AuntMarchneverpettedanyone;shedidnotapproveofit,butshemeanttobekind,forthewell–behavedlittlegirlpleasedherverymuch,andAuntMarchhadasoftplaceinheroldheartforhernephew'schildren,thoughshedidn'tthinkitpropertoconfessit.
Someoldpeoplekeepyoungatheartinspiteofwrinklesandgrayhairs,cansympathizewithchildren'slittlecaresandjoys,makethemfeelathome,andcanhidewiselessonsunderpleasantplays,givingandreceivingfriendshipinthesweetestway.
ButAuntMarchhadnotthisgift,andsheworriedAmyverymuchwithherrulesandorders,herprimways,andlong,prosytalks.
Findingthechildmoredocileandamiablethanhersister,theoldladyfeltitherdutytotryandcounteract,asfaraspossible,thebadeffectsofhomefreedomandindulgence.
SoshetookAmybythehand,andtaughtherassheherselfhadbeentaughtsixtyyearsago,aprocesswhichcarrieddismaytoAmy'ssoul,andmadeherfeellikeaflyinthewebofaverystrictspider.
Shehadtowashthecupseverymorning,andpolishuptheold–fashionedspoons,thefatsilverteapot,andtheglassestilltheyshone.
NotaspeckescapedAuntMarch'seye,andallthefurniturehadclawlegsandmuchcarving,whichwasneverdustedtosuit.
ThenPollyhadtobefed,thelapdogcombed,andadozentripsupstairsanddowntogetthingsordeliverorders,fortheoldladywasverylameandseldomleftherbigchair.
Lauriecameeveryday,andwheedledAuntMarchtillAmywasallowedtogooutwithhim,whentheywalkedandrodeandhadcapitaltimes.
Afterdinner,shehadtoreadaloud,andsitstillwhiletheoldladyslept,whichsheusuallydidforanhour,asshedroppedoffoverthefirstpage.
Thenpatchworkortowelsappeared,andAmysewedwithoutwardmeeknessandinwardrebelliontilldusk,whenshewasallowedtoamuseherselfasshelikedtillteatime.
Theeveningsweretheworstofall,forAuntMarchfelltotellinglongstoriesaboutheryouth,whichweresounutterablydullthatAmywasalwaysreadytogotobed,intendingtocryoverherhardfate,butusuallygoingtosleepbeforeshehadsqueezedoutmorethanatearortwo.
IfithadnotbeenforLaurie,andoldEsther,themaid,shefeltthatshenevercouldhavegotthroughthatdreadfultime.
Theparrotalonewasenoughtodriveherdistracted,forhesoonfeltthatshedidnotadmirehim,andrevengedhimselfbybeingasmischievousaspossible.
Hepulledherhairwhenevershecamenearhim,upsethisbreadandmilktoplagueherwhenshehadnewlycleanedhiscage,madeMopbarkbypeckingathimwhileMadamdozed,calledhernamesbeforecompany,andbehavedinallrespectslikeanreprehensibleoldbird.
Thenshecouldnotendurethedog,afat,crossbeastwhosnarledandyelpedatherwhenshemadehistoilet,andwholayonhisbackwithallhislegsintheairandamostidioticexpressionofcountenancewhenhewantedsomethingtoeat,whichwasaboutadozentimesaday.
EstherwasaFrenchwoman,whohadlivedwith'Madame',asshecalledhermistress,formanyyears,andwhorathertyrannizedovertheoldlady,whocouldnotgetalongwithouther.
HerrealnamewasEstelle,butAuntMarchorderedhertochangeit,andsheobeyed,onconditionthatshewasneveraskedtochangeherreligion.
ShetookafancytoMademoiselle,andamusedherverymuchwithoddstoriesofherlifeinFrance,whenAmysatwithherwhileshegotupMadame'slaces.
Shealsoallowedhertoroamaboutthegreathouse,andexaminethecuriousandprettythingsstoredawayinthebigwardrobesandtheancientchests,forAuntMarchhoardedlikeamagpie.
Amy'schiefdelightwasanIndiancabinet,fullofqueerdrawers,littlepigeonholes,andsecretplaces,inwhichwerekeptallsortsofornaments,someprecious,somemerelycurious,allmoreorlessantique.
ToexamineandarrangethesethingsgaveAmygreatsatisfaction,especiallythejewelcases,inwhichonvelvetcushionsreposedtheornamentswhichhadadornedabellefortyyearsago.
TherewasthegarnetsetwhichAuntMarchworewhenshecameout,thepearlsherfathergaveheronherweddingday,herlover'sdiamonds,thejetmourningringsandpins,thequeerlockets,withportraitsofdeadfriendsandweepingwillowsmadeofhairinside,thebabybraceletsheronelittledaughterhadworn,UncleMarch'sbigwatch,withtheredsealsomanychildishhandshadplayedwith,andinaboxallbyitselflayAuntMarch'sweddingring,toosmallnowforherfatfinger,butputcarefullyawaylikethemostpreciousjewelofthemall.
