English
Foraweektheamountofvirtueintheoldhousewouldhavesuppliedtheneighborhood.
Itwasreallyamazing,foreveryoneseemedinaheavenlyframeofmind,andself–denialwasallthefashion.
Relievedoftheirfirstanxietyabouttheirfather,thegirlsinsensiblyrelaxedtheirpraiseworthyeffortsalittle,andbegantofallbackintooldways.
Theydidnotforgettheirmotto,buthopingandkeepingbusyseemedtogroweasier,andaftersuchtremendousexertions,theyfeltthatEndeavordeservedaholiday,andgaveitagoodmany.
Jocaughtabadcoldthroughneglecttocovertheshornheadenough,andwasorderedtostayathometillshewasbetter,forAuntMarchdidn'tliketohearpeoplereadwithcoldsintheirheads.
Jolikedthis,andafteranenergeticrummagefromgarrettocellar,subsidedonthesofatonursehercoldwitharsenicumandbooks.
Amyfoundthathouseworkandartdidnotgowelltogether,andreturnedtohermudpies.
Megwentdailytoherpupils,andsewed,orthoughtshedid,athome,butmuchtimewasspentinwritinglongletterstohermother,orreadingtheWashingtondispatchesoverandover.
Bethkepton,withonlyslightrelapsesintoidlenessorgrieving.
Allthelittledutieswerefaithfullydoneeachday,andmanyofhersisters'also,fortheywereforgetful,andthehouseseemedlikeaclockwhosependulumwasgonea–visiting.
WhenherheartgotheavywithlongingsforMotherorfearsforFather,shewentawayintoacertaincloset,hidherfaceinthefoldsofadearoldgown,andmadeherlittlemoanandprayedherlittleprayerquietlybyherself.
Nobodyknewwhatcheeredherupafterasoberfit,buteveryonefelthowsweetandhelpfulBethwas,andfellintoawayofgoingtoherforcomfortoradviceintheirsmallaffairs.
Allwereunconsciousthatthisexperiencewasatestofcharacter,andwhenthefirstexcitementwasover,feltthattheyhaddonewellanddeservedpraise.
Sotheydid,buttheirmistakewasinceasingtodowell,andtheylearnedthislessonthroughmuchanxietyandregret.
"Meg,Iwishyou'dgoandseetheHummels.YouknowMothertoldusnottoforgetthem."saidBeth,tendaysafterMrs.March'sdeparture.
"I'mtootiredtogothisafternoon,"repliedMeg,rockingcomfortablyasshesewed.
"Can'tyou,Jo?"askedBeth.
"Toostormyformewithmycold."
"Ithoughtitwasalmostwell."
"It'swellenoughformetogooutwithLaurie,butnotwellenoughtogototheHummels',"saidJo,laughing,butlookingalittleashamedofherinconsistency.
"Whydon'tyougoyourself?"askedMeg.
"Ihavebeeneveryday,butthebabyissick,andIdon'tknowwhattodoforit.
Mrs.Hummelgoesawaytowork,andLottchentakescareofit.
Butitgetssickerandsicker,andIthinkyouorHannahoughttogo."
Bethspokeearnestly,andMegpromisedshewouldgotomorrow.
"AskHannahforsomenicelittlemess,andtakeitround,Beth,theairwilldoyougood,"saidJo,addingapologetically,"I'dgobutIwanttofinishmywriting."
"MyheadachesandI'mtired,soIthoughtmaybesomeofyouwouldgo,"saidBeth.
"Amywillbeinpresently,andshewillrundownforus,"suggestedMeg.
SoBethlaydownonthesofa,theothersreturnedtotheirwork,andtheHummelswereforgotten.Anhourpassed.
Amydidnotcome,Megwenttoherroomtotryonanewdress,Jowasabsorbedinherstory,andHannahwassoundasleepbeforethekitchenfire,whenBethquietlyputonherhood,filledherbasketwithoddsandendsforthepoorchildren,andwentoutintothechillyairwithaheavyheadandagrievedlookinherpatienteyes.
