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diff --git a/3499-0.txt b/3499-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6b1912 --- /dev/null +++ b/3499-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10617 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jo's Boys, by Louisa May Alcott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jo's Boys + +Author: Louisa May Alcott + +Posting Date: February 5, 2009 [EBook #3499] +Release Date: October, 2002 +Last Updated: March 10, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JO'S BOYS *** + + + + +Produced by The Project Gutenberg Alcott Team + + + + + +JO'S BOYS + + +By Louisa M. Alcott + + + + + Chapter 1 Ten Years Later + Chapter 2 Parnassus + Chapter 3 Jo's Last Scrape + Chapter 4 Dan + Chapter 5 Vacation + Chapter 6 Last Words + Chapter 7 The Lion and the Lamb + Chapter 8 Josie Plays Mermaid + Chapter 9 The Worm Turns + Chapter 10 Demi Settles + Chapter 11 Emil's Thanksgiving + Chapter 12 Dan's Christmas + Chapter 13 Nat's New Year + Chapter 14 Plays at Plumfield + Chapter 15 Waiting + Chapter 16 In the Tennis-court + Chapter 17 Among the Maids + Chapter 18 Class Day + Chapter 19 White Roses + Chapter 20 Life for Life + Chapter 21 Aslauga's Knight + Chapter 22 Positively Last Appearance + + + + +Chapter 1. TEN YEARS LATER + +'If anyone had told me what wonderful changes were to take place here in +ten years, I wouldn't have believed it,' said Mrs Jo to Mrs Meg, as they +sat on the piazza at Plumfield one summer day, looking about them with +faces full of pride and pleasure. + +'This is the sort of magic that money and kind hearts can work. I am +sure Mr Laurence could have no nobler monument than the college he so +generously endowed; and a home like this will keep Aunt March's memory +green as long as it lasts,' answered Mrs Meg, always glad to praise the +absent. + +'We used to believe in fairies, you remember, and plan what we'd ask +for if we could have three wishes. Doesn't it seem as if mine had been +really granted at last? Money, fame, and plenty of the work I love,' +said Mrs Jo, carelessly rumpling up her hair as she clasped her hands +over her head just as she used to do when a girl. + +'I have had mine, and Amy is enjoying hers to her heart's content. If +dear Marmee, John, and Beth were here, it would be quite perfect,' added +Meg, with a tender quiver in her voice; for Marmee's place was empty +now. + +Jo put her hand on her sister's, and both sat silent for a little while, +surveying the pleasant scene before them with mingled sad and happy +thoughts. + +It certainly did look as if magic had been at work, for quiet Plumfield +was transformed into a busy little world. The house seemed more +hospitable than ever, refreshed now with new paint, added wings, +well-kept lawn and garden, and a prosperous air it had not worn when +riotous boys swarmed everywhere and it was rather difficult for the +Bhaers to make both ends meet. On the hill, where kites used to be +flown, stood the fine college which Mr Laurence's munificent legacy had +built. Busy students were going to and fro along the paths once trodden +by childish feet, and many young men and women were enjoying all the +advantages that wealth, wisdom, and benevolence could give them. + +Just inside the gates of Plumfield a pretty brown cottage, very like +the Dovecote, nestled among the trees, and on the green slope westward +Laurie's white-pillared mansion glittered in the sunshine; for when the +rapid growth of the city shut in the old house, spoilt Meg's nest, and +dared to put a soap-factory under Mr Laurence's indignant nose, our +friends emigrated to Plumfield, and the great changes began. + +These were the pleasant ones; and the loss of the dear old people was +sweetened by the blessings they left behind; so all prospered now in the +little community, and Mr Bhaer as president, and Mr March as chaplain +of the college, saw their long-cherished dream beautifully realized. The +sisters divided the care of the young people among them, each taking +the part that suited her best. Meg was the motherly friend of the young +women, Jo the confidante and defender of all the youths, and Amy the +lady Bountiful who delicately smoothed the way for needy students, and +entertained them all so cordially that it was no wonder they named her +lovely home Mount Parnassus, so full was it of music, beauty, and the +culture hungry young hearts and fancies long for. + +The original twelve boys had of course scattered far and wide during +these years, but all that lived still remembered old Plumfield, and came +wandering back from the four quarters of the earth to tell their various +experiences, laugh over the pleasures of the past, and face the duties +of the present with fresh courage; for such home-comings keep hearts +tender and hands helpful with the memories of young and happy days. A +few words will tell the history of each, and then we can go on with the +new chapter of their lives. + +Franz was with a merchant kinsman in Hamburg, a man of twenty-six now, +and doing well. Emil was the jolliest tar that ever 'sailed the ocean +blue'. His uncle sent him on a long voyage to disgust him with this +adventurous life; but he came home so delighted with it that it was +plain this was his profession, and the German kinsman gave him a good +chance in his ships; so the lad was happy. Dan was a wanderer still; for +after the geological researches in South America he tried sheep-farming +in Australia, and was now in California looking up mines. Nat was busy +with music at the Conservatory, preparing for a year or two in Germany +to finish him off. Tom was studying medicine and trying to like it. +Jack was in business with his father, bent on getting rich. Dolly was in +college with Stuffy and Ned reading law. Poor little Dick was dead, so +was Billy; and no one could mourn for them, since life would never be +happy, afflicted as they were in mind and body. + +Rob and Teddy were called the 'Lion and the Lamb'; for the latter was +as rampant as the king of beasts, and the former as gentle as any sheep +that ever baaed. Mrs Jo called him 'my daughter', and found him the +most dutiful of children, with plenty of manliness underlying the quiet +manners and tender nature. But in Ted she seemed to see all the faults, +whims, aspirations, and fun of her own youth in a new shape. With his +tawny locks always in wild confusion, his long legs and arms, loud +voice, and continual activity, Ted was a prominent figure at Plumfield. +He had his moods of gloom, and fell into the Slough of Despond about +once a week, to be hoisted out by patient Rob or his mother, who +understood when to let him alone and when to shake him up. He was her +pride and joy as well as torment, being a very bright lad for his age, +and so full of all sorts of budding talent, that her maternal mind was +much exercised as to what this remarkable boy would become. + +Demi had gone through College with honour, and Mrs Meg had set her heart +on his being a minister--picturing in her fond fancy the first sermon +her dignified young parson would preach, as well as the long, useful, +and honoured life he was to lead. But John, as she called him now, +firmly declined the divinity school, saying he had had enough of books, +and needed to know more of men and the world, and caused the dear woman +much disappointment by deciding to try a journalist's career. It was +a blow; but she knew that young minds cannot be driven, and that +experience is the best teacher; so she let him follow his own +inclinations, still hoping to see him in the pulpit. Aunt Jo raged when +she found that there was to be a reporter in the family, and called him +'Jenkins' on the spot. She liked his literary tendencies, but had reason +to detest official Paul Prys, as we shall see later. Demi knew his own +mind, however, and tranquilly carried out his plans, unmoved by the +tongues of the anxious mammas or the jokes of his mates. Uncle Teddy +encouraged him, and painted a splendid career, mentioning Dickens and +other celebrities who began as reporters and ended as famous novelists +or newspaper men. + +The girls were all flourishing. Daisy, as sweet and domestic as ever, +was her mother's comfort and companion. Josie at fourteen was a most +original young person, full of pranks and peculiarities, the latest of +which was a passion for the stage, which caused her quiet mother and +sister much anxiety as well as amusement. Bess had grown into a tall, +beautiful girl looking several years older than she was, with the same +graceful ways and dainty tastes which the little Princess had, and a +rich inheritance of both the father's and mother's gifts, fostered by +every aid love and money could give. But the pride of the community +was naughty Nan; for, like so many restless, wilful children, she +was growing into a woman full of the energy and promise that suddenly +blossoms when the ambitious seeker finds the work she is fitted to do +well. Nan began to study medicine at sixteen, and at twenty was getting +on bravely; for now, thanks to other intelligent women, colleges and +hospitals were open to her. She had never wavered in her purpose from +the childish days when she shocked Daisy in the old willow by saying: 'I +don't want any family to fuss over. I shall have an office, with bottles +and pestle things in it, and drive round and cure folks.' The future +foretold by the little girl the young woman was rapidly bringing to +pass, and finding so much happiness in it that nothing could win her +from the chosen work. Several worthy young gentlemen had tried to make +her change her mind and choose, as Daisy did, 'a nice little house and +family to take care of'. But Nan only laughed, and routed the lovers +by proposing to look at the tongue which spoke of adoration, or +professionally felt the pulse in the manly hand offered for her +acceptance. So all departed but one persistent youth, who was such a +devoted Traddles it was impossible to quench him. + +This was Tom, who was as faithful to his child sweetheart as she to +her 'pestle things', and gave a proof of fidelity that touched her very +much. He studied medicine for her sake alone, having no taste for it, +and a decided fancy for a mercantile life. But Nan was firm, and +Tom stoutly kept on, devoutly hoping he might not kill many of his +fellow-beings when he came to practise. They were excellent friends, +however, and caused much amusement to their comrades, by the +vicissitudes of this merry love-chase. + +Both were approaching Plumfield on the afternoon when Mrs Meg and Mrs +Jo were talking on the piazza. Not together; for Nan was walking briskly +along the pleasant road alone, thinking over a case that interested her, +and Tom was pegging on behind to overtake her, as if by accident, when +the suburbs of the city were past--a little way of his, which was part +of the joke. + +Nan was a handsome girl, with a fresh colour, clear eye, quick smile, +and the self-poised look young women with a purpose always have. She was +simply and sensibly dressed, walked easily, and seemed full of vigour, +with her broad shoulders well back, arms swinging freely, and the +elasticity of youth and health in every motion. The few people she met +turned to look at her, as if it was a pleasant sight to see a hearty, +happy girl walking countryward that lovely day; and the red-faced young +man steaming along behind, hat off and every tight curl wagging with +impatience, evidently agreed with them. + +Presently a mild 'Hallo!' was borne upon the breeze, and pausing, with +an effort to look surprised that was an utter failure, Nan said affably: + +'Oh, is that you, Tom?' + +'Looks like it. Thought you might be walking out today'; and Tom's +jovial face beamed with pleasure. + +'You knew it. How is your throat?' asked Nan in her professional tone, +which was always a quencher to undue raptures. + +'Throat? Oh, ah! yes, I remember. It is well. The effect of that +prescription was wonderful. I'll never call homoeopathy a humbug again.' + +'You were the humbug this time, and so were the unmedicated pellets +I gave you. If sugar or milk can cure diphtheria in this remarkable +manner, I'll make a note of it. O Tom, Tom, will you never be done +playing tricks?' + +'O Nan, Nan, will you never be done getting the better of me?' And the +merry pair laughed at one another just as they did in the old times, +which always came back freshly when they went to Plumfield. + +'Well, I knew I shouldn't see you for a week if I didn't scare up some +excuse for a call at the office. You are so desperately busy all the +time I never get a word,' explained Tom. + +'You ought to be busy too, and above such nonsense. Really, Tom, if you +don't give your mind to your lectures, you'll never get on,' said Nan +soberly. + +'I have quite enough of them as it is,' answered Tom with an air of +disgust. 'A fellow must lark a bit after dissecting corpuses all day. +I can't stand it long at a time, though some people seem to enjoy it +immensely.' + +'Then why not leave it, and do what suits you better? I always thought +it a foolish thing, you know,' said Nan, with a trace of anxiety in the +keen eyes that searched for signs of illness in a face as ruddy as a +Baldwin apple. + +'You know why I chose it, and why I shall stick to it if it kills me. +I may not look delicate, but I've a deep-seated heart complaint, and it +will carry me off sooner or later; for only one doctor in the world can +cure it, and she won't.' + +There was an air of pensive resignation about Tom that was both comic +and pathetic; for he was in earnest, and kept on giving hints of this +sort, without the least encouragement. + +Nan frowned; but she was used to it, and knew how to treat him. + +'She is curing it in the best and only way; but a more refractory +patient never lived. Did you go to that ball, as I directed?' + +'I did.' + +'And devote yourself to pretty Miss West?' + +'Danced with her the whole evening.' + +'No impression made on that susceptible organ of yours?' + +'Not the slightest. I gaped in her face once, forgot to feed her, and +gave a sigh of relief when I handed her over to her mamma.' + +'Repeat the dose as often as possible, and note the symptoms. I predict +that you'll “cry for it” by and by.' + +'Never! I'm sure it doesn't suit my constitution.' + +'We shall see. Obey orders!' sternly. + +'Yes, Doctor,' meekly. + +Silence reigned for a moment; then, as if the bone of contention was +forgotten in the pleasant recollections called up by familiar objects, +Nan said suddenly: + +'What fun we used to have in that wood! Do you remember how you tumbled +out of the big nut-tree and nearly broke your collar-bones?' + +'Don't I! and how you steeped me in wormwood till I was a fine mahogany +colour, and Aunt Jo wailed over my spoilt jacket,' laughed Tom, a boy +again in a minute. + +'And how you set the house afire?' + +'And you ran off for your band-box?' + +'Do you ever say “Thunder-turtles” now?' + +'Do people ever call you “Giddy-gaddy”?' + +'Daisy does. Dear thing, I haven't seen her for a week.' + +'I saw Demi this morning, and he said she was keeping house for Mother +Bhaer.' + +'She always does when Aunt Jo gets into a vortex. Daisy is a model +housekeeper; and you couldn't do better than make your bow to her, if +you can't go to work and wait till you are grown up before you begin +lovering.' + +'Nat would break his fiddle over my head if I suggested such a thing. +No, thank you. Another name is engraved upon my heart as indelibly +as the blue anchor on my arm. “Hope” is my motto, and “No surrender”, +yours; see who will hold out longest.' + +'You silly boys think we must pair off as we did when children; but we +shall do nothing of the kind. How well Parnassus looks from here!' said +Nan, abruptly changing the conversation again. + +'It is a fine house; but I love old Plum best. Wouldn't Aunt March stare +if she could see the changes here?' answered Tom, as they both paused at +the great gate to look at the pleasant landscape before them. + +A sudden whoop startled them, as a long boy with a wild yellow head came +leaping over a hedge like a kangaroo, followed by a slender girl, who +stuck in the hawthorn, and sat there laughing like a witch. A pretty +little lass she was, with curly dark hair, bright eyes, and a very +expressive face. Her hat was at her back, and her skirts a good deal the +worse for the brooks she had crossed, the trees she had climbed, and the +last leap, which added several fine rents. + +'Take me down, Nan, please. Tom, hold Ted; he's got my book, and I +will have it,' called Josie from her perch, not at all daunted by the +appearance of her friends. + +Tom promptly collared the thief, while Nan picked Josie from among the +thorns and set her on her feet without a word of reproof; for having +been a romp in her own girlhood, she was very indulgent to like tastes +in others. 'What's the matter, dear?' she asked, pinning up the longest +rip, while Josie examined the scratches on her hands. 'I was studying my +part in the willow, and Ted came slyly up and poked the book out of my +hands with his rod. It fell in the brook, and before I could scrabble +down he was off. You wretch, give it back this moment or I'll box your +ears,' cried Josie, laughing and scolding in the same breath. + +Escaping from Tom, Ted struck a sentimental attitude, and with tender +glances at the wet, torn young person before him, delivered Claude +Melnotte's famous speech in a lackadaisical way that was irresistibly +funny, ending with 'Dost like the picture, love?' as he made an object +of himself by tying his long legs in a knot and distorting his face +horribly. + +The sound of applause from the piazza put a stop to these antics, and +the young folks went up the avenue together very much in the old style +when Tom drove four in hand and Nan was the best horse in the team. +Rosy, breathless, and merry, they greeted the ladies and sat down on +the steps to rest, Aunt Meg sewing up her daughter's rags while Mrs +Jo smoothed the Lion's mane, and rescued the book. Daisy appeared in a +moment to greet her friend, and all began to talk. + +'Muffins for tea; better stay and eat 'em; Daisy's never fail,' said Ted +hospitably. + +'He's a judge; he ate nine last time. That's why he's so fat,' added +Josie, with a withering glance at her cousin, who was as thin as a lath. + +'I must go and see Lucy Dove. She has a whitlow, and it's time to lance +it. I'll tea at college,' answered Nan, feeling in her pocket to be sure +she had not forgotten her case of instruments. + +'Thanks, I'm going there also. Tom Merryweather has granulated lids, +and I promised to touch them up for him. Save a doctor's fee and be good +practice for me. I'm clumsy with my thumbs,' said Tom, bound to be near +his idol while he could. + +'Hush! Daisy doesn't like to hear you saw-bones talk of your work. +Muffins suit us better'; and Ted grinned sweetly, with a view to future +favours in the eating line. + +'Any news of the Commodore?' asked Tom. + +'He is on his way home, and Dan hopes to come soon. I long to see my +boys together, and have begged the wanderers to come to Thanksgiving, if +not before,' answered Mrs Jo, beaming at the thought. + +'They'll come, every man of them, if they can. Even Jack will risk +losing a dollar for the sake of one of our jolly old dinners,' laughed +Tom. + +'There's the turkey fattening for the feast. I never chase him now, but +feed him well; and he's “swellin' wisibly”, bless his drumsticks!' said +Ted, pointing out the doomed fowl proudly parading in a neighbouring +field. + +'If Nat goes the last of the month we shall want a farewell frolic for +him. I suppose the dear old Chirper will come home a second Ole Bull,' +said Nan to her friend. + +A pretty colour came into Daisy's cheek, and the folds of muslin on her +breast rose and fell with a quick breath; but she answered placidly: +'Uncle Laurie says he has real talent, and after the training he will +get abroad he can command a good living here, though he may never be +famous.' + +'Young people seldom turn out as one predicts, so it is of little use +to expect anything,' said Mrs Meg with a sigh. 'If our children are good +and useful men and women, we should be satisfied; yet it's very natural +to wish them to be brilliant and successful.' + +'They are like my chickens, mighty uncertain. Now, that fine-looking +cockerel of mine is the stupidest one of the lot, and the ugly, +long-legged chap is the king of the yard, he's so smart; crows loud +enough to wake the Seven Sleepers; but the handsome one croaks, and is +no end of a coward. I get snubbed; but you wait till I grow up, and +then see'; and Ted looked so like his own long-legged pet that everyone +laughed at his modest prediction. + +'I want to see Dan settled somewhere. “A rolling stone gathers no moss”, +and at twenty-five he is still roaming about the world without a tie to +hold him, except this'; and Mrs Meg nodded towards her sister. + +'Dan will find his place at last, and experience is his best teacher. +He is rough still, but each time he comes home I see a change for the +better, and never lose my faith in him. He may never do anything great, +or get rich; but if the wild boy makes an honest man, I'm satisfied,' +said Mrs Jo, who always defended the black sheep of her flock. + +'That's right, mother, stand by Dan! He's worth a dozen Jacks and Neds +bragging about money and trying to be swells. You see if he doesn't do +something to be proud of and take the wind out of their sails,' +added Ted, whose love for his 'Danny' was now strengthened by a boy's +admiration for the bold, adventurous man. + +'Hope so, I'm sure. He's just the fellow to do rash things and come +to glory--climbing the Matterhorn, taking a “header” into Niagara, or +finding a big nugget. That's his way of sowing wild oats, and perhaps +it's better than ours,' said Tom thoughtfully; for he had gained a good +deal of experience in that sort of agriculture since he became a medical +student. + +'Much better!' said Mrs Jo emphatically. 'I'd rather send my boys off +to see the world in that way than leave them alone in a city full of +temptations, with nothing to do but waste time, money, and health, as +so many are left. Dan has to work his way, and that teaches him courage, +patience, and self-reliance. I don't worry about him as much as I do +about George and Dolly at college, no more fit than two babies to take +care of themselves.' + +'How about John? He's knocking round town as a newspaper man, reporting +all sorts of things, from sermons to prize-fights,' asked Tom, who +thought that sort of life would be much more to his own taste than +medical lectures and hospital wards. + +'Demi has three safeguards--good principles, refined tastes, and a wise +mother. He won't come to harm, and these experiences will be useful to +him when he begins to write, as I'm sure he will in time,' began Mrs +Jo in her prophetic tone; for she was anxious to have some of her geese +turn out swans. + +'Speak of Jenkins, and you'll hear the rustling of his paper,' cried +Tom, as a fresh-faced, brown-eyed young man came up the avenue, waving a +newspaper over his head. + +'Here's your Evening Tattler! Latest Edition! Awful murder! Bank clerk +absconded! Powder-mill explosion, and great strike of the Latin School +boys!' roared Ted, going to meet his cousin with the graceful gait of a +young giraffe. + +'The Commodore is in, and will cut his cable and run before the wind +as soon as he can get off,' called Demi, with 'a nice derangement of +nautical epitaphs', as he came up smiling over his good news. + +Everyone talked together for a moment, and the paper passed from hand to +hand that each eye might rest on the pleasant fact that the Brenda, from +Hamburg, was safe in port. + +'He'll come lurching out by tomorrow with his usual collection of marine +monsters and lively yarns. I saw him, jolly and tarry and brown as a +coffee-berry. Had a good run, and hopes to be second mate, as the other +chap is laid up with a broken leg,' added Demi. + +'Wish I had the setting of it,' said Nan to herself, with a professional +twist of her hand. + +'How's Franz?' asked Mrs Jo. + +'He's going to be married! There's news for you. The first of the +flock, Aunty, so say good-bye to him. Her name is Ludmilla Heldegard +Blumenthal; good family, well-off, pretty, and of course an angel. The +dear old boy wants Uncle's consent, and then he will settle down to be a +happy and an honest burgher. Long life to him!' + +'I'm glad to hear it. I do so like to settle my boys with a good wife +and a nice little home. Now, if all is right, I shall feel as if Franz +was off my mind,' said Mrs Jo, folding her hands contentedly; for she +often felt like a distracted hen with a large brood of mixed chickens +and ducks upon her hands. + +'So do I,' sighed Tom, with a sly glance at Nan. 'That's what a fellow +needs to keep him steady; and it's the duty of nice girls to marry as +soon as possible, isn't it, Demi?' + +'If there are enough nice fellows to go round. The female population +exceeds the male, you know, especially in New England; which accounts +for the high state of culture we are in, perhaps,' answered John, who +was leaning over his mother's chair, telling his day's experiences in a +whisper. + +'It is a merciful provision, my dears; for it takes three or four women +to get each man into, through, and out of the world. You are costly +creatures, boys; and it is well that mothers, sisters, wives, and +daughters love their duty and do it so well, or you would perish off the +face of the earth,' said Mrs Jo solemnly, as she took up a basket filled +with dilapidated hose; for the good Professor was still hard on his +socks, and his sons resembled him in that respect. + +'Such being the case, there is plenty for the “superfluous women” to do, +in taking care of these helpless men and their families. I see that more +clearly every day, and am very glad and grateful that my profession will +make me a useful, happy, and independent spinster.' + +Nan's emphasis on the last word caused Tom to groan, and the rest to +laugh. + +'I take great pride and solid satisfaction in you, Nan, and hope to +see you very successful; for we do need just such helpful women in the +world. I sometimes feel as if I've missed my vocation and ought to +have remained single; but my duty seemed to point this way, and I don't +regret it,' said Mrs Jo, folding a large and very ragged blue sock to +her bosom. + +'Neither do I. What should I ever have done without my dearest Mum?' +added Ted, with a filial hug which caused both to disappear behind the +newspaper in which he had been mercifully absorbed for a few minutes. + +'My darling boy, if you would wash your hands semi-occasionally, fond +caresses would be less disastrous to my collar. Never mind, my precious +touslehead, better grass stains and dirt than no cuddlings at all'; and +Mrs Jo emerged from that brief eclipse looking much refreshed, though +her back hair was caught in Ted's buttons and her collar under one ear. + +Here Josie, who had been studying her part at the other end of the +piazza, suddenly burst forth with a smothered shriek, and gave Juliet's +speech in the tomb so effectively that the boys applauded, Daisy +shivered, and Nan murmured: 'Too much cerebral excitement for one of her +age.' + +'I'm afraid you'll have to make up your mind to it, Meg. That child is +a born actress. We never did anything so well, not even the Witch's +Curse,' said Mrs Jo, casting a bouquet of many-coloured socks at the +feet of her flushed and panting niece, when she fell gracefully upon the +door-mat. + +'It is a sort of judgement upon me for my passion for the stage when a +girl. Now I know how dear Marmee felt when I begged to be an actress. I +never can consent, and yet I may be obliged to give up my wishes, hopes, +and plans again.' + +There was an accent of reproach in his mother's voice, which made Demi +pick up his sister with a gentle shake, and the stern command to 'drop +that nonsense in public'. + +'Drop me, Minion, or I'll give you the Maniac Bride, with my best +Ha-ha!' cried Josie, glaring at him like an offended kitten. Being set +on her feet, she made a splendid courtesy, and dramatically proclaiming, +'Mrs Woffington's carriage waits,' swept down the steps and round the +corner, trailing Daisy's scarlet shawl majestically behind her. + +'Isn't she great fun? I couldn't stop in this dull place if I hadn't +that child to make it lively for me. If ever she turns prim, I'm off; so +mind how you nip her in the bud,' said Teddy, frowning at Demi, who was +now writing out shorthand notes on the steps. + +'You two are a team, and it takes a strong hand to drive you, but I +rather like it. Josie ought to have been my child, and Rob yours, Meg. +Then your house would have been all peace and mine all Bedlam. Now I +must go and tell Laurie the news. Come with me, Meg, a little stroll +will do us good'; and sticking Ted's straw hat on her head, Mrs Jo +walked off with her sister, leaving Daisy to attend to the muffins, Ted +to appease Josie, and Tom and Nan to give their respective patients a +very bad quarter of an hour. + + + +Chapter 2. PARNASSUS + +It was well named; and the Muses seemed to be at home that day, for as +the newcomers went up the slope appropriate sights and sounds greeted +them. Passing an open window, they looked in upon a library presided +over by Clio, Calliope, and Urania; Melpomene and Thalia were disporting +themselves in the hall, where some young people were dancing and +rehearsing a play; Erato was walking in the garden with her lover, and +in the music-room Phoebus himself was drilling a tuneful choir. + +A mature Apollo was our old friend Laurie, but comely and genial as +ever; for time had ripened the freakish boy into a noble man. Care and +sorrow, as well as ease and happiness, had done much for him; and the +responsibility of carrying out his grandfather's wishes had been a +duty most faithfully performed. Prosperity suits some people, and they +blossom best in a glow of sunshine; others need the shade, and are the +sweeter for a touch of frost. Laurie was one of the former sort, and +Amy was another; so life had been a kind of poem to them since they +married--not only harmonious and happy, but earnest, useful, and rich in +the beautiful benevolence which can do so much when wealth and wisdom go +hand in hand with charity. Their house was full of unostentatious beauty +and comfort, and here the art-loving host and hostess attracted and +entertained artists of all kinds. Laurie had music enough now, and was a +generous patron to the class he most liked to help. Amy had her proteges +among ambitious young painters and sculptors, and found her own art +double dear as her daughter grew old enough to share its labours and +delights with her; for she was one of those who prove that women can be +faithful wives and mothers without sacrificing the special gift bestowed +upon them for their own development and the good of others. + +Her sisters knew where to find her, and Jo went at once to the studio, +where mother and daughter worked together. Bess was busy with the bust +of a little child, while her mother added the last touches to a fine +head of her husband. Time seemed to have stood still with Amy, for +happiness had kept her young and prosperity given her the culture she +needed. A stately, graceful woman, who showed how elegant simplicity +could be made by the taste with which she chose her dress and the grace +with which she wore it. As someone said: 'I never know what Mrs Laurence +has on, but I always receive the impression that she is the best-dressed +lady in the room.' + +It was evident that she adored her daughter, and well she might; for +the beauty she had longed for seemed, to her fond eyes at least, to +be impersonated in this younger self. Bess inherited her mother's +Diana-like figure, blue eyes, fair skin, and golden hair, tied up in +the same classic knot of curls. Also--ah! never-ending source of joy to +Amy--she had her father's handsome nose and mouth, cast in a feminine +mould. The severe simplicity of a long linen pinafore suited her; +and she worked away with the entire absorption of the true artist, +unconscious of the loving eyes upon her, till Aunt Jo came in exclaiming +eagerly: + +'My dear girls, stop your mud-pies and hear the news!' + +Both artists dropped their tools and greeted the irrepressible woman +cordially, though genius had been burning splendidly and her coming +spoilt a precious hour. They were in the full tide of gossip when +Laurie, who had been summoned by Meg, arrived, and sitting down between +the sisters, with no barricade anywhere, listened with interest to the +news of Franz and Emil. + +'The epidemic has broke out, and now it will rage and ravage your flock. +Be prepared for every sort of romance and rashness for the next ten +years, Jo. Your boys are growing up and will plunge headlong into a sea +of worse scrapes than any you have had yet,' said Laurie, enjoying her +look of mingled delight and despair. + +'I know it, and I hope I shall be able to pull them through and land +them safely; but it's an awful responsibility, for they will come to me +and insist that I can make their poor little loves run smoothly. I +like it, though, and Meg is such a mush of sentiment she revels in the +prospect,' answered Jo, feeling pretty easy about her own boys, whose +youth made them safe for the present. + +'I'm afraid she won't revel when our Nat begins to buzz too near her +Daisy. Of course you see what all that means? As musical director I am +also his confidante, and would like to know what advice to give,' said +Laurie soberly. 'Hush! you forget that child,' began Jo, nodding towards +Bess, who was at work again. + +'Bless you! she's in Athens, and doesn't hear a word. She ought to leave +off, though, and go out. My darling, put the baby to sleep, and go for +a run. Aunt Meg is in the parlour; go and show her the new pictures till +we come,' added Laurie, looking at his tall girl as Pygmalion might have +looked at Galatea; for he considered her the finest statue in the house. + +'Yes, papa; but please tell me if it is good'; and Bess obediently put +down her tools, with a lingering glance at the bust. + +'My cherished daughter, truth compels me to confess that one cheek is +plumper than the other; and the curls upon its infant brow are rather +too much like horns for perfect grace; otherwise it rivals Raphael's +Chanting Cherubs, and I'm proud of it.' + +Laurie was laughing as he spoke; for these first attempts were so like +Amy's early ones, it was impossible to regard them as soberly as the +enthusiastic mamma did. + +'You can't see beauty in anything but music,' answered Bess, shaking the +golden head that made the one bright spot in the cool north lights of +the great studio. + +'Well, I see beauty in you, dear. And if you are not art, what is? I +wish to put a little more nature into you, and get you away from this +cold clay and marble into the sunshine, to dance and laugh as the +others do. I want a flesh-and-blood girl, not a sweet statue in a grey +pinafore, who forgets everything but her work.' As he spoke, two dusty +hands came round his neck, and Bess said earnestly, punctuating her +words with soft touches of her lips: + +'I never forget you, papa; but I do want to do something beautiful that +you may be proud of me by and by. Mamma often tells me to stop; but when +we get in here we forget there is any world outside, we are so busy and +so happy. Now I'll go and run and sing, and be a girl to please you.' +And throwing away the apron, Bess vanished from the room, seeming to +take all the light with her. + +'I'm glad you said that. The dear child is too much absorbed in her +artistic dreams for one so young. It is my fault; but I sympathize so +deeply in it all, I forget to be wise,' sighed Amy, carefully covering +the baby with a wet towel. + +'I think this power of living in our children is one of the sweetest +things in the world; but I try to remember what Marmee once said to +Meg--that fathers should have their share in the education of both girls +and boys; so I leave Ted to his father all I can, and Fritz lends me +Rob, whose quiet ways are as restful and good for me as Ted's tempests +are for his father. Now I advise you, Amy, to let Bess drop the mud-pies +for a time, and take up music with Laurie; then she won't be one-sided, +and he won't be jealous.' + +'Hear, hear! A Daniel--a very Daniel!' cried Laurie, well pleased. 'I +thought you'd lend a hand, Jo, and say a word for me. I am a little +jealous of Amy, and want more of a share in my girl. Come, my lady, let +me have her this summer, and next year, when we go to Rome, I'll give +her up to you and high art. Isn't that a fair bargain?' + +'I agree; but in trying your hobby, nature, with music thrown in, don't +forget that, though only fifteen, our Bess is older than most girls of +that age, and cannot be treated like a child. She is so very precious +to me, I feel as if I wanted to keep her always as pure and beautiful as +the marble she loves so well.' + +Amy spoke regretfully as she looked about the lovely room where she had +spent so many happy hours with this dear child of hers. + +'“Turn and turn about is fair play”, as we used to say when we all +wanted to ride on Ellen Tree or wear the russet boots,' said Jo briskly; +'so you must share your girl between you, and see who will do the most +for her.' + +'We will,' answered the fond parents, laughing at the recollections Jo's +proverb brought up to them. + +'How I did use to enjoy bouncing on the limbs of that old apple-tree! +No real horse ever gave me half the pleasure or the exercise,' said Amy, +looking out of the high window as if she saw the dear old orchard again +and the little girls at play there. + +'And what fun I had with those blessed boots!' laughed Jo. 'I've got the +relics now. The boys reduced them to rags; but I love them still, and +would enjoy a good theatrical stalk in them if it were possible.' + +'My fondest memories twine about the warming-pan and the sausage. What +larks we had! And how long ago it seems!' said Laurie, staring at the +two women before him as if he found it hard to realize that they ever +had been little Amy and riotous Jo. + +'Don't suggest that we are growing old, my Lord. We have only bloomed; +and a very nice bouquet we make with our buds about us,' answered Mrs +Amy, shaking out the folds of her rosy muslin with much the air of +dainty satisfaction the girl used to show in a new dress. + +'Not to mention our thorns and dead leaves,' added Jo, with a sigh; for +life had never been very easy to her, and even now she had her troubles +both within and without. + +'Come and have a dish of tea, old dear, and see what the young folks are +about. You are tired, and want to be “stayed with flagons and comforted +with apples”,' said Laurie, offering an arm to each sister, and leading +them away to afternoon tea, which flowed as freely on Parnassus as the +nectar of old. + +They found Meg in the summer-parlour, an airy and delightful room, full +now of afternoon sunshine and the rustle of trees; for the three long +windows opened on the garden. The great music-room was at one end, +and at the other, in a deep alcove hung with purple curtains, a little +household shrine had been made. Three portraits hung there, two marble +busts stood in the corners, and a couch, an oval table, with its urn +of flowers, were the only articles of furniture the nook contained. The +busts were John Brooke and Beth--Amy's work--both excellent likenesses, +and both full of the placid beauty which always recalls the saying, +that 'Clay represents life; plaster, death; marble, immortality'. On +the right, as became the founder of the house, hung the portrait of Mr +Laurence, with its expression of mingled pride and benevolence, as fresh +and attractive as when he caught the girl Jo admiring it. Opposite was +Aunt March--a legacy to Amy--in an imposing turban, immense sleeves, and +long mittens decorously crossed on the front of her plum-coloured satin +gown. Time had mellowed the severity of her aspect; and the fixed regard +of the handsome old gentleman opposite seemed to account for the amiable +simper on lips that had not uttered a sharp word for years. + +In the place of honour, with the sunshine warm upon it, and a green +garland always round it, was Marmee's beloved face, painted with +grateful skill by a great artist whom she had befriended when poor and +unknown. So beautifully lifelike was it that it seemed to smile down +upon her daughters, saying cheerfully: + +'Be happy; I am with you still.' + +The three sisters stood a moment looking up at the beloved picture with +eyes full of tender reverence and the longing that never left them; for +this noble mother had been so much to them that no one could ever fill +her place. Only two years since she had gone away to live and love anew, +leaving such a sweet memory behind her that it was both an inspiration +and a comforter to all the household. They felt this as they drew closer +to one another, and Laurie put it into words as he said earnestly: + +'I can ask nothing better for my child than that she may be a woman like +our mother. Please God, she shall be, if I can do it; for I owe the best +I have to this dear saint.' + +Just then a fresh voice began to sing 'Ave Maria' in the music-room, and +Bess unconsciously echoed her father's prayer for her as she dutifully +obeyed his wishes. The soft sound of the air Marmee used to sing led the +listeners back into the world again from that momentary reaching after +the loved and lost, and they sat down together near the open windows +enjoying the music, while Laurie brought them tea, making the little +service pleasant by the tender care he gave to it. + +Nat came in with Demi, soon followed by Ted and Josie, the Professor and +his faithful Rob, all anxious to hear more about 'the boys'. The rattle +of cups and tongues grew brisk, and the setting sun saw a cheerful +company resting in the bright room after the varied labours of the day. + +Professor Bhaer was grey now, but robust and genial as ever; for he had +the work he loved, and did it so heartily that the whole college felt +his beautiful influence. Rob was as much like him as it was possible for +a boy to be, and was already called the 'young Professor', he so adored +study and closely imitated his honoured father in all ways. + +'Well, heart's dearest, we go to have our boys again, all two, and +may rejoice greatly,' said Mr Bhaer, seating himself beside Jo with a +beaming face and a handshake of congratulation. + +'Oh, Fritz, I'm so delighted about Emil, and if you approve about Franz +also. Did you know Ludmilla? Is it a wise match?' asked Mrs Jo, handing +him her cup of tea and drawing closer, as if she welcomed her refuge in +joy as well as sorrow. + +'It all goes well. I saw the Madchen when I went over to place Franz. +A child then, but most sweet and charming. Blumenthal is satisfied, I +think, and the boy will be happy. He is too German to be content away +from Vaterland, so we shall have him as a link between the new and the +old, and that pleases me much.' + +'And Emil, he is to be second mate next voyage; isn't that fine? I'm so +happy that both your boys have done well; you gave up so much for them +and their mother. You make light of it, dear, but I never forget it,' +said Jo, with her hand in his as sentimentally as if she was a girl +again and her Fritz had come a-wooing. + +He laughed his cheery laugh, and whispered behind her fan: 'If I had not +come to America for the poor lads, I never should have found my Jo. +The hard times are very sweet now, and I bless Gott for all I seemed to +lose, because I gained the blessing of my life.' + +'Spooning! spooning! Here's an awful flirtation on the sly,' cried +Teddy, peering over the fan just at that interesting moment, much to his +mother's confusion and his father's amusement; for the Professor never +was ashamed of the fact that he still considered his wife the dearest +woman in the world. Rob promptly ejected his brother from one window, +to see him skip in at the other, while Mrs Jo shut her fan and held it +ready to rap her unruly boy's knuckles if he came near her again. + +Nat approached in answer to Mr Bhaer's beckoning teaspoon, and stood +before them with a face full of the respectful affection he felt for the +excellent man who had done so much for him. + +'I have the letters ready for thee, my son. They are two old friends of +mine in Leipzig, who will befriend thee in that new life. It is well to +have them, for thou wilt be heartbroken with Heimweh at the first, Nat, +and need comforting,' said the Professor, giving him several letters. + +'Thanks, sir. Yes, I expect to be pretty lonely till I get started, then +my music and the hope of getting on will cheer me up,' answered Nat, who +both longed and dreaded to leave all these friends behind him and make +new ones. + +He was a man now; but the blue eyes were as honest as ever, the mouth +still a little weak, in spite of the carefully cherished moustache +over it, and the broad forehead more plainly than ever betrayed the +music-loving nature of the youth. Modest, affectionate, and dutiful, Nat +was considered a pleasant though not a brilliant success by Mrs Jo. She +loved and trusted him, and was sure he would do his best, but did not +expect that he would be great in any way, unless the stimulus of foreign +training and self-dependence made him a better artist and a stronger man +than now seemed likely. + +'I've marked all your things--or rather, Daisy did--and as soon as your +books are collected, we can see about the packing,' said Mrs Jo, who was +so used to fitting boys off for all quarters of the globe that a trip to +the North Pole would not have been too much for her. + +Nat grew red at mention of that name--or was it the last glow of sunset +on his rather pale cheek?--and his heart beat happily at the thought of +the dear girl working Ns and Bs on his humble socks and handkerchiefs; +for Nat adored Daisy, and the cherished dream of his life was to earn +a place for himself as a musician and win this angel for his wife. This +hope did more for him than the Professor's counsels, Mrs Jo's care, or +Mr Laurie's generous help. For her sake he worked, waited, and hoped, +finding courage and patience in the dream of that happy future when +Daisy should make a little home for him and he fiddle a fortune into her +lap. Mrs Jo knew this; and though he was not exactly the man she would +have chosen for her niece, she felt that Nat would always need just the +wise and loving care Daisy could give him, and that without it there was +danger of his being one of the amiable and aimless men who fail for +want of the right pilot to steer them safely through the world. Mrs Meg +decidedly frowned upon the poor boy's love, and would not hear of giving +her dear girl to any but the best man to be found on the face of the +earth. She was very kind, but as firm as such gentle souls can be; and +Nat fled for comfort to Mrs Jo, who always espoused the interests of +her boys heartily. A new set of anxieties was beginning now that the +aforesaid boys were growing up, and she foresaw no end of worry as well +as amusement in the love-affairs already budding in her flock. Mrs Meg +was usually her best ally and adviser, for she loved romances as well +now as when a blooming girl herself. But in this case she hardened her +heart, and would not hear a word of entreaty. 'Nat was not man enough, +never would be, no one knew his family, a musician's life was a hard +one; Daisy was too young, five or six years hence when time had proved +both perhaps. Let us see what absence will do for him.' And that was the +end of it, for when the maternal Pelican was roused she could be very +firm, though for her precious children she would have plucked her last +feather and given the last drop of her blood. + +Mrs Jo was thinking of this as she looked at Nat while he talked +with her husband about Leipzig, and she resolved to have a clear +understanding with him before he went; for she was used to confidences, +and talked freely with her boys about the trials and temptations that +beset all lives in the beginning, and so often mar them, for want of the +right word at the right moment. + +This is the first duty of parents, and no false delicacy should +keep them from the watchful care, the gentle warning, which makes +self-knowledge and self-control the compass and pilot of the young as +they leave the safe harbour of home. + +'Plato and his disciples approach,' announced irreverent Teddy, as Mr +March came in with several young men and women about him; for the wise +old man was universally beloved, and ministered so beautifully to his +flock that many of them thanked him all their lives for the help given +to both hearts and souls. + +Bess went to him at once; for since Marmee died, Grandpapa was her +special care, and it was sweet to see the golden head bend over the +silver one as she rolled out his easy-chair and waited on him with +tender alacrity. + +'Aesthetic tea always on tap here, sir; will you have a flowing bowl +or a bit of ambrosia?' asked Laurie, who was wandering about with a +sugar-basin in one hand and a plate of cake in the other; for sweetening +cups and feeding the hungry was work he loved. + +'Neither, thanks; this child has taken care of me'; and Mr March turned +to Bess, who sat on one arm of his chair, holding a glass of fresh milk. + +'Long may she live to do it, sir, and I be here to see this pretty +contradiction of the song that “youth and age cannot live together”!' +answered Laurie, smiling at the pair. '“Crabbed age”, papa; that makes +all the difference in the world,' said Bess quickly; for she loved +poetry, and read the best. + + 'Wouldst thou see fresh roses grow + In a reverend bed of snow?' + +quoted Mr March, as Josie came and perched on the other arm, looking +like a very thorny little rose; for she had been having a hot discussion +with Ted, and had got the worst of it. + +'Grandpa, must women always obey men and say they are the wisest, just +because they are the strongest?' she cried, looking fiercely at her +cousin, who came stalking up with a provoking smile on the boyish face +that was always very comical atop of that tall figure. + +'Well, my dear, that is the old-fashioned belief, and it will take some +time to change it. But I think the woman's hour has struck; and it looks +to me as if the boys must do their best, for the girls are abreast +now, and may reach the goal first,' answered Mr March, surveying with +paternal satisfaction the bright faces of the young women, who were +among the best students in the college. + +'The poor little Atalantas are sadly distracted and delayed by the +obstacles thrown in their way--not golden apples, by any means--but +I think they will stand a fair chance when they have learned to run +better,' laughed Uncle Laurie, stroking Josie's breezy hair, which stood +up like the fur of an angry kitten. + +'Whole barrels of apples won't stop me when I start, and a dozen Teds +won't trip me up, though they may try. I'll show him that a woman can +act as well, if not better, than a man. It has been done, and will be +again; and I'll never own that my brain isn't as good as his, though it +may be smaller,' cried the excited young person. + +'If you shake your head in that violent way you'll addle what brains you +have got; and I'd take care of 'em, if I were you,' began teasing Ted. + +'What started this civil war?' asked Grandpapa, with a gentle emphasis +on the adjective, which caused the combatants to calm their ardour a +little. + +'Why, we were pegging away at the Iliad and came to where Zeus tells +Juno not to inquire into his plans or he'll whip her, and Jo was +disgusted because Juno meekly hushed up. I said it was all right, and +agreed with the old fellow that women didn't know much and ought to obey +men,' explained Ted, to the great amusement of his hearers. + +'Goddesses may do as they like, but those Greek and Trojan women were +poor-spirited things if they minded men who couldn't fight their own +battles and had to be hustled off by Pallas, and Venus, and Juno, when +they were going to get beaten. The idea of two armies stopping and +sitting down while a pair of heroes flung stones at one another! I don't +think much of your old Homer. Give me Napoleon or Grant for my hero.' + +Josie's scorn was as funny as if a humming-bird scolded at an ostrich, +and everyone laughed as she sniffed at the immortal poet and criticized +the gods. + +'Napoleon's Juno had a nice time; didn't she? That's just the way girls +argue--first one way and then the other,' jeered Ted. + +'Like Johnson's young lady, who was “not categorical, but all +wiggle-waggle”,' added Uncle Laurie, enjoying the battle immensely. + +'I was only speaking of them as soldiers. But if you come to the woman +side of it, wasn't Grant a kind husband and Mrs Grant a happy woman? +He didn't threaten to whip her if she asked a natural question; and if +Napoleon did do wrong about Josephine, he could fight, and didn't want +any Minerva to come fussing over him. They were a stupid set, from +dandified Paris to Achilles sulking in his ships, and I won't change my +opinion for all the Hectors and Agamemnons in Greece,' said Josie, still +unconquered. + +'You can fight like a Trojan, that's evident; and we will be the two +obedient armies looking on while you and Ted have it out,' began Uncle +Laurie, assuming the attitude of a warrior leaning on his spear. + +'I fear we must give it up, for Pallas is about to descend and carry off +our Hector,' said Mr March, smiling, as Jo came to remind her son that +suppertime was near. + +'We will fight it out later when there are no goddesses to interfere,' +said Teddy, as he turned away with unusual alacrity, remembering the +treat in store. + +'Conquered by a muffin, by Jove!' called Josie after him, exulting in an +opportunity to use the classical exclamation forbidden to her sex. + +But Ted shot a Parthian arrow as he retired in good order by replying, +with a highly virtuous expression: + +'Obedience is a soldier's first duty.' + +Bent on her woman's privilege of having the last word, Josie ran after +him, but never uttered the scathing speech upon her lips, for a very +brown young man in a blue suit came leaping up the steps with a cheery +'Ahoy! ahoy! where is everybody?' + +'Emil! Emil!' cried Josie, and in a moment Ted was upon him, and the +late enemies ended their fray in a joyful welcome to the newcomer. + +Muffins were forgotten, and towing their cousin like two fussy little +tugs with a fine merchantman, the children returned to the parlour, +where Emil kissed all the women and shook hands with all the men except +his uncle; him he embraced in the good old German style, to the great +delight of the observers. + +'Didn't think I could get off today, but found I could, and steered +straight for old Plum. Not a soul there, so I luffed and bore away for +Parnassus, and here is every man Jack of you. Bless your hearts, how +glad I am to see you all!' exclaimed the sailor boy, beaming at them, as +he stood with his legs apart as if he still felt the rocking deck under +his feet. + +'You ought to “shiver your timbers”, not “bless our hearts”, Emil; it's +not nautical at all. Oh, how nice and shippy and tarry you do smell!' +said Josie, sniffing at him with great enjoyment of the fresh sea odours +he brought with him. This was her favourite cousin, and she was his +pet; so she knew that the bulging pockets of the blue jacket contained +treasures for her at least. + +'Avast, my hearty, and let me take soundings before you dive,' laughed +Emil, understanding her affectionate caresses, and holding her off with +one hand while with the other he rummaged out sundry foreign little +boxes and parcels marked with different names, and handed them round +with appropriate remarks, which caused much laughter; for Emil was a +wag. + +'There's a hawser that will hold our little cock-boat still about five +minutes,' he said, throwing a necklace of pretty pink coral over Josie's +head; 'and here's something the mermaids sent to Undine,' he added, +handing Bess a string of pearly shells on a silver chain. + +I thought Daisy would like a fiddle, and Nat can find her a beau,' +continued the sailor, with a laugh, as he undid a dainty filigree brooch +in the shape of a violin. + +'I know she will, and I'll take it to her,' answered Nat, as he +vanished, glad of an errand, and sure that he could find Daisy though +Emil had missed her. + +Emil chuckled, and handed out a quaintly carved bear whose head opened, +showing a capacious ink-stand. This he presented, with a scrape, to Aunt +Jo. + +'Knowing your fondness for these fine animals, I brought this one to +your pen.' + +'Very good, Commodore! Try again,' said Mrs Jo, much pleased with her +gift, which caused the Professor to prophesy 'works of Shakespeare' from +its depths, so great would be the inspiration of the beloved bruin. + +'As Aunt Meg will wear caps, in spite of her youth, I got Ludmilla to +get me some bits of lace. Hope you'll like 'em'; and out of a soft paper +came some filmy things, one of which soon lay like a net of snowflakes +on Mrs Meg's pretty hair. + +'I couldn't find anything swell enough for Aunt Amy, because she has +everything she wants, so I brought a little picture that always makes +me think of her when Bess was a baby'; and he handed her an oval ivory +locket, on which was painted a goldenhaired Madonna, with a rosy child +folded in her blue mantle. + +'How lovely!' cried everyone; and Aunt Amy at once hung it about her +neck on the blue ribbon from Bess's hair, charmed with her gift; for it +recalled the happiest year of her life. + +'Now, I flatter myself I've got just the thing for Nan, neat but not +gaudy, a sort of sign you see, and very appropriate for a doctor,' said +Emil, proudly displaying a pair of lava earrings shaped like little +skulls. + +'Horrid!' And Bess, who hated ugly things, turned her eyes to her own +pretty shells. + +'She won't wear earrings,' said Josie. + +'Well, she'll enjoy punching your ears then. She's never so happy as +when she's overhauling her fellow creatures and going for 'em with a +knife,' answered Emil, undisturbed. 'I've got a lot of plunder for you +fellows in my chest, but I knew I should have no peace till my cargo for +the girls was unloaded. Now tell me all the news.' And, seated on Amy's +best marbletopped table, the sailor swung his legs and talked at the +rate of ten knots an hour, till Aunt Jo carried them all off to a grand +family tea in honour of the Commodore. + + + +Chapter 3. JO'S LAST SCRAPE + +The March family had enjoyed a great many surprises in the course of +their varied career, but the greatest of all was when the Ugly Duckling +turned out to be, not a swan, but a golden goose, whose literary eggs +found such an unexpected market that in ten years Jo's wildest and most +cherished dream actually came true. How or why it happened she never +clearly understood, but all of a sudden she found herself famous in a +small way, and, better still, with a snug little fortune in her pocket +to clear away the obstacles of the present and assure the future of her +boys. + +It began during a bad year when everything went wrong at Plumfield; +times were hard, the school dwindled, Jo overworked herself and had a +long illness; Laurie and Amy were abroad, and the Bhaers too proud to +ask help even of those as near and dear as this generous pair. Confined +to her room, Jo got desperate over the state of affairs, till she fell +back upon the long-disused pen as the only thing she could do to help +fill up the gaps in the income. A book for girls being wanted by a +certain publisher, she hastily scribbled a little story describing a few +scenes and adventures in the lives of herself and sisters, though boys +were more in her line, and with very slight hopes of success sent it out +to seek its fortune. + +Things always went by contraries with Jo. Her first book, laboured over +for years, and launched full of the high hopes and ambitious dreams of +youth, foundered on its voyage, though the wreck continued to float long +afterward, to the profit of the publisher at least. The hastily written +story, sent away with no thought beyond the few dollars it might bring, +sailed with a fair wind and a wise pilot at the helm into public favour, +and came home heavily laden with an unexpected cargo of gold and glory. + +A more astonished woman probably never existed than Josephine Bhaer when +her little ship came into port with flags flying, cannon that had been +silent before now booming gaily, and, better than all, many kind faces +rejoicing with her, many friendly hands grasping hers with cordial +congratulations. After that it was plain sailing, and she merely had +to load her ships and send them off on prosperous trips, to bring home +stores of comfort for all she loved and laboured for. + +The fame she never did quite accept; for it takes very little fire to +make a great deal of smoke nowadays, and notoriety is not real glory. +The fortune she could not doubt, and gratefully received; though it was +not half so large a one as a generous world reported it to be. The tide +having turned continued to rise, and floated the family comfortably into +a snug harbour where the older members could rest secure from storms, +and whence the younger ones could launch their boats for the voyage of +life. + +All manner of happiness, peace, and plenty came in those years to bless +the patient waiters, hopeful workers, and devout believers in the wisdom +and justice of Him who sends disappointment, poverty, and sorrow to try +the love of human hearts and make success the sweeter when it comes. +The world saw the prosperity, and kind souls rejoiced over the improved +fortunes of the family; but the success Jo valued most, the happiness +that nothing could change or take away, few knew much about. + +It was the power of making her mother's last years happy and serene; to +see the burden of care laid down for ever, the weary hands at rest, the +dear face untroubled by any anxiety, and the tender heart free to pour +itself out in the wise charity which was its delight. As a girl, Jo's +favourite plan had been a room where Marmee could sit in peace and enjoy +herself after her hard, heroic life. Now the dream had become a happy +fact, and Marmee sat in her pleasant chamber with every comfort and +luxury about her, loving daughters to wait on her as infirmities +increased, a faithful mate to lean upon, and grand-children to brighten +the twilight of life with their dutiful affection. A very precious time +to all, for she rejoiced as only mothers can in the good fortunes of +their children. She had lived to reap the harvest she sowed; had seen +prayers answered, hopes blossom, good gifts bear fruit, peace and +prosperity bless the home she had made; and then, like some brave, +patient angel, whose work was done, turned her face heavenward, glad to +rest. + +This was the sweet and sacred side of the change; but it had its droll +and thorny one, as all things have in this curious world of ours. After +the first surprise, incredulity, and joy, which came to Jo, with the +ingratitude of human nature, she soon tired of renown, and began to +resent her loss of liberty. For suddenly the admiring public took +possession of her and all her affairs, past, present, and to come. +Strangers demanded to look at her, question, advise, warn, congratulate, +and drive her out of her wits by well-meant but very wearisome +attentions. If she declined to open her heart to them, they reproached +her; if she refused to endow her pet charities, relieve private wants, +or sympathize with every ill and trial known to humanity, she was called +hard-hearted, selfish, and haughty; if she found it impossible to answer +the piles of letters sent her, she was neglectful of her duty to +the admiring public; and if she preferred the privacy of home to the +pedestal upon which she was requested to pose, 'the airs of literary +people' were freely criticized. + +She did her best for the children, they being the public for whom she +wrote, and laboured stoutly to supply the demand always in the mouths of +voracious youth--'More stories; more right away!' Her family objected to +this devotion at their expense, and her health suffered; but for a time +she gratefully offered herself up on the altar of juvenile literature, +feeling that she owed a good deal to the little friends in whose sight +she had found favour after twenty years of effort. + +But a time came when her patience gave out; and wearying of being a +lion, she became a bear in nature as in name, and returning to her den, +growled awfully when ordered out. Her family enjoyed the fun, and had +small sympathy with her trials, but Jo came to consider it the worse +scrape of her life; for liberty had always been her dearest possession, +and it seemed to be fast going from her. Living in a lantern soon loses +its charm, and she was too old, too tired, and too busy to like it. She +felt that she had done all that could reasonably be required of her when +autographs, photographs, and autobiographical sketches had been sown +broadcast over the land; when artists had taken her home in all its +aspects, and reporters had taken her in the grim one she always +assumed on these trying occasions; when a series of enthusiastic +boarding-schools had ravaged her grounds for trophies, and a steady +stream of amiable pilgrims had worn her doorsteps with their respectful +feet; when servants left after a week's trial of the bell that rang all +day; when her husband was forced to guard her at meals, and the boys +to cover her retreat out of back windows on certain occasions when +enterprising guests walked in unannounced at unfortunate moments. + +A sketch of one day may perhaps explain the state of things, offer some +excuse for the unhappy woman, and give a hint to the autograph-fiend now +rampant in the land; for it is a true tale. + +'There ought to be a law to protect unfortunate authors,' said Mrs Jo +one morning soon after Emil's arrival, when the mail brought her an +unusually large and varied assortment of letters. 'To me it is a more +vital subject than international copyright; for time is money, peace is +health, and I lose both with no return but less respect for my fellow +creatures and a wild desire to fly into the wilderness, since I cannot +shut my doors even in free America.' + +'Lion-hunters are awful when in search of their prey. If they could +change places for a while it would do them good; and they'd see what +bores they were when they “do themselves the honour of calling to +express their admiration of our charming work”,' quoted Ted, with a bow +to his parent, now frowning over twelve requests for autographs. + +'I have made up my mind on one point,' said Mrs Jo with great firmness. +'I will not answer this kind of letter. I've sent at least six to this +boy, and he probably sells them. This girl writes from a seminary, and +if I send her one all the other girls will at once write for more. All +begin by saying they know they intrude, and that I am of course annoyed +by these requests; but they venture to ask because I like boys, or they +like the books, or it is only one. Emerson and Whittier put these things +in the wastepaper-basket; and though only a literary nursery-maid +who provides moral pap for the young, I will follow their illustrious +example; for I shall have no time to eat or sleep if I try to satisfy +these dear unreasonable children'; and Mrs Jo swept away the entire +batch with a sigh of relief. + +'I'll open the others and let you eat your breakfast in peace, liebe +Mutter,' said Rob, who often acted as her secretary. 