“Youdidn’tsayanythingaboutit，soIdon’tseehowyoucould，“saidDemi，inquisitively。
“Wehaveawayofsendingmessagestooneanother，withoutanywords。
Itisagreatimprovementonthetelegraph。“
“Iknow­；it’seyes；Isawyouliftyoureyebrows，andnodtowardthecarriage，andMrs。Bhaerlaughedandnoddedbackagain，“criedNat，whowasquiteathiseasewithkindMr。Lauriebythistime。
“Right。Nowthem，comeon，“andinaminuteDanfoundhimselfsettledinthecarriage，hisfootonacushionontheseatopposite，nicelycoveredwithashawl，whichfelldownfromtheupperregionsinamostmysteriousmanner，justwhentheywantedit。DemiclimbeduptotheboxbesidePeter，theblackcoachman。NatsatnextDanintheplaceofhonor，whileUncleTeddywouldsitopposite，­；totakecareofthefoot，hesaid，butreallythathemightstudythefacesbeforehim­；bothsohappy，yetsodifferent，forDan’swassquare，andbrown，andstrong，whileNat’swaslong，andfair，andratherweak，butveryamiablewithitsmildeyesandgoodforehead。
“Bytheway，I’vegotabooksomewhereherethatyoumayliketosee，“
saidtheoldestboyoftheparty，divingundertheseatandproducingabookwhichmakeDanexclaim，­；
“Oh!byGeorge，isn’tthatastunner？“asheturnedtheleaves，andsawfineplatesofbutterflies，andbirds，andeverysortofinterestinginsect，coloredlikelife。Hewassocharmedthatheforgothisthanks，butMr。Lauriedidnotmind，andwasquitesatisfiedtoseetheboy’seagerdelight，andtohearthisexclamationsovercertainoldfriendsashecametothem。Natleanedonhisshouldertolook，andDemiturnedhisbacktothehorses，andlethisfeetdangleinsidethecarriage，sothathemightjoinintheconversation。
Whentheygotamongthebeetles，Mr。Laurietookacuriouslittleobjectoutofhisvest-pocket，andlayingitinthepalmofhishand，said，­；
“There’sabeetlethatisthousandsofyearsold；“andthen，whiletheladsexaminedthequeerstone-bug，thatlookedsooldandgray，hetoldthemhowitcameoutofthewrappingsofamummy，afterlyingforagesinafamoustomb。Findingtheminterested，hewentontotellabouttheEgyptians，andthestrangeandsplendidruinstheyhaveleftbehindthem­；theNile，andhowhesailedupthemightyriver，withthehandsomedarkmentoworkhisboat；howheshotalligators，sawwonderfulbeastsandbirds；
andafterwardscrossedthedesertonacamel，whopitchedhimaboutlikeashipinastorm。
“UncleTeddytellsstories’mostaswellasGrandpa，“saidDemi，approvingly，whenthetalewasdone，andtheboys’eyesaskedformore。
“Thankyou，“saidMr。Laurie，quitesoberly，forheconsideredDemi’spraiseworthhaving，forchildrenaregoodcriticsinsuchcases，andtosuitthemisanaccomplishmentthatanyonemaybeproudof。
“Here’sanothertrifleortwothatItuckedintomypocketasIwasturningovermytrapstoseeifIhadanythingthatwouldamuseDan，“
andUncleTeddyproducedafinearrow-headandastringofwampum。
“Oh!tellabouttheIndians，“criedDemi，whowasfondofplayingwigwam。
“Danknowslotsaboutthem，“addedNat。
“MorethanIdo，Idaresay。Tellussomething，“andMr。Laurielookedasinterestedastheothertwo。
“Mr。Hydetoldme；he’sbeenamong’em，andcantalktheirtalk，andlikes’em，“beganDan，flatteredbytheirattention，butratherembarrassedbyhavingagrown-uplistener。
“Whatiswampumfor？“askedcuriousDemi，fromhisperch。
Theothersaskedquestionslikewise，and，beforeheknewit，DanwasreelingoffallMr。Hydehadtoldhim，astheysaileddowntheriverafewweeksbefore。Mr。Laurielistenedwell，butfoundtheboymoreinterestingthantheIndians，forMrs。JohadtoldhimaboutDan，andherathertookafancytothewildlad，whoranawayashehimselfhadoftenlongedtodo，andwhowasslowlygettingtamedbypainandpatience。
“I’vebeenthinkingthatitwouldbeagoodplanforyoufellowstohaveamuseumofyourown；aplaceinwhichtocollectallthecuriousandinterestingthingsthatyoufind，andmake，andhavegivenyou。Mrs。
