“Whatmischiefareyouatnow，badchild？“askedNursey，withagood-naturedshake，whichmadethesleeperopenhiseyestosaymeekly，­；
“IonlyranintoNat’sroomtoseehimaboutsomething。Goaway，andletmealone；I’mawfulsleepy。“
NurseytuckedDemiin，andwentofftoreconnoitre，butonlyfoundtwoboysslumberingpeacefullyinDan’sroom。“Somelittlefrolic，“shethought，andastherewasnoharmdoneshesaidnothingtoMrs。Bhaer，whowasbusyandworriedoverlittleTeddy。
Tommywassleepy，andtellingDemitomindhisownbusinessandnotaskquestions，hewassnoringintenminutes，littledreamingwhatwasgoingonunderhisbed。Thecigardidnotgoout，butsmoulderedawayonthestrawcarpettillitwasnicelyonfire，andahungrylittleflamewentcreepingalongtillthedimitybedcovercaught，thenthesheets，andthenthebeditself。ThebeermadeTommysleepheavily，andthesmokestupifiedDemi，sotheysleptontillthefirebegantoscorchthem，andtheywereindangerofbeingburnedtodeath。
Franzwassittinguptostudy，andashelefttheschool-roomhesmeltthesmoke，dashedup-stairsandsawitcominginacloudfromtheleftwingofthehouse。Withoutstoppingtocallanyone，heranintotheroom，draggedtheboysfromtheblazingbed，andsplashedallthewaterhecouldfindathandontotheflames。Itcheckedbutdidnotquenchthefire，andthechildrenwakenedonbeingtumbledtopsy-turvyintoacoldhall，begantoroaratthetopoftheirvoices。Mrs。Bhaerinstantlyappeared，andaminuteafterSilasburstoutofhisroomshouting，“Fire!“inatonethatraisedthewholehouse。Aflockofwhitegoblinswithscaredfacescrowdedintothehall，andforaminuteeveryonewaspanic-stricken。
ThenMrs。Bhaerfoundherwits，badeNurseyseetotheburntboys，andsentFranzandSilasdown-stairsforsometubsofwetclotheswhichsheflungonthebed，overthecarpet，andupagainstthecurtains，nowburningfinely，andthreateningtokindlethewalls。
Mostoftheboysstooddumblylookingon，butDanandEmilworkedbravely，runningtoandfrowithwaterfromthebath-room，andhelpingtopulldownthedangerouscurtains。
Theperilwassoonover，andorderingtheboysallbacktobed，andleavingSilastowatchlestthefirebrokeoutagain，Mrs。BhaerandFranzwenttoseehowthepoorboysgoton。Demihadescapedwithoneburnandagrandscare，butTommyhadnotonlymostofhishairscorchedoffhishead，butagreatburnonhisarm，thatmadehimhalfcrazywiththepain。
Demiwassoonmadecosy，andFranztookhimawaytohisownbed，wherethekindladsoothedhisfrightandhummedhimtosleepascosilyasawoman。NurseywatchedoverpoorTommyallnight，tryingtoeasehismisery，andMrs。BhaervibratedbetweenhimandlittleTeddywithoilandcotton，paregoricandsquills，sayingtoherselffromtimetotime，asifshefoundgreatamusementinthethought，“IalwaysknewTommywouldsetthehouseonfire，andnowhehasdoneit!“
WhenMr。Bhaergothomenextmorninghefoundanicestateofthings。
Tommyinbed，Teddywheezinglikealittlegrampus，Mrs。Joquiteusedup，andthewholeflockofboyssoexcitedthattheyalltalkedatonce，andalmostdraggedhimbymainforcetoviewtheruins。Underhisquietmanagementthingssoonfellintoorder，foreveryonefeltthathewasequaltoadozenconflagrations，andworkedwithawillatwhatevertaskhegavethem。
Therewasnoschoolthatmorning，butbyafternoonthedamagedroomwasputtorights，theinvalidswerebetter，andtherewastimetohearandjudgethelittleculpritsquietly。NatandTommytoldtheirpartsinthemischief，andwerehonestlysorryforthedangertheyhadbroughttothedearoldhouseandallinit。ButDanputonhisdevil-may-carelook，andwouldnotownthattherewasmuchharmdone。
Now，ofallthings，Mr。Bhaerhateddrinking，gambling，andswearing；
