第68章

“ThateverIshouldlivetoseeyouahenpeckedhusbandandenjoyingit!“criedJo，withupliftedhands。

ItwasgoodtoseeLauriesquarehisshoulders，andsmilewithmasculinescornatthatinsinuation，ashereplied，withhis“highandmighty“air，“Amyistoowell-bredforthat，andIamnotthesortofmantosubmittoit。MywifeandIrespectourselvesandoneanothertoomuchevertotyrannizeorquarrel。“

Jolikethat，andthoughtthenewdignityverybecoming，buttheboyseemedchangingveryfastintotheman，andregretmingledwithherpleasure。

“Iamsureofthat。Amyandyouneverdidquarrelasweusedto。

SheisthesunandIthewind，inthefable，andthesunmanagedthemanbest，youremember。“

“Shecanblowhimupaswellasshineonhim，“laughedLaurie。

“suchalectureasIgotatNice!Igiveyoumyworditwasadealworsethananyoryourscoldings，aregularrouser。I’lltellyouallaboutitsometime，sheneverwill，becauseaftertellingmethatshedespisedandwasashamedofme，shelostherhearttothedespicablepartyandmarriedthegood-for-nothing。“

“Whatbaseness!Well，ifsheabusesyou，cometome，andI’lldefendyou。“

“IlookasifIneededit，don’tI？“saidLaurie，gettingupandstrikinganattitudewhichsuddenlychangedfromtheimposingtotherapturous，asAmy’svoicewasheardcalling，“Whereisshe？

Where’smydearoldJo？“

Introopedthewholefamily，andeveryonewashuggedandkissedalloveragain，andafterseveralvainattempts，thethreewanderersweresetdowntobelookedatandexultedover。Mr。Laurence，haleandheartyasever，wasquiteasmuchimprovedastheothersbyhisforeigntour，forthecrustinessseemedtobenearlygone，andtheold-fashionedcourtlinesshadreceivedapolishwhichmadeitkindlierthanever。Itwasgoodtoseehimbeamat`mychildren’，ashecalledtheyoungpair。ItwasbetterstilltoseeAmypayhimthedaughterlydutyandaffectionwhichcompletelywonhisoldheart，andbestofall，towatchLaurierevolveaboutthetwo，asifnevertiredofenjoyingtheprettypicturetheymade。

TheminutesheputhereyesuponAmy，Megbecameconsciousthatherowndresshadn’taParisianair，thatyoungMrs。MofffatwouldbeentirelyeclipsedbyyoungMrs。Laurence，andthat`herladyship’wasaltogetheramostelegantandgracefulwoman。Jothought，asshewatchedthepair，“Howwelltheylooktogether!Iwasright，andLauriehasfoundthebeautiful，accomplishedgirlwhowillbecomehishomebetterthanclumsyoldJo，andbeapride，notatormenttohim。“Mrs。Marchandherhusbandsmiledandnoddedateachotherwithhappyfaces，fortheysawthattheiryoungesthaddonewell，notonlyinworldlythings，butthebetterwealthoflove，confidence，andhappiness。

ForAmy’sfacewasfullofthesoftbrightnesswhichbetokensapeacefulheart，hervoicehadanewtendernessinit，andthecool，primcarriagewaschangedtoagentledignity，bothwomanlyandwinning。

Nolittleaffectationsmarredit，andthecordialsweetnessofhermannerwasmorecharmingthanthenewbeautyortheoldgrace，foritstampedheratoncewiththeunmistakablesignofthetruegentlewomanshehadhopedtobecome。

“Lovehasdonemuchforourlittlegirl，“saidhermothersoftly。

“Shehashadagoodexamplebeforeherallherlife，mydear，“

Mr。Marchwhisperedback，withalovinglookatthewornfaceandgrayheadbesidehim。

Daisyfounditimpossibletokeephereyesoffher`pittyaunty’，butattachedherselflikealapdogtothewonderfulchatelainefullofdelightfulcharms。Demipausedtoconsiderthenewrelationshipbeforehecompromisedhimselfbytherashacceptanceofabribe，whichtookthetemptingformofafamilyofwoodenbearsfromBerne。

Aflankmovementproducedanunconditionalsurrender，however，forLaurieknewwheretohavehim。

“Youngman，whenIfirsthadthehonorofmakingyouracquaintanceyouhitmeintheface。NowIdemandthesatisfactionofagentleman，“

andwiththatthetalluncleproceededtotossandtouslethesmallnephewinawaythatdamagedhisphilosophicaldignityasmuchasitdelightedhisboyishsoul。

“Blestifsheain’tinsilkfromheadtofoot？Ain’titarelishin’

sighttoseehersettin’thereasfineasafiddle，anchahappyprocessionasfiledawayintothelittlediningroom!Mr。MarchproudlyescortedMrs。Laurence。Mrs。Marchasproudlyleanedonthearmof`myson’。TheoldgentlemantookJo，withawhispered，“Youmustbemygirlnow，“andaglanceattheemptycornerbythefire，thatmadeJowhisperback，“I’lltrytofillherplace，sir。

Thetwinsprancedbehind，feelingthatthemillenniumwasathand，foreveryonewassobusywiththenewcomersthattheywerelefttorevelattheirownsweetwill，andyoumaybesuretheymadethemostoftheopportunity。Didn’ttheystealsipsoftea，stuffgingerbreadadlibitum，getahotbiscuitapiece，andasacrowningtrespass，didn’ttheyeachwhiskacaptivatinglittletartintotheirtinypockets，theretostickandcrumbletreacherously，teachingthemthatb