'Here's one from +the South'; and breaking an imposing seal, he read: + +'MADAM, As it has pleased Heaven to bless your efforts with a large +fortune, I feel no hesitation in asking you to supply funds to purchase +a new communion-service for our church. To whatever denomination you +belong, you will of course respond with liberality to such a request, + +'Respectfully yours, + +'MRS X.Y. ZAVIER' + + +'Send a civil refusal, dear. All I have to give must go to feed and +clothe the poor at my gates. That is my thank-offering for success. Go +on,' answered his mother, with a grateful glance about her happy home. + +'A literary youth of eighteen proposes that you put your name to a novel +he has written; and after the first edition your name is to be taken off +and his put on. There's a cool proposal for you. I guess you won't agree +to that, in spite of your soft-heartedness towards most of the young +scribblers.' + +'Couldn't be done. Tell him so kindly, and don't let him send the +manuscript. I have seven on hand now, and barely time to read my own,' +said Mrs Jo, pensively fishing a small letter out of the slop-bowl and +opening it with care, because the down-hill address suggested that a +child wrote it. + +'I will answer this myself. A little sick girl wants a book, and she +shall have it, but I can't write sequels to all the rest to please her. +I should never come to an end if I tried to suit these voracious little +Oliver Twists, clamouring for more. What next, Robin?' + +'This is short and sweet. + +'DEAR MRS BHAER, I am now going to give you my opinion of your works. +I have read them all many times, and call them first-rate. Please go +ahead. + +'Your admirer, + +'BILLY BABCOCK' + + + +'Now that is what I like. Billy is a man of sense and a critic worth +having, since he had read my works many times before expressing his +opinion. He asks for no answer, so send my thanks and regards.' + +'Here's a lady in England with seven girls, and she wishes to know your +views upon education. Also what careers they shall follow the oldest +being twelve. Don't wonder she's worried,' laughed Rob. + +'I'll try to answer it. But as I have no girls, my opinion isn't worth +much and will probably shock her, as I shall tell her to let them run +and play and build up good, stout bodies before she talks about careers. +They will soon show what they want, if they are let alone, and not all +run in the same mould.' + +'Here's a fellow who wants to know what sort of a girl he shall marry, +and if you know of any like those in your stories.' + +'Give him Nan's address, and see what he'll get,' proposed Ted, +privately resolving to do it himself if possible. + +'This is from a lady who wants you to adopt her child and lend her money +to study art abroad for a few years. Better take it, and try your hand +at a girl, mother.' + +'No, thank you, I will keep to my own line of business. What is that +blotted one? It looks rather awful, to judge by the ink,' asked Mrs Jo, +who beguiled her daily task by trying to guess from the outside what +was inside her many letters. This proved to be a poem from an insane +admirer, to judge by its incoherent style. + + + + 'TO J.M.B. + + 'Oh, were I a heliotrope, + I would play poet, + And blow a breeze of fragrance + To you; and none should know it. + + 'Your form like the stately elm + When Phoebus gilds the morning ray; + Your cheeks like the ocean bed + That blooms a rose in May. + + 'Your words are wise and bright, + I bequeath them to you a legacy given; + And when your spirit takes its flight, + May it bloom aflower in heaven. + + 'My tongue in flattering language spoke, + And sweeter silence never broke + in busiest street or loneliest glen. + I take you with the flashes of my pen. + + 'Consider the lilies, how they grow; + They toil not, yet are fair, + Gems and flowers and Solomon's seal. + The geranium of the world is J. M. Bhaer. + + 'JAMES' + + + +While the boys shouted over this effusion--which is a true one--their +mother read several liberal offers from budding magazines for her to +edit them gratis; one long letter from a young girl inconsolable because +her favourite hero died, and 'would dear Mrs Bhaer rewrite the tale, and +make it end good?' another from an irate boy denied an autograph, who +darkly foretold financial ruin and loss of favour if she did not +send him and all other fellows who asked autographs, photographs, and +auto-biographical sketches; a minister wished to know her religion; +and an undecided maiden asked which of her two lovers she should marry. +These samples will suffice to show a few of the claims made on a busy +woman's time, and make my readers pardon Mrs Jo if she did not carefully +reply to all. + +'That job is done. Now I will dust a bit, and then go to my work. I'm +all behind-hand, and serials can't wait; so deny me to everybody, Mary. +I won't see Queen Victoria if she comes today.' And Mrs Bhaer threw down +her napkin as if defying all creation. + +'I hope the day will go well with thee, my dearest,' answered her +husband, who had been busy with his own voluminous correspondence. 'I +will dine at college with Professor Plock, who is to visit us today. The +Junglings can lunch on Parnassus; so thou shalt have a quiet time.' And +smoothing the worried lines out of her forehead with his good-bye kiss, +the excellent man marched away, both pockets full of books, an old +umbrella in one hand, and a bag of stones for the geology class in the +other. + +'If all literary women had such thoughtful angels for husbands, they +would live longer and write more. Perhaps that wouldn't be a blessing to +the world though, as most of us write too much now,' said Mrs Jo, waving +her feather duster to her spouse, who responded with flourishes of the +umbrella as he went down the avenue. + +Rob started for school at the same time, looking so much like him with +his books and bag and square shoulders and steady air that his mother +laughed as she turned away, saying heartily: 'Bless both my dear +professors, for better creatures never lived!' + +Emil was already gone to his ship in the city; but Ted lingered to steal +the address he wanted, ravage the sugar-bowl, and talk with 'Mum'; +for the two had great larks together. Mrs Jo always arranged her own +parlour, refilled her vases, and gave the little touches that left it +cool and neat for the day. Going to draw down the curtain, she beheld an +artist sketching on the lawn, and groaned as she hastily retired to the +back window to shake her duster. + +At that moment the bell rang and the sound of wheels was heard in the +road. + +'I'll go; Mary lets 'em in'; and Ted smoothed his hair as he made for +the hall. + +'Can't see anyone. Give me a chance to fly upstairs,' whispered Mrs Jo, +preparing to escape. But before she could do so, a man appeared at the +door with a card in his hand. Ted met him with a stern air, and his +mother dodged behind the window-curtains to bide her time for escape. + +'I am doing a series of articles for the Saturday Tattler, and I +called to see Mrs Bhaer the first of all,' began the newcomer in the +insinuating tone of his tribe, while his quick eyes were taking in all +they could, experience having taught him to make the most of his time, +as his visits were usually short ones. + +'Mrs Bhaer never sees reporters, sir.' + +'But a few moments will be all I ask,' said the man, edging his way +farther in. + +'You can't see her, for she is out,' replied Teddy, as a backward glance +showed him that his unhappy parent had vanished--through the window, he +supposed, as she sometimes did when hard bestead. + +'Very sorry. I'll call again. Is this her study? Charming room!' And the +intruder fell back on the parlour, bound to see something and bag a fact +if he died in the attempt. 'It is not,' said Teddy, gently but firmly +backing him down the hall, devoutly hoping that his mother had escaped +round the corner of the house. + +'If you could tell me Mrs Bhaer's age and birthplace, date of marriage, +and number of children, I should be much obliged,' continued the +unabashed visitor as he tripped over the door-mat. + +'She is about sixty, born in Nova Zembla, married just forty years ago +today, and has eleven daughters. Anything else, sir?' And Ted's sober +face was such a funny contrast to his ridiculous reply that the reporter +owned himself routed, and retired laughing just as a lady followed by +three beaming girls came up the steps. + +'We are all the way from Oshkosh, and couldn't go home without seein' +dear Aunt Jo. My girls just admire her works, and lot on gettin' a +sight of her. I know it's early; but we are goin' to see Holmes and +Longfeller, and the rest of the celebrities, so we ran out here fust +thing. Mrs Erastus Kingsbury Parmalee, of Oshkosh, tell her. We don't +mind waitin'; we can look round a spell if she ain't ready to see folks +yet.' + +All this was uttered with such rapidity that Ted could only stand +gazing at the buxom damsels, who fixed their six blue eyes upon him so +beseechingly that his native gallantry made it impossible to deny them a +civil reply at least. + +'Mrs Bhaer is not visible today--out just now, I believe; but you can +see the house and grounds if you like,' he murmured, falling back as the +four pressed in gazing rapturously about them. + +'Oh, thank you! Sweet, pretty place I'm sure! That's where she writes, +ain't it? Do tell me if that's her picture! Looks just as I imagined +her!' + +With these remarks the ladies paused before a fine engraving of the Hon. +Mrs Norton, with a pen in her hand and a rapt expression of countenance, +likewise a diadem and pearl necklace. + +Keeping his gravity with an effort, Teddy pointed to a very bad portrait +of Mrs Jo, which hung behind the door, and afforded her much amusement, +it was so dismal, in spite of a curious effect of light upon the end of +the nose and cheeks as red as the chair she sat in. + +'This was taken for my mother; but it is not very good,' he said, +enjoying the struggles of the girls not to look dismayed at the sad +difference between the real and the ideal. The youngest, aged twelve, +could not conceal her disappointment, and turned away, feeling as so +many of us have felt when we discover that our idols are very ordinary +men and women. + +'I thought she'd be about sixteen and have her hair braided in two +tails down her back. I don't care about seeing her now,' said the honest +child, walking off to the hall door, leaving her mother to apologize, +and her sisters to declare that the bad portrait was 'perfectly lovely, +so speaking and poetic, you know, 'specially about the brow'. + +'Come girls, we must be goin', if we want to get through today. You +can leave your albums and have them sent when Mrs Bhaer has written a +sentiment in 'em. We are a thousand times obliged. Give our best love +to your ma, and tell her we are so sorry not to see her.' Just as +Mrs. Erastus Kingsbury Parmalee uttered the words her eye fell upon a +middle-aged woman in a large checked apron, with a handkerchief tied +over her head, busily dusting an end room which looked like a study. + +'One peep at her sanctum since she is out,' cried the enthusiastic lady, +and swept across the hall with her flock before Teddy could warn his +mother, whose retreat had been cut off by the artist in front, the +reporter at the back of the house--for he hadn't gone and the ladies in +the hall. + +'They've got her!' thought Teddy, in comical dismay. 'No use for her to +play housemaid since they've seen the portrait.' + +Mrs Jo did her best, and being a good actress, would have escaped if the +fatal picture had not betrayed her. Mrs Parmalee paused at the desk, and +regardless of the meerschaum that lay there, the man's slippers close +by, and a pile of letters directed to 'Prof. F. Bhaer', she clasped her +hands, exclaiming impressively: 'Girls, this is the spot where she wrote +those sweet, those moral tales which have thrilled us to the soul! Could +I--ah, could I take one morsel of paper, an old pen, a postage stamp +even, as a memento of this gifted woman?' + +'Yes'm, help yourselves,' replied the maid, moving away with a glance at +the boy, whose eyes were now full of merriment he could not suppress. + +The oldest girl saw it, guessed the truth, and a quick look at the +woman in the apron confirmed her suspicion. Touching her mother, she +whispered: 'Ma, it's Mrs Bhaer herself. I know it is.' + +'No? yes? it is! Well, I do declare, how nice that is!' And hastily +pursuing the unhappy woman, who was making for the door, Mrs Parmalee +cried eagerly: + +'Don't mind us! I know you're busy, but just let me take your hand and +then we'll go.' + +Giving herself up for lost, Mrs Jo turned and presented her hand like +a tea-tray, submitting to have it heartily shaken, as the matron said, +with somewhat alarming hospitality: + +'If ever you come to Oshkosh, your feet won't be allowed to touch the +pavement; for you'll be borne in the arms of the populace, we shall be +so dreadful glad to see you.' + +Mentally resolving never to visit that effusive town, Jo responded +as cordially as she could; and having written her name in the albums, +provided each visitor with a memento, and kissed them all round, they at +last departed, to call on 'Longfeller, Holmes, and the rest'--who were +all out, it is devoutly to be hoped. + +'You villain, why didn't you give me a chance to whip away? Oh, my dear, +what fibs you told that man! I hope we shall be forgiven our sins in +this line, but I don't know what is to become of us if we don't dodge. +So many against one isn't fair play.' And Mrs Jo hung up her apron in +the hall closet, with a groan at the trials of her lot. + +'More people coming up the avenue! Better dodge while the coast is +clear! I'll head them off!' cried Teddy, looking back from the steps, as +he was departing to school. + +Mrs Jo flew upstairs, and having locked her door, calmly viewed a young +ladies' seminary camp on the lawn, and being denied the house, proceed +to enjoy themselves by picking the flowers, doing up their hair, +eating lunch, and freely expressing their opinion of the place and its +possessors before they went. + +A few hours of quiet followed, and she was just settling down to a long +afternoon of hard work, when Rob came home to tell her that the Young +Men's Christian Union would visit the college, and two or three of the +fellows whom she knew wanted to pay their respects to her on the way. + +'It is going to rain, so they won't come, I dare say; but father thought +you'd like to be ready, in case they do call. You always see the boys, +you know, though you harden your heart to the poor girls,' said Rob, who +had heard from his brother about the morning visitations. + +'Boys don't gush, so I can stand it. The last time I let in a party of +girls one fell into my arms and said, “Darling, love me!” I wanted to +shake her,' answered Mrs Jo, wiping her pen with energy. + +'You may be sure the fellows won't do it, but they will want autographs, +so you'd better be prepared with a few dozen,' said Rob, laying out a +quire of notepaper, being a hospitable youth and sympathizing with those +who admired his mother. + +'They can't outdo the girls. At X College I really believe I wrote +three hundred during the day I was there, and I left a pile of cards and +albums on my table when I came away. It is one of the most absurd and +tiresome manias that ever afflicted the world.' + +Nevertheless Mrs Jo wrote her name a dozen times, put on her black silk, +and resigned herself to the impending call, praying for rain, however, +as she returned to her work. + +The shower came, and feeling quite secure, she rumpled up her hair, took +off her cuffs, and hurried to finish her chapter; for thirty pages a day +was her task, and she liked to have it well done before evening. Josie +had brought some flowers for the vases, and was just putting the last +touches when she saw several umbrellas bobbing down the hill. + +'They are coming, Aunty! I see uncle hurrying across the field to +receive them,' she called at the stair-foot. + +'Keep an eye on them, and let me know when they enter the avenue. +It will take but a minute to tidy up and run down,' answered Mrs Jo, +scribbling away for dear life, because serials wait for no man, not even +the whole Christian Union en masse. + +'There are more than two or three. I see half a dozen at least,' called +sister Ann from the hall door. 'No! a dozen, I do believe; Aunty, look +out; they are all coming! What shall we do?' And Josie quailed at the +idea of facing the black throng rapidly approaching. + +'Mercy on us, there are hundreds! Run and put a tub in the back entry +for their umbrellas to drip into. Tell them to go down the hall and +leave them, and pile their hats on the table; the tree won't hold them +all. No use to get mats; my poor carpets!' And down went Mrs Jo to +prepare for the invasion, while Josie and the maids flew about dismayed +at the prospect of so many muddy boots. + +On they came, a long line of umbrellas, with splashed legs and flushed +faces underneath; for the gentlemen had been having a good time all over +the town, undisturbed by the rain. Professor Bhaer met them at the gate, +and was making a little speech of welcome, when Mrs Jo, touched by their +bedraggled state, appeared at the door, beckoning them in. Leaving +their host to orate bareheaded in the wet, the young men hastened up the +steps, merry, warm, and eager, clutching off their hats as they came, +and struggling with their umbrellas, as the order was passed to march in +and stack arms. + +Tramp, tramp, tramp, down the hall went seventy-five pairs of boots; +soon seventy-five umbrellas dripped sociably in the hospitable tub, +while their owners swarmed all over the lower part of the house; and +seventy-five hearty hands were shaken by the hostess without a murmur, +though some were wet, some very warm, and nearly all bore trophies of +the day's ramble. One impetuous party flourished a small turtle as he +made his compliments; another had a load of sticks cut from noted +spots; and all begged for some memento of Plumfield. A pile of +cards mysteriously appeared on the table, with a written request for +autographs; and despite her morning vow, Mrs Jo wrote everyone, while +her husband and boys did the honours of the house. + +Josie fled to the back parlour, but was discovered by exploring youths, +and mortally insulted by one of them, who innocently inquired if she was +Mrs Bhaer. The reception did not last long, and the end was better than +the beginning; for the rain ceased, and a rainbow shone beautifully +over them as the good fellows stood upon the lawn singing sweetly for a +farewell. A happy omen, that bow of promise arched over the young heads, +as if Heaven smiled upon their union, and showed them that above the +muddy earth and rainy skies the blessed sun still shone for all. Three +cheers, and then away they went, leaving a pleasant recollection of +their visit to amuse the family as they scraped the mud off the carpets +with shovels and emptied the tub half-full of water. + +'Nice, honest, hard-working fellows, and I don't begrudge my half-hour +at all; but I must finish, so don't let anyone disturb me till +tea-time,' said Mrs Jo, leaving Mary to shut up the house; for papa and +the boys had gone off with the guests, and Josie had run home to tell +her mother about the fun at Aunt Jo's. + +Peace reigned for an hour, then the bell rang and Mary came giggling +up to say: 'A queer kind of a lady wants to know if she can catch a +grasshopper in the garden.' + +'A what?' cried Mrs Jo, dropping her pen with a blot; for of all the odd +requests ever made, this was the oddest. + +'A grasshopper, ma'am. I said you was busy, and asked what she wanted, +and says she: “I've got grasshoppers from the grounds of several famous +folks, and I want one from Plumfield to add to my collection.” Did you +ever?' And Mary giggled again at the idea. + +'Tell her to take all there are and welcome. I shall be glad to get rid +of them; always bouncing in my face and getting in my dress,' laughed +Mrs Jo. + +Mary retired, to return in a moment nearly speechless with merriment. + +'She's much obliged, ma'am, and she'd like an old gown or a pair +of stockings of yours to put in a rug she's making. Got a vest of +Emerson's, she says, and a pair of Mr. Holmes's trousers, and a dress of +Mrs Stowe's. She must be crazy!' + +'Give her that old red shawl, then I shall make a gay show among the +great ones in that astonishing rug. Yes, they are all lunatics, these +lion-hunters; but this seems to be a harmless maniac, for she doesn't +take my time, and gives me a good laugh,' said Mrs Jo, returning to her +work after a glance from the window, which showed her a tall, thin lady +in rusty black, skipping wildly to and fro on the lawn in pursuit of the +lively insect she wanted. + +No more interruptions till the light began to fade, then Mary popped her +head in to say a gentleman wished to see Mrs Bhaer, and wouldn't take no +for an answer. + +'He must. I shall not go down. This has been an awful day, and I won't +be disturbed again,' replied the harassed authoress, pausing in the +midst of the grand finale of her chapter. + +'I told him so, ma'am; but he walked right in as bold as brass. I guess +he's another crazy one, and I declare I'm 'most afraid of him, he's +so big and black, and cool as cucumbers, though I will say he's +good-looking,' added Mary, with a simper; for the stranger had evidently +found favour in her sight despite his boldness. + +'My day has been ruined, and I will have this last half-hour to finish. +Tell him to go away; I won't go down,' cried Mrs Jo, fiercely. + +Mary went; and listening, in spite of herself, her mistress heard first +a murmur of voices, then a cry from Mary, and remembering the ways of +reporters, also that her maid was both pretty and timid, Mrs Bhaer flung +down her pen and went to the rescue. Descending with her most majestic +air she demanded in an awe-inspiring voice, as she paused to survey the +somewhat brigandish intruder, who seemed to be storming the staircase +which Mary was gallantly defending: + +'Who is this person who insists on remaining when I have declined to see +him?' + +'I'm sure I don't know, ma'am. He won't give no name, and says you'll +be sorry if you don't see him,' answered Mary, retiring flushed and +indignant from her post. + +'Won't you be sorry?' asked the stranger, looking up with a pair of +black eyes full of laughter, the flash of white teeth through a long +beard, and both hands out as he boldly approached the irate lady. + +Mrs Jo gave one keen look, for the voice was familiar; then completed +Mary's bewilderment by throwing both arms round the brigand's neck, +exclaiming joyfully: 'My dearest boy, where did you come from?' + +'California, on purpose to see you, Mother Bhaer. Now won't you be sorry +if I go away?' answered Dan, with a hearty kiss. + +'To think of my ordering you out of the house when I've been longing to +see you for a year,' laughed Mrs Jo, and she went down to have a good +talk with her returned wanderer, who enjoyed the joke immensely. + + + +Chapter 4. DAN + +Mrs Jo often thought that Dan had Indian blood in him, not only because +of his love of a wild, wandering life, but his appearance; for as he +grew up, this became more striking. At twenty-five he was very tall, +with sinewy limbs, a keen, dark face, and the alert look of one whose +senses were all alive; rough in manner, full of energy, quick with word +and blow, eyes full of the old fire, always watchful as if used to keep +guard, and a general air of vigour and freshness very charming to +those who knew the dangers and delights of his adventurous life. He was +looking his best as he sat talking with 'Mother Bhaer', one strong brown +hand in hers, and a world of affection in his voice as he said: + +'Forget old friends! How could I forget the only home I ever knew? Why, +I was in such a hurry to come and tell my good luck that I didn't stop +to fix up, you see; though I knew you'd think I looked more like a wild +buffalo than ever,' with a shake of his shaggy black head, a tug at his +beard, and a laugh that made the room ring. + +'I like it; I always had a fancy for banditti--and you look just like +one. Mary, being a newcomer, was frightened at your looks and manners. +Josie won't know you, but Ted will recognize his Danny in spite of the +big beard and flowing mane. They will all be here soon to welcome you; +so before they come tell me more about yourself. Why, Dan, dear! it's +nearly two years since you were here! Has it gone well with you?' asked +Mrs Jo, who had been listening with maternal interest to his account of +life in California, and the unexpected success of a small investment he +had made. + +'First-rate! I don't care for the money, you know. I only want a trifle +to pay my way--rather earn as I go, and not be bothered with the care of +a lot. It's the fun of the thing coming to me, and my being able to give +away, that I like. No use to lay up; I shan't live to be old and need +it,--my sort never do,' said Dan, looking as if his little fortune +rather oppressed him. + +'But if you marry and settle somewhere, as I hope you will, you must +have something to begin with, my son. So be prudent and invest your +money; don't give it away, for rainy days come to all of us, and +dependence would be very hard for you to bear,' answered Mrs Jo with a +sage air, though she liked to see that the money-making fever had not +seized her lucky boy yet. + +Dan shook his head, and glanced about the room as if he already found it +rather confined and longed for all out-of-doors again. + +'Who would marry a jack-o'-lantern like me? Women like a steady-going +man; I shall never be that.' + +'My dear boy, when I was a girl I liked just such adventurous fellows +as you are. Anything fresh and daring, free and romantic, is always +attractive to us womenfolk. Don't be discouraged; you'll find an anchor +some day, and be content to take shorter voyages and bring home a good +cargo.' + +'What should you say if I brought you an Indian squaw some day?' asked +Dan, with a glimmer of mischief in the eyes that rested on a marble bust +of Galatea gleaming white and lovely in the corner. + +'Welcome her heartily, if she was a good one. Is there a prospect of +it?' and Mrs Jo peered at him with the interest which even literary +ladies take in love affairs. + +'Not at present, thank you. I'm too busy “to gallivant”, as Ted calls +it. How is the boy?' asked Dan, skilfully turning the conversation, as +if he had had enough of sentiment. + +Mrs Jo was off at once, and expatiated upon the talents and virtues +of her sons till they came bursting in and fell upon Dan like two +affectionate young bears, finding a vent for their joyful emotions in a +sort of friendly wrestling-match; in which both got worsted, of course, +for the hunter soon settled them. The Professor followed, and tongues +went like mill-clappers while Mary lighted up and cook devoted herself +to an unusually good supper, instinctively divining that this guest was +a welcome one. + +After tea Dan was walking up and down the long rooms as he talked, with +occasional trips into the hall for a fresher breath of air, his lungs +seeming to need more than those of civilized people. In one of these +trips he saw a white figure framed in the dark doorway, and paused to +look at it. Bess paused also, not recognizing her old friend, and quite +unconscious of the pretty picture she made standing, tall and slender, +against the soft gloom of the summer night, with her golden hair like a +halo round her head, and the ends of a white shawl blown out like wings +by the cool wind sweeping through the hail. 'Is it Dan?' she asked, +coming in with a gracious smile and outstretched hand. + +'Looks like it; but I didn't know you, Princess. I thought it was a +spirit,' answered Dan, looking down at her with a curious softness and +wonder in his face. + +'I've grown very much, but two years have changed you entirely'; and +Bess looked up with girlish pleasure at the picturesque figure before +her--for it was a decided contrast to the well-dressed people about her. + +Before they could say more, Josie rushed in, and, forgetfull of the +newly acquired dignity of her teens, let Dan catch her up and kiss her +like a child. Not till he set her down did he discover she also was +changed, and exclaimed in comic dismay: + +'Hallo! Why, you are growing up too! What am I going to do, with no +young one to play with? Here's Ted going it like a beanstalk, and Bess a +young lady, and even you, my mustard-seed, letting down your frocks and +putting on airs.' + +The girls laughed, and Josie blushed as she stared at the tall man, +conscious that she had leaped before she looked. They made a pretty +contrast, these two young cousins--one as fair as a lily, the other +a little wild rose. And Dan gave a nod of satisfaction as he surveyed +them; for he had seen many bonny girls in his travels, and was glad that +these old friends were blooming so beautifully. + +'Here! we can't allow any monopoly of Dan!' called Mrs Jo. 'Bring him +back and keep an eye on him, or he will be slipping off for another +little run of a year or two before we have half seen him.' + +Led by these agreeable captors, Dan returned to the parlour to receive a +scolding from Josie for getting ahead of all the other boys and looking +like a man first. + +'Emil is older; but he's only a boy, and dances jigs and sings sailor +songs just as he used to. You look about thirty, and as big and black +as a villain in a play. Oh, I've got a splendid idea! You are just the +thing for Arbaces in The Last Days of Pompeii. We want to act it; have +the lion and the gladiators and the eruption. Tom and Ted are going to +shower bushels of ashes down and roll barrels of stones about. We wanted +a dark man for the Egyptian; and you will be gorgeous in red and white +shawls. Won't he, Aunt Jo?' + +This deluge of words made Dan clap his hands over his ears; and before +Mrs Bhaer could answer her impetuous niece the Laurences, with Meg and +her family, arrived, soon followed by Tom and Nan, and all sat down to +listen to Dan's adventures--told in brief yet effective manner, as the +varying expressions of interest, wonder, merriment, and suspense painted +on the circle of faces round him plainly showed. The boys all wanted to +start at once for California and make fortunes; the girls could hardly +wait for the curious and pretty things he had picked up for them in his +travels; while the elders rejoiced heartily over the energy and good +prospects of their wild boy. + +'Of course you will want to go back for another stroke of luck; and I +hope you will have it. But speculation is a dangerous game, and you may +lose all you've won,' said Mr Laurie, who had enjoyed the stirring tale +as much as any of the boys, and would have liked to rough it with Dan as +well as they. + +'I've had enough of it, for a while at least; too much like gambling. +The excitement is all I care for, and it isn't good for me. I have a +notion to try farming out West. It's grand on a large scale; and I feel +as if steady work would be rather jolly after loafing round so long. I +can make a beginning, and you can send me your black sheep to stock my +place with. I tried sheep-farming in Australia, and know something about +black ones, any way.' + +A laugh chased away the sober look in Dan's face as he ended; and those +who knew him best guessed that he had learned a lesson there in San +Francisco, and dared not try again. + +'That is a capital idea, Dan!' cried Mrs Jo, seeing great hope in this +desire to fix himself somewhere and help others. 'We shall know where +you are, and can go and see you, and not have half the world between us. +I'll send my Ted for a visit. He's such a restless spirit, it would +do him good. With you he would be safe while he worked off his surplus +energies and learned a wholesome business.' + +'I'll use the “shubble and de hoe” like a good one, if I get a chance +out there; but the Speranza mines sound rather jollier,' said Ted, +examining the samples of ore Dan had brought for the Professor. + +'You go and start a new town, and when we are ready to swarm we will +come out and settle there. You will want a newspaper very soon, and I +like the idea of running one myself much better than grinding away as +I do now,' observed Demi, panting to distinguish himself in the +journalistic line. + +'We could easily plant a new college there. These sturdy Westerners are +hungry for learning, and very quick to see and choose the best,' added +ever-young Mr March, beholding with his prophetic eye many duplicates of +their own flourishing establishment springing up in the wide West. + +'Go on, Dan. It is a fine plan, and we will back you up. I shouldn't +mind investing in a few prairies and cowboys myself,' said Mr Laurie, +always ready to help the lads to help themselves, both by his cheery +words and ever-open purse. + +'A little money sort of ballasts a fellow, and investing it in land +anchors him--for a while, at least. I'd like to see what I can do, but +I thought I'd consult you before I decided. Have my doubts about it +suiting me for many years; but I can cut loose when I'm tired,' answered +Dan, both touched and pleased at the eager interest of these friends in +his plans. + +'I know you won't like it. After having the whole world to roam over, +one farm will seem dreadfully small and stupid,' said Josie, who much +preferred the romance of the wandering life which brought her thrilling +tales and pretty things at each return. + +'Is there any art out there?' asked Bess, thinking what a good study in +black and white Dan would make as he stood talking, half turned from the +light. + +'Plenty of nature, dear; and that is better. You will find splendid +animals to model, and scenery such as you never saw in Europe to paint. +Even prosaic pumpkins are grand out there. You can play Cinderella in +one of them, Josie, when you open your theatre in Dansville,' said Mr +Laurie, anxious that no cold water should be thrown on the new plan. + +Stage-struck Josie was caught at once, and being promised all the tragic +parts on the yet unbuilt stage, she felt a deep interest in the project +and begged Dan to lose no time in beginning his experiment. Bess also +confessed that studies from nature would be good for her, and wild +scenery improve her taste, which might grow over-nice if only the +delicate and beautiful were set before her. + +'I speak for the practice of the new town,' said Nan, always eager +for fresh enterprises. 'I shall be ready by the time you get well +started--towns grow so fast out there.' + +'Dan isn't going to allow any woman under forty in his place. He doesn't +like them, 'specially young and pretty ones,' put in Tom, who was raging +with jealousy, because he read admiration for Nan in Dan's eyes. + +'That won't affect me, because doctors are exceptions to all rules. +There won't be much sickness in Dansville, everyone will lead such +active, wholesome lives, and only energetic young people will go there. +But accidents will be frequent, owing to wild cattle, fast riding, +Indian scrimmages, and the recklessness of Western life. That will just +suit me. I long for broken bones, surgery is so interesting and I get so +little here,' answered Nan, yearning to put out her shingle and begin. + +'I'll have you, Doctor, and be glad of such a good sample of what we can +do in the East. Peg away, and I'll send for you as soon as I have a roof +to cover you. I'll scalp a few red fellows or smash up a dozen or so of +cowboys for your special benefit,' laughed Dan, well pleased with the +energy and fine physique which made Nan a conspicuous figure among other +girls. + +'Thanks. I'll come. Would you just let me feel your arm? Splendid +biceps! Now, boys, see here: this is what I call muscle.' And Nan +delivered a short lecture with Dan's sinewy arm to illustrate it. Tom +retired to the alcove and glowered at the stars, while he swung his own +right arm with a vigour suggestive of knocking someone down. + +'Make Tom sexton; he'll enjoy burying the patients Nan kills. He's +trying to get up the glum expression proper to the business. Don't +forget him, Dan,' said Ted, directing attention to the blighted being in +the corner. + +But Tom never sulked long, and came out from his brief eclipse with the +cheerful proposition: + +'Look here, we'll get the city to ship out to Dansville all the cases of +yellow fever, smallpox, and cholera that arrive; then Nan will be happy +and her mistakes won't matter much with emigrants and convicts.' + +'I should advise settling near Jacksonville, or some such city, that you +might enjoy the society of cultivated persons. The Plato Club is there, +and a most ardent thirst for philosophy. Everything from the East is +welcomed hospitably, and new enterprises would flourish in such kindly +soil,' observed Mr March, mildly offering a suggestion, as he sat among +the elders enjoying the lively scene. + +The idea of Dan studying Plato was very funny; but no one except naughty +Ted smiled, and Dan made haste to unfold another plan seething in that +active brain of his. + +'I'm not sure the farming will succeed, and have a strong leaning +towards my old friends the Montana Indians. They are a peaceful tribe, +and need help awfully; hundreds have died of starvation because they +don't get their share. The Sioux are fighters, thirty thousand strong, +so Government fears 'em, and gives 'em all they want. I call that a +damned shame!' Dan stopped short as the oath slipped out, but his eyes +flashed, and he went on quickly: 'It is just that, and I won't beg +pardon. If I'd had any money when I was there I'd have given every cent +to those poor devils, cheated out of everything, and waiting patiently, +after being driven from their own land to places where nothing will +grow. Now, honest agents could do much, and I've a feeling that I ought +to go and lend a hand. I know their lingo, and I like 'em. I've got a +few thousands, and I ain't sure I have any right to spend it on myself +and settle down to enjoy it. Hey?' + +Dan looked very manly and earnest as he faced his friends, flushed and +excited by the energy of his words; and all felt that little thrill of +sympathy which links hearts together by the tie of pity for the wronged. + +'Do it, do it!' cried Mrs Jo, fired at once; for misfortune was much +more interesting to her than good luck. + +'Do it, do it!' echoed Ted, applauding as if at a play, 'and take me +along to help. I'm just raging to get among those fine fellows and +hunt.' + +'Let us hear more and see if it is wise,' said Mr Laurie, privately +resolving to people his as yet unbought prairies with Montana Indians, +and increase his donations to the society that sent missionaries to this +much wronged people. + +Dan plunged at once into the history of what he saw among the Dakotas, +and other tribes in the Northwest, telling of their wrongs, patience, +and courage as if they were his brothers. + +'They called me Dan Fire Cloud, because my rifle was the best they ever +saw. And Black Hawk was as good a friend as a fellow would want; saved +my life more than once, and taught me just what will be useful if I go +back. They are down on their luck, now, and I'd like to pay my debts.' + +By this time everyone was interested, and Dansville began to lose its +charm. But prudent Mr Bhaer suggested that one honest agent among many +could not do much, and noble as the effort would be, it was wiser to +think over the matter carefully, get influence and authority from the +right quarters, and meantime look at lands before deciding. + +'Well, I will. I'm going to take a run to Kansas and see how that +promises. Met a fellow in 'Frisco who'd been there, and he spoke well +of it. The fact is, there's so much to be done every where that I don't +know where to catch on, and half wish I hadn't any money,' answered Dan, +knitting his brows in the perplexity all kind souls feel when anxious to +help at the great task of the world's charity. + +'I'll keep it for you till you decide. You are such an impetuous lad +you'll give it to the first beggar that gets hold of you. I'll turn it +over while you are prospecting, and hand it back when you are ready to +invest, shall I?' asked Mr Laurie, who had learned wisdom since the days +of his own extravagant youth. + +'Thanky, sir, I'd be glad to get rid of it. You just hold on till I say +the word; and if anything happens to me this time, keep it to help some +other scamp as you helped me. This is my will, and you all witness it. +Now I feel better.' And Dan squared his shoulders as if relieved of +a burden, after handing over the belt in which he carried his little +fortune. + +No one dreamed how much was to happen before Dan came to take his money +back, nor how nearly that act was his last will and testament; and while +Mr Laurie was explaining how he would invest it, a cheery voice was +heard singing: + + 'Oh, Peggy was a jolly lass, + Ye heave ho, boys, ye heave ho! + She never grudged her Jack a glass, + Ye heave ho, boys, ye heave ho! + And when he sailed the raging main, + She faithful was unto her swain, + Ye heave ho, boys, ye heave ho!' + +Emil always announced his arrival in that fashion, and in a moment he +came hurrying in with Nat, who had been giving lessons in town all day. +It was good to see the latter beam at his friend as he nearly shook his +hand off; better still to see how Dan gratefully remembered all he owed +Nat, and tried to pay the debt in his rough way; and best of all to +hear the two travellers compare notes and reel off yarns to dazzle the +land-lubbers and home-keepers. + +After this addition the house would not contain the gay youngsters, so +they migrated to the piazza and settled on the steps, like a flock of +night-loving birds. Mr March and the Professor retired to the study, Meg +and Amy went to look after the little refection of fruit and cake which +was to come, and Mrs Jo and Mr Laurie sat in the long window listening +to the chat that went on outside. + +'There they are, the flower of our flock!' she said, pointing to the +group before them. 'The others are dead or scattered, but these seven +boys and four girls are my especial comfort and pride. Counting Alice +Heath, my dozen is made up, and my hands are full trying to guide these +young lives as far as human skill can do it.' + +'When we remember how different they are, from what some of them came, +and the home influences about others, I think we may feel pretty well +satisfied so far,' answered Mr Laurie soberly, as his eyes rested on +one bright head among the black and brown ones, for the young moon shone +alike on all. + +'I don't worry about the girls; Meg sees to them, and is so wise and +patient and tender they can't help doing well; but my boys are more care +every year, and seem to drift farther away from me each time they go,' +sighed Mrs Jo. 'They will grow up, and I can only hold them by one +little thread, which may snap at any time, as it has with Jack and Ned. +Dolly and George still like to come back, and I can say my word to them; +and dear old Franz is too true ever to forget his own. But the three +who are soon going out into the world again I can't help worrying about. +Emil's good heart will keep him straight, I hope, and + + '“A sweet little cherub sits up aloft, + To look out for the life of poor Jack.”' + +Nat is to make his first flight, and he's weak in spite of your +strengthening influence; and Dan is still untamed. I fear it will take +some hard lesson to do that.' + +'He's a fine fellow, Jo, and I almost regret this farming project. A +little polish would make a gentleman of him, and who knows what he might +become here among us,' answered Mr Laurie, leaning over Mrs Bhaer's +chair, just as he used to do years ago when they had mischievous secrets +together. + +'It wouldn't be safe, Teddy. Work and the free life he loves will make a +good man of him, and that is better than any amount of polish, with +the dangers an easy life in a city would bring him. We can't change his +nature--only help it to develop in the right direction. The old impulses +are there, and must be controlled, or he will go wrong. I see that; but +his love for us is a safeguard, and we must keep a hold on him till he +is older or has a stronger tie to help him.' + +Mrs Jo spoke earnestly, for, knowing Dan better than anyone else, she +saw that her colt was not thoroughly broken yet, and feared while she +hoped, knowing that life would always be hard for one like him. She was +sure that before he went away again, in some quiet moment he would give +her a glimpse of his inner self, and then she could say the word of +warning or encouragement that he needed. So she bided her time, studying +him meanwhile, glad to see all that was promising, and quick to detect +the harm the world was doing him. She was very anxious to make a success +of her 'firebrand' because others predicted failure; but having learned +that people cannot be moulded like clay, she contented herself with the +hope that this neglected boy might become a good man, and asked no more. +Even that was much to expect, so full was he of wayward impulses, strong +passions, and the lawless nature born in him. Nothing held him but +the one affection of his life--the memory of Plumfield, the fear +of disappointing these faithful friends, the pride, stronger than +principle, that made him want to keep the regard of the mates who always +had admired and loved him in spite of all his faults. + +'Don't fret, old dear; Emil is one of the happy-go-lucky sort who always +fall on their legs. I'll see to Nat, and Dan is in a good way now. Let +him take a look at Kansas, and if the farm plan loses its charm, he +can fall back on poor Lo, and really do good out there. He's unusually +fitted for that peculiar task and I hope he'll decide to do it. Fighting +oppressors, and befriending the oppressed will keep those dangerous +energies of his busy, and the life will suit him better than sheep-folds +and wheat-fields.' + +'I hope so. What is that?' and Mrs Jo leaned forward to listen, as +exclamations from Ted and Josie caught her ear. + +'A mustang! a real, live one; and we can ride it. Dan, you are a +first-class trump!' cried the boy. + +'A whole Indian dress for me! Now I can play Namioka, if the boys act +Metamora,' added Josie, clapping her hands. + +'A buffalo's head for Bess! Good gracious, Dan, why did you bring such a +horrid thing as that to her?' asked Nan. + +'Thought it would do her good to model something strong and natural. +She'll never amount to anything if she keeps on making namby-pamby gods +and pet kittens,' answered irreverent Dan, remembering that when he was +last here Bess was vibrating distractedly between a head of Apollo and +her Persian cat as models. + +'Thank you; I'll try it, and if I fail we can put the buffalo up in the +hall to remind us of you,' said Bess, indignant at the insult offered +the gods of her idolatry, but too well bred to show it except in her +voice, which was as sweet and as cold as ice-cream. + +'I suppose you won't come out to see our new settlement when the rest +do? Too rough for you?' asked Dan, trying to assume the deferential air +all the boys used when addressing their Princess. + +'I am going to Rome to study for years. All the beauty and art of the +world is there, and a lifetime isn't long enough to enjoy it,' answered +Bess. + +'Rome is a mouldy old tomb compared to the “Garden of the gods” and my +magnificent Rockies. I don't care a hang for art; nature is as much as I +can stand, and I guess I could show you things that would knock your old +masters higher than kites. Better come, and while Josie rides the horses +you can model 'em. If a drove of a hundred or so of wild ones can't show +you beauty, I'll give up,' cried Dan, waxing enthusiastic over the wild +grace and vigour which he could enjoy but had no power to describe. + +'I'll come some day with papa, and see if they are better than the +horses of St Mark and those on Capitol Hill. Please don't abuse my gods, +and I will try to like yours,' said Bess, beginning to think the West +might be worth seeing, though no Raphael or Angelo had yet appeared +there. + +'That's a bargain! I do think people ought to see their own country +before they go scooting off to foreign parts, as if the new world wasn't +worth discovering,' began Dan, ready to bury the hatchet. + +'It has some advantages, but not all. The women of England can vote, +and we can't. I'm ashamed of America that she isn't ahead in all good +things,' cried Nan, who held advanced views on all reforms, and was +anxious about her rights, having had to fight for some of them. + +'Oh, please don't begin on that. People always quarrel over that +question, and call names, and never agree. Do let us be quiet and happy +tonight,' pleaded Daisy, who hated discussion as much as Nan loved it. + +'You shall vote as much as you like in our new town, Nan; be mayor and +aldermen, and run the whole concern. It's going to be as free as air, +or I can't live in it,' said Dan, adding, with a laugh, 'I see Mrs +Giddygaddy and Mrs Shakespeare Smith don't agree any better than they +used to.' + +'If everyone agreed, we should never get on. Daisy is a dear, but +inclined to be an old fogy; so I stir her up; and next fall she will go +and vote with me. Demi will escort us to do the one thing we are allowed +to do as yet.' + +'Will you take 'em, Deacon?' asked Dan, using the old name as if he +liked it. 'It works capitally in Wyoming.' + +'I shall be proud to do it. Mother and the aunts go every year, and +Daisy will come with me. She is my better half still; and I don't mean +to leave her behind in anything,' said Demi, with an arm round his +sister of whom he was fonder than ever. + +Dan looked at them wistfully, thinking how sweet it must be to have such +a tie; and his lonely youth seemed sadder than ever as he recalled its +struggles. A gusty sigh from Tom made sentiment impossible, as he said +pensively: + +'I always wanted to be a twin. It's so sociable and so cosy to have +someone glad to lean on a fellow and comfort him, if other girls are +cruel.' + +As Tom's unrequited passion was the standing joke of the family, this +allusion produced a laugh, which Nan increased by whipping out a bottle +of Nux, saying, with her professional air: + +'I knew you ate too much lobster for tea. Take four pellets, and your +dyspepsia will be all right. Tom always sighs and is silly when he's +overeaten.' + +'I'll take 'em. These are the only sweet things you ever give me.' And +Tom gloomily crunched his dose. + +'“Who can minister to a mind diseased, or pluck out a rooted sorrow?” + quoted Josie tragically from her perch on the railing. + +'Come with me, Tommy, and I'll make a man of you. Drop your pills and +powders, and cavort round the world a spell, and you'll soon forget +you've got a heart, or a stomach either,' said Dan, offering his one +panacea for all ills. + +'Ship with me, Tom. A good fit of seasickness will set you up, and +a stiff north-easter blow your blue-devils away. Come along as +surgeon--easy berth, and no end of larks.' + + '“And if your Nancy frowns, my lad, + And scorns a jacket blue, + Just hoist your sails for other ports, + And find a maid more true.”' + +added Emil, who had a fragment of song to cheer every care and sorrow, +and freely offered them to his friends. + +'Perhaps I'll think of it when I've got my diploma. I'm not going to +grind three mortal years and have nothing to show for it. Till then,--' + +'I'll never desert Mrs Micawber,' interrupted Teddy, with a gurgling +sob. Tom immediately rolled him off the step into the wet grass below; +and by the time this slight skirmish was over, the jingle of teaspoons +suggested refreshments of a more agreeable sort. In former times the +little girls waited on the boys, to save confusion; now the young men +flew to serve the ladies, young and old; and that slight fact showed +plainly how the tables were turned by time. And what a pleasant +arrangement it was! Even Josie sat still, and let Emil bring her +berries; enjoying her young lady-hood, till Ted stole her cake, when she +forgot manners, and chastised him with a rap on the knuckles. As guest +of honour, Dan was only allowed to wait on Bess, who still held the +highest place in this small world. Tom carefully selected the best of +everything for Nan, to be crushed by the remark: + +'I never eat at this hour; and you will have a nightmare if you do.' + +So, dutifully curbing the pangs of hunger, he gave the plate to Daisy, +and chewed rose-leaves for his supper. + +When a surprising quantity of wholesome nourishment had been consumed, +someone said, 'Let's sing!' and a tuneful hour followed. Nat fiddled, +Demi piped, Dan strummed the old banjo, and Emil warbled a doleful +ballad about the wreck of the Bounding Betsey; then everybody joined +in the old songs till there was very decidedly 'music in the air'; and +passers-by said, as they listened smiling: 'Old Plum is gay tonight!' + +When all had gone Dan lingered on the piazza, enjoying the balmy wind +that blew up from the hayfields, and brought the breath of flowers from +Parnassus; and as he leaned there romantically in the moonlight, Mrs Jo +came to shut the door. + +'Dreaming dreams, Dan?' she asked, thinking the tender moment might have +come. Imagine the shock when, instead of some interesting confidence or +affectionate word, Dan swung round, saying bluntly: + +'I was wishing I could smoke.' + +Mrs Jo laughed at the downfall of her hopes, and answered kindly: + +'You may, in your room; but don't set the house afire.' + +Perhaps Dan saw a little disappointment in her face, or the memory of +the sequel of that boyish frolic touched his heart; for he stooped and +kissed her, saying in a whisper: 'Good night, mother.' And Mrs Jo was +half satisfied. + + + +Chapter 5. VACATION + +Everyone was glad of a holiday next morning, and all lingered over the +breakfast-table, till Mrs Jo suddenly exclaimed: + +'Why, there's a dog!' And on the threshold of the door appeared a great +deer-hound, standing motionless, with his eyes fixed on Dan. + +'Hallo, old boy! Couldn't you wait till I came for you? Have you cut +away on the sly? Own up now, and take your whipping like a man,' said +Dan, rising to meet the dog, who reared on his hind legs to look his +master in the face and bark as if uttering an indignant denial of any +disobedience. + +'All right; Don never lies.' And Dan gave the tall beast a hug, adding +as he glanced out of the window, where a man and horse were seen +approaching: + +'I left my plunder at the hotel over night, not knowing how I should +find you. Come out and see Octoo, my mustang; she's a beauty.' And Dan +was off, with the family streaming after him, to welcome the newcomer. + +They found her preparing to go up the steps in her eagerness to reach +her master, to the great dismay of the man, who was holding her back. + +'Let her come,' called Dan; 'she climbs like a cat and jumps like a +deer. Well, my girl, do you want a gallop?' he asked, as the pretty +creature clattered up to him and whinnied with pleasure as he rubbed her +nose and slapped her glossy flank. + +'That's what I call a horse worth having,' said Ted, full of admiration +and delight; for he was to have the care of her during Dan's absence. + +'What intelligent eyes! She looks as if she would speak,' said Mrs Jo. + +'She talks like a human in her way. Very little that she don't know. +Hey, old Lass?' and Dan laid his cheek to hers as if the little black +mare was very dear to him. + +'What does “Octoo” mean?' asked Rob. + +'Lightning; she deserves it, as you'll see. Black Hawk gave her to me +for my rifle, and we've had high times together out yonder. She's saved +my life more than once. Do you see that scar?' + +Dan pointed to a small one, half hidden by the long mane; and standing +with his arm about Octoo's neck, he told the story of it. + +'Black Hawk and I were after buffalo one time, but didn't find 'em as +soon as we expected; so our food gave out, and there we were a hundred +miles from Red Deer River, where our camp was. I thought we were done +for, but my brave pal says: “Now I'll show you how we can live till +we find the herds.” We were unsaddling for the night by a little pond; +there wasn't a living creature in sight anywhere, not even a bird, and +we could see for miles over the prairies. What do you think we did?' And +Dan looked into the faces round him. + +'Ate worms like the Australian fellows,' said Rob. 'Boiled grass or +leaves,' added Mrs Jo. + +'Perhaps filled the stomach with clay, as we read of savages doing?' +suggested Mr Bhaer. + +'Killed one of the horses,' cried Ted, eager for bloodshed of some sort. + +'No; but we bled one of them. See, just here; filled a tin cup, put some +wild sage leaves in it, with water, and heated it over a fire of sticks. +It was good, and we slept well.' + +'I guess Octoo didn't.' And Josie patted the animal, with a face full of +sympathy. + +'Never minded it a bit. Black Hawk said we could live on the horses +several days and still travel before they felt it. But by another +morning we found the buffalo, and I shot the one whose head is in my +box, ready to hang up and scare brats into fits. He's a fierce old +fellow, you bet.' + +'What is this strap for?' asked Ted, who was busily examining the Indian +saddle, the single rein and snaffle, with lariat, and round the neck the +leather band he spoke of. + +'We hold on to that when we lie along the horse's flank farthest from +the enemy, and fire under the neck as we gallop round and round. I'll +show you.' And springing into the saddle, Dan was off down the steps, +tearing over the lawn at a great pace, sometimes on Octoo's back, +sometimes half hidden as he hung by stirrup and strap, and sometimes +off altogether, running beside her as she loped along, enjoying the +fun immensely; while Don raced after, in a canine rapture at being free +again and with his mates. + +It was a fine sight--the three wild things at play, so full of vigour, +grace, and freedom, that for the moment the smooth lawn seemed a +prairie; and the spectators felt as if this glimpse of another life made +their own seem rather tame and colourless. + +'This is better than a circus!' cried Mrs Jo, wishing she were a girl +again, that she might take a gallop on this chained lightning of a +horse. 'I foresee that Nan will have her hands full setting bones, for +Ted will break every one of his trying to rival Dan.' + +'A few falls will not harm, and this new care and pleasure will be good +for him in all ways. But I fear Dan will never follow a plough after +riding a Pegasus like that,' answered Mr Bhaer, as the black mare leaped +the gate and came flying up the avenue, to stop at a word and stand +quivering with excitement, while Dan swung himself off and looked up for +applause. + +He received plenty of it, and seemed more pleased for his pet's sake +than for his own. Ted clamoured for a lesson at once, and was soon at +ease in the queer saddle, finding Octoo gentle as a lamb, as he trotted +away to show off at college. Bess came hastening down the hill, having +seen the race from afar; and all collected on the piazza while Dan +'yanked' the cover off the big box the express had 'dumped' before the +door--to borrow his own words. + +Dan usually travelled in light marching order, and hated to have more +luggage than he could carry in his well-worn valise. But now that he had +a little money of his own, he had cumbered himself with a collection of +trophies won by his bow and spear, and brought them home to bestow upon +his friends. + +'We shall be devoured with moths,' thought Mrs Jo, as the shaggy head +appeared, followed by a wolf-skin rug for her feet, a bear-skin ditto +for the Professor's study, and Indian garments bedecked with foxes' +tails for the boys. + +All nice and warm for a July day, but received with delight +nevertheless. Ted and Josie immediately 'dressed up', learned the +war-whoop, and proceeded to astonish their friends by a series of +skirmishes about the house and grounds, with tomahawks and bows and +arrows, till weariness produced a lull. + +Gay birds' wings, plumy pampas grass, strings of wampum, and pretty work +in beads, bark, and feathers, pleased the girls. Minerals, arrow-heads, +and crude sketches interested the Professor; and when the box was empty, +Dan gave Mr Laurie, as his gift, several plaintive Indian songs written +on birch-bark. + +'We only want a tent over us to be quite perfect. I feel as if I ought +to give you parched corn and dried meat for dinner, my braves. Nobody +will want lamb and green peas after this splendid pow-wow,' said Mrs Jo, +surveying the picturesque confusion of the long hall, where people lay +about on the rugs, all more or less bedecked with feathers, moccasins, +or beads. + +'Moose noses, buffalo tongues, bear steaks, and roasted marrow-bones +would be the thing, but I don't mind a change; so bring on your baa-baa +and green meat,' answered Dan from the box, where he sat in state like a +chief among his tribe, with the great hound at his feet. + +The girls began to clear up, but made little headway; for everything +they touched had a story, and all were thrilling, comical, or wild; so +they found it hard to settle to their work, till Dan was carried off by +Mr Laurie. + +This was the beginning of the summer holiday, and it was curious to see +what a pleasant little stir Dan's and Emil's coming made in the quiet +life of the studious community; for they seemed to bring a fresh breeze +with them that enlivened everyone. Many of the collegians remained +during vacation; and Plumfield and Parnassus did their best to make +these days pleasant for them, since most came from distant States, were +poor, and had few opportunities but this for culture or amusement. Emil +was hail-fellow-well-met with men and maids, and went rollicking +about in true sailor fashion; but Dan stood rather in awe of the 'fair +girl-graduates', and was silent when among them, eyeing them as an eagle +might a flock of doves. He got on better with the young men, and was +their hero at once. Their admiration for his manly accomplishments did +him good; because he felt his educational defects keenly, and often +wondered if he could find anything in books to satisfy him as thoroughly +as did the lessons he was learning from Nature's splendidly illustrated +volume. In spite of his silence, the girls found out his good qualities, +and regarded 'the Spaniard', as they named him, with great favour; +for his black eyes were more eloquent than his tongue, and the kind +creatures tried to show their friendly interests in many charming ways. + +He saw this, and endeavoured to be worthy of it--curbing his free +speech, toning down his rough manners, and watching the effect of all he +said and did, anxious to make a good impression. The social atmosphere +warmed his lonely heart, the culture excited him to do his best, and the +changes which had taken place during his absence, both in himself and +others, made the old home seem like a new world. After the life in +California, it was sweet and restful to be here, with these familiar +faces round him, helping him to forget much that he regretted, and to +resolve to deserve more entirely the confidence of these good fellows, +the respect of these innocent girls. + +So there was riding, rowing, and picnicking by day, music, dancing, and +plays by night; and everyone said there had not been so gay a vacation +for years. Bess kept her promise, and let the dust gather on her beloved +clay while she went pleasuring with her mates or studied music with her +father, who rejoiced over the fresh roses in her cheeks and the laughter +which chased away the dreamy look she used to wear. Josie quarrelled +less with Ted; for Dan had a way of looking at her which quelled her +instantly, and had almost as good an effect upon her rebellious cousin. +But Octoo did even more for the lively youth, who found that her charms +entirely eclipsed those of the bicycle which had been his heart's +delight before. Early and late he rode this untiring beast, and began +to gain flesh--to the great joy of his mother, who feared that her +beanstalk was growing too fast for health. + +Demi, finding business dull, solaced his leisure by photographing +everybody he could induce to sit or stand to him, producing some +excellent pictures among many failures; for he had a pretty taste in +grouping, and endless patience. He might be said to view the world +through the lens of his camera, and seemed to enjoy himself very much +squinting at his fellow beings from under a bit of black cambric. Dan +was a treasure to him; for he took well, and willingly posed in his +Mexican costume, with horse and hound, and all wanted copies of these +effective photographs. Bess, also, was a favourite sitter; and Demi +received a prize at the Amateur Photographic Exhibition for one of his +cousin with all her hair about her face, which rose from the cloud of +white lace draping the shoulders. These were freely handed round by the +proud artist; and one copy had a tender little history yet to be told. + +Nat was snatching every minute he could get with Daisy before the long +parting; and Mrs Meg relented somewhat, feeling sure that absence would +quite cure this unfortunate fancy. Daisy said little; but her gentle +face was sad when she was alone, and a few quiet tears dropped on the +handkerchiefs she marked so daintily with her own hair. She was sure Nat +would not forget her; and life looked rather forlorn without the +dear fellow who had been her friend since the days of patty-pans and +confidences in the willow-tree. She was an old-fashioned daughter, +dutiful and docile, with such love and reverence for her mother that her +will was law; and if love was forbidden, friendship must suffice. So she +kept her little sorrow to herself, smiled cheerfully at Nat, and made +his last days of home-life very happy with every comfort and pleasure +she could give, from sensible advice and sweet words to a well-filled +work-bag for his bachelor establishment and a box of goodies for the +voyage. + +Tom and Nan took all the time they could spare from their studies to +enjoy high jinks at Plumfield with their old friends; for Emil's next +voyage was to be a long one, Nat's absence was uncertain, and no one +ever knew when Dan would turn up again. They all seemed to feel that +life was beginning to grow serious; and even while they enjoyed those +lovely summer days together they were conscious that they were children +no longer, and often in the pauses of their fun talked soberly of their +plans and hopes, as if anxious to know and help one another before they +drifted farther apart on their different ways. + +A few weeks were all they had; then the Brenda was ready, Nat was to +sail from New York, and Dan went along to see him off; for his own plans +fermented in his head, and he was eager to be up and doing. A farewell +dance was given on Parnassus in honour of the travellers, and all turned +out in their best array and gayest spirits. George and Dolly came with +the latest Harvard airs and graces, radiant to behold, in dress-suits +and 'crushed hats', as Josie called the especial pride and joy of their +boyish souls. Jack and Ned sent regrets and best wishes, and no one +mourned their absence; for they were among what Mrs Jo called her +failures. Poor Tom got into trouble, as usual, by deluging his head with +some highly scented preparation in the vain hope of making his tight +curls lie flat and smooth, as was the style. Unhappily, his rebellious +crop only kinked the closer, and the odour of many barbers' shops clung +to him in spite of his frantic efforts to banish it. Nan wouldn't allow +him near her, and flapped her fan vigorously whenever he was in sight; +which cut him to the heart, and made him feel like the Peri shut out +from Paradise. Of course his mates jeered at him, and nothing but the +unquenchable jollity of his nature kept him from despair. + +Emil was resplendent in his new uniform, and danced with an abandon +which only sailors know. His pumps seemed to be everywhere, and his +partners soon lost breath trying to keep up with him; but the girls +all declared he steered like an angel, and in spite of his pace no +collisions took place; so he was happy, and found no lack of damsels to +ship with him. + +Having no dress-suit, Dan had been coaxed to wear his Mexican costume, +and feeling at ease in the many-buttoned trousers, loose jacket, and gay +sash, flung his serape over his shoulder with a flourish and looked +his best, doing great execution with his long spurs, as he taught Josie +strange steps or rolled his black eyes admiringly after certain blonde +damsels whom he dared not address. + +The mammas sat in the alcove, supplying pins, smiles, and kindly words +to all, especially the awkward youths new to such scenes, and the +bashful girls conscious of faded muslins and cleaned gloves. It was +pleasant to see stately Mrs Amy promenade on the arm of a tall country +boy, with thick boots and a big forehead, or Mrs Jo dance like a girl +with a shy fellow whose arms went like pump-handles, and whose face was +scarlet with confusion and pride at the honour of treading on the toes +of the president's wife. Mrs Meg always had room on her sofa for two +or three girls, and Mr Laurie devoted himself to these plain, poorly +dressed damsels with a kindly grace that won their hearts and made them +happy. The good Professor circulated like refreshments, and his cheerful +face shone on all alike, while Mr March discussed Greek comedy in the +study with such serious gentlemen as never unbent their mighty minds to +frivolous joys. + +The long music-room, parlour, hall, and piazza were full of white-gowned +maidens with attendant shadows; the air was full of lively voices, +and hearts and feet went lightly together as the home band played +vigorously, and the friendly moon did her best to add enchantment to the +scene. + +'Pin me up, Meg; that dear Dunbar boy has nearly rent me “in sunder”, as +Mr Peggotty would say. But didn't he enjoy himself, bumping against his +fellow men and swinging me round like a mop. On these occasions I find +that I'm not as young as I was, nor as light of foot. In ten years more +we shall be meal-bags, sister; so be resigned.' And Mrs Jo subsided into +a corner, much dishevelled by her benevolent exertions. + +'I know I shall be stout; but you won't keep still long enough to get +much flesh on your bones, dear; and Amy will always keep her lovely +figure. She looks about eighteen tonight, in her white gown and roses,' +answered Meg, busily pinning up one sister's torn frills, while her eyes +fondly followed the other's graceful movements; for Meg still adored Amy +in the old fashion. + +It was one of the family jokes that Jo was getting fat, and she kept it +up, though as yet she had only acquired a matronly outline, which was +very becoming. They were laughing over the impending double chins, when +Mr Laurie came off duty for a moment. + +'Repairing damages as usual, Jo? You never could take a little gentle +exercise without returning in rags. Come and have a quiet stroll with me +and cool off before supper. I've a series of pretty tableaux to show +you while Meg listens to the raptures of lisping Miss Carr, whom I made +happy by giving her Demi for a partner.' + +As he spoke, Laurie led Jo to the music-room, nearly empty now after a +dance which sent the young people into garden and hall. Pausing before +the first of the four long windows that opened on a very wide piazza, he +pointed to a group outside, saying: 'The name of this is “Jack Ashore”.' + +A pair of long, blue legs, ending in very neat pumps, hung from the +veranda roof among the vines; and roses, gathered by unseen hands, +evidently appertaining to aforesaid legs, were being dropped into the +laps of several girls perched like a flock of white birds on the railing +below; while a manly voice 'fell like a falling star', as it sung this +pensive ditty to a most appreciative audience: + + MARY'S DREAM + + The moon had climbed the eastern hill + Which rises o'er the sands of Dee, + And from its highest summit shed + A silver light on tower and tree, + When Mary laid her down to sleep + (Her thoughts on Sandy far at sea); + When soft and low a voice was heard, + Saying, 'Mary, weep no more for me.' + + She from her pillow gently raised + Her head, to see who there might be, + And saw young Sandy, shivering stand + With visage pale and hollow e'e. + 'Oh Mary dear, cold is my clay; + It lies beneath the stormy sea; + Far, far from thee, I sleep in death. + Dear Mary, weep no more for me. + + 'Three stormy nights and stormy days + We tossed upon the raging main. + And long we strove our bark to save; + But all our striving was in vain. + E'en then, when terror chilled my blood, + My heart was filled with love of thee. + The storm is past, and I'm at rest; + So, Mary, weep no more for me. + + 'Oh maiden dear, yourself prepare; + We soon shall meet upon that shore + Where love is free from doubt and care, + And you and I shall part no more.' + Loud crew the cock, the shadow fled; + No more her Sandy did she see; + But soft the passing spirit said, + 'Sweet Mary, weep no more for me.' + +'The constant jollity of that boy is worth a fortune to him. He'll never +sink with such a buoyant spirit to keep him afloat through life,' said +Mrs Jo, as the roses were tossed back with much applause when the song +ended. + +'Not he; and it's a blessing to be grateful for, isn't it? We moody +people know its worth. Glad you like my first tableau. Come and see +number two. Hope it isn't spoilt; it was very pretty just now. This is +“Othello telling his adventures to Desdemona”.' + +The second window framed a very picturesque group of three. Mr March in +an arm-chair, with Bess on a cushion at his feet, was listening to Dan, +who, leaning against a pillar, was talking with unusual animation. The +old man was in shadow, but little Desdemona was looking up with the +moonlight full upon her into young Othello's face, quite absorbed in the +story he was telling so well. The gay drapery over Dan's shoulder, +his dark colouring, and the gesture of his arm made the picture very +striking, and both spectators enjoyed it with silent pleasure, till Mrs +Jo said in a quick whisper: + +'I'm glad he's going away. He's too picturesque to have here among so +many romantic girls. Afraid his “grand, gloomy, and peculiar” style will +be too much for our simple maids.' + +'No danger; Dan is in the rough as yet, and always will be, I fancy; +though he is improving in many ways. How well Queenie looks in that soft +light!' + +'Dear little Goldilocks looks well everywhere.' And with a backward +glance full of pride and fondness, Mrs Jo went on. But that scene +returned to her long afterward and her own prophetic words also. + +Number three was a tragical tableau at first sight; and Mr Laurie +stifled a laugh as he whispered 'The Wounded Knight', pointing to Tom +with his head enveloped in a large handkerchief, as he knelt before Nan, +who was extracting a thorn or splinter from the palm of his hand +with great skill, to judge from the patient's blissful expression of +countenance. + +'Do I hurt you?' she asked, turning the hand to the moonlight for a +better view. + +'Not a bit; dig away; I like it,' answered Tom, regardless of his aching +knees and the damage done to his best trousers. + +'I won't keep you long.' + +'Hours, if you please. Never so happy as here.' + +Quite unmoved by this tender remark, Nan put on a pair of large, +round-eyed glasses, saying in a matter-of-fact tone: 'Now I see it. Only +a splinter, and there it is. + +'My hand is bleeding; won't you bind it up?' asked Tom, wishing to +prolong the situation. + +'Nonsense; suck it. Only take care of it tomorrow if you dissect. Don't +want any more blood-poisoning.' + +'That was the only time you were kind to me. Wish I'd lost my arm.' + +'I wish you'd lost your head; it smells more like turpentine and +kerosene than ever. Do take a run in the garden and air it.' + +Fearing to betray themselves by laughter, the watchers went on, leaving +the Knight to rush away in despair, and the Lady to bury her nose in the +cup of a tall lily for refreshment. + +'Poor Tom, his fate is a hard one, and he's wasting his time! Do advise +him to quit philandering and go to work, Jo.' + +'I have, Teddy, often; but it will take some great shock to make that +boy wise. I wait with interest to see what it will be. Bless me! what is +all this?' + +She might well ask; for on a rustic stool stood Ted trying to pose on +one foot, with the other extended, and both hands waving in the air. +Josie, with several young mates, was watching his contortions with deep +interest as they talked about 'little wings', 'gilded wire twisted', and +a 'cunning skull-cap'. + +'This might be called “Mercury Trying to Fly”,' said Mr Laurie, as they +peeped through the lace curtains. + +'Bless the long legs of that boy! how does he expect to manage them? +They are planning for the Owlsdark Marbles, and a nice muddle they will +make of my gods and goddesses with no one to show them how,' answered +Mrs Jo, enjoying this scene immensely. 