[Jo to her mother] I knew there was mischief brewing. I felt it and now it's worse than I imagined. I just wish I could marry Meg myself, and keep her safe in the family.

A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find of governing it well.

The clocks were striking midnight and the rooms were very still as a figure glided quietly from bed to bed, smoothing a coverlid here, settling a pillow there, and pausing to look long and tenderly at each unconscious face, to kiss each with lips that mutely blessed, and to pray the fervent prayers which only mothers utter.

Oh, Jo, how could you? Your one beauty.

She preferred imaginary heroes to real ones, because when tired of them, the former could be shut up in the tin kitchen till called for, and the latter were less manageable.

We're twins, and so we love each other more than other people.

Now I'm beginning to live a little and feel less like a sick oyster at low tide.