Amy spoke bitterly , and turned her back on the exasperating martyr at her feet . In a minute a hand came down over the page , so that she could not draw , and Laurie 's voice said , with a droll imitation of a penitent child , `` I will be good , oh , I will be good ! '' But Amy did not laugh , for she was in earnest , and tapping on the outspread hand with her pencil , said soberly , `` Are n't you ashamed of a hand like that ? It 's as soft and white as a woman 's , and looks as if it never did anything but wear Jouvin 's best gloves and pick flowers for ladies . You are not a dandy , thank Heaven , so I 'm glad to see there are no diamonds or big seal rings on it , only the little old one Jo gave you so long ago . Dear soul , I wish she was here to help me ! '' `` So do I ! '' The hand vanished as suddenly as it came , and there was energy enough in the echo of her wish to suit even Amy . 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 ! ''
XXXXX artful Amy , wishing to be sure of her facts this time .
confided fancied hate hid said spoken thank think turned wearing