to see little Mary. And what did you do there? I kissed her, began demi, with artless frankness. I'll begin it's early. What did the Little Mary say to that? As Mr. Bear, continuing to confess the young sinner, who stood upon his knee, exploring the waistcoat pocket. Oh, she liked it, and she kissed me, and I liked it. Don't little girls like little boys? Added Demi with his mouth full, and an air of bland satisfaction. You precocious chick, who put that into your head, said Joe, enjoying the innocent revelations as much as the professor. Tizen in my head, it's in my mouth. Answered literal demmy, putting out his tongue with a chocolate drop on it, thinking she alluded to confectionery, not ideas. Thou shaltest stave some for the little friend, sweets to the sweet manling, and Mr. Bear offered Joe some, with a look that made her wonder if chocolate was not the nectar drunk by the gods. Demi also saw the smile, was impressed by it, and artlessly inquired, do great boys like great girls too fester? Like young Washington, Mr. Bear, couldn't tell a lie, so he gave the somewhat vague reply that he believed they did sometimes. In a tone that made Mr. March put down his clothes brush, Gl at Joe's retiring face, and then sink into his chair, looking as if the precocious chick had put an idea into his head that was both sweet and sour. Dodo, when she caught him in the China closet half an hour afterward nearly squeezed the breath out of his little body with a tender embrace instead of shaking him for being there and why she followed up this novel performance by the unexpected gift of a big slice of bread and jelly,

remained one of the problems over which Demi puzzled his small wits, and was forced to leave unsolved forever. Yn yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n yw'n y