'Now, he's got it!' 'That's +perfectly splendid!' 'See how long you can keep so!' cried the girls, as +Ted managed to maintain his equilibrium a moment by resting one toe +on the trellis. Unfortunately this brought all his weight on the other +foot; the straw seat of the stool gave way, and the flying Mercury +came down with a crash, amid shrieks of laughter from the girls. Being +accustomed to ground and lofty tumbling, he quickly recovered himself, +and hopped gaily about, with one leg through the stool as he improvised +a classic jig. + +'Thanks for four nice little pictures. You have given me an idea, and I +think some time we will get up regular tableaux of this sort and march +our company round a set of dissolving views. New and striking; I'll +propose it to our manager and give you all the glory,' said Mrs Jo, as +they strolled towards the room whence came the clash of glass and china, +and glimpses of agitated black coats. + +Let us follow the example of our old friends and stroll about among the +young people, eavesdropping, so gathering up various little threads to +help in the weaving of the story. George and Dolly were at supper, +and having served the ladies in their care stood in a corner absorbing +nourishment of all kinds with a vain attempt to conceal hearty appetites +under an air of elegant indifference. + +'Good spread, this; Laurence does things in style. First-rate coffee, +but no wine, and that's a mistake,' said Stuffy, who still deserved his +name, and was a stout youth with a heavy eye and bilious complexion. + +'Bad for boys, he says. Jove! wish he could see us at some of our wines. +Don't we just “splice the main brace” as Emil says,' answered Dolly, +the dandy, carefully spreading a napkin over the glossy expanse of +shirt-front whereon a diamond stud shone like a lone star. His stutter +was nearly outgrown; but he, as well as George, spoke in the tone of +condescension, which, with the blase airs they assumed, made a very +funny contrast to their youthful faces and foolish remarks. Good-hearted +little fellows both, but top-heavy with the pride of being Sophs and the +freedom that college life gave them. + +'Little Jo is getting to be a deuced pretty girl, isn't she?' said +George, with a long sigh of satisfaction as his first mouthful of ice +went slowly down his throat. + +'H'm--well, fairish. The Princess is rather more to my taste. I like 'em +blonde and queenly and elegant, don't you know.' + +'Yes, Jo is too lively; might as well dance with a grasshopper. +I've tried her, and she's one too many for me. Miss Perry is a nice, +easy-going girl. Got her for the german.' + +'You'll never be a dancing man. Too lazy. Now I'll undertake to steer +any girl and dance down any fellow you please. Dancing's my forte.' And +Dolly glanced from his trim feet to his flashing gem with the defiant +air of a young turkey-cock on parade. + +'Miss Grey is looking for you. Wants more grub. Just see if Miss +Nelson's plate is empty, there's a good fellow. Can't eat ice in a +hurry.' And George remained in his safe corner, while Dolly struggled +through the crowd to do his duty, coming back in a fume, with a splash +of salad dressing on his coat-cuff. + +'Confound these country chaps! they go blundering round like so many +dor-bugs, and make a deuce of a mess. Better stick to books and not try +to be society men. Can't do it. Beastly stain. Give it a rub, and let me +bolt a mouthful, I'm starved. Never saw girls eat such a lot. It proves +that they ought not to study so much. Never liked co-ed,' growled Dolly, +much ruffled in spirit. + +'So they do. 'Tisn't ladylike. Ought to be satisfied with an ice and +a bit of cake, and eat it prettily. Don't like to see a girl feed. We +hard-working men need it, and, by Jove, I mean to get some more of that +meringue if it's not all gone. Here, waiter! bring along that dish over +there, and be lively,' commanded Stuffy, poking a young man in a rather +shabby dress-suit, who was passing with a tray of glasses. + +His order was obeyed promptly; but George's appetite was taken away +the next moment by Dolly's exclaiming, as he looked up from his damaged +coat, with a scandalized face: + +'You've put your foot in it now, old boy! that's Morton, Mr Bhaer's +crack man. Knows everything, no end of a “dig”, and bound to carry off +all the honours. You won't hear the last of it in a hurry.' And Dolly +laughed so heartily that a spoonful of ice flew upon the head of a lady +sitting below him, and got him into a scrape also. + +Leaving them to their despair, let us listen to the whispered chat of +two girls comfortably seated in a recess waiting till their escorts were +fed. + +'I do think the Laurences give lovely parties. Don't you enjoy them?' +asked the younger, looking about her with the eager air of one unused to +this sort of pleasure. + +'Very much, only I never feel as if I was dressed right. My things +seemed elegant at home, and I thought I'd be over over-dressed if +anything; but I look countrified and dowdy here. No time or money to +change now, even if I knew how to do it,' answered the other, glancing +anxiously at her bright pink silk grown, trimmed with cheap lace. + +'You must get Mrs Brooke to tell you how to fix your things. She was +very kind to me. I had a green silk, and it looked so cheap and horrid +by the side of the nice dresses here I felt regularly unhappy about it, +and asked her how much a dress like one Mrs Laurence had would cost. +That looked so simple and elegant I thought it wouldn't be costly; but +it was India mull and Valenciennes lace, so, of course, I couldn't have +it. Then Mrs Brooke said: “Get some muslin to cover the green silk, and +wear hops or some white flowers, instead of pink, in your hair, and you +will have a pretty suit.” Isn't it lovely and becoming?' And Miss Burton +surveyed herself with girlish satisfaction; for a little taste had +softened the harsh green, and hop-bells became her red hair better than +roses. + +'It's sweet: I've been admiring it. I'll do mine so and ask about my +purple one. Mrs Brooke has helped me to get rid of my headaches, and +Mary Clay's dyspepsia is all gone since she gave up coffee and hot +bread.' + +'Mrs Laurence advised me to walk and run and use the gymnasium to cure +my round shoulders and open my chest, and I'm a much better figure than +I was.' + +'Did you know that Mr Laurence pays all Amelia Merrill's bills? Her +father failed, and she was heartbroken at having to leave college; but +that splendid man just stepped in and made it all right.' 'Yes, and +Professor Bhaer has several of the boys down at his house evenings to +help them along so they can keep up with the rest; and Mrs Bhaer took +care of Charles Mackey herself when he had a fever last year. I do think +they are the best and kindest people in the world.' + +'So do I, and my time here will be the happiest and most useful years of +my life.' + +And both girls forgot their gowns and their suppers for a moment to look +with grateful, affectionate eyes at the friends who tried to care for +bodies and for souls as well as minds. + +Now come to a lively party supping on the stairs, girls like foam at +the top, and a substratum of youths below, where the heaviest particles +always settle. Emil, who never sat if he could climb or perch, adorned +the newel-post; Tom, Nat, Demi, and Dan were camped on the steps, eating +busily, as their ladies were well served and they had earned a moment's +rest, which they enjoyed with their eyes fixed on the pleasing prospect +above them. + +'I'm so sorry the boys are going. It will be dreadfully dull without +them. Now they have stopped teasing and are polite, I really enjoy +them,' said Nan, who felt unusually gracious tonight as Tom's mishap +kept him from annoying her. + +'So do I; and Bess was mourning about it today, though as a general +thing she doesn't like boys unless they are models of elegance. She has +been doing Dan's head, and it is not quite finished. I never saw her so +interested in any work, and it's very well done. He is so striking and +big he always makes me think of the Dying Gladiator or some of those +antique creatures. There's Bess now. Dear child, how sweet she looks +tonight!' answered Daisy, waving her hand as the Princess went by with +Grandpa on her arm. + +'I never thought he would turn out so well. Don't you remember how we +used to call him “the bad boy” and be sure he would become a pirate or +something awful because he glared at us and swore sometimes? Now he is +the handsomest of all the boys, and very entertaining with his stories +and plans. I like him very much; he's so big and strong and independent. +I'm tired of mollycoddles and book-worms,' said Nan in her decided way. + +'Not handsomer that Nat!' cried loyal Daisy, contrasting two faces +below, one unusually gay, the other sentimentally sober even in the +act of munching cake. 'I like Dan, and am glad he is doing well; but +he tires me, and I'm still a little afraid of him. Quiet people suit me +best.' + +'Life is a fight, and I like a good soldier. Boys take things too +easily, don't see how serious it all is and go to work in earnest. Look +at that absurd Tom, wasting his time and making an object of himself +just because he can't have what he wants, like a baby crying for the +moon. I've no patience with such nonsense,' scolded Nan, looking down at +the jovial Thomas, who was playfully putting macaroons in Emil's shoes, +and trying to beguile his exile as best he could. + +'Most girls would be touched by such fidelity. I think it's beautiful,' +said Daisy behind her fan; for other girls sat just below. + +'You are a sentimental goose and not a judge. Nat will be twice the man +when he comes back after his trip. I wish Tom was going with him. My +idea is that if we girls have any influence we should use it for the +good of these boys, and not pamper them up, making slaves of ourselves +and tyrants of them. Let them prove what they can do and be before they +ask anything of us, and give us a chance to do the same. Then we know +where we are, and shall not make mistakes to mourn over all our lives.' + +'Hear, hear!' cried Alice Heath, who was a girl after Nan's own heart, +and had chosen a career, like a brave and sensible young woman. 'Only +give us a chance, and have patience till we can do our best. Now we are +expected to be as wise as men who have had generations of all the help +there is, and we scarcely anything. Let us have equal opportunities, and +in a few generations we will see what the judgement is. I like justice, +and we get very little of it.' + +'Still shouting the battle-cry of freedom?' asked Demi, peering through +the banisters at this moment. 'Up with your flag! I'll stand by and lend +a hand if you want it. With you and Nan to lead the van, I think you +won't need much help.' + +'You are a great comfort, Demi, and I'll call on you in all emergencies; +for you are an honest boy, and don't forget that you owe much to your +mother and your sisters and your aunts,' continued Nan. 'I do like men +who come out frankly and own that they are not gods. How can we think +them so when such awful mistakes are being made all the time by these +great creatures? See them sick, as I do, then you know them.' + +'Don't hit us when we are down; be merciful, and set us up to bless and +believe in you evermore,' pleaded Demi from behind the bars. + +'We'll be kind to you if you will be just to us. I don't say generous, +only just. I went to a suffrage debate in the Legislature last winter; +and of all the feeble, vulgar twaddle I ever heard, that was the worst; +and those men were our representatives. I blushed for them, and the +wives and mothers. I want an intelligent man to represent me, if I can't +do it myself, not a fool.' + +'Nan is on the stump. Now we shall catch it,' cried Tom, putting up +an umbrella to shield his unhappy head; for Nan's earnest voice was +audible, and her indignant eye happened to rest on him as she spoke. + +'Go on, go on! I'll take notes, and put in “great applause” liberally,' +added Demi, producing his ball-book and pencil, with his Jenkins air. + +Daisy pinched his nose through the bars, and the meeting was rather +tumultuous for a moment, for Emil called: 'Avast, avast, here's a squall +to wind'ard'; Tom applauded wildly; Dan looked up as if the prospect of +a fight, even with words, pleased him, and Nat went to support Demi, +as his position seemed to be a good one. At this crisis, when everyone +laughed and talked at once, Bess came floating through the upper hall +and looked down like an angel of peace upon the noisy group below, as +she asked, with wondering eyes and smiling lips: + +'What is it?' + +'An indignation meeting. Nan and Alice are on the rampage, and we are at +the bar to be tried for our lives. Will Your Highness preside and judge +between us?' answered Demi, as a lull at once took place; for no one +rioted in the presence of the Princess. + +'I'm not wise enough. I'll sit here and listen. Please go on.' And Bess +took her place above them all as cool and calm as a little statue of +Justice, with fan and nosegay in place of sword and scales. + +'Now, ladies, free your minds, only spare us till morning; for we've +got a german to dance as soon as everyone is fed, and Parnassus expects +every man to do his duty. Mrs President Giddy-gaddy has the floor,' +said Demi, who liked this sort of fun better than the very mild sort of +flirtation which was allowed at Plumfield, for the simple reason that it +could not be entirely banished, and is a part of all education, co- or +otherwise. + +'I have only one thing to say, and it is this,' began Nan soberly, +though her eyes sparkled with a mixture of fun and earnestness. 'I want +to ask every boy of you what you really think on this subject. Dan and +Emil have seen the world and ought to know their own minds. Tom and Nat +have had five examples before them for years. Demi is ours and we are +proud of him. So is Rob. Ted is a weathercock, and Dolly and George, +of course, are fogies in spite of the Annex, and girls at Girton going +ahead of the men. Commodore, are you ready for the question?' + +'Ay, ay, skipper.' + +'Do you believe in Woman's Suffrage?' + +'Bless your pretty figger head! I do, and I'll ship a crew of girls any +time you say so. Aren't they worse than a press-gang to carry a fellow +out of his moorings? Don't we all need one as pilot to steer us safe to +port? and why shouldn't they share our mess afloat and ashore since we +are sure to be wrecked without 'em?' + +'Good for you, Emil! Nan will take you for first mate after that +handsome speech,' said Demi, as the girls applauded, and Tom glowered. +'Now, Dan, you love liberty so well yourself, are you willing we should +have it?' + +'All you can get, and I'll fight any man who's mean enough to say you +don't deserve it.' + +This brief and forcible reply delighted the energetic President, and she +beamed upon the member from California, as she said briskly: + +'Nat wouldn't dare to say he was on the other side even if he were, but +I hope he has made up his mind to pipe for us, at least when we take the +field, and not be one of those who wait till the battle is won, and then +beat the drums and share the glory.' + +Mrs Giddy-gaddy's doubts were most effectually removed, and her sharp +speech regretted, as Nat looked up blushing, but with a new sort of +manliness in face and manner, saying, in a tone that touched them all: + +'I should be the most ungrateful fellow alive if I did not love, +honour, and serve women with all my heart and might, for to them I owe +everything I am or ever shall be.' + +Daisy clapped her hands, and Bess threw her bouquet into Nat's lap, +while the other girls waved their fans, well pleased; for real feeling +made his little speech eloquent. + +'Thomas B. Bangs, come into court, and tell the truth, the whole truth, +and nothing but the truth, if you can,' commanded Nan, with a rap to +call the meeting to order. + +Tom shut the umbrella, and standing up raised his hand, saying solemnly: + +'I believe in suffrage of all kinds. I adore all women, and will die for +them at any moment if it will help the cause.' + +'Living and working for it is harder, and therefore more honourable. Men +are always ready to die for us, but not to make our lives worth having. +Cheap sentiment and bad logic. You will pass, Tom, only don't twaddle. +Now, having taken the sense of the meeting we will adjourn, as the hour +for festive gymnastics has arrived. I am glad to see that old Plum +has given six true men to the world, and hope they will continue to be +staunch to her and the principles she has taught them, wherever they may +go. Now, girls, don't sit in draughts, and, boys, beware of ice-water +when you are warm.' + +With this characteristic close Nan retired from office, and the girls +went to enjoy one of the few rights allowed them. + + + +Chapter 6. LAST WORDS + +The next day was Sunday, and a goodly troop of young and old set forth +to church.--some driving, some walking, all enjoying the lovely weather +and the happy quietude which comes to refresh us when the work and worry +of the week are over. Daisy had a headache; and Aunt Jo remained at home +to keep her company, knowing very well that the worst ache was in the +tender heart struggling dutifully against the love that grew stronger as +the parting drew nearer. + +'Daisy knows my wishes, and I trust her. You must keep an eye on Nat, +and let him clearly understand that there is to be no “lovering”, or +I shall forbid the letter-writing. I hate to seem cruel, but it is too +soon for my dear girl to bind herself in any way,' said Mrs Meg, as she +rustled about in her best grey silk, while waiting for Demi, who always +escorted his pious mother to church as a peace-offering for crossing her +wishes in other things. + +'I will, dear; I'm lying in wait for all three boys today, like an old +spider; and I will have a good talk with each. They know I understand +them, and they always open their hearts sooner or later. You look like a +nice, plump little Quakeress, Meg; and no one will believe that big +boy is your son,' added Mrs Jo, as Demi came in shining with Sunday +neatness, from his well-blacked boots to his smooth brown head. + +'You flatter me, to soften my heart toward your boy. I know your ways, +Jo, and I don't give in. Be firm, and spare me a scene by and by. As for +John, as long as he is satisfied with his old mother, I don't care what +people think,' answered Mrs Meg, accepting with a smile the little posy +of sweet peas and mignonette Demi brought her. + +Then, having buttoned her dove-coloured gloves with care, she took her +son's arm and went proudly away to the carriage, where Amy and Bess +waited, while Jo called after them, just as Marmee used to do: + +'Girls, have you got nice pocket-handkerchiefs?' They all smiled at +the familiar words, and three white banners waved as they drove away, +leaving the spider to watch for her first fly. She did not wait long. +Daisy was lying down with a wet cheek on the little hymnbook out of +which she and Nat used to sing together; so Mrs Jo strolled about +the lawn, looking very like a wandering mushroom with her large buff +umbrella. + +Dan had gone for a ten-mile stroll; and Nat was supposed to have +accompanied him, but presently came sneaking back, unable to tear +himself away from the Dovecote or lose a moment of nearness to his idol +that last day. Mrs Jo saw him at once, and beckoned him to a rustic seat +under the old elm, where they could have their confidences undisturbed, +and both keep an eye on a certain white-curtained window, half hidden in +vines. + +'Nice and cool here. I'm not up to one of Dan's tramps today--it's so +warm, and he goes so like a steam-engine. He headed for the swamp where +his pet snakes used to live, and I begged to be excused,' said Nat, +fanning himself with his straw hat, though the day was not oppressive. + +'I'm glad you did. Sit and rest with me, and have one of our good old +talks. We've both been so busy lately, I feel as if I didn't half know +your plans; and I want to,' answered Mrs Jo, feeling sure that though +they might start with Leipzig they would bring up at Plumfield. + +'You are very kind, and there's nothing I'd like better. I don't realize +I'm going so far--suppose I shan't till I get afloat. It's a splendid +start, and I don't know how I can ever thank Mr Laurie for all he's +done, or you either,' added Nat, with a break in his voice; for he was a +tender-hearted fellow, and never forgot a kindness. + +'You can thank us beautifully by being and doing all we hope and expect +of you, my dear. In the new life you are going to there will be a +thousand trials and temptations, and only your own wit and wisdom to +rely on. That will be the time to test the principles we have tried +to give you, and see how firm they are. Of course, you will make +mistakes--we all do; but don't let go of your conscience and drift along +blindly. Watch and pray, dear Nat; and while your hand gains skill, let +your head grow wiser, and keep your heart as innocent and warm as it is +now.' + +'I'll try, Mother Bhaer, my very best to be a credit to you. I know I +shall improve in my music--can't help it there; but I never shall be +very wise, I'm afraid. As for my heart, you know, I leave it behind me +in good keeping.' + +As he spoke, Nat's eyes were fixed on the window with a look of love and +longing that made his quiet face both manly and sad--plainly showing how +strong a hold this boyish affection had upon him. + +'I want to speak of that; and I know you will forgive what seems hard, +because I do most heartily sympathize with you,' said Mrs Jo, glad to +have her say. + +'Yes, do talk about Daisy! I think of nothing but leaving and losing +her. I have no hope--I suppose it is too much to ask; only I can't help +loving her, wherever I am!' cried Nat, with a mixture of defiance and +despair in his face that rather startled Mrs Jo. + +'Listen to me and I'll try to give you both comfort and good advice. We +all know that Daisy is fond of you, but her mother objects, and being a +good girl she tries to obey. Young people think they never can change, +but they do in the most wonderful manner, and very few die of broken +hearts.' Mrs Jo smiled as she remembered another boy whom she had once +tried to comfort, and then went soberly on while Nat listened as if his +fate hung upon her lips. + +'One of two things will happen. You will find someone else to love, +or, better still, be so busy and happy in your music that you will be +willing to wait for time to settle the matter for you both. Daisy will +perhaps forget when you are gone, and be glad you are only friends. At +any rate it is much wiser to have no promises made; then both are free, +and in a year or two may meet to laugh over the little romance nipped in +the bud.' + +'Do you honestly think that?' asked Nat, looking at her so keenly that +the truth had to come; for all his heart was in those frank blue eyes of +his. + +'No, I don't!' answered Mrs Jo. 'Then if you were in my place, what +would you do?' he added, with a tone of command never heard in his +gentle voice before. + +'Bless me! the boy is in dead earnest, and I shall forget prudence +in sympathy I'm afraid,' thought Mrs Jo, surprised and pleased by the +unexpected manliness Nat showed. + +'I'll tell you what I should do. I'd say to myself: + +“I'll prove that my love is strong and faithful, and make Daisy's +mother proud to give her to me by being not only a good musician but an +excellent man, and so command respect and confidence. This I will try +for; and if I fail, I shall be the better for the effort, and find +comfort in the thought that I did my best for her sake.”' + +'That is what I meant to do. But I wanted a word of hope to give me +courage,' cried Nat, firing up as if the smouldering spark was set +ablaze by a breath of encouragement. 'Other fellows, poorer and stupider +than I, have done great things and come to honour. Why may not I, though +I'm nothing now? I know Mrs Brooke remembers what I came from, but my +father was honest though everything went wrong; and I have nothing to +be ashamed of though I was a charity boy. I never will be ashamed of my +people or myself, and I'll make other folks respect me if I can.' + +'Good! that's the right spirit, Nat. Hold to it and make yourself a man. +No one will be quicker to see and admire the brave work than my sister +Meg. She does not despise your poverty or your past; but mothers are +very tender over their daughters, and we Marches, though we have been +poor, are, I confess, a little proud of our good family. We don't care +for money; but a long line of virtuous ancestors is something to desire +and to be proud of.' + +'Well, the Blakes are a good lot. I looked 'em up, and not one was +ever in prison, hanged, or disgraced in any way. We used to be rich and +honoured years ago, but we've died out and got poor, and father was a +street musician rather than beg; and I'll be one again before I'll do +the mean things some men do and pass muster.' + +Nat was so excited that Mrs Jo indulged in a laugh to calm him, and both +went on more quietly. + +'I told my sister all that and it pleased her. I am sure if you do well +these next few years that she will relent and all be happily settled, +unless that wonderful change, which you don't believe possible, should +occur. Now, cheer up; don't be lackadaisical and blue. Say good-bye +cheerfully and bravely, show a manly front, and leave a pleasant memory +behind you. We all wish you well and hope much for you. Write to me +every week and I'll send a good, gossipy answer. Be careful what you +write to Daisy; don't gush or wail, for sister Meg will see the letters; +and you can help your cause very much by sending sensible, cheery +accounts of your life to us all.' + +'I will; I will; it looks brighter and better already, and I won't lose +my one comfort by any fault of my own. Thank you so much, Mother Bhaer, +for taking my side. I felt so ungrateful and mean and crushed when I +thought you all considered me a sneak who had no business to love such +a precious girl as Daisy. No one said anything, but I knew how you felt, +and that Mr Laurie sent me off partly to get me out of the way. Oh dear, +life is pretty tough sometimes, isn't it?' And Nat took his head in both +hands as if it ached with the confusion of hopes and fears, passions and +plans that proved boyhood was past and manhood had begun. + +'Very tough, but it is that very struggle with obstacles which does us +good. Things have been made easy for you in many ways, but no one can do +everything. You must paddle your own canoe now, and learn to avoid the +rapids and steer straight to the port you want to reach. I don't know +just what your temptations will be for you have no bad habits and seem +to love music so well, nothing can lure you from it. I only hope you +won't work too hard.' + +'I feel as if I could work like a horse, I'm so eager to get on; but +I'll take care. Can't waste time being sick, and you've given me doses +enough to keep me all right, I guess.' Nat laughed as he remembered +the book of directions Mrs Jo had written for him to consult on all +occasions. + +She immediately added some verbal ones on the subject of foreign messes, +and having mounted one of her pet hobbies, was in full gallop when Emil +was seen strolling about on the roof of the old house, that being his +favourite promenade; for there he could fancy himself walking the deck, +with only blue sky and fresh air about him. + +'I want a word with the Commodore, and up there we shall be nice and +quiet. Go and play to Daisy: it will put her to sleep and do you both +good. Sit in the porch, so I can keep an eye on you as I promised'; and +with a motherly pat on the shoulder Mrs Jo left Nat to his delightful +task and briskly ascended to the house-top, not up the trellis as of old +but by means of the stairs inside. + +Emerging on the platform she found Emil cutting his initials afresh in +the wood-work and singing 'Pull for the Shore', like the tuneful mariner +he was. + +'Come aboard and make yourself at home, Aunty,' he said, with a playful +salute. 'I'm just leaving a P.P.C. in the old place, so when you fly up +here for refuge you'll remember me.' + +'Ah, my dear, I'm not likely to forget you. It doesn't need E. B. H. cut +on all the trees and railings to remind me of my sailor boy'; and Mrs Jo +took the seat nearest the blue figure astride the balustrade, not quite +sure how to begin the little sermon she wanted to preach. + +'Well, you don't pipe your eye and look squally when I sheer off as you +used to, and that's a comfort. I like to leave port in fair weather and +have a jolly send-off all round. Specially this time, for it will be a +year or more before we drop anchor here again,' answered Emil, pushing +his cap back, and glancing about him as if he loved old Plum and would +be sorry never to see it any more. + +'You have salt water enough without my adding to it. I'm going to be +quite a Spartan mother, and send my sons to battle with no wailing, only +the command: + +“With your shield or on it”,' said Mrs Jo cheerfully, adding after a +pause: 'I often wish I could go too, and some day I will, when you are +captain and have a ship of your own--as I've no doubt you will before +long, with Uncle Herman to push you on.' + +'When I do I'll christen her the Jolly Jo and take you as first mate. +It would be regular larks to have you aboard, and I'd be a proud man to +carry you round the world you've wanted to see so long and never could,' +answered Emil, caught at once by this splendid vision. + +'I'll make my first voyage with you and enjoy myself immensely in spite +of seasickness and all the stormy winds that blow. I've always thought +I'd like to see a wreck, a nice safe one with all saved after great +danger and heroic deeds, while we clung like Mr Pillicoddy to main-top +jibs and lee scuppers.' + +'No wrecks yet, ma'am, but we'll try to accommodate customers. Captain +says I'm a lucky dog and bring fair weather, so we'll save the dirty +weather for you if you want it,' laughed Emil, digging at the ship in +full sail which he was adding to his design. + +'Thanks, I hope you will. This long voyage will give you new +experiences, and being an officer, you will have new duties and +responsibilities. Are you ready for them? You take everything so gaily, +I've been wondering if you realized that now you will have not only to +obey but to command also, and power is a dangerous thing. Be careful +that you don't abuse it or let it make a tyrant of you.' + +'Right you are, ma'am. I've seen plenty of that, and have got my +bearings pretty well, I guess. I shan't have very wide swing with Peters +over me, but I'll see that the boys don't get abused when he's bowsed up +his jib. No right to speak before, but now I won't stand it.' + +'That sounds mysteriously awful; could I ask what nautical torture +“bowsing jibs” is?' asked Mrs Jo, in a tone of deep interest. + +'Getting drunk. Peters can hold more grog than any man I ever saw; he +keeps right side up, but is as savage as a norther, and makes things +lively all round. I've seen him knock a fellow down with a belaying pin, +and couldn't lend a hand. Better luck now, I hope.' And Emil frowned as +if he already trod the quarter-deck, lord of all he surveyed. + +'Don't get into trouble, for even Uncle Herman's favour won't cover +insubordination, you know. You have proved yourself a good sailor; now +be a good officer, which is a harder thing, I fancy. It takes a fine +character to rule justly and kindly; you will have to put by your boyish +ways and remember your dignity. That will be excellent training for you, +Emil, and sober you down a bit. No more skylarking except here, so mind +your ways, and do honour to your buttons,' said Mrs Jo, tapping one +of the very bright brass ones that ornamented the new suit Emil was so +proud of. + +'I'll do my best. I know my time for skirmshander (chaff) is over, and +I must steer a straighter course; but don't you fear, Jack ashore is a +very different craft from what he is with blue water under his keel. I +had a long talk with Uncle last night and got my orders; I won't forget +'em nor all I owe him. As for you, I'll name my first ship as I say, and +have your bust for the figurehead, see if I don't,' and Emil gave his +aunt a hearty kiss to seal the vow, which proceeding much amused Nat, +playing softly in the porch of the Dovecote. + +'You do me proud, Captain. But, dear, I want to say one thing and then +I'm done; for you don't need much advice of mine after my good man has +spoken. I read somewhere that every inch of rope used in the British +Navy has a strand of red in it, so that wherever a bit of it is found +it is known. That is the text of my little sermon to you. Virtue, which +means honour, honesty, courage, and all that makes character, is the +red thread that marks a good man wherever he is. Keep that always and +everywhere, so that even if wrecked by misfortune, that sign shall still +be found and recognized. Yours is a rough life, and your mates not all +we could wish, but you can be a gentleman in the true sense of the word; +and no matter what happens to your body, keep your soul clean, your +heart true to those who love you, and do your duty to the end.' + +As she spoke Emil had risen and stood listening with his cap off and a +grave, bright look as if taking orders from a superior officer; when she +ended, he answered briefly, but heartily: + +'Please God, I will!' + +'That's all; I have little fear for you, but one never knows when or how +the weak moment may come, and sometimes a chance word helps us, as so +many my dear mother spoke come back to me now for my own comfort and the +guidance of my boys,' said Mrs Jo, rising; for the words had been said +and no more were needed. + +'I've stored 'em up and know where to find 'em when wanted. Often and +often in my watch I've seen old Plum, and heard you and Uncle talking +so plainly, I'd have sworn I was here. It is a rough life, Aunty, but +a wholesome one if a fellow loves it as I do, and has an anchor to +windward as I have. Don't worry about me, and I'll come home next year +with a chest of tea that will cheer your heart and give you ideas enough +for a dozen novels. Going below? All right, steady in the gangway! I'll +be along by the time you've got out the cake-box. Last chance for a good +old lunch ashore.' + +Mrs Jo descended laughing, and Emil finished his ship whistling +cheerfully, neither dreaming when and where this little chat on the +house-top would return to the memory of one of them. + +Dan was harder to catch, and not until evening did a quiet moment come +in that busy family; when, while the rest were roaming about, Mrs Jo sat +down to read in the study, and presently Dan looked in at the window. + +'Come and rest after your long tramp; you must be tired,' she called, +with an inviting nod towards the big sofa where so many boys had +reposed--as much as that active animal ever does. + +'Afraid I shall disturb you'; but Dan looked as if he wanted to stay his +restless feet somewhere. + +'Not a bit; I'm always ready to talk, shouldn't be a woman if I were +not,' laughed Mrs Jo, as Dan swung himself in and sat down with an air +of contentment very pleasant to see. + +'Last day is over, yet somehow I don't seem to hanker to be off. +Generally, I'm rather anxious to cut loose after a short stop. Odd, +ain't it?' asked Dan, gravely picking grass and leaves out of his hair +and beard; for he had been lying on the grass, thinking many thoughts in +the quiet summer night. + +'Not at all; you are beginning to get civilized. It's a good sign, and +I'm glad to see it,' answered Mrs Jo promptly. 'You've had your swing, +and want a change. Hope the farming will give it to you, though helping +the Indians pleases me more: it is so much better to work for others +than for one's self alone.' + +'So 'tis,' assented Dan heartily. 'I seem to want to root somewhere +and have folks of my own to take care of. Tired of my own company, I +suppose, now I've seen so much better. I'm a rough, ignorant lot, and +I've been thinking maybe I've missed it loafing round creation, instead +of going in for education as the other chaps did. Hey?' + +He looked anxiously at Mrs Jo; and she tried to hide the surprise this +new outburst caused her; for till now Dan had scorned books and gloried +in his freedom. + +'No; I don't think so in your case. So far I'm sure the free life was +best. Now that you are a man you can control that lawless nature better; +but as a boy only great activity and much adventure could keep you out +of mischief. Time is taming my colt, you see, and I shall yet be proud +of him, whether he makes a pack-horse of himself to carry help to the +starving or goes to ploughing as Pegasus did.' + +Dan liked the comparison, and smiled as he lounged in the sofa-corner, +with the new thoughtfulness in his eyes. + +'Glad you think so. The fact is it's going to take a heap of taming to +make me go well in harness anywhere. I want to, and I try now and then, +but always kick over the traces and run away. No lives lost yet; but I +shouldn't wonder if there was some time, and a general smash-up.' + +'Why, Dan, did you have any dangerous adventures during this last +absence? I fancied so, but didn't ask before, knowing you'd tell me if I +could help in any way. Can I?' And Mrs Jo looked anxiously at him; for a +sudden lowering expression had come into his face, and he leaned forward +as if to hide it. + +'Nothing very bad; but 'Frisco isn't just a heaven on earth, you know, +and it's harder to be a saint there than here,' he answered slowly; +then, as if he had made up his mind to ''fess', as the children used to +say, he sat up, and added rapidly, in a half-defiant, half-shamefaced +way, 'I tried gambling, and it wasn't good for me.' + +'Was that how you made your money?' + +'Not a penny of it! That's all honest, if speculation isn't a bigger +sort of gambling. I won a lot; but I lost or gave it away, and cut the +whole concern before it got the better of me.' + +'Thank heaven for that! Don't try it again; it may have the terrible +fascination for you it has for so many. Keep to your mountains and +prairies, and shun cities, if these things tempt you, Dan. Better lose +your life than your soul, and one such passion leads to worse sins, as +you know better than I.' + +Dan nodded, and seeing how troubled she was, said, in a lighter tone, +though still the shadow of that past experience remained: + +'Don't be scared; I'm all right now; and a burnt dog dreads the fire. I +don't drink, or do the things you dread; don't care for 'em; but I +get excited, and then this devilish temper of mine is more than I can +manage. Fighting a moose or a buffalo is all right; but when you pitch +into a man, no matter how great a scamp he is, you've got to look out. +I shall kill someone some day; that's all I'm afraid of. I do hate a +sneak!' And Dan brought his fist down on the table with a blow that made +the lamp totter and the books skip. + +'That always was your trial, Dan, and I can sympathize with you; for +I've been trying to govern my own temper all my life, and haven't learnt +yet,' said Mrs Jo, with a sigh. 'For heaven's sake, guard your demon +well, and don't let a moment's fury ruin all your life. As I said to +Nat, watch and pray, my dear boy. There is no other help or hope for +human weakness but God's love and patience.' + +Tears were in Mrs Jo's eyes as she spoke; for she felt this deeply, and +knew how hard a task it is to rule these bosom sins of ours. Dan looked +touched, also uncomfortable, as he always did when religion of any sort +was mentioned, though he had a simple creed of his own, and tried to +live up to it in his blind way. + +'I don't do much praying; don't seem to come handy to me; but I can +watch like a redskin, only it's easier to mount guard over a lurking +grizzly than my own cursed temper. It's that I'm afraid of, if I settle +down. I can get on with wild beasts first-rate; but men rile me awfully, +and I can't take it out in a free fight, as I can with a bear or a +wolf. Guess I'd better head for the Rockies, and stay there a spell +longer--till I'm tame enough for decent folks, if I ever am.' And Dan +leaned his rough head on his hands in a despondent attitude. + +'Try my sort of help, and don't give up. Read more, study a little, and +try to meet a better class of people, who won't “rile”, but soothe and +strengthen you. We don't make you savage, I'm sure; for you have been as +meek as a lamb, and made us very happy.' + +'Glad of it; but I've felt like a hawk in a hen-house all the same, +and wanted to pounce and tear more than once. Not so much as I used, +though,' added Dan, after a short laugh at Mrs Jo's surprised face. +'I'll try your plan, and keep good company this bout if I can; but a man +can't pick and choose, knocking about as I do.' + +'Yes, you can this time; for you are going on a peaceful errand and can +keep clear of temptation if you try. Take some books and read; that's +an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right +sort. Let me pick out some for you.' And Mrs Jo made a bee-line to the +well-laden shelves, which were the joy of her heart and the comfort of +her life. + +'Give me travels and stories, please; don't want any pious works, can't +seem to relish 'em, and won't pretend I do,' said Dan, following to look +over her head with small favour at the long lines of well-worn volumes. + +Mrs Jo turned short round, and putting a hand on either broad shoulder, +looked him in the eye, saying soberly: + +'Now, Dan, see here; never sneer at good things or pretend to be worse +than you are. Don't let false shame make you neglect the religion +without which no man can live. You needn't talk about it if you don't +like, but don't shut your heart to it in whatever shape it comes. Nature +is your God now; she has done much for you; let her do more, and lead +you to know and love a wiser and more tender teacher, friend, and +comforter than she can ever be. That is your only hope; don't throw it +away, and waste time; for sooner or later you will feel the need of Him, +and He will come to you and hold you up when all other help fails.' + +Dan stood motionless, and let her read in his softened eyes the dumb +desire that lived in his heart, though he had no words to tell it, +and only permitted her to catch a glimpse of the divine spark which +smoulders or burns clearly in every human soul. He did not speak; and +glad to be spared some answer which should belie his real feelings, Mrs +Jo hastened to say, with her most motherly smile: + +'I saw in your room the little Bible I gave you long ago; it was well +worn outside, but fresh within, as if not much read. Will you promise me +to read a little once a week, dear, for my sake? Sunday is a quiet day +everywhere, and this book is never old nor out of place. Begin with the +stories you used to love when I told them to you boys. David was your +favourite, you remember? Read him again; he'll suit you even better now, +and you'll find his sins and repentance useful reading till you come to +the life and work of a diviner example than he. You will do it, for +love of mother Bhaer, who always loved her “firebrand” and hoped to save +him?' + +'I will,' answered Dan, with a sudden brightening of face that was like +a sunburst through a cloud, full of promise though so short-lived and +rare. + +Mrs Jo turned at once to the books and began to talk of them, knowing +well that Dan would not hear any more just then. He seemed relieved; for +it was always hard for him to show his inner self, and he took pride in +hiding it as an Indian does in concealing pain or fear. + +'Hallo, here's old Sintram! I remember him; used to like him and his +tantrums, and read about 'em to Ted. There he is riding ahead with Death +and the Devil alongside.' + +As Dan looked at the little picture of the young man with horse and +hound going bravely up the rocky defile, accompanied by the companions +who ride beside most men through this world, a curious impulse made Mrs +Jo say quickly: + +'That's you, Dan, just you at this time! Danger and sin are near you in +the life you lead; moods and passions torment you; the bad father left +you to fight alone, and the wild spirit drives you to wander up and down +the world looking for peace and self-control. Even the horse and hound +are there, your Octoo and Don, faithful friends, unscared by the strange +mates that go with you. You have not got the armour yet, but I'm trying +to show you where to find it. Remember the mother Sintram loved and +longed to find, and did find when his battle was bravely fought, his +reward well earned? You can recollect your mother; and I have always +felt that all the good qualities you possess come from her. Act out the +beautiful old story in this as in the other parts, and try to give her +back a son to be proud of.' + +Quite carried away by the likeness of the quaint tale to Dan's life and +needs, Mrs Jo went on pointing to the various pictures which illustrated +it, and when she looked up was surprised to see how struck and +interested he seemed to be. Like all people of his temperament he was +very impressionable, and his life among hunters and Indians had made him +superstitious; he believed in dreams, liked weird tales, and whatever +appealed to the eye or mind, vividly impressed him more than the wisest +words. The story of poor, tormented Sintram came back clearly as he +looked and listened, symbolizing his secret trials even more truly than +Mrs Jo knew; and just at that moment this had an effect upon him that +never was forgotten. But all he said was: + +'Small chance of that. I don't take much stock in the idea of meeting +folks in heaven. Guess mother won't remember the poor little brat she +left so long ago; why should she?' + +'Because true mothers never forget their children; and I know she was +one, from the fact that she ran away from the cruel husband, to save +her little son from bad influences. Had she lived, life would have been +happier for you, with this tender friend to help and comfort you. Never +forget that she risked everything for your sake, and don't let it be in +vain.' + +Mrs Jo spoke very earnestly, knowing that this was the one sweet memory +of Dan's early life, and glad to have recalled it at this moment; for +suddenly a great tear splashed down on the page where Sintram kneels +at his mother's feet, wounded, but victorious over sin and death. She +looked up, well pleased to have touched Dan to the heart's core, as that +drop proved; but a sweep of the arm brushed away the tell-tale, and his +beard hid the mate to it, as he shut the book, saying with a suppressed +quiver in his strong voice: + +'I'll keep this, if nobody wants it. I'll read it over, and maybe it +will do me good. I'd like to meet her anywhere, but don't believe I ever +shall.' + +'Keep it and welcome. My mother gave it to me; and when you read it try +to believe that neither of your mothers will ever forget you.' + +Mrs Jo gave the book with a caress; and simply saying: 'Thanks; good +night,' Dan thrust it into his pocket, and walked straight away to the +river to recover from this unwonted mood of tenderness and confidence. + +Next day the travellers were off. All were in good spirits, and a cloud +of handkerchiefs whitened the air as they drove away in the old bus, +waving their hats to everyone and kissing their hands, especially to +mother Bhaer, who said in her prophetic tone as she wiped her eyes, when +the familiar rumble died away: + +'I have a feeling that something is going to happen to some of them, and +they will never come back to me, or come back changed. Well, I can only +say, God be with my boys!' + +And He was. + + + +Chapter 7. THE LION AND THE LAMB + +When the boys were gone a lull fell upon Plumfield, and the family +scattered to various places for brief outings, as August had come and +all felt the need of change. The Professor took Mrs Jo to the mountains. +The Laurences were at the seashore, and there Meg's family and the Bhaer +boys took turns to visit, as someone must always be at home to keep +things in order. + +Mrs Meg, with Daisy, was in office when the events occurred which we are +about to relate. Rob and Ted were just up from Rocky Nook, and Nan +was passing a week with her friend as the only relaxation she allowed +herself. Demi was off on a run with Tom, so Rob was man of the house, +with old Silas as general overseer. The sea air seemed to have gone to +Ted's head, for he was unusually freakish, and led his gentle aunt and +poor Rob a life of it with his pranks. Octoo was worn out with the wild +rides he took, and Don openly rebelled when ordered to leap and show +off his accomplishments; while the girls at college were both amused and +worried by the ghosts who haunted the grounds at night, the unearthly +melodies that disturbed their studious hours, and the hairbreadth +escapes of this restless boy by flood and field and fire. Something +happened at length which effectually sobered Ted and made a lasting +impression on both the boys; for sudden danger and a haunting fear +turned the Lion into a lamb and the Lamb into a lion, as far as courage +went. + +On the first of September--the boys never forgot the date--after a +pleasant tramp and good luck with their fishing, the brothers were +lounging in the barn; for Daisy had company, and the lads kept out of +the way. + +'I tell you what it is, Bobby, that dog is sick. He won't play, nor eat, +nor drink, and acts queerly. Dan will kill us if anything happens to +him,' said Ted, looking at Don, who lay near his kennel resting a moment +after one of the restless wanderings which kept him vibrating between +the door of Dan's room and the shady corner of the yard, where his +master had settled him with an old cap to guard till he came back. + +'It's the hot weather, perhaps. But I sometimes think he's pining for +Dan. Dogs do, you know, and the poor fellow has been low in his mind +ever since the boys went. Maybe something has happened to Dan. Don +howled last night and can't rest. I've heard of such things,' answered +Rob thoughtfully. + +'Pooh! he can't know. He's cross. I'll stir him up and take him for a +run. Always makes me feel better. Hi, boy! wake up and be jolly'; and +Ted snapped his fingers at the dog, who only looked at him with grim +indifference. + +'Better let him alone. If he isn't right tomorrow, we'll take him to Dr +Watkins and see what he says.' And Rob went on watching the swallows as +he lay in the hay polishing up some Latin verses he had made. + +The spirit of perversity entered into Ted, and merely because he was +told not to tease Don he went on doing it, pretending that it was for +the dog's good. Don took no heed of his pats, commands, reproaches, or +insults, till Ted's patience gave out; and seeing a convenient switch +near by he could not resist the temptation to conquer the great hound +by force, since gentleness failed to win obedience. He had the wisdom to +chain Don up first; for a blow from any hand but his master's made him +savage, and Ted had more than once tried the experiment, as the dog +remembered. This indignity roused Don and he sat up with a growl. Rob +heard it, and seeing Ted raise the switch, ran to interfere, exclaiming: + +'Don't touch him! Dan forbade it! Leave the poor thing in peace; I won't +allow it.' + +Rob seldom commanded, but when he did Master Ted had to give in. His +temper was up, and Rob's masterful tone made it impossible to resist one +cut at the rebellious dog before he submitted. Only a single blow, but +it was a costly one; for as it fell, the dog sprang at Ted with a snarl, +and Rob, rushing between the two, felt the sharp teeth pierce his leg. +A word made Don let go and drop remorsefully at Rob's feet, for he loved +him and was evidently sorry to have hurt his friend by mistake. With a +forgiving pat Rob left him, to limp to the barn followed by Ted, whose +wrath was changed to shame and sorrow when he saw the red drops on Rob's +sock and the little wounds in his leg. + +'I'm awfully sorry. Why did you get in the way? Here, wash it up, and +I'll get a rag to tie on it,' he said quickly filling a sponge with +water and pulling out a very demoralized handkerchief. Rob usually made +light of his own mishaps and was over ready to forgive if others were to +blame; but now he sat quite still, looking at the purple marks with such +a strange expression on his white face that Ted was troubled, though he +added with a laugh: 'Why, you're not afraid of a little dig like that, +are you, Bobby?' + +'I am afraid of hydrophobia. But if Don is mad I'd rather be the one to +have it,' answered Rob, with a smile and a shiver. + +At that dreadful word Ted turned whiter than his brother, and, +dropping sponge and handkerchief, stared at him with a frightened face, +whispering in a tone of despair: + +'Oh, Rob, don't say it! What shall we do, what shall we do?' + +'Call Nan; she will know. Don't scare Aunty, or tell a soul but Nan; +she's on the back piazza; get her out here as quick as you can. I'll +wash it till she comes. Maybe it's nothing; don't look so staggered, +Ted. I only thought it might be, as Don is queer.' + +Rob tried to speak bravely; but Ted's long legs felt strangely weak as +he hurried away, and it was lucky he met no one, for his face would have +betrayed him. Nan was swinging luxuriously in a hammock, amusing herself +with a lively treatise on croup, when an agitated boy suddenly clutched +her, whispering, as he nearly pulled her overboard: + +'Come to Rob in the barn! Don's mad and he's bitten him, and we don't +know what to do; it's all my fault; no one must know. Oh, do be quick!' + +Nan was on her feet at once, startled, but with her wits about her, and +both were off without more words as they dodged round the house where +unconscious Daisy chatted with her friends in the parlour and Aunt Meg +peacefully took her afternoon nap upstairs. + +Rob was braced up, and was as calm and steady as ever when they found +him in the harness-room, whither he had wisely retired, to escape +observation. The story was soon told, and after a look at Don, now in +his kennel, sad and surly, Nan said slowly, with her eye on the full +water-pan: + +'Rob, there is one thing to do for the sake of safety, and it must +be done at once. We can't wait to see if Don is--sick--or to go for a +doctor. I can do it, and I will; but it is very painful, and I hate to +hurt you, dear.' + +A most unprofessional quiver got into Nan's voice as she spoke, and her +keen eyes dimmed as she looked at the two anxious young faces turned so +confidingly to her for help. + +'I know, burn it; well, do it, please; I can bear it. But Ted better +go away,' said Rob, with a firm setting of his lips, and a nod at his +afflicted brother. + +'I won't stir; I can stand it if he can, only it ought to be me!' cried +Ted, with a desperate effort not to cry, so full of grief and fear and +shame was he that it seemed as if he couldn't bear it like a man. + +'He'd better stay and help; do him good,' answered Nan sternly, because, +her heart was faint within her, knowing as she did all that might be in +store for both poor boys. 