第31章

“Goodforyou，Jo!Didyoudoitonyourownresponsibility？“

askedLaurie，asheseatedherinthehallchairandtookofftherebelliousboots，seeinghowherhandsshook。

“No。Thedoctortoldusto。“

“Oh，Jo，it’snotsobadasthat？“criedLaurie，withastartledface。

“Yes，itis。Shedoesn’tknowus，shedoesn’teventalkabouttheflocksofgreendoves，asshecallsthevineleavesonthewall。

Shedoesn’tlooklikemyBeth，andthere’snobodytohelpusbearit。

Motherandfatherbothgone，andGodseemssofarawayIcan’tfindHim。“

AsthetearsstreamedfastdownpoorJo’scheeks，shestretchedoutherhandinahelplesssortofway，asifgropinginthedark，andLaurietookitinhis，whisperingaswellashecouldwithalumpinhisthroat，“I’mhere。Holdontome，Jo，dear!“

Shecouldnotspeak，butshedid`holdon’，andthewarmgraspofthefriendlyhumanhandcomfortedhersoreheart，andseemedtoleadhernearertotheDivinearmwhichalonecouldupholdherinhertrouble。

Laurielongedtosaysomethingtenderandcomfortable，butnofittingwordscametohim，sohestoodsilent，gentlystrokingherbentheadashermotherusedtodo。Itwasthebestthinghecouldhavedone，farmoresoothingthanthemosteloquentwords，forJofelttheunspokensympathy，andinthesilencelearnedthesweetsolacewhichaffectionadministerstosorrow。Soonshedriedthetearswhichhadrelievedher，andlookedupwithagratefulface。

“Thankyou，Teddy，I’mbetternow。Idon’tfeelsoforlorn，andwilltrytobearitifitcomes。“

“Keephopingforthebest，thatwillhelpyou，Jo。Soonyourmotherwillbehere，andtheneverythingwillbeallright。“

“I’msogladFatherisbetter。Nowshewon’tfeelsobadaboutleavinghim。Oh，me!Itdoesseemasifallthetroublescameinaheap，andIgottheheaviestpartonmyshoulders，“sighedJo，spreadingherwethandkerchiefoverherkneestodry。

“Doesn’tMegpullfair？“askedLaurie，lookingindignant。

“Oh，yes，shetriesto，butshecan’tloveBethyasIdo，andshewon’tmissherasIshall。Bethismyconscience，andIcan’tgiveherup。Ican’t!Ican’t!“

DownwentJo’sfaceintothewethandkerchief，andshecrieddespairingly，forshehadkeptupbravelytillnowandnevershedatear。Lauriedrewhishandacrosshiseyes，butcouldnotspeaktillhehadsubduedthechokyfeelinginhisthroatandsteadiedhislips。Itmightbeunmanly，buthecouldn’thelpit，andIamgladofit。Presently，asJo’ssobsquieted，hesaidhopefully，“I

don’tthinkshewilldie。She’ssogood，andwealllovehersomuch，Idon’tbelieveGodwilltakeherawayyet。“

“Thegoodanddearpeoplealwaysdodie，“groanedJo，butshestoppedcrying，forherfriend’swordscheeredherupinspiteofherowndoubtsandfears。

“Poorgirl，you’rewornout。Itisn’tlikeyoutobeforlorn。

Stopabit。I’llheartenyouupinajiffy。“

Lauriewentofftwostairsatatime，andJolaidherweariedheaddownonBeth’slittlebrownhood，whichnoonehadthoughtofmovingfromthetablewheresheleftit。Itmusthavepossessedsomemagic，forthesubmissivespiritofitsgentleownerseemedtoenterintoJo，andwhenLauriecamerunningdownwithaglassofwine，shetookitwithasmile，andsaidbravely，“Idrink——

HealthtomyBeth!Youareagooddoctor，Teddy，andsuchacomfortablefriend。HowcanIeverpayyou？“sheadded，asthewinerefreshedherbody，asthekindwordshaddonehertroubledmind。

“I’llsendmybill，by-and-by，andtonightI’llgiveyousome-

thingthatwillwarmthecocklesofyourheartbetterthanquartsofwine，“saidLaurie，beamingatherwithafaceofsuppressedsatisfactionatsomething。

“Whatisit？“criedJo，forgettingherwoesforaminuteinherwonder。

“Itelegraphedtoyourmotheryesterday，andBrookeansweredshe’dcomeatonce，andshe’llbeheretonight，andeverythingwillbeallright。Aren’tyougladIdidit？“

Lauriespokeveryfast，andturnedredandexcitedallinaminute，forhehadkepthisplotasecret，forfearofdisappointingthegirlsorharmingBeth。Jogrewquitewhite，flewoutofherchair，andthemomenthestoppedspeakingsheelectrifiedhimbythrowingherarmsroundhisneck，andcryingout，withajoyfulcry，“Oh，Laurie!Oh，Mother!Iamsoglad!“Shedidnotweepagain，butlaughedhysterically，andtrembledandclungtoherfriendasifshewasalittlebewilderedbythesuddennews。

Laurie，thoughdecidedlyamazed，behavedwithgreatpresenceofmind。Hepattedherbacksoothingly，andfindingthatshewasrecovering，followeditupbyabashfulkissortwo，whichbroughtJoroundatonce。Holdingontothebanisters，sheputhimgentlyaway，sayingbreathlessly，“Oh，don’t!Ididn’tmeanto，itwasdreadfulofme，butyouweresuchadeartogoanddoitinspiteofHannahthatIcouldn’thelpflyingatyou。Tellmeallaboutit，anddon’tgivemewineagain，itmakesmeactso。“

“Idon’tmind，“laughedLaurie，ashesettledhistie。“Why，youse