nd　there　was　an　odd　sound　in　her　voice　of　repressed　emotion　of　some　sort。
  〃Shut　your　eyes　and　hold　out　your　arms；〃　she　said　invitingly。
  Laurie　backed　precipitately　into　a　corner；　and　put　his　hands　behind　him　with　an　imploring　gesture。　〃No；　thank　you。　I'd　rather　not。　I　shall　drop　it　or　smash　it；　as　sure　as　fate。〃
  〃Then　you　shan't　see　your　nevvy；〃　said　Jo　decidedly；　turning　as　if　to　go。
  〃I　will；　I　will！　Only　you　must　be　responsible　for　damages。〃　And　obeying　orders；　Laurie　heroically　shut　his　eyes　while　something　was　put　into　his　arms。　A　peal　of　laughter　from　Jo；　Amy；　Mrs。　March；　Hannah；　and　John　caused　him　to　open　them　the　next　minute；　to　find　himself　invested　with　two　babies　instead　of　one。
  No　wonder　they　laughed；　for　the　expression　of　his　face　was　droll　enough　to　convulse　a　Quaker；　as　he　stood　and　stared　wildly　from　the　unconscious　innocents　to　the　hilarious　spectators　with　such　dismay　that　Jo　sat　down　on　the　floor　and　screamed。
  〃Twins；　by　Jupiter！〃　was　all　he　said　for　a　minute；　then　turning　to　the　women　with　an　appealing　look　that　was　comically　piteous；　he　added；　〃Take　‘em　quick；　somebody！　I'm　going　to　laugh；　and　I　shall　drop　‘em。〃
  Jo　rescued　his　babies；　and　marched　up　and　down；　with　one　on　each　are；　as　if　already　initiated　into　the　mysteries　of　babytending；　while　Laurie　laughed　till　the　tears　ran　down　his　cheeks。
  〃It's　the　best　joke　of　the　season；　isn't　it？　I　wouldn't　have　told　you；　for　I　set　my　heart　on　surprising　you；　and　I　flatter　myself　I've　done　it；〃　said　Jo；　when　she　got　her　breath。
  〃I　never　was　more　staggered　in　my　life。　Isn't　it　fun？　Are　they　boys？　What　are　you　going　to　name　them？　Let's　have　another　look。　Hold　me　up；　Jo；　for　upon　my　life　it's　one　too　many　for　me；〃　returned　Laurie；　regarding　the　infants　with　the　air　of　a　big；　benevolent　Newfoundland　looking　at　a　pair　of　infantile　kittens。
  〃Boy　and　girl。　Aren't　they　beauties？〃　said　the　proud　papa；　beaming　upon　the　little　red　squirmers　as　if　they　were　unfledged　angels。
  〃Most　remarkable　children　I　ever　saw。　Which　is　which？〃　and　Laurie　bent　like　a　well…sweep　to　examine　the　prodigies。
  〃Amy　put　a　blue　ribbon　on　the　boy　and　a　pink　on　the　girl；　French　fashion；　so　you　can　always　tell。　Besides；　one　has　blue　eyes　and　one　brown。　Kiss　them；　Uncle　Teddy；〃　said　wicked　Jo。
  〃I'm　afraid　they　mightn't　like　it；〃　began　Laurie；　with　unusual　timidity　in　such　matters。
  〃Of　course　they　will；　they　are　used　to　it　now。　Do　it　this　minute；　sir！〃　commanded　Jo；　fearing　he　might　propose　a　proxy。
  Laurie　screwed　up　his　face　and　obeyed　with　a　gingerly　peck　at　each　little　cheek　that　produced　another　laugh；　and　made　the　babies　squeal。
  〃There；　I　knew　they　didn't　like　it！　That's　the　boy；　see　him　kick；　he　hits　out　with　his　fists　like　a　good　one。　Now　then；　young　Brooke；　pitch　into　a　man　of　your　own　size；　will　you？〃　cried　Laurie；　delighted　with　a　poke　in　the　face　from　a　tiny　fist；　flapping　aimlessly　about。
  〃He's　to　be　named　John　Laurence；　and　the　girl　Margaret；　after　mother　and　grandmother。　We　shall　call　her　Daisey；　so　as　not　to　have　two　Megs；　and　I　suppose　the　mannie　will　be　Jack；　unless　we　find　a　better　name；〃　said　Amy；　with　aunt…like　interest。
  〃Name　him　Demijohn；　and　call　him　Demi　for　short；〃　said　Laurie
  〃Daisy　and　Demi；　just　the　thing！　I　knew　Teddy　would　do　it；〃　cried　Jo　clapping　her　hands。
  Teddy　certainly　had　done　it　that　time；　for　the　babies　were　‘Daisy'　and　‘Demi'　to　the　end　of　the　chapter。
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  ？　Louisa　May　Alcott
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