five o'clock sat
She did her best , she asked advice of Mrs. Cornelius , she racked her brain to remember what Hannah did that she left undone , she reboiled , resugared , and restrained , but that dreadful stuff would n't ` jell ' . She longed to run home , bib and all , and ask Mother to lend her a hand , but John and she had agreed that they would never annoy anyone with their private worries , experiments , or quarrels . They had laughed over that last word as if the idea it suggested was a most preposterous one , but they had held to their resolve , and whenever they could get on without help they did so , and no one interfered , for Mrs. March had advised the plan . So Meg wrestled alone with the refractory sweetmeats all that hot summer day , and at five o'clock sat down in her topsy-turvey kitchen , wrung her bedaubed hands , lifted up her voice and wept . Now , in the first flush of the new life , she had often said , `` My husband shall always feel free to bring a friend home whenever he likes . I shall always be prepared . There shall be no flurry , no scolding , no discomfort , but a neat house , a cheerful wife , and a good dinner .