Although it was a long time in coming after an exceptionally lengthy and dreary winter, spring finally arrived.
For the March girls, springtime signaled new beginnings, new opportunities, and new dreams. Meg was already off to a good start that season, having been invited to several parties hosted by her wealthy friends. "What shall I wear?" was her most frequent complaint lately.
Looking through the closet, Meg pulled out a light green dress and held it up to her body. Through the mirror, she could see that it suited her complexion and enhanced the color of her eyes. But the dress was quite a few years old, and its hem was worn. "Oh, what should I do?" Meg let out a sigh of frustration.
"What's the matter, Meg?" asked Beth, walking in with an armful of folded laundry.
Relieving her of some of the burden, Meg explained, "Annie Moffat is having a party this Saturday and I haven't got anything to wear."
Beth replied thoughtfully, "You have many beautiful dresses, Meg."
"But they're so old!" complained Meg. "Annie and the others will all have new silk dresses in this year's style, and I'll be the only one wearing an old, ugly dress."
"I think you'll be the prettiest girl at the party, whatever you wear," Beth remarked. Cheering up a little at her sister's kind words, Meg continued with Beth's help to search for something to wear.
"What about this dress?" Beth asked, pulling out a white gown with blue flowers all over it.
Meg examined it closely for rips, holes, or stains but could not find any. In fact, the dress was in tip-top condition and it did flatter her a lot. "Thank you, Beth. This dress will have to do," Meg approved wholeheartedly.
The much-anticipated evening was soon upon them. Leaving Meg to get ready for her big night, Jo and the others amused themselves by doing what they loved most: Jo was reading a novel (another one "borrowed" from Aunt March), Beth was playing the piano, and Amy was drawing a picture of one of Mr. Laurence's horses.
"Has Meg come down yet?" Mother asked as she strolled into the living room, holding a velvet jewelry box.
Shaking her head disapprovingly, Jo replied, "I don't know why it takes so long to get ready. Just throw the dress on, slip into your shoes, and you're good to go."
Rolling her eyes, Amy said, "That's the difference between looking like a lady, and looking . . . well . . . just unladylike."
"How do I look, girls?" Meg floated in while her sisters were talking.
They all, including Jo, sucked in their breath, for Meg looked like an enchanted fairy princess.
"You look positively beautiful," complimented Mother, smiling approvingly at her eldest daughter.
"Oh, Meg, all the men at the party will want to dance with you," gushed Amy.
"Just be careful with your heels this time," Jo said jokingly, reminding Meg of the last party they attended together.
Laughing, Meg promised she would.
"I thought tonight would be a proper occasion for you to wear this," said Mother, opening the jewelry box and taking out a string of pearls. She put them around Meg's slim neck.
"Oh, Mother! They're perfect!" Meg's cheeks flushed with delight. "I feel like the most beautiful girl in the world."
Saying good-bye to her family, Meg left for Annie's house in high spirits.
When Meg got to Annie's house, however, her mood rapidly faded. At home, Meg may have been the radiant princess but among her friends, she felt like a farm girl on her way to milk the cows.
"Meg, you look . . . so charming," was Annie's forced comment when she opened the door.
"I like your hair. Did you do it yourself?" Sallie asked a little too sweetly.
Meg touched the curls on her head and nodded shyly, trying hard not to stare at what her friends were wearing. Just as she suspected, Annie, Sallie, and Annie's sister Belle were all wearing silk dresses in pastel spring colors. Their hair was perfectly pulled back into a high bun with two curls hanging down the side of each cheek. Meg also noticed that her friends wore make-up on their lips, eyes, and cheeks. They looked sophisticated and very elegant.
While Annie led her inside the house, Meg noticed Sallie and Belle whispering to each other.
"Meg," Sallie said in a cheery voice as she took Meg's arm. "You have the most beautiful eyes and I think if you had just a little bit of color there, they would stand out even more."
"I don't know," Meg said hesitantly. Mother did not approve of her girls wearing make-up.
"It'll be fun! And you'll look even prettier," Annie tried to persuade her.
"We're all wearing some. Don't you think we look nice?" Sallie pushed her face up closer to Meg.
Meg had to admit her friends looked very lovely.
"Well, maybe just a little then," she said, giving in.
Chattering excitedly, the four girls hurried up the stairs, giggling.
While Belle applied Meg's make-up, Sallie decided to change Meg's hair. Even before Meg could protest, Sallie swiftly pulled out the pins in her hair and brushed out the curls.
"Your hair was lovely, but a little old-fashioned. I think this style will suit you even better," Sallie said as she pulled, curled, and twisted Meg's hair into a bun.
"And your dress, which I love," Annie added rather hastily, "makes your skin look dull. But I think this one will make you glow!"
Meg immediately fell in love with the bright blue silk dress Annie held up, but pride stopped her from admitting it. "I think what I am wearing suits me fine, thank you," she replied graciously.
"Just try it on and see how it looks," begged her friends.
Not wanting to disappoint them, Meg changed out of her old cotton dress and into the shiny silk one. Almost at once, she felt the difference as the soft silk wrapped around her body. She suddenly stood up taller, held her head higher, and felt more confident.
After a few added touches to Meg's hair and make-up, Annie placed her hands on Meg's shoulders and turned her around to face the mirror. Meg gasped when she saw her reflection, for the face that stared back at her was not a farm girl's but a sophisticated young lady's.
"Oh, Meg, please wear this dress tonight!" cried Annie.
"Look at your amazing eyes and lips!" Belle pointed out.
"Meg, look at how your hair enhances your cheekbones!" said Sallie.
So finally Meg gave in to persuasion and agreed to wear the dress, make-up, and hairstyle her friends had chosen for her.
Grabbing hands, the four friends jumped up and down excitedly complimenting one another. Meg felt so proud to be a part of this exclusive group. Still holding hands, the girls walked down to the party that awaited them.