'Keep quiet; I'll be back in a minute,' she +added, going towards the house, while her quick mind hastily planned +what was best to be done. + +It was ironing day, and a hot fire still burned in the empty kitchen, +for the maids were upstairs resting. Nan put a slender poker to heat, +and as she sat waiting for it, covered her face with her hands, asking +help in this sudden need for strength, courage, and wisdom; for there +was no one else to call upon, and young as she was, she knew what was to +be done if she only had the nerve to do it. Any other patient would have +been calmly interesting, but dear, good Robin, his father's pride, his +mother's comfort, everyone's favourite and friend, that he should be +in danger was very terrible; and a few hot tears dropped on the +well-scoured table as Nan tried to calm her trouble by remembering how +very likely it was to be all a mistake, a natural but vain alarm. + +'I must make light of it, or the boys will break down, and then there +will be a panic. Why afflict and frighten everyone when all is in doubt? +I won't. I'll take Rob to Dr Morrison at once, and have the dog man see +Don. Then, having done all we can, we will either laugh at our scare--if +it is one--or be ready for whatever comes. Now for my poor boy.' + +Armed with the red-hot poker, a pitcher of ice-water, and several +handkerchiefs from the clotheshorse, Nan went back to the barn ready to +do her best in this her most serious 'emergency case'. The boys sat like +statues, one of despair, the other of resignation; and it took all Nan's +boasted nerve to do her work quickly and well. + +'Now, Rob, only a minute, then we are safe. Stand by, Ted; he may be a +bit faintish.' + +Rob shut his eyes, clinched his hands, and sat like a hero. Ted knelt +beside him, white as a sheet, and as weak as a girl; for the pangs of +remorse were rending him, and his heart failed at the thought of all +this pain because of his wilfulness. It was all over in a moment, with +only one little groan; but when Nan looked to her assistant to hand the +water, poor Ted needed it the most, for he had fainted away, and lay on +the floor in a pathetic heap of arms and legs. + +Rob laughed, and, cheered by that unexpected sound, Nan bound up the +wound with hands that never trembled, though great drops stood on her +forehead; and she shared the water with patient number one before she +turned to patient number two. Ted was much ashamed, and quite broken +in spirit, when he found how he had failed at the critical moment, and +begged them not to tell, as he really could not help it; then by way of +finishing his utter humiliation, a burst of hysterical tears disgraced +his manly soul, and did him a world of good. + +'Never mind, never mind, we are all right now, and no one need be the +wiser,' said Nan briskly, as poor Ted hiccoughed on Rob's shoulder, +laughing and crying in the most tempestuous manner, while his brother +soothed him, and the young doctor fanned both with Silas's old straw +hat. + +'Now, boys, listen to me and remember what I say. We won't alarm anyone +yet, for I've made up my mind our scare is all nonsense. Don was out +lapping the water as I came by, and I don't believe he's mad any more +than I am. Still, to ease our minds and compose our spirits, and get our +guilty faces out of sight for a while, I think we had better drive into +town to my old friend Dr Morrison, and let him just take a look at +my work, and give us some quieting little dose; for we are all rather +shaken by this flurry. Sit still, Rob; and Ted, you harness up while I +run and get my hat and tell Aunty to excuse me to Daisy. I don't know +those Penniman girls, and she will be glad of our room at tea, and we'll +have a cosy bite at my house, and come home as gay as larks.' + +Nan talked on as a vent for the hidden emotions which professional pride +would not allow her to show, and the boys approved her plan at once; for +action is always easier than quiet waiting. Ted went staggering away to +wash his face at the pump, and rub some colour into his cheeks before +he harnessed the horse. Rob lay tranquilly on the hay, looking up at the +swallows again as he lived through some very memorable moments. Boy as +he was, the thought of death coming suddenly to him, and in this way, +might well make him sober; for it is a very solemn thing to be arrested +in the midst of busy life by the possibility of the great change. There +were no sins to be repented of, few faults, and many happy, dutiful +years to remember with infinite comfort. So Rob had no fears to daunt +him, no regrets to sadden, and best of all, a very strong and simple +piety to sustain and cheer him. + +'Mein Vater,' was his first thought; for Rob was very near the +Professor's heart, and the loss of his eldest would have been a bitter +blow. These words, whispered with a tremble of the lips that had been so +firm when the hot iron burned, recalled that other Father who is always +near, always tender and helpful; and, folding his hands, Rob said the +heartiest little prayer he ever prayed, there on the hay, to the soft +twitter of the brooding birds. It did him good; and wisely laying all +his fear and doubt and trouble in God's hand, the boy felt ready for +whatever was to come, and from that hour kept steadily before him the +one duty that was plain--to be brave and cheerful, keep silent, and hope +for the best. + +Nan stole her hat, and left a note on Daisy's pincushion, saying she had +taken the boys to drive, and all would be out of the way till after tea. +Then she hurried back and found her patients much better, the one for +work, the other for rest. In they got, and, putting Rob on the back seat +with his leg up drove away, looking as gay and care-free as if nothing +had happened. + +Dr Morrison made light of the affair, but told Nan she had done right; +and as the much-relieved lads went downstairs, he added in a whisper: +'Send the dog off for a while, and keep your eye on the boy. Don't let +him know it, and report to me if anything seems wrong. One never knows +in these cases. No harm to be careful.' + +Nan nodded, and feeling much relieved now that the responsibility was +off her shoulders, took the lads to Dr Watkins, who promised to come out +later and examine Don. A merry tea at Nan's house, which was kept open +for her all summer, did them good, and by the time they got home in the +cool of the evening no sign of the panic remained but Ted's heavy eyes, +and a slight limp when Rob walked. As the guests were still chattering +on the front piazza they retired to the back, and Ted soothed his +remorseful soul by swinging Rob in the hammock, while Nan told stories +till the dog man arrived. + +He said Don was a little under the weather, but no more mad than the +grey kitten that purred round his legs while the examination went on. + +'He wants his master, and feels the heat. Fed too well, perhaps. I'll +keep him a few weeks and send him home all right,' said Dr Watkins, as +Don laid his great head in his hand, and kept his intelligent eyes on +his face, evidently feeling that this man understood his trials, and +knew what to do for him. + +So Don departed without a murmur, and our three conspirators took +counsel together how to spare the family all anxiety, and give Rob the +rest his leg demanded. Fortunately, he always spent many hours in his +little study, so he could lie on the sofa with a book in his hand +as long as he liked, without exciting any remark. Being of a quiet +temperament, he did not worry himself or Nan with useless fears, but +believed what was told him, and dismissing all dark possibilities, went +cheerfully on his way, soon recovering from the shock of what he called +'our scare'. + +But excitable Ted was harder to manage, and it took all Nan's wit and +wisdom to keep him from betraying the secret; for it was best to say +nothing and spare all discussion of the subject for Rob's sake. Ted's +remorse preyed upon him, and having no 'Mum' to confide in, he was very +miserable. By day he devoted himself to Rob, waiting on him, talking to +him, gazing anxiously at him, and worrying the good fellow very much; +though he wouldn't own it, since Ted found comfort in it. But at night, +when all was quiet, Ted's lively imagination and heavy heart got the +better of him, and kept him awake, or set him walking in his sleep. Nan +had her eye on him, and more than once administered a little dose to +give him a rest, read to him, scolded him, and when she caught him +haunting the house in the watches of the night, threatened to lock him +up if he did not stay in his bed. This wore off after a while; but a +change came over the freakish boy, and everyone observed it, even before +his mother returned to ask what they had done to quench the Lion's +spirits. He was gay, but not so heedless; and often when the old +wilfulness beset him, he would check it sharply, look at Rob, and give +up, or stalk away to have his sulk out alone. He no longer made fun of +his brother's old-fashioned ways and bookish tastes, but treated him +with a new and very marked respect, which touched and pleased modest +Rob, and much amazed all observers. It seemed as if he felt that he owed +him reparation for the foolish act that might have cost him his life; +and love being stronger than will, Ted forgot his pride, and paid his +debt like an honest boy. + +'I don't understand it,' said Mrs Jo, after a week of home life, much +impressed by the good behaviour of her younger son. 'Ted is such a +saint, I'm afraid we are going to lose him. Is it Meg's sweet influence, +or Daisy's fine cooking, or the pellets I catch Nan giving him on +the sly? Some witchcraft has been at work during my absence, and this +will-o'-the-wisp is so amiable, quiet, and obedient, I don't know him.' + +'He is growing up, heart's-dearest, and being a precocious plant, he +begins to bloom early. I also see a change in my Robchen. He is more +manly and serious than ever, and is seldom far from me, as if his +love for the old papa was growing with his growth. Our boys will often +surprise us in this way, Jo, and we can only rejoice over them and leave +them to become what Gott pleases.' + +As the Professor spoke, his eyes rested proudly on the brothers, who +came walking up the steps together, Ted's arm over Rob's shoulder as +he listened attentively to some geological remarks Rob was making on a +stone he held. Usually, Ted made fun of such tastes, and loved to lay +boulders in the student's path, put brickbats under his pillow, gravel +in his shoes, or send parcels of dirt by express to 'Prof. R. M. Bhaer'. +Lately, he had treated Rob's hobbies respectfully, and had begun to +appreciate the good qualities of this quiet brother whom he had always +loved but rather undervalued, till his courage under fire won Ted's +admiration, and made it impossible to forget a fault, the consequences +of which might have been so terrible. The leg was still lame, though +doing well, and Ted was always offering an arm as support, gazing +anxiously at his brother, and trying to guess his wants; for regret was +still keen in Ted's soul, and Rob's forgiveness only made it deeper. A +fortunate slip on the stairs gave Rob an excuse for limping, and no one +but Nan and Ted saw the wound; so the secret was safe up to this time. + +'We are talking about you, my lads. Come in and tell us what good fairy +has been at work while we were gone. Or is it because absence sharpens +our eyes, that we find such pleasant changes when we come back?' said +Mrs Jo, patting the sofa on either side, while the Professor forgot his +piles of letters to admire the pleasing prospect of his wife in a bower +of arms, as the boys sat down beside her, smiling affectionately, but +feeling a little guilty; for till now 'Mum' and 'Vater' knew every event +in their boyish lives. + +'Oh, it's only because Bobby and I have been alone so much; we are sort +of twins. I stir him up a bit, and he steadies me a great deal. You and +father do the same, you know. Nice plan. I like it'; and Ted felt that +he had settled the matter capitally. + +'Mother won't thank you for comparing yourself to her, Ted. I'm +flattered at being like father in any way. I try to be,' answered Rob, +as they laughed at Ted's compliment. + +'I do thank him, for it's true; and if you, Robin, do half as much for +your brother as Papa has for me, your life won't be a failure,' said +Mrs Jo heartily. 'I'm very glad to see you helping one another. It's the +right way, and we can't begin too soon to try to understand the needs, +virtues, and failings of those nearest us. Love should not make us blind +to faults, nor familiarity make us too ready to blame the shortcomings +we see. So work away, my sonnies, and give us more surprises of this +sort as often as you like.' + +'The liebe Mutter has said all. I too am well pleased at the friendly +brother-warmth I find. It is good for everyone; long may it last!' and +Professor Bhaer nodded at the boys, who looked gratified, but rather at +a loss how to respond to these flattering remarks. + +Rob wisely kept silent, fearing to say too much; but Ted burst out, +finding it impossible to help telling something: + +'The fact is I've been finding out what a brave good chap Bobby is, and +I'm trying to make up for all the bother I've been to him. I knew he +was awfully wise, but I thought him rather soft, because he liked books +better than larks, and was always fussing about his conscience. But I +begin to see that it isn't the fellows who talk the loudest and show +off best that are the manliest. No, sir! quiet old Bob is a hero and a +trump, and I'm proud of him; so would you be if you knew all about it.' + +Here a look from Rob brought Ted up with a round turn; he stopped short, +grew red, and clapped his hand on his mouth in dismay. + +'Well, are we not to “know all about it”?' asked Mrs Jo quickly; for her +sharp eye saw signs of danger and her maternal heart felt that something +had come between her and her sons. 'Boys,' she went on solemnly, 'I +suspect that the change we talk about is not altogether the effect of +growing up, as we say. It strikes me that Ted has been in mischief and +Rob has got him out of some scrape; hence the lovely mood of my bad boy +and the sober one of my conscientious son, who never hides anything from +his mother.' + +Rob was as red as Ted now, but after a moment's hesitation he looked up +and answered with an air of relief: + +'Yes, mother, that's it; but it's all over and no harm done, and I think +we'd better let it be, for a while at least. I did feel guilty to keep +anything from you, but now you know so much I shall not worry and you +needn't either. Ted's sorry, I don't mind, and it has done us both +good.' + +Mrs Jo looked at Ted, who winked hard but bore the look like a man; +then she turned to Rob, who smiled at her so cheerfully that she felt +reassured; but something in his face struck her, and she saw what it was +that made him seem older, graver, yet more lovable than ever. It was the +look pain of mind, as well as body, brings, and the patience of a sweet +submission to some inevitable trial. Like a flash she guessed that some +danger had been near her boy, and the glances she had caught between the +two lads and Nan confirmed her fears. + +'Rob, dear, you have been ill, hurt, or seriously troubled by Ted? Tell +me at once; I will not have any secrets now. Boys sometimes suffer all +their lives from neglected accidents or carelessness. Fritz, make them +speak out!' + +Mr Bhaer put down his papers and came to stand before them, saying in a +tone that quieted Mrs Jo, and gave the boys courage: + +'My sons, give us the truth. We can bear it; do not hold it back to +spare us. Ted knows we forgive much because we love him, so be frank, +all two.' + +Ted instantly dived among the sofa pillows and kept there, with only a +pair of scarlet ears visible, while Rob in a few words told the little +story, truthfully, but as gently as he could, hastening to add the +comfortable assurance that Don was not mad, the wound nearly well, and +no danger would ever come of it. + +But Mrs Jo grew so pale he had to put his arms about her, and his father +turned and walked away, exclaiming: 'Ach Himmel!' in a tone of such +mingled pain, relief, and gratitude, that Ted pulled an extra pillow +over his head to smother the sound. They were all right in a minute; +but such news is always a shock, even if the peril is past, and Mrs Jo +hugged her boy close till his father came and took him away, saying with +a strong shake of both hands and a quiver in his voice: + +'To be in danger of one's life tries a man's mettle, and you bear it +well; but I cannot spare my good boy yet; thank Gott, we keep him safe!' + +A smothered sound, between a choke and a groan, came from under the +pillows, and the writhing of Ted's long legs so plainly expressed +despair that his mother relented towards him, and burrowing till she +found a tousled yellow head, pulled it out and smoothed it, exclaiming +with an irrepressible laugh, though her cheeks were wet with tears: + +'Come and be forgiven, poor sinner! I know you have suffered enough, and +I won't say a word; only if harm had come to Rob you would have made +me more miserable than yourself. Oh, Teddy, Teddy, do try to cure that +wilful spirit of yours before it is too late!' + +'Oh, Mum, I do try! I never can forget this--I hope it's cured me; if it +hasn't, I am afraid I ain't worth saving,' answered Ted, pulling his own +hair as the only way of expressing his deep remorse. + +'Yes, you are, my dear; I felt just so at fifteen when Amy was nearly +drowned, and Marmee helped me as I'll help you. Come to me, Teddy, when +the evil one gets hold of you, and together we'll rout him. Ah, me! I've +had many a tussle with that old Apollyon, and often got worsted, but not +always. Come under my shield, and we'll fight till we win.' + +No one spoke for a minute as Ted and his mother laughed and cried in +one handkerchief, and Rob stood with his father's arm round him so happy +that all was told and forgiven, though never to be forgotten; for +such experiences do one good, and knit hearts that love more closely +together. + +Presently Ted rose straight up and going to his father, said bravely and +humbly: + +'I ought to be punished. Please do it; but first say you forgive me, as +Rob does.' + +'Always that, mein Sohn, seventy time seven, if needs be, else I am +not worthy the name you give me. The punishment has come; I can give no +greater. Let it not be in vain. It will not with the help of the mother +and the All Father. Room here for both, always!' + +The good Professor opened his arms and embraced his boys like a true +German, not ashamed to express by gesture or by word the fatherly +emotions an American would have compressed into a slap on the shoulder +and a brief 'All right'. + +Mrs Jo sat and enjoyed the prospect like a romantic soul as she was, and +then they had a quiet talk together, saying freely all that was in their +hearts, and finding much comfort in the confidence which comes when love +casts out fear. It was agreed that nothing be said except to Nan, +who was to be thanked and rewarded for her courage, discretion, and +fidelity. + +'I always knew that girl had the making of a fine woman in her, and this +proves it. No panics and shrieks and faintings and fuss, but calm +sense and energetic skill. Dear child, what can I give or do to show my +gratitude?' said Mrs Jo enthusiastically. + +'Make Tom clear out and leave her in peace,' suggested Ted, almost +himself again, though a pensive haze still partially obscured his native +gaiety. + +'Yes, do! he frets her like a mosquito. She forbade him to come out here +while she stayed, and packed him off with Demi. I like old Tom, but he +is a regular noodle about Nan,' added Rob, as he went away to help his +father with the accumulated letters. + +'I'll do it!' said Mrs Jo decidedly. 'That girl's career shall not be +hampered by a foolish boy's fancy. In a moment of weariness she may give +in, and then it's all over. Wiser women have done so and regretted it +all their lives. Nan shall earn her place first, and prove that she can +fill it; then she may marry if she likes, and can find a man worthy of +her.' + +But Mrs Jo's help was not needed; for love and gratitude can work +miracles, and when youth, beauty, accident, and photography are added, +success is sure; as was proved in the case of the unsuspecting but too +susceptible Thomas. + + + +Chapter 8. JOSIE PLAYS MERMAID + +While the young Bhaers were having serious experiences at home, Josie +was enjoying herself immensely at Rocky Nook; for the Laurences knew how +to make summer idleness both charming and wholesome. Bess was very fond +of her little cousin; Mrs Amy felt that whether her niece was an actress +or not she must be a gentlewoman, and gave her the social training +which marks the well-bred woman everywhere; while Uncle Laurie was never +happier than when rowing, riding, playing, or lounging with two gay +girls beside him. Josie bloomed like a wild flower in this free life, +Bess grew rosy, brisk, and merry, and both were great favourites with +the neighbours, whose villas were by the shore or perched on the cliffs +along the pretty bay. + +One crumpled rose-leaf disturbed Josie's peace, one baffled wish filled +her with a longing which became a mania, and kept her as restless and +watchful as a detective with a case to 'work up'. Miss Cameron, the +great actress, had hired one of the villas and retired thither to rest +and 'create' a new part for next season. She saw no one but a friend +or two, had a private beach, and was invisible except during her daily +drive, or when the opera-glasses of curious gazers were fixed on a +blue figure disporting itself in the sea. The Laurences knew her, but +respected her privacy, and after a call left her in peace till she +expressed a wish for society--a courtesy which she remembered and repaid +later, as we shall see. + +But Josie was like a thirsty fly buzzing about a sealed honey-pot, for +this nearness to her idol was both delightful and maddening. She pined +to see, hear, talk with, and study this great and happy woman who could +thrill thousands by her art, and win friends by her virtue, benevolence, +and beauty. This was the sort of actress the girl meant to be, and few +could object if the gift was really hers; for the stage needs just such +women to purify and elevate the profession which should teach as well as +amuse. If kindly Miss Cameron had known what passionate love and longing +burned in the bosom of the little girl whom she idly observed skipping +over the rocks, splashing about the beach, or galloping past her gate on +a Shetland pony, she would have made her happy by a look or a word. But +being tired with her winter's work and busy with her new part, the lady +took no more notice of this young neighbour than of the sea-gulls in the +bay or the daisies dancing in the fields. Nosegays left on her doorstep, +serenades under her garden-wall, and the fixed stare of admiring eyes +were such familiar things that she scarcely minded them; and Josie grew +desperate when all her little attempts failed. + +'I might climb that pine-tree and tumble off on her piazza roof, or get +Sheltie to throw me just at her gate and be taken in fainting. It's no +use to try to drown myself when she is bathing. I can't sink, and she'd +only send a man to pull me out. What can I do? I will see her and tell +her my hopes and make her say I can act some day. Mamma would believe +her; and if--oh, if she only would let me study with her, what perfect +joy that would be!' + +Josie made these remarks one afternoon as she and Bess prepared for a +swim, a fishing party having prevented their morning bathe. + +'You must bide your time, dear, and not be so impatient. Papa promised +to give you a chance before the season is over, and he always manages +things nicely. That will be better than any queer prank of yours,' +answered Bess, tying her pretty hair in a white net to match her suit, +while Josie made a little lobster of herself in scarlet. + +'I hate to wait; but I suppose I must. Hope she will bathe this +afternoon, though it is low tide. She told Uncle she should have to go +in then because in the morning people stared so and went on her beach. +Come and have a good dive from the big rock. No one round but nurses and +babies, so we can romp and splash as much as we like.' + +Away they went to have a fine time; for the little bay was free from +other bathers, and the babies greatly admired their aquatic gymnastics, +both being expert swimmers. + +As they sat dripping on the big rock Josie suddenly gave a clutch that +nearly sent Bess overboard, as she cried excitedly: + +'There she is! Look! coming to bathe. How splendid! Oh, if she only +would drown a little and let me save her! or even get her toe nipped by +a crab; anything so I could go and speak!' + +'Don't seem to look; she comes to be quiet and enjoy herself. Pretend +we don't see her, that's only civil,' answered Bess, affecting to be +absorbed in a white-winged yacht going by. + +'Let's carelessly float that way as if going for seaweed on the rocks. +She can't mind if we are flat on our backs, with only our noses out. +Then when we can't help seeing her, we'll swim back as if anxious to +retire. That will impress her, and she may call to thank the very polite +young ladies who respect her wishes,' proposed Josie, whose lively fancy +was always planning dramatic situations. + +Just as they were going to slip from their rock, as if Fate relented at +last, Miss Cameron was seen to beckon wildly as she stood waist-deep in +the water, looking down. She called to her maid, who seemed searching +along the beach for something, and not finding what she sought, waved a +towel towards the girls as if summoning them to help her. + +'Run, fly! she wants us, she wants us!' cried Josie, tumbling into the +water like a very energetic turtle, and swimming away in her best style +towards this long desired haven of joy. Bess followed more slowly, and +both came panting and smiling up to Miss Cameron, who never lifted her +eyes, but said in that wonderful voice of hers: + +'I've dropped a bracelet. I see it, but can't get it. Will the little +boy find me a long stick? I'll keep my eye on it, so the water shall not +wash it away.' + +'I'll dive for it with pleasure; but I'm not a boy,' answered Josie, +laughing as she shook the curly head which at a distance had deceived +the lady. + +'I beg your pardon. Dive away, child; the sand is covering it fast. I +value it very much. Never forgot to take it off before.' + +'I'll get it!' and down went Josie, to come up with a handful of +pebbles, but no bracelet. + +'It's gone; never mind--my fault,' said Miss Cameron, disappointed, but +amused at the girl's dismay as she shook the water out of her eyes and +gasped bravely: + +'No, it isn't. I'll have it, if I stay down all night!' and with one +long breath Josie dived again, leaving nothing but a pair of agitated +feet to be seen. + +'I'm afraid she will hurt herself,' said Miss Cameron, looking at Bess, +whom she recognized by her likeness to her mother. + +'Oh, no; Josie is a little fish. She likes it'; and Bess smiled happily +at this wonderful granting of her cousin's desire. + +'You are Mr Laurence's daughter, I think? How d'ye do, dear? Tell papa +I'm coming to see him soon. Too tired before. Quite savage. Better now. +Ah! here's our pearl of divers. What luck?' she asked, as the heels went +down and a dripping head came up. + +Josie could only choke and splutter at first, being half strangled; +but though her hands had failed again, her courage had not; and with a +resolute shake of her wet hair, a bright look at the tall lady, and a +series of puffs to fill her lungs, she said calmly: + +'“Never give up” is my motto. I'm going to get it, if I go to Liverpool +for it! Now, then!' and down went the mermaid quite out of sight this +time, groping like a real lobster at the bottom of the sea. + +'Plucky little girl! I like that. Who is she?' asked the lady, sitting +down on a half-covered stone to watch her diver, since the bracelet was +lost sight of. + +Bess told her, adding, with the persuasive smile of her father: 'Josie +longs to be an actress, and has waited for a month to see you. This is a +great happiness for her.' + +'Bless the child! why didn't she come and call? I'd have let her in; +though usually I avoid stage-struck girls as I do reporters,' laughed +Miss Cameron. + +There was no time for more; a brown hand, grasping the bracelet, rose +out of the sea, followed by a purple face as Josie came up so blind and +dizzy she could only cling to Bess, half drowned but triumphant. + +Miss Cameron drew her to the rock where she sat, and pushing the hair +out of her eyes, revived her with a hearty 'Bravo! bravo!' which assured +the girl that her first act was a hit. Josie had often imagined her +meeting with the great actress--the dignity and grace with which she +would enter and tell her ambitious hopes, the effective dress she would +wear, the witty things she would say, the deep impression her budding +genius would make. But never in her wildest moments had she imagined +an interview like this; scarlet, sandy, streaming, and speechless she +leaned against the illustrious shoulder, looking like a beautiful seal +as she blinked and wheezed till she could smile joyfully and exclaim +proudly: + +'I did get it! I'm so glad!' + +'Now get your breath, my dear; then I shall be glad also. It was very +nice of you to take all that trouble for me. How shall I thank you?' +asked the lady, looking at her with the beautiful eyes that could say so +many things without words. + +Josie clasped her hands with a wet spat which rather destroyed the +effect of the gesture, and answered in a beseeching tone that would have +softened a far harder heart than Miss Cameron's: + +'Let me come and see you once--only once! I want you to tell me if I +can act; you will know. I'll abide by what you say; and if you think +I can--by and by, when I've studied very hard--I shall be the happiest +girl in the world. May I?' + +'Yes; come tomorrow at eleven. We'll have a good talk; you shall show me +what you can do, and I'll give you my opinion. But you won't like it.' + +'I will, no matter if you tell me I'm a fool. I want it settled; so +does mamma. I'll take it bravely if you say no; and if you say yes, I'll +never give up till I've done my best--as you did.' + +'Ah, my child, it's a weary road, and there are plenty of thorns among +the roses when you've won them. I think you have the courage, and this +proves that you have perseverance. Perhaps you'll do. Come, and we'll +see.' + +Miss Cameron touched the bracelet as she spoke, and smiled so kindly +that impetuous Josie wanted to kiss her; but wisely refrained, though +her eyes were wet with softer water than any in the sea as she thanked +her. + +'We are keeping Miss Cameron from her bath, and the tide is going out. +Come, Josie,' said thoughtful Bess, fearing to outstay their welcome. + +'Run over the beach and get warm. Thank you very much, little mermaid. +Tell papa to bring his daughter to see me any time. Good-bye'; and with +a wave of her hand the tragedy queen dismissed her court, but remained +on her weedy throne watching the two lithe figures race over the sand +with twinkling feet till they were out of sight. Then, as she calmly +bobbed up and down in the water, she said to herself: 'The child has a +good stage face, vivid, mobile; fine eyes, abandon, pluck, will. Perhaps +she'll do. Good stock--talent in the family. We shall see.' + +Of course Josie never slept a wink, and was in a fever of joyful +excitement next day. Uncle Laurie enjoyed the episode very much, +and Aunt Amy looked out her most becoming white dress for the grand +occasion; Bess lent her most artistic hat, and Josie ranged the wood +and marsh for a bouquet of wild roses, sweet white azalea, ferns, and +graceful grasses, as the offering of a very grateful heart. + +At ten she solemnly arrayed herself, and then sat looking at her neat +gloves and buckled shoes till it was time to go, growing pale and sober +with the thought that her fate was soon to be decided; for, like all +young people she was sure that her whole life could be settled by one +human creature, quite forgetting how wonderfully Providence trains us +by disappointment, surprises us with unexpected success, and turns our +seeming trials into blessings. + +'I will go alone: we shall be freer so. Oh, Bess, pray that she may tell +me rightly! So much depends on that! Don't laugh, uncle! It is a very +serious moment for me. Miss Cameron knows that, and will tell you so. +Kiss me, Aunt Amy, since mamma isn't here. If you say I look nice, I'm +quite satisfied. Good-bye.' And with a wave of the hand as much like her +model's as she could make it, Josie departed, looking very pretty and +feeling very tragical. + +Sure now of admittance, she boldly rang at the door which excluded so +many, and being ushered into a shady parlour, feasted her eyes upon +several fine portraits of great actors while she waited. She had read +about most of them, and knew their trials and triumphs so well that she +soon forgot herself, and tried to imitate Mrs Siddons as Lady Macbeth, +looking up at the engraving as she held her nosegay like the candle in +the sleep-walking scene, and knit her youthful brows distressfully while +murmuring the speech of the haunted queen. So busy was she that Miss +Cameron watched her for several minutes unseen, then startled her by +suddenly sweeping in with the words upon her lips, the look upon her +face, which made that one of her greatest scenes. + +'I never can do it like that; but I'll keep trying, if you say I may,' +cried Josie, forgetting her manners in the intense interest of the +moment. + +'Show me what you can do,' answered the actress, wisely plunging into +the middle of things at once, well knowing that no common chat would +satisfy this very earnest little person. + +'First let me give you these. I thought you'd like wild things better +than hot-house flowers; and I loved to bring them, as I'd no other way +to thank you for your great kindness to me,' said Josie, offering her +nosegay with a simple warmth that was very sweet. + +'I do love them best, and keep my room full of the posies some good +fairy hangs on my gate. Upon my word, I think I've found the fairy +out--these are so like,' she added quickly, as her eye went from the +flowers in her hand to others that stood near by, arranged with the same +taste. + +Josie's blush and smile betrayed her before she said, with a look full +of girlish adoration and humility: 'I couldn't help it; I admire you so +much. I know it was a liberty; but as I couldn't get in myself, I loved +to think my posies pleased you.' + +Something about the child and her little offering touched the woman, +and, drawing Josie to her, she said, with no trace of actress in face or +voice: + +'They did please me, dear, and so do you. I'm tired of praise; and love +is very sweet, when it is simple and sincere like this.' + +Josie remembered to have heard, among many other stories, that Miss +Cameron lost her lover years ago, and since had lived only for art. +Now she felt that this might have been true; and pity for the splendid, +lonely life made her face very eloquent, as well as grateful. Then, as +if anxious to forget the past, her new friend said, in the commanding +way that seemed natural to her: + +'Let me see what you can do. Juliet, of course. All begin with that. +Poor soul, how she is murdered!' + +Now, Josie had intended to begin with Romeo's much-enduring sweetheart, +and follow her up with Bianca, Pauline, and several of the favourite +idols of stage-struck girls; but being a shrewd little person, she +suddenly saw the wisdom of Uncle Laurie's advice, and resolved to +follow it. So instead of the rant Miss Cameron expected, Josie gave poor +Ophelia's mad scene, and gave it very well, having been trained by +the college professor of elocution and done it many times. She was too +young, of course, but the white gown, the loose hair, the real flowers +she scattered over the imaginary grave, added to the illusion; and she +sung the songs sweetly, dropped her pathetic curtsies, and vanished +behind the curtain that divided the rooms with a backward look that +surprised her critical auditor into a quick gesture of applause. Cheered +by that welcome sound, Josie ran back as a little hoyden in one of the +farces she had often acted, telling a story full of fun and naughtiness +at first, but ending with a sob of repentance and an earnest prayer for +pardon. + +'Very good! Try again. Better than I expected,' called the voice of the +oracle. + +Josie tried Portia's speech, and recited very well, giving due emphasis +to each fine sentence. Then, unable to refrain from what she considered +her greatest effort, she burst into Juliet's balcony scene, ending with +the poison and the tomb. She felt sure that she surpassed herself, and +waited for applause. A ringing laugh made her tingle with indignation +and disappointment, as she went to stand before Miss Cameron, saying in +a tone of polite surprise: + +'I have been told that I did it very well. I'm sorry you don't think +so.' + +'My dear, it's very bad. How can it help being so? What can a child like +you know of love and fear and death? Don't try it yet. Leave tragedy +alone till you are ready for it.' + +'But you clapped Ophelia.' + +'Yes, that was very pretty. Any clever girl can do it effectively. But +the real meaning of Shakespeare is far above you yet, child. The comedy +bit was best. There you showed real talent. It was both comic and +pathetic. That's art. Don't lose it. The Portia was good declamation. +Go on with that sort of thing; it trains the voice--teaches shades of +expression. You've a good voice and natural grace--great helps both, +hard to acquire.' + +'Well, I'm glad I've got something,' sighed Josie, sitting meekly on a +stool, much crestfallen, but not daunted yet, and bound to have her say +out. + +'My dear little girl, I told you that you would not like what I should +say to you; yet I must be honest if I would really help you. I've had to +do it for many like you; and most of them have never forgiven me, though +my words have proved true, and they are what I advised them to be--good +wives and happy mothers in quiet homes. A few have kept on, and done +fairly well. One you will hear of soon, I think; for she has talent, +indomitable patience, and mind as well as beauty. You are too young +to show to which class you belong. Geniuses are very rare, and even at +fifteen seldom give much promise of future power.' + +'Oh, I don't think I'm a genius!' cried Josie, growing calm and sober as +she listened to the melodious voice and looked into the expressive face +that filled her with confidence, so strong, sincere, and kindly was it. +'I only want to find out if I have talent enough to go on, and after +years of study to be able to act well in any of the good plays people +never tire of seeing. I don't expect to be a Mrs Siddons or a Miss +Cameron, much as I long to be; but it does seem as if I had something +in me which can't come out in any way but this. When I act I'm perfectly +happy. I seem to live, to be in my own world, and each new part is a new +friend. I love Shakespeare, and am never tired of his splendid people. +Of course, I don't understand it all; but it's like being alone at night +with the mountains and the stars, solemn and grand, and I try to imagine +how it will look when the sun comes up, and all is glorious and clear to +me. I can't see, but I feel the beauty, and long to express it.' + +As she spoke with the most perfect self-forgetfulness Josie was pale +with excitement, her eyes shone, her lips trembled, and all her little +soul seemed trying to put into words the emotions that filled it to +overflowing. Miss Cameron understood, felt that this was something +more than a girlish whim; and when she answered there was a new tone +of sympathy in her voice, a new interest in her face, though she wisely +refrained from saying all she thought, well knowing what splendid dreams +young people build upon a word, and how bitter is the pain when the +bright bubbles burst. + +'If you feel this, I can give you no better advice than to go on loving +and studying our great master,' she said slowly; but Josie caught the +changed tone, and felt, with a thrill of joy, that her new friend was +speaking to her now as to a comrade. 'It is an education in itself, and +a lifetime is not long enough to teach you all his secret. But there is +much to do before you can hope to echo his words. Have you the patience, +courage, strength, to begin at the beginning, and slowly, painfully, lay +the foundation for future work? Fame is a pearl many dive for and only +a few bring up. Even when they do, it is not perfect, and they sigh for +more, and lose better things in struggling for them.' + +The last words seemed spoken more to herself than to her hearer, but +Josie answered quickly, with a smile and an expressive gesture: + +'I got the bracelet in spite of all the bitter water in my eyes.' + +'You did! I don't forget it. A good omen. We will accept it.' + +Miss Cameron answered the smile with one that was like sunshine to the +girl, and stretched her white hands as if taking some invisible gift. +Then added in a different tone, watching the effect of her words on the +expressive face before her: + +'Now you will be disappointed, for instead of telling you to come and +study with me, or go and act in some second-rate theatre at once, I +advise you to go back to school and finish your education. That is the +first step, for all accomplishments are needed, and a single talent +makes a very imperfect character. Cultivate mind and body, heart and +soul, and make yourself an intelligent, graceful, beautiful, and healthy +girl. Then, at eighteen or twenty, go into training and try your powers. +Better start for the battle with your arms in order, and save the hard +lesson which comes when we rush on too soon. Now and then genius carries +all before it, but not often. We have to climb slowly, with many slips +and falls. Can you wait as well as work?' + +'I will!' + +'We shall see. It would be pleasant to me to know that when I quit the +stage I leave behind me a well-trained, faithful, gifted comrade to +more than fill my place, and carry on what I have much at heart--the +purification of the stage. Perhaps you are she; but remember, mere +beauty and rich costumes do not make an actress, nor are the efforts of +a clever little girl to play great characters real art. It is all dazzle +and sham, and a disgrace and disappointment now. Why will the public be +satisfied with opera bouffe, or the trash called society plays when +a world of truth and beauty, poetry and pathos lies waiting to be +interpreted and enjoyed?' + +Miss Cameron had forgotten to whom she spoke, and walked to and fro, +full of the noble regret all cultivated people feel at the low state of +the stage nowadays. + +'That's what Uncle Laurie says; and he and Aunt Jo try to plan plays +about true and lovely things--simple domestic scenes that touch people's +hearts, and make them laugh and cry and feel better. Uncle says that +sort is my style, and I must not think of tragedy. But it's so much +nicer to sweep about in crowns and velvet trains than to wear everyday +clothes, and just be myself, though it is so easy.' + +'Yet that is high art, child, and what we need for a time till we are +ready for the masters. Cultivate that talent of yours. It is a special +gift, this power to bring tears and smiles, and a sweeter task to touch +the heart than to freeze the blood or fire the imagination. Tell your +uncle he is right, and ask your aunt to try a play for you. I'll come +and see it when you are ready.' + +'Will you? Oh! will you? We are going to have some at Christmas, with a +nice part for me. A simple little thing, but I can do it, and should be +so proud, so happy to have you there.' + +Josie rose as she spoke, for a glance at the clock showed her that her +call was a long one; and hard as it was to end this momentous interview, +she felt that she must go. Catching up her hat she went to Miss Cameron, +who stood looking at her so keenly that she felt as transparent as a +pane of glass, and coloured prettily as she looked up, saying, with a +grateful little tremor in her voice: + +'I can never thank you for this hour and all you have told me. I shall +do just what you advise, and mamma will be very glad to see me settled +at my books again. I can study now with all my heart, because it is to +help me on; and I won't hope too much, but work and wait, and try to +please you, as the only way to pay my debt.' + +'That reminds me that I have not paid mine. Little friend, wear this +for my sake. It is fit for a mermaid, and will remind you of your first +dive. May the next bring up a better jewel, and leave no bitter water on +your lips!' + +As she spoke, Miss Cameron took from the lace at her throat a pretty +pin of aquamarine, and fastened it like an order on Josie's proud bosom; +then lifting the happy little face, she kissed it very tenderly, and +watched it go smiling away with eyes that seemed to see into a future +full of the trials and the triumphs which she knew so well. + +Bess expected to see Josie come flying in, all raptures and excitement, +or drowned in tears of disappointment, but was surprised at the +expression of calm content and resolution which she wore. Pride and +satisfaction, and a new feeling of responsibility both sobered and +sustained her, and she felt that any amount of dry study and long +waiting would be bearable, if in the glorious future she could be +an honour to her profession and a comrade to the new friend whom she +already adored with girlish ardour. + +She told her little story to a deeply interested audience, and all +felt that Miss Cameron's advice was good. Mrs Amy was relieved at the +prospect of delay; for she did not want her niece to be an actress and +hoped the fancy would die out. + +Uncle Laurie was full of charming plans and prophecies and wrote one +of his most delightful notes to thank their neighbour for her kindness; +while Bess, who loved art of all kinds, fully sympathized with her +cousin's ambitious hopes, only wondering why she preferred to act out +her visions rather than embody them in marble. + +That first interview was not the last; for Miss Cameron was really +interested, and had several memorable conversations with the Laurences, +while the girls sat by, drinking in every word with the delight all +artists feel in their own beautiful world, and learning to see how +sacred good gifts are, how powerful, and how faithfully they should be +used for high ends, each in its own place helping to educate, refine, +and refresh. + +Josie wrote reams to her mother; and when the visit ended rejoiced her +heart by bringing her a somewhat changed little daughter, who fell to +work at the once-detested books with a patient energy which surprised +and pleased everyone. The right string had been touched, and even French +exercises and piano practice became endurable, since accomplishments +would be useful by and by; dress, manners, and habits were all +interesting now, because 'mind and body, heart and soul, must be +cultivated', and while training to become an 'intelligent, graceful, +healthy girl', little Josie was unconsciously fitting herself to play +her part well on whatever stage the great Manager might prepare for her. + + + +Chapter 9. THE WORM TURNS + +Two very superior bicycles went twinkling up the road to Plumfield +one September afternoon, bearing two brown and dusty riders evidently +returning from a successful run, for though their legs might be a trifle +weary, their faces beamed as they surveyed the world from their lofty +perches with the air of calm content all wheelmen wear after they have +learned to ride; before that happy period anguish of mind and body is +the chief expression of the manly countenance. + +'Go ahead and report, Tom; I'm due here. See you later,' said Demi, +swinging himself down at the door of the Dovecote. + +'Don't peach, there's a good fellow. Let me have it out with Mother +Bhaer first,' returned Tom, wheeling in at the gate with a heavy sigh. + +Demi laughed, and his comrade went slowly up the avenue, devoutly hoping +that the coast was clear; for he was the bearer of tidings which would, +he thought, convulse the entire family with astonishment and dismay. + +To his great joy Mrs Jo was discovered alone in a grove of proof-sheets, +which she dropped, to greet the returning wanderer cordially. But after +the first glance she saw that something was the matter, recent events +having made her unusually sharp-eyed and suspicious. + +'What is it now, Tom?' she asked, as he subsided into an easy-chair with +a curious expression of mingled fear, shame, amusement, and distress in +his brick-red countenance. + +'I'm in an awful scrape, ma'am.' + +'Of course; I'm always prepared for scrapes when you appear. What is +it? Run over some old lady who is going to law about it?' asked Mrs Jo +cheerfully. + +'Worse than that,' groaned Tom. + +'Not poisoned some trusting soul who asked you to prescribe, I hope?' + +'Worse than that.' + +'You haven't let Demi catch any horrid thing and left him behind, have +you?' + +'Worse even than that.' + +'I give it up. Tell me quick; I hate to wait for bad news.' + +Having got his listener sufficiently excited, Tom launched his +thunderbolt in one brief sentence, and fell back to watch the effect. + +'I'm engaged!' + +Mrs Jo's proof-sheets flew wildly about as she clasped her hands, +exclaiming in dismay: + +'If Nan has yielded, I'll never forgive her!' + +'She hasn't; it's another girl.' + +Tom's face was so funny as he said the words, that it was impossible +to help laughing; for he looked both sheepish and pleased, besides very +much perplexed and worried. + +'I'm glad, very glad indeed! Don't care who it is; and I hope you'll +be married soon. Now tell me all about it,' commanded Mrs Jo, so much +relieved that she felt ready for anything. + +'What will Nan say?' demanded Tom, rather taken aback at this view of +his predicament. + +'She will be rejoiced to get rid of the mosquito who has plagued her so +long. Don't worry about Nan. Who is this “other girl”?' + +'Demi hasn't written about her?' + +'Only something about your upsetting a Miss West down at Quitno; I +thought that was scrape enough.' + +'That was only the beginning of a series of scrapes. Just my luck! Of +course after sousing the poor girl I had to be attentive to her, hadn't +I? Everyone seemed to think so, and I couldn't get away, and so I was +lost before I knew it. It's all Demi's fault, he would stay there and +fuss with his old photos, because the views were good and all the girls +wanted to be taken. Look at these, will you, ma'am? That's the way we +spent our time when we weren't playing tennis'; and Tom pulled a +handful of pictures from his pocket, displaying several in which he was +conspicuous, either holding a sun-umbrella over a very pretty young lady +on the rocks, reposing at her feet in the grass, or perched on a piazza +railing with other couples in seaside costumes and effective attitudes. + +'This is she of course?' asked Mrs Jo, pointing to the much-ruffled +damsel with the jaunty hat, coquettish shoes, and racquet in her hand. + +'That's Dora. Isn't she lovely?' cried Tom, forgetting his tribulations +for a moment and speaking with lover-like ardour. + +'Very nice little person to look at. Hope she is not a Dickens Dora? +That curly crop looks like it.' + +'Not a bit; she's very smart; can keep house, and sew, and do lots +of things, I assure you, ma'am. All the girls like her, and she's +sweet-tempered and jolly, and sings like a bird, and dances beautifully, +and loves books. Thinks yours are splendid, and made me talk about you +no end.' + +'That last sentence is to flatter me and win my help to get you out of +the scrape. Tell me first how you got in'; and Mrs Jo settled herself to +listen with interest, never tired of boys' affairs. + +Tom gave his head a rousing rub all over to clear his wits, and plunged +into his story with a will. + +'Well, we've met her before, but I didn't know she was there. Demi +wanted to see a fellow, so we went, and finding it nice and cool rested +over Sunday. Found some pleasant people and went out rowing; I had Dora, +and came to grief on a confounded rock. She could swim, no harm done, +only the scare and the spoilt gown. She took it well, and we got +friendly at once--couldn't help it, scrambling into that beast of a boat +while the rest laughed at us. Of course we had to stay another day to +see that Dora was all right. Demi wanted to. Alice Heath is down there +and two other girls from our college, so we sort of lingered along, +and Demi kept taking pictures, and we danced, and got into a tennis +tournament; and that was as good exercise as wheeling, we thought. Fact +is, tennis is a dangerous game, ma'am. A great deal of courting goes +on in those courts, and we fellows find that sort of “serving” mighty +agreeable, don't you know?' + +'Not much tennis in my day, but I understand perfectly,' said Mrs Jo, +enjoying it all as much as Tom did. + +'Upon my word, I hadn't the least idea of being serious,' he continued +slowly, as if this part of his tale was hard to tell; 'but everyone else +spooned, so I did. Dora seemed to like it and expect it, and of course +I was glad to be agreeable. She thought I amounted to something, though +Nan does not, and it was pleasant to be appreciated after years of +snubbing. Yes, it was right down jolly to have a sweet girl smile at you +all day, and blush prettily when you said a neat thing to her, and look +glad when you came, sorry when you left, and admire all you did, and +make you feel like a man and act your best. That's the sort of treatment +a fellow enjoys and ought to get if he behaves himself; not frowns and +cold shoulders year in and year out, and made to look like a fool when +he means well, and is faithful, and has loved a girl ever since he was a +boy. No, by Jove, it's not fair, and I won't stand it!' + +Tom waxed warm and eloquent as he thought over his wrongs, and bounced +up to march about the room, wagging his head and trying to feel +aggrieved as usual, but surprised to find that his heart did not ache a +bit. + +'I wouldn't. Drop the old fancy, for it was nothing more, and take up +the new one, if it is genuine. But how came you to propose, Tom, as you +must have done to be engaged?' asked Mrs Jo, impatient for the crisis of +the tale. + +'Oh, that was an accident. I didn't mean it at all; the donkey did it, +and I couldn't get out of the scrape without hurting Dora's feelings, +you see,' began Tom, seeing that the fatal moment had come. + +'So there were two donkeys in it, were there?' said Mrs Jo, foreseeing +fun of some sort. + +'Don't laugh! It sounds funny, I know; but it might have been awful,' +answered Tom darkly, though a twinkle of the eye showed that his love +trials did not quite blind him to the comic side of the adventure. + +'The girls admired our new wheels, and of course we liked to show off. +Took 'em to ride, and had larks generally. Well, one day, Dora was +on behind, and we were going nicely along a good bit of road, when a +ridiculous old donkey got right across the way. I thought he'd move, but +he didn't, so I gave him a kick; he kicked back, and over we went in a +heap, donkey and all. Such a mess! I thought only of Dora, and she had +hysterics; at least, she laughed till she cried, and that beast brayed, +and I lost my head. Any fellow would, with a poor girl gasping in the +road, and he wiping her tears and begging pardon, not knowing whether +her bones were broken or not. I called her my darling, and went on like +a fool in my flurry, till she grew calmer, and said, with such a look: +“I forgive you, Tom. Pick me up, and let us go on again.” + +'Wasn't that sweet now, after I'd upset her for the second time? It +touched me to the heart; and I said I'd like to go on for ever with such +an angel to steer for, and--well I don't know what I did say; but you +might have knocked me down with a feather when she put her arm round my +neck and whispered: “Tom, dear, with you I'm not afraid of any lions in +the path.” She might have said donkeys; but she was in earnest, and she +spared my feelings. Very nice of the dear girl; but there I am with two +sweethearts on my hands, and in a deuce of a scrape.' + +Finding it impossible to contain herself another moment, Mrs Jo laughed +till the tears ran down her cheeks at this characteristic episode; and +after one reproachful look, which only added to her merriment, Tom burst +into a jolly roar that made the room ring. + +'Tommy Bangs! Tommy Bangs! who but you could ever get into such a +catastrophe?' said Mrs Jo, when she recovered her breath. + +'Isn't it a muddle all round, and won't everyone chaff me to death about +it? I shall have to quit old Plum for a while,' answered Tom, as he +mopped his face, trying to realize the full danger of his position. + +'No, indeed; I'll stand by you, for I think it the best joke of the +season. But tell me how things ended. Is it really serious, or only a +summer flirtation? I don't approve of them, but boys and girls will play +with edged tools and cut their fingers.' + +'Well, Dora considers herself engaged, and wrote to her people at once. +I couldn't say a word when she took it all in solemn earnest and seemed +so happy. She's only seventeen, never liked anyone before, and is sure +all will be all right; as her father knows mine, and we are both well +off. I was so staggered that I said: + +'“Why, you can't love me really when we know so little of one another?” + But she answered right out of her tender little heart: “Yes, I do, +dearly, Tom; you are so gay and kind and honest, I couldn't help it.” + Now, after that what could I do but go ahead and make her happy while I +stayed, and trust to luck to straighten the snarl out afterwards?' + +'A truly Tomian way of taking things easy. I hope you told your father +at once.' + +'Oh yes, I wrote off and broke it to him in three lines. I said: “Dear +Father, I'm engaged to Dora West, and I hope she will suit the family. +She suits me tip-top. Yours ever, Tom.” He was all right, never liked +Nan, you know; but Dora will suit him down to the ground.' And Tom +looked entirely satisfied with his own tact and taste. + +'What did Demi say to this rapid and funny lovemaking? Wasn't he +scandalized?' asked Mrs Jo, trying not to laugh again as she thought of +the unromantic spectacle of donkey, bicycle, boy, and girl all in the +dust together. + +'Not a bit. He was immensely interested and very kind; talked to me like +a father; said it was a good thing to steady a fellow, only I must be +honest with her and myself and not trifle a moment. Demi is a regular +Solomon, especially when he is in the same boat,' answered Tom, looking +wise. + +'You don't mean--?' gasped Mrs Jo, in sudden alarm at the bare idea of +more love-affairs just yet. + +'Yes, I do, please, ma'am; it's a regular sell all the way through, and +I owe Demi one for taking me into temptation blindfold. He said he went +to Quitno to see Fred Wallace, but he never saw the fellow. How could +he, when Wallace was off in his yacht all the time we were there? Alice +was the real attraction, and I was left to my fate, while they were +maundering round with that old camera. There were three donkeys in +this affair, and I'm not the worst one, though I shall have to bear the +laugh. Demi will look innocent and sober, and no one will say a word to +him.' + +'The midsummer madness has broken out, and no one knows who will be +stricken next. Well, leave Demi to his mother, and let us see what you +are going to do, Tom.' + +'I don't know exactly; it's awkward to be in love with two girls at +once. What do you advise?' + +'A common-sense view of the case, by all means. Dora loves you and +thinks you love her. Nan does not care for you, and you only care for +her as a friend, though you have tried to do more. It is my opinion, +Tom, that you love Dora, or are on the way to it; for in all these +years I've never seen you look or speak about Nan as you do about Dora. +Opposition has made you obstinately cling to her till accident has shown +you a more attractive girl. Now, I think you had better take the old +love for a friend, the new one for a sweetheart, and in due time, if the +sentiment is genuine, marry her.' + +If Mrs Jo had any doubts about the matter, Tom's face would have proved +the truth of her opinion; for his eyes shone, his lips smiled, and in +spite of dust and sunburn a new expression of happiness quite glorified +him as he stood silent for a moment, trying to understand the beautiful +miracle which real love works when it comes to a young man's heart. + +'The fact is I meant to make Nan jealous, for she knows Dora, and I was +sure would hear of our doings. I was tired of being walked on, and I +thought I'd try to break away and not be a bore and a laughing-stock any +more,' he said slowly, as if it relieved him to pour out his doubts and +woes and hopes and joys to his old friend. 'I was regularly astonished +to find it so easy and so pleasant. I didn't mean to do any harm, +but drifted along beautifully, and told Demi to mention things in his +letters to Daisy, so Nan might know. Then I forgot Nan altogether, and +saw, heard, felt, cared for no one but Dora, till the donkey--bless his +old heart!--pitched her into my arms and I found she loved me. Upon my +soul, I don't see why she should! I'm not half good enough.' + +'Every honest man feels that when an innocent girl puts her hand in his. +Make yourself worthy of her, for she isn't an angel, but a woman with +faults of her own for you to bear, and forgive, and you must help one +another,' said Mrs Jo, trying to realize that this sober youth was her +scapegrace Tommy. + +'What troubles me is that I didn't mean it when I began, and was going +to use the dear girl as an instrument of torture for Nan. It wasn't +right, and I don't deserve to be so happy. If all my scrapes ended as +well as this, what a state of bliss I should be in!' and Tom beamed +again at the rapturous prospect. + +'My dear boy, it is not a scrape, but a very sweet experience suddenly +dawning upon you,' answered Mrs Jo, speaking very soberly; for she saw +he was in earnest. 'Enjoy it wisely and be worthy of it, for it is a +serious thing to accept a girl's love and trust, and let her look up to +you for tenderness and truth in return. Don't let little Dora look in +vain, but be a man in all things for her sake, and make this affection a +blessing to you both.' + +'I'll try. Yes, I do love her, only I can't believe it just yet. Wish +you knew her. Dear little soul, I long to see her already! She cried +when we parted last night and I hated to go.' Tom's hand went to his +cheek as if he still felt the rosy little seal Dora had set upon his +promise not to forget her, and for the first time in his happy-go-lucky +life Tommy Bangs understood the difference between sentiment and +sentimentality. The feeling recalled Nan, for he had never known that +tender thrill when thinking of her, and the old friendship seemed rather +a prosaic affair beside this delightful mingling of romance, surprise, +love, and fun. 