"WhichwouldMademoisellechooseifshehadherwill?"askedEsther,whoalwayssatneartowatchoverandlockupthevaluables.
IshouldchoosethisifImight,"repliedAmy,lookingwithgreatadmirationatastringofgoldandebonybeadsfromwhichhungaheavycrossofthesame.
"I,too,covetthat,butnotasanecklace.Ah,no!Tomeitisarosary,andassuchIshoulduseitlikeagoodcatholic,"saidEsther,eyeingthehandsomethingwistfully.
"Truly,yes,topraywith.Itwouldbepleasingtothesaintsifoneusedsofinearosaryasthis,insteadofwearingitasavainbijou."
"Youseemtotakeagreatdealofcomfortinyourprayers,Esther,andalwayscomedownlookingquietandsatisfied.IwishIcould."
"IfMademoisellewasaCatholic,shewouldfindtruecomfort,butasthatisnottobe,itwouldbewellifyouwentaparteachdaytomeditateandpray,asdidthegoodmistresswhomIservedbeforeMadame.
askedAmy,whoinherlonelinessfelttheneedofhelpofsomesort,andfoundthatshewasapttoforgetherlittlebook,nowthatBethwasnottheretoremindherofit.
SaynothingtoMadame,butwhenshesleepsgoyouandsitaloneawhiletothinkgoodthoughts,andpraythedearGodpreserveyoursister."
Estherwastrulypious,andquitesincereinheradvice,forshehadanaffectionateheart,andfeltmuchforthesistersintheiranxiety.
"IwishIknewwherealltheseprettythingswouldgowhenAuntMarchdies,"shesaid,assheslowlyreplacedtheshiningrosaryandshutthejewelcasesonebyone.
"Toyouandyoursisters.Iknowit,Madameconfidesinme.Iwitnessedherwill,anditistobeso,"whisperedEsthersmiling.
"Hownice!ButIwishshe'dletushavethemnow.Procrastinationisnotagreeable,"observedAmy,takingalastlookatthediamonds.
Thefirstonewhoisaffiancedwillhavethepearls,Madamehassaidit,andIhaveafancythatthelittleturquoiseringwillbegiventoyouwhenyougo,forMadameapprovesyourgoodbehaviorandcharmingmanners."
Estherfitteduptheclosetwithalittletable,placedafootstoolbeforeit,andoveritapicturetakenfromoneoftheshut–uprooms.
Shethoughtitwasofnogreatvalue,but,beingappropriate,sheborrowedit,wellknowingthatMadamewouldneverknowit,norcareifshedid.
Itwas,however,averyvaluablecopyofoneofthefamouspicturesoftheworld,andAmy'sbeauty–lovingeyeswerenevertiredoflookingupatthesweetfaceoftheDivineMother,whilehertenderthoughtsofherownwerebusyatherheart.
Onthetableshelaidherlittletestamentandhymnbook,keptavasealwaysfullofthebestflowersLauriebroughther,andcameeverydayto'sitalone'thinkinggoodthoughts,andprayingthedearGodtopreservehersister.
Estherhadgivenherarosaryofblackbeadswithasilvercross,butAmyhungitupanddidnotuseit,feelingdoubtfulastoitsfitnessforProtestantprayers.
Thelittlegirlwasverysincereinallthis,forbeingleftaloneoutsidethesafehomenest,shefelttheneedofsomekindhandtoholdbysosorelythatsheinstinctivelyturnedtothestrongandtenderFriend,whosefatherlylovemostcloselysurroundsHislittlechildren.
Shemissedhermother'shelptounderstandandruleherself,buthavingbeentaughtwheretolook,shedidherbesttofindthewayandwalkinitconfidingly.
Shetriedtoforgetherself,tokeepcheerful,andbesatisfiedwithdoingright,thoughnoonesaworpraisedherforit.
Inherfirsteffortatbeingvery,verygood,shedecidedtomakeherwill,asAuntMarchhaddone,sothatifshedidfallillanddie,herpossessionsmightbejustlyandgenerouslydivided.
Itcostherapangeventothinkofgivingupthelittletreasureswhichinhereyeswereaspreciousastheoldlady'sjewels.
Duringoneofherplayhoursshewroteouttheimportantdocumentaswellasshecould,withsomehelpfromEstherastocertainlegalterms,andwhenthegood–naturedFrenchwomanhadsignedhername,AmyfeltrelievedandlaiditbytoshowLaurie,whomshewantedasasecondwitness.
