Mr。LaurencecamehurryingbackwithBeth，bringingeverycomfortthekindoldgentlemancouldthinkoffortheinvalid，andfriendliestpromisesofprotectionforthegirlsduringthemother’sabsence，whichcomfortedherverymuch。Therewasnothinghedidn’toffer，fromhisowndressinggowntohimselfasescort。Butthelastwasimpossible。Mrs。Marchwouldnothearoftheoldgentleman’sundertakingthelongjourney，yetanexpressionofreliefwasvisiblewhenhespokeofit，foranxietyillfitsonefortraveling。
Hesawthelook，knithisheavyeyebrows，rubbedhishands，andmarchedabruptlyaway，sayinghe’dbebackdirectly。Noonehadtimetothinkofhimagaintill，asMegranthroughtheentry，withapairofrubbersinonehandandacupofteaintheother，shecamesuddenlyuponMr。Brooke。
“I’mverysorrytohearofthis，MissMarch，“hesaid，inthekind，quiettonewhichsoundedverypleasantlytoherperturbedspirit。“Icametooffermyselfasescorttoyourmother。
Mr。
LaurencehascommissionsformeinWashington，anditwillgivemerealsatisfactiontobeofservicetoherthere。“
Downdroppedtherubbers，andtheteawasverynearfollowing，asMegputoutherhand，withafacesofullofgratitudethatMr。
Brookewouldhavefeltrepaidforamuchgreatersacrificethanthetriflingoneoftimeandcomfortwhichhewasabouttotake。
“Howkindyouallare!Motherwillaccept，I’msure，anditwillbesucharelieftoknowthatshehassomeonetotakecareofher。Thankyouvery，verymuch!“
Megspokeearnestly，andforgotherselfentirelytillsomethinginthebrowneyeslookingdownathermadeherrememberthecoolingtea，andleadthewayintotheparlor，sayingshewouldcallhermother。
EverythingwasarrangedbythetimeLauriereturnedwithanotefromAuntMarch，enclosingthedesiredsum，andafewlinesrepeatingwhatshehadoftensaidbefore，thatshehadalwaystoldthemitwasabsurdforMarchtogointothearmy，alwayspredictedthatnogoodwouldcomeofit，andshehopedtheywouldtakeheradvicethenexttime。Mrs。Marchputthenoteinthefire，themoneyinherpurse，andwentonwithherpreparations，withherlipsfoldedtightlyinawaywhichJowouldhaveunderstoodifshehadbeenthere。
Theshortafternoonworeaway。Allothererrandsweredone，andMegandhermotherbusyatsomenecessaryneedlework，whileBethandAmygothtea，andHannahfinishedherironingwithwhatshecalleda`slapandabang’，butstillJodidnotcome。Theybegantogetanxious，andLauriewentofftofindher，fornooneknewwhatfreakJomighttakeintoherhead。Hemissedher，however，andshecamewalkinginwithaveryqueerexpressionofcountenance，fortherewasamixtureoffunandfear，satisfactionandregretinit，whichpuzzledthefamilyasmuchasdidtherollofbillsshelaidbeforehermother，sayingwithalittlechokeinhervoice，“That’smycontributiontowardmakingFathercomfortableandbringinghimhome!“
“Mydear，wheredidyougetit？Twenty-fivedollars!Jo，I
hopeyouhaven’tdoneanythingrash？“
“No，it’sminehonestly。Ididn’tbeg，borrow，orstealit。
I
earnedit，andIdon’tthinkyou’llblameme，forIonlysoldwhatwasmyown。“
Asshespoke，Jotookoffherbonnet，andageneraloutcryarose，forallherabundanthairwascutshort。
“Yourhair!Yourbeautifulhair!““Oh，Jo，howcouldyou？
Youronebeauty。““Mydeargirl，therewasnoneedofthis。“
“Shedoesn’tlooklikemyJoanymore，butIloveherdearlyforit!“
Aseveryoneexclaimed，andBethhuggedthecroppedheadtenderly，Joassumedanindifferentair，whichdidnotdeceiveanyoneaparticle，andsaid，rumplingupthebrownbushandtryingtolookasifshelikedit，“Itdoesn’taffectthefateofthenation，sodon’twail，Beth。