Joistookindtocomplain，butitisratherhardforhertohavethehouselitteredupwithallsortsofrattletraps，­；half-a-pintofdor-bugsinoneofherbestvases，forinstance，acoupleofdeadbatsnailedupinthebackentry，waspsneststumblingdownonpeople’sheads，andstoneslyingroundeverywhere，enoughtopavetheavenue。Therearenotmanywomenwhowouldstandthatsortofthing，arethere，now？“
AsMr。Lauriespokewithamerrylookinhiseyes，theboyslaughedandnudgedoneanother，foritwasevidentthatsomeonetoldtalesoutofschool，elsehowcouldheknowoftheexistenceoftheseinconvenienttreasures。
“Wherecanweputthem，then？“saidDemi，crossinghislegsandleaningdowntoarguethequestion。
“Intheoldcarriage-house。“
“Butitleaks，andthereisn’tanywindow，noranyplacetoputthings，andit’salldustandcobwebs，“beganNat。
“WaittillGibbsandIhavetoucheditupabit，andthenseehowyoulikeit。HeistocomeoveronMondaytogetitready；thennextSaturdayIshallcomeout，andwewillfixitup，andmakethebeginning，atleast，ofafinelittlemuseum。Everyonecanbringhisthings，andhaveaplaceforthem；andDanistobetheheadman，becauseheknowsmostaboutsuchmatters，anditwillbequiet，pleasantworkforhimnowthathecan’tknockaboutmuch。“
“Won’tthatbejolly？“criedNat，whileDansmiledalloverhisfaceandhadnotawordtosay，buthuggedhisbook，andlookedatMr。Laurieasifhethoughthimoneofthegreatestpublicbenefactorsthateverblessedtheworld。
“ShallIgoroundagain，sir？“askedPeter，astheycametothegate，aftertwoslowturnsaboutthehalf-miletriangle。
“No，wemustbeprudent，elsewecan’tcomeagain。Imustgooverthepremises，takealookatthecarriage-house，andhavealittletalkwithMrs。JobeforeIgo；“and，havingdepositedDanonhissofatorestandenjoyhisbook，UncleTeddywentofftohaveafrolicwiththeladswhowereragingabouttheplaceinsearchofhim。Leavingthelittlegirlstomessup-stairs，Mrs。BhaersatdownbyDan，andlistenedtohiseageraccountofthedrivetilltheflockreturned，dusty，warm，andmuchexcitedaboutthenewmuseum，whicheveryoneconsideredthemostbrilliantideaoftheage。
“Ialwayswantedtoendowsomesortofaninstitution，andIamgoingtobeginwiththis，“saidMr。Laurie，sittingdownonastoolatMrs。Jo’sfeet。
“Youhaveendowedonealready。Whatdoyoucallthis？“andMrs。Jopointedtothehappy-facedlads，whohadcampeduponthefloorabouthim。
“IcallitaverypromisingBhaer-garden，andI’mproudtobeamemberofit。DidyouknowIwastheheadboyinthisschool？“heasked，turningtoDan，andchangingthesubjectskilfully，forhehatedtobethankedforthegenerousthingshedid。
“IthoughtFranzwas!“answeredDan，wonderingwhatthemanmeant。
“Oh，dearno!I’mthefirstboyMrs。Joeverhadtotakecareof，andIwassuchabadonethatsheisn’tdonewithmeyet，thoughshehasbeenworkingatmeforyearsandyears。“
“Howoldshemustbe!“saidNat，innocently。
“Shebeganearly，yousee。Poorthing!shewasonlyfifteenwhenshetookme，andIledhersuchalife，it’sawondersheisn’twrinkledandgray，andquitewornout，“andMr。Laurielookedupatherlaughing。
“Don’tTeddy；Iwon’thaveyouabuseyourselfso；“andMrs。Jostrokedthecurlyblackheadatherkneeasaffectionatelyasever，for，inspiteofeverythingTeddywasherboystill。
“Ifithadn’tbeenforyou，thereneverwouldhavebeenaPlumfield。
Itwasmysuccesswithyou，sir，thatgavemecouragetotrymypetplan。
Sotheboysmaythankyouforit，andnamethenewinstitution’TheLaurenceMuseum，’inhonorofitsfounder，­；won’twe，boys？“sheadded，lookingverylikethelivelyJoofoldtimes。
“Wewill!wewill!“shoutedtheboys，throwinguptheirhats，forthoughtheyhadtakenthemoffonenteringthehouse，accordingtorule，theyhadbeenintoomuchofahurrytohangthemup。
“I’mashungryasabear，can’tIhaveacookie？“askedMr。Laurie，whentheshoutsubsidedandhehadexpressedhisthanksbyasplendidbow。
“TrotoutandaskAsiaforthegingerbread-box，Demi。Itisn’tinordertoeatbetweenmeals，but，onthisjoyfuloccasion，wewon’tmind，andhaveacookieallround，“saidMrs。Jo；andwhentheboxcameshedealtthemoutwithaliberalhand，everyonemunchingawayinasocialcircle。
