She glanced down at him with a new thought in her mind , but he was lying with his hat half over his face , as if for shade , and his mustache hid his mouth . She only saw his chest rise and fall , with a long breath that might have been a sigh , and the hand that wore the ring nestled down into the grass , as if to hide something too precious or too tender to be spoken of . All in a minute various hints and trifles assumed shape and significance in Amy 's mind , and told her what her sister never had confided to her . She remembered that Laurie never spoke voluntarily of Jo , she recalled the shadow on his face just now , the change in his character , and the wearing of the little old ring which was no ornament to a handsome hand . Girls are quick to read such signs and feel their eloquence . Amy had fancied that perhaps a love trouble was at the bottom of the alteration , and now she was sure of it . Her keen eyes filled , and when she spoke again , it was in a voice that could be beautifully soft and kind when she chose to make it so . `` I know I have no right to talk so to you , Laurie , and if you were n't the sweetest-tempered fellow in the world , you 'd be very angry with me . But we are all so fond and proud of you , I could n't bear to think they should be disappointed in you at home as I have been , though , perhaps they would understand the change better than I do . '' `` I think they would , '' came from under the hat , in a grim tone , quite as touching as a broken one . `` They ought to have told me , and not let me go blundering and scolding , when I should have been more kind and patient than ever . I never did like that Miss Randal and now I hate her ! '' said artful Amy , wishing to be sure of her facts this time . `` Hang Miss Randal ! '' and Laurie knocked the hat off his face with a look that left no doubt of his sentiments toward that young lady . `` I beg pardon , I thought ... '' and there she paused diplomatically . `` No , you did n't , you knew perfectly well I never cared for anyone but Jo , '' Laurie said that in his old , impetuous tone , and turned his face away as he spoke . `` I did think so , but as they never said anything about it , and you came away , I supposed I was mistaken . And Jo would n't be kind to you ? Why , I was sure she loved you dearly . ''
`` She was kind , but not in the right way , and it 's lucky for her she did n't love me , if I 'm the good-for-nothing fellow you XXXXX me .
beg came confided filled glanced nestled recalled think told wore