Itwillbegoodformyvanity，Igettingtooproudofmywig。Itwilldomybrainsgoodtohavethatmoptakenoff。Myheadfeelsdeliciouslylightandcool，andthebarbersaidIcouldsoonhaveacurlycrop，whichwillbeboyish，becoming，andeasytokeepinorder。I’msatisfied，sopleasetakethemoneyandlet’shavesupper。“
“Tellmeallaboutit，Jo。Iamnotquitesatisfied，butIcan’tblameyou，forIknowhowwillinglyyousacrificedyourvanity，asyoucallit，toyourlove。But，mydear，itwasnotnecessary，andI’mafraidyouwillregretitoneofthesedays，“saidMrs。March。
“No，Iwon’t!“returnedJostoutly，feelingmuchrelievedthatherprankwasnotentirelycondemned。
“Whatmadeyoudoit？“askedAmy，whowouldassoonhavethoughtofcuttingoffherheadasherprettyhair。
“Well，IwaswildtotosomethingforFather，“repliedJo，astheygatheredaboutthetable，forhealthyyoungpeoplecaneateveninthemidstoftrouble。“IhatetoborrowasmuchasMotherdoes，andIknewAuntMarchwouldcroak，shealwaysdoes，ifyouaskforaninepence。Meggaveallherquarterlysalarytowardtherent，andIonlygotsomeclotheswithmine，soIfeltwicked，andwasboundtohavesomemoney，ifIsoldthenoseoffmyfacetogetit。“
“Youneedn’tfeelwicked，mychild!Youhadnowinterthingsandgotthesimplestwithyourownhardearnings，“saidMrs。MarchwithalookthatwarmedJo’sheart。
“Ihadn’ttheleastideaofsellingmyhairatfirst，butasI
wentalongIkeptthinkingwhatIcoulddo，andfeelingasifI’dliketodiveintosomeoftherichstoresandhelpmyself。Inabarber’swindowIsawtailsofhairwiththepricesmarked，andoneblacktail，notsothickasmine，wasfortydollars。ItcametomeallofasuddenthatIhadonethingtomakemoneyoutof，andwithoutstoppingtothink，Iwalkedin，askediftheyboughthair，andwhattheywouldgiveformine。“
“Idon’tseehowyoudaredtodoit，“saidBethinatoneofawe。
“Oh，hewasalittlemanwholookedasifhemerelylivedtooilhishair。Heratherstaredatfirst，asifhewasn’tusedtohavinggirlsbounceintohisshopandaskhimtobuytheirhair。Hesaidhedidn’tcareaboutmine，itwasn’tthefashionablecolor，andheneverpaidmuchforitinthefirstplace。Theworkheputitintoitmadeitdear，andsoon。Itwasgettinglate，andIwasafraidifitwasn’tdonerightawaythatIshouldn’thaveitdoneatall，andyouknowwhenIstarttodoathing，Ihatetogiveitup。SoIbeggedhimtotakeit，andtoldhimwhyIwasinsuchahurry。Itwassilly，Idaresay，butitchangedhismind，forIgotratherexcited，andtoldthestoryinmytopsy-turvyway，andhiswifeheard，andsaidsokindly，`Takeit，Thomas，andobligetheyounglady。I’ddoasmuchforourJimmyanydayifIhadaspireofhairworthselling。“
“WhowasJimmy？“askedAmy，wholikedtohavethingsexplainedastheywentalong。
“Herson，shesaid，whowasinthearmy。Howfriendlysuchthingsmakestrangersfeel，don’tthey？Shetalkedawayallthetimethemanclipped，anddivertedmymindnicely。“
“Didn’tyoufeeldreadfullywhenthefirstcutcame？“askedMeg，withashiver。
“Itookalastlookatmyhairwhilethemangothisthings，andthatwastheendofit。Ineversnivelovertrifleslikethat。
Iwillconfess，though，IfeltqueerwhenIsawthedearoldhairlaidoutonthetable，andfeltonlytheshortroughendsofmyhead。
ItalmostseemedasifI’danarmorlegoff。Thewomansawmelookatit，andpickedoutalonglockformetokeep。I’llgiveittoyou，Marmee，justtorememberpastgloriesby，foracropissocomfortableIdon’tthinkIshalleverhaveamaneagain。“
Mrs。Marchfoldedthewavychestnutlock，andlaiditawaywithashortgrayoneinherdesk。Sheonlysaid，“Thankyou，deary，“
