Bhaer。
Danlookedhimstraightintheface，andansweredsteadily，“Yes，I
did。“
Amurmurwentroundthetable，Tommydroppedhismugwithacrash；Daisycriedout，“Iknewitwasn’tNat；“Nanbegantocry，andMrs。Jolefttheroom，lookingsodisappointed，sorry，andashamedthatDancouldnotbearit。Hehidhisfaceinhishandsamoment，thenthrewuphishead，squaredhisshouldersasifsettlingsomeloaduponthem，andsaid，withthedoggedlook，andhalf-resolute，half-recklesstonehehadusedwhenhefirstcame­；
“Ididit；nowyoumaydowhatyouliketome，butIwon’tsayanotherwordaboutit。“
“Noteventhatyouaresorry？“askedMr。Bhaer，troubledbythechangeinhim。
“Iain’tsorry。“
“I’llforgivehimwithoutasking，“saidTommy，feelingthatitwashardersomehowtoseebraveDandisgracedthantimidNat。
“Don’twanttobeforgiven，“returnedDan，gruffly。
“Perhapsyouwillwhenyouhavethoughtaboutitquietlybyyourself，Iwon’ttellyounowhowsurprisedanddisappointedIam，butbyandbyIwillcomeupandtalktoyouinyourroom。“
“Won’tmakeanydifference，“saidDan，tryingtospeakdefiantly，butfailingashelookedatMr。Bhaer’ssorrowfulface；and，takinghiswordsforadismissal，Danlefttheroomasifhefounditimpossibletostay。
Itwouldhavedonehimgoodifhehadstayed；fortheboystalkedthematteroverwithsuchsincereregret，andpity，andwonder，itmighthavetouchedandwonhimtoaskpardon。Noonewasgladtofindthatitwashe，notevenNat；for，spiteofallhisfaults，andtheyweremany，everyonelikedDannow，becauseunderhisroughexteriorlaysomeofthemanlyvirtueswhichwemostadmireandlove。Mrs。Johadbeenthechiefprop，aswellascultivator，ofDan；andshetookitsadlytoheartthatherlastandmostinterestingboyhadturnedoutsoill。Thetheftwasbad，butthelyingaboutit，andallowinganothertosuffersomuchfromanunjustsuspicionwasworse；andmostdiscouragingofallwastheattempttorestorethemoneyinanunderhandway，foritshowednotonlyawantofcourage，butapowerofdeceitthatbodedillforthefuture。Stillmoretryingwashissteadyrefusaltotalkofthematter，toaskpardon，orexpressanyremorse。Dayspassed；andhewentabouthislessonsandhiswork，silent，grim，andunrepentant。AsiftakingwarningbytheirtreatmentofNat，heaskednosympathyofanyone，rejectedtheadvancesoftheboys，andspenthisleisurehoursroamingaboutthefieldsandwoods，tryingtofindplaymatesinthebirdsandbeasts，andsucceedingbetterthanmostboyswouldhavedone，becauseheknewandlovedthemsowell。
“Ifthisgoesonmuchlonger，I’mafraidhewillrunawayagain，forheistooyoungtostandalifelikethis，“saidMr。Bhaer，quitedejectedatthefailureofallhisefforts。
“AlittlewhileagoIshouldhavebeenquitesurethatnothingwouldtempthimaway，butnowIamreadyofanything，heissochanged，“answeredpoorMrs。Jo，whomournedoverherboyandcouldnotbecomforted，becauseheshunnedhermorethananyoneelse，andonlylookedatherwiththehalf-fierce，half-imploringeyesofawildanimalcaughtinatrap，whenshetriedtotalktohimalone。
Natfollowedhimaboutlikeashadow，andDandidnotrepulsehimasrudelyashedidothers，butsaid，inhisbluntway，“Youareallright；don’tworryaboutme。Icanstanditbetterthanyoudid。“
“ButIdon’tliketohaveyouallalone，“Natwouldsay，sorrowfully。
“Ilikeit；“andDanwouldtrampaway，stiflingasighsometimes，forhewaslonely。
Passingthroughthebirchgroveoneday，hecameuponseveraloftheboys，whowereamusingthemselvesbyclimbingupthetreesandswingingdownagain，astheyslenderelasticstemsbenttilltheirtopstouchedtheground。Danpausedaminutetowatchthefun，withoutofferingtojoininit，andashestoodthereJacktookhisturn。Hehadunfortunatelychosentoolargeatree；forwhenheswungoff，itonlybentalittleway，andlefthimhangingatadangerousheight。
