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Suchamerrytimeastheyhad!runningandshouting，sendingupthekitesorpullingthemdown，watchingtheiranticsintheair，andfeelingthemtugatthestringlikelivecreaturestryingtoescape。Nanwasquitewildwiththefun，Daisythoughtthenewplaynearlyasinterestingasdolls，andlittleBesswassofondofher“bootite，“thatshewouldonlyletitgoonveryshortflights，preferringtoholditinherlapandlookattheremarkablepicturespaintedonitbyTommy’sdashingbrush。Mrs。
Joenjoyedhersimmensely，anditactedasifitknewwhoownedit，foritcametumblingdownheadfirstwhenleastexpected，caughtontrees，nearlypitchedintotheriver，andfinallydartedawaytosuchaheightthatitlookedamerespeckamongtheclouds。
Byandbyeveryonegottired，andfasteningthekite-stringstotreesandfences，allsatdowntorest，exceptMr。Bhaer，whowentofftolookatthecows，withTeddyonhisshoulder。
“Didyoueverhavesuchagoodtimeasthisbefore？“askedNat，astheylayaboutonthegrass，nibblingpennyroyallikeaflockofsheep。
“NotsinceIlastflewakite，yearsago，whenIwasagirl，“answeredMrs。Jo。
“I’dliketohaveknownyouwhenyouwereagirl，youmusthavebeensojolly，“saidNat。
“Iwasanaughtylittlegirl，Iamsorrytosay。“
“Ilikenaughtylittlegirls，“observedTommy，lookingatNan，whomadeafrightfulgrimaceathiminreturnforthecompliment。
“Whydon’tIrememberyouthen，Aunty？WasItooyoung？“askedDemi。
“Rather，dear。“
“Isupposemymemoryhadn’tcomethen。Grandpasaysthatdifferentpartsofthemindunfoldaswegrowup，andthememorypartofmymindhadn’tunfoldedwhenyouwerelittle，soIcan’trememberhowyoulooked，“explainedDemi。
“Now，littleSocrates，youhadbetterkeepthatquestionforgrandpa，itisbeyondme，“saidAuntJo，puttingontheextinguisher。
“Well，Iwill，heknowsaboutthosethings，andyoudon’t，“
returnedDemi，feelingthatonthewholekiteswerebetteradaptedtothecomprehensionofthepresentcompany。
“Tellaboutthelasttimeyouflewakite，“saidNat，forMrs。Johadlaughedasshespokeofit，andhethoughtitmightbeinteresting。
“Oh，itwasonlyratherfunny，forIwasagreatgirloffifteen，andwasashamedtobeseenatsuchaplay。SoUncleTeddyandIprivatelymadeourkites，andstoleawaytoflythem。Wehadacapitaltime，andwererestingaswearenow，whensuddenlyweheardvoices，andsawapartyofyoungladiesandgentlemencomingbackfromapicnic。Teddydidnotmind，thoughhewasratheralargeboytobeplayingwithakite，butIwasinagreatflurry，forIknewIshouldbesadlylaughedat，andneverhearthelastofit，becausemywildwaysamusedtheneighborsasmuchasNan’sdous。
“’WhatshallIdo？’IwhisperedtoTeddy，asthevoicesdrewnearerandnearer。
“’I’llshowyou，’hesaid，andwhippingouthisknifehecutthestrings。
Awayflewthekites，andwhenthepeoplecameupwewerepickingflowersasproperlyasyouplease。Theyneversuspectedus，andwehadagrandlaughoverournarrowescape。“
“Werethekiteslost，Aunty？“askedDaisy。
“Quitelost，butIdidnotcare，forImadeupmymindthatitwouldbebesttowaittillIwasanoldladybeforeIplayedwithkitesagain；
andyouseeIhavewaited，“saidMrs。Jo，beginningtopullinthebigkite，foritwasgettinglate。
“Mustwegonow？“
“Imust，oryouwon’thaveanysupper；andthatsortofsurprisepartywouldnotsuityou，Ithink，mychickens。“
“Hasn’tourpartybeenaniceone？“askedTommy，complacently。
“Splendid!“answeredeveryone。
“Doyouknowwhy？Itisbecauseyourguestshavebehavedthemselves，andtriedtomakeeverythinggowell。YouunderstandwhatImean，don’tyou？“
“Yes’m，“wasalltheboyssaid，buttheystoleashamefacedlookatoneanother，astheymeeklyshoulderedtheirkitesandwalkedhome，thinkingofanotherpartywheretheguestshadnotbehavedthemselves，andthingshadgonebadlyonaccountofit。CHAPTERXHOMEAGAIN
