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"Do you want to know what I honestly think of you?"

"Pining to be told."

"Well, I despise you."

If she had even said "I hate you," in a petulant or coquettish tone, he would have laughed, and rather liked it; but the grave, almost sad accent of her voice made him open his eyes, and ask quickly,

"Why, if you please?"

"Because with every chance for being good, useful, and happy, you are faulty, lazy, and miserable."

"Strong language, mademoiselle."

"If you like it, I'll go on."

"Pray do, it's quite interesting."

"I thought you'd find it so, selfish people always like to talk about themselves."

"Am I selfish?" the question slipped out involuntarily, and in a tone of surprise, for the one virtue on which he prided himself was generosity.

"Yes, very selfish," continued Amy in a calm, cool voice, twice as effective, just then, as an angry one. "I'll show you how. Here you have been abroad nearly six months, and done nothing but waste time and money, and disappoint your friends."

"Isn't a fellow to have any pleasure after a four-year's grind?"

"You don't look as if you'd had much; at any rate you are none the better for it, as far as I can see. I said when we first met, that you had improved - now I take it all back, for I don't think you half so nice as when I left you at home. You have grown abominably lazy, you like gossip, and waste time on frivolous things; you are contented to be petted and admired by silly people, instead of being loved and respected by wise ones."

...

"Do you think Jo would despise me as you do?"

"Yes, if she saw you now. She hates lazy people. Why don't you do something splendid, and make her love you?"

"I did my best, but it was no use."

"Graduating well, you mean? That was no more than you ought to have done, for your grandfather's sake. It would have been shameful to fail after spending so much time and money, when everyone knew you could do well."

"I did fail, say what you will, for Jo wouldn't love me," began Laurie.

"No, you didn't, and you'll say so in the end, - for it did you good, and proved that you could do something if you tried. If you'd only set about another task of some sort, you'd soon be yourself again, and forget your trouble."

"That's impossible!"

"Try it and see. Love Jo all your days, if you choose, but don't let it spoil you. It's wicked to throw away so many good gifts because you can't have the one you want. There - I won't leture any more, for I know you'll wake up, and be a man in spite of that hard-hearted girl."

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