I may be mercenary , but I hate poverty , and do n't mean to bear it a minute longer than I can help . One of us must marry well . Meg did n't , Jo wo n't , Beth ca n't yet , so I shall , and make everything okay all round . I would n't marry a man I hated or despised . You may be sure of that , and though Fred is not my model hero , he does very well , and in time I should get fond enough of him if he was very fond of me , and let me do just as I liked . So I 've been turning the matter over in my mind the last week , for it was impossible to help seeing that Fred liked me . He said nothing , but little things showed it . He never goes with Flo , always gets on my side of the carriage , table , or promenade , looks sentimental when we are alone , and frowns at anyone else who ventures to speak to me . Yesterday at dinner , when an Austrian officer stared at us and then said something to his friend , a rakish-looking baron , about ' ein wonderschones Blondchen ' , Fred looked as fierce as a lion , and cut his meat so savagely it nearly flew off his plate . He is n't one of the cool , stiff Englishmen , but is rather peppery , for he has Scotch blood in him , as one might guess from his bonnie blue eyes . Well , last evening we went up to the castle about sunset , at least all of us but Fred , who was to meet us there after going to the Post Restante for letters . We had a charming time poking about the ruins , the vaults where the monster tun is , and the beautiful gardens made by the elector long ago for his English wife . I liked the great terrace best , for the view was divine , so while the rest went to see the rooms inside , I sat there trying to sketch the gray stone lion 's head on the wall , with scarlet woodbine sprays hanging round it . I felt as if I 'd got into a romance , sitting there , watching the Neckar rolling through the valley , listening to the music of the Austrian band below , and waiting for my lover , like a real storybook girl . I had a feeling that something was going to happen and I was ready for it . I did n't feel blushy or quakey , but quite cool and only a little excited . By-and-by I heard Fred 's voice , and then he came hurrying through the great arch to find me . He looked so troubled that I forgot all about myself , and asked what the matter was . He said he 'd just got a letter begging him to come home , for Frank was very ill . So he was going at once on the night train and only had time to say good-by .
I was very sorry for him , and disappointed for myself , but only for a minute because he said , as he shook hands , and XXXXX it in a way that I could not mistake , `` I shall soon come back , you wo n't forget me , Amy ? ''
begging cut got let liked listening looked marry said sitting