“Why，yes。Didyoubringyourbigdoll？“askedDaisy，hopingshehad，foronthelastvisitNanhadravagedthebabyhouse，andinsistedonwashingBlancheMatilda’splasterface，whichspoiltthepoordear’scomplexionforever。
“Yes，she’ssomewhereround，“returnedNan，withmostunmaternalcarelessness。
“Imadeyouaringcomingalong，andpulledthehairsoutofDobbin’stail。
Don’tyouwantit？“andNanpresentedahorse-hairringintokenoffriendship，astheyhadbothvowedtheywouldneverspeaktooneanotheragainwhentheylastparted。
Wonbythebeautyoftheoffering，Daisygrewmorecordial，andproposedretiringtothenursery，butNansaid，“No，Iwanttoseetheboys，andthebarn，“andranoff，swingingherhatbyonestringtillitbroke，whensheleftittoitsfateonthegrass。
“Hullo!Nan!“criedtheboysasshebouncedinamongthemwiththeannouncement，­；
“I’mgoingtostay。“
“Hooray!“bawledTommyfromthewallonwhichhewasperched，forNanwasakindredspirit，andheforesaw“larks“inthefuture。
“Icanbat；letmeplay，“saidNan，whocouldturnherhandtoanything，anddidnotmindhardknocks。
“Weain’tplayingnow，andoursidebeatwithoutyou。“
“Icanbeatyouinrunning，anyway，“returnedNan，fallingbackonherstrongpoint。
“Canshe？“askedNatofJack。
“Sherunsverywellforagirl，“answeredJack，wholookeddownuponNanwithcondescendingapproval。
“Willyoutry？“saidNan，longingtodisplayherpowers。
“It’stoohot，“andTommylanguishedagainstthewallasifquiteexhausted。
“What’sthematterwithStuffy？“askedNan，whosequickeyeswererovingfromfacetoface。
“Ballhurthishand；hehowlsateverything，“answeredJackscornfully。
“Idon’t，Inevercry，nomatterhowI’mhurt；it’sbabyish，“saidNan，loftily。
“Pooh!Icouldmakeyoucryintwominutes，“returnedStuffy，rousingup。
“Seeifyoucan。“
“Goandpickthatbunchofnettles，then，“andStuffypointedtoasturdyspecimenofthatpricklyplantgrowingbythewall。
Naninstantly“graspedthenettle，“pulleditup，andhelditwithadefiantgesture，inspiteofthealmostunbearablesting。
“Goodforyou，“criedtheboys，quicktoacknowledgecourageeveninoneoftheweakersex。
Morenettledthanshewas，Stuffydeterminedtogetacryoutofhersomehow，andhesaidtauntingly，“Youareusedtopokingyourhandsintoeverything，sothatisn’tfair。Nowgoandbumpyourheadrealhardagainstthebarn，andseeifyoudon’thowlthen。“
“Don’tdoit，“saidNat，whohatedcruelty。
ButNanwasoff，andrunningstraightatthebarn，shegaveherheadablowthatknockedherflat，andsoundedlikeabattering-ram。Dizzy，butundaunted，shestaggeredup，sayingstoutly，thoughherfacewasdrawnwithpain，­；
“Thathurt，butIdon’tcry。“
“Doitagain，“saidStuffyangrily；andNanwouldhavedoneit，butNatheldher；andTommy，forgettingtheheat，flewatStuffylikealittlegame-cock，roaringout，­；
“Stopit，orI’llthrowyouoverthebarn!“andsoshookandhustledpoorStuffythatforaminutehedidnotknowwhetherhewasonhisheadorhisheels。
“Shetoldmeto，“wasallhecouldsay，whenTommylethimalone。
“Nevermindifshedid；itisawfullymeantohurtalittlegirl，“saidDemi，reproachfully。
“Ho!Idon’tmind；Iain’talittlegirl，I’molderthanyouandDaisy；
sonow，“criedNan，ungratefully。
“Don’tpreach，Deacon，youbullyPosyeverydayofyourlife，“calledouttheCommodore，whojustthenhoveinsight。
“Idon’thurther；doI，Daisy？“andDemiturnedtohissister，whowas“pooring“Nan’stinglinghands，andrecommendingwaterforthepurplelumprapidlydevelopingitselfonherforehead。
“Youarethebestboyintheworld，“promptlyansweredDaisy；adding，astruthcompelledhertodo，“Youhurtmesometimes，butyoudon’tmeanto。“
“Putawaythebatsandthings，andmindwhatyouareabout，myhearties。
Nofightingallowedaboardthisship，“saidEmil，whoratherlordeditovertheothers。
