第19章
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  thinkDan’solddistrustforthesegoodpeoplevanishedforever,thesoftspotinhisheartwastouched,andhefeltanimpetuousdesiretoprovehimselfworthyoftheloveandpitythatwassopatientandforgiving。Hesaidnothing,heonlywishedthewishwithallhismight,resolvedtotryinhisblindboyishway,andsealedhisresolutionwiththetearswhichneitherpain,fatigue,norlonelinesscouldwringfromhim。

  “Comeandseehisfoot。Iamafraiditisbadlyhurt,forhehaskeptonthreedaysthroughheatanddust,withnothingbutwaterandanoldjackettobinditupwith。Itellyou,Fritz,thatboyisabravelad,andwillmakeafinemanyet。“

  “Ihopeso,foryoursake,enthusiasticwoman,yourfaithdeservessuccess。

  Now,IwillgoandseeyourlittleSpartan。Whereishe?“

  “Inmyroom;but,dear,you’llbeverykindtohim,nomatterhowgruffheseems。Iamsurethatisthewaytoconquerhim。Hewon’tbearsternnessnormuchrestraint,butasoftwordandinfinitepatiencewillleadhimasitusedtoleadme。“

  “Asifyoueverlikethislittlerascal!“criedMr。Bhaer,laughing,yethalfangryattheidea。

  “Iwasinspirit,thoughIshoweditinadifferentway。Iseemtoknowbyinstincthowhefeels,tounderstandwhatwillwinandtouchhim,andtosympathizewithhistemptationsandfaults。IamgladIdo,foritwillhelpmetohelphim;andifIcanmakeagoodmanofthiswildboy,itwillbethebestworkofmylife。“

  “Godblessthework,andhelptheworker!“

  Mr。Bhaerspokenowasearnestlyasshehaddone,andbothcameintogethertofindDan’sheaddownuponhisarm,asifhewasquiteovercomebysleep。

  Buthelookedupquickly,andtriedtoriseasMr。Bhaersaidpleasantly,­

  “SoyoulikePlumfieldbetterthanPage’sfarm。Well,letusseeifwecangetonmorecomfortablythistimethanwedidbefore。“

  “Thanky,sir,“saidDan,tryingnottobegruff,andfindingiteasierthanheexpected。

  “Now,thefoot!Ach!­thisisnotwell。WemusthaveDr。Firthto-morrow。

  Warmwater,Jo,andoldlinen。“

  Mr。Bhaerbathedandboundupthewoundedfoot,whileMrs。Jopreparedtheonlyemptybedinthehouse。Itwasinthelittleguest-chamberleadingfromtheparlor,andoftenusedwhentheladswerepoorly,foritsavedMrs。Jofromrunningupanddown,andtheinvalidscouldseewhatwasgoingon。Whenitwasready,Mr。Bhaertooktheboyinhisarms,andcarriedhimin,helpedhimundress,laidhimonthelittlewhitebed,andlefthimwithanotherhand-shake,andafatherly“Good-night,myson。“

  Dandroppedasleepatonce,andsleptheavilyforseveralhours;thenhisfootbegantothrobandache,andheawoketotossaboutuneasily,tryingnottogroanlestanyoneshouldhearhim,forhewasabravelad,anddidbearpainlike“alittleSpartan,“asMr。Bhaercalledhim。

  Mrs。Johadawayofflittingaboutthehouseatnight,toshutthewindowsifthewindgrewchilly,todrawmosquitocurtainsoverTeddy,orlookafterTommy,whooccasionallywalkedinhissleep。Theleastnoisewakedher,andassheoftenheardimaginaryrobbers,cats,andconflagrations,thedoorsstoodopenallabout,soherquickearcaughtthesoundofDan’slittlemoans,andshewasupinaminute。Hewasjustgivinghishotpillowadespairingthumpwhenalightcameglimmeringthroughthehall,andMrs。

  Jocreptin,lookinglikeadrollghost,withherhairinagreatknobonthetopofherhead,andalonggraydressing-gowntrailingbehindher。

  “Areyouinpain,Dan?“

  “It’sprettybad;butIdidn’tmeantowakeyou。“

  “I’masortofowl,alwaysflyingaboutatnight。Yes,yourfootislikefire;thebandagesmustbewetagain,“andawayflappedthematernalowlformorecoolingstuff,andagreatmugoficewater。

  “Oh,that’ssonice!“sighedDan,thewetbandageswentonagain,andalongdraughtofwatercooledhisthirstythroat。

  “There,now,sleepyourbest,anddon’tbefrightenedifyouseemeagain,forI’llslipdownbyandby,andgiveyouanothersprinkle。“