“Goback；youcan’tdoit!“calledNedfrombelow。
Jacktried，butthetwigsslippedfromhishands，andhecouldnotgethislegsroundthetrunk。Hekicked，andsquirmed，andclutchedinvain，thengaveitup，andhungbreathless，sayinghelplessly，­；
“Catchme!helpme!Imustdrop!“
“You’llbekilledifyoudo，“criedNed，frightenedoutofhiswits。
“Holdon!“shoutedDan；andupthetreehewent，crashinghiswayalongtillhenearlyreachedJack，whosefacelookedupathim，fulloffearandhope。
“You’llbothcomedown，“saidNed，dancingwithexcitementontheslopeunderneath，whileNatheldouthisarms，inthewildhopeofbreakingthefall。
“That’swhatIwant；standfromunder，“answeredDan，coolly；and，ashespoke，hisaddedweightbentthetreemanyfeetnearertheearth。
Jackdroppedsafely；butthebirch，lightenedofhalfitsload，flewupagainsosuddenly，thatDan，intheactofswingingroundtodropfeetforemost，losthisholdandfellheavily。
“I’mnothurt，allrightinaminute，“hesaid，sittingup，alittlepaleanddizzy，astheboysgatheredroundhim，fullofadmirationandalarm。
“You’reatrump，Dan，andI’meversomuchobligedtoyou，“criedJack，gratefully。
“Itwasn’tanything，“mutteredDan，risingslowly。
“Isayitwas，andI’llshakehandswithyou，thoughyouare­；，“
Nedcheckedtheunluckywordonhistongue，andheldouthishand，feelingthatitwasahandsomethingonhispart。
“ButIwon’tshakehandswithasneak；“andDanturnedhisbackwithalookofscorn，thatcausedNedtorememberthebrook，andretirewithundignifiedhaste。
“Comehome，oldchap；I’llgiveyoualift；“andNatwalkedawaywithhimleavingtheotherstotalkoverthefeattogether，towonderwhenDanwould“comeround，“andtowishoneandallthatTommy’s“confoundedmoneyhadbeeninJerichobeforeitmadesuchafuss。“
WhenMr。Bhaercameintoschoolnextmorning，helookedsohappy，thattheboyswonderedwhathadhappenedtohim，andreallythoughthehadlosthismindwhentheysawhimgostraighttoDan，and，takinghimbybothhands，sayallinonebreath，asheshookthemheartily，­；
“Iknowallaboutit，andIbegyourpardon。Itwaslikeyoutodoit，andIloveyouforit，thoughit’sneverrighttotelllies，evenforafriend。“
“Whatisit？“criedNat，forDansaidnotaword，onlylifteduphishead，asifaweightofsomesorthadfallenoffhisback。
“DandidnottakeTommy’smoney；“andMr。Bhaerquiteshoutedit，hewassoglad。
“Whodid？“criedtheboysinachorus。
Mr。Bhaerpointedtooneemptyseat，andeveryeyefollowedhisfinger，yetnoonespokeforaminute，theyweresosurprised。
“Jackwenthomeearlythismorning，butheleftthisbehindhim；“andinthesilenceMr。Bhaerreadthenotewhichhehadfoundtiedtohisdoor-handlewhenherose。“ItookTommy’sdollar。Iwaspeekinginthroughacrackandsawhimputitthere。Iwasafraidtotellbefore，thoughIwantedto。Ididn’tcaresomuchaboutNat，butDanisatrump，andIcan’tstanditanylonger。
Ineverspentthemoney；it’sunderthecarpetinmyroom，rightbehindthewashstand。I’mawfulsorry。Iamgoinghome，anddon’tthinkIshallevercomeback，soDanmayhavemythings。“JACK“Itwasnotanelegantconfession，beingbadlywritten，muchblotted，andveryshort；butitwasapreciouspapertoDan；and，whenMr。Bhaerpaused，theboywenttohim，saying，inaratherbrokenvoice，butwithcleareyes，andthefrank，respectfulmannertheyhadtriedtoteachhim，­；
“I’llsayI’msorrynow，andaskyoutoforgiveme，sir。“
“Itwasakindlie，Dan，andIcan’thelpforgivingit；butyouseeitdidnogood，“saidMr。Bhaer，withahandoneithershoulder，andafacefullofreliefandaffection。