Julyhadcome，andhayingbegun；thelittlegardensweredoingfinelyandthelongsummerdayswerefullofpleasanthours。Thehousestoodopenfrommorningtillnight，andtheladslivedoutofdoors，exceptatschooltime。Thelessonswereshort，andthereweremanyholidays，fortheBhaersbelievedincultivatinghealthybodiesbymuchexercise，andourshortsummersarebestusedinout-of-doorwork。Sucharosy，sunburnt，heartysetastheboysbecame；suchappetitesastheyhad；suchsturdyarmsandlegs，asoutgrewjacketsandtrousers；suchlaughingandracingallovertheplace；suchanticsinhouseandbarn；suchadventuresinthetrampsoverhillanddale；andsuchsatisfactionintheheartsoftheworthyBhaers，astheysawtheirflockprosperinginmindandbody，Icannotbegintodescribe。Onlyonethingwasneededtomakethemquitehappy，anditcamewhentheyleastexpectedit。
Onebalmynightwhenthelittleladswereinbed，theelderonesbathingdownatthebrook，andMrs。BhaerundressingTeddyinherparlor，hesuddenlycriedout，“Oh，myDanny!“andpointedtothewindow，wherethemoonshonebrightly。
“No，lovey，heisnotthere，itwastheprettymoon，“saidhismother。
“No，no，Dannyatawindow；Teddysawhim，“persistedbaby，muchexcited。
“Itmighthavebeen，“andMrs。Bhaerhurriedtothewindow，hopingitwouldprovetrue。Butthefacewasgone，andnowhereappearedanysignsofamortalboy；shecalledhisname，rantothefrontdoorwithTeddyinhislittleshirt，andmadehimcalltoo，thinkingthebabyvoicemighthavemoreeffectthanherown。Nooneanswered，nothingappeared，andtheywentbackmuchdisappointed。Teddywouldnotbesatisfiedwiththemoon，andafterhewasinhiscribkeptpoppinguphisheadtoaskifDannywasnot“tummin’soon。“
Byandbyhefellasleep，theladstroopeduptobed，thehousegrewstill，andnothingbutthechirpofthecricketsbrokethesoftsilenceofthesummernight。Mrs。Bhaersatsewing，forthebigbasketwasalwayspiledwithsocks，fullofportentousholes，andthinkingofthelostboy。
Shehaddecidedthatbabyhadbeenmistaken，anddidnotevendisturbMr。
Bhaerbytellinghimofthechild’sfancy，forthepoormangotlittletimetohimselftilltheboyswereabed，andhewasbusywritingletters。
Itwaspasttenwhensherosetoshutupthehouse。Asshepausedaminutetoenjoythelovelyscenefromthesteps，somethingwhitecaughthereyeononeofthehay-cocksscatteredoverthelawn。Thechildrenhadbeenplayingtherealltheafternoon，and，fancyingthatNanhadleftherhatasusual，Mrs。Bhaerwentouttogetit。Butassheapproached，shesawthatitwasneitherhatnorhandkerchief，butashirtsleevewithabrownhandstickingoutofit。Shehurriedroundthehay-cock，andtherelayDan，fastasleep。
Ragged，dirty，thin，andworn-outhelooked；onefootwasbare，theothertiedupintheoldginghamjacketwhichhehadtakenfromhisownbacktouseasaclumsybandageforsomehurt。Heseemedtohavehiddenhimselfbehindthehay-cock，butinhissleephadthrownoutthearmthathadbetrayedhim。Hesighedandmutteredasifhisdreamsdisturbedhim，andoncewhenhemoved，hegroanedasifinpain，butstillsleptonquitespentwithweariness。
“Hemustnotliehere，“saidMrs。Bhaer，andstoopingoverhimshegentlycalledhisname。Heopenedhiseyesandlookedather，asifshewasapartofhisdream，forhesmiledandsaiddrowsily，“MotherBhaer，I’vecomehome。“
Thelook，thewords，touchedherverymuch，andsheputherhandunderhisheadtolifthimup，sayinginhercordialway，；
“Ithoughtyouwould，andI’msogladtoseeyou，Dan。“Heseemedtowakethoroughlythen，andstarteduplookingabouthimasifhesuddenlyrememberedwherehewas，anddoubtedeventhatkindwelcome。Hisfacechanged，andhesaidinhisoldroughway，；
“Iwasgoingoffinthemorning。Ionlystoppedtopeekin，asIwentby。“
“Butwhynotcomein，Dan？Didn’tyouhearuscallyou？Teddysaw，andcriedforyou。“
“Didn’tsupposeyou’dletmein，“hesaid，fumblingwithalittlebundlewhichhehadtakenupasifgoingimmediately。
“Tryandsee，“wasallMrs。Bhaeranswered，holdingoutherhandandpointingtothedoor，wherethelightshonehospitably。