“Howdoyoudo，MadgeWildfire？“saidMr。Bhaer，asNancameinwiththeresttosupper。“Givetherighthand，littledaughter，andmindthymanners，“headded，asNanofferedhimherleft。
“Theotherhurtsme。“
“Thepoorlittlehand!whathasitbeendoingtogetthoseblisters？“
heasked，drawingitfrombehindherback，whereshehadputitwithalookwhichmadehimthinkshehadbeeninmischief。
BeforeNancouldthinkofanyexcuse，Daisyburstoutwiththewholestory，duringwhichStuffytriedtohidehisfaceinabowlofbreadandmilk。Whenthetalewasfinished，Mr。Bhaerlookeddownthelongtabletowardshiswife，andsaidwithalaughinhiseyes，­；
“Thisratherbelongstoyoursideofthehouse，soIwon’tmeddlewithit，mydear。“
Mrs。Joknewwhathemeant，butshelikedherlittleblacksheepallthebetterforherpluck，thoughsheonlysaidinhersoberestway，­；
“DoyouknowwhyIaskedNantocomehere？“
“Toplagueme，“mutteredStuffy，withhismouthfull。
“Tohelpmakelittlegentlemenofyou，andIthinkyouhaveshownthatsomeofyouneedit。“
HereStuffyretiredintohisbowlagain，anddidnotemergetillDemimadethemalllaughbysaying，inhisslowwonderingway，­；
“Howcanshe，whenshe’ssuchatomboy？“
“That’sjustit，sheneedshelpasmuchasyou，andIexpectyousetheranexampleofgoodmanners。“
“Isshegoingtobealittlegentlemantoo？“askedRob。
“She’dlikeit；wouldn’tyou，Nan？“addedTommy。
“No，Ishouldn’t；Ihateboys!“saidNanfiercely，forherhandstillsmarted，andshebegantothinkthatshemighthaveshownhercourageinsomewiserway。
“Iamsorryyouhatemyboys，becausetheycanbewell-mannered，andmostagreeablewhentheychoose。Kindnessinlooksandwordsandwaysistruepoliteness，andanyonecanhaveitiftheyonlytrytotreatotherpeopleastheyliketobetreatedthemselves。“
Mrs。BhaerhadaddressedherselftoNan，buttheboysnudgedoneanother，andappearedtotakethehint，forthattimeatleast，andpassedthebutter；
said“please，“and“thankyou，““yes，sir，“and“no，ma’am，“withunusualeleganceandrespect。Nansaidnothing，butkeptherselfquietandrefrainedfromticklingDemi，thoughstronglytemptedtodoso，becauseofthedignifiedairsheputon。Shealsoappearedtohaveforgottenherhatredofboys，andplayed“Ispy“withthemtilldark。Stuffywasobservedtoofferherfrequentsucksonhiscandy-ballduringthegame，whichevidentlysweetenedhertemper，forthelastthingshesaidongoingtobedwas，­；
“Whenmybattledoreandshuttle-cockcomes，I’llletyouallplaywith’em。“
Herfirstremarkinthemorningwas“Hasmyboxcome？“andwhentoldthatitwouldarrivesometimeduringtheday，shefrettedandfumed，andwhippedherdoll，tillDaisywasshocked。Shemanagedtoexist，however，tillfiveo’clock，whenshedisappeared，andwasnotmissedtillsupper-time，becausethoseathomethoughtshehadgonetothehillwithTommyandDemi。
“Isawhergoingdowntheavenuealoneashardasshecouldpelt，“saidMaryAnn，cominginwiththehasty-pudding，andfindingeveryoneasking，“WhereisNan？“
“Shehasrunhome，littlegypsy!“criedMrs。Bhaer，lookinganxious。
“Perhapsshehasgonetothestationtolookafterherluggage，“suggestedFranz。
’Thatisimpossible，shedoesnotknowtheway，andifshefoundit，shecouldnevercarrytheboxamile，“saidMrs。Bhaer，beginningtothinkthathernewideamightberatherahardonetocarryout。
“Itwouldbelikeher，“andMr。Bhaercaughtuphishattogoandfindthechild，whenashoutfromJack，whowasatthewindow，madeeveryonehurrytothedoor。
TherewasMissNan，tobesure，tuggingalongaverylargeband-boxtiedupinlinenbag。Veryhotanddustyandtireddidshelook，butmarchedstoutlyalong，andcamepuffinguptothesteps，whereshedroppedherloadwithasighofrelief，andsatdownuponit，observedasshecrossedhertiredarms，­；
