Nanwasespeciallybenefitedbyaweekinthesocietyofawell-bredlady，thoughsuchaverysmallone；forBesswouldlookatherwithamixtureofwonderandalarminhergreatblueeyeswhenthehoydenscreamedandromped；andsheshrunkfromherasifshethoughtherasortofwildanimal。
Warm-heartedNanfeltthisverymuch。Shesaidatfirst，“Pooh!Idon’tcare!“Butshedidcare，andwassohurtwhenBesssaid，“Ilovemytuzzinbest，tausesheistwiet，“thatsheshookpoorDaisytillherteethchatteredinherhead，andthenfledtothebarntocrydismally。Inthatgeneralrefugeforperturbedspiritsshefoundcomfortandgoodcounselfromsomesourceorother。Perhapstheswallowsfromtheirmud-builtnestsoverheadtwitteredheralittlelectureonthebeautyofgentleness。Howeverthatmighthavebeen，shecameoutquitesubdued，andcarefullysearchedtheorchardforacertainkindofearlyapplethatBesslikedbecauseitwassweetandsmallandrosy。Armedwiththispeace-offering，sheapproachedthelittlePrincess，andhumblypresentedit。Tohergreatjoyitwasgraciouslyaccepted，andwhenDaisygaveNanaforgivingkiss，Bessdidlikewise，asifshefeltthatshehadbeentoosevere，anddesiredtoapologize。
Afterthistheyplayedpleasantlytogether，andNanenjoyedtheroyalfavorfordays。Tobesureshefeltalittlelikeawildbirdinaprettycageatfirst，andoccasionallyhadtoslipouttostretchherwingsinalongflight，ortosingatthetopofhervoice，whereneitherwoulddisturbtheplumpturtle-doveDaisy，northedaintygoldencanaryBess。Butitdidhergood；for，seeinghoweveryonelovedthelittlePrincessforhersmallgracesandvirtues，shebegantoimitateher，becauseNanwantedmuchlove，andtriedhardtowinit。
Notaboyinthehousebutfelttheprettychild’sinfluence，andwasimprovedbyitwithoutexactlyknowinghoworwhy，forbabiescanworkmiraclesintheheartsthatlovethem。PoorBillyfoundinfinitesatisfactioninstaringather，andthoughshedidnotlikeitshepermittedwithoutafrown，aftershehadbeenmadetounderstandthathewasnotquiteliketheothers，andonthataccountmustbemorekindlytreated。DickandDollyoverwhelmedherwithwillowwhistles，theonlythingtheyknewhowtomake，andsheacceptedbutneverusedthem。Robservedherlikealittlelover，andTeddyfollowedherlikeapetdog。Jackshedidnotlike，becausehewasafflictedwithwartsandhadaharshvoice。Stuffydispleasedherbecausehedidnoteattidily，andGeorgetriedhardnottogobble，thathemightnotdisgustthedaintylittleladyopposite。Nedwasbanishedfromcourtinutterdisgracewhenhewasdiscoveredtormentingsomeunhappyfield-mice。
Goldilockscouldneverforgetthesadspectacle，andretiredbehindherveilwhenheapproached，wavinghimawaywithanimperiouslittlehand，andcrying，inatoneofmingledgriefandanger，­；
“No，Itarn’tlovehim；hetutthepoormouses’littletailsoff，andtheyqueeked!“
DaisypromptlyabdicatedwhenBesscame，andtookthehumblepostofchiefcook，whileNanwasfirstmaidofhonor；Emilwaschancelloroftheexchequer，andspentthepublicmonieslavishlyingettingupspectaclesthatcostwholeninepences。Franzwasprimeminister，anddirectedheraffairsofstate，plannedroyalprogressesthroughthekingdom，andkeptforeignpowersinorder。Demiwasherphilosopher，andfaredmuchbetterthansuchgentlemenusuallydoamongcrownedheads。Danwasherstandingarmy，anddefendedherterritoriesgallantly；Tommywascourtfool，andNatatunefulRizziotothisinnocentlittleMary。
UncleFritzandAuntJoenjoyedthispeacefulepisode，andlookedonattheprettyplayinwhichtheyoungfolkunconsciouslyimitatedtheirelders，withoutaddingthetragedythatissoapttospoilthedramasactedonthelargerstage。
“Theyteachusquiteasmuchasweteachthem，“saidMr。Bhaer。
“Blessthedears!theyneverguesshowmanyhintstheygiveusastothebestwayofmanagingthem，“answeredMrs。Jo。
