“Ihadanewpairofshoesonce，andwantedtoshowthem；so，thoughIwastoldnottoleavethegarden，Iranawayandwaswanderingaboutallday。Itwasinthecity，andwhyIwasn’tkilledIdon’tknow。SuchatimeasIhad。Ifrolickedintheparkwithdogs，sailedboatsintheBackBaywithstrangeboys，dinedwithalittleIrishbeggar-girlonsaltfishandpotatoes，andwasfoundatlastfastasleeponadoor-stepwithmyarmsroundagreatdog。Itwaslateintheevening，andIwasadirtyasalittlepig，andthenewshoeswerewornout­；Ihadtravelledsofar。“
“Hownice!“criedNan，lookingallreadytogoanddoitherself。
“Itwasnotnicenextday；“andMrs。Jotriedtokeephereyesfrombetrayinghowmuchsheenjoyedthememoryofherearlycapers。
“Didyourmotherwhipyou？“askedNan，curiously。
“Sheneverwhippedmebutonce，andthenshebeggedmypardon，orI
don’tthinkIevershouldhaveforgivenher，ithurtmyfeelingssomuch。“
“Whydidshebegyourpardon？­；myfatherdon’t。“
“Because，whenshehaddoneit，Iturnedroundandsaid，’Well，youaremadyourself，andoughttobewhippedasmuchasme。’Shelookedatmeaminute，thenherangeralldiedout，andshesaid，asifashamed，’Youareright，Jo，Iamangry；andwhyshouldIpunishyouforbeinginapassionwhenIsetyousuchabadexample？Forgiveme，dear，andletustrytohelponeanotherinabetterway。’Ineverforgotit，anditdidmemoregoodthanadozenrods。“
Nansatthoughtfullyturningthelittlecold-creamjarforaminute，andMrs。Josaidnothing，butletthatideagetwellintothebusylittlemindthatwassoquicktoseeandfeelwhatwentonabouther。
“Ilikethat，“saidNan，presently，andherfacelookedlesselfish，withitssharpeyes，inquisitivenose，andmischievousmouth。“Whatdidyourmotherdotoyouwhenyouranawaythattime？“
“Shetiedmetothebed-postwithalongstring，sothatIcouldnotgooutoftheroom，andthereIstayedalldaywiththelittleworn-outshoeshangingupbeforemetoremindmeofmyfault。“
“Ishouldthinkthatwouldcureanybody，“criedNan，wholovedherlibertyaboveallthings。
“Itdidcureme，andIthinkitwillyou，soIamgoingtotryit，“
saidMrs。Jo，suddenlytakingaballofstrongtwineoutofadrawerinherwork-table。
Nanlookedasifshewasdecidedlygettingtheworstoftheargumentnow，andsatfeelingmuchcrestfallenwhileMrs。Jotiedoneendroundherwaistandtheothertothearmofthesofa，saying，asshefinished，­；
“Idon’tliketotieyouuplikeanaughtylittledog，butifyoudon’trememberanybetterthanadog，Imusttreatyoulikeone。“
“I’djustasliefbetiedupasnot­；Iliketoplaydog；“andNanputonadon’t-careface，andbegantogrowlandgrovelonthefloor。
Mrs。Jotooknonotice，butleavingabookortwoandahandkerchieftohem，shewentaway，andleftMissNantoherowndevices。Thiswasnotagreeable，andaftersittingamomentshetriedtountiethecord。Butitwasfastenedinthebeltofherapronbehind，soshebeganontheknotattheotherend。Itsooncameloose，and，gatheringitup，Nanwasabouttogetoutofthewindow，whensheheardMrs。Josaytosomebodyasshepassedthroughthehall，­；
“No，Idon’tthinkshewillrunawaynow；sheisanhonorablelittlegirl，andknowsthatIdoittohelpher。“
Inaminute，Nanwhiskedback，tiedherselfup，andbegantosewviolently。
Robcameinamomentafter，andwassocharmedwiththenewpunishment，thathegotajump-ropeandtetheredhimselftotheotherarmofthesofainthemostsocialmanner。
“Igotlosttoo，soIoughttobetiedupasmuchasNan，“heexplainedtohismotherwhenshesawthenewcaptive。
“I’mnotsurethatyoudon’tdeservealittlepunishment，foryouknewitwaswrongtogofarawayfromtherest。“
“Nantookme，“beganRob，willingtoenjoythenovelpenalty，butnotwillingtotaketheblame。
“Youneedn’thavegone。Youhavegotaconscience，thoughyouarealittleboy，andyoumustlearntomindit。“
“Well，myconsciencedidn’tprickmeabitwhenshesaid’Let’sgetoverthewall，’“answeredRob，quotingoneofDemi’sexpressions。
“Didyoustoptoseeifitdid？“
“No。“