'I declare, I feel as if a weight was off me, but +what the dickens will Nan say when she knows it!' he exclaimed with a +chuckle. + +'Knows what?' asked a clear voice that made both start and turn, for +there was Nan calmly surveying them from the doorway. + +Anxious to put Tom out of suspense and see how Nan would take the news, +Mrs Jo answered quickly: + +'Tom's engagement to Dora West.' + +'Really?' and Nan looked so surprised that Mrs Jo was afraid she might +be fonder of her old playmate than she knew; but her next words set the +fear at rest, and made everything comfortable and merry at once. + +'I knew my prescription would work wonders if he only took it long +enough. Dear old Tom, I'm so glad. Bless you! bless you!' And she shook +both his hands with hearty affection. + +'It was an accident, Nan. I didn't mean to, but I'm always getting into +messes, and I couldn't seem to get out of this any other way. Mother +Bhaer will tell you all about it. I must go and make myself tidy. Going +to tea with Demi. See you later.' + +Stammering, blushing, and looking both sheepish and gratified, Tom +suddenly bolted, leaving the elder lady to enlighten the younger at +length, and have another laugh over this new sort of courtship, which +might well be called accidental. Nan was deeply interested, for she knew +Dora, thought her a nice little thing, and predicted that in time she +would make Tom an excellent wife, since she admired and 'appreciated' +him so much. + +'I shall miss him of course, but it will be a relief to me and better +for him; dangling is so bad for a boy. Now he will go into business +with his father and do well, and everyone be happy. I shall give Dora an +elegant family medicine-chest for a wedding-present, and teach her how +to use it. Tom can't be trusted, and is no more fit for the profession +than Silas.' + +The latter part of this speech relieved Mrs Jo's mind, for Nan had +looked about her as if she had lost something valuable when she began; +but the medicine-chest seemed to cheer her, and the thought of Tom in a +safe profession was evidently a great comfort. + +'The worm has turned at last, Nan, and your bond-man is free. Let him +go, and give your whole mind to your work; for you are fitted for +the profession, and will be an honour to it by and by,' she said +approvingly. + +'I hope so. That reminds me--measles are in the village, and you had +better tell the girls not to call where there are children. It would +be bad to have a run of them just as term begins. Now I'm off to Daisy. +Wonder what she will say to Tom. Isn't he great fun?' And Nan departed, +laughing over the joke with such genuine satisfaction that it was +evident no sentimental regrets disturbed her 'maiden meditation, +fancy-free'. + +'I shall have my eye on Demi, but won't say a word. Meg likes to manage +her children in her own way, and a very good way it is. But the dear +Pelican will be somewhat ruffled if her boy has caught the epidemic +which seems to have broken out among us this summer.' + +Mrs Jo did not mean the measles, but that more serious malady called +love, which is apt to ravage communities, spring and autumn, when winter +gaiety and summer idleness produce whole bouquets of engagements, and +set young people to pairing off like the birds. Franz began it, Nat was +a chronic and Tom a sudden case; Demi seemed to have the symptoms; and +worst of all, her own Ted had only the day before calmly said to her: +'Mum, I think I should be happier if I had a sweetheart, like the other +boys.' If her cherished son had asked her for dynamite to play with, she +would hardly have been more startled, or have more decidedly refused the +absurd request. + +'Well, Barry Morgan said I ought to have one and offered to pick me out +a nice one among our set. I asked Josie first, and she hooted at the +idea, so I thought I'd let Barry look round. You say it steadies a +fellow, and I want to be steady,' explained Ted in a serious tone, which +would have convulsed his parent at any other time. + +'Good lack! What are we coming to in this fast age when babes and boys +make such demands and want to play with one of the most sacred things in +life?' exclaimed Mrs Jo, and having in a few words set the matter in its +true light, sent her son away to wholesome baseball and Octoo for a safe +sweetheart. + +Now, here was Tom's bomb-shell to explode in their midst, carrying +widespread destruction, perhaps; for though one swallow does not make a +summer, one engagement is apt to make several, and her boys were, most +of them, at the inflammable age when a spark ignites the flame, which +soon flickers and dies out, or burns warm and clear for life. Nothing +could be done about it but to help them make wise choices, and be worthy +of good mates. But of all the lessons Mrs Jo had tried to teach her +boys, this great one was the hardest; for love is apt to make lunatics +of even saints and sages, so young people cannot be expected to escape +the delusions, disappointments, and mistakes, as well as the delights, +of this sweet madness. + +'I suppose it is inevitable, since we live in America, so I won't borrow +trouble, but hope that some of the new ideas of education will produce a +few hearty, happy, capable, and intelligent girls for my lads. Lucky for +me that I haven't the whole twelve on my hands, I should lose my wits if +I had, for I foresee complications and troubles ahead worse than Tom's +boats, bicycles, donkeys, and Doras,' meditated Mrs Jo, as she went back +to her neglected proof-sheets. + +Tom was quite satisfied with the tremendous effect his engagement +produced in the little community at Plumfield. + +'It was paralysing,' as Demi said; and astonishment left most of Tom's +mates little breath for chaff. That he, the faithful one, should turn +from the idol to strange goddesses, was a shock to the romantic and a +warning to the susceptible. It was comical to see the airs our Thomas +put on; for the most ludicrous parts of the affair were kindly buried in +oblivion by the few who knew them, and Tom burst forth as a full-blown +hero who had rescued the maiden from a watery grave, and won her +gratitude and love by his daring deed. Dora kept the secret, and enjoyed +the fun when she came to see Mother Bhaer and pay her respects to the +family generally. Everyone liked her at once, for she was a gay and +winning little soul; fresh, frank, and so happy, it was beautiful to see +her innocent pride in Tom, who was a new boy, or man rather; for with +this change in his life a great change took place in him. Jolly he would +always be, and impulsive, but he tried to become all that Dora believed +him, and his best side came uppermost for everyday wear. It was +surprising to see how many good traits Tom had; and his efforts to +preserve the manly dignity belonging to his proud position as an engaged +man was very comical. So was the entire change from his former abasement +and devotion to Nan to a somewhat lordly air with his little betrothed; +for Dora made an idol of him, and resented the idea of a fault or a flaw +in her Tom. This new state of things suited both, and the once blighted +being bloomed finely in the warm atmosphere of appreciation, love, and +confidence. He was very fond of the dear girl, but meant to be a slave +no longer, and enjoyed his freedom immensely, quite unconscious that the +great tyrant of the world had got hold of him for life. + +To his father's satisfaction he gave up his medical studies, and +prepared to go into business with the old gentleman, who was a +flourishing merchant, ready now to make the way smooth and smile upon +his marriage with Mr West's well-endowed daughter. The only thorn in +Tom's bed of roses was Nan's placid interest in his affairs, and evident +relief at his disloyalty. He did not want her to suffer, but a decent +amount of regret at the loss of such a lover would have gratified him; +a slight melancholy, a word of reproach, a glance of envy as he passed +with adoring Dora on his arm, seemed but the fitting tribute to such +years of faithful service and sincere affection. But Nan regarded him +with a maternal sort of air that nettled him very much, and patted +Dora's curly head with a worldlywise air worthy of the withered +spinster, Julia Mills, in David Copperfield. + +It took some time to get the old and the new emotions comfortably +adjusted, but Mrs Jo helped him, and Mr Laurie gave him some wise advice +upon the astonishing gymnastic feats the human heart can perform, and +be all the better for it if it only held fast to the balancing-pole +of truth and common sense. At last our Tommy got his bearings, and as +autumn came on Plumfield saw but little of him; for his new lode star +was in the city, and business kept him hard at work. He was evidently +in his right place now, and soon throve finely, to his father's great +contentment; for his jovial presence pervaded the once quiet office like +a gale of fresh wind, and his lively wits found managing men and +affairs much more congenial employment than studying disease, or playing +unseemly pranks with skeletons. + +Here we will leave him for a time and turn to the more serious +adventures of his mates, though this engagement, so merrily made, was +the anchor which kept our mercurial Tom happy, and made a man of him. + + + +Chapter 10. DEMI SETTLES + +'Mother, can I have a little serious conversation with you?' asked Demi +one evening, as they sat together enjoying the first fire of the season, +while Daisy wrote letters upstairs and Josie was studying in the little +library close by. + +'Certainly, dear. No bad news, I hope?' and Mrs Meg looked up from her +sewing with a mixture of pleasure and anxiety on her motherly face; for +she dearly loved a good talk with her son, and knew that he always had +something worth telling. + +'It will be good news for you, I think,' answered Demi, smiling as he +threw away his paper and went to sit beside her on the little sofa which +just held two. + +'Let me hear it, then, at once.' + +'I know you don't like the reporting, and will be glad to hear that I +have given it up.' + +'I am very glad! It is too uncertain a business, and there is no +prospect of getting on for a long time. I want you settled in some good +place where you can stay, and in time make money. I wish you liked a +profession; but as you don't, any clean, well-established business will +do.' + +'What do you say to a railroad office?' + +'I don't like it. A noisy, hurried kind of place, I know, with all sorts +of rough men about. I hope it isn't that, dear?' + +'I could have it; but does book-keeping in a wholesale leather business +please you better?' + +'No; you'll get round-shouldered writing at a tall desk; and they say, +once a book-keeper always a book-keeper.' + +'How does a travelling agent suit your views?' + +'Not at all; with all those dreadful accidents, and the exposure and bad +food as you go from place to place, you are sure to get killed or lose +your health.' + +'I could be private secretary to a literary man; but the salary is +small, and may end any time.' + +'That would be better, and more what I want. It isn't that I object to +honest work of any kind; but I don't want my son to spend his best years +grubbing for a little money in a dark office, or be knocked about in a +rough-and-tumble scramble to get on. I want to see you in some business +where your tastes and talents can be developed and made useful; where +you can go on rising, and in time put in your little fortune and be a +partner; so that your years of apprenticeship will not be wasted, but +fit you to take your place among the honourable men who make their +lives and work useful and respected. I talked it all over with your dear +father when you were a child; and if he had lived he would have shown +you what I mean, and helped you to be what he was.' + +Mrs Meg wiped away a quiet tear as she spoke; for the memory of her +husband was a very tender one, and the education of his children had +been a sacred task to which she gave all her heart and life, and so +far she had done wonderfully well--as her good son and loving daughters +tried to prove. Demi's arm was round her now, as he said, in a voice so +like his father's that it was the sweetest music to her ear: + +'Mother dear, I think I have got just what you want for me; and it shall +not be my fault if I don't become the man you hope to see me. Let me +tell you all about it. I didn't say anything till it was sure because it +would only worry you; but Aunt Jo and I have been on the look-out for it +some time, and now it has come. You know her publisher, Mr Tiber, is one +of the most successful men in the business; also generous, kind, and +the soul of honour--as his treatment of Aunty proves. Well, I've rather +hankered for that place; for I love books, and as I can't make them I'd +like to publish them. That needs some literary taste and judgement, it +brings you in contact with fine people, and is an education in itself. +Whenever I go into that large, handsome room to see Mr Tiber for Aunt +Jo, I always want to stay; for it's lined with books and pictures, +famous men and women come and go, and Mr Tiber sits at his desk like +a sort of king, receiving his subjects; for the greatest authors are +humble to him, and wait his Yes or No with anxiety. Of course I've +nothing to do with all that, and may never have; but I like to see it, +and the atmosphere is so different from the dark offices and hurly-burly +of many other trades, where nothing but money is talked about, that it +seems another world, and I feel at home in it. Yes, I'd rather beat the +door-mats and make fires there than be head clerk in the great hide and +leather store at a big salary.' Here Demi paused for breath; and Mrs +Meg, whose face had been growing brighter and brighter, exclaimed +eagerly: + +'Just what I should like! Have you got it? Oh, my dear boy! your fortune +is made if you go to that well-established and flourishing place, with +those good men to help you along!' + +'I think I have, but we mustn't be too sure of anything yet. I may not +suit; I'm only on trial, and must begin at the beginning and work my way +up faithfully. Mr Tiber was very kind, and will push me on as fast as +is fair to the other fellows, and as I prove myself fit to go up. I'm to +begin the first of next month in the book-room, filling orders; and I +go round and get orders, and do various other things of the sort. I like +it. I am ready to do anything about books, if it's only to dust them,' +laughed Demi, well pleased with his prospects, for, after trying various +things, he seemed at last to have found the sort of work he liked, and a +prospect that was very inviting to him. + +'You inherit that love of books from grandpa; he can't live without +them. I'm glad of it. Tastes of that kind show a refined nature, and are +both a comfort and a help all one's life. I am truly glad and grateful, +John, that at last you want to settle, and have got such an entirely +satisfactory place. Most boys begin much earlier; but I don't believe +in sending them out to face the world so young, just when body and soul +need home care and watchfulness. Now you are a man, and must begin your +life for yourself. Do your best, and be as honest, useful, and happy as +your father, and I won't care about making a fortune.' + +'I'll try, mother. Couldn't have a better chance; for Tiber & Co. treat +their people like gentlemen, and pay generously for faithful work. +Things are done in a businesslike way there, and that suits me. I hate +promises that are not kept, and shiftless or tyrannical ways anywhere. +Mr Tiber said: “This is only to teach you the ropes, Brooke; I shall +have other work for you by and by.” Aunty told him I had done book +notices, and had rather a fancy for literature; so though I can't +produce any “works of Shakespeare”, as she says, I may get up some +little things later. If I don't, I think it a very honourable and noble +profession to select and give good books to the world; and I'm satisfied +to be a humble helper in the work.' + +'I'm glad you feel so. It adds so much to one's happiness to love the +task one does. I used to hate teaching; but housekeeping for my own +family was always sweet, though much harder in many ways. Isn't Aunt Jo +pleased about all this?' asked Mrs Meg, already seeing in her mind's +eye a splendid sign with 'Tiber, Brooke & Co.' over the door of a famous +publishing house. + +'So pleased that I could hardly keep her from letting the cat out of the +bag too soon. I've had so many plans, and disappointed you so often, I +wanted to be very sure this time. I had to bribe Rob and Ted to keep her +at home tonight till I'd told my news, she was eager to rush down and +tell you herself. The castles that dear woman has built for me would +fill all Spain, and have kept us jolly while we waited to know our fate. +Mr Tiber doesn't do things in a hurry; but when he makes up his mind, +you are all right; and I feel that I am fairly launched.' + +'Bless you, dear, I hope so! It is a happy day for me, because I've been +so anxious lest, with all my care, I have been too easy and indulgent, +and my boy, with his many good gifts, might fritter his time away in +harmless but unsatisfactory things. Now I am at ease about you. If +only Daisy can be happy, and Josie give up her dream, I shall be quite +contented.' + +Demi let his mother enjoy herself for a few minutes, while he smiled +over a certain little dream of his own, not ready yet for the telling; +then he said, in the paternal tone which he unconsciously used when +speaking of his sisters: + +'I'll see to the girls; but I begin to think grandpa is right in +saying we must each be what God and nature makes us. We can't change it +much--only help to develop the good and control the bad elements in us. +I have fumbled my way into my right place at last, I hope. Let Daisy be +happy in her way, since it is a good and womanly one. If Nat comes home +all right, I'd say: “Bless you, my children,” and give them a nest of +their own. Then you and I will help little Jo to find out if it is to be +“All the world's a stage” or “Home, sweet home”, for her.' + +'I suppose we must, John; but I can't help making plans, and hoping they +will come to pass. I see that Daisy is bound up in Nat; and if he is +worthy of her I shall let them be happy in their own way, as my parents +let me. But Josie will be a trial, I foresee; and much as I love the +stage, and always did, I don't see how I can ever let my little girl be +an actress, though she certainly has great talent for it.' + +'Whose fault is that?' asked Demi, smiling, as he remembered his +mother's early triumphs and unquenchable interest in the dramatic +efforts of the young people round her. + +'Mine, I know. How could it be otherwise when I acted Babes in the Wood +with you and Daisy before you could speak, and taught Josie to declaim +Mother Goose in her cradle. Ah, me! the tastes of the mother come out in +her children, and she must atone for them by letting them have their own +way, I suppose.' And Mrs Meg laughed, even while she shook her head over +the undeniable fact that the Marches were a theatrical family. + +'Why not have a great actress of our name, as well as an authoress, a +minister, and an eminent publisher? We don't choose our talents, but we +needn't hide them in a napkin because they are not just what we want. I +say, let Jo have her way, and do what she can. Here am I to take care of +her; and you can't deny you'd enjoy fixing her furbelows, and seeing her +shine before the footlights, where you used to long to be. Come, mother, +better face the music and march gaily, since your wilful children will +“gang their ain gait”.' + +'I don't see but I must, and “leave the consequences to the Lord”, as +Marmee used to say when she had to decide, and only saw a step of the +road. I should enjoy it immensely, if I could only feel that the life +would not hurt my girl, and leave her unsatisfied when it was too late +to change; for nothing is harder to give up than the excitements of that +profession. I know something of it; and if your blessed father had not +come along, I'm afraid I should have been an actress in spite of Aunt +March and all our honoured ancestors.' + +'Let Josie add new honour to the name, and work out the family talent +in its proper place. I'll play dragon to her, and you play nurse, and +no harm can come to our little Juliet, no matter how many Romeos spoon +under her balcony. Really, ma'am, opposition comes badly from an old +lady who is going to wring the hearts of our audience in the heroine's +part in Aunty's play next Christmas. It's the most pathetic thing I +ever saw, mother; and I'm sorry you didn't become an actress, though we +should be nowhere if you had.' + +Demi was on his legs now, with his back to the fire, in the lordly +attitude men like to assume when things go well with them, or they want +to lay down the law on any subject. + +Mrs Meg actually blushed at her son's hearty praise, and could not +deny that the sound of applause was as sweet now as when she played the +Witch's Curse and The Moorish Maiden's Vow long years ago. + +'It's perfectly absurd for me to do it, but I couldn't resist when Jo +and Laurie made the part for me, and you children were to act in it. The +minute I get on the old mother's dress I forget myself and feel the same +thrill at the sound of the bell that I used to feel when we got up plays +in the garret. If Daisy would only take the daughter's part it would +be so complete; for with you and Josie I am hardly acting, it is all so +real.' + +'Especially the hospital scene, where you find the wounded son. Why, +mother, do you know when we did that at last rehearsal my face was wet +with real tears as you cried over me. It will bring down the house; but +don't forget to wipe 'em off, or I shall sneeze,' said Demi, laughing at +the recollection of his mother's hit. + +'I won't; but it almost broke my heart to see you so pale and dreadful. +I hope there will never be another war in my time, for I should have to +let you go; and I never want to live through the same experience we had +with father.' + +'Don't you think Alice does the part better than Daisy would? Daisy +hasn't a bit of the actress in her, and Alice puts life into the dullest +words she speaks. I think the Marquise is just perfect in our piece,' +said Demi, strolling about the room as if the warmth of the fire sent a +sudden colour to his face. + +'So do I. She is a dear girl, and I'm proud and fond of her. Where is +she tonight?' + +'Pegging away at her Greek, I suppose. She usually is in the evening. +More's the pity,' added Demi, in a low tone, as he stared intently at +the book-case, though he couldn't read a title. + +'Now, there is a girl after my own heart. Pretty, well-bred, +well-educated, and yet domestic, a real companion as well as help-meet +for some good and intelligent man. I hope she will find one.' + +'So do I,' muttered Demi. + +Mrs Meg had taken up her work again, and was surveying a half-finished +buttonhole with so much interest that her son's face escaped her eye. He +shed a beaming smile upon the rows of poets, as if even in their glass +prison they could sympathize and rejoice with him at the first rosy dawn +of the great passion which they knew so well. But Demi was a wise youth, +and never leaped before looking carefully. He hardly knew his own heart +yet, and was contented to wait till the sentiment, the fluttering of +those folded wings he began to feel, should escape from the chrysalis +and be ready to soar away in the sunshine to seek and claim its lovely +mate. He had said nothing; but the brown eyes were eloquent, and there +was an unconscious underplot to all the little plays he and Alice Heath +acted so well together. She was busy with her books, bound to graduate +with high honours, and he was trying to do the same in that larger +college open to all, and where each man has his own prize to win or +lose. Demi had nothing but himself to offer and, being a modest youth, +considered that a poor gift till he had proved his power to earn his +living, and the right to take a woman's happiness into his keeping. + +No one guessed that he had caught the fever except sharp-eyed Josie, and +she, having a wholesome fear of her brother--who could be rather awful +when she went too far--wisely contented herself with watching him like a +little cat, ready to pounce on the first visible sign of weakness. Demi +had taken to playing pensively upon his flute after he was in his +room for the night, making this melodious friend his confidante, and +breathing into it all the tender hopes and fears that filled his heart. +Mrs Meg, absorbed in domestic affairs, and Daisy, who cared for no music +but Nat's violin, paid no heed to these chamber concerts, but Josie +always murmured to herself, with a naughty chuckle, 'Dick Swiveller is +thinking of his Sophy Wackles,' and bided her time to revenge certain +wrongs inflicted upon her by Demi, who always took Daisy's side when she +tried to curb the spirits of her unruly little sister. + +This evening she got her chance, and made the most of it. Mrs Meg was +just rounding off her buttonhole, and Demi still strolling restlessly +about the room, when a book was heard to slam in the study, followed by +an audible yawn and the appearance of the student looking as if sleep +and a desire for mischief were struggling which should be master. + +'I heard my name; have you been saying anything bad about me?' she +demanded, perching on the arm of an easychair. + +Her mother told the good news, over which Josie duly rejoiced, and Demi +received her congratulations with a benignant air which made her feel +that too much satisfaction was not good for him, and incited her to put +a thorn into his bed of roses at once. + +'I caught something about the play just now, and I want to tell you that +I'm going to introduce a song into my part to liven it up a bit. How +would this do?' and seating herself at the piano she began to sing to +these words the air of 'Kathleen Mavourneen': + + 'Sweetest of maidens, oh, how can I tell + The love that transfigures the whole earth to me? + The longing that causes my bosom to swell, + When I dream of a life all devoted to thee?' + +She got no further, for Demi, red with wrath, made a rush at her, and +the next moment a very agile young person was seen dodging round tables +and chairs with the future partner of Tiber & Co. in hot pursuit. 'You +monkey, how dare you meddle with my papers?' cried the irate poet, +making futile grabs at the saucy girl, who skipped to and fro, waving a +bit of paper tantalizingly before him. + +'Didn't; found it in the big “Dic”. Serves you right if you leave your +rubbish about. Don't you like my song? It's very pretty.' + +'I'll teach you one that you won't like if you don't give me my +property.' + +'Come and get it if you can'; and Josie vanished into the study to have +out her squabble in peace, for Mrs Meg was already saying: + +'Children, children! don't quarrel.' + +The paper was in the fire by the time Demi arrived and he at once calmed +down, seeing that the bone of contention was out of the way. + +'I'm glad it's burnt; I don't care for it, only some verse I was trying +to set to music for one of the girls. But I'll trouble you to let my +papers alone, or I shall take back the advice I gave mother tonight +about allowing you to act as much as you like.' + +Josie was sobered at once by this dire threat, and in her most wheedling +tone begged to know what he had said. By way of heaping coals of fire +on her head he told her, and this diplomatic performance secured him an +ally on the spot. + +'You dear old boy! I'll never tease you again though you moon and spoon +both day and night. If you stand by me, I'll stand by you and never say +a word. See here! I've got a note for you from Alice. Won't that be a +peace-offering and soothe your little feelings?' + +Demi's eyes sparkled as Josie held up a paper cocked hat, but as he +knew what was probably in it, he took the wind out of Josie's sails, and +filled her with blank astonishment by saying carelessly: + +'That's nothing; it's only to say whether she will go to the concert +with us tomorrow night. You can read it if you like.' + +With the natural perversity of her sex Josie ceased to be curious the +moment she was told to read it, and meekly handed it over; but she +watched Demi as he calmly read the two lines it contained and then threw +it into the fire. 'Why, Jack, I thought you'd treasure every scrap the +“sweetest maid” touched. Don't you care for her?' + +'Very much; we all do; but “mooning and spooning”, as you elegantly +express it, is not in my line. My dear little girl, your plays make you +romantic, and because Alice and I act lovers sometimes you take it into +your silly head that we are really so. Don't waste time hunting mares +nests, but attend to your own affairs and leave me to mine. I forgive +you, but don't do it again; it's bad taste, and tragedy queens don't +romp.' + +The last cut finished Josie; she humbly begged pardon and went off to +bed, while Demi soon followed, feeling that he had not only settled +himself but his too inquisitive little sister also. But if he had seen +her face as she listened to the soft wailing of his flute he would not +have been so sure, for she looked as cunning as a magpie as she said, +with a scornful sniff: 'Pooh, you can't deceive me; I know Dick is +serenading Sophy Wackles.' + + + +Chapter 11. EMIL'S THANKSGIVING + +The Brenda was scudding along with all sail set to catch the rising +wind, and everyone on board was rejoicing, for the long voyage was +drawing towards an end. + +'Four weeks more, Mrs Hardy, and we'll give you a cup of tea such as you +never had before,' said second mate Hoffmann, as he paused beside two +ladies sitting in a sheltered corner of the deck. + +'I shall be glad to get it, and still gladder to put my feet on solid +ground,' answered the elder lady, smiling; for our friend Emil was +a favourite, as well he might be, since he devoted himself to the +captain's wife and daughter, who were the only passengers on board. + +'So shall I, even if I have to wear a pair of shoes like Chinese junks. +I've tramped up and down the deck so much, I shall be barefooted if +we don't arrive soon,' laughed Mary, the daughter, showing two shabby +little boots as she glanced up at the companion of these tramps, +remembering gratefully how pleasant he had made them. + +'Don't think there are any small enough in China,' answered Emil, with a +sailor's ready gallantry, privately resolving to hunt up the handsomest +shoes he could find the moment he landed. + +'I don't know what you would have done for exercise, dear, if Mr +Hoffmann had not made you walk every day. This lazy life is bad for +young people, though it suits an old body like me well enough in calm +weather. Is this likely to be a gale, think ye?' added Mrs Hardy, with +an anxious glance at the west, where the sun was setting redly. + +'Only a capful of wind, ma'am, just enough to send us along lively,' +answered Emil, with a comprehensive glance aloft and alow. + +'Please sing, Mr Hoffmann, it's so pleasant to have music at this +time. We shall miss it very much when we get ashore,' said Mary, in +a persuasive tone which would have won melody from a shark, if such a +thing were possible. + +Emil had often blessed his one accomplishment during these months, for +it cheered the long days, and made the twilight hour his happiest +time, wind and weather permitting. So now he gladly tuned his pipe, and +leaning on the taffrail near the girl, watched the brown locks blowing +in the wind as he sang her favourite song: + + 'Give me freshening breeze, my boys, + A white and swelling sail, + A ship that cuts the dashing waves, + And weathers every gale. + What life is like a sailor's life, + So free, so bold, so brave? + His home the ocean's wide expanse, + A coral bed his grave.' + +Just as the last notes of the clear, strong voice died away, Mrs Hardy +suddenly exclaimed: 'What's that?' Emil's quick eye saw at once the +little puff of smoke coming up a hatchway where no smoke should be, and +his heart seemed to stand still for an instant as the dread word 'Fire!' +flashed through his mind. Then he was quite steady, and strolled away +saying quietly: + +'Smoking not allowed there, I'll go and stop it.' But the instant he +was out of sight his face changed, and he leaped down the hatchway, +thinking, with a queer smile on his lips: 'If we are afire, shouldn't +wonder if I did make a coral bed my grave!' + +He was gone a few minutes, and when he came up, half stifled with smoke, +he was as white as a very brown man could be, but calm and cool as he +went to report to the captain. + +'Fire in the hold, sir.' + +'Don't frighten the women,' was Captain Hardy's first order; then both +be stirred themselves to discover how strong the treacherous enemy was, +and to rout it if possible. + +The Brenda's cargo was a very combustible one, and in spite of the +streams of water poured into the hold it was soon evident that the ship +was doomed. Smoke began to ooze up between the planks everywhere, and +the rising gale soon fanned the smouldering fire to flames that began +to break out here and there, telling the dreadful truth too plainly for +anyone to hide. Mrs Hardy and Mary bore the shock bravely when told to +be ready to quit the ship at a minute's notice; the boats were hastily +prepared, and the men worked with a will to batten down every loophole +whence the fire might escape. Soon the poor Brenda was a floating +furnace, and the order to 'Take to the boats!' came for all. The women +first, of course, and it was fortunate that, being a merchantman, there +were no more passengers on board, so there was no panic, and one after +the other the boats pushed off. That in which the women were lingered +near, for the brave captain would be the last to leave his ship. + +Emil stayed by him till ordered away, and reluctantly obeyed; but it was +well for him he went, for just as he had regained the boat, rocking far +below, half hidden by a cloud of smoke, a mast, undermined by the +fire now raging in the bowels of the ship, fell with a crash, knocking +Captain Hardy overboard. The boat soon reached him as he floated out +from the wreck, and Emil sprung into the sea to rescue him, for he was +wounded and senseless. This accident made it necessary for the young man +to take command, and he at once ordered the men to pull for their lives, +as an explosion might occur at any moment. + +The other boats were out of danger and all lingered to watch the +splendid yet awesome spectacle of the burning ship alone on the wide +sea, reddening the night and casting a lurid glare upon the water, where +floated the frail boats filled with pale faces, all turned for a last +look at the fated Brenda, slowly settling to her watery grave. No one +saw the end, however, for the gale soon swept the watchers far away and +separated them, some never to meet again till the sea gives up its dead. + +The boat whose fortunes we must follow was alone when dawn came up, +showing these survivors all the dangers of their situation. Food and +water had been put in, and such provision for comfort and safety as time +allowed; but it was evident that with a badly wounded man, two women, +and seven sailors, their supply would not last long, and help was sorely +needed. Their only hope was in meeting a ship, although the gale, which +had raged all night, had blown them out of their course. To this hope +all clung, and wiled away the weary hours, watching the horizon and +cheering one another with prophecies of speedy rescue. + +Second mate Hoffmann was very brave and helpful, though his unexpected +responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders; for the captain's state +seemed desperate, the poor wife's grief wrung his heart, and the blind +confidence of the young girl in his power to save them made him feel +that no sign of doubt or fear must lessen it. The men did their part +readily now, but Emil knew that if starvation and despair made brutes of +them, his task might be a terrible one. So he clutched his courage with +both hands, kept up a manly front, and spoke so cheerily of their good +chances, that all instinctively turned to him for guidance and support. + +The first day and night passed in comparative comfort, but when the +third came, things looked dark and hope began to fail. The wounded man +was delirious, the wife worn out with anxiety and suspense, the girl +weak for want of food, having put away half her biscuit for her mother, +and given her share of water to wet her father's feverish lips. The +sailors ceased rowing and sat grimly waiting, openly reproaching their +leader for not following their advice, others demanding more food, all +waxing dangerous as privation and pain brought out the animal instincts +lurking in them. Emil did his best, but mortal man was helpless there, +and he could only turn his haggard face from the pitiless sky, that +dropped no rain for their thirst, to the boundless sea where no sail +appeared to gladden their longing eyes. All day he tried to cheer and +comfort them, while hunger gnawed, thirst parched, and growing fear lay +heavy at his heart. He told stories to the men, implored them to bear up +for the helpless women's sake, and promised rewards if they would pull +while they had strength to regain the lost route, as nearly as he could +make it out, and increase their chance of rescue. He rigged an awning +of sailcloth over the suffering man and tended him like a son, comforted +the wife, and tried to make the pale girl forget herself, by singing +every song he knew or recounting his adventures by land and sea, till +she smiled and took heart; for all ended well. + +The fourth day came and the supply of food and water was nearly gone. +Emil proposed to keep it for the sick man and the women, but two of the +men rebelled, demanding their share. Emil gave up his as an example, and +several of the good fellows followed it, with the quiet heroism which so +often crops up in rough but manly natures. This shamed the others, +and for another day an ominous peace reigned in that little world of +suffering and suspense. But during the night, while Emil, worn out with +fatigue, left the watch to the most trustworthy sailor, that he might +snatch an hour's rest, these two men got at the stores and stole the +last of the bread and water, and the one bottle of brandy, which was +carefully hoarded to keep up their strength and make the brackish water +drinkable. Half mad with thirst, they drank greedily and by morning one +was in a stupor, from which he never woke; the other so crazed by +the strong stimulant, that when Emil tried to control him, he leaped +overboard and was lost. Horror-stricken by this terrible scene, the +other men were submissive henceforth, and the boat floated on and on +with its sad freight of suffering souls and bodies. + +Another trial came to them that left all more despairing than before. A +sail appeared, and for a time a frenzy of joy prevailed, to be turned +to bitterest disappointment when it passed by, too far away to see +the signals waved to them or hear the frantic cries for help that rang +across the sea. Emil's heart sank then, for the captain seemed dying, +and the women could not hold out much longer. He kept up till night +came; then in the darkness, broken only by the feeble murmuring of the +sick man, the whispered prayers of the poor wife, the ceaseless swash of +waves, Emil hid his face, and had an hour of silent agony that aged him +more than years of happy life could have done. It was not the physical +hardship that daunted him, though want and weakness tortured him; it was +his dreadful powerlessness to conquer the cruel fate that seemed hanging +over them. The men he cared little for, since these perils were but a +part of the life they chose; but the master he loved, the good woman who +had been so kind to him, the sweet girl whose winsome presence had made +the long voyage so pleasant for them all--if he could only save these +dear and innocent creatures from a cruel death, he felt that he could +willingly give his life for them. + +As he sat there with his head in his hands, bowed down by the first +great trial of his young life, the starless sky overhead, the restless +sea beneath, and all around him suffering, for which he had no help, a +soft sound broke the silence, and he listened like one in a dream. It +was Mary singing to her mother, who lay sobbing in her arms, spent with +this long anguish. A very faint and broken voice it was, for the poor +girl's lips were parched with thirst; but the loving heart turned +instinctively to the great Helper in this hour of despair, and He heard +her feeble cry. It was a sweet old hymn often sung at Plumfield; and as +he listened, all the happy past came back so clearly that Emil forgot +the bitter present, and was at home again. His talk on the housetop +with Aunt Jo seemed but yesterday, and, with a pang of self-reproach, he +thought: + +'The scarlet strand! I must remember it, and do my duty to the end. +Steer straight, old boy; and if you can't come into port, go down with +all sail set.' + +Then, as the soft voice crooned on to lull the weary woman to a +fitful sleep, Emil for a little while forgot his burden in a dream of +Plumfield. He saw them all, heard the familiar voices, felt the grip of +welcoming hands, and seemed to say to himself: 'Well, they shall not be +ashamed of me if I never see them any more.' + +A sudden shout startled him from that brief rest, and a drop on his +forehead told him that the blessed rain had come at last, bringing +salvation with it; for thirst is harder to bear than hunger, heat, or +cold. Welcomed by cries of joy, all lifted up their parched lips, held +out their hands, and spread their garments to catch the great drops that +soon came pouring down to cool the sick man's fever, quench the agony of +thirst, and bring refreshment to every weary body in the boat. All night +it fell, all night the castaways revelled in the saving shower, and took +heart again, like dying plants revived by heaven's dew. The clouds broke +away at dawn, and Emil sprung up, wonderfully braced and cheered by +those hours of silent gratitude for this answer to their cry for help. +But this was not all; as his eye swept the horizon, clear against the +rosy sky shone the white sails of a ship, so near that they could see +the pennon at her mast-head and black figures moving on the deck. + +One cry broke from all those eager throats, and rang across the sea, as +every man waved hat or handkerchief and the women stretched imploring +hands towards this great white angel of deliverance coming down upon +them as if the fresh wind filled every sail to help her on. + +No disappointment now; answering signals assured them of help; and in +the rapture of that moment the happy women fell on Emil's neck, +giving him his reward in tears and blessings as their grateful hearts +overflowed. He always said that was the proudest moment of his life, +as he stood there holding Mary in his arms; for the brave girl, who had +kept up so long, broke down then, and clung to him half fainting; while +her mother busied herself about the invalid, who seemed to feel the +joyful stir, and gave an order, as if again on the deck of his lost +ship. + +It was soon over; and then all were safely aboard the good Urania, +homeward bound. Emil saw his friends in tender hands, his men among +their mates, and told the story of the wreck before he thought of +himself. The savoury odour of the soup, carried by to the cabin for the +ladies, reminded him that he was starving, and a sudden stagger +betrayed his weakness. He was instantly borne away, to be half killed by +kindness, and being fed, clothed, and comforted, was left to rest. Just +as the surgeon left the state-room, he asked in his broken voice: 'What +day is this? My head is so confused, I've lost my reckoning.' + +'Thanksgiving Day, man! And we'll give you a regular New England dinner, +if you'll eat it,' answered the surgeon heartily. + +But Emil was too spent to do anything, except lie still and give thanks, +more fervently and gratefully than ever before, for the blessed gift of +life, which was the sweeter for a sense of duty faithfully performed. + + + +Chapter 12. DAN'S CHRISTMAS + +Where was Dan? In prison. Alas for Mrs Jo! how her heart would have +ached if she had known that while old Plum shone with Christmas cheer +her boy sat alone in his cell, trying to read the little book she +gave him, with eyes dimmed now and then by the hot tears no physical +suffering had ever wrung from him, and longing with a homesick heart for +all that he had lost. + +Yes, Dan was in prison; but no cry for help from him as he faced the +terrible strait he was in with the dumb despair of an Indian at the +stake; for his own bosom sin had brought him there, and this was to +be the bitter lesson that tamed the lawless spirit and taught him +self-control. + +The story of his downfall is soon told; for it came, as so often +happens, just when he felt unusually full of high hopes, good +resolutions, and dreams of a better life. On his journey he met a +pleasant young fellow, and naturally felt an interest in him, as +Blair was on his way to join his elder brothers on a ranch in Kansas. +Card-playing was going on in the smoking-car, and the lad--for he was +barely twenty--tired with the long journey, beguiled the way with such +partners as appeared, being full of spirits, and a little intoxicated +with the freedom of the West. Dan, true to his promise, would not join, +but watched with intense interest the games that went on, and soon made +up his mind that two of the men were sharpers anxious to fleece the boy, +who had imprudently displayed a well-filled pocket-book. Dan always had +a soft spot in his heart for any younger, weaker creature whom he met, +and something about the lad reminded him of Teddy; so he kept an eye on +Blair, and warned him against his new friends. + +Vainly, of course; for when all stopped overnight in one of the great +cities, Dan missed the boy from the hotel whither he had taken him +for safe-keeping; and learning who had come for him, went to find him, +calling himself a fool for his pains, yet unable to leave the confiding +boy to the dangers that surrounded him. + +He found him gambling in a low place with the men, who were bound to +have his money; and by the look of relief on Blair's anxious face when +he saw him Dan knew without words that things were going badly with him, +and he saw the peril too late. + +'I can't come yet--I've lost; it's not my money; I must get it back, or +I dare not face my brothers,' whispered the poor lad, when Dan begged +him to get away without further loss. Shame and fear made him desperate; +and he played on, sure that he could recover the money confided to +his care. Seeing Dan's resolute face, keen eye, and travelled air, the +sharpers were wary, played fair, and let the boy win a little; but they +had no mind to give up their prey, and finding that Dan stood sentinel +at the boy's back, an ominous glance was exchanged between them, which +meant: + +'We must get this fellow out of the way.' + +Dan saw it, and was on his guard; for he and Blair were strangers, evil +deeds are easily done in such places, and no tales told. But he would +not desert the boy, and still kept watch of every card till he plainly +detected false play, and boldly said so. High words passed, Dan's +indignation overcame his prudence; and when the cheat refused to restore +his plunder with insulting words and drawn pistol, Dan's hot temper +flashed out, and he knocked the man down with a blow that sent him +crashing head first against a stove, to roll senseless and bleeding to +the floor. A wild scene followed, but in the midst of it Dan whispered +to the boy: 'Get away, and hold your tongue. Don't mind me.' + +Frightened and bewildered, Blair quitted the city at once, leaving Dan +to pass the night in the lock-up, and a few days later to stand in court +charged with manslaughter; for the man was dead. Dan had no friends, and +having once briefly told the story, held his peace, anxious to keep all +knowledge of this sad affair from those at home. He even concealed his +name--giving that of David Kent, as he had done several times before in +emergencies. It was all over very soon; but as there were extenuating +circumstances his sentence was a year in prison, with hard labour. + +Dazed by the rapidity with which this horrible change in his life came +upon him, Dan did not fully realize it till the iron door clanged behind +him and he sat alone in a cell as narrow, cold, and silent as a tomb. He +knew that a word would bring Mr Laurie to help and comfort him; but he +could not bear to tell of this disgrace, or see the sorrow and the shame +it would cause the friends who hoped so much for him. + +'No,' he said, clenching his fist, 'I'll let them think me dead first. +I shall be if I am kept here long'; and he sprang up to pace the stone +floor like a caged lion, with a turmoil of wrath and grief, rebellion +and remorse, seething in heart and brain, till he felt as if he should +go mad and beat upon the walls that shut him away from the liberty which +was his life. For days he suffered terribly, then worn out, sank into a +black melancholy sadder to see than his excitement. + +The warden of this prison was a rough man who had won the ill will of +all by unnecessary harshness, but the chaplain was full of sympathy, and +did his hard duty faithfully and tenderly. He laboured with poor Dan, +but seemed to make no impression, and was forced to wait till work had +soothed the excited nerves and captivity tamed the proud spirit that +would suffer but not complain. + +Dan was put in the brush-shop, and feeling that activity was his only +salvation, worked with a feverish energy that soon won the approval of +the master and the envy of less skilful mates. Day after day he sat in +his place, watched by an armed overseer, forbidden any but necessary +words, no intercourse with the men beside him, no change but from cell +to shop, no exercise but the dreary marches to and fro, each man's hand +on the other's shoulder keeping step with the dreary tramp so different +from the ringing tread of soldiers. Silent, gaunt, and grim, Dan did his +daily task, ate his bitter bread, and obeyed commands with a rebellious +flash of the eye, that made the warden say: + +'That's a dangerous man. Watch him. He'll break out some day.' + +There were others more dangerous than he, because older in crime +and ready for any desperate outbreak to change the monotony of long +sentences. These men soon divined Dan's mood, and in the mysterious way +convicts invent, managed to convey to him before a month was over +that plans were being made for a mutiny at the first opportunity. +Thanksgiving Day was one of the few chances for them to speak together +as they enjoyed an hour of freedom in the prison yard. Then all would +be settled and the rash attempt made if possible, probably to end in +bloodshed and defeat for most, but liberty for a few. Dan had already +planned his own escape and bided his time, growing more and more moody, +fierce, and rebellious, as loss of liberty wore upon soul and body; for +this sudden change from his free, healthy life to such a narrow, gloomy, +and miserable one, could not but have a terrible effect upon one of +Dan's temperament and age. + +He brooded over his ruined life, gave up all his happy hopes and plans, +felt that he could never face dear old Plumfield again, or touch those +friendly hands, with the stain of blood upon his own. He did not care +for the wretched man whom he had killed, for such a life was better +ended, he thought; but the disgrace of prison would never be wiped out +of his memory, though the cropped hair would grow again, the grey suit +easily be replaced, and the bolts and bars left far behind. + +'It's all over with me; I've spoilt my life, now let it go. I'll give up +the fight and get what pleasure I can anywhere, anyhow. They shall think +me dead and so still care for me, but never know what I am. Poor Mother +Bhaer! she tried to help me, but it's no use; the firebrand can't be +saved.' + +And dropping his head in his hands as he sat on his low bed, Dan would +mourn over all he had lost in tearless misery, till merciful sleep would +comfort him with dreams of the happy days when the boys played together, +or those still later and happier ones when all smiled on him, and +Plumfield seemed to have gained a new and curious charm. + +There was one poor fellow in Dan's shop whose fate was harder than his, +for his sentence expired in the spring, but there was little hope of his +living till that time; and the coldest-hearted man pitied poor Mason as +he sat coughing his life away in that close place and counting the weary +days yet to pass before he could see his wife and little child again. +There was some hope that he might be pardoned out, but he had no friends +to bestir themselves in the matter, and it was evident that the great +Judge's pardon would soon end his patient pain for ever. + +Dan pitied him more than he dared to show, and this one tender emotion +in that dark time was like the little flower that sprung up between the +stones of the prison yard and saved the captive from despair, in the +beautiful old story. Dan helped Mason with his work when he was too +feeble to finish his task, and the grateful look that thanked him was +a ray of sunshine to cheer his cell when he was alone. Mason envied the +splendid health of his neighbour, and mourned to see it wasting there. +He was a peaceful soul and tried, as far as a whispered word or warning +glance could do it, to deter Dan from joining the 'bad lot', as the +rebels were called. But having turned his face from the light, Dan found +the downward way easy, and took a grim satisfaction in the prospect of +a general outbreak during which he might revenge himself upon the +tyrannical warden, and strike a blow for his own liberty, feeling that +an hour of insurrection would be a welcome vent for the pent-up passions +that tormented him. He had tamed many a wild animal, but his own lawless +spirit was too much for him, till he found the curb that made him master +of himself. + +The Sunday before Thanksgiving, as he sat in chapel, Dan observed +several guests in the seats reserved for them, and looked anxiously +to see if any familiar face was there; for he had a mortal fear that +someone from home would suddenly confront him. No, all were strangers, +and he soon forgot them in listening to the chaplain's cheerful words, +and the sad singing of many heavy hearts. People often spoke to the +convicts, so it caused no surprise when, on being invited to address +them, one of the ladies rose and said she would tell them a little +story; which announcement caused the younger listeners to pack up their +ears, and even the older ones to look interested; for any change in +their monotonous life was welcome. + +The speaker was a middle-aged woman in black, with a sympathetic face, +eyes full of compassion, and a voice that seemed to warm the heart, +because of certain motherly tones in it. She reminded Dan of Mrs Jo, and +he listened intently to every word, feeling that each was meant for him, +because by chance, they came at the moment when he needed a softening +memory to break up the ice of despair which was blighting all the good +impulses of his nature. + +It was a very simple little story, but it caught the men's attention at +once, being about two soldiers in a hospital during the late war, +both badly wounded in the right arm, and both anxious to save these +breadwinners and go home unmaimed. One was patient, docile, and +cheerfully obeyed orders, even when told that the arm must go. He +submitted and after much suffering recovered, grateful for life, though +he could fight no more. The other rebelled, would listen to no advice, +and having delayed too long, died a lingering death, bitterly regretting +his folly when it was too late. 'Now, as all stories should have a +little moral, let me tell you mine,' added the lady, with a smile, as +she looked at the row of young men before her, sadly wondering what +brought them there. + +'This is a hospital for soldiers wounded in life's battle; here are sick +souls, weak wills, insane passions, blind consciences, all the ills that +come from broken laws, bringing their inevitable pain and punishment +with them. There is hope and help for every one, for God's mercy is +infinite and man's charity is great; but penitence and submission must +come before the cure is possible. Pay the forfeit manfully, for it is +just; but from the suffering and shame wring new strength for a nobler +life. The scar will remain, but it is better for a man to lose both arms +than his soul; and these hard years, instead of being lost, may be made +the most precious of your lives, if they teach you to rule yourselves. O +friends, try to outlive the bitter past, to wash the sin away, and begin +anew. If not for your own sakes, for that of the dear mothers, wives, +and children, who wait and hope so patiently for you. Remember them, +and do not let them love and long in vain. And if there be any here +so forlorn that they have no friend to care for them, never forget the +Father whose arms are always open to receive, forgive, and comfort +His prodigal sons, even at the eleventh hour.' There the little sermon +ended; but the preacher of it felt that her few hearty words had not +been uttered in vain, for one boy's head was down, and several faces +wore the softened look which told that a tender memory was touched. Dan +was forced to set his lips to keep them steady, and drop his eyes to +hide the sudden dew that dimmed them when waiting, hoping friends were +spoken of. He was glad to be alone in his cell again, and sat thinking +deeply, instead of trying to forget himself in sleep. It seemed as if +those words were just what he needed to show him where he stood and how +fateful the next few days might be to him. Should he join the 'bad lot', +and perhaps add another crime to the one already committed, lengthen the +sentence already so terrible to bear, deliberately turn his back on all +that was good, and mar the future that might yet be redeemed? Or should +he, like the wiser man in the story, submit, bear the just punishment, +try to be better for it; and though the scar would remain, it might +serve as a reminder of a battle not wholly lost, since he had saved his +soul though innocence was gone? Then he would dare go home, perhaps, +confess, and find fresh strength in the pity and consolation of those +who never gave him up. + +Good and evil fought for Dan that night as did the angel and the devil +for Sintram, and it was hard to tell whether lawless nature or loving +heart would conquer. Remorse and resentment, shame and sorrow, pride and +passion, made a battle-field of that narrow cell, and the poor fellow +felt as if he had fiercer enemies to fight now than any he had met in +all his wanderings. A little thing turned the scale, as it so often does +in these mysterious hearts of ours, and a touch of sympathy helped Dan +decide the course which would bless or ban his life. + +In the dark hour before the dawn, as he lay wakeful on his bed, a ray +of light shone through the bars, the bolts turned softly, and a man came +in. It was the good chaplain, led by the same instinct that brings a +mother to her sick child's pillow; for long experience as nurse of souls +had taught him to see the signs of hope in the hard faces about him, +and to know when the moment came for a helpful word and the cordial +of sincere prayer that brings such comfort and healing to tried and +troubled hearts. He had been to Dan before at unexpected hours, but +always found him sullen, indifferent, or rebellious, and had gone away +to patiently bide his time. Now it had come; a look of relief was in the +prisoner's face as the light shone on it, and the sound of a human +voice was strangely comfortable after listening to the whispers of +the passions, doubts, and fears which had haunted the cell for hours, +dismaying Dan by their power, and showing him how much he needed help to +fight the good fight, since he had no armour of his own. + +'Kent, poor Mason has gone. He left a message for you, and I felt +impelled to come and give it now, because I think you were touched by +what we heard today, and in need of the help Mason tried to give you,' +said the chaplain, taking the one seat and fixing his kind eyes on the +grim figure in the bed. + +'Thank you, sir, I'd like to hear it,' was all Dan's answer; but he +forgot himself in pity for the poor fellow dead in prison, with no last +look at wife or child. + +He went suddenly, but remembered you, and begged me to say these words: +“Tell him not to do it, but to hold on, do his best, and when his time +is out go right to Mary, and she'll make him welcome for my sake. He's +got no friends in these parts and will feel lonesome, but a woman's +always safe and comfortable when a fellow's down on his luck. Give him +my love and good-bye for he was kind to me, and God will bless him for +it.” Then he died quietly, and tomorrow will go home with God's pardon, +since man's came too late.' + +Dan said nothing, but laid his arm across his face and lay quite still. +Seeing that the pathetic little message had done its work even better +than he hoped, the chaplain went on, unconscious how soothing his +paternal voice was to the poor prisoner who longed to 'go home', but +felt he had forfeited the right. + +'I hope you won't disappoint this humble friend whose last thought was +for you. I know that there is trouble brewing, and fear that you may be +tempted to lend a hand on the wrong side. Don't do it, for the plot will +not succeed--it never does--and it would be a pity to spoil your record +which is fair so far. Keep up your courage, my son, and go out at the +year's end better, not worse, for this hard experience. Remember a +grateful woman waits to welcome and thank you if you have no friends of +your own; if you have, do your best for their sake, and let us ask God +to help you as He only can.' + +Then waiting for no answer the good man prayed heartily, and Dan +listened as he never had before; for the lonely hour, the dying message, +the sudden uprising of his better self, made it seem as if some kind +angel had come to save and comfort him. After that night there was a +change in Dan, though no one knew it but the chaplain; for to all the +rest he was the same silent, stern, unsocial fellow as before, and +turning his back on the bad and the good alike, found his only pleasure +in the books his friend brought him. Slowly, as the steadfast drop wears +away the rock, the patient kindness of this man won Dan's confidence, +and led by him he began to climb out of the Valley of Humiliation +towards the mountains, whence, through the clouds, one can catch +glimpses of the Celestial City whither all true pilgrims sooner or +later turn their wistful eyes and stumbling feet. There were many +back-slidings, many struggles with Giant Despair and fiery Apollyon, +many heavy hours when life did not seem worth living and Mason's escape +the only hope. But through all, the grasp of a friendly hand, the sound +of a brother's voice, the unquenchable desire to atone for the past by a +better future, and win the right to see home again, kept poor Dan to his +great task as the old year drew to its end, and the new waited to turn +another leaf in the book whose hardest lesson he was learning now. + +At Christmas he yearned so for Plumfield that he devised a way to send a +word of greeting to cheer their anxious hearts, and comfort his own. He +wrote to Mary Mason, who lived in another State, asking her to mail the +letter he enclosed. In it he merely said he was well and busy, had given +up the farm, and had other plans which he would tell later; would not +be home before autumn probably, nor write often, but was all right, and +sent love and merry Christmas to everyone. + +Then he took up his solitary life again, and tried to pay his forfeit +manfully. + + + +Chapter 13. NAT'S NEW YEAR + +'I don't expect to hear from Emil yet, and Nat writes regularly, but +where is Dan? Only two or three postals since he went. Such an energetic +fellow as he is could buy up all the farms in Kansas by this time,' said +Mrs Jo one morning when the mail came in and no card or envelope bore +Dan's dashing hand. + +'He never writes often, you know, but does his work and then comes +home. Months and years seem to mean little to him, and he is probably +prospecting in the wilderness, forgetful of time,' answered Mr Bhaer, +deep in one of Nat's long letters from Leipzig. + +'But he promised he would let me know how he got on, and Dan keeps his +word if he can. I'm afraid something has happened to him'; and Mrs Jo +comforted herself by patting Don's head, as he came at the sound of his +master's name to look at her with eyes almost human in their wistful +intelligence. + +'Don't worry, Mum dear, nothing ever happens to the old fellow. He'll +turn up all right, and come stalking in some day with a gold-mine in one +pocket and a prairie in the other, as jolly as a grig,' said Ted, who +was in no haste to deliver Octoo to her rightful owner. + +'Perhaps he has gone to Montana and given up the farm plan. He seemed to +like Indians best, I thought'; and Rob went to help his mother with her +pile of letters and his cheerful suggestions. + +'I hope so, it would suit him best. But I am sure he would have told us +his change of plan and sent for some money to work with. No, I feel in +my prophetic bones that something is wrong,' said Mrs Jo, looking as +solemn as Fate in a breakfast-cap. + +'Then we shall hear; ill news always travels fast. Don't borrow trouble, +Jo, but hear how well Nat is getting on. I'd no idea the boy would care +for anything but music. My good friend Baumgarten has launched him well, +and it will do him good if he lose not his head. A good lad, but new to +the world, and Leipzig is full of snares for the unwary. Gott be with +him!' + +The Professor read Nat's enthusiastic account of certain literary +and musical parties he had been to, the splendours of the opera, the +kindness of his new friends, the delight of studying under such a master +as Bergmann, his hopes of rapid gain, and his great gratitude to those +who had opened this enchanted world to him. + +'That, now, is satisfactory and comfortable. I felt that Nat had +unsuspected power in him before he went away; he was so manly and full +of excellent plans,' said Mrs Jo, in a satisfied tone. + +'We shall see. He will doubtless get his lesson and be the better for +it. That comes to us all in our young days. I hope it will not be too +hard for our good Jungling,' answered the Professor, with a wise smile, +remembering his own student life in Germany. + +He was right; and Nat was already getting his lesson in life with a +rapidity which would have astonished his friends at home. The manliness +over which Mrs Jo rejoiced was developing in unexpected ways, and quiet +Nat had plunged into the more harmless dissipations of the gay city +with all the ardour of an inexperienced youth taking his first sip of +pleasure. The entire freedom and sense of independence was delicious, +for many benefits began to burden him, and he longed to stand on his +own legs and make his own way. No one knew his past here; and with a +well-stocked wardrobe, a handsome sum at his banker's, and the best +teacher in Leipzig, he made his debut as a musical young gentleman, +presented by the much-respected Professor Bhaer and the wealthy Mr +Laurence, who had many friends glad to throw open their houses to +his protege. Thanks to these introductions, his fluent German, modest +manners, and undeniable talent, the stranger was cordially welcomed, and +launched at once into a circle which many an ambitious young man strove +in vain to enter. + +All this rather turned Nat's head; and as he sat in the brilliant +opera-house, chatted among the ladies at some select coffee-party, or +whisked an eminent professor's amiable daughter down the room, trying to +imagine she was Daisy, he often asked himself if this gay fellow could +be the poor homeless little Street musician who once stood waiting in +the rain at the gates of Plumfield. His heart was true, his impulses +good, and his ambitions high; but the weak side of his nature came +uppermost here; vanity led him astray, pleasure intoxicated him, and for +a time he forgot everything but the delights of this new and charming +life. Without meaning to deceive, he allowed people to imagine him a +youth of good family and prospects; he boasted a little of Mr Laurie's +wealth and influence, of Professor Bhaer's eminence, and the flourishing +college at which he himself had been educated. Mrs Jo was introduced to +the sentimental Frauleins who read her books, and the charms and virtues +of his own dear Madchen confided to sympathetic mammas. All these boyish +boastings and innocent vanities were duly circulated among the +gossips, and his importance much increased thereby, to his surprise and +gratification, as well as some shame. + +But they bore fruit that was bitter in the end; for, finding that he was +considered one of the upper class, it very soon became impossible +for him to live in the humble quarters he had chosen, or to lead the +studious, quiet life planned for him. He met other students, young +officers, and gay fellows of all sorts, and was flattered at being +welcomed among them; though it was a costly pleasure, and often left +a thorn of regret to vex his honest conscience. He was tempted to take +better rooms in a more fashionable street, leaving good Frau Tetzel to +lament his loss, and his artist neighbour, Fraulein Vogelstein, to shake +her grey ringlets and predict his return, a sadder and a wiser man. + +The sum placed at his disposal for expenses and such simple pleasures +as his busy life could command seemed a fortune to Nat, though it was +smaller than generous Mr Laurie first proposed. Professor Bhaer wisely +counselled prudence, as Nat was unused to the care of money, and the +good man knew the temptations that a well-filled purse makes possible at +this pleasure-loving age. So Nat enjoyed his handsome little apartment +immensely, and insensibly let many unaccustomed luxuries creep in. He +loved his music and never missed a lesson; but the hours he should +have spent in patient practice were too often wasted at theatre, ball, +beer-garden, or club--doing no harm beyond that waste of precious time, +and money not his own; for he had no vices, and took his recreation like +a gentleman, so far. But slowly a change for the worse was beginning to +show itself, and he felt it. These first steps along the flowery road +were downward, not upward; and the constant sense of disloyalty which +soon began to haunt him made Nat feel, in the few quiet hours he gave +himself, that all was not well with him, spite of the happy whirl in +which he lived. + +'Another month, and then I will be steady,' he said more than once, +trying to excuse the delay by the fact that all was new to him, that his +friends at home wished him to be happy, and that society was giving him +the polish he needed. But as each month slipped away it grew harder to +escape; he was inevitably drawn on, and it was so easy to drift with +the tide that he deferred the evil day as long as possible. Winter +festivities followed the more wholesome summer pleasures, and Nat found +them more costly; for the hospitable ladies expected some return from +the stranger; and carriages, bouquets, theatre tickets, and all the +little expenses a young man cannot escape at such times, told heavily +on the purse which seemed bottomless at first. Taking Mr Laurie for +his model, Nat became quite a gallant, and was universally liked; for +through all the newly acquired airs and graces the genuine honesty +and simplicity of his character plainly shone, winning confidence and +affection from all who knew him. + +Among these was a certain amiable old lady with a musical +daughter--well-born but poor, and very anxious to marry the aforesaid +daughter to some wealthy man. Nat's little fictions concerning his +prospects and friends charmed the gnadige Frau as much as his music and +devoted manners did the sentimental Minna. Their quiet parlour seemed +homelike and restful to Nat, when tired of gayer scenes; and the +motherly interest of the elder lady was sweet and comfortable to him; +while the tender blue eyes of the pretty girl were always so full of +welcome when he came, of regret when he left, and of admiration when +he played to her, that he found it impossible to keep away from this +attractive spot. He meant no harm, and feared no danger, having confided +to the Frau Mamma that he was betrothed; so he continued to call, little +dreaming what ambitious hopes the old lady cherished, nor the peril +there was in receiving the adoration of a romantic German girl, till it +was too late to spare her pain and himself great regret. + +Of course some inkling of these new and agreeable experiences got into +the voluminous letters he never was too gay, too busy, or too tired +to write each week; and while Daisy rejoiced over his happiness and +success, and the boys laughed at the idea of 'old Chirper coming out as +a society man', the elders looked sober, and said among themselves: + +'He is going too fast; he must have a word of warning, or trouble may +come.' + +But Mr Laurie said: 'Oh, let him have his fling; he's been dependent and +repressed long enough. He can't go far with the money he has, and I've +no fear of his getting into debt. He's too timid and too honest to be +reckless. It is his first taste of freedom; let him enjoy it, and he'll +work the better by and by; I know--and I'm sure I'm right.' + +So the warnings were very gentle, and the good people waited anxiously +to hear more of hard study, and less of 'splendid times'. Daisy +sometimes wondered, with a pang of her faithful heart, if one of the +charming Minnas, Hildegardes, and Lottchens mentioned were not stealing +her Nat away from her; but she never asked, always wrote calmly and +cheerfully, and looked in vain for any hint of change in the letters +that were worn out with much reading. + +Month after month slipped away, till the holidays came with gifts, good +wishes, and brilliant festivities. Nat expected to enjoy himself very +much, and did at first; for a German Christmas is a spectacle worth +seeing. But he paid dearly for the abandon with which he threw himself +into the gaieties of that memorable week; and on New Year's Day the +reckoning came. It seemed as if some malicious fairy had prepared the +surprises that arrived, so unwelcome were they, so magical the change +they wrought, turning his happy world into a scene of desolation and +despair as suddenly as a transformation at the pantomime. + +The first came in the morning when, duly armed with costly bouquets +and bon-bons, he went to thank Minna and her mother for the braces +embroidered with forget-me-nots and the silk socks knit by the old +lady's nimble fingers, which he had found upon his table that day. The +Frau Mamma received him graciously; but when he asked for the daughter +the good lady frankly demanded what his intentions were, adding that +certain gossip which had reached her ear made it necessary for him +to declare himself or come no more, as Minna's peace must not be +compromised. + +A more panic-stricken youth was seldom seen than Nat as he received this +unexpected demand. He saw too late that his American style of gallantry +had deceived the artless girl, and might be used with terrible effect +by the artful mother, if she chose to do it. Nothing but the truth could +save him, and he had the honour and honesty to tell it faithfully. A +sad scene followed; for Nat was obliged to strip off his fictitious +splendour, confess himself only a poor student, and humbly ask pardon +for the thoughtless freedom with which he had enjoyed their too +confiding hospitality. If he had any doubts of Frau Schomburg's motives +and desires, they were speedily set at rest by the frankness with which +she showed her disappointment, the vigour with which she scolded him, +and the scorn with which she cast him off when her splendid castles in +the air collapsed. + +The sincerity of Nat's penitence softened her a little and she consented +to a farewell word with Minna, who had listened at the keyhole, and was +produced drenched in tears, to fall on Nat's bosom, crying: 'Ah, thou +dear one, never can I forget thee, though my heart is broken!' + +This was worse than the scolding; for the stout lady also wept, and it +was only after much German gush and twaddle that he escaped, feeling +like another Werther; while the deserted Lotte consoled herself with the +bonbons, her mother with the more valuable gifts. + +The second surprise arrived as he dined with Professor Baumgarten. His +appetite had been effectually taken away by the scene of the morning, +and his spirits received another damper when a fellow student cheerfully +informed him that he was about to go to America, and should make it his +agreeable duty to call on the 'lieber Herr Professor Bhaer', to tell +him how gaily his protege was disporting himself at Leipzig. Nat's heart +died within him as he imagined the effect these glowing tales would have +at Plumfield--not that he had wilfully deceived them, but in his letters +many things were left untold; and when Carlsen added, with a friendly +wink, that he would merely hint at the coming betrothal of the fair +Minna and his 'heart's friend', Nat found himself devoutly hoping that +this other inconvenient heart's friend might go to the bottom of the sea +before he reached Plumfield to blast all his hopes by these tales of a +mis-spent winter. Collecting his wits, he cautioned Carlsen with what +he flattered himself was Mephistophelian art, and gave him such confused +directions that it would be a miracle if he ever found Professor Bhaer. +But the dinner was spoilt for Nat, and he got away as soon as possible, +to wander disconsolately about the streets, with no heart for the +theatre or the supper he was to share with some gay comrades afterwards. +He comforted himself a little by giving alms to sundry beggars, making +two children happy with gilded gingerbread, and drinking a lonely glass +of beer, in which he toasted his Daisy and wished himself a better year +than the last had been. + +Going home at length, he found a third surprise awaiting him in the +shower of bills which had descended upon him like a snowstorm, burying +him in an avalanche of remorse, despair, and self-disgust. These bills +were so many and so large that he was startled and dismayed; for, as +Mr Bhaer wisely predicted, he knew little about the value of money. +It would take every dollar at the bankers to pay them all at once, and +leave him penniless for the next six months, unless he wrote home for +more. He would rather starve than do that; and his first impulse was to +seek help at the gaming-table, whither his new friends had often tempted +him. But he had promised Mr Bhaer to resist what then had seemed an +impossible temptation; and now he would not add another fault to the +list already so long. Borrow he would not, nor beg. What could he do? +For these appalling bills must be paid, and the lessons go on; or his +journey was an ignominious failure. But he must live meantime. And how? +Bowed down with remorse for the folly of these months, he saw too late +whither he was drifting, and for hours paced up and down his pretty +rooms, floundering in a Slough of Despond, with no helping hand to pull +him out--at least he thought so till letters were brought in, and among +fresh bills lay one well-worn envelope with an American stamp in the +corner. + +Ah, how welcome it was! how eagerly he read the long pages full of +affectionate wishes from all at home! For everyone had sent a line, and +as each familiar name appeared, his eyes grew dimmer and dimmer till, as +he read the last--'God bless my boy! Mother Bhaer'--he broke down; and +laying his head on his arms, blistered the paper with a rain of tears +that eased his heart and washed away the boyish sins that now lay so +heavy on his conscience. + +'Dear people, how they love and trust me! And how bitterly they would +be disappointed if they knew what a fool I've been! I'll fiddle in the +streets again before I'll ask for help from them!' cried Nat, brushing +away the tears of which he was ashamed, although he felt the good they +had done. + +Now he seemed to see more clearly what to do; for the helping hand had +been stretched across the sea, and Love, the dear Evangelist, had +lifted him out of the slough and shown him the narrow gate, beyond which +deliverance lay. When the letter had been reread, and one corner where +a daisy was painted, passionately kissed, Nat felt strong enough to face +the worst and conquer it. Every bill should be paid, every salable thing +of his own sold, these costly rooms given up; and once back with +thrifty Frau Tetzel, he would find work of some sort by which to support +himself, as many another student did. He must give up the new friends, +turn his back on the gay life, cease to be a butterfly, and take his +place among the grubs. It was the only honest thing to do, but very hard +for the poor fellow to crush his little vanities, renounce the delights +so dear to the young, own his folly, and step down from his pedestal to +be pitied, laughed at, and forgotten. + +It took all Nat's pride and courage to do this, for his was a sensitive +nature; esteem was very precious to him, failure very bitter, and +nothing but the inborn contempt for meanness and deceit kept him from +asking help or trying to hide his need by some dishonest device. As he +sat alone that night, Mr Bhaer's words came back to him with curious +clearness, and he saw himself a boy again at Plumfield, punishing his +teacher as a lesson to himself, when timidity had made him lie. + +'He shall not suffer for me again, and I won't be a sneak if I am a +fool. I'll go and tell Professor Baumgarten all about it and ask his +advice. I'd rather face a loaded cannon; but it must be done. Then I'll +sell out, pay my debts, and go back where I belong. Better be an honest +pauper than a jackdaw among peacocks'; and Nat smiled in the midst of +his trouble, as he looked about him at the little elegancies of his +room, remembering what he came from. + +He kept his word manfully, and was much comforted to find that his +experience was an old story to the professor, who approved his plan, +thinking wisely that the discipline would be good for him, and was very +kind in offering help and promising to keep the secret of his folly from +his friend Bhaer till Nat had redeemed himself. + +The first week of the new year was spent by our prodigal in carrying out +his plan with penitent dispatch, and his birthday found him alone in +the little room high up at Frau Tetzel's, with nothing of his former +splendour, but sundry unsalable keepsakes from the buxom maidens, who +mourned his absence deeply. His male friends had ridiculed, pitied, +and soon left him alone, with one or two exceptions, who offered their +purses generously and promised to stand by him. He was lonely and +heavy-hearted, and sat brooding over his small fire as he remembered the +last New Year's Day at Plumfield, when at this hour he was dancing with +his Daisy. + +A tap at the door roused him, and with a careless 'Herein', he waited +to see who had climbed so far for his sake. It was the good Frau proudly +bearing a tray, on which stood a bottle of wine and an astonishing +cake bedecked with sugar-plums of every hue, and crowned with candles. +Fraulein Vogelstein followed, embracing a blooming rose-tree, above +which her grey curls waved and her friendly face beamed joyfully as she +cried: + +'Dear Herr Blak, we bring you greetings and a little gift or two in +honour of this ever-to-be-remembered day. Best wishes! and may the new +year bloom for you as beautifully as we your heart-warm friends desire.' + +'Yes, yes, in truth we do, dear Herr,' added Frau Tetzel. 