With what Meg called ' a great want of manners ' Jo had saved some bonbons for the little girls , and they soon subsided , after hearing the most thrilling events of the evening . `` I declare , it really seems like being a fine young lady , to come home from the party in a carriage and sit in my dressing gown with a maid to wait on me , '' said Meg , as Jo bound up her foot with arnica and brushed her hair . `` I do n't believe fine young ladies enjoy themselves a bit more than we do , in spite of our burned hair , old gowns , one glove apiece and tight slippers that sprain our ankles when we are silly enough to wear them . '' And I think Jo was quite right . CHAPTER FOUR BURDENS `` Oh , dear , how hard it does seem to take up our packs and go on , '' sighed Meg the morning after the party , for now the holidays were over , the week of merrymaking did not fit her for going on easily with the task she never liked . `` I wish it was Christmas or New Year 's all the time . Would n't it be fun ? '' answered Jo , yawning dismally . `` We should n't enjoy ourselves half so much as we do now . But it does seem so nice to have little suppers and bouquets , and go to parties , and drive home , and read and rest , and not work . It 's like other people , you know , and I always envy girls who do such things , I 'm so fond of luxury , '' said Meg , trying to decide which of two shabby gowns was the least shabby . `` Well , we ca n't have it , so do n't let us grumble but shoulder our bundles and trudge along as cheerfully as Marmee does . I 'm sure Aunt March is a regular Old Man of the Sea to me , but I suppose when I 've learned to carry her without complaining , she will tumble off , or get so light that I sha n't mind her . '' This idea tickled Jo 's fancy and put her in good spirits , but Meg did n't brighten , for her burden , consisting of four spoiled children , seemed heavier than ever . She had not heart enough even to make herself pretty as usual by putting on a blue neck ribbon and dressing her hair in the most becoming way . `` Where 's the use of looking nice , when no one sees me but those cross midgets , and no one cares whether I 'm pretty or not ? '' she muttered , shutting her drawer with a jerk . `` I shall have to toil and moil all my days , with only little bits of fun now and then , and get old and ugly and sour , because I 'm poor and ca n't enjoy my life as other girls do . It 's a shame ! '' So Meg went down , wearing an injured look , and was n't at all agreeable at breakfast time .
Everyone XXXXX rather out of sorts and inclined to croak .
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