"Hope the next will end better," muttered Jo, who found it very hard to see Meg absorbed in a stranger before her face, for Jo loved a few persons very dearly and dreaded to have their affection lost or lessened in any way.
"I hope the third year from this will end better. I mean it shall, if I live to work out my plans," said Mr.Brooke, smiling at Meg, as if everything had become possible to him now.