Suddenly，inthemidstofabite，Mr。Lauriecriedout，“Blessmyheart，Iforgotgrandma’sbundle!“andrunningouttothecarriage，returnedwithaninterestingwhiteparcel，which，beingopened，disclosedachoicecollectionofbeasts，birds，andprettythingscutoutofcrispsugarycake，andbakedalovelybrown。
“There’soneforeach，andalettertotellwhichiswhose。GrandmaandHannahmadethem，andItrembletothinkwhatwouldhavehappenedtomeifIhadforgottentoleavethem。“
Then，amidmuchlaughingandfun，thecakesweredistributed。AfishforDan，afiddleforNat，abookforDemi，amoneyforTommy，aflowerforDaisy，ahoopforNan，whohaddriventwiceroundthetrianglewithoutstopping，astarforEmil，whoputonairsbecausehestudiedastronomy，and，bestofall，anomnibusforFranz，whosegreatdelightwastodrivethefamilybus。Stuffygotafatpig，andthelittlefolkshadbirds，andcats，andrabbits，withblackcurranteyes。
“NowImustgo。WhereismyGoldilocks？MammawillcomeflyingouttogetherifI’mnotbackearly，“saidUncleTeddy，whenthelastcrumbhadvanished，whichitspeedilydid，youmaybesure。
Theyoungladieshadgoneintothegarden，andwhiletheywaitedtillFranzlookedthemup，JoandLauriestoodatthedoortalkingtogether。
“HowdoeslittleGiddy-gaddycomeon？“heasked，forNan’spranksamusedhimverymuch，andhewasnevertiredofteasingJoabouther。
“Nicely；sheisgettingquitemannerly，andbeginstoseetheerrorofherwildways。“
“Don’ttheboysencourageherinthem？“
“Yes；butIkeeptalking，andlatelyshehasimprovedmuch。Yousawhowprettilysheshookhandswithyou，andhowgentleshewaswithBess。
Daisy’sexamplehasitseffectuponher，andI’mquitesurethatafewmonthswillworkwonders。“
HereMrs。Jo’sremarkswerecutshortbytheappearanceofNantearingroundthecorneratabreak-neckpace，drivingamettlesometeamoffourboys，andfollowedbyDaisytrundlingBessinawheelbarrow。Hatoff，hairflying，whipcracking，andbarrowbumping，uptheycameinacloudofdust，lookingaswildasetoflittlehoydensasonewouldwishtosee。
“So，thesearethemodelchildren，arethey？It’sluckyIdidn’tbringMrs。Curtisouttoseeyourschoolforthecultivationofmoralsandmanners；
shewouldneverhaverecoveredfromtheshockofthisspectacle，“saidMr。Laurie，laughingatMrs。Jo’sprematurerejoicingoverNan’simprovement。
“Laughaway；I’llsucceedyet。AsyouusedtosayatCollege，quotingsomeprofessor，’Thoughtheexperimenthasfailed，theprincipleremainsthesame，’“saidMrs。Bhaer，joininginthemerriment。
“I’mafraidNan’sexampleistakingeffectuponDaisy，insteadoftheotherway。Lookatmylittleprincess!shehasutterlyforgottenherdignity，andisscreamingliketherest。Youngladies，whatdoesthismean？“andMr。Laurierescuedhissmalldaughterfromimpendingdestruction，forthefourhorseswerechampingtheirbitsandcurvettingmadlyallabouther，asshesatbrandishingagreatwhipinbothhands。
“We’rehavingarace，andIbeat，“shoutedNan。
“Icouldhaverunfaster，onlyIwasafraidofspillingBess，“screamedDaisy。
“Hi!golong!“criedtheprincess，givingsuchaflourishwithherwhipthatthehorsesranaway，andwereseennomore。
“Mypreciouschild!comeawayfromthisill-manneredcrewbeforeyouarequitespoilt。Good-by，Jo!NexttimeIcome，Ishallexpecttofindtheboysmakingpatchwork。“
“Itwouldn’thurtthemabit。Idon’tgivein，mindyou；formyexperimentsalwaysfailafewtimesbeforetheysucceed。LovetoAmyandmyblessedMarmee，“calledMrs。Jo，asthecarriagedroveaway；andthelastMr。Lauriesawofher，shewasconsolingDaisyforherfailurebyarideinthewheelbarrow，andlookingasifshelikedit。
Greatwastheexcitementalltheweekabouttherepairsinthecarriage-house，whichwentbrisklyoninspiteoftheincessantquestions，advice，andmeddlingoftheboys。OldGibbswasnearlydrivenwildwithitall，butmanagedtodohisworknevertheless；andbyFridaynighttheplacewasallinorder­；roofmended，shelvesup，wallswhitewashed，agreatwindowcutattheback，whichletinafloodofsunshine，andgavethemafineviewofthebrook，themeadows，andthedistanthills；andoverthegreatdoor，paintedinredletters，was“TheLaurenceMuseum。“