'Eat of this +with-joy-made Kuchen, and drink to the health of the far-away beloved +ones in the good wine.' + +Amused, yet touched by the kindness of the good souls, Nat thanked them +both, and made them stay to enjoy the humble feast with him. This they +gladly did, being motherly women full of pity for the dear youth, whose +straits they knew, and having substantial help to offer, as well as kind +words and creature comforts. + +Frau Tetzel, with some hesitation, mentioned a friend of hers who, +forced by illness to leave his place in the orchestra of a second-rate +theatre, would gladly offer it to Nat, if he could accept so humble a +position. Blushing and toying with the roses like a shy girl, good old +Vogelstein asked if in his leisure moments he could give English lessons +in the young ladies' school where she taught painting, adding that a +small but certain salary would be paid him. + +Gratefully Nat accepted both offers, finding it less humiliating to be +helped by women than by friends of his own sex. This work would support +him in a frugal way, and certain musical drudgery promised by his master +assured his own teaching. Delighted with the success of their little +plot, these friendly neighbours left him with cheery words, warm +hand-grasps, and faces beaming with feminine satisfaction at the hearty +kiss Nat put on each faded cheek, as the only return he could make for +all their helpful kindness. + +It was strange how much brighter the world looked after that; for hope +was a better cordial than the wine, and good resolutions bloomed as +freshly as the little rose-tree that filled the room with fragrance, as +Nat woke the echoes with the dear old airs, finding now as always his +best comforter in music, to whom henceforth he swore to be a more loyal +subject. + + + +Chapter 14. PLAYS AT PLUMFIELD + +As it is as impossible for the humble historian of the March family to +write a story without theatricals in it as for our dear Miss Yonge to +get on with less than twelve or fourteen children in her interesting +tales, we will accept the fact, and at once cheer ourselves after +the last afflicting events, by proceeding to the Christmas plays at +Plumfield; for they influence the fate of several of our characters, and +cannot well be skipped. + +When the college was built Mr Laurie added a charming little theatre +which not only served for plays, but declamations, lectures, and +concerts. The drop-curtain displayed Apollo with the Muses grouped about +him; and as a compliment to the donor of the hall the artist had given +the god a decided resemblance to our friend, which was considered +a superb joke by everyone else. Home talent furnished stars, stock +company, orchestra, and scene painter; and astonishing performances were +given on this pretty little stage. + +Mrs Jo had been trying for some time to produce a play which should +be an improvement upon the adaptations from the French then in vogue, +curious mixtures of fine toilettes, false sentiment, and feeble wit, +with no touch of nature to redeem them. It was easy to plan plays full +of noble speeches and thrilling situations, but very hard to write them; +so she contented herself with a few scenes of humble life in which the +comic and pathetic were mingled; and as she fitted her characters to +her actors, she hoped the little venture would prove that truth and +simplicity had not entirely lost their power to charm. Mr Laurie helped +her, and they called themselves Beaumont and Fletcher, enjoying their +joint labour very much; for Beaumont's knowledge of dramatic art was +of great use in curbing Fletcher's too-aspiring pen, and they flattered +themselves that they had produced a neat and effective bit of work as an +experiment. + +All was ready now; and Christmas Day was much enlivened by last +rehearsals, the panics of timid actors, the scramble for forgotten +properties, and the decoration of the theatre. Evergreen and holly from +the woods, blooming plants from the hothouse on Parnassus, and flags of +all nations made it very gay that night in honour of the guests who were +coming, chief among them, Miss Cameron, who kept her promise +faithfully. The orchestra tuned their instruments with unusual care, +the scene-shifters set their stage with lavish elegance, the prompter +heroically took his seat in the stifling nook provided for him, and +the actors dressed with trembling hands that dropped the pins, and +perspiring brows whereon the powder wouldn't stick. Beaumont and +Fletcher were everywhere, feeling that their literary reputation was +at stake; for sundry friendly critics were invited, and reporters, like +mosquitoes, cannot be excluded from any earthly scene, be it a great +man's death-bed or a dime museum. + +'Has she come?' was the question asked by every tongue behind the +curtain; and when Tom, who played an old man, endangered his respectable +legs among the footlights to peep, announced that he saw Miss Cameron's +handsome head in the place of honour, a thrill pervaded the entire +company, and Josie declared with an excited gasp that she was going to +have stage fright for the first time in her life. + +'I'll shake you if you do,' said Mrs Jo, who was in such a wild state +of dishevelment with her varied labours that she might have gone on as +Madge Wildlife, without an additional rag or crazy elf-lock. + +'You'll have time to get your wits together while we do our piece. We +are old stagers and calm as clocks,' answered Demi, with a nod towards +Alice, ready in her pretty dress and all her properties at hand. + +But both clocks were going rather faster than usual, as heightened +colour, brilliant eyes, and a certain flutter under the laces and velvet +coat betrayed. They were to open the entertainment with a gay little +piece which they had played before and did remarkably well. Alice was +a tall girl, with dark hair and eyes, and a face which intelligence, +health, and a happy heart made beautiful. She was looking her best now, +for the brocades, plumes, and powder of the Marquise became her stately +figure; and Demi in his court suit, with sword, three-cornered hat, and +white wig, made as gallant a Baron as one would wish to see. Josie was +the maid, and looked her part to the life, being as pretty, pert, +and inquisitive as any French soubrette. These three were all the +characters; and the success of the piece depended on the spirit and +skill with which the quickly changing moods of the quarrelsome lovers +were given, their witty speeches made to tell, and by-play suited to the +courtly period in which the scene was laid. + +Few would have recognized sober John and studious Alice in the dashing +gentleman and coquettish lady, who kept the audience laughing at their +caprices; while they enjoyed the brilliant costumes, and admired the +ease and grace of the young actors. Josie was a prominent figure in the +plot, as she listened at keyholes, peeped into notes, and popped in and +out at all the most inopportune moments, with her nose in the air, her +hands in her apron-pockets, and curiosity pervading her little figure +from the topmost bow of her jaunty cap to the red heels of her slippers. +All went smoothly; and the capricious Marquise, after tormenting the +devoted Baron to her heart's content, owned herself conquered in the war +of wits, and was just offering the hand he had fairly won, when a crash +startled them, and a heavily decorated side-scene swayed forward, ready +to fall upon Alice. Demi saw it and sprung before her to catch and hold +it up, standing like a modern Samson with the wall of a house on his +back. The danger was over in a moment, and he was about to utter his +last speech, when the excited young scene-shifter, who had flown up a +ladder to repair the damage, leaned over to whisper 'All right', and +release Demi from his spread-eagle attitude: as he did so, a hammer +slipped out of his pocket, to fall upon the upturned face below, +inflicting a smart blow and literally knocking the Baron's part out of +his head. + +'A quick curtain,' robbed the audience of a pretty little scene not down +on the bill; for the Marquise flew to staunch the blood with a cry of +alarm: 'Oh! John, you are hurt! Lean on me'--which John gladly did for a +moment, being a trifle dazed yet quite able to enjoy the tender touch of +the hands busied about him and the anxiety of the face so near his own; +for both told him something which he would have considered cheaply won +by a rain of hammers and the fall of the whole college on his head. + +Nan was on the spot in a moment with the case that never left her +pocket; and the wound was neatly plastered up by the time Mrs Jo +arrived, demanding tragically: + +'Is he too much hurt to go on again? If he is, my play is lost!' + +'I'm all the fitter for it, Aunty; for here's a real instead of a +painted wound. I'll be ready; don't worry about me.' And catching up +his wig, Demi was off, with only a very eloquent look of thanks to the +Marquise, who had spoilt her gloves for his sake, but did not seem to +mind it at all, though they reached above her elbows, and were most +expensive. + +'How are your nerves, Fletcher?' asked Mr Laurie as they stood together +during the breathless minute before the last bell rings. + +'About as calm as yours, Beaumont,' answered Mrs Jo, gesticulating +wildly to Mrs Meg to set her cap straight. + +'Bear up, partner! I'll stand by you whatever comes!' + +'I feel that it ought to go; for, though it's a mere trifle, a good deal +of honest work and truth have gone into it. Doesn't Meg look the picture +of a dear old country woman?' + +She certainly did, as she sat in the farmhouse kitchen by a cheery fire, +rocking a cradle and darning stockings, as if she had done nothing else +all her life. Grey hair, skilfully drawn lines on the forehead, and a +plain gown, with cap, little shawl, and check apron, changed her into a +comfortable, motherly creature who found favour the moment the curtain +went up and discovered her rocking, darning, and crooning an old song. +In a short soliloquy about Sam, her boy, who wanted to enlist; +Dolly, her discontented little daughter, who longed for city ease and +pleasures; and poor 'Elizy', who had married badly, and came home to +die, bequeathing her baby to her mother, lest its bad father should +claim it, the little story was very simply opened, and made effective +by the real boiling of the kettle on the crane, the ticking of a tall +clock, and the appearance of a pair of blue worsted shoes which +waved fitfully in the air to the soft babble of a baby's voice. Those +shapeless little shoes won the first applause; and Mr Laurie, forgetting +elegance in satisfaction, whispered to his coadjutor: + +'I thought the baby would fetch them!' + +'If the dear thing won't squall in the wrong place, we are saved. But +it is risky. Be ready to catch it if all Meg's cuddlings prove in vain,' +answered Mrs Jo, adding, with a clutch at Mr Laurie's arm as a haggard +face appeared at the window: + +'Here's Demi! I hope no one will recognize him when he comes on as the +son. I'll never forgive you for not doing the villain yourself.' + +'Can't run the thing and act too. He's capitally made up, and likes a +bit of melodrama.' + +'This scene ought to have come later; but I wanted to show that the +mother was the heroine as soon as possible. I'm tired of love-sick girls +and runaway wives. We'll prove that there's romance in old women also. +Now he's coming!' + +And in slouched a degraded-looking man, shabby, unshaven, and evil-eyed, +trying to assume a masterful air as he dismayed the tranquil old woman +by demanding his child. A powerful scene followed; and Mrs Meg surprised +even those who knew her best by the homely dignity with which she at +first met the man she dreaded; then, as he brutally pressed his claim, +she pleaded with trembling voice and hands to keep the little creature +she had promised the dying mother to protect; and when he turned to +take it by force, quite a thrill went through the house as the old woman +sprung to snatch it from the cradle, and holding it close, defied him in +God's name to tear it from that sacred refuge. It was really well done; +and the round of applause that greeted the fine tableau of the indignant +old woman, the rosy, blinking baby clinging to her neck, and the daunted +man who dared not execute his evil purpose with such a defender for +helpless innocence, told the excited authors that their first scene was +a hit. + +The second was quieter, and introduced Josie as a bonny country lass +setting the supper-table in a bad humour. The pettish way in which she +slapped down the plates, hustled the cups, and cut the big brown loaf, +as she related her girlish trials and ambitions, was capital. Mrs Jo +kept her eye on Miss Cameron, and saw her nod approval several times at +some natural tone or gesture, some good bit of by-play or a quick change +of expression in the young face, which was as variable as an April day. +Her struggle with the toasting-fork made much merriment; so did her +contempt for the brown sugar, and the relish with which she sweetened +her irksome duties by eating it; and when she sat, like Cinderella, on +the hearth, tearfully watching the flames dance on the homely room, a +girlish voice was heard to exclaim impulsively: + +'Poor little thing! she ought to have some fun!' + +The old woman enters; and mother and daughter have a pretty scene, in +which the latter coaxes and threatens, kisses and cries, till she wins +the reluctant consent of the former to visit a rich relation in the +city; and from being a little thunder-cloud Dolly becomes bewitchingly +gay and good, as soon as her wilful wish is granted. The poor old soul +has hardly recovered from this trial when the son enters, in army +blue, tells he has enlisted and must go. That is a hard blow; but the +patriotic mother bears it well, and not till the thoughtless young folks +have hastened away to tell their good news elsewhere does she break +down. Then the country kitchen becomes pathetic as the old mother sits +alone mourning over her children, till the grey head is hidden in the +hands as she kneels down by the cradle to weep and pray, with only Baby +to comfort her fond and faithful heart. + +Sniffs were audible all through the latter part of this scene; and +when the curtain fell, people were so busy wiping their eyes that for +a moment they forgot to applaud. That silent moment was more flattering +than noise; and as Mrs Jo wiped the real tears off her sister's +face, she said as solemnly as an unconscious dab of rouge on her nose +permitted: + +'Meg, you have saved my play! Oh, why aren't you a real actress, and I a +real playwright?' + +'Don't gush now, dear, but help me dress Josie; she's in such a quiver +of excitement, I can't manage her, and this is her best scene, you +know.' + +So it was; for her aunt had written it especially for her, and little Jo +was happy in a gorgeous dress, with a train long enough to satisfy her +wildest dreams. The rich relation's parlour was in festival array, and +the country cousin sails in, looking back at her sweeping flounces with +such artless rapture that no one had the heart to laugh at the pretty +jay in borrowed plumes. She has confidences with herself in the mirror, +from which it is made evident that she had discovered all is not gold +that glitters, and has found greater temptations than those a girlish +love of pleasure, luxury, and flattery bring her. She is sought by a +rich lover; but her honest heart resists the allurements he offers, +and in its innocent perplexity wishes 'mother' was there to comfort and +counsel. + +A gay little dance, in which Dora, Nan, Bess, and several of the boys +took part, made a good background for the humble figure of the old woman +in her widow's bonnet, rusty shawl, big umbrella, and basket. Her naive +astonishment, as she surveys the spectacle, feels the curtains, and +smooths her old gloves during the moment she remains unseen, was very +good; but Josie's unaffected start when she sees her, and the cry: +'Why, there's mother!' was such a hearty little bit of nature, it hardly +needed the impatient tripping over her train as she ran into the arms +that seemed now to be her nearest refuge. + +The lover plays his part; and ripples of merriment greeted the old +woman's searching questions and blunt answers during the interview which +shows the girl how shallow his love is, and how near she had been to +ruining her life as bitterly as poor 'Elizy' did. She gives her answer +frankly, and when they are alone, looks from her own bedizened self +to the shabby dress, work-worn hands, and tender face, crying with a +repentant sob and kiss: 'Take me home, mother, and keep me safe. I've +had enough of this!' + +'That will do you good, Maria; don't forget it,' said one lady to her +daughter as the curtain went down; and the girl answered: 'Well, I'm +sure I don't see why it's touching; but it is,' as she spread her lace +handkerchief to dry. + +Tom and Nan came out strong in the next scene; for it was a ward in +an army hospital, and surgeon and nurse went from bed to bed, feeling +pulses, administering doses, and hearing complaints with an energy and +gravity which convulsed the audience. The tragic element, never far from +the comic at such times and places, came in when, while they bandaged +an arm, the doctor told the nurse about an old woman who was searching +through the hospital for her son, after days and nights on battlefields, +through ambulances, and among scenes which would have killed most women. + +'She will be here directly, and I dread her coming, for I'm afraid the +poor lad who has just gone is her boy. I'd rather face a cannon than +these brave women, with their hope and courage and great sorrow,' says +the surgeon. + +'Ah, these poor mothers break my heart!' adds the nurse, wiping her eyes +on her big apron; and with the words Mrs Meg came in. + +There was the same dress, the basket and umbrella, the rustic speech, +the simple manners; but all were made pathetic by the terrible +experience which had changed the tranquil old woman to that haggard +figure with wild eyes, dusty feet, trembling hands, and an expression of +mingled anguish, resolution, and despair which gave the homely figure +a tragic dignity and power that touched all hearts. A few broken words +told the story of her vain search, and then the sad quest began again. +People held their breath as, led by the nurse, she went from bed to +bed, showing in her face the alternations of hope, dread, and bitter +disappointment as each was passed. On a narrow cot was a long figure +covered with a sheet, and here she paused to lay one hand on her heart +and one on her eyes, as if to gather courage to look at the nameless +dead. Then she drew down the sheet, gave a long shivering sigh of +relief, saying softly: + +'Not my son, thank God! but some mother's boy.' And stooping down, she +kissed the cold forehead tenderly. + +Somebody sobbed there, and Miss Cameron shook two tears out of her eyes, +anxious to lose no look or gesture as the poor soul, nearly spent with +the long strain, struggled on down the long line. But her search was +happily ended for, as if her voice had roused him from his feverish +sleep, a gaunt, wild-eyed man sat up in his bed, and stretching his arms +to her, cried in a voice that echoed through the room: + +'Mother, mother! I knew you'd come to me!' + +She did go to him, with a cry of love and joy that thrilled every +listener, as she gathered him in her arms with the tears and prayers and +blessing such as only a fond and faithful old mother could give. + +The last scene was a cheerful contrast to this; for the country kitchen +was bright with Christmas cheer, the wounded hero, with black patch and +crutches well displayed, sat by the fire in the old chair whose familiar +creak was soothing to his ear; pretty Dolly was stirring about, gaily +trimming dresser, settle, high chimney-piece, and old-fashioned cradle +with mistletoe and holly; while the mother rested beside her son, with +that blessed baby on her knee. Refreshed by a nap and nourishment, this +young actor now covered himself with glory by his ecstatic prancings, +incoherent remarks to the audience, and vain attempts to get to the +footlights, as he blinked approvingly at these brilliant toys. It was +good to see Mrs Meg pat him on the back, cuddle the fat legs out of +sight, and appease his vain longings with a lump of sugar, till Baby +embraced her with a grateful ardour that brought him a round of applause +all for his little self. + +A sound of singing outside disturbs the happy family, and, after a carol +in the snowy moonlight, a flock of neighbours troop in with Christmas +gifts and greetings. Much by-play made this a lively picture; for Sam's +sweetheart hovered round him with a tenderness the Marquise did not +show the Baron; and Dolly had a pretty bit under the mistletoe with her +rustic adorer, who looked so like Ham Peggotty in his cowhide boots, +rough jacket, and dark beard and wig, that no one would have recognized +Ted but for the long legs, which no extent of leather could disguise. It +ended with a homely feast, brought by the guests; and as they sat round +the table covered with doughnuts and cheese, pumpkin-pie, and other +delicacies, Sam rises on his crutches to propose the first toast, and +holding up his mug of cider, says, with a salute, and a choke in his +voice: 'Mother, God bless her!' All drink it standing, Dolly with her +arm round the old woman's neck, as she hides her happy tears on her +daughter's breast; while the irrepressible baby beat rapturously on the +table with a spoon, and crowed audibly as the curtain went down. + +They had it up again in a jiffy to get a last look at the group about +that central figure, which was showered with bouquets, to the great +delight of the infant Roscius; till a fat rosebud hit him on the nose, +and produced the much-dreaded squall, which, fortunately, only added to +the fun at that moment. + +'Well, that will do for a beginning,' said Beaumont, with a sigh of +relief, as the curtain descended for the last time, and the actors +scattered to dress for the closing piece. + +'As an experiment, it is a success. Now we can venture to begin our +great American drama,' answered Mrs Jo, full of satisfaction and grand +ideas for the famous play--which, we may add, she did not write that +year, owing to various dramatic events in her own family. + +The Owlsdark Marbles closed the entertainment, and, being something new, +proved amusing to this very indulgent audience. The gods and goddesses +on Parnassus were displayed in full conclave; and, thanks to Mrs Amy's +skill in draping and posing, the white wigs and cotton-flannel robes +were classically correct and graceful, though sundry modern additions +somewhat marred the effect, while adding point to the showman's learned +remarks. Mr Laurie was Professor Owlsdark in cap and gown; and, after +a high-flown introduction, he proceeded to exhibit and explain his +marbles. The first figure was a stately Minerva; but a second glance +produced a laugh, for the words 'Women's Rights' adorned her shield, a +scroll bearing the motto 'Vote early and often' hung from the beak of +the owl perched on her lance, and a tiny pestle and mortar ornamented +her helmet. Attention was drawn to the firm mouth, the piercing eye, the +awe-inspiring brow, of the strong-minded woman of antiquity, and some +scathing remarks made upon the degeneracy of her modern sisters who +failed to do their duty. Mercury came next, and was very fine in his +airy attitude, though the winged legs quivered as if it was difficult to +keep the lively god in his place. His restless nature was dilated upon, +his mischievous freaks alluded to, and a very bad character given to +the immortal messenger-boy; which delighted his friends and caused +the marble nose of the victim to curl visibly with scorn when derisive +applause greeted a particularly hard hit. A charming little Hebe stood +next, pouring nectar from a silver teapot into a blue china tea-cup. She +also pointed a moral; for the Professor explained that the nectar of old +was the beverage which cheers but does not inebriate, and regretted that +the excessive devotion of American women to this classic brew proved so +harmful, owing to the great development of brain their culture produced. +A touch at modern servants, in contrast to this accomplished table-girl, +made the statue's cheeks glow under the chalk, and brought her a hearty +round as the audience recognized Dolly and the smart soubrette. + +Jove in all his majesty followed, as he and his wife occupied the +central pedestals in the half-circle of immortals. A splendid Jupiter, +with hair well set up off the fine brow, ambrosial beard, silver +thunderbolts in one hand, and a well-worn ferule in the other. A +large stuffed eagle from the museum stood at his feet; and the benign +expression of his august countenance showed that he was in a good +humour--as well he might be, for he was paid some handsome compliments +upon his wise rule, the peaceful state of his kingdom, and the brood +of all-accomplished Pallases that yearly issued from his mighty brain. +Cheers greeted this and other pleasant words, and caused the thunderer +to bow his thanks; for 'Jove nods', as everyone knows, and flattery wins +the heart of gods and men. + +Mrs Juno, with her peacocks, darning-needle, pen, and cooking-spoon, did +not get off so easily; for the Professor was down on her with all manner +of mirth-provoking accusations, criticisms, and insults even. He alluded +to her domestic infelicity, her meddlesome disposition, sharp tongue, +bad temper, and jealousy, closing, however, with a tribute to her +skill in caring for the wounds and settling the quarrels of belligerent +heroes, as well as her love for youths in Olympus and on earth. Gales of +laughter greeted these hits, varied by hisses from some indignant boys, +who would not bear, even in joke, any disrespect to dear Mother Bhaer, +who, however, enjoyed it all immensely, as the twinkle in her eye and +the irrepressible pucker of her lips betrayed. + +A jolly Bacchus astride of his cask took Vulcan's place, and appeared to +be very comfortable with a beer-mug in one hand, a champagne bottle in +the other, and a garland of grapes on his curly head. He was the text +of a short temperance lecture, aimed directly at a row of smart young +gentlemen who lined the walls of the auditorium. George Cole was seen +to dodge behind a pillar at one point, Dolly nudged his neighbour at +another, and there was laughter all along the line as the Professor +glared at them through his big glasses, and dragged their bacchanalian +orgies to the light and held them up to scorn. + +Seeing the execution he had done, the learned man turned to the lovely +Diana, who stood as white and still as the plaster stag beside her, with +sandals, bow, and crescent; quite perfect, and altogether the best piece +of statuary in the show. She was very tenderly treated by the paternal +critic who, merely alluding to her confirmed spinsterhood, fondness for +athletic sports, and oracular powers, gave a graceful little exposition +of true art and passed on to the last figure. + +This was Apollo in full fig, his curls skilfully arranged to hide a +well-whitened patch over the eye, his handsome legs correctly poised, +and his gifted fingers about to draw divine music from the silvered +gridiron which was his lyre. His divine attributes were described, as +well as his little follies and failings, among which were his weakness +for photography and flute-playing, his attempts to run a newspaper, and +his fondness for the society of the Muses; which latter slap produced +giggles and blushes among the girl-graduates, and much mirth among the +stricken youths; for misery loves company, and after this they began to +rally. + +Then, with a ridiculous conclusion, the Professor bowed his thanks; +and after several recalls the curtain fell, but not quickly enough to +conceal Mercury, wildly waving his liberated legs, Hebe dropping her +teapot, Bacchus taking a lovely roll on his barrel, and Mrs Juno rapping +the impertinent Owlsdark on the head with Jove's ruler. + +While the audience filed out to supper in the hall, the stage was a +scene of dire confusion as gods and goddesses, farmers and barons, +maids and carpenters, congratulated one another on the success of their +labours. Assuming various costumes, actors and actresses soon joined +their guests, to sip bounteous draughts of praise with their coffee, and +cool their modest blushes with ice-cream. Mrs Meg was a proud and happy +woman when Miss Cameron came to her as she sat by Josie, with Demi +serving both, and said, so cordially that it was impossible to doubt the +sincerity of her welcome words: + +'Mrs Brooke, I no longer wonder where your children get their talent. +I make my compliments to the Baron and next summer you must let me have +little “Dolly” as a pupil when we are at the beach.' + +One can easily imagine how this offer was received, as well as the +friendly commendation bestowed by the same kind critic on the work of +Beaumont and Fletcher, who hastened to explain that this trifle was only +an attempt to make nature and art go hand in hand, with little help from +fine writing or imposing scenery. Everybody was in the happiest mood, +especially 'little Dolly', who danced like a will-o'-the-wisp with +light-footed Mercury and Apollo as he promenaded with the Marquise on +his arm, who seemed to have left her coquetry in the green room with her +rouge. + +When all was over, Mrs Juno said to Jove, to whose arm she clung as they +trudged home along the snowy paths: 'Fritz dear, Christmas is a good +time for new resolutions, and I've made one never to be impatient or +fretful with my beloved husband again. I know I am, though you won't own +it; but Laurie's fun had some truth in it, and I felt hit in a tender +spot. Henceforth I am a model wife, else I don't deserve the dearest, +best man ever born'; and being in a dramatic mood, Mrs Juno tenderly +embraced her excellent Jove in the moonlight, to the great amusement of +sundry lingerers behind them. + +So all three plays might be considered successes, and that merry +Christmas night a memorable one in the March family; for Demi got an +unspoken question answered, Josie's fondest wish was granted, and, +thanks to Professor Owlsdark's jest, Mrs Jo made Professor Bhaer's busy +life quite a bed of roses by the keeping of her resolution. A few days +later she had her reward for this burst of virtue in Dan's letter, which +set her fears at rest and made her very happy, though she was unable to +tell him so, because he sent her no address. + + + +Chapter 15. WAITING + +'My wife, I have bad news for thee,' said Professor Bhaer, coming in one +day early in January. + +'Please tell it at once. I can't bear to wait, Fritz,' cried Mrs Jo, +dropping her work and standing up as if to take the shot bravely. + +'But we must wait and hope, heart's-dearest. Come and let us bear it +together. Emil's ship is lost, and as yet no news of him.' + +It was well Mr Bhaer had taken his wife into his strong arms, for she +looked ready to drop, but bore up after a moment, and sitting by her +good man, heard all that there was to tell. Tidings had been sent to the +shipowners at Hamburg by some of the survivors, and telegraphed at once +by Franz to his uncle. As one boat-load was safe, there was hope that +others might also escape, though the gale had sent two to the bottom. +A swift-sailing steamer had brought these scanty news, and happier ones +might come at any hour; but kind Franz had not added that the sailors +reported the captain's boat as undoubtedly wrecked by the falling mast, +since the smoke hid its escape, and the gale soon drove all far asunder. +But this sad rumour reached Plumfield in time; and deep was the mourning +for the happyhearted Commodore, never to come singing home again. Mrs +Jo refused to believe it, stoutly insisting that Emil would outlive +any storm and yet turn up safe and gay. It was well she clung to this +hopeful view, for poor Mr Bhaer was much afflicted by the loss of his +boy, because his sister's sons had been his so long he scarcely knew a +different love for his very own. Now was a chance for Mrs Juno to keep +her word; and she did, speaking cheerily of Emil, even when hope waxed +faint and her heart was heavy. If anything could comfort the Bhaers for +the loss of one boy, it would have been the affection and sorrow shown +by all the rest. Franz kept the cable busy with his varying messages, +Nat sent loving letters from Leipzig, and Tom harassed the shipping +agents for news. Even busy Jack wrote them with unusual warmth; Dolly +and George came often, bearing the loveliest flowers and the +daintiest bon-bons to cheer Mrs Bhaer and sweeten Josie's grief; while +good-hearted Ned travelled all the way from Chicago to press their hands +and say, with a tear in his eye: 'I was so anxious to hear all about the +dear old boy, I couldn't keep away.' + +'That's right comfortable, and shows me that if I didn't teach my boys +anything else, I did give them the brotherly love that will make them +stand by one another all their lives,' said Mrs Jo, when he had gone. + +Rob answered reams of sympathizing letters, which showed how many +friends they had; and the kindly praises of the lost man would have +made Emil a hero and a saint, had they all been true. The elders bore +it quietly, having learned submission in life's hard school; but the +younger people rebelled; some hoped against hope and kept up, others +despaired at once, and little Josie, Emil's pet cousin and playmate, was +so broken-hearted nothing could comfort her. Nan dosed in vain, Daisy's +cheerful words went by like the wind, and Bess's devices to amuse her +all failed utterly. To cry in mother's arms and talk about the wreck, +which haunted her even in her sleep, was all she cared to do; and Mrs +Meg was getting anxious when Miss Cameron sent Josie a kind note bidding +her learn bravely her first lesson in real tragedy, and be like the +self-sacrificing heroines she loved to act. That did the little girl +good, and she made an effort in which Teddy and Octoo helped her much; +for the boy was deeply impressed by this sudden eclipse of the firefly +whose light and life all missed when they were gone, and lured her out +every day for long drives behind the black mare, who shook her silvery +bells till they made such merry music Josie could not help listening to +it, and whisked her over the snowy roads at a pace which set the blood +dancing in her veins and sent her home strengthened and comforted by +sunshine, fresh air, and congenial society--three aids young sufferers +seldom can resist. + +As Emil was helping nurse Captain Hardy, safe and well, aboard the ship, +all this sorrow would seem wasted; but it was not, for it drew many +hearts more closely together by a common grief, taught some patience, +some sympathy, some regret for faults that lie heavy on the conscience +when the one sinned against is gone, and all of them the solemn lesson +to be ready when the summons comes. A hush lay over Plumfield for weeks, +and the studious faces on the hill reflected the sadness of those in the +valley. Sacred music sounded from Parnassus to comfort all who heard; +the brown cottage was beseiged with gifts for the little mourner, and +Emil's flag hung at half-mast on the roof where he last sat with Mrs Jo. + +So the weeks went heavily by till suddenly, like a thunderbolt out of a +clear sky, came the news, 'All safe, letters on the way.' Then up went +the flag, out rang the college bells, bang went Teddy's long-unused +cannon, and a chorus of happy voices cried 'Thank God', as people went +about, laughing, crying, and embracing one another in a rapture of +delight. By and by the longed-for letters came, and all the story of the +wreck was told; briefly by Emil, eloquently by Mrs Hardy, gratefully by +the captain, while Mary added a few tender words that went straight to +their hearts and seemed the sweetest of all. Never were letters so read, +passed round, admired, and cried over as these; for Mrs Jo carried them +in her pocket when Mr Bhaer did not have them in his, and both took a +look at them when they said their prayers at night. Now the Professor +was heard humming like a big bee again as he went to his classes, and +the lines smoothed out of Mother Bhaer's forehead, while she wrote this +real story to anxious friends and let her romances wait. Now messages +of congratulation flowed in, and beaming faces showed everywhere. Rob +amazed his parents by producing a poem which was remarkably good for one +of his years, and Demi set it to music that it might be sung when the +sailor boy returned. Teddy stood on his head literally, and tore about +the neighbourhood on Octoo, like a second Paul Revere--only his tidings +were good. But best of all, little Josie lifted up her head as the +snowdrops did, and began to bloom again, growing tall and quiet, with +the shadow of past sorrow to tone down her former vivacity and show +that she had learned a lesson in trying to act well her part on the real +stage, where all have to take their share in the great drama of life. + +Now another sort of waiting began; for the travellers were on their way +to Hamburg, and would stay there awhile before coming home, as Uncle +Hermann owned the Brenda, and the captain must report to him. Emil must +remain to Franz's wedding, deferred till now because of the season of +mourning, so happily ended. These plans were doubly welcome and pleasant +after the troublous times which went before, and no spring ever seemed +so beautiful as this one; for, as Teddy put it: + + 'Now is the winter of our discontent + Made glorious by these sons of Bhaer!' + +Franz and Emil being regarded in the light of elder brothers by the real +'sons of Bhaer'. + +There was great scrubbing and dusting among the matrons as they set +their houses in order not only for Class Day, but to receive the bride +and groom, who were to come to them for the honeymoon trip. Great plans +were made, gifts prepared, and much joy felt at the prospect of seeing +Franz again; though Emil, who was to accompany them, would be the +greater hero. Little did the dear souls dream what a surprise was in +store for them, as they innocently laid their plans and wished all the +boys could be there to welcome home their eldest and their Casablanca. + +While they wait and work so happily, let us see how our other absent +boys are faring as they too wait and work and hope for better days. Nat +was toiling steadily along the path he had wisely chosen, though it was +by no means strewn with flowers--quite thorny was it, in fact, and hard +to travel, after the taste of ease and pleasure he had got when nibbling +at forbidden fruit. But his crop of wild oats was a light one, and he +resolutely reaped what he had sowed, finding some good wheat among +the tares. He taught by day; he fiddled night after night in the dingy +little theatre, and he studied so diligently that his master was well +pleased, and kept him in mind as one to whom preferment was due, if any +chance occurred. Gay friends forgot him; but the old ones stood fast, +and cheered him up when Heimweh and weariness made him sad. As spring +came on things mended--expenses grew less, work pleasanter, and life +more bearable than when wintry storms beat on his thinly clad back, and +frost pinched the toes that patiently trudged in old boots. No debts +burdened him; the year of absence was nearly over; and if he chose to +stay, Herr Bergmann had hopes for him that would bring independence for +a time at least. So he walked under the lindens with a lighter heart, +and in the May evenings went about the city with a band of strolling +students, making music before houses where he used to sit as guest. No +one recognized him in the darkness, though old friends often listened +to the band; and once Minna threw him money, which he humbly received as +part of his penance, being morbid on the subject of his sins. + +His reward came sooner than he expected, and was greater than he +deserved, he thought, though his heart leaped with joy when his master +one day informed him that he was chosen, with several other of his most +promising pupils, to join the musical society which was to take part in +the great festival in London the next July. Here was not only honour for +the violinist but happiness for the man, as it brought him nearer home, +and would open a chance of further promotion and profit in his chosen +profession. + +'Make thyself useful to Bachmeister there in London with thy English, +and if all goes well with him, he will be glad to take thee to America, +whither he goes in the early autumn for winter concerts. Thou hast done +well these last months, and I have hopes of thee.' + +As the great Bergmann seldom praised his pupils, these words filled +Nat's soul with pride and joy, and he worked yet more diligently than +before to fulfil his master's prophecy. He thought the trip to England +happiness enough, but found room for more when, early in June, Franz +and Emil paid him a flying visit, bringing all sorts of good news, kind +wishes, and comfortable gifts for the lonely fellow, who could have +fallen on their necks and cried like a girl at seeing his old mates +again. How glad he was to be found in his little room busy at his proper +work, not living like an idle gentleman on borrowed money! How proud +he was to tell his plans, assure them that he had no debts, and receive +their praises for his improvement in music, their respect for his +economy and steadfastness in well-doing! How relieved when, having +honestly confessed his shortcomings, they only laughed, and owned that +they also had known like experiences, and were the wiser for them. He +was to go to the wedding late in June, and join his comrades in London. +As best man, he could not refuse the new suit Franz insisted on ordering +for him; and a cheque from home about that time made him feel like a +millionaire--and a happy one; for this was accompanied by such kind +letters full of delight in his success, he felt that he had earned it, +and waited for his joyful holiday with the impatience of a boy. + +Dan meantime was also counting the weeks till August, when he would +be free. But neither marriage-bells nor festival music awaited him; no +friends would greet him as he left the prison; no hopeful prospect lay +before him; no happy home-going was to be his. Yet his success was far +greater than Nat's, though only God and one good man saw it. It was +a hard-won battle; but he would never have to fight so terrible a +one again; for though enemies would still assail from within and from +without, he had found the little guide-book that Christian carried in +his bosom, and Love, Penitence, and Prayer, the three sweet sisters, had +given him the armour which would keep him safe. He had not learned to +wear it yet, and chafed against it, though he felt its value, thanks to +the faithful friend who had stood by him all that bitter year. + +Soon he was to be free again, worn and scarred in the fray, but out +among men in the blessed sun and air. When he thought of it Dan felt as +if he could not wait, but must burst that narrow cell and fly away, +as the caddis-worms he used to watch by the brookside shed their stony +coffins, to climb the ferns and soar into the sky. Night after night he +lulled himself to sleep with planning how, when he had seen Mary Mason +according to his promise, he would steer straight for his old friends, +the Indians, and in the wilderness hide his disgrace and heal his +wounds. Working to save the many would atone for the sin of killing +one, he thought; and the old free life would keep him safe from the +temptations that beset him in cities. + +'By and by, when I'm all right again, and have something to tell that +I'm not ashamed of, I'll go home,' he said, with a quicker beat of the +impetuous heart that longed to be there so intensely, he found it as +hard to curb as one of his unbroken horses on the plains. 'Not yet. I +must get over this first. They'd see and smell and feel the prison taint +on me, if I went now, and I couldn't look them in the face and hide +the truth. I can't lose Ted's love, Mother Bhaer's confidence, and the +respect of the girls, for they did respect my strength, anyway; but now +they wouldn't touch me.' And poor Dan looked with a shudder at the brown +fist he clenched involuntarily as he remembered what it had done since +a certain little white hand had laid in it confidingly. 'I'll make 'em +proud of me yet; and no one shall ever know of this awful year. I can +wipe it out, and I will, so help me God!' And the clenched hand was held +up as if to take a solemn oath that this lost year should yet be made +good, if resolution and repentance could work the miracle. + + + +Chapter 16. IN THE TENNIS-COURT + +Athletic sports were in high favour at Plumfield; and the river where +the old punt used to wabble about with a cargo of small boys, or echo to +the shrill screams of little girls trying to get lilies, now was +alive with boats of all kinds, from the slender wherry to the trim +pleasure-craft, gay with cushions, awnings, and fluttering pennons. +Everyone rowed, and the girls as well as the youths had their races, and +developed their muscles in the most scientific manner. The large, level +meadow near the old willow was now the college playground, and here +baseball battles raged with fury, varied by football, leaping, and +kindred sports fitted to split the fingers, break the ribs, and strain +the backs of the too ambitious participants. The gentler pastimes of the +damsels were at a safe distance from this Champ de Mars; croquet mallets +clicked under the elms that fringed the field, rackets rose and fell +energetically in several tennis-courts, and gates of different heights +were handy to practise the graceful bound by which every girl expected +to save her life some day when the mad bull, which was always coming but +never seemed to arrive, should be bellowing at her heels. + +One of these tennis grounds was called 'Jo's Court', and here the little +lady ruled like a queen; for she was fond of the game, and being bent on +developing her small self to the highest degree of perfection, she was +to be found at every leisure moment with some victim hard at it. On a +certain pleasant Saturday afternoon she had been playing with Bess and +beating her; for, though more graceful, the Princess was less active +than her cousin, and cultivated her roses by quieter methods. + +'Oh dear! you are tired, and every blessed boy is at that stupid +baseball match. 'What shall I do?' sighed Josie, pushing back the great +red hat she wore, and gazing sadly round her for more worlds to conquer. + +'I'll play presently, when I'm a little cooler. But it is dull work for +me, as I never win,' answered Bess, fanning herself with a large leaf. + +Josie was about to sit down beside her on the rustic seat and wait, when +her quick eye saw afar off two manly forms arrayed in white flannel; +their blue legs seemed bearing them towards the battle going on in the +distance; but they never reached the fray; for with a cry of joy, +Jo raced away to meet them, bent on securing this heaven-sent +reinforcement. Both paused as she came flying up, and both raised their +hats; but oh, the difference there was in the salutes! The stout youth +pulled his off lazily and put it on again at once, as if glad to get the +duty over; the slender being, with the crimson tie, lifted his with a +graceful bend, and held it aloft while he accosted the rosy, breathless +maid, thus permitting her to see his raven locks smoothly parted, with +one little curl upon the brow. Dolly prided himself upon that bow, and +practised it before his glass, but did not bestow it upon all alike, +regarding it as a work of art, fit only for the fairest and most +favoured of his female admirers; for he was a pretty youth, and fancied +himself an Adonis. + +Eager Josie evidently did not appreciate the honour he did her, for with +a nod she begged them both to 'come along and play tennis, not go and +get all hot and dirty with the boys'. These two adjectives won the day; +for Stuffy was already warmer than he liked to be, and Dolly had on +a new suit which he desired to keep immaculate as long as possible, +conscious that it was very becoming. + +'Charmed to oblige,' answered the polite one, with another bend. + +'You play, I'll rest,' added the fat boy, yearning for repose and gentle +converse with the Princess in the cooling shade. + +'Well, you can comfort Bess, for I've beaten her all to bits and she +needs amusing. I know you've got something nice in your pocket, George; +give her some, and 'Dolphus can have her racket. Now then, fly round'; +and driving her prey before her, Josie returned in triumph to the court. + +Casting himself ponderously upon the bench, which creaked under his +weight, Stuffy--as we will continue to call him, though no one +else dared to use the old name now--promptly produced the box of +confectionery, without which he never travelled far, and regaled Bess +with candied violets and other dainties, while Dolly worked hard to hold +his own against a most accomplished antagonist. He would have beaten her +if an unlucky stumble, which produced an unsightly stain upon the knee +of those new shorts, had not distracted his mind and made him careless. +Much elated at her victory, Josie permitted him to rest, and offered +ironical consolation for the mishap which evidently weighed upon his +mind. + +'Don't be an old Betty; it can be cleaned. You must have been a cat +in some former state, you are so troubled about dirt; or a tailor, and +lived for clothes.' + +'Come now, don't hit a fellow when he is down,' responded Dolly from +the grass where he and Stuffy now lay to make room for both girls on the +seat. One handkerchief was spread under him, and his elbow leaned upon +another, while his eyes were sadly fixed upon the green and brown spot +which afflicted him. 'I like to be neat; don't think it civil to cut +about in old shoes and grey flannel shirts before ladies. Our fellows +are gentlemen, and dress as such,' he added, rather nettled at the +word 'tailor'; for he owed one of those too attractive persons an +uncomfortably big bill. + +'So are ours; but good clothes alone don't make a gentleman here. We +require a good deal more,' flashed Josie, in arms at once to defend +her college. 'You will hear of some of the men in “old boots and grey +flannel” when you and your fine gentlemen are twiddling your ties and +scenting your hair in obscurity. I like old boots and wear them, and I +hate dandies; don't you, Bess?' + +'Not when they are kind to me, and belong to our old set,' answered +Bess, with a nod of thanks to Dolly, who was carefully removing an +inquisitive caterpillar from one of her little russet shoes. + +'I like a lady who is always polite, and doesn't snap a man's head off +if he has a mind of his own; don't you, George?' asked Dolly, with his +best smile for Bess and a Harvard stare of disapprobation for Josie. + +A tranquil snore was Stuffy's sole reply, and a general laugh restored +peace for the moment. But Josie loved to harass the lords of creation +who asserted themselves too much, and bided her time for another attack +till she had secured more tennis. She got another game; for Dolly was +a sworn knight of dames, so he obeyed her call, leaving Bess to sketch +George as he lay upon his back, his stout legs crossed, and his round +red face partially eclipsed by his hat. Josie got beaten this time and +came back rather cross, so she woke the peaceful sleeper by tickling his +nose with a straw till he sneezed himself into a sitting posture, and +looked wrathfully about for 'that confounded fly'. + +'Come, sit up and let us have a little elegant conversation; you +“howling swells” ought to improve our minds and manners, for we are +only poor “country girls in dowdy gowns and hats”,' began the gad-fly, +opening the battle with a sly quotation from one of Dolly's unfortunate +speeches about certain studious damsels who cared more for books than +finery. + +'I didn't mean you! Your gowns are all right, and those hats the latest +thing out,' began poor 'Dolphus, convicting himself by the incautious +exclamation. + +'Caught you that time; I thought you fellows were all gentlemen, civil +as well as nice. But you are always sneering at girls who don't dress +well and that is a very unmanly thing to do; my mother said so'; and +Josie felt that she had dealt a shrewd blow at the elegant youth who +bowed at many shrines if they were well-decorated ones. + +'Got you there, old boy, and she's right. You never hear me talk about +clothes and such twaddle,' said Stuffy, suppressing a yawn, and feeling +for another bon-bon wherewith to refresh himself. + +'You talk about eating, and that is even worse for a man. You will marry +a cook and keep a restaurant some day,' laughed Josie, down on him at +once. + +This fearful prediction kept him silent for several moments; but Dolly +rallied, and wisely changing the subject, carried war into the enemy's +camp. + +'As you wanted us to improve your manners, allow me to say that young +ladies in good society don't make personal remarks or deliver lectures. +Little girls who are not out do it, and think it witty; but I assure you +it's not good form.' + +Josie paused a moment to recover from the shock of being called 'a +little girl', when all the honours of her fourteenth birthday were fresh +upon her; and Bess said, in the lofty tone which was infinitely more +crushing than Jo's impertinence: + +'That is true; but we have lived all our lives with superior people, so +we have no society talk like your young ladies. We are so accustomed to +sensible conversation, and helping one another by telling our faults, +that we have no gossip to offer you.' + +When the Princess reproved, the boys seldom resented it; so Dolly held +his peace, and Josie burst out, following her cousin's lead, which she +thought a happy one: + +'Our boys like to have us talk with them, and take kindly any hints we +give. They don't think they know everything and are quite perfect at +eighteen, as I've observed the Harvard men do, especially the very young +ones.' + +Josie took immense satisfaction in that return shot; and Dolly showed +that he was hit, by the nettled tone in which he answered, with a +supercilious glance at the hot, dusty, and noisy crowd on the baseball +ground: 'The class of fellows you have here need all the polish and +culture you can give them; and I'm glad they get it. Our men are largely +from the best families all over the country, so we don't need girls to +teach us anything.' + +'It's a pity you don't have more of such “fellows” as ours. They value +and use well what college gives them, and aren't satisfied to slip +through, getting all the fun they can and shirking the work. Oh, I've +heard you “men” talk, and heard your fathers say they wish they hadn't +wasted time and money just that you might say you'd been through +college. As for the girls, you'll be much better off in all ways when +they do get in, and keep you lazy things up to the mark, as we do here.' + +'If you have such a poor opinion of us, why do you wear our colour?' +asked Dolly, painfully conscious that he was not improving the +advantages his Alma Mater offered him, but bound to defend her. + +'I don't; my hat is scarlet, not crimson. Much you know about a colour,' +scoffed Josie. + +'I know that a cross cow would soon set you scampering, if you flaunted +that red tile under her nose,' retorted Dolly. + +'I'm ready for her. Can your fine young ladies do this? or you either?' +and burning to display her latest accomplishment, Josie ran to the +nearest gate, put one hand on the top rail, and vaulted over as lightly +as a bird. + +Bess shook her head, and Stuffy languidly applauded; but Dolly scorning +to be braved by a girl, took a flying leap and landed on his feet beside +Josie, saying calmly: 'Can you do that?' + +'Not yet; but I will by and by.' + +As his foe looked a little crestfallen, Dolly relented, and affably +added sundry feats of a like nature, quite unconscious that he had +fallen into a dreadful snare; for the dull red paint on the gate, not +being used to such vigorous handling, came off in streaks upon his +shoulders when he turned a backward swing and came up smiling, to be +rewarded with the aggravating remark: + +'If you want to know what crimson is, look at your back; it's nicely +stamped on and won't wash out, I think.' + +'The deuce it won't!' cried Dolly, trying to get an impossible view, and +giving it up in great disgust. + +'I guess we'd better be going, Dolf,' said peaceable Stuffy, feeling +that it would be wise to retreat before another skirmish took place, as +his side seemed to be getting the worst of it. + +'Don't hurry, I beg; stay and rest; you must need it after the +tremendous amount of brain work you've done this week. It is time for +our Greek. Come, Bess. Good afternoon, gentlemen.' And, with a sweeping +courtesy, Josie led the way, with her hat belligerently cocked up, and +her racket borne like a triumphal banner over one shoulder; for having +had the last word, she felt that she could retire with the honours of +war. + +Dolly gave Bess his best bow, with the chill on; and Stuffy subsided +luxuriously, with his legs in the air, murmuring in a dreamy tone: + +'Little Jo is as cross as two sticks today. I'm going in for another +nap: too hot to play anything.' + +'So it is. Wonder if Spitfire was right about these beastly spots?' +And Dolly sat down to try dry cleansing with one of his handkerchiefs. +'Asleep?' he asked, after a few moments of this cheerful occupation, +fearing that his chum might be too comfortable when he was in a fume +himself. + +'No. I was thinking that Jo wasn't far wrong about shirking. 