Itwaslatewhenshecameback,andnoonesawhercreepupstairsandshutherselfintohermother'sroom.
Halfanhourafter,Jowentto'Mother'scloset'forsomething,andtherefoundlittleBethsittingonthemedicinechest,lookingverygrave,withredeyesandacamphorbottleinherhand.
"ChristopherColumbus!What'sthematter?"criedJo,asBethputoutherhandasiftowarnheroff,andaskedquickly...
"You'vehadthescarletfever,haven'tyou?"
"Yearsago,whenMegdid.Why?"
"ThenI'lltellyou.Oh,Jo,thebaby'sdead!"
"Whatbaby?"
"Mrs.Hummel's.Itdiedinmylapbeforeshegothome,"criedBethwithasob.
"Mypoordear,howdreadfulforyou!Ioughttohavegone,"saidJo,takinghersisterinherarmsasshesatdowninhermother'sbigchair,witharemorsefulface.
"Itwasn'tdreadful,Jo,onlysosad!Isawinaminuteitwassicker,butLottchensaidhermotherhadgoneforadoctor,soItookBabyandletLottyrest.
Itseemedasleep,butallofasuddenifgavealittlecryandtrembled,andthenlayverystill.
Itriedtowarmitsfeet,andLottygaveitsomemilk,butitdidn'tstir,andIknewitwasdead."
"Don'tcry,dear!Whatdidyoudo?"
"IjustsatandhelditsoftlytillMrs.Hummelcamewiththedoctor.
Hesaiditwasdead,andlookedatHeinrichandMinna,whohavesorethroats.'Scarletfever,ma'am.
Oughttohavecalledmebefore,'hesaidcrossly.
Mrs.Hummeltoldhimshewaspoor,andhadtriedtocurebabyherself,butnowitwastoolate,andshecouldonlyaskhimtohelptheothersandtrusttocharityforhispay.
Hesmiledthen,andwaskinder,butitwasverysad,andIcriedwiththemtillheturnedroundallofasudden,andtoldmetogohomeandtakebelladonnarightaway,orI'dhavethefever."
"No,youwon't!"criedJo,huggingherclose,withafrightenedlook."Oh,Beth,ifyoushouldbesickInevercouldforgivemyself!Whatshallwedo?"
"Don'tbefrightened,IguessIshan'thaveitbadly.
IlookedinMother'sbook,andsawthatitbeginswithheadache,sorethroat,andqueerfeelingslikemine,soIdidtakesomebelladonna,andIfeelbetter,"saidBeth,layinghercoldhandsonherhotforeheadandtryingtolookwell.
"IfMotherwasonlyathome!"exclaimedJo,seizingthebook,andfeelingthatWashingtonwasanimmensewayoff.
Shereadapage,lookedatBeth,feltherhead,peepedintoherthroat,andthensaidgravely,"You'vebeenoverthebabyeverydayformorethanaweek,andamongtheotherswhoaregoingtohaveit,soI'mafraidyouaregoingtohaveit,Beth.
I'llcallHannah,sheknowsallaboutsickness."
"Don'tletAmycome.Sheneverhadit,andIshouldhatetogiveittoher.Can'tyouandMeghaveitoveragain?"askedBeth,anxiously.
"Iguessnot.Don'tcareifIdo.Servemeright,selfishpig,toletyougo,andstaywritingrubbishmyself!"mutteredJo,asshewenttoconsultHannah.
Thegoodsoulwaswideawakeinaminute,andtooktheleadatonce,assuringthattherewasnoneedtoworry;everyonehadscarletfever,andifrightlytreated,nobodydied,allofwhichJobelieved,andfeltmuchrelievedastheywentuptocallMeg.
"NowI'lltellyouwhatwe'lldo,"saidHannah,whenshehadexaminedandquestionedBeth,"wewillhaveDr.Bangs,justtotakealookatyou,dear,andseethatwestartright.
