English
ThebighousedidproveaPalaceBeautiful,thoughittooksometimeforalltogetin,andBethfounditveryhardtopassthelions.
OldMr.Laurencewasthebiggestone,butafterhehadcalled,saidsomethingfunnyorkindtoeachoneofthegirls,andtalkedoveroldtimeswiththeirmother,nobodyfeltmuchafraidofhim,excepttimidBeth.
TheotherlionwasthefactthattheywerepoorandLaurierich,forthismadethemshyofacceptingfavorswhichtheycouldnotreturn.
But,afterawhile,theyfoundthatheconsideredthemthebenefactors,andcouldnotdoenoughtoshowhowgratefulhewasforMrs.March'smotherlywelcome,theircheerfulsociety,andthecomforthetookinthathumblehomeoftheirs.
Sotheysoonforgottheirprideandinterchangedkindnesseswithoutstoppingtothinkwhichwasthegreater.
Allsortsofpleasantthingshappenedaboutthattime,forthenewfriendshipflourishedlikegrassinspring.
EveryonelikedLaurie,andheprivatelyinformedhistutorthat"theMarcheswereregularlysplendidgirls."
Withthedelightfulenthusiasmofyouth,theytookthesolitaryboyintotheirmidstandmademuchofhim,andhefoundsomethingverycharmingintheinnocentcompanionshipofthesesimple–heartedgirls.
Neverhavingknownmotherorsisters,hewasquicktofeeltheinfluencestheybroughtabouthim,andtheirbusy,livelywaysmadehimashamedoftheindolentlifeheled.
Hewastiredofbooks,andfoundpeoplesointerestingnowthatMr.Brookewasobligedtomakeveryunsatisfactoryreports,forLauriewasalwaysplayingtruantandrunningovertotheMarches'.
"Nevermind,lethimtakeaholiday,andmakeitupafterward,"saidtheoldgentleman.
"Thegoodladynextdoorsaysheisstudyingtoohardandneedsyoungsociety,amusement,andexercise.
Isuspectsheisright,andthatI'vebeencoddlingthefellowasifI'dbeenhisgrandmother.
Lethimdowhathelikes,aslongasheishappy.
Hecan'tgetintomischiefinthatlittlenunneryoverthere,andMrs.Marchisdoingmoreforhimthanwecan."
Whatgoodtimestheyhad,tobesure.Suchplaysandtableaux,suchsleighridesandskatingfrolics,suchpleasanteveningsintheoldparlor,andnowandthensuchgaylittlepartiesatthegreathouse.
Megcouldwalkintheconservatorywhenevershelikedandrevelinbouquets,Jobrowsedoverthenewlibraryvoraciously,andconvulsedtheoldgentlemanwithhercriticisms,Amycopiedpicturesandenjoyedbeautytoherheart'scontent,andLaurieplayed'lordofthemanor'inthemostdelightfulstyle.
ButBeth,thoughyearningforthegrandpiano,couldnotpluckupcouragetogotothe'MansionofBliss',asMegcalledit.
ShewentoncewithJo,buttheoldgentleman,notbeingawareofherinfirmity,staredathersohardfromunderhisheavyeyebrows,andsaid"Hey!"
soloud,thathefrightenedhersomuchher'feetchatteredonthefloor',shenevertoldhermother,andsheranaway,declaringshewouldnevergothereanymore,notevenforthedearpiano.
Nopersuasionsorenticementscouldovercomeherfear,till,thefactcomingtoMr.Laurence'searinsomemysteriousway,hesetaboutmendingmatters.
Duringoneofthebriefcallshemade,heartfullyledtheconversationtomusic,andtalkedawayaboutgreatsingerswhomhehadseen,fineorganshehadheard,andtoldsuchcharminganecdotesthatBethfounditimpossibletostayinherdistantcorner,butcreptnearerandnearer,asiffascinated.
Atthebackofhischairshestoppedandstoodlistening,withhergreateyeswideopenandhercheeksredwithexcitementofthisunusualperformance.