Withalongbreath，asifaloadwasoffhismind，Dantookupastoutstick，andbegantolimptowardsthehouse，butstoppedsuddenly，tosayinquiringly，；
“Mr。Bhaerwon’tlikeit。IranawayfromPage。“
“Heknowsit，andwassorry，butitwillmakenodifference。Areyoulame？“askedMrs。Jo，ashelimpedonagain。
“Gettingoverawallastonefellonmyfootandsmashedit。Idon’tmind，“andhedidhisbesttohidethepaineachstepcosthim。
Mrs。Bhaerhelpedhimintoherownroom，and，oncethere，hedroppedintoachair，andlaidhisheadback，whiteandfaintwithwearinessandsuffering。
“MypoorDan!drinkthis，andtheneatalittle；youareathomenow，andMotherBhaerwilltakegoodcareofyou。“
Heonlylookedupatherwitheyesfullofgratitude，ashedrankthewinesheheldtohislips，andthenbeganslowlytoeatthefoodshebroughthim。Eachmouthfulseemedtoputheartintohim，andpresentlyhebegantotalkasifanxioustohaveherknowallabouthim。
“Wherehaveyoubeen，Dan？“sheasked，beginningtogetoutsomebandages。
“Iranoffmore’namonthago。Pagewasgoodenough，buttoostrict。
Ididn’tlikeit，soIcutawaydowntheriverwithamanwhowasgoinginhisboat。That’swhytheycouldn’ttellwhereI’dgone。WhenIlefttheman，Iworkedforacoupleofweekswithafarmer，butIthrashedhisboy，andthentheoldmanthrashedme，andIranoffagainandwalkedhere。“
“Alltheway？“
“Yes，themandidn’tpayme，andIwouldn’taskforit。Tookitoutinbeatingtheboy，“andDanlaughed，yetlookedashamed，asheglancedathisraggedclothesanddirtyhands。
“Howdidyoulive？Itwasalong，longtrampforaboylikeyou。“
“Oh，Igotonwellenough，tillIhurtmyfoot。Folksgavemethingstoeat，andIsleptinbarnsandtrampedbyday。Igotlosttryingtomakeashortcut，orI’dhavebeenheresooner。“
“Butifyoudidnotmeantocomeinandstaywithus，whatwereyougoingtodo？“
“IthoughtI’dliketoseeTeddyagain，andyou；andthenIwasgoingbacktomyoldworkinthecity，onlyIwassotiredIwenttosleeponthehay。I’dhavebeengoneinthemorning，ifyouhadn’tfoundme。“
“AreyousorryIdid？“andMrs。Jolookedathimwithahalfmerry，halfreproachfullook，asshekneltdowntolookathiswoundedfoot。
ThecolorcameupintoDan’sface，andhekepthiseyesfixedonhisplate，ashesaidverylow，“No，ma’am，I’mglad，Iwantedtostay，butIwasafraidyou；“
Hedidnotfinish，forMrs。Bhaerinterruptedhimbyanexclamationofpity，asshesawhisfoot，foritwasseriouslyhurt。
“Whendidyoudoit？“
“Threedaysago。“
“Andyouhavewalkedonitinthisstate？“
“Ihadastick，andIwasheditateverybrookIcameto，andonewomangavemearagtoputonit。“
“Mr。Bhaermustseeanddressitatonce，“andMrs。Johastenedintothenextroom，leavingthedoorajarbehindher，sothatDanheardallthatpassed。
“Fritz，theboyhascomeback。“
“Who？Dan？“
“Yes，Teddysawhimatthewindow，andhecalledtohim，buthewentawayandhidbehindthehay-cocksonthelawn。Ifoundhimtherejustnowfastasleep，andhalfdeadwithwearinessandpain。HeranawayfromPageamonthago，andhasbeenmakinghiswaytouseversince。Hepretendsthathedidnotmeantoletusseehim，butgoontothecity，andhisoldwork，afteralookatus。Itisevident，however，thatthehopeofbeingtakeninhasledhimherethrougheverything，andthereheiswaitingtoknowifyouwillforgiveandtakehimback。“
“Didhesayso？“
“Hiseyesdid，andwhenIwakedhim，hesaid，likealostchild，’MotherBhaer，I’vecomehome。’Ihadn’tthehearttoscoldhim，andjusttookhiminlikeapoorlittleblacksheepcomebacktothefold。Imaykeephim，Fritz？“
“Ofcourseyoumay!Thisprovestomethatwehaveaholdontheboy’sheart，andIwouldnomoresendhimawaynowthanIwouldmyownRob。“
Danheardasoftlittlesound，asifMrs。Jothankedherhusbandwithoutwords，and，intheinstant’ssilencethatfollowed，twogreattearsthathadslowlygatheredintheboy’seyesbrimmedoverandrolleddownhisdustycheeks。Noonesawthem，forhebrushedthemhastilyaway；butinthatlittlepauseI