“Ithinkyouwererightaboutthegoodeffectofhavinggirlsamongtheboys。NanhasstirredupDaisy，andBessisteachingthelittlebearshowtobehavebetterthanwecan。Ifthisreformationgoesonasithasbegun，IshallsoonfeellikeDr。Blimberwithhismodelyounggentlemen，“
saidProfessor，laughing，ashesawTommynotonlyremovehisownhat，butknockoffNed’salso，astheyenteredthehallwherethePrincesswastakingarideontherocking-horse，attendedbyRobandTeddyastrideofchairs，andplayinggallantknightstothebestoftheirability。
“YouwillneverbeaBlimber，Fritz，youcouldn’tdoitifyoutried；
andourboyswillneversubmittotheforcingprocessofthatfamoushot-bed。
Nofearthattheywillbetooelegant：Americanboyslikelibertytoowell。
Butgoodmannerstheycannotfailtohave，ifwegivethemthekindlyspiritthatshinesthroughthesimplestdemeanor，makingitcourteousandcordial，likeyours，mydearoldboy。“
“Tut!tut!wewillnotcompliment；forifIbeginyouwillrunaway，andIhaveawishtoenjoythishappyhalfhourtotheend；“yetMr。Bhaerlookedpleasedwiththecompliment，foritwastrue，andMrs。Jofeltthatshehadreceivedthebestherhusbandcouldgiveher，bysayingthathefoundhistruestrestandhappinessinhersociety。
“Toreturntothechildren：IhavejusthadanotherproofofGoldilocks’
goodinfluence，“saidMrs。Jo，drawingherchairnearerthesofa，wheretheProfessorlayrestingafteralongday’sworkinhisvariousgardens。
“Nanhatessewing，butforloveofBesshasbeentoilinghalftheafternoonoveraremarkablebaginwhichtopresentadozenofourlove-applestoheridolwhenshegoes。Ipraisedherforit，andshesaid，inherquickway，’Iliketosewforotherpeople；itisstupidsewingformyself。’
Itookthehint，andshallgivehersomelittleshirtsandapronsforMrs。
Carney’schildren。Sheissogenerous，shewillsewherfingerssoreforthem，andIshallnothavetomakeataskofit。“
“Butneedleworkisnotafashionableaccomplishment，mydear。“
“Sorryforit。MygirlsshalllearnallIcanteachthemaboutit，eveniftheygiveuptheLatin，Algebra，andhalf-a-dozenologiesitisconsiderednecessaryforgirlstomuddletheirpoorbrainsovernow-a-days。AmymeanstomakeBessanaccomplishedwoman，butthedear’smiteofaforefingerhaslittlepricksonitalready，andhermotherhasseveralspecimensofneedleworkwhichshevaluesmorethantheclaybirdwithoutabill，thatfilledLauriewithsuchpridewhenBessmadeit。“
“IalsohaveproofofthePrincess’spower，“saidMrs。Bhaer，afterhehadwatchedMrs。Josewonabuttonwithanairofscornforthewholesystemoffashionableeducation。“JackissounwillingtobeclassedwithStuffyandNed，asdistastefultoBess，thathecametomealittlewhileago，andaskedmetotouchhiswartswithcaustic。Ihaveoftenproposedit，andheneverwouldconsent；butnowheborethesmartmanfully，andconsoleshispresentdiscomfortbyhopesoffuturefavor，whenhecanshowherfastidiousladyshipasmoothhand。“
Mrs。Bhaerlaughedatthestory，andjustthenStuffycameintoaskifhemightgiveGoldilockssomeofthebonbonshismotherhadsenthim。
“Sheisnotallowedtoeatsweeties；butifyouliketogivehertheprettyboxwiththepinksugar-roseinit，shewouldlikeitverymuch，“
saidMrs。Jo，unwillingtospoilthisunusualpieceofself-denial，forthe“fatboy“seldomofferedtosharehissugar-plums。
“Won’tsheeatit？Ishouldn’tliketomakehersick，“saidStuffy，eyeingthedelicatesweetmeatlovingly，yetputtingitintothebox。
“Oh，no，shewon’ttouchit，ifItellheritistolookat，nottoeat。Shewillkeepitforweeks，andneverthinkoftastingit。Canyoudoasmuch？“
“Ishouldhopeso!I’meversomucholderthansheis，“criedStuffy，indignantly。
“Well，supposewetry。Here，putyourbonbonsinthisbag，andseehowlongyoucankeepthem。Letmecount­；twohearts，fourredfishes，threebarley-sugarhorses，ninealmonds，andadozenchocolatedrops。Doyouagreetothat？“askedslyMrs。Jo，poppingthesweetiesintoherlittlespool-bag。