Takingnomorenoticeofherthanifshehadbeenafly,Mr.LaurencetalkedonaboutLaurie'slessonsandteachers.
Andpresently,asiftheideahadjustoccurredtohim,hesaidtoMrs.March...
"Theboyneglectshismusicnow,andI'mgladofit,forhewasgettingtoofondofit.Butthepianosuffersforwantofuse.
Wouldn'tsomeofyourgirlsliketorunover,andpracticeonitnowandthen,justtokeepitintune,youknow,ma'am?"
Bethtookastepforward,andpressedherhandstightlytogethertokeepfromclappingthem,forthiswasanirresistibletemptation,andthethoughtofpracticingonthatsplendidinstrumentquitetookherbreathaway.
BeforeMrs.Marchcouldreply,Mr.Laurencewentonwithanoddlittlenodandsmile...
"Theyneedn'tseeorspeaktoanyone,butruninatanytime.
ForI'mshutupinmystudyattheotherendofthehouse,Laurieisoutagreatdeal,andtheservantsarenevernearthedrawingroomafternineo'clock."
Hereherose,asifgoing,andBethmadeuphermindtospeak,forthatlastarrangementleftnothingtobedesired.
"Please,telltheyoungladieswhatIsay,andiftheydon'tcaretocome,why,nevermind."
Herealittlehandslippedintohis,andBethlookedupathimwithafacefullofgratitude,asshesaid,inherearnestyettimidway...
"Ohsir,theydocare,veryverymuch!"
"Areyouthemusicalgirl?"heasked,withoutanystartling"Hey!"ashelookeddownatherverykindly.
"I'mBeth.Iloveitdearly,andI'llcome,ifyouarequitesurenobodywillhearme,andbedisturbed,"sheadded,fearingtoberude,andtremblingatherownboldnessasshespoke.
"Notasoul,mydear.Thehouseisemptyhalftheday,socomeanddrumawayasmuchasyoulike,andIshallbeobligedtoyou."
"Howkindyouare,sir!"
Bethblushedlikearoseunderthefriendlylookhewore,butshewasnotfrightenednow,andgavethehandagratefulsqueezebecauseshehadnowordstothankhimforthepreciousgifthehadgivenher.
Theoldgentlemansoftlystrokedthehairoffherforehead,and,stoopingdown,hekissedher,saying,inatonefewpeopleeverheard...
"Ihadalittlegirlonce,witheyeslikethese.Godblessyou,mydear!Goodday,madam."Andawayhewent,inagreathurry.
Bethhadarapturewithhermother,andthenrusheduptoimpartthegloriousnewstoherfamilyofinvalids,asthegirlswerenothome.
Howblithelyshesangthatevening,andhowtheyalllaughedatherbecauseshewokeAmyinthenightbyplayingthepianoonherfaceinhersleep.
Nextday,havingseenboththeoldandyounggentlemanoutofthehouse,Beth,aftertwoorthreeretreats,fairlygotinatthesidedoor,andmadeherwayasnoiselesslyasanymousetothedrawingroomwhereheridolstood.
Quitebyaccident,ofcourse,somepretty,easymusiclayonthepiano,andwithtremblingfingersandfrequentstopstolistenandlookabout,Bethatlasttouchedthegreatinstrument,andstraightwayforgotherfear,herself,andeverythingelsebuttheunspeakabledelightwhichthemusicgaveher,foritwaslikethevoiceofabelovedfriend.
ShestayedtillHannahcametotakeherhometodinner,butshehadnoappetite,andcouldonlysitandsmileuponeveryoneinageneralstateofbeatitude.
Afterthat,thelittlebrownhoodslippedthroughthehedgenearlyeveryday,andthegreatdrawingroomwashauntedbyatunefulspiritthatcameandwentunseen.
SheneverknewthatMr.Laurenceopenedhisstudydoortoheartheold–fashionedairsheliked.
SheneversawLauriemountguardinthehalltowarntheservantsaway.
