第12章

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。Alldaypassedaapartofthenextbeforeanyacknowledgementarrived，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，forthefirstworkedshesawwere……

“MissMarch：

“DearMadam——“

“Howniceitsounds!Iwishsomeonewouldwritetomeso!“saidAmy，whothoughttheold-fashionedaddressveryelegant。

“`Ihavehadmanypairsofslippersinmylife，butIneverhadanythatsuitedmesowellasyours，’“continuesJo。“`Heartseaseismyfavoriteflower，andthesewillalwaysremindmeofthegentlegiver。Iliketopaymydebts，soIknowyouwillallow`theoldgentleman’tosendyousomethingwhichoncebelongedtothelittlegranddaughterhelost。Withheartythanksandbestwishes，I

remain“`Yourgratefulfriendandhumbleservant，“`JAMESLAURENCE’

“There，Beth，that’sanhonortobeproudof，I’msure!LaurietoldmehowfondMr。Laurenceusedtobeofthechildwhodied，andhowhekeptallherlittlethingscarefully。Justthink，he’sgivenyouherpiano。Thatcomesofhavingbigblueeyesandlovingmusic，“

saidJo，tryingtosootheBeth，whotrembledandlookedmoreexcitedthanshehadeverbeenbefore。

“Seethecunningbracketstoholdcandles，andthenicegreensild，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’llgono，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。

“Thatboyisaperfectcyclops，isn’the？“saidAmyoneday，asLaurieclatteredbyonhorseback，withaflourishofhiswhipashepassed。

“Howdareyousayso，whenhe’sgotbothhiseyes？Andveryhandsomeonestheyare，too，“criedJo，whoresentedanyslightingremarksaboutherfriend。

“Ididn’tdayanythingabouthiseyes，andIdon’tseewhyyouneedfireupwhenIadmirehisriding。“

“Oh，mygoodness!Thatlittlegoosemeansacentaur，andshecalledhimaCyclops，“exclaimedJo，withaburstoflaughter。

“Youneedn’tbesorude，it’sonlya`lapseoflingy’，asMr。

Davissays，“retortedAmy，finishingJowithherLatin。“IjustwishIhadalittleofthemoneyLauriespendsonthathorse，“sheadded，asiftoherself，yethopinghersisterswouldhear。

“Why？“askedMegkindly，forJohadgoneoffinanotherlaughatAmy’ssecondblunder。

“Ineeditsomuch。I’mdreadfullyindebt，anditwon’tbemyturntohavetheragmoneyforamonth。“

“Indebt，Amy？Whatdoyoumean？“AndMeglookedsober。

“Why，Ioweatleastadozenpickledlimes，andIcan’tpaythem，youknow，tillIhavemoney，forMarmeeforbademyhavinganythingchargedattheshop。“

“Tellmeallaboutit。Arelimesthefashionnow？Itusedtobeprickingbitsofrubbertomakeballs。“AndMegtriedtokeephercountenance，Amylookedsograveandimportant。

“Why，yousee，thegirlsarealwaysbuyingthem，andunlessyouwanttobethoughtmean，youmustdoittoo。It’snothingbutlimesnow，foreveryoneissuckingthemintheirdesksinschooltime，andtradingthemoffforpencils，beadrings，paperdolls，orsomethingelse，atrecess。Ifonegirllikesanother，shegivesheralime。Ifshe’smadwithher，sheeatsonebeforeherface，anddoesn’tofferevenasuck。Theytreatbyturns，andI’vehadeversomanybuthaven’treturnedthem，andIoughtfortheyaredebtsofhonor，youknow。“

“Howmuchwillpaythemoffandrestoreyourcredit？“askedMeg，takingoutherpurse。“

“Aquarterwouldmorethandoit，andleaveafewcentsoverforatreatforyou。Don’tyoulikelimes？“

“Notmuch。Youmayhavemyshare。Here’sthemoney。

Makeitlastaslongasyoucan，foritisn’tveryplenty，youknow。“

“Oh，thankyou!Itmustbesonicetohavepocketmoney!

I’llhaveagrandfeast，forIhaven’ttastedalimethisweek。Ifeltdelicateabouttakingany，asIcouldn’treturnthem，andI’mactuallysufferingforone。“

NextdayAmywasratherlateatschool，butcouldnotresistthetemptationofdisplaying，withpardonablepride，amoistbrown-paperparcel，beforesheconsignedittotheinmostrecessesofherdesk。

DuringthenextfewminutestherumorthatAmyMarchhadgottwenty-

fourdeliciouslimes(sheateoneontheway)andwasgoingtotreatcirculatedthroughher`set’，andtheattentionsofherfriendsbecamequiteoverwhelming。KatyBrowninvitedhertohernextpartyonthespot。MaryKinglseyinsistedonlendingherherwatchtillrecess，andJennySnow，asatiricalyounglady，whohadbaselytwittedAmyuponherlimelessstate，promptlyburiedthehatchetandofferedtofurnishanswerstocertainappallingsums。ButAmyhadnotforgottenMissSnow’scuttingremarksabout`somepersonswhosenoseswerenottooflattosmellotherpeople’slimes，andstuck-uppeoplewhowerenottooproudtoaskforthem’，andsheinstantlycrushed`thatSnowgirl’s’hopesbythewitheringtelegram，“Youneedn’tbesopoliteallofasudden，foryouwon’tgetany。“