smokinghehadgivenupthattheladsmightnotbetemptedtotryit，anditgrievedandangeredhimdeeplytofindthattheboy，withwhomhehadtriedtobemostforbearing，shouldtakeadvantageofhisabsencetointroducetheseforbiddenvices，andteachhisinnocentlittleladstothinkitmanlyandpleasanttoindulgeinthem。Hetalkedlongandearnestlytotheassembledboys，andendedbysaying，withanairofmingledfirmnessandregret，­；
“IthinkTommyispunishedenough，andthatscaronhisarmwillremindhimforalongtimetoletthesethingsalone。Nat’sfrightwilldoforhim，forheisreallysorry，anddoestrytoobeyme。Butyou，Dan，havebeenmanytimesforgiven，andyetitdoesnogood。Icannothavemyboyshurtbyyourbadexample，normytimewastedintalkingtodeafears，soyoucansaygood-byetothemall，andtellNurseytoputupyourthingsinmylittleblackbag。“
“Oh!sir，whereishegoing？“criedNat。
“Toapleasantplaceupinthecountry，whereIsometimessendboyswhentheydon’tdowellhere。Mr。Pageisakindman，andDanwillbehappythereifhechoosestodohisbest。“
“Willheevercomeback？“askedDemi。
“Thatwilldependonhimself；Ihopeso。“
Ashespoke，Mr。BhaerlefttheroomtowritehislettertoMr。Page，andtheboyscrowdedroundDanverymuchaspeopledoaboutamanwhoisgoingonalongandperilousjourneytounknownregions。
“Iwonderifyou’lllikeit，“beganJack。
“Shan’tstayifIdon’t，“saidDancoolly。
“Wherewillyougo？“askedNat。
“Imaygotosea，oroutwest，ortakealookatCalifornia，“answeredDan，witharecklessairthatquitetookawaythebreathofthelittleboys。
“Oh，don’t!staywithMr。Pageawhileandthencomebackhere；do，Dan，“
pleadedNat，muchaffectedatthewholeaffair。
“Idon’tcarewhereIgo，orhowlongIstay，andI’llbehangedifIevercomebackhere，“withwhichwrathfulspeechDanwentawaytoputuphisthings，everyoneofwhichMr。Bhaerhadgivenhim。
Thatwastheonlygood-byehegavetheboys，fortheywerealltalkingthematteroverinthebarnwhenhecamedown，andhetoldNatnottocallthem。Thewagonstoodatthedoor，andMrs。BhaercameouttospeaktoDan，lookingsosadthathisheartsmotehim，andhesaidinalowtone，­；
“MayIsaygood-byetoTeddy？“
“Yes，dear；goinandkisshim，hewillmisshisDannyverymuch。“
NoonesawthelookinDan’seyesashestoopedoverthecrib，andsawthelittlefacelightupatfirstsightofhim，butheheardMrs。Bhaersaypleadingly，­；
“Can’twegivethepoorladonemoretrial，Fritz？“andMr。Bhaeranswerinhissteadyway，­；
“Mydear，itisnotbest，solethimgowherehecandonoharmtoothers，whiletheydogoodtohim，andbyandbyheshallcomeback，Ipromiseyou。“
“He’stheonlyboyweeverfailedwith，andIamsogrieved，forIthoughttherewasthemakingofafinemaninhim，spiteofhisfaults。“
DanheardMrs。Bhaersigh，andhewantedtoaskforonemoretrialhimself，buthispridewouldnotlethim，andhecameoutwiththehardlookonhisface，shookhandswithoutaword，anddroveawaywithMr。Bhaer，leavingNatandMrs。Jotolookafterhimwithtearsintheireyes。
AfewdaysafterwardstheyreceivedaletterfromMr。Page，sayingthatDanwasdoingwell，whereattheyallrejoiced。Butthreeweekslatercameanotherletter，sayingthatDanhadrunaway，andnothinghadbeenheardofhim，whereattheyalllookedsober，andMr。Bhaersaid，­；
“PerhapsIoughttohavegivenhimanotherchance。“
Mrs。Bhaer，however，noddedwiselyandanswered，“Don’tbetroubled，Fritz；theboywillcomebacktous，I’msureofit。“
ButtimewentonandnoDancame。CHAPTERVIINAUGHTYNAN
“Fritz，I’vegotanewidea，“criedMrs。Bhaer，asshemetherhusbandonedayafterschool。
“Well，mydear，whatisit？“andhewaitedwillinglytohearthenewplan，forsomeofMrs。Jo’sideasweresodroll，itwasimpossibletohelplaughingatthem，thoughusuallytheywerequitesensible，andhewasgladtocarrythemout。
“Daisyneedsacompanion，andtheboyswouldbeallthebetterforanothergirlamongthem；youknowwebelieveinbringinguplittlemenandwomentogether，anditishightimeweacteduptoourbelief。TheypetandtyrannizeoverDaisybyturns，andsheisgettingspoilt。Thentheymustlearngentleways，andimprovetheirmanners，andhavinggirlsaboutwilldoitbetterthananythingelse。“