Thenwe'llsendAmyofftoAuntMarch'sforaspell,tokeepheroutofharm'sway,andoneofyougirlscanstayathomeandamuseBethforadayortwo."
"Ishallstay,ofcourse,I'moldest,"beganMeg,lookinganxiousandself–reproachful.
"Ishall,becauseit'smyfaultsheissick.ItoldMotherI'ddotheerrands,andIhaven't,"saidJodecidedly.
"Whichwillyouhave,Beth?Thereain'tnoneedofbutone,"aidHannah.
"Jo,please."AndBethleanedherheadagainsthersisterwithacontentedlook,whicheffectuallysettledthatpoint.
"I'llgoandtellAmy,"saidMeg,feelingalittlehurt,yetratherrelievedonthewhole,forshedidnotlikenursing,andJodid.
Amyrebelledoutright,andpassionatelydeclaredthatshehadratherhavethefeverthangotoAuntMarch.
Megreasoned,pleaded,andcommanded,allinvain.
Amyprotestedthatshewouldnotgo,andMegleftherindespairtoaskHannahwhatshouldbedone.
Beforeshecameback,LauriewalkedintotheparlortofindAmysobbing,withherheadinthesofacushions.
Shetoldherstory,expectingtobeconsoled,butLaurieonlyputhishandsinhispocketsandwalkedabouttheroom,whistlingsoftly,asheknithisbrowsindeepthought.
Presentlyhesatdownbesideher,andsaid,inhismostwheedlesometone,"Nowbeasensiblelittlewoman,anddoastheysay.
No,don'tcry,buthearwhatajollyplanI'vegot.
YougotoAuntMarch's,andI'llcomeandtakeyououteveryday,drivingorwalking,andwe'llhavecapitaltimes.Won'tthatbebetterthanmopinghere?"
"Idon'twishtobesentoffasifIwasintheway,"beganAmy,inaninjuredvoice.
"Blessyourheart,child,it'stokeepyouwell.Youdon'twanttobesick,doyou?"
"No,I'msureIdon't,butIdaresayIshallbe,forI'vebeenwithBethallthetime."
"That'stheveryreasonyououghttogoawayatonce,sothatyoumayescapeit.
Changeofairandcarewillkeepyouwell,Idaresay,orifitdoesnotentirely,youwillhavethefevermorelightly.
Iadviseyoutobeoffassoonasyoucan,forscarletfeverisnojoke,miss."
"Butit'sdullatAuntMarch's,andsheissocross,"saidAmy,lookingratherfrightened.
"Itwon'tbedullwithmepoppingineverydaytotellyouhowBethis,andtakeyououtgallivanting.
Theoldladylikesme,andI'llbeassweetaspossibletoher,soshewon'tpeckatus,whateverwedo."
"WillyoutakemeoutinthetrottingwagonwithPuck?"
"Onmyhonorasagentleman."
"Andcomeeverysingleday?"
"SeeifIdon't!"
"AndbringmebacktheminuteBethiswell?"
"Theidenticalminute."
"Andgotothetheater,truly?"
"Adozentheaters,ifwemay."
"Well––IguessIwill,"saidAmyslowly.
"Goodgirl!CallMeg,andtellheryou'llgivein,"saidLaurie,withanapprovingpat,whichannoyedAmymorethanthe'givingin'.
MegandJocamerunningdowntobeholdthemiraclewhichhadbeenwrought,andAmy,feelingverypreciousandself–sacrificing,promisedtogo,ifthedoctorsaidBethwasgoingtobeill.
"Howisthelittledear?"askedLaurie,forBethwashisespecialpet,andhefeltmoreanxiousaboutherthanhelikedtoshow.
"SheislyingdownonMother'sbed,andfeelsbetter.
Thebaby'sdeathtroubledher,butIdaresayshehasonlygotcold.
Hannahsaysshethinksso,butshelooksworried,andthatmakesmefidgety,"answeredMeg.
"Whatatryingworlditis!"saidJo,rumplingupherhairinafretfulway.