“Icouldn’twaitanylonger，soIwentandgotit。“
“Butyoudidnotknowtheway，“saidTommy，whilethereststoodroundenjoyingthejoke。
“Oh，Ifoundit，Inevergetlost。“
“It’samile，howcouldyougosofar？“
“Well，itwasprettyfar，butIrestedagooddeal。“
“Wasn’tthatthingveryheavy？“
“It’ssoround，Icouldn’tgetholdofitgood，andIthoughtmyarmswouldbreakrightoff。“
“Idon’tseehowthestation-masterletyouhaveit，“saidTommy。
“Ididn’tsayanythingtohim。Hewasinthelittleticketplace，anddidn’tseeme，soIjusttookitofftheplatform。“
“Rundownandtellhimitisallright，Franz，oroldDoddwillthinkitisstolen，“saidMr。Bhaer，joiningintheshoutoflaughteratNan’scoolness。
“Itoldyouwewouldsendforitifitdidnotcome。Anothertimeyoumustwait，foryouwillgetintotroubleifyourunaway。Promisemethis，orIshallnotdaretotrustyououtofmysight，“saidMrs。Bhaer，wipingthedustoffNan’slittlehotface。
“Well，Iwon’t，onlypapatellsmenottoputoffdoingthings，soI
don’t。“
“Thatisratheraposer；Ithinkyouhadbettergivehersomesuppernow，andaprivatelecturebyandby，“saidMr。Bhaer，toomuchamusedtobeangryattheyounglady’sexploit。
Theboysthoughtit“greatfun，“andNanentertainedthemallsupper-timewithanaccountofheradventures；forabigdoghadbarkedather，amanhadlaughedather，awomanhadgivenheradoughnut，andherhathadfallenintothebrookwhenshestoppedtodrink，exhaustedwithherexertion。
’Ifancyyouwillhaveyourhandsfullnow，mydear；TommyandNanarequiteenoughforonewoman，“saidMr。Bhaer，halfanhourlater。
“Iknowitwilltakesometimetotamethechild，butsheissuchagenerous，warm-heartedlittlething，Ishouldloveherevenifsheweretwiceasnaughty，“answeredMrs。Jo，pointingtothemerrygroup，inthemiddleofwhichstoodNan，givingawayherthingsrightandleft，aslavishlyasifthebigband-boxhadnobottom。
Itwasthosegoodtraitsthatsoonmadelittle“Giddygaddy，“astheycalledher，afavoritewitheveryone。Daisynevercomplainedofbeingdullagain，forNaninventedthemostdelightfulplays，andherpranksrivalledTommy’s，totheamusementofthewholeschool。Sheburiedherbigdollandforgotitforaweek，andfounditwellmildewedwhenshedraggeditup。Daisywasindespair，butNantookittothepainterwhoasatworkaboutthehouse，gothimtopaintitbrickred，withstaringblackeyes，thenshedresseditupwithfeathers，andscarletflannel，andoneofNed’sleadenhatchets；andinthecharacterofanIndianchief，thelatePoppydillatomahawkedalltheotherdolls，andcausedthenurserytorunredwithimaginarygore。Shegaveawayhernewshoestoabeggarchild，hopingtobeallowedtogobarefoot，butfounditimpossibletocombinecharityandcomfort，andwasorderedtoaskleavebeforedisposingofherclothes。Shedelightedtheboysbymakingafire-shipoutofashinglewithtwolargesailswetwithturpentine，whichshelighted，andthensentthelittlevesselfloatingdownthebrookatdusk。Sheharnessedtheoldturkey-cocktoastrawwagon，andmadehimtrotroundthehouseatatremendouspace。Shegavehercoralnecklaceforfourunhappykittens，whichhadbeentormentedbysomeheartlesslads，andtendedthemfordaysasgentlyasamother，dressingtheirwoundswithcoldcream，feedingthemwithadoll’sspoon，andmourningoverthemwhentheydied，tillshewasconsoledbyoneofDemi’sbestturtles。ShemadeSilastattooananchoronherarmlikehis，andbeggedhardtohaveabluestaroneachcheek，buthedarednotdoit，thoughshecoaxedandscoldedtillthesoft-heartedfellowlongedtogivein。Sherodeeveryanimalontheplace，fromthebighorseAndytothecrosspig，fromwhomshewasrescuedwithdifficulty。Whatevertheboysdaredhertodosheinstantlyattempted，nomatterhowdangerousitmightbe，andtheywerenevertiredoftestinghercourage。