  Asshespoke,Mrs。Jostoopedtoturnthepillowandsmooththebed-clothes,when,tohergreatsurprise,Danputhisarmaroundherneck,drewherfacedowntohis,andkissedher,withabroken“Thankyou,ma’am,“whichsaidmorethanthemosteloquentspeechcouldhavedone;forthehastykiss,themutteredwords,meant,“I’msorry,Iwilltry。“Sheunderstoodit,acceptedtheunspokenconfession,anddidnotspoilitbyanytokenofsurprise。Sheonlyrememberedthathehadnomother,kissedthebrowncheekhalfhiddenonthepillow,asifashamedofthelittletouchoftenderness,andlefthim,saying,whathelongremembered,“Youaremyboynow,andifyouchooseyoucanmakemeproudandgladtosayso。“

  Onceagain,justatdawn,shestoledowntofindhimsofastasleepthathedidnotwake,andshowednosignofconsciousnessasshewethisfoot,exceptthatthelinesofpainsmoothedthemselvesaway,andlefthisfacequitepeaceful。

  ThedaywasSunday,andthehousesostillthatheneverwakedtillnearnoon,and,lookingroundhim,sawaneagerlittlefacepeeringinatthedoor。Heheldouthisarms,andTeddytoreacrosstheroomtocasthimselfbodilyuponthebed,shouting,“MyDanny’stum!“ashehuggedandwriggledwithdelight。Mrs。Bhaerappearednext,bringingbreakfast,andneverseemingtoseehowshamefacedDanlookedatthememoryofthelittlescenelastnight。Teddyinsistedongivinghimhis“betfus,“andfedhimlikeababy,which,ashewasnotveryhungry,Danenjoyedverymuch。

  Thencamethedoctor,andthepoorSpartanhadabadtimeofit,forsomeofthelittlebonesinhisfootwereinjured,andputtingthemtorightswassuchapainfuljob,thatDan’slipswerewhite,andgreatdropsstoodonhisforehead,thoughhenevercriedout,andonlyheldMrs。Jo’shandsotightthatitwasredlongafterwards。

  “Youmustkeepthisboyquiet,foraweekatleast,andnotlethimputhisfoottotheground。Bythattime,Ishallknowwhetherhemayhopalittlewithacrutch,orsticktohisbedforawhilelonger,“saidDr。

  Firth,puttinguptheshininginstrumentsthatDandidnotliketosee。

  “Itwillgetwellsometime,won’tit?“heasked,lookingalarmedattheword“crutches。“

  “Ihopeso;“andwiththatthedoctordeparted,leavingDanmuchdepressed;

  forthelossofafootisadreadfulcalamitytoanactiveboy。

  “Don’tbetroubled,Iamafamousnurse,andwewillhaveyoutrampingaboutaswellaseverinamonth,“saidMrs。Jo,takingahopefulviewofthecase。

  ButthefearofbeinglamehauntedDan,andevenTeddy’scaressesdidnotcheerhim;soMrs。Joproposedthatoneortwooftheboysshouldcomeinandpayhimalittlevisit,andaskedwhomhewouldliketosee。

  “NatandDemi;I’dlikemyhattoo,there’ssomethinginitIguessthey’dliketosee。Isupposeyouthrewawaymybundleofplunder?“saidDan,lookingratheranxiousasheputthequestion。

  “No,Ikeptit,forIthoughttheymustbetreasuresofsomekind,youtooksuchcareofthem;“andMrs。Jobroughthimhisoldstrawhatstuckfullofbutterfliesandbeetles,andahandkerchiefcontainingacollectionofoddthingspickeduponhisway:birds’eggs,carefullydoneupinmoss,curiousshellsandstones,bitsoffungus,andseverallittlecrabs,inastateofgreatindignationattheirimprisonment。

  “CouldIhavesomethingtoputthesefellersin?Mr。HydeandIfound’em,andtheyarefirst-rateones,soI’dliketokeepandwatch’em;canI?“askedDan,forgettinghisfoot,andlaughingtoseethecrabsgosidlingandbackingoverthebed。

  “Ofcourseyoucan;Polly’soldcagewillbejustthething。Don’tletthemnipTeddy’stoeswhileIgetit;“andawaywentMrs。Jo,leavingDanoverjoyedtofindthathistreasureswerenotconsideredrubbish,andthrownaway。

  Nat,Demi,andthecagearrivedtogether,andthecrabsweresettledintheirnewhouse,tothegreatdelightoftheboys,who,intheexcitementoftheperformance,forgotanyawkwardnesstheymightotherwisehavefeltingreetingtherunaway。TotheseadmiringlistenersDanrelatedhisadventuresmuchmorefullythanhehaddonetotheBhaers。Thenhedisplayedhis“plunder,“

  anddescribedeacharticlesowell,thatMrs。Jo,whohadretiredtothenextroomtoleavethemfree,wassurprisedandinterested,aswellasamused,attheirboyishchatter。

  “Howmuchtheladknowsofthesethings!howabsorbedheisinthem!