Sheneversuspectedthattheexercisebooksandnewsongswhichshefoundintherackwereputthereforherespecialbenefit,andwhenhetalkedtoheraboutmusicathome,sheonlythoughthowkindhewastotellthingsthathelpedhersomuch.
Sosheenjoyedherselfheartily,andfound,whatisn'talwaysthecase,thathergrantedwishwasallshehadhoped.
Perhapsitwasbecauseshewassogratefulforthisblessingthatagreaterwasgivenher.Atanyrateshedeservedboth.
"Mother,I'mgoingtoworkMr.Laurenceapairofslippers.
Heissokindtome,Imustthankhim,andIdon'tknowanyotherway.CanIdoit?"
askedBeth,afewweeksafterthateventfulcallofhis.
"Yes,dear.Itwillpleasehimverymuch,andbeanicewayofthankinghim.
Thegirlswillhelpyouaboutthem,andIwillpayforthemakingup,"repliedMrs.March,whotookpeculiarpleasureingrantingBeth'srequestsbecauseshesoseldomaskedanythingforherself.
AftermanyseriousdiscussionswithMegandJo,thepatternwaschosen,thematerialsbought,andtheslippersbegun.
Aclusterofgraveyetcheerfulpansiesonadeeperpurplegroundwaspronouncedveryappropriateandpretty,andBethworkedawayearlyandlate,withoccasionalliftsoverhardparts.
Shewasanimblelittleneedlewoman,andtheywerefinishedbeforeanyonegottiredofthem.
Thenshewroteashort,simplenote,andwithLaurie'shelp,gotthemsmuggledontothestudytableonemorningbeforetheoldgentlemanwasup.
Whenthisexcitementwasover,Bethwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.
Alldaypassedandapartofthenextbeforeanyacknowledgementarrived,andshewasbeginningtofearshehadoffendedhercrochetyfriend.
Ontheafternoonofthesecondday,shewentouttodoanerrand,andgivepoorJoanna,theinvaliddoll,herdailyexercise.
Asshecameupthestreet,onherreturn,shesawthree,yes,fourheadspoppinginandoutoftheparlorwindows,andthemomenttheysawher,severalhandswerewaved,andseveraljoyfulvoicesscreamed...
"Here'saletterfromtheoldgentleman!Comequick,andreadit!"
"Oh,Beth,he'ssentyou..."beganAmy,gesticulatingwithunseemlyenergy,butshegotnofurther,forJoquenchedherbyslammingdownthewindow.
Bethhurriedoninaflutterofsuspense.
Atthedoorhersistersseizedandborehertotheparlorinatriumphalprocession,allpointingandallsayingatonce,"Lookthere!Lookthere!"
Bethdidlook,andturnedpalewithdelightandsurprise,fortherestoodalittlecabinetpiano,withaletterlyingontheglossylid,directedlikeasignboardto"MissElizabethMarch."
"Forme?"gaspedBeth,holdingontoJoandfeelingasifsheshouldtumbledown,itwassuchanoverwhelmingthingaltogether.
"Yes,allforyou,myprecious!Isn'titsplendidofhim?
Don'tyouthinkhe'sthedearestoldmanintheworld?Here'sthekeyintheletter.
Wedidn'topenit,butwearedyingtoknowwhathesays,"criedJo,hugginghersisterandofferingthenote.
"Youreadit!Ican't,Ifeelsoqueer!Oh,itistoolovely!"andBethhidherfaceinJo'sapron,quiteupsetbyherpresent.
Joopenedthepaperandbegantolaugh,forthefirstwordsshesawwere...
"MissMarch:"DearMadam––"
"Howniceitsounds!Iwishsomeonewouldwritetomeso!"saidAmy,whothoughttheold–fashionedaddressveryelegant.
"'Ihavehadmanypairsofslippersinmylife,butIneverhadanythatsuitedmesowellasyours,'"continuesJo."
'Heartseaseismyfavoriteflower,andthesewillalwaysremindmeofthegentlegiver.
Iliketopaymydebts,soIknowyouwillallow'theoldgentleman'tosendyousomethingwhichoncebelongedtothelittlegranddaughterhelost.
