第30章

“IjustsatandhelditsoftlytillMrs。Hummelcamewiththedoctor。Hesaiditwasdead，andlookedatHeinrichandMinna，whohavesorethroats。`Scarletfever，ma’am。Oughttohavecalledmebefore，’hesaidcrossly。Mrs。Hummeltoldhimshewaspoor，andhadtriedtocurebabyherself，butnowitwastoolate，andshecouldonlyaskhimtohelptheothersandtrusttocharityforhispay。Hesmiledthen，andwaskinder，butitwasverysad，andI

criedwiththemtillheturnedroundallofasudden，andtoldmetogohomeandtakebelladonnarightaway，orI’dhavethefever。“

“No，youwon’t!“criedJo，huggingherclose，withafrightenedlook。“Oh，Beth，ifyoushouldbesickInevercouldforgivemyself!

Whatshallwedo？“

“Don’tbefrightened，IguessIshan’thaveitbadly。IlookedinMother’sbook，andsawthatitbeginswithheadache，sorethroat，andqueerfeelingslikemine，soIdidtakesomebelladonna，andI

feelbetter，“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，I

daresay，orifitdoesnotentirely，youwillhavethefevermorelightly。Iadviseyoutobeoffassoonasyoucan，forscarletfeverisnojoke，miss。“

“Butit’sdullatAuntMarch’s，andsheissocross，“saidAmy，lookingratherfrightened。

“Itwon’tbedullwithmepopping；ineverydaytotellyouhowBethis，andtakeyououtgallivanting。Theoldladylikesme，andI’llbeassweetaspossibletoher，soshewon’tpeckatus，whateverwedo。“

“WillyoutakemeoutinthetrottingwagonwithPuck？“

“Onmyhonorasagentleman。“

“Andcomeeverysingleday？“

“SeeifIdon’t/“

“Andbringmebackthemin