"Nosoonerdowegetoutofonetroublethandowncomesanother.
Theredoesn'tseemtobeanythingtoholdontowhenMother'sgone,soI'mallatsea."
"Well,don'tmakeaporcupineofyourself,itisn'tbecoming.
Settleyourwig,Jo,andtellmeifIshalltelegraphtoyourmother,ordoanything?"
askedLaurie,whoneverhadbeenreconciledtothelossofhisfriend'sonebeauty.
"Thatiswhattroublesme,"saidMeg."IthinkweoughttotellherifBethisreallyill,butHannahsayswemustn't,forMothercan'tleaveFather,anditwillonlymakethemanxious.
Bethwon'tbesicklong,andHannahknowsjustwhattodo,andMothersaidweweretomindher,soIsupposewemust,butitdoesn'tseemquiterighttome."
"Hum,well,Ican'tsay.SupposeyouaskGrandfatherafterthedoctorhasbeen."
"Wewill.Jo,goandgetDr.Bangsatonce,"commandedMeg."Wecan'tdecideanythingtillhehasbeen."
"Staywhereyouare,Jo.I'merrandboytothisestablishment,"saidLaurie,takinguphiscap.
"I'mafraidyouarebusy,"beganMeg.
"No,I'vedonemylessonsfortheday."
"Doyoustudyinvacationtime?"askedJo.
"Ifollowthegoodexamplemyneighborssetme,"wasLaurie'sanswer,asheswunghimselfoutoftheroom.
"Ihavegreathopesformyboy,"observedJo,watchinghimflyoverthefencewithanapprovingsmile.
"Hedoesverywell,foraboy,"wasMeg'ssomewhatungraciousanswer,forthesubjectdidnotinteresther.
Dr.Bangscame,saidBethhadsymptomsofthefever,buthethoughtshewouldhaveitlightly,thoughhelookedsoberovertheHummelstory.
Amywasorderedoffatonce,andprovidedwithsomethingtowardoffdanger,shedepartedingreatstate,withJoandLaurieasescort.
AuntMarchreceivedthemwithherusualhospitality.
"Whatdoyouwantnow?"sheasked,lookingsharplyoverherspectacles,whiletheparrot,sittingonthebackofherchair,calledout...
"Goaway.Noboysallowedhere."
Laurieretiredtothewindow,andJotoldherstory.
"NomorethanIexpected,ifyouareallowedtogopokingaboutamongpoorfolks.
Amycanstayandmakeherselfusefulifsheisn'tsick,whichI'venodoubtshewillbe,lookslikeitnow.
Don'tcry,child,itworriesmetohearpeoplesniff."
Amywasonthepointofcrying,butLaurieslylypulledtheparrot'stail,whichcausedPollytoutteranastonishedcroakandcallout,"Blessmyboots!"
insuchafunnyway,thatshelaughedinstead.
"Whatdoyouhearfromyourmother?"askedtheoldladygruffly.
"Fatherismuchbetter,"repliedJo,tryingtokeepsober.
"Oh,ishe?Well,thatwon'tlastlong,Ifancy.Marchneverhadanystamina,"wasthecheerfulreply.
"Ha,ha!Neversaydie,takeapinchofsnuff,goodbye,goodbye!"squalledPolly,dancingonherperch,andclawingattheoldlady'scapasLaurietweakedhimintherear.
"Holdyourtongue,youdisrespectfuloldbird!And,Jo,you'dbettergoatonce.Itisn'tpropertobegaddingaboutsolatewitharattlepatedboylike..."
"Holdyourtongue,youdisrespectfuloldbird!"criedPolly,tumblingoffthechairwithabounce,andrunningtopeckthe'rattlepated'boy,whowasshakingwithlaughteratthelastspeech.
"Idon'tthinkIcanbearit,butI'lltry,"thoughtAmy,asshewasleftalonewithAuntMarch.
"Getalong,youfright!"screamedPolly,andatthatrudespeechAmycouldnotrestrainasniff.
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