Withheartythanksandbestwishes,Iremain"'Yourgratefulfriendandhumbleservant,'JAMESLAURENCE'."
"There,Beth,that'sanhonortobeproudof,I'msure!
LaurietoldmehowfondMr.Laurenceusedtobeofthechildwhodied,andhowhekeptallherlittlethingscarefully.Justthink,he'sgivenyouherpiano.
Thatcomesofhavingbigblueeyesandlovingmusic,"saidJo,tryingtosootheBeth,whotrembledandlookedmoreexcitedthanshehadeverbeenbefore.
"Seethecunningbracketstoholdcandles,andthenicegreensilk,puckeredup,withagoldroseinthemiddle,andtheprettyrackandstool,allcomplete,"addedMeg,openingtheinstrumentanddisplayingitsbeauties.
"'Yourhumbleservant,JamesLaurence'.Onlythinkofhiswritingthattoyou.I'lltellthegirls.They'llthinkit'ssplendid,"saidAmy,muchimpressedbythenote.
"Tryit,honey.Let'shearthesoundofthebabypianny,"saidHannah,whoalwaystookashareinthefamilyjoysandsorrows.
SoBethtriedit,andeveryonepronounceditthemostremarkablepianoeverheard.
Ithadevidentlybeennewlytunedandputinapple–pieorder,but,perfectasitwas,Ithinktherealcharmlayinthehappiestofallhappyfaceswhichleanedoverit,asBethlovinglytouchedthebeautifulblackandwhitekeysandpressedthebrightpedals.
"You'llhavetogoandthankhim,"saidJo,bywayofajoke,fortheideaofthechild'sreallygoingneverenteredherhead.
"Yes,Imeanto.IguessI'llgonow,beforeIgetfrightenedthinkingaboutit."
And,totheutteramazementoftheassembledfamily,Bethwalkeddeliberatelydownthegarden,throughthehedge,andinattheLaurences'door.
"Well,IwishImaydieifitain'tthequeerestthingIeversee!Thepiannyhasturnedherhead!
She'dneverhavegoneinherrightmind,"criedHannah,staringafterher,whilethegirlswererenderedquitespeechlessbythemiracle.
TheywouldhavebeenstillmoreamazediftheyhadseenwhatBethdidafterward.
Ifyouwillbelieveme,shewentandknockedatthestudydoorbeforeshegaveherselftimetothink,andwhenagruffvoicecalledout,"comein!"
shedidgoin,rightuptoMr.Laurence,wholookedquitetakenaback,andheldoutherhand,saying,withonlyasmallquaverinhervoice,"Icametothankyou,sir,for..."Butshedidn'tfinish,forhelookedsofriendlythatsheforgotherspeechand,onlyrememberingthathehadlostthelittlegirlheloved,sheputbotharmsroundhisneckandkissedhim.
Iftheroofofthehousehadsuddenlyflownoff,theoldgentlemanwouldn'thavebeenmoreastonished.Buthelikedit.Oh,dear,yes,helikeditamazingly!
Andwassotouchedandpleasedbythatconfidinglittlekissthatallhiscrustinessvanished,andhejustsetheronhisknee,andlaidhiswrinkledcheekagainstherrosyone,feelingasifhehadgothisownlittlegranddaughterbackagain.
Bethceasedtofearhimfromthatmoment,andsattheretalkingtohimascozilyasifshehadknownhimallherlife,forlovecastsoutfear,andgratitudecanconquerpride.
Whenshewenthome,hewalkedwithhertoherowngate,shookhandscordially,andtouchedhishatashemarchedbackagain,lookingverystatelyanderect,likeahandsome,soldierlyoldgentleman,ashewas.
Whenthegirlssawthatperformance,Jobegantodanceajig,bywayofexpressinghersatisfaction,Amynearlyfelloutofthewindowinhersurprise,andMegexclaimed,withup–liftedhands,"Well,Idobelievetheworldiscomingtoanend."
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