“Yes，“saidStuffy，withasigh；andpocketingtheforbiddenfruit，hewentawaytogiveBessthepresent，thatwonasmilefromher，andpermissiontoescortherroundthegarden。
“PoorStuffy’shearthasreallygotthebetterofhisstomachatlast，andhiseffortswillbemuchencouragedbytherewardsBessgiveshim，“
saidMrs。Jo。
“Happyisthemanwhocanputtemptationinhispocketandlearnself-denialfromsosweetalittleteacher!“addedMr。Bhaer，asthechildrenpassedthewindow，Stuffy’sfatfacefullofplacidsatisfaction，andGoldilockssurveyinghersugar-rosewithpoliteinterest，thoughshewouldhavepreferredarealflowerwitha“pittysmell。“
Whenherfathercametotakeherhome，auniversalwailarose，andthepartinggiftsshowereduponherincreasedherluggagetosuchanextentthatMr。Laurieproposedhavingoutthebigwagontotakeitintotown。
Everyonehadgivenhersomething；anditwasfounddifficulttopackwhitemice，cake，aparcelofshells，apples，arabbitkickingviolentlyinabag，alargecabbageforhisrefreshment，abottleofminnows，andamammothbouquet。Thefarewellscenewasmoving，forthePrincesssatuponthehall-table，surroundedbyhersubjects。Shekissedhercousins，andheldoutherhandtotheotherboys，whoshookitgentlywithvarioussoftspeeches，fortheyweretaughtnottobeashamedofshowingtheiremotions。
“Comeagainsoon，littledear，“whisperedDan，fasteninghisbestgreen-and-goldbeetleinherhat。
“Don’tforgetme，Princess，whateveryoudo，“saidtheengagingTommy，takingalaststrokeoftheprettyhair。
“Iamcomingtoyourhousenextweek，andthenIshallseeyou，Bess，“
addedNat，asifhefoundconsolationinthethought。
“Doshakehandsnow，“criedJack，offeringasmoothpaw。
“Herearetwonicenewonestorememberusby，“saidDickandDolly，presentingfreshwhistles，quiteunconsciousthatsevenoldoneshadbeenprivatelydepositedinthekitchen-stove。
“Mylittleprecious!Ishallworkyouabook-markrightaway，andyoumustkeepitalways，“saidNan，withawarmembrace。
Butofallthefarewells，poorBilly’swasthemostpathetic，forthethoughtthatshewasreallygoingbecamesounbearablethathecasthimselfdownbeforeher，huggingherlittlebluebootsandblubberingdespairingly，“Don’tgoaway!oh，don’t!“Goldilockswassotouchedbythisburstoffeeling，thatsheleanedoverandliftingthepoorlad’shead，said，inhersoft，littlevoice，­；
“Don’tcry，poorBilly!Iwilltissyouandtumadainsoon。“
ThispromiseconsoledBilly，andhefellbackbeamingwithprideattheunusualhonorconferreduponhim。
“Metoo!metoo!“clamoredDickandDolly，feelingthattheirdevotiondeservedsomereturn。Theotherslookedasiftheywouldliketojoininthecry；andsomethinginthekind，merryfacesabouthermovedthePrincesstostretchoutherarmsandsay，withrecklesscondescension，­；
“Iwilltissevvybody!“
Likeaswarmofbeesaboutaverysweetflower，theaffectionateladssurroundedtheirprettyplaymate，andkissedhertillshelookedlikealittlerose，notroughly，butsoenthusiasticallythatnothingbutthecrownofherhatwasvisibleforamoment。Thenherfatherrescuedher，andshedroveawaystillsmilingandwavingherhands，whiletheboyssatonthefencescreaminglikeaflockofguinea-fowls，“Comeback!comeback!“
tillshewasoutofsight。
Theyallmissedher，andeachdimlyfeltthathewasbetterforhavingknownacreaturesolovely，delicate，andsweet；forlittleBessappealedtothechivalrousinstinctinthemassomethingtolove，admire，andprotectwithatendersortofreverence。Manyamanrememberssomeprettychildwhohasmadeaplaceinhisheartandkepthermemoryalivebythesimplemagicofherinnocence；theselittlemenwerejustlearningtofeelthispower，andtoloveitforitsgentleinfluence，notashamedtoletthesmallhandleadthem，nortoowntheirloyaltytowomankind，eveninthebud。