Louisa May Alcott

mag­na­nim­ity

pre­cip­i­tately

ef­fer­ves­cence

If you mean li­bel, I’d say so, and not talk about la­bels, as if papa was a pickle-bot­tle,” ad­vised Jo, laugh­ing.

im­me­di­ately sat up, put her hands in her pock­ets, and be­gan to whis­tle.

par­tic­u­lar and prim.

I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls noth­ing at all

Lovely weather so far; I don’t know how long it will last, but I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learn­ing how to sail my ship.

I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learn­ing how to sail my ship.

“ ‘I have had many pairs of slip­pers in my life, but I never had any that suited me so well as yours,’ ” con­tin­ued Jo. “ ‘Heart’s-ease is my fa­vorite flower, and these will al­ways re­mind me of the gen­tle giver. I like to pay my debts; so I know you will al­low “the old gen­tle­man” to send you some­thing which once be­longed to the lit­tle grand­daugh­ter he lost. With hearty thanks and best wishes, I re­main—

“ ‘Your grate­ful friend and hum­ble ser­vant,

“ ‘James Lau­rence.’ ”