Presently she laughed and showed him a small sketch of Jo in her scribbling suit , with the bow rampantly erect upon her cap , and issuing from her mouth the words , ` Genius burns ! ' . Laurie smiled , took it , put it in his vest pocket ` to keep it from blowing away ' , and listened with interest to the lively letter Amy read him . `` This will be a regularly merry Christmas to me , with presents in the morning , you and letters in the afternoon , and a party at night , '' said Amy , as they alighted among the ruins of the old fort , and a flock of splendid peacocks came trooping about them , tamely waiting to be fed . While Amy stood laughing on the bank above him as she scattered crumbs to the brilliant birds , Laurie looked at her as she had looked at him , with a natural curiosity to see what changes time and absence had wrought . He found nothing to perplex or disappoint , much to admire and approve , for overlooking a few little affectations of speech and manner , she was as sprightly and graceful as ever , with the addition of that indescribable something in dress and bearing which we call elegance . Always mature for her age , she had gained a certain aplomb in both carriage and conversation , which made her seem more of a woman of the world than she was , but her old petulance now and then showed itself , her strong will still held its own , and her native frankness was unspoiled by foreign polish . Laurie did not read all this while he watched her feed the peacocks , but he saw enough to satisfy and interest him , and carried away a pretty little picture of a bright-faced girl standing in the sunshine , which brought out the soft hue of her dress , the fresh color of her cheeks , the golden gloss of her hair , and made her a prominent figure in the pleasant scene . As they came up onto the stone plateau that crowns the hill , Amy waved her hand as if welcoming him to her favorite haunt , and said , pointing here and there , `` Do you remember the Cathedral and the Corso , the fishermen dragging their nets in the bay , and the lovely road to Villa Franca , Schubert 's Tower , just below , and best of all , that speck far out to sea which they say is Corsica ? '' `` I remember . It 's not much changed , '' he answered without enthusiasm . `` What Jo would give for a sight of that famous speck ! '' said Amy , feeling in good spirits and anxious to see him so also . `` Yes , '' was all he said , but he turned and strained his eyes to see the island which a greater usurper than even Napoleon now made interesting in his sight . `` Take a good look at it for her sake , and then come and tell me what you have been doing with yourself all this while , '' said Amy , seating herself , ready for a good talk . But she did not get it , for though he joined her and answered all her questions freely , she could only learn that he had roved about the Continent and been to Greece . So after idling away an hour , they drove home again , and having paid his respects to Mrs. Carrol , Laurie left them , promising to return in the evening . It must be recorded of Amy that she deliberately prinked that night . Time and absence had done its work on both the young people . She had seen her old friend in a new light , not as ` our boy ' , but as a handsome and agreeable man , and she was conscious of a very natural desire to find favor in his sight .
Amy knew her good points , and XXXXX the most of them with the taste and skill which is a fortune to a poor and pretty woman .
crowns drove get interest keep learn made scribbling seem strained