“Youareright，asusual。Now，whoshallwehave？“askedMr。Bhaer，seeingbythelookinhereyethatMrs。Johadsomeoneallreadytopropose。
“LittleAnnieHarding。“
“What!NaughtyNan，astheladscallher？“criedMr。Bhaer，lookingverymuchamused。
“Yes，sheisrunningwildathomesincehermotherdied，andistoobrightachildtobespoiltbyservants。Ihavehadmyeyeonherforsometime，andwhenImetherfatherintowntheotherdayIaskedhimwhyhedidnotsendhertoschool。Hesaidhewouldgladlyifhecouldfindasgoodaschoolforgirlsasourswasforboys。Iknowhewouldrejoicetohavehercome；sosupposewedriveoverthisafternoonandseeaboutit。“
“Havenotyoucaresenoughnow，myJo，withoutthislittlegypsytotormentyou？“askedMr。Bhaer，pattingthehandthatlayonhisarm。
“Ohdear，no，“saidMotherBhaer，briskly。“Ilikeit，andneverwashappierthansinceIhadmywildernessofboys。Yousee，Fritz，IfeelagreatsympathyforNan，becauseIwassuchanaughtychildmyselfthatIknowallaboutit。Sheisfullofspirits，andonlyneedstobetaughtwhattodowiththemtobeasnicealittlegirlasDaisy。Thosequickwitsofherswouldenjoylessonsiftheywererightlydirected，andwhatisnowatricksymidgetwouldsoonbecomeabusy，happychild。Iknowhowtomanageher，forIrememberhowmyblessedmothermanagedme，and­；“
“Andifyousucceedhalfaswellasshedid，youwillhavedoneamagnificentwork，“interruptedMr。Bhaer，wholaboredunderthedelusionthatMrs。
B。wasthebestandmostcharmingwomanalive。
“Now，ifyoumakefunofmyplanI’llgiveyoubadcoffeeforaweek，andthenwhereareyou，sir？“criedMrs。Jo，tweakinghimbytheearjustasifhewasoneoftheboys。
“Won’tDaisy’shairstanderectwithhorroratNan’swildways？“askedMr。Bhaer，presently，whenTeddyhadswarmeduphiswaistcoat，andRobuphisback，fortheyalwaysflewattheirfathertheminuteschoolwasdone。
“Atfirst，perhaps，butitwilldoPosygood。SheisgettingprimandBettyish，andneedsstirringupabit。ShealwayshasagoodtimewhenNancomesovertoplay，andthetwowillhelpeachotherwithoutknowingit。Dearme，halfthescienceofteachingisknowinghowmuchchildrendoforoneanother，andwhentomixthem。“
“Ionlyhopeshewon’tturnoutanotherfirebrand。“
“MypoorDan!Inevercanquiteforgivemyselfforlettinghimgo，“
sighedMrs。Bhaer。
Atthesoundofthename，littleTeddy，whohadneverforgottenhisfriend，struggleddownfromhisfather’sarms，andtrottedtothedoor，lookedoutoverthesunnylawnwithawistfulface，andthentrottedbackagain，saying，ashealwaysdidwhendisappointedofthelonged-forsight，­；
“MyDanny’stummin’soon。“
“Ireallythinkweoughttohavekepthim，ifonlyforTeddy’ssake，hewassofondofhim，andperhapsbaby’slovewouldhavedoneforhimwhatwefailedtodo。“
“I’vesometimesfeltthatmyself；butafterkeepingtheboysinaferment，andnearlyburningupthewholefamily，Ithoughtitsafertoremovethefirebrand，foratimeatleast，“saidMr。Bhaer。
“Dinner’sready，letmeringthebell，“andRobbeganasolouponthatinstrumentwhichmadeitimpossibletohearone’sselfspeak。
“ThenImayhaveNan，mayI？“askedMrs。Jo。
“AdozenNansifyouwantthem，mydear，“answeredMr。Bhaer，whohadroominhisfatherlyheartforallthenaughtyneglectedchildrenintheworld。
WhenMrs。Bhaerreturnedfromherdrivethatafternoon，beforeshecouldunpacktheloadoflittleboys，withoutwhomsheseldommoved，asmallgirloftenskippedoutatthebackofthecarry-allandranintothehouse，shouting，­；
“Hi，Daisy!whereareyou？“
Daisycame，andlookedpleasedtoseeherguest，butalsoatriflealarmed，whenNansaid，stillprancing，asifitwasimpossibletokeepstill，­；
“I’mgoingtostayherealways，papasaysImay，andmyboxiscomingtomorrow，allmythingshadtobewashedandmended，andyourauntcameandcarriedmeoff。Isn’titgreatfun？“