“Thenyoucannottell。“
“Iguessit’ssuchalittleconsciencethatitdon’tprickhardenoughformetofeelit，“addedRob，afterthinkingthematteroverforaminute。
“Wemustsharpenitup。It’sbadtohaveadullconscience；soyoumaystayheretilldinner-time，andtalkaboutitwithNan。ItrustyoubothnottountieyourselvestillIsaytheword。“
“No，wewon’t，“saidboth，feelingacertainsenseofvirtueinhelpingtopunishthemselves。
Foranhourtheywereverygood，thentheygrewtiredofoneroom，andlongedtogetout。Neverhadthehallseemedsoinviting；eventhelittlebedroomacquiredasuddeninterest，andtheywouldgladlyhavegoneinandplayedtentwiththecurtainsofthebestbed。Theopenwindowsdrovethemwildbecausetheycouldnotreachthem；andtheouterworldseemedsobeautiful，theywonderedhowtheyeverfoundthehearttosayitwasdull。Nanpinedforaraceroundthelawn，andRobrememberedwithdismaythathehadnotfedhisdogthatmorning，andwonderedwhatpoorPolluxwoulddo。Theywatchedtheclock，andNandidsomenicecalculationsinminutesandseconds，whileRoblearnedtotellallthehoursbetweeneightandonesowellthatheneverforgotthem。Itwasmaddeningtosmellthedinner，toknowthattherewastobesuccotashandhuckleberrypudding，andtofeelthattheywouldnotbeonthespottosecuregoodhelpsofboth。WhenMaryAnnbegantosetthetable，theynearlycutthemselvesintwotryingtoseewhatmeattherewastobe；andNanofferedtohelphermakethebeds，ifshewouldonlyseethatshehad“lotsofsauceonherpudding。“
Whentheboyscameburstingoutofschool，theyfoundthechildrentuggingattheirhalterslikeapairofrestivelittlecolts，andweremuchedified，aswellasamused，bythesequeltotheexcitingadventuresofthenight。
“Untiemenow，Marmar；myconsciencewillpricklikeapinnexttime，Iknowitwill，“saidRob，asthebellrang，andTeddycametolookathimwithsorrowfulsurprise。
“Weshallsee，“answeredhismother，settinghimfree。Hetookagoodrundownthehall，backthroughthedining-room，andbroughtupbesideNan，quitebeamingwithvirtuoussatisfaction。
“I’llbringherdinnertoher，mayI？“heasked，pityinghisfellow-captive。
“That’smykindlittleson!Yes，pulloutthetable，andgetachair；“
andMrs。Johurriedawaytoquelltheardoroftheothers，whowerealwaysinaragingstateofhungeratnoon。
Nanatealone，andspentalongafternoonattachedtothesofa。Mrs。
Bhaerlengthenedherbondssothatshecouldlookoutofthewindow；andthereshestoodwatchingtheboysplay，andallthelittlesummercreaturesenjoyingtheirliberty。Daisyhadapicnicforthedollsonthelawn，sothatNanmightseethefunifshecouldnotjoininit。Tommyturnedhisbestsomersaultstoconsoleher；Demisatonthestepsreadingaloudtohimself，whichamusedNanagooddeal；andDanbroughtalittletree-toadtoshowherasthemostdelicateattentioninhispower。
Butnothingatonedforthelossoffreedom；andafewhoursofconfinementtaughtNanhowpreciousitwas。Agoodmanythoughtswentthroughthelittleheadthatlayonthewindow-sillduringthelastquiethourwhenallthechildrenwenttothebrooktoseeEmil’snewshiplaunched。Shewastohavechristenedit，andhaddependedonsmashingatinybottleofcurrant-wineovertheprowasitwasnamedJosephineinhonorofMrs。Bhaer。
Nowshehadlostherchance，andDaisywouldn’tdoithalfsowell。Tearsrosetohereyesassherememberedthatitwasallherownfault；andshesaidaloud，addressingafatbeewhowasrollingaboutintheyellowheartofarosejustunderthewindow，­；
“Ifyouhaverunaway，you’dbettergorighthome，andtellyourmotheryouaresorry，andneverdosoanymore。“
“Iamgladtohearyougivehimsuchgoodadvice，andIthinkhehastakenit，“saidMrs。Jo，smiling，asthebeespreadhisdustywingsandflewaway。
Nanbrushedoffabrightdroportwothatshoneonthewindow-sill，andnestledagainstherfriendasshetookheronherknee，addingkindly­；forshehadseenthelittledrops，andknewwhattheymeant­；
