第57章

Whenthepartingcameheaffectedhighspirits，toconcealcertaininconvenientemotionswhichseemedinclinedtoassertthemselves。Thisgaietydidnotimposeuponanybody，buttheytriedtolookasifitdidforhissake，andhegotonverywelltillMrs。Marchkissedhim，whitawhisperfullofmotherlysolicitude。Thenfeelingthathewasgoingveryfast，hehastilyembracedthemallround，notforgettingtheafflictedHannah，andrandownstairsasifforhislife。Jofollowedaminuteaftertowaveherhandtohimifhelookedround。Hedidlookround，cameback，puthisarmsaboutherasshestoodonthestepabovehim，andlookedupatherwithafacethatmadehisshortappealeloquentandpathetic。

“Oh，Jo，can’tyou？“

“Teddy，dear，IwishIcould!“

Thatwasall，exceptalittlepause。ThenLauriestraightenedhimselfup，said，“It’sallright，nevermind，“andwentawaywithoutanotherword。Ah，butitwasn’tallright，andJodidmind，forwhilethecurlyheadlayonherarmaminuteafterherhardanswer，shefeltasifshehadstabbedherdearestfriend，andwhenheleftherwithoutalookbehindhim，sheknewthattheboyLaurieneverwouldcomeagain。

Chapter36CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIXWhenJocamehomethatspring，shehadbeenstruckwiththechangeinBeth。Noonespokeofitorseemedawareofit，forithadcometoograduallytostartlethosewhosawherdaily，buttoeyessharpenedbyabsence，itwasveryplainandaheavyweightfellonJo’sheartasshesawhersister’sface。

Itwasnopalerandbutlittlerthinnerthanintheautumn，yettherewasastrange，transparentlookaboutit，asifthemortalwasbeingslowlyrefinedaway，andtheimmortalshiningthroughthefrailfleshwithanindescribablypatheticbeauty。Josawandfeltit，butsaidnothingatthetime，andsoonthefirstimpressionlostmuchofitspower，forBethseemedhappy，nooneappearedtodoubtthatshewasbetter，andpresentlyinothercaresJoforatimeforgotherfear。

ButwhenLauriewasgone，andpeaceprevailedagain，thevagueanxietyreturnedandhauntedher。Shehadconfessedhersinsandbeenforgiven，butwhensheshowedhersavingsandproposedamountaintrip，Bethhadthankedherheartily，butbeggednottogosofarawayfromhome。Anotherlittlevisittotheseashorewouldsuitherbetter，andasGrandmacouldnotbeprevailedupontoleavethebabies，JotookBethdowntothequietplace，whereshecouldlivemuchintheopenair，andletthefreshseabreezesblowalittlecolorintoherpalecheeks。

Itwasnotafashionableplace，butevenamongthepleasantpeoplethere，thegirlsmadefewfriends，preferringtoliveforoneanother。Bethwastooshytoenjoysociety，andJotoowrappedupinhertocareforanyoneelse。Sotheywereallinalltoeachother，andcameandwent，quiteunconsciousoftheinteresttheyexitedinthoseaboutthem，whowatchedwithsympatheticeyesthestrongsisterandthefeebleone，alwaystogether，asiftheyfeltinstinctivelythatalongseparationwasnotfaraway。

Theydidfeelit，yetneitherspokeofit，foroftenbetweenourselvesandthosenearestanddearesttousthereexistsareservewhichitisveryhardtoovercome。JofeltasifaveilhadfallenbetweenherheartandBeth’s，butwhensheputoutherhandtoliftitup，thereseemedsomethingsacredinthesilence，andshewaitedforBethtospeak。Shewondered，andwasthankfulalso，thatherparentsdidnotseemtoseewhatshesaw，andduringthequietweekswhentheshadowsgrewsoplaintoher，shesaidnothingofittothoseathome，believingthatitwouldtellitselfwhenBethcamebacknobetter。

Shewonderedstillmoreifhersisterreallyguessedthehardtruth，andwhatthoughtswerepassingthroughhermindduringthelonghourswhenshelayonthewarmrockswithherheadinJo’slap，whilethewindsblewhealthfullyoverherandtheseamademusicatherfeet。

OnedayBethtoldher。Jothoughtshewasasleep，shelaysostill，andputtingdownherbook，satlookingatherwithwistfuleyes，tryingtoseesignsofhopeinthefaintcoloronBeth’scheeks。Butshecouldnotfindenoughtosatisfyh