'Tis a +shame to get so little done, when we ought to be grinding like Morton +and Torry and that lot. I never wanted to go to college; but my governor +made me. Much good it will do either of us!' answered Stuffy, with a +groan; for he hated work, and saw two more long years of it before him. + +'Gives a man prestige, you know. No need to dig. I mean to have a gay +old time, and be a “howling swell”, if I choose. Between you and me +though, it would be no end jolly to have the girls along. Study be +hanged! But if we've got to turn the grindstone, it would be mighty nice +to have some of the little dears to lend a hand. Wouldn't it now?' + +'I'd like three this minute--one to fan me, one to kiss me, and one +to give me some iced lemonade!' sighed Stuffy, with a yearning glance +towards the house, whence no succour appeared. + +'How would root-beer do?' asked a voice behind them, which made Dolly +spring to his feet and Stuffy roll over like a startled porpoise. + +Sitting on the stile that crossed the wall near by was Mrs Jo, with two +jugs slung over her shoulder by a strap, several tin mugs in her hand, +and an old-fashioned sun-bonnet on her head. + +'I knew the boys would be killing themselves with ice-water; so I +strolled down with some of my good, wholesome beer. They drank like +fishes. But Silas was with me; so my cruse still holds out. Have some?' + +'Yes, thanks, very much. Let us pour it.' And Dolly held the cup while +Stuffy joyfully filled it; both very grateful, but rather afraid she had +heard what went before the wish she fulfilled. + +She proved that she had by saying, as they stood drinking her health, +while she sat between them, looking like a middle-aged vivandiere, with +her jugs and mugs: + +'I was glad to hear you say you would like to have girls at your +college; but I hope you will learn to speak more respectfully of them +before they come; for that will be the first lesson they will teach +you.' + +'Really, ma'am, I was only joking,' began Stuffy, gulping down his beer +in a hurry. + +'So was I. I'm sure I--I'm devoted to 'em,' stuttered Dolly, +panic-stricken; for he saw that he was in for a lecture of some sort. + +'Not in the right way. Frivolous girls may like to be called “little +dears” and things of that sort; but the girls who love study wish to be +treated like reasonable beings, not dolls to flirt with. Yes, I'm going +to preach; that's my business; so stand up and take it like men.' + +Mrs Jo laughed; but she was in earnest; for by various hints and signs +during the past winter she knew that the boys were beginning to 'see +life' in the way she especially disapproved. Both were far from home, +had money enough to waste, and were as inexperienced, curious, and +credulous as most lads of their age. Not fond of books, therefore +without the safeguard which keeps many studious fellows out of harm; one +self-indulgent, indolent, and so used to luxury that pampering of the +senses was an easy thing; the other vain, as all comely boys are, full +of conceit, and so eager to find favour in the eyes of his comrades +that he was ready for anything which would secure it. These traits and +foibles made both peculiarly liable to the temptations which assail +pleasure-loving and weak-willed boys. Mrs Jo knew them well, and had +dropped many a warning word since they went to college; but till lately +they seemed not to understand some of her friendly hints; now she was +sure they would, and meant to speak out: for long experience with boys +made her both bold and skilful in handling some of the dangers usually +left to silence, till it is too late for anything but pity and reproach. + +'I'm going to talk to you like a mother, because yours are far away; and +there are things that mothers can manage best, if they do their duty,' +she solemnly began from the depths of the sunbonnet. + +'Great Scott! We're in for it now!' thought Dolly, in secret dismay; +while Stuffy got the first blow by trying to sustain himself with +another mug of beer. + +'That won't hurt you; but I must warn you about drinking other things, +George. Overeating is an old story; and a few more fits of illness will +teach you to be wise. But drinking is a more serious thing, and leads +to worse harm than any that can afflict your body alone. I hear you +talk about wines as if you knew them and cared more for them than a +boy should; and several times I've heard jokes that meant mischief. For +heaven's sake, don't begin to play with this dangerous taste “for fun”, +as you say, or because it's the fashion, and the other fellows do. Stop +at once, and learn that temperance in all things is the only safe rule.' + +'Upon my honour, I only take wine and iron. I need a tonic, mother +says, to repair the waste of brain-tissue while I'm studying,' protested +Stuffy, putting down the mug as if it burnt his fingers. + +'Good beef and oatmeal will repair your tissues much better than any +tonic of that sort. Work and plain fare are what you want; and I wish +I had you here for a few months out of harm's way. I'd Banting you, and +fit you to run without puffing, and get on without four or five meals a +day. What an absurd hand that is for a man! You ought to be ashamed +of it!' And Mrs Jo caught up the plump fist, with deep dimples at each +knuckle, which was fumbling distressfully at the buckle of the belt girt +about a waist far too large for a youth of his age. + +'I can't help it--we all grow fat; it's in the family,' said Stuffy in +self-defence. + +'All the more reason you should live carefully. Do you want to die +early, or be an invalid all your life?' + +'No, ma'am!' + +Stuffy looked so scared that Mrs Jo could not be hard upon his budding +sins, for they lay at his overindulgent mother's door line in a great +measure; so she softened the tone of her voice, and added, with a little +slap on the fat hand, as she used to do when it was small enough to +pilfer lumps of sugar from her bowl: + +'Then be careful; for a man writes his character in his face; and you +don't want gluttony and intemperance in yours, I know.' + +'I'm sure I don't! Please make out a wholesome bill of fare, and I'll +stick to it, if I can. I am getting stout, and I don't like it; and my +liver's torpid, and I have palpitations and headache. Overwork, mother +says; but it may be overeating.' And Stuffy gave a sigh of mingled +regret for the good things he renounced, and relief as he finished +loosening his belt as soon as his hand was free. + +'I will; follow it, and in a year you'll be a man and not a meal-bag. +Now, Dolly'; and Mrs Jo turned to the other culprit, who shook in his +shoes and wished he hadn't come. + +'Are you studying French as industriously as you were last winter?' + +'No ma'am; I don't care for it--that is, I, I'm busy with G-Greek just +now,' answered Dolly, beginning bravely, quite in the dark as to what +that odd question meant till a sudden memory made him stutter and look +at his shoes with deep interest. + +'Oh, he doesn't study it; only reads French novels and goes to the +theatre when the opera bouffe is here,' said Stuffy, innocently +confirming Mrs Jo's suspicions. + +'So I understood; and that is what I want to speak about. Ted had a +sudden desire to learn French in that way, from something you said, +Dolly; so I went myself, and was quite satisfied that it was no place +for a decent boy. Your men were out in full force; and I was glad to +see that some of the younger ones looked as ashamed as I felt. The older +fellows enjoyed it, and when we came out were waiting to take those +painted girls to supper. Did you ever go with them?' + +'Once.' + +'Did you like it?' + +'No 'm; I--I came away early,' stammered Dolly, with a face as red as +his splendid tie. + +'I'm glad you have not lost the grace of blushing yet; but you will +soon, if you keep up this sort of study and forget to be ashamed. The +society of such women will unfit you for that of good ones, and lead you +into trouble and sin and shame. Oh, why don't the city fathers stop that +evil thing, when they know the harm it does? It made my heart ache to +see those boys, who ought to be at home and in their beds, going off for +a night of riot which would help to ruin some of them for ever.' + +The youths looked scared at Mrs Jo's energetic protest against one of +the fashionable pleasures of the day, and waited in conscience-stricken +silence--Stuffy glad that he never went to those gay suppers, and +Dolly deeply grateful that he 'came away early'. With a hand on either +shoulder, and all the terrors smoothed from her brow, Mrs Jo went on +in her most motherly tone, anxious to do for them what no other woman +would, and do it kindly: + +'My dear boys, if I didn't love you, I would not say these things. I +know they are not pleasant; but my conscience won't let me hold my peace +when a word may keep you from two of the great sins that curse the world +and send so many young men to destruction. You are just beginning to +feel the allurement of them, and soon it will be hard to turn away. Stop +now, I beg of you, and not only save yourselves but help others by +a brave example. Come to me if things worry you; don't be afraid or +ashamed; I have heard many sadder confessions than any you are ever +likely to bring me, and been able to comfort many poor fellows, gone +wrong for want of a word in time. Do this, and you will be able to +kiss your mothers with clean lips, and by and by have the right to ask +innocent girls to love you.' + +'Yes'm, thank you. I suppose you're right; but it's pretty hard work +to toe the mark when ladies give you wine and gentlemen take their +daughters to see Aimee,' said Dolly, foreseeing tribulations ahead +though he knew it was time to 'pull up'. + +'So it is; but all the more honour to those who are brave and wise +enough to resist public opinion, and the easy-going morals of bad or +careless men and women. Think of the persons whom you respect most, and +in imitating them you will secure the respect of those who look up to +you. I'd rather my boys should be laughed at and cold-shouldered by a +hundred foolish fellows than lose what, once gone, no power can give +them back--innocence and self-respect. I don't wonder you find it +“hard to toe the mark”, when books, pictures, ball-rooms, theatres, and +streets offer temptations; yet you can resist, if you try. Last winter +Mrs Brooke used to worry about John's being out so late reporting; but +when she spoke to him about the things he must see and hear on his way +to and fro from the office at midnight, he said in his sober way, “I +know what you mean, mother; but no fellow need to go wrong unless he +wants to.” + +'That's like the Deacon!' exclaimed Stuffy, with an approving smile on +his fat face. + +'I'm glad you told me that. He's right; and it's because he doesn't want +to go wrong we all respect him so,' added Dolly, looking up now with +an expression which assured his Mentor that the right string had been +touched, and a spirit of emulation roused, more helpful, perhaps, than +any words of hers. Seeing this, she was satisfied, and said, as she +prepared to leave the bar before which her culprits had been tried and +found guilty, but recommended to mercy: + +'Then be to others what John is to you--a good example. Forgive me for +troubling you, my dear lads, and remember my little preachment. I think +it will do you good, though I may never know it. Chance words spoken +in kindness often help amazingly; and that's what old people are here +for--else their experience is of little use. Now, come and find the +young folk. I hope I shall never have to shut the gates of Plumfield +upon you, as I have on some of your “gentlemen”. I mean to keep my +boys and girls safe if I can, and this a wholesome place where the good +old-fashioned virtues are lived and taught.' + +Much impressed by that dire threat, Dolly helped her from her perch with +deep respect; and Stuffy relieved her of her empty jugs, solemnly vowing +to abstain from all fermented beverages except root-beer, as long +as feeble flesh could hold out. Of course they made light of 'Mother +Bhaer's lecture' when they were alone--that was to be expected of 'men +of our class' but in their secret souls they thanked her for giving +their boyish consciences a jog, and more than once afterward had cause +to remember gratefully that half-hour in the tennis court. + + + +Chapter 17. AMONG THE MAIDS + +Although this story is about Jo's boys, her girls cannot be neglected, +because they held a high place in this little republic, and especial +care was taken to fit them to play their parts worthily in the great +republic which offered them wider opportunities and more serious duties. +To many the social influence was the better part of the training +they received; for education is not confined to books, and the finest +characters often graduate from no college, but make experience their +master, and life their book. Others cared only for the mental culture, +and were in danger of over-studying, under the delusion which pervades +New England that learning must be had at all costs, forgetting that +health and real wisdom are better. A third class of ambitious girls +hardly knew what they wanted, but were hungry for whatever could fit +them to face the world and earn a living, being driven by necessity, +the urgency of some half-conscious talent, or the restlessness of +strong young natures to break away from the narrow life which no longer +satisfied. + +At Plumfield all found something to help them; for the growing +institution had not yet made its rules as fixed as the laws of the +Medes and Persians, and believed so heartily in the right of all +sexes, colours, creeds, and ranks to education, that there was room +for everyone who knocked, and a welcome to the shabby youths from up +country, the eager girls from the West, the awkward freedman or woman +from the South, or the well-born student whose poverty made this college +a possibility when other doors were barred. There still was prejudice, +ridicule, neglect in high places, and prophecies of failure to contend +against; but the Faculty was composed of cheerful, hopeful men and women +who had seen greater reforms spring from smaller roots, and after stormy +seasons blossom beautifully, to add prosperity and honour to the nation. +So they worked on steadily and bided their time, full of increasing +faith in their attempt as year after year their numbers grew, their +plans succeeded, and the sense of usefulness in this most vital of all +professions blessed them with its sweet rewards. + +Among the various customs which had very naturally sprung up was one +especially useful and interesting to 'the girls', as the young women +liked to be called. It all grew out of the old sewing hour still kept up +by the three sisters long after the little work-boxes had expanded into +big baskets full of household mending. They were busy women, yet on +Saturdays they tried to meet in one of the three sewing-rooms; for +even classic Parnassus had its nook where Mrs Amy often sat among her +servants, teaching them to make and mend, thereby giving them a respect +for economy, since the rich lady did not scorn to darn her hose, and sew +on buttons. In these household retreats, with books and work, and their +daughters by them, they read and sewed and talked in the sweet privacy +that domestic women love, and can make so helpful by a wise mixture of +cooks and chemistry, table linen and theology, prosaic duties and good +poetry. + +Mrs Meg was the first to propose enlarging this little circle; for as +she went her motherly rounds among the young women she found a sad lack +of order, skill, and industry in this branch of education. Latin, Greek, +the higher mathematics, and science of all sorts prospered finely; but +the dust gathered on the work-baskets, frayed elbows went unheeded, and +some of the blue stockings sadly needed mending. Anxious lest the usual +sneer at learned women should apply to 'our girls', she gently lured two +or three of the most untidy to her house, and made the hour so pleasant, +the lesson so kindly, that they took the hint, were grateful for the +favour, and asked to come again. Others soon begged to make the detested +weekly duty lighter by joining the party, and soon it was a privilege +so much desired that the old museum was refitted with sewing-machines, +tables, rocking-chair, and a cheerful fireplace, so that, rain or shine, +the needles might go on undisturbed. + +Here Mrs Meg was in her glory, and stood wielding her big shears like a +queen as she cut out white work, fitted dresses, and directed Daisy, her +special aide, about the trimming of hats, and completing the lace and +ribbon trifles which add grace to the simplest costume and save poor +or busy girls so much money and time. Mrs Amy contributed taste, and +decided the great question of colours and complexions; for few women, +even the most learned, are without that desire to look well which makes +many a plain face comely, as well as many a pretty one ugly for want of +skill and knowledge of the fitness of things. She also took her turn to +provide books for the readings, and as art was her forte she gave them +selections from Ruskin, Hamerton, and Mrs Jameson, who is never old. +Bess read these aloud as her contribution, and Josie took her turn at +the romances, poetry, and plays her uncles recommended. Mrs Jo gave +little lectures on health, religion, politics, and the various questions +in which all should be interested, with copious extracts from Miss +Cobbe's Duties of Women, Miss Brackett's Education of American Girls, +Mrs Duffy's No Sex in Education, Mrs Woolson's Dress Reform, and many of +the other excellent books wise women write for their sisters, now that +they are waking up and asking: 'What shall we do?' + +It was curious to see the prejudices melt away as ignorance was +enlightened, indifference change to interest, and intelligent minds +set thinking, while quick wits and lively tongues added spice to the +discussions which inevitably followed. So the feet that wore the neatly +mended hose carried wiser heads than before, the pretty gowns covered +hearts warmed with higher purposes, and the hands that dropped the +thimbles for pens, lexicons, and celestial globes, were better fitted +for life's work, whether to rock cradles, tend the sick, or help on the +great work of the world. + +One day a brisk discussion arose concerning careers for women. Mrs Jo +had read something on the subject and asked each of the dozen girls +sitting about the room, what she intended to do on leaving college. +The answers were as usual: 'I shall teach, help mother, study medicine, +art,' etc.; but nearly all ended with: + +'Till I marry.' + +'But if you don't marry, what then?' asked Mrs Jo, feeling like a girl +again as she listened to the answers, and watched the thoughtful, gay, +or eager faces. + +'Be old maids, I suppose. Horrid, but inevitable, since there are so +many superfluous women,' answered a lively lass, too pretty to fear +single blessedness unless she chose it. + +'It is well to consider that fact, and fit yourselves to be useful, not +superfluous women. That class, by the way, is largely made up of widows, +I find; so don't consider it a slur on maidenhood.' + +'That's a comfort! Old maids aren't sneered at half as much as they used +to be, since some of them have grown famous and proved that woman isn't +a half but a whole human being, and can stand alone.' + +'Don't like it all the same. We can't all be like Miss Nightingale, Miss +Phelps, and the rest.' + +So what can we do but sit in a corner and look on?' asked a plain girl +with a dissatisfied expression. + +'Cultivate cheerfulness and content, if nothing else. But there are so +many little odd jobs waiting to be done that nobody need “sit idle and +look on”, unless she chooses,' said Mrs Meg, with a smile, laying on the +girl's head the new hat she had just trimmed. + +'Thank you very much. Yes, Mrs Brooke, I see; it's a little job, but +it makes me neat and happy--and grateful,' she added, looking up with +brighter eyes as she accepted the labour of love and the lesson as +sweetly as they were given. + +'One of the best and most beloved women I know has been doing odd jobs +for the Lord for years, and will keep at it till her dear hands are +folded in her coffin. All sorts of things she does--picks up neglected +children and puts them in safe homes, saves lost girls, nurses poor +women in trouble, sews, knits, trots, begs, works for the poor day after +day with no reward but the thanks of the needy, the love and honour +of the rich who make Saint Matilda their almoner. That's a life worth +living; and I think that quiet little woman will get a higher seat in +Heaven than many of those of whom the world has heard.' + +'I know it's lovely, Mrs Bhaer; but it's dull for young folks. We do +want a little fun before we buckle to,' said a Western girl with a +wide-awake face. + +'Have your fun, my dear; but if you must earn your bread, try to make it +sweet with cheerfulness, not bitter with the daily regret that it isn't +cake. I used to think mine was a very hard fate because I had to amuse +a somewhat fretful old lady; but the books I read in that lonely library +have been of immense use to me since, and the dear old soul bequeathed +me Plumfield for my “cheerful service and affectionate care”. I didn't +deserve it, but I did use to try to be jolly and kind, and get as +much honey out of duty as I could, thanks to my dear mother's help and +advice.' + +'Gracious! if I could earn a place like this, I'd sing all day and be an +angel; but you have to take your chance, and get nothing for your pains, +perhaps. I never do,' said the Westerner, who had a hard time with small +means and large aspirations. + +'Don't do it for the reward; but be sure it will come, though not in the +shape you expect. I worked hard for fame and money one winter; but I +got neither, and was much disappointed. A year afterwards I found I had +earned two prizes: skill with my pen, and Professor Bhaer.' + +Mrs Jo's laugh was echoed blithely by the girls, who liked to have these +conversations enlivened by illustrations from life. + +'You are a very lucky woman,' began the discontented damsel, whose soul +soared above new hats, welcome as they were, but did not quite know +where to steer. + +'Yet her name used to be “Luckless Jo”, and she never had what she +wanted till she had given up hoping for it,' said Mrs Meg. + +'I'll give up hoping, then, right away, and see if my wishes will come. +I only want to help my folks, and get a good school.' + +'Take this proverb for your guide: “Get the distaff ready, and the Lord +will send the flax”,' answered Mrs Jo. + +'We'd better all do that, if we are to be spinsters,' said the pretty +one, adding gaily, 'I think I should like it, on the whole--they are so +independent. My Aunt Jenny can do just what she likes, and ask no one's +leave; but Ma has to consult Pa about everything. Yes, I'll give you my +chance, Sally, and be a “superfluum”, as Mr Plock says.' + +'You'll be one of the first to go into bondage, see if you aren't. Much +obliged, all the same.' + +'Well, I'll get my distaff ready, and take whatever flax the Fates +send--single, or double-twisted, as the powers please.' + +'That is the right spirit, Nelly. Keep it up, and see how happy life +will be with a brave heart, a willing hand, and plenty to do.' + +'No one objects to plenty of domestic work or fashionable pleasure, I +find; but the minute we begin to study, people tell us we can't bear it, +and warn us to be very careful. I've tried the other things, and got so +tired I came to college; though my people predict nervous exhaustion and +an early death. Do you think there is any danger?' asked a stately girl, +with an anxious glance at the blooming face reflected in the mirror +opposite. + +'Are you stronger or weaker than when you came two years ago, Miss +Winthrop?' + +'Stronger in body, and much happier in mind. I think I was dying of +ennui; but the doctors called it inherited delicacy of constitution. +That is why mamma is so anxious, and I wish not to go too fast.' + +'Don't worry, my dear; that active brain of yours was starving for good +food; it has plenty now, and plain living suits you better than luxury +and dissipation. It is all nonsense about girls not being able to study +as well as boys. Neither can bear cramming; but with proper care both +are better for it; so enjoy the life your instinct led you to, and we +will prove that wise headwork is a better cure for that sort of delicacy +than tonics, and novels on the sofa, where far too many of our girls +go to wreck nowadays. They burn the candle at both ends; and when they +break down they blame the books, not the balls.' + +'Dr Nan was telling me about a patient of hers who thought she had +heart-complaint, till Nan made her take off her corsets, stopped her +coffee and dancing all night, and made her eat, sleep, walk, and live +regularly for a time; and now she's a brilliant cure. Common sense +versus custom, Nan said.' + +'I've had no headaches since I came here, and can do twice as much +studying as I did at home. It's the air, I think, and the fun of going +ahead of the boys,' said another girl, tapping her big forehead with +her thimble, as if the lively brain inside was in good working order and +enjoyed the daily gymnastics she gave it. + +'Quality, not quantity, wins the day, you know. Our brains may be +smaller, but I don't see that they fall short of what is required of +them; and if I'm not mistaken, the largest-headed man in our class is +the dullest,' said Nelly, with a solemn air which produced a gale of +merriment; for all knew that the young Goliath she mentioned had been +metaphorically slain by this quick-witted David on many a battle-field, +to the great disgust of himself and his mates. + +'Mrs Brooke, do I gauge on the right or the wrong side?' asked the +best Greek scholar of her class, eyeing a black silk apron with a lost +expression. + +'The right, Miss Pierson; and leave a space between the tucks; it looks +prettier so.' + +'I'll never make another; but it will save my dresses from ink-stains, +so I'm glad I've got it'; and the erudite Miss Pierson laboured on, +finding it a harder task than any Greek root she ever dug up. + +'We paper-stainers must learn how to make shields, or we are lost. +I'll give you a pattern of the pinafore I used to wear in my +“blood-and-thunder days”, as we call them,' said Mrs Jo, trying to +remember what became of the old tin-kitchen which used to hold her +works. + +'Speaking of writers reminds me that my ambition is to be a George +Eliot, and thrill the world! It must be so splendid to know that one +has such power, and to hear people own that one possesses a “masculine +intellect”! I don't care for most women's novels, but hers are immense; +don't you think so, Mrs Bhaer?' asked the girl with the big forehead, +and torn braid on her skirt. + +'Yes; but they don't thrill me as little Charlotte Bronte's books do. +The brain is there, but the heart seems left out. I admire, but I don't +love, George Eliot; and her life is far sadder to me than Miss Bronte's, +because, in spite of the genius, love, and fame, she missed the light +without which no soul is truly great, good, or happy.' + +'Yes'm, I know; but still it's so romantic and sort of new and +mysterious, and she was great in one sense. Her nerves and dyspepsia do +rather destroy the illusion; but I adore famous people and mean to go +and see all I can scare up in London some day.' + +'You will find some of the best of them busy about just the work I +recommend to you; and if you want to see a great lady, I'll tell you +that Mrs Laurence means to bring one here today. Lady Abercrombie is +lunching with her, and after seeing the college is to call on us. She +especially wanted to see our sewing-school, as she is interested in +things of this sort, and gets them up at home.' + +'Bless me! I always imagined lords and ladies did nothing but ride round +in a coach and six, go to balls, and be presented to the Queen in cocked +hats, and trains and feathers,' exclaimed an artless young person from +the wilds of Maine, whither an illustrated paper occasionally wandered. + +'Not at all; Lord Abercrombie is over here studying up our American +prison system, and my lady is busy with the schools--both very +high-born, but the simplest and most sensible people I've met this long +time. They are neither of them young nor handsome, and dress plainly; +so don't expect anything splendid. Mr Laurence was telling me last night +about a friend of his who met my lord in the hall, and owing to a rough +greatcoat and a red face, mistook him for a coachman, and said: “Now, +my man, what do you want here?” Lord Abercrombie mildly mentioned who +he was, and that he had come to dinner. And the poor host was much +afflicted, saying afterward: “Why didn't he wear his stars and garters? +then a fellow would know he was a lord.”' + +The girls laughed again, and a general rustle betrayed that each was +prinking a bit before the titled guest arrived. Even Mrs Jo settled her +collar, and Mrs Meg felt if her cap was right, while Bess shook out +her curls and Josie boldly consulted the glass; for they were women, in +spite of philosophy and philanthropy. + +'Shall we all rise?' asked one girl, deeply impressed by the impending +honour. + +'It would be courteous.' + +'Shall we shake hands?' + +'No, I'll present you en masse, and your pleasant faces will be +introduction enough.' + +'I wish I'd worn my best dress. Ought to have told us,' whispered Sally. + +'Won't my folks be surprised when I tell them we have had a real lady to +call on us?' said another. + +'Don't look as if you'd never seen a gentlewoman before, Milly. We are +not all fresh from the wilderness,' added the stately damsel who, having +Mayflower ancestors, felt that she was the equal of all the crowned +heads of Europe. + +'Hush, she's coming! Oh, my heart, what a bonnet!' cried the gay girl in +a stage whisper; and every eye was demurely fixed upon the busy hands as +the door opened to admit Mrs Laurence and her guest. + +It was rather a shock to find, after the general introduction was over, +that this daughter of a hundred earls was a stout lady in a plain gown, +and a rather weather-beaten bonnet, with a bag of papers in one hand +and a note-book in the other. But the face was full of benevolence, the +sonorous voice very kind, the genial manners very winning, and about the +whole person an indescribable air of high breeding which made beauty of +no consequence, costume soon forgotten, and the moment memorable to the +keen-eyed girls whom nothing escaped. + +A little chat about the rise, growth, and success of this particular +class, and then Mrs Jo led the conversation to the English lady's +work, anxious to show her pupils how rank dignifies labour, and charity +blesses wealth. + +It was good for these girls to hear of the evening-schools supported and +taught by women whom they knew and honoured; of Miss Cobbe's eloquent +protest winning the protection of the law for abused wives; Mrs Butler +saving the lost; Mrs Taylor, who devoted one room in her historic house +to a library for the servants; Lord Shaftesbury, busy with his new +tenement-houses in the slums of London; of prison reforms; and all the +brave work being done in God's name by the rich and great for the humble +and the poor. It impressed them more than many quiet home lectures would +have done, and roused an ambition to help when their time should come, +well knowing that even in glorious America there is still plenty to be +done before she is what she should be--truly just, and free, and great. +They were also quick to see that Lady Abercrombie treated all there as +her equals, from stately Mrs Laurence, to little Josie, taking notes +of everything and privately resolving to have some thick-soled English +boots as soon as possible. No one would have guessed that she had a +big house in London, a castle in Wales, and a grand country seat in +Scotland, as she spoke of Parnassus with admiration, Plumfield as a +'dear old home', and the college as an honour to all concerned in it. +At that, of course, every head went up a little, and when my lady left, +every hand was ready for the hearty shake the noble Englishwoman gave +them, with words they long remembered: + +'I am very pleased to see this much-neglected branch of a woman's +education so well conducted here, and I have to thank my friend +Mrs Laurence for one of the most charming pictures I've seen in +America--Penelope among her maids.' + +A group of smiling faces watched the stout boots trudge away, respectful +glances followed the shabby bonnet till it was out of sight, and the +girls felt a truer respect for their titled guest than if she had come +in the coach and six, with all her diamonds on. + +'I feel better about the “odd jobs” now. I only wish I could do them as +well as Lady Abercrombie does,' said one. + +'I thanked my stars my buttonholes were nice, for she looked at them and +said: “Quite workmanlike, upon my word,” added another, feeling that her +gingham gown had come to honour. + +'Her manners were as sweet and kind as Mrs Brooke's. Not a bit stiff or +condescending, as I expected. I see now what you meant, Mrs Bhaer, when +you said once that well-bred people were the same all the world over.' + +Mrs Meg bowed her thanks for the compliment, and Mrs Bhaer said: + +'I know them when I see them, but never shall be a model of deportment +myself. I'm glad you enjoyed the little visit. Now, if you young people +don't want England to get ahead of us in many ways, you must bestir +yourselves and keep abreast; for our sisters are in earnest, you see, +and don't waste time worrying about their sphere, but make it wherever +duty calls them.' + +'We will do our best, ma'am,' answered the girls heartily, and trooped +away with their work-baskets, feeling that though they might never be +Harriet Martineaus, Elizabeth Brownings, or George Eliots, they might +become noble, useful, and independent women, and earn for themselves +some sweet title from the grateful lips of the poor, better than any a +queen could bestow. + + + +Chapter 18. CLASS DAY + +The clerk of the weather evidently has a regard for young people, and +sends sunshine for class days as often as he can. An especially lovely +one shone over Plumfield as this interesting anniversary came round, +bringing the usual accompaniments of roses, strawberries, white-gowned +girls, beaming youths, proud friends, and stately dignitaries full of +well-earned satisfaction with the yearly harvest. As Laurence College +was a mixed one, the presence of young women as students gave to the +occasion a grace and animation entirely wanting where the picturesque +half of creation appear merely as spectators. The hands that turned the +pages of wise books also possessed the skill to decorate the hall with +flowers; eyes tired with study shone with hospitable warmth on the +assembling guests; and under the white muslins beat hearts as full of +ambition, hope, and courage as those agitating the broadcloth of the +ruling sex. + +College Hill, Parnassus, and old Plum swarmed with cheery faces, as +guests, students, and professors hurried to and fro in the pleasant +excitement of arriving and receiving. Everyone was welcomed cordially, +whether he rolled up in a fine carriage, or trudged afoot to see the +good son or daughter come to honour on the happy day that rewarded +many a mutual sacrifice. Mr Laurie and his wife were on the reception +committee, and their lovely house was overflowing. Mrs Meg, with Daisy +and Jo as aides, was in demand among the girls, helping on belated +toilettes, giving an eye to spreads, and directing the decorations. Mrs +Jo had her hands full as President's lady, and the mother of Ted; for it +took all the power and skill of that energetic woman to get her son into +his Sunday best. + +Not that he objected to be well arrayed; far from it; he adored good +clothes, and owing to his great height already revelled in a dress-suit, +bequeathed him by a dandy friend. The effect was very funny; but he +would wear it in spite of the jeers of his mates, and sighed vainly for +a beaver, because his stern parent drew the line there. He pleaded that +English lads of ten wore them and were 'no end nobby'; but his mother +only answered, with a consoling pat of the yellow mane: + +'My child, you are absurd enough now; if I let you add a tall hat, +Plumfield wouldn't hold either of us, such would be the scorn and +derision of all beholders. Content yourself with looking like the ghost +of a waiter, and don't ask for the most ridiculous head-gear in the +known world.' + +Denied this noble badge of manhood, Ted soothed his wounded soul by +appearing in collars of an amazing height and stiffness, and ties which +were the wonder of all female eyes. This freak was a sort of vengeance +on his hard-hearted mother; for the collars drove the laundress to +despair, never being just right, and the ties required such art in +the tying that three women sometimes laboured long before--like Beau +Brummel--he turned from a heap of 'failures' with the welcome words: +'That will do.' Rob was devoted on these trying occasions, his own +toilet being distinguished only by its speed, simplicity, and neatness. +Ted was usually in a frenzy before he was suited, and roars, whistles, +commands, and groans were heard from the den wherein the Lion raged and +the Lamb patiently toiled. Mrs Jo bore it till boots were hurled and a +rain of hair-brushes set in, then, fearing for the safety of her eldest, +she would go to the rescue, and by a wise mixture of fun and authority +finally succeed in persuading Ted that he was 'a thing of beauty', +if not 'a joy for ever'. At last he would stalk majestically forth, +imprisoned in collars compared to which those worn by Dickens's +afflicted Biler were trifles not worth mentioning. The dresscoat was +a little loose in the shoulders, but allowed a noble expanse of glossy +bosom to be seen, and with a delicate handkerchief negligently drooping +at the proper angle, had a truly fine effect. Boots that shone, +and likewise pinched, appeared at one end of the 'long, black +clothes-pin'--as Josie called him---and a youthful but solemn face at +the other, carried at an angle which, if long continued, would have +resulted in spinal curvature. Light gloves, a cane, and--oh, bitter drop +in the cup of joy!--an ignominious straw hat, not to mention a choice +floweret in the buttonhole, and a festoon of watchguard below, finished +off this impressive boy. + +'How's that for style?' he asked, appearing to his mother and cousins +whom he was to escort to the hall on this particular occasion. + +A shout of laughter greeted him, followed by exclamations of horror; +for he had artfully added the little blond moustache he often wore when +acting. It was very becoming, and seemed the only balm to heal the wound +made by the loss of the beloved hat. + +'Take it off this moment, you audacious boy! What would your father say +to such a prank on this day when we must all behave our best?' said Mrs +Jo, trying to frown, but privately thinking that among the many youths +about her none were so beautiful and original as her long son. + +'Let him wear it, Aunty; it's so becoming. No one will ever guess he +isn't eighteen at least,' cried Josie, to whom disguise of any sort was +always charming. + +'Father won't observe it; he'll be absorbed in his big-wigs and the +girls. No matter if he does, he'll enjoy the joke and introduce me as +his oldest son. Rob is nowhere when I'm in full fig'; and Ted took the +stage with a tragic stalk, like Hamlet in a tail-coat and choker. + +'My son, obey me!' and when Mrs Jo spoke in that tone her word was +law. Later, however, the moustache appeared, and many strangers firmly +believed that there were three young Bhaers. So Ted found one ray of joy +to light his gloom. + +Mr Bhaer was a proud and happy man when, at the appointed hour, he +looked down upon the parterre of youthful faces before him, thinking of +the 'little gardens' in which he had hopefully and faithfully sowed good +seed years ago, and from which this beautiful harvest seemed to have +sprung. Mr March's fine old face shone with the serenest satisfaction, +for this was the dream of his life fulfilled after patient waiting; and +the love and reverence in the countenances of the eager young men and +women looking up at him plainly showed that the reward he coveted was +his in fullest measure. Laurie always effaced himself on these occasions +as much as courtesy would permit; for everyone spoke gratefully in ode, +poem, and oration of the founder of the college and noble dispenser of +his beneficence. The three sisters beamed with pride as they sat among +the ladies, enjoying, as only women can, the honour done the men +they loved; while 'the original Plums', as the younger ones called +themselves, regarded the whole affair as their work, receiving the +curious, admiring, or envious glances of strangers with a mixture of +dignity and delight rather comical to behold. + +The music was excellent, and well it might be when Apollo waved the +baton. The poems were--as usual on such occasions--of varied excellence, +as the youthful speakers tried to put old truths into new words, and +made them forceful by the enthusiasm of their earnest faces and fresh +voices. It was beautiful to see the eager interest with which the girls +listened to some brilliant brother-student, and applauded him with a +rustle as of wind over a bed of flowers. It was still more significant +and pleasant to watch the young men's faces when a slender white figure +stood out against the background of black-coated dignitaries, and with +cheeks that flushed and paled, and lips that trembled till earnest +purpose conquered maiden fear, spoke to them straight out of a woman's +heart and brain concerning the hopes and doubts, the aspirations and +rewards all must know, desire, and labour for. This clear, sweet voice +seemed to reach and rouse all that was noblest in the souls of these +youths, and to set a seal upon the years of comradeship which made them +sacred and memorable for ever. + +Alice Heath's oration was unanimously pronounced the success of the day; +for without being flowery or sentimental, as is too apt to be the case +with these first efforts of youthful orators, it was earnest, sensible, +and so inspiring that she left the stage in a storm of applause, the +good fellows being as much fired by her stirring appeal to 'march +shoulder to shoulder', as if she had chanted the 'Marseillaise' then +and there. One young man was so excited that he nearly rushed out of his +seat to receive her as she hastened to hide herself among her mates, who +welcomed her with faces full of tender pride and tearful eye. A prudent +sister detained him, however, and in a moment he was able to listen with +composure to the President's remarks. + +They were worth listening to, for Mr Bhaer spoke like a father to the +children whom he was dismissing to the battle of life; and his tender, +wise, and helpful words lingered in their hearts long after the praise +was forgotten. Then came other exercises peculiar to Plumfield, and the +end. Why the roof did not fly off when the sturdy lungs of the excited +young men pealed out the closing hymn will for ever be a mystery; but +it remained firm, and only the fading garlands vibrated as the waves of +music rolled up and died away, leaving sweet echoes to haunt the place +for another year. + +Dinners and spreads consumed the afternoon, and at sunset came a slight +lull as everyone sought some brief repose before the festivities of the +evening began. The President's reception was one of the enjoyable things +in store, also dancing on Parnassus, and as much strolling, singing, and +flirting, as could be compressed into a few hours by youths and maidens +just out of school. + +Carriages were rolling about, and gay groups on piazzas, lawns, and +window-seats idly speculated as to who the distinguished guests might +be. The appearance of a very dusty vehicle loaded with trunks at Mr +Bhaer's hospitably open door caused much curious comment among the +loungers, especially as two rather foreign-looking gentlemen sprang out, +followed by two young ladies, all four being greeted with cries of joy +and much embracing by the Bhaers. Then they all disappeared into the +house, the luggage followed, and the watchers were left to wonder who +the mysterious strangers were, till a fair collegian declared that they +must be the Professor's nephews, one of whom was expected on his wedding +journey. + +She was right; Franz proudly presented his blonde and buxom bride, and +she was hardly kissed and blessed when Emil led up his bonny English +Mary, with the rapturous announcement: + +'Uncle, Aunt Jo, here's another daughter! Have you room for my wife, +too?' + +There could be no doubt of that; and Mary was with difficulty rescued +from the glad embraces of her new relatives, who, remembering all the +young pair had suffered together, felt that this was the natural and +happy ending of the long voyage so perilously begun. + +'But why not tell us, and let us be ready for two brides instead of +one?' asked Mrs Jo, looking as usual rather demoralizing in a wrapper +and crimping-pins, having rushed down from her chamber, where she was +preparing for the labours of the evening. + +'Well, I remembered what a good joke you all considered Uncle Laurie's +marriage, and I thought I'd give you another nice little surprise,' +laughed Emil. 'I'm off duty, and it seemed best to take advantage of +wind and tide, and come along as convoy to the old boy here. We hoped to +get in last night, but couldn't fetch it, so here we are in time for the +end of the jollification, anyway.' + +'Ah, my sons, it is too feeling-full to see you both so happy and again +in the old home. I haf no words to outpour my gratitude, and can +only ask of the dear Gott in Himmel to bless and keep you all,' cried +Professor Bhaer, trying to gather all four into his arms at once, while +tears rolled down his cheeks, and his English failed him. + +An April shower cleared the air and relieved the full hearts of the +happy family; then of course everyone began to talk--Franz and Ludmilla +in German with uncle, Emil and Mary with the aunts; and round this group +gathered the young folk, clamouring to hear all about the wreck, and the +rescue, and the homeward voyage. It was a very different story from the +written one; and as they listened to Emil's graphic words, with Mary's +soft voice breaking in now and then to add some fact that brought out +the courage, patience, and self-sacrifice he so lightly touched upon, it +became a solemn and pathetic thing to see and hear these happy creatures +tell of that great danger and deliverance. + +'I never hear the patter of rain now that I don't want to say my +prayers; and as for women, I'd like to take my hat off to every one of +'em, for they are braver than any man I ever saw,' said Emil, with the +new gravity that was as becoming to him as the new gentleness with which +he treated everyone. + +'If women are brave, some men are as tender and self-sacrificing as +women. I know one who in the night slipped his share of food into a +girl's pocket, though starving himself, and sat for hours rocking a sick +man in his arms that he might get a little sleep. No, love, I will tell, +and you must let me!' cried Mary, holding in both her own the hand he +laid on her lips to silence her. + +'Only did my duty. If that torment had lasted much longer I might +have been as bad as poor Barry and the boatswain. Wasn't that an awful +night?' And Emil shuddered as he recalled it. + +'Don't think of it, dear. Tell about the happy days on the Urania, when +papa grew better and we were all safe and homeward bound,' said Mary, +with the trusting look and comforting touch which seemed to banish the +dark and recall the bright side of that terrible experience. + +Emil cheered up at once, and sitting with his arm about his 'dear lass', +in true sailor fashion told the happy ending of the tale. + +'Such a jolly old time as we had at Hamburg! Uncle Hermann couldn't do +enough for the captain, and while mamma took care of him, Mary looked +after me. I had to go into dock for repairs; fire hurt my eyes, and +watching for a sail and want of sleep made 'em as hazy as a London fog. +She was pilot and brought me in all right, you see, only I couldn't part +company, so she came aboard as first mate, and I'm bound straight for +glory now.' + +'Hush! that's silly, dear,' whispered Mary, trying in her turn to stop +him, with English shyness about tender topics. But he took the soft hand +in his, and proudly surveying the one ring it wore, went on with the air +of an admiral aboard his flagship. + +'The captain proposed waiting a spell; but I told him we weren't like +to see any rougher weather than we'd pulled through together, and if we +didn't know one another after such a year as this, we never should. I +was sure I shouldn't be worth my pay without this hand on the wheel; so +I had my way, and my brave little woman has shipped for the long voyage. +God bless her!' + +'Shall you really sail with him?' asked Daisy, admiring her courage, but +shrinking with cat-like horror from the water. + +'I'm not afraid,' answered Mary, with a loyal smile. 'I've proved my +captain in fair weather and in foul, and if he is ever wrecked again, +I'd rather be with him than waiting and watching ashore.' + +'A true woman, and a born sailor's wife! You are a happy man, Emil, and +I'm sure this trip will be a prosperous one,' cried Mrs Jo, delighted +with the briny flavour of this courtship. 'Oh, my dear boy, I always +felt you'd come back, and when everyone else despaired I never gave up, +but insisted that you were clinging to the main-top jib somewhere on +that dreadful sea'; and Mrs Jo illustrated her faith by grasping Emil +with a truly Pillycoddian gesture. + +'Of course I was!' answered Emil heartily; 'and my “main-top jib” in +this case was the thought of what you and Uncle said to me. That kept +me up; and among the million thoughts that came to me during those +long nights none was clearer than the idea of the red strand, you +remember--English navy, and all that. I liked the notion, and resolved +that if a bit of my cable was left afloat, the red stripe should be +there.' + +'And it was, my dear, it was! Captain Hardy testifies to that, and here +is your reward'; and Mrs Jo kissed Mary with a maternal tenderness +which betrayed that she liked the English rose better than the blue-eyed +German Kornblumen, sweet and modest though it was. + +Emil surveyed the little ceremony with complacency, saying, as he looked +about the room which he never thought to see again: 'Odd, isn't it, +how clearly trifles come back to one in times of danger? As we floated +there, half-starved, and in despair, I used to think I heard the bells +ringing here, and Ted tramping downstairs, and you calling, “Boys, boys, +it's time to get up!” I actually smelt the coffee we used to have, +and one night I nearly cried when I woke from a dream of Asia's ginger +cookies. I declare, it was one of the bitterest disappointments of my +life to face hunger with that spicy smell in my nostrils. If you've got +any, do give me one!' + +A pitiful murmur broke from all the aunts and cousins, and Emil was at +once borne away to feast on the desired cookies, a supply always being +on hand. Mrs Jo and her sister joined the other group, glad to hear what +Franz was saying about Nat. + +'The minute I saw how thin and shabby he was, I knew that something was +wrong; but he made light of it, and was so happy over our visit and +news that I let him off with a brief confession, and went to Professor +Baumgarten and Bergmann. From them I learned the whole story of +his spending more money than he ought and trying to atone for it by +unnecessary work and sacrifice. Baumgarten thought it would do him good, +so kept his secret till I came. It did him good, and he's paid his debts +and earned his bread by the sweat of his brow, like an honest fellow.' + +'I like that much in Nat. It is, as I said, a lesson, and he learns +it well. He proves himself a man, and has deserved the place Bergmann +offers him,' said Mr Bhaer, looking well pleased as Franz added some +facts already recorded. + +'I told you, Meg, that he had good stuff in him, and love for Daisy +would keep him straight. Dear lad, I wish I had him here this moment!' +cried Mrs Jo, forgetting in delight the doubts and anxieties which had +troubled her for months past. + +'I am very glad, and suppose I shall give in as I always do, especially +now that the epidemic rages so among us. You and Emil have set all their +heads in a ferment, and Josie will be demanding a lover before I can +turn round,' answered Mrs Meg, in a tone of despair. + +But her sister saw that she was touched by Nat's trials, and hastened +to add the triumphs, that the victory might be complete, for success is +always charming. + +'This offer of Herr Bergmann is a good one, isn't it?' she asked, though +Mr Laurie had already satisfied her on that point when Nat's letter +brought the news. + +'Very fine in every way. Nat will get capital drill in Bachmeister's +orchestra, see London in a delightful way, and if he suits come home +with them, well started among the violins. No great honour, but a sure +thing and a step up. I congratulated him, and he was very jolly over it, +saying, like the true lover he is: “Tell Daisy; be sure and tell her all +about it.” I'll leave that to you, Aunt Meg, and you can also break it +gently to her that the old boy had a fine blond beard. Very becoming; +hides his weak mouth, and gives a noble air to his big eyes and +“Mendelssohnian brow”, as a gushing girl called it. Ludmilla has a photo +of it for you.' + +This amused them; and they listened to many other interesting bits of +news which kind Franz, even in his own happiness, had not forgotten to +remember for his friend's sake. He talked so well, and painted Nat's +patient and pathetic shifts so vividly, that Mrs Meg was half won; +though if she had learned of the Minna episode and the fiddling in +beer-gardens and streets, she might not have relented so soon. She +stored up all she heard, however, and, womanlike, promised herself a +delicious talk with Daisy, in which she would allow herself to melt by +degrees, and perhaps change the doubtful 'We shall see' to a cordial 'He +has done well; be happy, dear'. + +In the midst of this agreeable chat the sudden striking of a clock +recalled Mrs Jo from romance to reality, and she exclaimed, with a +clutch at her crimping-pins: + +'My blessed people, you must eat and rest; and I must dress, or receive +in this disgraceful rig. Meg, will you take Ludmilla and Mary upstairs +and see to them? Franz knows the way to the dining-room. Fritz, come +with me and be made tidy, for what with heat and emotion, we are both +perfect wrecks.' + + + +Chapter 19. WHITE ROSES + +While the travellers refreshed, and Mrs President struggled into her +best gown, Josie ran into the garden to gather flowers for the brides. +The sudden arrival of these interesting beings had quite enchanted +the romantic girl, and her head was full of heroic rescues, tender +admiration, dramatic situations, and feminine wonder as to whether the +lovely creatures would wear their veils or not. She was standing before +a great bush of white roses, culling the most perfect for the bouquets +which she meant to tie with the ribbon festooned over her arm, and lay +on the toilette tables of the new cousins, as a delicate attention. A +step startled her, and looking up she saw her brother coming down the +path with folded arms, bent head, and the absent air of one absorbed in +deep thought. + +'Sophy Wackles,' said the sharp child, with a superior smile, as +she sucked her thumb just pricked by a too eager pull at the thorny +branches. + +'What are you at here, Mischief?' asked Demi, with an Irvingesque start, +as he felt rather than saw a disturbing influence in his day-dream. + +'Getting flowers for “our brides”. Don't you wish you had one?' answered +Josie, to whom the word 'mischief' suggested her favourite amusement. + +'A bride or a flower?' asked Demi calmly, though he eyed the blooming +bush as if it had a sudden and unusual interest for him. + +'Both; you get the one, and I'll give you the other.' + +'Wish I could!' and Demi picked a little bud, with a sigh that went to +Josie's warm heart. + +'Why don't you, then? It's lovely to see people so happy. Now's a good +time to do it if you ever mean to. She will be going away for ever +soon.' + +'Who?' and Demi pulled a half-opened bud, with a sudden colour in his +own face; which sign of confusion delighted little Jo. + +'Don't be a hypocrite. You know I mean Alice. Now, Jack, I'm fond +of you, and want to help; it's so interesting--all these lovers and +weddings and things, and we ought to have our share. So you take my +advice and speak up like a man, and make sure of Alice before she goes.' + +Demi laughed at the seriousness of the small girl's advice; but he liked +it, and showed that it suited him by saying blandly, instead of snubbing +her as usual: + +'You are very kind, child. Since you are so wise, could you give me a +hint how I'd better 'speak up', as you elegantly express it?' + +'Oh, well, there are various ways, you know. In plays the lovers go down +on their knees; but that's awkward when they have long legs. Ted never +does it well, though I drill him for hours. You could say, “Be mine, +be mine!” like the old man who threw cucumbers over the wall to Mrs +Nickleby, if you want to be gay and easy; or you could write a poetical +pop. You've tried it, I dare say.' + +'But seriously, Jo, I do love Alice, and I think she knows it. I want +to tell her so; but I lose my head when I try, and don't care to make a +fool of myself. Thought you might suggest some pretty way; you read so +much poetry and are so romantic.' + +Demi tried to express himself clearly, but forgot his dignity and his +usual reserve in the sweet perplexity of his love, and asked his little +sister to teach him how to put the question which a single word can +answer. The arrival of his happy cousins had scattered all his wise +plans and brave resolutions to wait still longer. The Christmas play +had given him courage to hope, and the oration today had filled him with +tender pride; but the sight of those blooming brides and beaming grooms +was too much for him, and he panted to secure his Alice without an +hour's delay. Daisy was his confidante in all things but this; a +brotherly feeling of sympathy had kept him from telling her his hopes, +because her own were forbidden. His mother was rather jealous of any +girl he admired; but knowing that she liked Alice, he loved on and +enjoyed his secret alone, meaning soon to tell her all about it. + +Now suddenly Josie and the rose-bush seemed to suggest a speedy end +to his tender perplexities; and he was moved to accept her aid as the +netted lion did that of the mouse. + +'I think I'll write,' he was slowly beginning, after a pause during +which both were trying to strike out a new and brilliant idea. + +'I've got it! perfectly lovely! just suit her, and you too, being a +poet!' cried Josie, with a skip. + +'What is it? Don't be ridiculous, please,' begged the bashful lover, +eager, but afraid of this sharp-tongued bit of womanhood. + +'I read in one of Miss Edgeworth's stories about a man who offers three +roses to his lady--a bud, a half-blown, and a full-blown rose. I don't +remember which she took; but it's a pretty way; and Alice knows about +it because she was there when we read it. Here are all kinds; you've got +the two buds, pick the sweetest rose you can find, and I'll tie them up +and put them in her room. She is coming to dress with Daisy, so I can do +it nicely.' + +Demi mused a moment with his eyes on the bridal bush, and a smile came +over his face so unlike any it had ever worn before, that Josie was +touched, and looked away as if she had no right to see the dawn of the +great passion which, while it lasts, makes a young man as happy as a +god. + +'Do it,' was all he said, and gathered a full-blown rose to finish his +floral love-message. + +Charmed to have a finger in this romantic pie, Josie tied a graceful +bow of ribbon about the stems, and finished her last nosegay with much +content, while Demi wrote upon a card: + +DEAR ALICE, You know what the flowers mean. Will you wear one, or all +tonight, and make me still prouder, fonder, and happier than I am? + +Yours entirely, + +JOHN + + +Offering this to his sister, he said in a tone that made her feel the +deep importance of her mission: + +'I trust you, Jo. This means everything to me. No jokes, dear, if you +love me.' + +Josie's answer was a kiss that promised all things; and then she ran +away to do her 'gentle spiriting', like Ariel, leaving Demi to dream +among the roses like Ferdinand. + +Mary and Ludmilla were charmed with their bouquets; and the giver had +the delight of putting some of the flowers into the dark hair and +the light as she played maid at the toilettes of 'our brides', which +consoled her for a disappointment in the matter of veils. + +No one helped Alice dress; for Daisy was in the next room with her +mother; and not even their loving eyes saw the welcome which the little +posy received, nor the tears and smiles and blushes that came and went +as she read the note and pondered what answer she should give. There was +no doubt about the one she wished to give; but duty held her back; for +at home there was an invalid mother and an old father. She was needed +there, with all the help she could now bring by the acquirements four +years of faithful study had given her. Love looked very sweet, and a +home of her own with John a little heaven on earth; but not yet. And +she slowly laid away the full-blown rose as she sat before the mirror, +thinking over the great question of her life. + +Was it wise and kind to ask him to wait, to bind him by any promise, +or even to put into words the love and honour she felt for him? No; it +would be more generous to make the sacrifice alone, and spare him the +pain of hope deferred. He was young; he would forget; and she would do +her duty better, perhaps, if no impatient lover waited for her. With +eyes that saw but dimly, and a hand that lingered on the stem he had +stripped of thorns, she laid the half-blown flower by the rose, and +asked herself if even the little bud might be worn. It looked very poor +and pale beside the others; yet being in the self-sacrificing mood which +real love brings, she felt that even a small hope was too much to give, +if she could not follow it up with more. + +As she sat looking sadly down on the symbols of an affection that grew +dearer every moment, she listened half unconsciously to the murmur of +voices in the adjoining room. Open windows, thin partitions, and the +stillness of summer twilight made it impossible to help hearing, and in +a few moments more she could not refrain; for they were talking of John. + +'So nice of Ludmilla to bring us all bottles of real German cologne! +Just what we need after this tiring day! Be sure John has his! He likes +it so!' + +'Yes, mother. Did you see him jump up when Alice ended her oration? +He'd have gone to her if I hadn't held him back. I don't wonder he was +pleased and proud. I spoilt my gloves clapping, and quite forgot my +dislike of seeing women on platforms, she was so earnest and unconscious +and sweet after the first moment.' + +'Has he said anything to you, dear?' + +'No; and I guess why. The kind boy thinks it would make me unhappy. It +wouldn't. But I know his ways; so I wait, and hope all will go well with +him.' + +'It must. No girl in her senses would refuse our John, though he isn't +rich, and never will be. Daisy, I've been longing to tell you what he +did with his money. He told me last night, and I've had no time since to +tell you. He sent poor young Barton to the hospital, and kept him there +till his eyes were saved--a costly thing to do. But the man can work now +and care for his old parents. He was in despair, sick and poor, and too +proud to beg; and our dear boy found it out, and took every penny he +had, and never told even his mother till she made him.' + +Alice did not hear what Daisy answered, for she was busy with her own +emotions--happy ones now, to judge from the smile that shone in her eyes +and the decided gesture with which she put the little bud in her bosom, +as if she said: 'He deserves some reward for that good deed, and he +shall have it.' + +Mrs Meg was speaking, and still of John, when she could hear again: + +'Some people would call it unwise and reckless, when John has so little; +but I think his first investment a safe and good one, for “he who giveth +to the poor lendeth to the Lord”; and I was so pleased and proud, I +wouldn't spoil it by offering him a penny.' + +'It is his having nothing to offer that keeps him silent, I think. He +is so honest, he won't ask till he has much to give. But he forgets that +love is everything. I know he's rich in that; I see and feel it; and any +woman should be glad to get it.' + +'Right, dear. I felt just so, and was willing to work and wait with and +for my John.' + +'So she will be, and I hope they will find it out. But she is so dutiful +and good, I'm afraid she won't let herself be happy. You would like it, +mother?' + +'Heartily; for a better, nobler girl doesn't live. She is all I want for +my son; and I don't mean to lose the dear, brave creature if I can help +it. Her heart is big enough for both love and duty; and they can wait +more happily if they do it together--for wait they must, of course.' + +'I'm so glad his choice suits you, mother, and he is spared the saddest +sort of disappointment.' + +Daisy's voice broke there; and a sudden rustle, followed by a soft +murmur, seemed to tell that she was in her mother's arms, seeking and +finding comfort there. + +Alice heard no more, and shut her window with a guilty feeling but a +shining face; for the proverb about listeners failed here, and she had +learned more than she dared to hope. Things seemed to change suddenly; +she felt that her heart was large enough for both love and duty; she +knew now that she would be welcomed by mother and sister; and the memory +of Daisy's less happy fate, Nat's weary probation, the long delay, +and possible separation for ever--all came before her so vividly that +prudence seemed cruelty; self-sacrifice, sentimental folly; and anything +but the whole truth, disloyalty to her lover. As she thought thus, +the half-blown rose went to join the bud; and then, after a pause, she +slowly kissed the perfect rose, and added it to the tell-tale group, +saying to herself with a sort of sweet solemnity, as if the words were a +vow: + +'I'll love and work and wait with and for my John.' + +It was well for her that Demi was absent when she stole down to join the +guests who soon began to flow through the house in a steady stream. +The new brightness which touched her usually thoughtful face was easily +explained by the congratulations she received as orator, and the slight +agitation observable, when a fresh batch of gentlemen approached soon +passed, as none of them noticed the flowers she wore over a very happy +heart. Demi meantime was escorting certain venerable personages about +the college, and helping his grandfather entertain them with discussion +of the Socratic method of instruction, Pythagoras, Pestalozzi, Froebel, +and the rest, whom he devoutly wished at the bottom of the Red Sea, and +no wonder, for his head and his heart were full of love and roses, hopes +and fears. He piloted the 'potent, grave, and reverend seigniors' safely +down to Plumfield at last, and landed them before his uncle and aunt +Bhaer, who were receiving in state, the one full of genuine delight in +all men and things, the other suffering martyrdom with a smile, as she +stood shaking hand after hand, and affecting utter unconsciousness of +the sad fact that ponderous Professor Plock had camped upon the train of +her state and festival velvet gown. + +With a long sigh of relief Demi glanced about him for the beloved girl. +Most persons would have looked some time before any particular angel +could be discovered among the white-robed throng in parlours, hall, +and study; but his eye went--like the needle to the pole--to the corner +where a smooth dark head, with its braided crown, rose like a queen's, +he thought, above the crowd which surrounded her. Yes, she has a flower +at her throat; one, two, oh, blessed sight! he saw it all across the +room, and gave a rapturous sigh which caused Miss Perry's frizzled crop +to wave with a sudden gust. He did not see the rose, for it was +hidden by a fold of lace; and it was well, perhaps, that bliss came by +instalments, or he might have electrified the assembled multitude by +flying to his idol, there being no Daisy to clutch him by the coat-tail. +A stout lady, thirsting for information, seized him at that thrilling +moment, and he was forced to point out celebrities with a saintly +patience which deserved a better reward than it received; for a certain +absence of mind and incoherence of speech at times caused the ungrateful +dowager to whisper to the first friend she met after he had escaped: + +'I saw no wine at any of the spreads; but it is plain that young Brooke +has had too much. Quite gentlemanly, but evidently a trifle intoxicated, +my dear.' + +Ah, so he was! but with a diviner wine than any that ever sparkled at a +class-day lunch, though many collegians know the taste of it; and when +the old lady was disposed of, he gladly turned to find the young one, +bent on having a single word. He saw her standing by the piano now, +idly turning over music as she talked with several gentlemen. Hiding his +impatience under an air of scholastic repose, Demi hovered near, ready +to advance when the happy moment came, wondering meantime why elderly +persons persisted in absorbing young ones instead of sensibly sitting +in corners with their contemporaries. The elderly persons in question +retired at length, but only to be replaced by two impetuous youths who +begged Miss Heath to accompany them to Parnassus and join the dance. +Demi thirsted for their blood, but was appeased by hearing George and +Dolly say, as they lingered a moment after her refusal: + +'Really, you know, I'm quite converted to co-education and almost wish +I'd remained here. It gives a grace to study, a sort of relish even to +Greek to see charming girls at it,' said Stuffy, who found the feast +of learning so dry, any sauce was welcome; and he felt as if he had +discovered a new one. + +'Yes, by Jove! we fellows will have to look out or you'll carry off all +the honours. You were superb today, and held us all like magic, though +it was so hot there, I really think I couldn't have stood it for anyone +else,' added Dolly, labouring to be gallant and really offering a +touching proof of devotion; for the heat melted his collar, took the +curl out of his hair, and ruined his gloves. + +'There is room for all; and if you will leave us the books, we will +cheerfully yield the baseball, boating, dancing, and flirting, which +seem to be the branches you prefer,' answered Alice sweetly. + +'Ah, now you are too hard upon us! We can't grind all the time and you +ladies don't seem to mind taking a turn at the two latter “branches” you +mention,' returned Dolly, with a glance at George which plainly said, 'I +had her there.' + +'Some of us do in our first years. Later we give up childish things, you +see. Don't let me keep you from Parnassus'; and a smiling nod dismissed +them, smarting under the bitter consciousness of youth. + +'You got it there, Doll. Better not try to fence with these superior +girls. Sure to be routed, horse, foot, and dragoons,' said Stuffy, +lumbering away, somewhat cross with too many spreads. + +'So deuced sarcastic! Don't believe she's much older than we are. +Girls grow up quicker, so she needn't put on airs and talk like a +grandmother,' muttered Dolly, feeling that he had sacrificed his kids +upon the altar of an ungrateful Pallas. + +'Come along and let's find