第33章

Idon’tthinkIhaveanywordsinwhichtotellthemeetingofthemotheranddaughters。Suchhoursarebeautifultolive，butveryhardtodescribe，soIwillleaveittotheimaginationofmyreaders，merelysayingthatthehousewasfullofgenuinehappiness，andthatMeg’stenderhopewasrealized，forwhenBethwokefromthatlong，healingsleep，thefirstobjectsonwhichhereyesfellwerethelittleroseandMother’sface。Tooweaktowonderatanything，sheonlysmiledandnestledcloseinthelovingarmsabouther，feelingthatthehungrylongingwassatisfiedatlast。Thenshesleptagain，andthegirlswaitedupontheirmother，forshewouldnotunclaspthethinhandwhichclungtoherseveninsleep。

Hannahhad`dishedup’andastonishingbreakfastforthetraveler，findingitimpossibletoventherexcitementinanyotherway，andMegandJofedtheirmotherlikedutifulyoungstorks，whiletheylistenedtoherwhisperedaccountofFather’sstate，Mr。Brooke’spromisetostayandnursehim，thedelayswhichthestormoccasionedonthehomewardjourney，andtheunspeakablecomfortLaurie’shopefulfacehadgivenherwhenshearrived，wornoutwithfatigue，anxiety，andcold。

Whatastrangeyetpleasantdaythatwas。Sobrilliantandgaywithout，foralltheworldseemedabroadtowelcomethefirstsnow。Soquietandreposefulwithin，foreveryoneslept，spentwithwatching，andaSabbathstillnessreignedthroughthehouse，whilenoddingHannahmountedguardatthedoor。Withablissfulsenseofburdensliftedoff，MegandJoclosedtheirwearyeyes，andlayatrest，likestorm-beatenboatssafeatanchorinaquietharbor。Mrs。MarchwouldnotleaveBeth’sside，butrestedinthebigchair，wakingoftentolookat，touch，andbroodoverherchild，likeamiseroversomerecoveredtreasure。

LauriemeanwhilepostedofftocomfortAmy，andtoldhisstorysowellthatAuntMarchactually`sniffed’herself，andneveroncesaid“Itoldyouso“。AmycameoutsostrongonthisoccasionthatIthinkthegoodthoughtsinthelittlechapelreallybegantobearfruit。Shedriedhertearsquickly，restrainedherimpatiencetoseehermother，andnevereventhoughtoftheturquoisering，whentheoldladyheartilyagreedinLaurie’sopinion，thatshebehaved`likeacapitallittlewoman’。EvenPollyseemedimpressed，forhecalledheragoodgirl，blessedherbuttons，andbeggedherto“comeandtakeawalk，dear“，inhismostaffabletone。Shewouldverygladlyhavegoneouttoenjoythebrightwintryweather，butdiscoveringthatLauriewasdroppingwithsleepinspiteofmanfuleffortstoconcealthefact，shepersuadedhimtorestonthesofa，whileshewroteanotetohermother。Shewasalongtimeaboutit，andwhenshereturned，hewasstretchedoutwithbotharmsunderhishead，soundasleep，whileAuntMarchhadpulleddownthecurtainsandsatdoingnothinginanunusualfitofbenignity。

Afterawhile，theybegantothinkhewasnotgoingtowakeuptillnight，andI’mnotsurethathewould，hadhenotbeeneffectuallyrousedbyAmy’scryofjoyatsightofhermother。

Thereprobablywereagoodmanyhappylittlegirlsinandaboutthecitythatday，butitismyprivateopinionthatAmywasthehappiestofall，whenshesatinhermother’slapandtoldhertrials，receivingconsolationandcompensationintheshapeofapprovingsmilesandfondcaresses。Theywerealonetogetherinthechapel，towhichhermotherdidnotobjectwhenitspurposewasexplainedtoher。

“Onthecontrary，Ilikeitverymuch，dear，“lookingfromthedustyrosarytothewell-wornlittlebook，andthelovelypicturewithitsgarlandofevergreen。“Itisanexcellentplantohavesomeplacewherewecangotobequiet，whenthingsvexorgrieveus。Thereareagoodmanyhardtimesinthislifeofours，butwecanalwaysbearthemifweaskhelpintherightway。Ithinkmylittlegirlislearningthis。“

“Yes，Mother，andwhenIgohomeImeantohaveacornerinthebigclosettoputmybooksandthecopyofthatpicturewhichI’vetriedtomake。Thewoman’sfaceisnotgood，it’stoobeautifulformetodraw，butthebabyisdonebetter，andIloveitverymuch。IliketothinkHewasalittlechildonce，forthenIdon’tseemsofaraway，andthathelpsme。“

AsAmypointedtothesmilingChristchildonhisMother’sknee，Mrs。Marchsawsomethingontheliftedhandthatmadehersmile。Shesaidnothing，butAmyunderstoodthelook，andafteraminute’spause，sheaddedgravely，“Iwantedtospeaktoyouaboutthis，butIforgotit。Auntgavemetheringtoday。

Shecalledmetoherandkissedme，andputitonmyfinger，andsaidIwasacredittoher，andshe’dliketok