  andwhatamercyitisjustnow,forhecaressolittleforbooks,itwouldbehardtoamusehimwhileheislaidup;buttheboyscansupplyhimwithbeetlesandstonestoanyextent,andIamgladtofindoutthistasteofhis;itisagoodone,andmayperhapsprovethemakingofhim。Ifheshouldturnoutagreatnaturalist,andNatamusician,Ishouldhavecausetobeproudofthisyear’swork;“andMrs。Josatsmilingoverherbookasshebuiltcastlesintheair,justassheusedtodowhenagirl,onlythentheywereforherself,andnowtheywereforotherpeople,whichisthereasonperhapsthatsomeofthemcametopassinreality­forcharityisanexcellentfoundationtobuildanythingupon。

  Natwasmostinterestedintheadventures,butDemienjoyedthebeetlesandbutterfliesimmensely,drinkinginthehistoryoftheirchangefullittlelivesasifitwereanewandlovelysortoffairytale­for,eveninhisplainway,Dantolditwell,andfoundgreatsatisfactioninthethoughtthathereatleastthesmallphilosophercouldlearnofhim。Sointerestedweretheyintheaccountofcatchingamuskrat,whoseskinwasamongthetreasures,thatMr。BhaerhadtocomehimselftotellNatandDemiitwastimeforthewalk。DanlookedsowistfullyafterthemastheyranoffthatFatherBhaerproposedcarryinghimtothesofaintheparlorforalittlechangeofairandscene。

  Whenhewasestablished,andthehousequiet,Mrs。Jo,whosatnearbyshowingTeddypictures,said,inaninterestedtone,asshenoddedtowardsthetreasuresstillinDan’shands,­

  “Wheredidyoulearnsomuchaboutthesethings?“

  “Ialwaysliked’em,butdidn’tknowmuchtillMr。Hydetoldme。“

  “Oh,hewasamanwholivedroundinthewoodsstudyingthesethings­I

  don’tknowwhatyoucallhim­andwroteaboutfrogs,andfishes,andsoon。HestayedatPage’s,andusedtowantmetogoandhelphim,anditwasgreatfun,’causehetoldmeeversomuch,andwasuncommonjollyandwise。HopeI’llseehimagainsometime。“

  “Ihopeyouwill,“saidMrs。Jo,forDan’sfacehadbrightenedup,andhewassointerestedinthematterthatheforgothisusualtaciturnity。

  “Why,hecouldmakebirdscometohim,andrabbitsandsquirrelsdidn’tmindhimanymorethanifhewasatree。Didyoueverticklealizardwithastraw?“askedDan,eagerly。

  “No,butIshouldliketotryit。“

  “Well,I’vedoneit,andit’ssofunnytosee’emturnoverandstretchout,theylikeitsomuch。Mr。Hydeusedtodoit;andhe’dmakesnakeslistentohimwhilehewhistled,andheknewjustwhencertainflowerswouldblow,andbeeswouldn’tstinghim,andhe’dtellthewonderfullestthingsaboutfishandflies,andtheIndiansandtherocks。“

  “IthinkyouweresofondofgoingwithMr。Hyde,youratherneglectedMr。Page,“saidMrs。Jo,slyly。

  “Yes,Idid;IhatedtohavetoweedandhoewhenImightbetrampingroundwithMr。Hyde。Pagethoughtsuchthingssilly,andcalledMr。Hydecrazybecausehe’dlayhourswatchingatroutorabird。“

  “Supposeyousaylieinsteadoflay,itisbettergrammar,“

  saidMrs。Jo,verygently;andthenadded,“Yes,Pageisathoroughfarmer,andwouldnotunderstandthatanaturalist’sworkwasjustasinteresting,andperhapsjustasimportantashisown。Now,Dan,ifyoureallylovethesethings,asIthinkyoudo,andIamgladtoseeit,youshallhavetimetostudythemandbookstohelpyou;butIwantyoutodosomethingbesides,andtodoitfaithfully,elseyouwillbesorrybyandby,andfindthatyouhavegottobeginagain。“

  “Yes,ma’am,“saidDan,meekly,andlookedalittlescaredbytheserioustoneofthelastremarks,forhehatedbooks,yethadevidentlymadeuphismindtostudyanythingsheproposed。

  “Doyouseethatcabinetwithtwelvedrawersinit?“wasthenextveryunexpectedquestion。

  Dandidseetwotallold-fashionedonesstandingoneithersideofthepiano;heknewthemwell,andhadoftenseennicebitsofstring,nails,brownpaper,andsuchusefulmatterscomeoutofthevariousdrawers。Henoddedandsmiled。Mrs。Jowenton,­

  “Well,don’tyouthinkthosedrawerswouldbegoodplacestoputyoureggs,andstones,andshells,andlichens?“

  “Oh,splendid,butyouwouldn’tlikemythings’clutterin’round,’asMr。Pageusedtosay,wouldyou?“criedDan,sittinguptosurveytheoldpieceoffurniturewithsparklingeyes。

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