something to eat. I'm faint with so much +talking. Old Plock cornered me and made my head spin with Kant and Hegel +and that lot.' + +'I promised Dora West I'd give her a turn. Must look her up; she's a +jolly little thing, and doesn't bother about anything but keeping in +step.' + +And arm in arm the boys strolled away, leaving Alice to read music as +diligently as if society had indeed no charms for her. As she bent to +turn a page, the eager young man behind the piano saw the rose and was +struck speechless with delight. A moment he gazed, then hastened to +seize the coveted place before a new detachment of bores arrived. + +'Alice, I can't believe it--did you understand--how shall I ever thank +you?' murmured Demi, bending as if he, too, read the song, not a note or +word of which did he see, however. + +'Hush! not now. I understood--I don't deserve it--we are too young, we +must wait, but--I'm very proud and happy, John!' + +What would have happened after that tender whisper I tremble to think, +if Tom Bangs had not come bustling up, with the cheerful remark: + +'Music? just the thing. People are thinning out, and we all want a +little refreshment. My brain fairly reels with the 'ologies and 'isms +I've heard discussed tonight. Yes, give us this; sweet thing! Scotch +songs are always charming.' + +Demi glowered; but the obtuse boy never saw it, and Alice, feeling that +this would be a safe vent for sundry unruly emotions, sat down at once, +and sang the song which gave her answer better than she could have done: + + BIDE A WEE + + 'The puir auld folk at home, ye mind, + Are frail and failing sair; + And weel I ken they'd miss me, lad, + Gin I come hame nae mair. + The grist is out, the times are hard, + The kine are only three; + I canna leave the auld folk now. + We'd better bide a wee. + + 'I fear me sair they're failing baith; + For when I sit apart, + They talk o' Heaven so earnestly, + It well nigh breaks my heart. + So, laddie, dinna urge me now, + It surely winna be; + I canna leave the auld folk yet. + We'd better bide a wee.' + +The room was very still before the first verse ended; and Alice skipped +the next, fearing she could not get through; for John's eyes were on +her, showing that he knew she sang for him and let the plaintive little +ballad tell what her reply must be. He took it as she meant it, and +smiled at her so happily that her heart got the better of her voice, and +she rose abruptly, saying something about the heat. + +'Yes, you are tired; come out and rest, my dearest'; and with a +masterful air Demi took her into the starlight, leaving Tom to stare +after them winking as if a sky-rocket had suddenly gone off under his +nose. + +'Bless my soul! the Deacon really meant business last summer and never +told me. Won't Dora laugh?' And Tom departed in hot haste to impart and +exult over his discovery. + +What was said in the garden was never exactly known; but the Brooke +family sat up very late that night, and any curious eye at the window +would have seen Demi receiving the homage of his womankind as he told +his little romance. Josie took great credit to herself in the matter, +insisting that she had made the match; Daisy was full of the sweetest +sympathy and joy, and Mrs Meg so happy that when Jo had gone to dream +of bridal veils, and Demi sat in his room blissfully playing the air of +'Bide a Wee', she had her talk about Nat, ending with her arms round her +dutiful daughter and these welcome words as her reward: + +'Wait till Nat comes home, and then my good girl shall wear white roses +too.' + + + +Chapter 20. LIFE FOR LIFE + +The summer days that followed were full of rest and pleasure for young +and old, as they did the honours of Plumfield to their happy guests. +While Franz and Emil were busy with the affairs of Uncle Hermann and +Captain Hardy, Mary and Ludmilla made friends everywhere; for, though +very unlike, both were excellent and charming girls. Mrs Meg and Daisy +found the German bride a Hausfrau after their own hearts, and had +delightful times learning new dishes, hearing about the semi-yearly +washes and the splendid linen-room at Hamburg, or discussing domestic +life in all its branches. Ludmilla not only taught, but learned, many +things, and went home with many new and useful ideas in her blonde head. + +Mary had seen so much of the world that she was unusually lively for +an English girl; while her various accomplishments made her a most +agreeable companion. Much good sense gave her ballast; and the late +experiences of danger and happiness added a sweet gravity at times, +which contrasted well with her natural gaiety. Mrs Jo was quite +satisfied with Emil's choice, and felt sure this true and tender pilot +would bring him safe to port through fair or stormy weather. She had +feared that Franz would settle down into a comfortable, moneymaking +burgher, and be content with that; but she soon saw that his love of +music and his placid Ludmilla put much poetry into his busy life, and +kept it from being too prosaic. So she felt at rest about these boys, +and enjoyed their visit with real, maternal satisfaction; parting with +them in September most regretfully, yet hopefully, as they sailed away +to the new life that lay before them. + +Demi's engagement was confided to the immediate family only, as both +were pronounced too young to do anything but love and wait. They were +so happy that time seemed to stand still for them, and after a blissful +week they parted bravely--Alice to home duties, with a hope that +sustained and cheered her through many trials; and John to his business, +full of a new ardour which made all things possible when such a reward +was offered. + +Daisy rejoiced over them, and was never tired of hearing her brother's +plans for the future. Her own hope soon made her what she used to be--a +cheery, busy creature, with a smile, kind word, and helping hand for +all; and as she went singing about the house again, her mother felt that +the right remedy for past sadness had been found. The dear Pelican still +had doubts and fears, but kept them wisely to herself, preparing sundry +searching tests to be applied when Nat came home, and keeping a sharp +eye on the letters from London; for some mysterious hint had flown +across the sea, and Daisy's content seemed reflected in Nat's present +cheerful state of mind. + +Having passed through the Werther period, and tried a little Faust--of +which experience he spoke to his Marguerite as if it had included +an acquaintance with Mephistopheles, Blocksburg, and Auerbach's +wine-cellar--he now felt that he was a Wilhelm Meister, serving his +apprenticeship to the great masters of life. As she knew the truth of +his small sins and honest repentance, Daisy only smiled at the mixture +of love and philosophy he sent her, knowing that it was impossible for a +young man to live in Germany without catching the German spirit. + +'His heart is all right; and his head will soon grow clear when he gets +out of the fog of tobacco, beer, and metaphysics he's been living in. +England will wake up his common sense, and good salt air blow his little +follies all away,' said Mrs Jo, much pleased with the good prospects +of her violinist--whose return was delayed till spring, to his private +regret, but professional advancement. + +Josie had a month with Miss Cameron at the seaside, and threw herself +so heartily into the lesson given her that her energy, promise, and +patience laid the foundation of a friendship which was of infinite value +to her in the busy, brilliant years to come; for little Jo's instincts +were right; and the dramatic talent of the Marches was to blossom by and +by into an actress, virtuous, and beloved. + +Tom and his Dora were peacefully ambling altar-ward; for Bangs senior +was so afraid his son would change his mind again and try a third +profession, that he gladly consented to an early marriage, as a sort +of anchor to hold the mercurial Thomas fast. Aforesaid Thomas could not +complain of cold shoulders now; for Dora was a most devoted and adoring +little mate, and made life so pleasant to him that his gift for getting +into scrapes seemed lost, and he bade fair to become a thriving man, +with undeniable talent for the business he had chosen. + +'We shall be married in the autumn, and live with my father for a while. +The governor is getting on, you know, and my wife and I must look after +him. Later we shall have an establishment of our own,' was a favourite +speech of his about this time, and usually received with smiles; for the +idea of Tommy Bangs at the head of an 'establishment' was irresistibly +funny to all who knew him. + +Things were in this flourishing condition, and Mrs Jo was beginning to +think her trials were over for that year, when a new excitement came. +Several postal cards had arrived at long intervals from Dan, who gave +them 'Care of M. Mason, etc.', as his address. By this means he was +able to gratify his longing for home news, and to send brief messages to +quiet their surprise at his delay in settling. The last one, which came +in September, was dated 'Montana', and simply said: + +Here at last, trying mining again; but not going to stay long. All sorts +of luck. Gave up the farm idea. Tell plans soon. Well, busy, and very +happy. D. K. + +If they had known what the heavy dash under 'happy' meant, that postal +would have been a very eloquent bit of pasteboard; for Dan was free, +and had gone straight away to the liberty he panted for. Meeting an old +friend by accident, he obliged him at a pinch by acting as overseer +for a time, finding the society even of rough miners very sweet, and +something in the muscular work wonderfully pleasant, after being cooped +up in the brush-shop so long. He loved to take a pick and wrestle with +rock and earth till he was weary--which was very soon; for that year of +captivity had told upon his splendid physique. He longed to go home, but +waited week after week to get the prison taint off him and the haggard +look out of his face. Meanwhile he made friends of masters and men; +and as no one knew his story, he took his place again in the world +gratefully and gladly--with little pride now, and no plans but to do +some good somewhere, and efface the past. + +Mrs Jo was having a grand clearing-out of her desk one October day, +while the rain poured outside, and peace reigned in her mansion. Coming +across the postals, she pondered over them, and then put them carefully +away in the drawer labelled 'Boys' Letters', saying to herself, as she +bundled eleven requests for autographs into the waste-paper basket: + +'It is quite time for another card, unless he is coming to tell his +plans. I'm really curious to know what he has been about all this year, +and how he's getting on now.' + +That last wish was granted within an hour; for Ted came rushing in, with +a newspaper in one hand, a collapsed umbrella in the other, and a face +full of excitement, announcing, all in one breathless jumble: + +'Mine caved in--twenty men shut up--no way out--wives crying--water +rising--Dan knew the old shaft--risked his life--got 'em out--most +killed--papers full of it--I knew he'd be a hero--hurray for old Dan!' + +'What? Where? When? Who? Stop roaring, and let me read!' commanded his +mother, entirely bewildered. + +Relinquishing the paper, Ted allowed her to read for herself, with +frequent interruptions from him--and Rob, who soon followed, eager +for the tale. It was nothing new; but courage and devotion always stir +generous hearts, and win admiration; so the account was both graphic and +enthusiastic; and the name of Daniel Kean, the brave man who saved the +lives of others at the risk of his own, was on many lips that day. Very +proud were the faces of these friends as they read how their Dan was +the only one who, in the first panic of the accident, remembered the old +shaft that led into the mine--walled up, but the only hope of escape, +if the men could be got out before the rising water drowned them; how he +was lowered down alone, telling the others to keep back till he saw if +it was safe; how he heard the poor fellows picking desperately for their +lives on the other side, and by knocks and calls guided them to the +right spot; then headed the rescue party, and working like a hero, got +the men out in time. On being drawn up last of all, the worn rope broke, +and he had a terrible fall, being much hurt, but was still alive. How +the grateful women kissed his blackened face and bloody hands, as the +men bore him away in triumph, and the owners of the mine promised a +handsome reward, if he lived to receive it! + +'He must live; he shall, and come home to be nursed as soon as he can +stir, if I go and bring him myself! I always knew he'd do something fine +and brave, if he didn't get shot or hung for some wild prank instead,' +cried Mrs Jo, much excited. + +'Do go, and take me with you, Mum. I ought to be the one, Dan's so fond +of me and I of him,' began Ted, feeling that this would be an expedition +after his own heart. + +Before his mother could reply, Mr Laurie came in, with almost as much +noise and flurry as Teddy the second, exclaiming as he waved the evening +paper: + +'Seen the news, Jo? What do you think? Shall I go off at once, and see +after that brave boy?' + +'I wish you would. But the thing may not be all true--rumour lies so. +Perhaps a few hours will bring an entirely new version of the story.' + +'I've telephoned to Demi for all he can find out; and if it's true, I'll +go at once. Should like the trip. If he's able, I'll bring him home; if +not, I'll stay and see to him. He'll pull through. Dan will never die of +a fall on his head. He's got nine lives, and not lost half of them yet.' + +'If you go, uncle, mayn't I go with you? I'm just spoiling for a +journey; and it would be such larks to go out there with you, and see +the mines and Dan, and hear all about it, and help. I can nurse. Can't +I, Rob?' cried Teddy, in his most wheedlesome tones. + +'Pretty well. But if mother can't spare you, I'm ready if uncle needs +anyone,' answered Rob, in his quiet way, looking much fitter for the +trip than excitable Ted. + +'I can't spare either of you. My boys get into trouble, unless I keep +them close at home. I've no right to hold the others; but I won't let +you out of my sight, or something will happen. Never saw such a year, +with wrecks and weddings and floods and engagements, and every sort of +catastrophe!' exclaimed Mrs Jo. + +'If you deal in girls and boys, you must expect this sort of thing, +ma'am. The worst is over, I hope, till these lads begin to go off. Then +I'll stand by you; for you'll need every kind of support and comfort, +specially if Ted bolts early,' laughed Mr Laurie, enjoying her +lamentations. + +'I don't think anything can surprise me now; but I am anxious about +Dan, and feel that someone had better go to him. It's a rough place out +there, and he may need careful nursing. Poor lad, he seems to get a good +many hard knocks! But perhaps he needs them as “a mellerin' process”, as +Hannah used to say.' + +'We shall hear from Demi before long, and then I'll be off.' With which +cheerful promise Mr Laurie departed; and Ted, finding his mother firm, +soon followed, to coax his uncle to take him. + +Further inquiry confirmed and added interest to the news. Mr Laurie was +off at once; and Ted went into town with him, still vainly imploring to +be taken to his Dan. He was absent all day; but his mother said, calmly: + +'Only a fit of the sulks because he is thwarted. He's safe with Tom or +Demi, and will come home hungry and meek at night. I know him.' + +But she soon found that she could still be surprised; for evening +brought no Ted, and no one had seen him. Mr Bhaer was just setting +off to find his lost son, when a telegram arrived, dated at one of the +way-stations on Mr Laurie's route: + + Found Ted in the cars. Take him along. Write tomorrow. + + T. LAURENCE + +'Ted bolted sooner than you expected, mother. Never mind--uncle will +take good care of him, and Dan be very glad to see him,' said Rob, as +Mrs Jo sat, trying to realize that her youngest was actually on his way +to the wild West. + +'Disobedient boy! He shall be severely punished, if I ever get him +again. Laurie winked at this prank; I know he did. Just like him. +Won't the two rascals have a splendid time? Wish I was with them! Don't +believe that crazy boy took even a night-gown with him, or an overcoat. +Well, there will be two patients for us to nurse when they get back, if +they ever do. Those reckless express trains always go down precipices, +and burn up, or telescope. Oh! my Ted, my precious boy, how can I let +him go so far away from me?' + +And mother-like, Mrs Jo forgot the threatened chastisement in tender +lamentations over the happy scapegrace, now whizzing across the +continent in high feather at the success of his first revolt. Mr Laurie +was much amused at his insisting that those words, 'when Ted bolts', put +the idea into his head; and therefore the responsibility rested upon his +shoulders. He assumed it kindly from the moment he came upon the runaway +asleep in a car, with no visible luggage but a bottle of wine for Dan +and a blacking-brush for himself; and as Mrs Jo suspected, the 'two +rascals' did have a splendid time. Penitent letters arrived in due +season, and the irate parents soon forgot to chide in their anxiety +about Dan, who was very ill, and did not know his friends for several +days. Then he began to mend; and everyone forgave the bad boy when he +proudly reported that the first conscious words Dan said were: 'Hallo, +Ted!' with a smile of pleasure at seeing a familiar face bent over him. + +'Glad he went, and I won't scold any more. Now, what shall we put in the +box for Dan?' And Mrs Jo worked off her impatience to get hold of the +invalid by sending comforts enough for a hospital. + +Cheering accounts soon began to come, and at length Dan was pronounced +able to travel, but seemed in no haste to go home, though never tired of +hearing his nurses talk of it. + +'Dan is strangely altered,' wrote Laurie to Jo; 'not by this illness +alone, but by something which has evidently gone before. I don't know +what, and leave you to ask; but from his ravings when delirious I fear +he has been in some serious trouble the past year. He seems ten years +older, but improved, quieter, and so grateful to us. It is pathetic to +see the hunger in his eyes as they rest on Ted, as if he couldn't see +enough of him. He says Kansas was a failure, but can't talk much; so I +bide my time. The people here love him very much, and he cares for that +sort of thing now; used to scorn any show of emotion, you know; now +he wants everyone to think well of him, and can't do enough to win +affection and respect. I may be all wrong. You will soon find out. Ted +is in clover, and the trip has done him a world of good. Let me take him +to Europe when we go? Apron-strings don't agree with him any better than +they did with me when I proposed to run away to Washington with you some +century ago. Aren't you sorry you didn't?' + +This private letter set Mrs Jo's lively fancy in a ferment, and she +imagined every known crime, affliction, and complication which could +possibly have befallen Dan. He was too feeble to be worried with +questions now, but she promised herself most interesting revelations +when she got him safe at home; for the 'firebrand' was her most +interesting boy. She begged him to come, and spent more time in +composing a letter that should bring him, than she did over the most +thrilling episodes in her 'works'. + +No one but Dan saw the letter; but it did bring him, and one November +day Mr Laurie helped a feeble man out of a carriage at the door of +Plumfield, and Mother Bhaer received the wanderer like a recovered son; +while Ted, in a disreputable-looking hat and an astonishing pair of +boots, performed a sort of war-dance round the interesting group. + +'Right upstairs and rest; I'm nurse now, and this ghost must eat before +he talks to anyone,' commanded Mrs Jo, trying not to show how shocked +she was at this shorn and shaven, gaunt and pallid shadow of the +stalwart man she parted with. + +He was quite content to obey, and lay on the long lounge in the room +prepared for him, looking about as tranquilly as a sick child restored +to its own nursery and mother's arms, while his new nurse fed and +refreshed him, bravely controlling the questions that burned upon her +tongue. Being weak and weary, he soon fell asleep; and then she stole +away to enjoy the society of the 'rascals', whom she scolded and petted, +pumped and praised, to her heart's content. + +'Jo, I think Dan has committed some crime and suffered for it,' said Mr +Laurie, when Ted had departed to show his boots and tell glowing tales +of the dangers and delights of the miners' life to his mates. 'Some +terrible experience has come to the lad, and broken his spirit. He was +quite out of his head when we arrived, and I took the watching, so I +heard more of those sad wanderings than anyone else. He talked of the +“warden”, some trail, a dead man, and Blair and Mason, and would keep +offering me his hand, asking me if I would take it and forgive him. +Once, when he was very wild, I held his arms, and he quieted in a +moment, imploring me not to “put the handcuffs on”. I declare, it was +quite awful sometimes to hear him in the night talk of old Plum and you, +and beg to be let out and go home to die.' + +'He isn't going to die, but live to repent of anything he may have done; +so don't harrow me up with these dark hints, Teddy. I don't care if he's +broken the Ten Commandments, I'll stand by him, and so will you, and +we'll set him on his feet and make a good man of him yet. I know he's +not spoilt, by the look in his poor face. Don't say a word to anyone, +and I'll have the truth before long,' answered Mrs Jo, still loyal to +her bad boy, though much afflicted by what she had heard. + +For some days Dan rested, and saw few people; then good care, cheerful +surroundings, and the comfort of being at home began to tell, and +he seemed more like himself, though still very silent as to his late +experiences, pleading the doctor's orders not to talk much. Everyone +wanted to see him; but he shrank from any but old friends, and 'wouldn't +lionize worth a cent', Ted said, much disappointed that he could not +show off his brave Dan. + +'Wasn't a man there who wouldn't have done the same, so why make a row +over me?' asked the hero, feeling more ashamed than proud of the broken +arm, which looked so interesting in a sling. + +'But isn't it pleasant to think that you saved twenty lives, Dan, and +gave husbands, sons, and fathers back to the women who loved them?' +asked Mrs Jo one evening as they were alone together after several +callers had been sent away. + +'Pleasant! it's all that kept me alive, I do believe; yes, I'd rather +have done it than be made president or any other big bug in the world. +No one knows what a comfort it is to think I've saved twenty men to more +than pay for--' There Dan stopped short, having evidently spoken out of +some strong emotion to which his hearer had no key. + +'I thought you'd feel so. It is a splendid thing to save life at the +risk of one's own, as you did, and nearly lose it,' began Mrs Jo, +wishing he had gone on with that impulsive speech which was so like his +old manner. + +'“He that loseth his life shall gain it”,' muttered Dan, staring at the +cheerful fire which lighted the room, and shone on his thin face with a +ruddy glow. + +Mrs Jo was so startled at hearing such words from his lips that she +exclaimed joyfully: + +'Then you did read the little book I gave you, and kept your promise?' + +'I read it a good deal after a while. I don't know much yet, but I'm +ready to learn; and that's something.' + +'It's everything. Oh, my dear, tell me about it! I know something lies +heavy on your heart; let me help you bear it, and so make the burden +lighter.' + +'I know it would; I want to tell; but some things even you couldn't +forgive; and if you let go of me, I'm afraid I can't keep afloat.' + +'Mothers can forgive anything! Tell me all, and be sure that I will +never let you go, though the whole world should turn from you.' + +Mrs Jo took one of the big wasted hands in both of hers and held it +fast, waiting silently till that sustaining touch warmed poor Dan's +heart, and gave him courage to speak. Sitting in his old attitude, with +his head in his hands, he slowly told it all, never once looking up till +the last words left his lips. + +'Now you know; can you forgive a murderer, and keep a jail-bird in your +house?' + +Her only answer was to put her arms about him, and lay the shorn head on +her breast, with eyes so full of tears they could but dimly see the hope +and fear that made his own so tragical. + +That was better than any words; and poor Dan clung to her in speechless +gratitude, feeling the blessedness of mother love--that divine gift +which comforts, purifies, and strengthens all who seek it. Two or three +great, bitter drops were hidden in the little woollen shawl where Dan's +cheek rested, and no one ever knew how soft and comfortable it felt to +him after the hard pillows he had known so long. Suffering of both mind +and body had broken will and pride, and the lifted burden brought such a +sense of relief that he paused a moment to enjoy it in dumb delight. + +'My poor boy, how you have suffered all this year, when we thought you +free as air! Why didn't you tell us, Dan, and let us help you? Did you +doubt your friends?' asked Mrs Jo, forgetting all other emotions in +sympathy, as she lifted up the hidden face, and looked reproachfully +into the great hollow eyes that met her own frankly now. + +'I was ashamed. I tried to bear it alone rather than shock and +disappoint you, as I know I have, though you try not to show it. Don't +mind; I must get used to it'; and Dan's eyes dropped again as if they +could not bear to see the trouble and dismay his confession painted on +his best friend's face. + +'I am shocked and disappointed by the sin, but I am also very glad and +proud and grateful that my sinner has repented, atoned, and is ready to +profit by the bitter lesson. No one but Fritz and Laurie need ever know +the truth; we owe it to them, and they will feel as I do,' answered Mrs +Jo, wisely thinking that entire frankness would be a better tonic than +too much sympathy. + +'No, they won't; men never forgive like women. But it's right. Please +tell 'em for me, and get it over. Mr Laurence knows it, I guess. I +blabbed when my wits were gone; but he was very kind all the same. I can +bear their knowing; but oh, not Ted and the girls!' Dan clutched her +arm with such an imploring face that she hastened to assure him no one +should know except the two old friends, and he calmed down as if ashamed +of his sudden panic. + +'It wasn't murder, mind you, it was in self-defence; he drew first, and +I had to hit him. Didn't mean to kill him; but it doesn't worry me as +much as it ought, I'm afraid. I've more than paid for it, and such a +rascal is better out of the world than in it, showing boys the way to +hell. Yes, I know you think that's awful in me; but I can't help it. I +hate a scamp as I do a skulking coyote, and always want to get a shot at +'em. Perhaps it would have been better if he had killed me; my life is +spoilt.' + +All the old prison gloom seemed to settle like a black cloud on Dan's +face as he spoke, and Mrs Jo was frightened at the glimpse it gave her +of the fire through which he had passed to come out alive, but +scarred for life. Hoping to turn his mind to happier things, she said +cheerfully: + +'No, it isn't; you have learned to value it more and use it better +for this trial. It is not a lost year, but one that may prove the most +helpful of any you ever know. Try to think so, and begin again; we will +help, and have all the more confidence in you for this failure. We all +do the same and struggle on.' + +'I never can be what I was. I feel about sixty, and don't care for +anything now I've got here. Let me stay till I'm on my legs, then I'll +clear out and never trouble you any more,' said Dan despondently. + +'You are weak and low in your mind; that will pass, and by and by you +will go to your missionary work among the Indians with all the old +energy and the new patience, self-control, and knowledge you have +gained. Tell me more about that good chaplain and Mary Mason and the +lady whose chance word helped you so much. I want to know all about the +trials of my poor boy.' + +Won by her tender interest, Dan brightened up and talked on till he had +poured out all the story of that bitter year, and felt better for the +load he lifted off. + +If he had known how it weighed upon his hearer's heart, he would have +held his peace; but she hid her sorrow till she had sent him to bed, +comforted and calm; then she cried her heart out, to the great dismay +of Fritz and Laurie, till they heard the tale and could mourn with her; +after which they all cheered up and took counsel together how best to +help this worst of all the 'catastrophes' the year had brought them. + + + +Chapter 21. ASLAUGA'S KNIGHT + +It was curious to see the change which came over Dan after that talk. A +weight seemed off his mind; and though the old impetuous spirit flashed +out at times, he seemed intent on trying to show his gratitude and love +and honour to these true friends by a new humility and confidence very +sweet to them, very helpful to him. After hearing the story from Mrs +Jo, the Professor and Mr Laurie made no allusion to it beyond the hearty +hand-grasp, the look of compassion, the brief word of good cheer in +which men convey sympathy, and a redoubled kindness which left no doubt +of pardon. Mr Laurie began at once to interest influential persons +in Dan's mission, and set in motion the machinery which needs so much +oiling before anything can be done where Government is concerned. +Mr Bhaer, with the skill of a true teacher, gave Dan's hungry mind +something to do, and helped him understand himself by carrying on the +good chaplain's task so paternally that the poor fellow often said he +felt as if he had found a father. The boys took him to drive, and amused +him with their pranks and plans; while the women, old and young, nursed +and petted him till he felt like a sultan with a crowd of devoted +slaves, obedient to his lightest wish. A very little of this was enough +for Dan, who had a masculine horror of 'molly-coddling', and so brief an +acquaintance with illness that he rebelled against the doctor's orders +to keep quiet; and it took all Mrs Jo's authority and the girls' +ingenuity to keep him from leaving his sofa long before strained back +and wounded head were well. Daisy cooked for him; Nan attended to his +medicines; Josie read aloud to while away the long hours of inaction +that hung so heavily on his hands; while Bess brought all her +pictures and casts to amuse him, and, at his special desire, set up a +modelling-stand in his parlour and began to mould the buffalo head he +gave her. Those afternoons seemed the pleasantest part of his day; and +Mrs Jo, busy in her study close by, could see the friendly trio and +enjoy the pretty pictures they made. The girls were much flattered +by the success of their efforts, and exerted themselves to be very +entertaining, consulting Dan's moods with the feminine tact most women +creatures learn before they are out of pinafores. When he was gay, the +room rang with laughter; when gloomy, they read or worked in respectful +silence till their sweet patience cheered him up again; and when in pain +they hovered over him like 'a couple of angels', as he said. He often +called Josie 'little mother', but Bess was always 'Princess'; and his +manner to the two cousins was quite different. Josie sometimes fretted +him with her fussy ways, the long plays she liked to read, and the +maternal scoldings she administered when he broke the rules; for having +a lord of creation in her power was so delightful to her that she would +have ruled him with a rod of iron if he had submitted. To Bess, in her +gentler ministrations, he never showed either impatience or weariness, +but obeyed her least word, exerted himself to seem well in her presence, +and took such interest in her work that he lay looking at her with +unwearied eyes; while Josie read to him in her best style unheeded. + +Mrs Jo observed this, and called them 'Una and the Lion', which suited +them very well, though the lion's mane was shorn, and Una never tried to +bridle him. The elder ladies did their part in providing delicacies and +supplying all his wants; but Mrs Meg was busy at home, Mrs Amy preparing +for the trip to Europe in the spring, and Mrs Jo hovering on the brink +of a 'vortex'--for the forthcoming book had been sadly delayed by +the late domestic events. As she sat at her desk, settling papers or +meditatively nibbling her pen while waiting for the divine afflatus to +descend upon her, she often forgot her fictitious heroes and heroines +in studying the live models before her, and thus by chance looks, words, +and gestures discovered a little romance unsuspected by anyone else. + +The portiere between the rooms was usually drawn aside, giving a view of +the group in the large bay-window--Bess at one side, in her grey blouse, +busy with her tools; Josie at the other side with her book; and between, +on the long couch, propped with many cushions, lay Dan in a many-hued +eastern dressing-gown presented by Mr Laurie and worn to please +the girls, though the invalid much preferred an old jacket 'with no +confounded tail to bother over'. He faced Mrs Jo's room, but never +seemed to see her, for his eyes were on the slender figure before him, +with the pale winter sunshine touching her golden head, and the delicate +hands that shaped the clay so deftly. Josie was just visible, rocking +violently in a little chair at the head of the couch, and the steady +murmur of her girlish voice was usually the only sound that broke the +quiet of the room, unless a sudden discussion arose about the book or +the buffalo. + +Something in the big eyes, bigger and blacker than ever in the thin +white face, fixed, so steadily on one object, had a sort of fascination +for Mrs Jo after a time, and she watched the changes in them curiously; +for Dan's mind was evidently not on the story, and he often forgot to +laugh or exclaim at the comic or exciting crises. Sometimes they were +soft and wistful, and the watcher was very glad that neither damsel +caught that dangerous look for when they spoke it vanished; sometimes +it was full of eager fire, and the colour came and went rebelliously, +in spite of his attempt to hide it with an impatient gesture of hand or +head; but oftenest it was dark, and sad, and stern, as if those gloomy +eyes looked out of captivity at some forbidden light or joy. This +expression came so often that it worried Mrs Jo, and she longed to go +and ask him what bitter memory overshadowed those quiet hours. She knew +that his crime and its punishment must lie heavy on his mind; but youth, +and time, and new hopes would bring comfort, and help to wear away +the first sharpness of the prison brand. It lifted at other times, and +seemed almost forgotten when he joked with the boys, talked with old +friends, or enjoyed the first snows as he drove out every fair day. Why +should the shadow always fall so darkly on him in the society of these +innocent and friendly girls? They never seemed to see it, and if either +looked or spoke, a quick smile came like a sunburst through the clouds +to answer them. So Mrs Jo went on watching, wondering, and discovering, +till accident confirmed her fears. + +Josie was called away one day, and Bess, tired of working, offered to +take her place if he cared for more reading. + +'I do; your reading suits me better than Jo's. She goes so fast my +stupid head gets in a muddle and soon begins to ache. Don't tell her; +she's a dear little soul, and so good to sit here with a bear like me.' + +The smile was ready as Bess went to the table for a new book, the last +story being finished. + +'You are not a bear, but very good and patient, we think. It is always +hard for a man to be shut up, mamma says, and must be terrible for you, +who have always been so free.' + +If Bess had not been reading titles she would have seen Dan shrink as +if her last words hurt him. He made no answer; but other eyes saw and +understood why he looked as if he would have liked to spring up and rush +away for one of his long races up the hill, as he used to do when the +longing for liberty grew uncontrollable. Moved by a sudden impulse, Mrs +Jo caught up her work-basket and went to join her neighbours, feeling +that a non-conductor might be needed; for Dan looked like a thundercloud +full of electricity. + +'What shall we read, Aunty? Dan doesn't seem to care. You know his +taste; tell me something quiet and pleasant and short. Josie will +be back soon,' said Bess, still turning over the books piled on the +centre-table. + +Before Mrs Jo could answer, Dan pulled a shabby little volume from under +his pillow, and handing it to her said: 'Please read the third one; it's +short and pretty--I'm fond of it.' The book opened at the right place, +as if the third story had been often read, and Bess smiled as she saw +the name. + +'Why, Dan, I shouldn't think you'd care for this romantic German tale. +There is fighting in it; but it is very sentimental, if I remember +rightly.' + +'I know it; but I've read so few stories, I like the simple ones best. +Had nothing else to read sometimes; I guess I know it all by heart, and +never seem to be tired of those fighting fellows, and the fiends and +angels and lovely ladies. You read “Aslauga's Knight”, and see if you +don't like it. Edwald was rather too soft for my fancy; but Froda was +first-rate and the spirit with the golden hair always reminded me of +you.' + +As Dan spoke Mrs Jo settled herself where she could watch him in the +glass, and Bess took a large chair facing him, saying, as she put up her +hands to retie the ribbon that held the cluster of thick, soft curls at +the back of her head: + +'I hope Aslauga's hair wasn't as troublesome as mine, for it's always +tumbling down. I'll be ready in a minute.' + +'Don't tie it up; please let it hang. I love to see it shine that way. +It will rest your head, and be just right for the story, Goldilocks,' +pleaded Dan, using the childish name and looking more like his boyish +self than he had done for many a day. + +Bess laughed, shook down her pretty hair, and began to read, glad to +hide her face a little; for compliments made her shy, no matter who paid +them. Dan listened intently on; and Mrs Jo, with eyes that went often +from her needle to the glass, could see, without turning, how he +enjoyed every word as if it had more meaning for him than for the other +listeners. His face brightened wonderfully, and soon wore the look that +came when anything brave or beautiful inspired and touched his better +self. It was Fouque's charming story of the knight Froda, and the fair +daughter of Sigurd, who was a sort of spirit, appearing to her lover in +hours of danger and trial, as well as triumph and joy, till she became +his guide and guard, inspiring him with courage, nobleness, and truth, +leading him to great deeds in the field, sacrifices for those he loved, +and victories over himself by the gleaming of her golden hair, which +shone on him in battle, dreams, and perils by day and night, till after +death he finds the lovely spirit waiting to receive and to reward him. + +Of all the stories in the book this was the last one would have supposed +Dan would like best, and even Mrs Jo was surprised at his perceiving the +moral of the tale through the delicate imagery and romantic language by +which it was illustrated. But as she looked and listened she remembered +the streak of sentiment and refinement which lay concealed in Dan like +the gold vein in a rock, making him quick to feel and to enjoy fine +colour in a flower, grace in an animal, sweetness in women, heroism in +men, and all the tender ties that bind heart to heart; though he was +slow to show it, having no words to express the tastes and instincts +which he inherited from his mother. Suffering of soul and body had +tamed his stronger passions, and the atmosphere of love and pity now +surrounding him purified and warmed his heart till it began to hunger +for the food neglected or denied so long. This was plainly written in +his too expressive face, as, fancying it unseen, he let it tell the +longing after beauty, peace, and happiness embodied for him in the +innocent fair girl before him. + +The conviction of this sad yet natural fact came to Mrs Jo with a pang, +for she felt how utterly hopeless such a longing was; since light and +darkness were not farther apart than snow-white Bess and sin-stained +Dan. No dream of such a thing disturbed the young girl, as her entire +unconsciousness plainly showed. But how long would it be before the +eloquent eyes betrayed the truth? And then what disappointment for +Dan, what dismay for Bess, who was as cool and high and pure as her own +marbles, and shunned all thought of love with maidenly reserve. + +'How hard everything is made for my poor boy! How can I spoil his little +dream, and take away the spirit of good he is beginning to love and long +for? When my own dear lads are safely settled I'll never try another, +for these things are heart-breaking, and I can't manage any more,' +thought Mrs Jo, as she put the lining into Teddy's coat-sleeve upside +down, so perplexed and grieved was she at this new catastrophe. + +The story was soon done, and as Bess shook back her hair, Dan asked as +eagerly as a boy: + +'Don't you like it?' + +'Yes, it's very pretty, and I see the meaning of it; but Undine was +always my favourite.' + +'Of course, that's like you--lilies and pearls and souls and pure +water. Sintram used to be mine; but I took a fancy to this when I +was--ahem--rather down on my luck one time, and it did me good, it was +so cheerful and sort of spiritual in its meaning, you know.' + +Bess opened her blue eyes in wonder at this fancy of Dan's for anything +'spiritual'; but she only nodded, saying: 'Some of the little songs are +sweet and might be set to music.' + +Dan laughed; 'I used to sing the last one to a tune of my own sometimes +at sunset: + + '“Listening to celestial lays, + Bending thy unclouded gaze + On the pure and living light, + Thou art blest, Aslauga's Knight!” + +'And I was,' he added, under his breath, as he glanced towards the +sunshine dancing on the wall. + +'This one suits you better now'; and glad to please him by her interest, +Bess read in her soft voice: + + '“Healfast, healfast, ye hero wounds; + O knight, be quickly strong! + Beloved strife + For fame and life, + Oh, tarry not too long!”' + +'I'm no hero, never can be, and “fame and life” can't do much for me. +Never mind, read me that paper, please. This knock on the head has made +a regular fool of me.' + +Dan's voice was gentle; but the light was gone out of his face now, and +he moved restlessly as if the silken pillows were full of thorns. Seeing +that his mood had changed, Bess quietly put down the book, took up the +paper, and glanced along the columns for something to suit him. + +'You don't care for the money market, I know, nor musical news. Here's +a murder; you used to like those; shall I read it? One man kills +another--,' + +'No!' + +Only a word, but it gave Mrs Jo a thrill, and for a moment she dared not +glance at the tell-tale mirror. When she did Dan lay motionless with one +hand over his eyes, and Bess was happily reading the art news to ears +that never heard a word. Feeling like a thief who has stolen something +very precious, Mrs Jo slipped away to her study, and before long Bess +followed to report that Dan was fast asleep. + +Sending her home, with the firm resolve to keep her there as much as +possible, Mother Bhaer had an hour of serious thought all alone in the +red sunset; and when a sound in the next room led her there, she found +that the feigned sleep had become real repose; for Dan lay breathing +heavily, with a scarlet spot on either cheek, and one hand clinched on +his broad breast. Yearning over him with a deeper pity than ever before, +she sat in the little chair beside him, trying to see her way out of +this tangle, till his hand slipped down, and in doing so snapped a cord +he wore about his neck and let a small case drop to the floor. + +Mrs Jo picked it up, and as he did not wake, sat looking at it, idly +wondering what charm it held; for the case was of Indian workmanship and +the broken cord, of closely woven grass, sweet scented and pale yellow. + +'I won't pry into any more of the poor fellow's secrets. I'll mend and +put it back, and never let him know I've seen his talisman.' + +As she spoke she turned the little wallet to examine the fracture, and +a card fell into her lap. It was a photograph, cut to fit its covering, +and two words were written underneath the face, 'My Aslauga'. For an +instant Mrs Jo fancied that it might be one of herself, for all the boys +had them; but as the thin paper fell away, she saw the picture Demi took +of Bess that happy summer day. There was no doubt now, and with a sigh +she put it back, and was about to slip it into Dan's bosom so that not +even a stitch should betray her knowledge, when as she leaned towards +him, she saw that he was looking straight at her with an expression that +surprised her more than any of the strange ones she had ever seen in +that changeful face before. + +'Your hand slipped down; it fell; I was putting it back,' explained Mrs +Jo, feeling like a naughty child caught in mischief. + +'You saw the picture?' + +'Yes.' + +'And know what a fool I am?' + +'Yes, Dan, and am so grieved--' + +'Don't worry about me. I'm all right--glad you know, though I never +meant to tell you. Of course it is only a crazy fancy of mine, and +nothing can ever come of it. Never thought there would. Good Lord! what +could that little angel ever be to me but what she is--a sort of dream +of all that's sweet and good?' + +More afflicted by the quiet resignation of his look and tone than by +the most passionate ardour, Mrs Jo could only say, with a face full of +sympathy: + +'It is very hard, dear, but there is no other way to look at it. You are +wise and brave enough to see that, and to let the secret be ours alone.' + +'I swear I will! not a word nor a look if I can help it. No one guesses, +and if it troubles no one, is there any harm in my keeping this, and +taking comfort in the pretty fancy that kept me sane in that cursed +place?' + +Dan's face was eager now, and he hid away the little worn case as if +defying any hand to take it from him. Anxious to know everything before +giving counsel or comfort, Mrs Jo said quietly: + +'Keep it, and tell me all about the “fancy”. Since I have stumbled on +your secret, let me know how it came, and how I can help to make it +lighter to bear.' + +'You'll laugh; but I don't mind. You always did find out our secrets and +give us a lift. Well, I never cared much for books, you know; but down +yonder when the devil tormented me I had to do something or go stark +mad, so I read both the books you gave me. One was beyond me, till that +good old man showed me how to read it; but the other, this one, was a +comfort, I tell you. It amused me, and was as pretty as poetry. I liked +'em all, and most wore out Sintram. See how used up he is! Then I came +to this, and it sort of fitted that other happy part of my life, last +summer--here.' + +Dan stopped a moment as the words lingered on his lips; then, with a +long breath, went on, as if it was hard to lay bare the foolish little +romance he had woven about a girl, a picture, and a child's story there +in the darkness of the place which was as terrible to him as Dante's +Inferno, till he found his Beatrice. + +'I couldn't sleep, and had to think about something, so I used to fancy +I was Folko, and see the shining of Aslauga's hair in the sunset on +the wall, the gum of the watchman's lamp, and the light that came in at +dawn. My cell was high. I could see a bit of sky; sometimes there was +a star in it, and that was most as good as a face. I set great store by +that patch of blue, and when a white cloud went by, I thought it was the +prettiest thing in all this world. I guess I was pretty near a fool; but +those thoughts and things helped me through, so they are all solemn true +to me, and I can't let them go. The dear shiny head, the white gown, the +eyes like stars, and sweet, calm ways that set her as high above me as +the moon in heaven. Don't take it away! it's only a fancy, but a man +must love something, and I'd better love a spirit like her than any of +the poor common girls who would care for me.' + +The quiet despair in Dan's voice pierced Mrs Jo to the heart; but there +was no hope and she gave none. Yet she felt that he was right, and that +his hapless affection might do more to uplift and purify him than any +other he might know. Few women would care to marry Dan now, except such +as would hinder, not help, him in the struggle which life would always +be to him; and it was better to go solitary to his grave than become +what she suspected his father had been--a handsome, unprincipled, and +dangerous man, with more than one broken heart to answer for. + +'Yes, Dan, it is wise to keep this innocent fancy, if it helps and +comforts you, till something more real and possible comes to make you +happier. I wish I could give you any hope; but we both know that the +dear child is the apple of her father's eye, the pride of her mother's +heart, and that the most perfect lover they can find will hardly seem to +them worthy of their precious daughter. Let her remain for you the high, +bright star that leads you up and makes you believe in heaven.' Mrs Jo +broke down there; it seemed so cruel to destroy the faint hope Dan's +eyes betrayed, that she could not moralize when she thought of his hard +life and lonely future. Perhaps it was the wisest thing she could have +done, for in her hearty sympathy he found comfort for his own loss, and +very soon was able to speak again in the manly tone of resignation +to the inevitable that showed how honest was his effort to give up +everything but the pale shadow of what, for another, might have been a +happy possibility. + +They talked long and earnestly in the twilight; and this second secret +bound them closer than the first; for in it there was neither sin nor +shame--only the tender pain and patience which has made saints and +heroes of far worse men than our poor Dan. When at length they rose at +the summons of a bell, all the sunset glory had departed, and in the +wintry sky there hung one star, large, soft, and clear, above a snowy +world. Pausing at the window before she dropped the curtains, Mrs Jo +said cheerfully: + +'Come and see how beautiful the evening star is, since you love it so.' +And as he stood behind her, tall and pale, like the ghost of his former +self, she added softly: 'And remember, dear, if the sweet girl is denied +you, the old friend is always here--to love and trust and pray for you.' + +This time she was not disappointed; and had she asked any reward for +many anxieties and cares, she received it when Dan's strong arm came +round her, as he said, in a voice which showed her that she had not +laboured in vain to pluck her firebrand from the burning: + +'I never can forget that; for she's helped to save my soul, and make me +dare to look up there and say: + +“God bless her!”' + + + +Chapter 22. POSITIVELY LAST APPEARANCE + +'Upon my word, I feel as if I lived in a powder-magazine, and don't +know which barrel will explode next, and send me flying,' said Mrs Jo +to herself next day, as she trudged up to Parnassus to suggest to her +sister that perhaps the most charming of the young nurses had better +return to her marble gods before she unconsciously added another wound +to those already won by the human hero. She told no secrets; but a hint +was sufficient; for Mrs Amy guarded her daughter as a pearl of great +price, and at once devised a very simple means of escape from danger. +Mr Laurie was going to Washington on Dan's behalf, and was delighted to +take his family with him when the idea was carelessly suggested. So the +conspiracy succeeded finely; and Mrs Jo went home, feeling more like a +traitor than ever. She expected an explosion; but Dan took the news so +quietly, it was plain that he cherished no hope; and Mrs Amy was sure +her romantic sister had been mistaken. If she had seen Dan's face when +Bess went to say good-bye, her maternal eye would have discovered far +more than the unconscious girl did. Mrs Jo trembled lest he should +betray himself; but he had learned self-control in a stern school, and +would have got through the hard moment bravely, only, when he took both +hands, saying heartily: + +'Good-bye, Princess. If we don't meet again, remember your old friend +Dan sometimes,' she, touched by his late danger and the wistful look he +wore, answered with unusual warmth: 'How can I help it, when you make us +all so proud of you? God bless your mission, and bring you safely home +to us again!' + +As she looked up at him with a face full of frank affection and sweet +regret, all that he was losing rose so vividly before him that Dan could +not resist the impulse to take the 'dear goldy head' between his hands +and kiss it, with a broken 'Good-bye'; then hurried back to his room, +feeling as if it were the prison-cell again, with no glimpse of heaven's +blue to comfort him. + +This abrupt caress and departure rather startled Bess; for she felt with +a girl's quick instinct that there was something in that kiss unknown +before, and looked after him with sudden colour in her cheeks and new +trouble in her eyes. Mrs Jo saw it, and fearing a very natural question +answered it before it was put. + +'Forgive him, Bess. He has had a great trouble, and it makes him tender +at parting with old friends; for you know he may never come back from +the wild world he is going to.' + +'You mean the fall and danger of death?' asked Bess, innocently. + +'No, dear; a greater trouble than that. But I cannot tell you any +more--except that he has come through it bravely; so you may trust and +respect him, as I do.' + +'He has lost someone he loved. Poor Dan! We must be very kind to him.' + +Bess did not ask the question, but seemed content with her solution of +the mystery--which was so true that Mrs Jo confirmed it by a nod, and +let her go away believing that some tender loss and sorrow wrought the +great change all saw in Dan, and made him so slow to speak concerning +the past year. + +But Ted was less easily satisfied, and this unusual reticence goaded +him to desperation. His mother had warned him not to trouble Dan with +questions till he was quite well; but this prospect of approaching +departure made him resolve to have a full, clear, and satisfactory +account of the adventures which he felt sure must have been thrilling, +from stray words Dan let fall in his fever. So one day when the coast +was clear, Master Ted volunteered to amuse the invalid, and did so in +the following manner: + +'Look here, old boy, if you don't want me to read, you've got to talk, +and tell me all about Kansas, and the farms, and that part. The Montana +business I know, but you seem to forget what went before. Brace up, and +let's have it,' he began, with an abruptness which roused Dan from a +brown study most effectually. + +'No, I don't forget; it isn't interesting to anyone but myself. I didn't +see any farms--gave it up,' he said slowly. + +'Why?' + +'Other things to do.' + +'What?' + +'Well, brush-making for one thing.' + +'Don't chaff a fellow. Tell true.' + +'I truly did.' + +'What for?' + +'To keep out of mischief, as much as anything.' + +'Well, of all the queer things--and you've done a lot--that's the +queerest,' cried Ted, taken aback at this disappointing discovery. But +he didn't mean to give up yet, and began again. + +'What mischief, Dan?' + +'Never you mind. Boys shouldn't bother.' + +'But I do want to know, awfully, because I'm your pal, and care for you +no end. Always did. Come, now, tell me a good yarn. I love scrapes. I'll +be mum as an oyster if you don't want it known.' + +'Will you?' and Dan looked at him, wondering how the boyish face would +change if the truth were suddenly told him. + +'I'll swear it on locked fists, if you like. I know it was jolly, and +I'm aching to hear.' + +'You are as curious as a girl. More than some--Josie and--and Bess never +asked a question.' + +'They don't care about rows and things; they liked the mine business, +heroes, and that sort. So do I, and I'm as proud as Punch over it; but +I see by your eyes that there was something else before that, and I'm +bound to find out who Blair and Mason are, and who was hit and who ran +away, and all the rest of it.' + +'What!' cried Dan, in a tone that made Ted jump. + +'Well, you used to mutter about 'em in your sleep, and Uncle Laurie +wondered. So did I; but don't mind, if you can't remember, or would +rather not.' + +'What else did I say? Queer, what stuff a man will talk when his wits +are gone.' + +'That's all I heard; but it seemed interesting, and I just mentioned it, +thinking it might refresh your memory a bit,' said Teddy, very politely; +for Dan's frown was heavy at that moment. + +It cleared off at this reply, and after a look at the boy squirming with +suppressed impatience in his chair, Dan made up his mind to amuse him +with a game of cross-purposes and half-truths, hoping to quench his +curiosity, and so get peace. + +'Let me see; Blair was a lad I met in the cars, and Mason a poor fellow +who was in a--well, a sort of hospital where I happened to be. Blair ran +off to his brothers, and I suppose I might say Mason was hit, because he +died there. Does that suit you?' + +'No, it doesn't. Why did Blair run? and who hit the other fellow? I'm +sure there was a fight somewhere, wasn't there?' + +'Yes! + +'I guess I know what it was about.' + +'The devil, you do! Let's hear you guess. Must be amusing,' said Dan, +affecting an ease he did not feel. + +Charmed to be allowed to free his mind, Ted at once unfolded the boyish +solution of the mystery which he had been cherishing, for he felt that +there was one somewhere. + +'You needn't say yes, if I guess right and you are under oath to keep +silent. I shall know by your face, and never tell. Now see if I'm not +right. Out there they have wild doings, and it's my belief you were in +some of 'em. I don't mean robbing mails, and KluKluxing, and that sort +of thing; but defending the settlers, or hanging some scamp, or even +shooting a few, as a fellow must sometimes, in self-defence. Ah, ha! +I've hit it, I see. Needn't speak; I know the flash of your old eye, and +the clench of your big fist.' And Ted pranced with satisfaction. + +'Drive on, smart boy, and don't lose the trail,' said Dan, finding a +curious sense of comfort in some of these random words, and longing, but +not daring, to confirm the true ones. He might have confessed the crime, +but not the punishment that followed, the sense of its disgrace was +still so strong upon him. + +'I knew I should get it; can't deceive me long,' began Ted, with such an +air of pride Dan could not help a short laugh. + +'It's a relief, isn't it, to have it off your mind? Now, just confide in +me and it's all safe, unless you've sworn not to tell.' + +'I have.' + +'Oh, well, then don't'; and Ted's face fell, but he was himself again +in a moment and said, with the air of a man of the world: 'It's all +right--I understand--honour binds--silence to death, etc. Glad you stood +by your mate in the hospital. How many did you kill?' + +'Only one.' + +'Bad lot, of course?' + +'A damned rascal.' + +'Well, don't look so fierce; I've no objection. Wouldn't mind popping +at some of those bloodthirsty blackguards myself. Had to dodge and keep +quiet after it, I suppose.' + +'Pretty quiet for a long spell.' + +'Got off all right in the end, and headed for your mines and did that +jolly brave thing. Now, I call that decidedly interesting and capital. +I'm glad to know it; but I won't blab.' + +'Mind you don't. Look here. Ted, if you'd killed a man, would it trouble +you--a bad one, I mean?' + +The lad opened his mouth to say, 'Not a bit,' but checked that answer as +if something in Dan's face made him change his mind. 'Well, if it was my +duty in war or self-defence, I suppose I shouldn't; but if I'd pitched +into him in a rage, I guess I should be very sorry. Shouldn't wonder if +he sort of haunted me, and remorse gnawed me as it did Aram and those +fellows. You don't mind, do you? It was a fair fight, wasn't it?' + +'Yes, I was in the right; but I wish I'd been out of it. Women don't see +it that way, and look horrified at such things. Makes it hard; but it +don't matter.' + +'Don't tell 'em; then they can't worry,' said Ted, with the nod of one +versed in the management of the sex. + +'Don't intend to. Mind you keep your notions to yourself, for some of +'em are wide of the mark. Now you may read if you like'; and there the +talk ended; but Ted took great comfort in it, and looked as wise as an +owl afterwards. + +A few quiet weeks followed, during which Dan chafed at the delay; and +when at length word came that his credentials were ready, he was eager +to be off, to forget a vain love in hard work, and live for others, +since he might not for himself. + +So one wild March morning our Sintram rode away, with horse and hound, +to face again the enemies who would have conquered him, but for Heaven's +help and human pity. + +'Ah, me! it does seem as if life was made of partings, and they get +harder as we go on,' sighed Mrs Jo, a week later, as she sat in the long +parlour at Parnassus one evening, whither the family had gone to welcome +the travellers back. + +'And meetings too, dear; for here we are, and Nat is on his way at last. +Look for the silver lining, as Marmee used to say, and be comforted,' +answered Mrs Amy, glad to be at home and find no wolves prowling near +her sheepfold. + +'I've been so worried lately, I can't help croaking. I wonder what Dan +thought at not seeing you again? It was wise; but he would have enjoyed +another look at home faces before he went into the wilderness,' said Mrs +Jo regretfully. + +'Much better so. We left notes and all we could think of that he might +need, and slipped away before he came. Bess really seemed relieved; +I'm sure I was'; and Mrs Amy smoothed an anxious line out of her white +forehead, as she smiled at her daughter, laughing happily among her +cousins. + +Mrs Jo shook her head as if the silver lining of that cloud was hard to +find; but she had no time to croak again, for just then Mr Laurie came +in looking well pleased at something. + +'A new picture has arrived; face towards the music-room, good people, +and tell me how you like it. I call it “Only a fiddler”, after +Andersen's story. What name will you give it?' + +As he spoke he threw open the wide doors, and just beyond they saw a +young man standing, with a beaming face, and a violin in his hand. There +was no doubt about the name to this picture, and with the cry 'Nat! +Nat!' there was a general uprising. But Daisy reached him first, and +seemed to have lost her usual composure somewhere on the way, for she +clung to him, sobbing with the shock of a surprise and joy too great for +her to bear quietly. Everything was settled by that tearful and tender +embrace, for, though Mrs Meg speedily detached her daughter, it was only +to take her place; while Demi shook Nat's hand with brotherly warmth, +and Josie danced round them like Macbeth's three witches in one, +chanting in her most tragic tones: + +'Chirper thou wast; second violin thou art; first thou shalt be. Hail, +all hail!' + +This caused a laugh, and made things gay and comfortable at once. Then +the usual fire of questions and answers began, to be kept up briskly +while the boys admired Nat's blond beard and foreign clothes, the girls +his improved appearance--for he was ruddy with good English beef +and beer, and fresh with the sea-breezes which had blown him swiftly +home--and the older folk rejoiced over his prospects. Of course all +wanted to hear him play; and when tongues tired, he gladly did his best +for them, surprising the most critical by his progress in music even +more than by the energy and self-possession which made a new man +of bashful Nat. By and by when the violin--that most human of all +instruments--had sung to them the loveliest songs without words, he +said, looking about him at these old friends with what Mr Bhaer called a +'feeling-full' expression of happiness and content: + +'Now let me play something that you will all remember though you won't +love it as I do'; and standing in the attitude which Ole Bull has +immortalized, he played the street melody he gave them the first night +he came to Plumfield. They remembered it, and joined in the plaintive +chorus, which fitly expressed his own emotions: + + 'Oh my heart is sad and weary + Everywhere I roam, + Longing for the old plantation + And for the old folks at home.' + +'Now I feel better,' said Mrs Jo, as they all trooped down the hill soon +after. 'Some of our boys are failures, but I think this one is going to +be a success, and patient Daisy a happy girl at last. Nat is your work, +Fritz, and I congratulate you heartily.' + +'Ach, we can but sow the seed and trust that it falls on good ground. +I planted, perhaps, but you watched that the fowls of the air did not +devour it, and brother Laurie watered generously; so we will share the +harvest among us, and be glad even for a small one, heart's-dearest.' + +'I thought the seed had fallen on very stony ground with my poor Dan; +but I shall not be surprised if he surpasses all the rest in the real +success of life, since there is more rejoicing over one repentant sinner +than many saints,' answered Mrs Jo, still clinging fast to her black +sheep although a whole flock of white ones trotted happily before her. + +It is a strong temptation to the weary historian to close the present +tale with an earthquake which should engulf Plumfield and its environs +so deeply in the bowels of the earth that no youthful Schliemann could +ever find a vestige of it. But as that somewhat melodramatic conclusion +might shock my gentle readers, I will refrain, and forestall the usual +question, 'How did they end?' by briefly stating that all the marriages +turned out well. The boys prospered in their various callings; so did +the girls, for Bess and Josie won honours in their artistic careers, and +in the course of time found worthy mates. Nan remained a busy, cheerful, +independent spinster, and dedicated her life to her suffering sisters +and their children, in which true woman's work she found abiding +happiness. Dan never married, but lived, bravely and usefully, among his +chosen people till he was shot defending them, and at last lay quietly +asleep in the green wilderness he loved so well, with a lock of golden +hair upon his breast, and a smile on his face which seemed to say that +Aslauga's Knight had fought his last fight and was at peace. Stuffy +became an alderman, and died suddenly of apoplexy after a public dinner. +Dolly was a society man of mark till he lost his money, when he found +congenial employment in a fashionable tailoring establishment. Demi +became a partner, and lived to see his name above the door, and Rob was +a professor at Laurence College; but Teddy eclipsed them all by becoming +an eloquent and famous clergyman, to the great delight of his astonished +mother. And now, having endeavoured to suit everyone by many weddings, +few deaths, and as much prosperity as the eternal fitness of things will +permit, let the music stop, the lights die out, and the curtain fall for +ever on the March family. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jo's Boys, by Louisa May Alcott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JO'S BOYS *** + +***** This file should be named 3499-0.txt or 3499-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/3499/ + +Produced by The Project Gutenberg Alcott Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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