“Doyouthinkmymother’scureforrunningawayagoodone？“
“Yes，ma’am，“answeredNan，quitesubduedbyherquietday。
“IhopeIshallnothavetotryitagain。“
“Iguessnot；“andNanlookedupwithsuchanearnestlittlefacethatMrs。Jofeltsatisfied，andsaidnomore，forshelikedtohaveherpenaltiesdotheirownwork，anddidnotspoiltheeffectbytoomuchmoralizing。
HereRobappeared，bearingwithinfinitecarewhatAsiacalleda“sarcerpie，“meaningonebakedinasaucer。
“It’smadeoutofsomeofmyberries，andI’mgoingtogiveyouhalfatsupper-time，“heannouncedwithaflourish。
“Whatmakesyou，whenI’msonaughty？“askedNan，meekly。
“Becausewegotlosttogether。Youain’tgoingtobenaughtyagain，areyou？“
“Never，“saidNan，withgreatdecision。
“Oh，goody!nowlet’sgoandgetMaryAnntocutthisforusallreadytoeat；it’s’mostteatime；“andRobbeckonedwiththedeliciouslittlepie。
Nanstartedtofollow，thenstopped，andsaid，­；
“Iforgot，Ican’tgo。“
“Tryandsee，“saidMrs。Bhaer，whohadquietlyuntiedthecordsashwhileshehadbeentalking。
Nansawthatshewasfree，andwithonetempestuouskisstoMrs。Jo，shewasofflikeahumming-bird，followedbyRobby，dribblinghuckleberryjuiceasheran。
AfterthelastexcitementpeacedescendeduponPlumfieldandreignedunbrokenforseveralweeks，fortheelderboysfeltthatthelossofNanandRoblayattheirdoor，andallbecamesopaternalintheircarethattheywereratherwearying；whilethelittleoneslistenedtoNan’srecitalofherperilssomanytimes，thattheyregardedbeinglostasthegreatestillhumanitywasheirto，andhardlydaredtoputtheirlittlenosesoutsidethegreatgatelestnightshouldsuddenlydescenduponthem，andghostlyblackcowscomeloomingthroughthedusk。
“Itistoogoodtolast，“saidMrs。Jo；foryearsofboy-culturehadtaughtherthatsuchlullswereusuallyfollowedbyoutbreaksofsomesort，andwhenlesswisewomenwouldhavethoughtthattheboyshadbecomeconfirmedsaints，shepreparedherselfforasuddeneruptionofthedomesticvolcano。
OnecauseofthiswelcomecalmwasavisitfromlittleBess，whoseparentslentherforaweekwhiletheywereawaywithGrandpaLaurence，whowaspoorly。TheboysregardedGoldilocksasamixtureofchild，angel，andfairy，forshewasalovelylittlecreature，andthegoldenhairwhichsheinheritedfromherblondemammaenvelopedherlikeashiningveil，behindwhichshesmileduponherworshipperswhengracious，andhidherselfwhenoffended。Herfatherwouldnothaveitcutandithungbelowherwaist，sosoftandfineandbright，thatDemiinsistedthatitwassilkspunfromacocoon。EveryonepraisedthelittlePrincess，butitdidnotseemtodoherharm，onlytoteachherthatherpresencebroughtsunshine，hersmilesmadeansweringsmilesonotherfaces，andherbabygriefsfilledeveryheartwithtenderestsympathy。
Unconsciously，shedidheryoungsubjectsmoregoodthanmanyarealsovereign，forherrulewasverygentleandherpowerwasfeltratherthanseen。Hernaturalrefinementmadeherdaintyinallthings，andhadagoodeffectuponthecarelessladsabouther。Shewouldletnoonetouchherroughlyorwithuncleanhands，andmoresoapwasusedduringhervisitsthanatanyothertime，becausetheboysconsidereditthehighesthonortobeallowedtocarryherhighness，andthedeepestdisgracetoberepulsedwiththedisdainfulcommand，“Doaway，dirtyboy!“
Lourvoicesdispleasedherandquarrellingfrightenedher；sogentlertonescameintotheboyishvoicesastheyaddressedher，andsquabbleswerepromptlysuppressedinherpresencebylookers-oniftheprinciplescouldnotrestrainthemselves。Shelikedtobewaitedon，andthebiggestboysdidherlittleerrandswithoutamurmur，whilethesmallladswereherdevotedslavesinallthings。Theybeggedtobeallowedtodrawhercarriage，bearherberry-basket，orpassherplateattable。Noservicewastoohumble，andTommyandNedcametoblowsbeforetheycoulddecidewhichshouldhavethehonorofblackingherlittleboots。