“ItkepttheboysfromplaguingNat。That’swhatIdiditfor。Itmadehimrightdownmiserable。Ididn’tcaresomuch，“explainedDan，asifgladtospeakoutafterhishardsilence。
“Howcouldyoudoit？Youarealwayssokindtome，“falteredNat，feelingastrongdesiretohughisfriendandcry。Twogirlishperformances，whichwouldhavescandalizedDantothelastdegree。
“It’sallrightnow，oldfellow，sodon’tbeafool，“hesaid，swallowingthelumpinhisthroat，andlaughingoutashehadnotdoneforweeks。
“DoesMrs。Bhaerknow？“heasked，eagerly。
“Yes；andsheissohappyIdon’tknowwhatshewilldotoyou，“beganMr。Bhaer，butgotnofarther，forheretheboyscamecrowdingaboutDaninatumultofpleasureandcuriosity；butbeforehehadansweredmorethanadozenquestions，avoicecriedout，­；
“ThreecheersforDan!“andtherewasMrs。Jointhedoorwaywavingherdish-towel，andlookingasifshewantedtodanceajigforjoy，assheusedtodowhenagirl。
“Nowthen，“criedMr。Bhaer，andledoffarousinghurrah，whichstartledAsiainthekitchen，andmadeoldMr。Robertsshakehisheadashedroveby，saying，­；
“SchoolsarenotwhattheywerewhenIwasyoung!“
Danstooditprettywellforaminute，butthesightofMrs。Jo’sdelightupsethim，andhesuddenlyboltedacrossthehallintotheparlor，whithersheinstantlyfollowed，andneitherwereseenforhalfanhour。
Mr。Bhaerfounditverydifficulttocalmhisexcitedflock；and，seeingthatlessonswereanimpossibilityforatime，hecaughttheirattentionbytellingthemthefineoldstoryofthefriendswhosefidelitytooneanotherhasmadetheirnamesimmortal。Theladslistenedandremembered，forjustthentheirheartsweretouchedbytheloyaltyofahumblerpairoffriends。Theliewaswrong，butthelovethatprompteditandthecouragethatboreinsilencethedisgracewhichbelongedtoanother，madeDanaherointheireyes。Honestyandhonorhadanewmeaningnow；agoodnamewasmorepreciousthangold；foroncelostmoneycouldnotbuyitback；
andfaithinoneanothermadelifesmoothandhappyasnothingelsecoulddo。
Tommyproudlyrestoredthenameofthefirm；NatwasdevotedtoDan；
andalltheboystriedtoatonetobothforformersuspicionandneglect。
Mrs。Jorejoicedoverherflock，andMr。BhaerwasnevertiredoftellingthestoryofhisyoungDamonandPythias。CHAPTERXVINTHEWILLOW
Theoldtreesawandheardagoodmanylittlescenesandconfidencesthatsummer，becauseitbecamethefavoriteretreatofallthechildren，andthewillowseemedtoenjoyit，forapleasantwelcomealwaysmetthem，andthequiethoursspentinitsarmsdidthemallgood。IthadagreatdealofcompanyoneSaturdayafternoon，andsomelittlebirdreportedwhatwentonthere。
FirstcameNanandDaisywiththeirsmalltubsandbitsofsoap，fornowandthentheywereseizedwithatidyfit，andwashedupalltheirdolls’clothesinthebrook。Asiawouldnothavethem“sloppinground“
inherkitchen，andthebath-roomwasforbiddensinceNanforgottoturnoffthewatertillitoverflowedandcamegentlydrippingdownthroughtheceiling。Daisywentsystematicallytowork，washingfirstthewhiteandthenthecoloredthings，rinsingthemnicely，andhangingthemtodryonacordfastenedfromonebarberry-bushtoanother，andpinningthemupwithasetoftinyclothes-pinsNedhadturnedforher。ButNanputallherlittlethingstosoakinthesametub，andthenforgotthemwhileshecollectedthistledowntostuffapillowforSemiramis，QueenofBabylon，asonedollwasnamed。Thistooksometime，andwhenMrs。Giddy-gaddycametotakeoutherclothes，deepgreenstainsappearedoneverything，forshehadforgottenthegreensilkliningofacertaincape，anditscolorhadsoakednicelyintothepinkandbluegowns，thelittlechemises，andeventhebestruffledpetticoat。
“Ohme!whatamess!“sighedNan。