Asitwasarainyday,shewentupstairstoamuseherselfinoneofthelargechambers,andtookPollywithherforcompany.
Inthisroomtherewasawardrobefullofold–fashionedcostumeswithwhichEstherallowedhertoplay,anditwasherfavoriteamusementtoarrayherselfinthefadedbrocades,andparadeupanddownbeforethelongmirror,makingstatelycurtsies,andsweepinghertrainaboutwitharustlewhichdelightedherears.
SobusywassheonthisdaythatshedidnothearLaurie'sringnorseehisfacepeepinginatherasshegravelypromenadedtoandfro,flirtingherfanandtossingherhead,onwhichsheworeagreatpinkturban,contrastingoddlywithherbluebrocadedressandyellowquiltedpetticoat.
Shewasobligedtowalkcarefully,forshehadonhighheeledshoes,and,asLaurietoldJoafterward,itwasacomicalsighttoseehermincealonginhergaysuit,withPollysidlingandbridlingjustbehindher,imitatingheraswellashecould,andoccasionallystoppingtolaughorexclaim,"Ain'twefine?Getalong,youfright!Holdyourtongue!Kissme,dear!Ha!Ha!"
Havingwithdifficultyrestrainedanexplosionofmerriment,lestitshouldoffendhermajesty,Laurietappedandwasgraciouslyreceived.
"SitdownandrestwhileIputthesethingsaway,thenIwanttoconsultyouaboutaveryseriousmatter,"saidAmy,whenshehadshownhersplendoranddrivenPollyintoacorner.
"Thatbirdisthetrialofmylife,"shecontinued,removingthepinkmountainfromherhead,whileLaurieseatedhimselfastrideachair.
"Yesterday,whenAuntwasasleepandIwastryingtobeasstillasamouse,Pollybegantosquallandflapaboutinhiscage,soIwenttolethimout,andfoundabigspiderthere.
Pollymarchedstraightafterit,stoopeddownandpeepedunderthebookcase,saying,inhisfunnyway,withacockofhiseye,'Comeoutandtakeawalk,mydear.'
"Yes,outitcame,andawayranPolly,frightenedtodeath,andscrambleduponAunt'schair,callingout,'Catchher!Catchher!Catchher!'asIchasedthespider."
"I'dwringyourneckifyouweremine,youoldtorment,"criedLaurie,shakinghisfistatthebird,whoputhisheadononesideandgravelycroaked,"Allyluyer!blessyourbuttons,dear!"
Lauriebithislips,andturningalittlefromthepensivespeaker,readthefollowingdocument,withpraiseworthygravity,consideringthespelling:
Tomyfather,mybestpictures,sketches,maps,andworksofart,includingframes.Alsomy$100,todowhathelikeswith.
TomydearsisterMargaret,Igivemyturkquoisering(ifIgetit),alsomygreenboxwiththedovesonit,alsomypieceofreallaceforherneck,andmysketchofherasamemorialofher'littlegirl'.
ToJoIleavemybreastpin,theonemendedwithsealingwax,alsomybronzeinkstand––shelostthecover––andmymostpreciousplasterrabbit,becauseIamsorryIburnedupherstory.
ToBeth(ifshelivesafterme)Igivemydollsandthelittlebureau,myfan,mylinencollarsandmynewslippersifshecanwearthembeingthinwhenshegetswell.
TomyfriendandneighborTheodoreLaurenceIbequeethemypapermashayportfolio,myclaymodelofahorsethoughhedidsayithadn'tanyneck.
Alsoinreturnforhisgreatkindnessinthehourofafflictionanyoneofmyartisticworkshelikes,NoterDameisthebest.
ToourvenerablebenefactorMr.LaurenceIleavemypurpleboxwithalookingglassinthecoverwhichwillbeniceforhispensandremindhimofthedepartedgirlwhothankshimforhisfavorstoherfamily,especiallyBeth.
AndnowhavingdisposedofmymostvaluablepropertyIhopeallwillbesatisfiedandnotblamethedead.Iforgiveeveryone,andtrustwemayallmeetwhenthetrumpshallsound.Amen.
"Whatputitintoyourhead?DidanyonetellyouaboutBeth'sgivingawayherthings?"askedLauriesoberly,asAmylaidabitofredtape,withsealingwax,ataper,andastandishbeforehim.
ShefeltsoillonedaythatshetoldJoshewantedtogiveherpianotoMeg,hercatstoyou,andthepoorolddolltoJo,whowouldloveitforhersake.
Shewassorryshehadsolittletogive,andleftlocksofhairtotherestofus,andherbestlovetoGrandpa.Sheneverthoughtofawill."
"Putoneinminethen,thatIwishallmycurlscutoff,andgivenroundtomyfriends.Iforgotit,butIwantitdonethoughitwillspoilmylooks."
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