butsomethinginherfacemadethegirlschangethesubject，andtalkascheerfullyastheycouldaboutMr。Brooke’skindness，theprospectofafinedaytomorrow，andthehappytimestheywouldhavewhenFathercamehometobenursed。
Noonewantedtogotobedwhenatteno’clockMrs。Marchputbythelastfinishedjob，andsaid，“Comegirls。“Bethwenttothepianoandplayedthefather’sfavoritehymn。Allbeganbravely，butbrokedownonebyonetillBethwasleftalone，singingwithallherheart，fortohermusicwasalwaysasweetconsoler。
“Gotobedanddon’ttalk，forwemustbeupearlyandshallneedallthesleepwecanget。Goodnight，mydarlings，“saidMrs。
March，asthehymnended，fornoonecaredtotryanother。
Theykissedherquietly，andwenttobedassilentlyasifthedearinvalidlayinthenextroom。BethandAmysoonfellasleepinspiteofthegreattrouble，butMeglayawake，thinkingthemostseriousthoughtsshehadeverknowninhershortlife。Jolaymotionless，andhersisterfanciedthatshewasasleep，tillastifledsobmadeherexclaim，asshetouchedawetcheek……
“Jo，dear，whatisit？Areyoucryingaboutfather？“
“No，notnow。“
“Whatthen？“
“My……Myhair!“burstoutpoorJo，tryingvainlytosmotherheremotioninthepillow。
ItdidnotseematallcomicaltoMeg，whokissedandcaressedtheafflictedheroineinthetenderestmanner。
“I’mnotsorry，“protestedJo，withachoke。“I’ddoitagaintomorrow，ifIcould。It’sonlythevainpartofmethatgoesandcriesinthissillyway。Don’ttellanyone，it’sallovernow。
I
thoughtyouwereasleep，soIjustmadealittleprivatemoanformyonebeauty。Howcameyoutobeawake？“
“Ican’tsleep，I’msoanxious，“saidMeg。
“Thinkaboutsomethingpleasant，andyou’llsoondropoff。“
“Itriedit，butfeltwiderawakethanever。“
“Whatdidyouthinkof？“
“Handsomefaces——eyesparticularly，“answeredMeg，smilingtoherselfinthedark。
“Whatcolordoyoulikebest？“
“Brown，thatis，sometimes。Bluearelovely。“
Jo，laughed，andMegsharplyorderedhernottotalk，thenamiablypromisedtomakeherhaircurl，andfellasleeptodreamoflivinginhercastleintheair。
Theclockswerestrikingmidnightandtheroomswereverystillasafigureglidedquietlyfrombedtobed，smoothingacoverlethere，settlingapillowthere，andpausingtolooklongandtenderlyateachunconsciousface，tokisseachwithlipsthatmutelyblessed，andtopraytheferventprayerswhichonlymothersutter。Assheliftedthecurtaintolookoutintothedrearynight，themoonbrokesuddenlyfrombehindthecloudsandshoneuponherlikeabright，benignantface，whichseemedtowhisperinthesilence，“Becomforted，dearsoul!Thereisalwayslightbehindtheclouds。“
Chapter16CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Inthecoldgraydawnthesisterslittheirlampandreadtheirchapterwithanearnestnessneverfeltbefore。Fornowtheshadowofarealtroublehadcome，thelittlebookswerefullofhelpandcomfort，andastheydressed，theyagreedtosaygoodbyecheerfullyandhopefully，andsendtheirmotheronheranxiousjourneyunsaddenedbytearsorcomplaintsfromthem。Everythingseemedverystrangewhentheywentdown，sodimandstilloutside，sofulloflightandbustlewithin。Breakfastatthatearlyhourseemedodd，andevenHannah’sfamiliarfacelookedunnaturalassheflewaboutherkitchenwithhernightcapon。Thebigtrunkstoodreadyinthehall，Mother’scloakandbonnetlayonthesofa，andMotherherselfsattryingtoeat，butlookingsopaleandwornwithsleeplessnessandanxietythatthegirlsfounditveryhardtokeeptheirresolution。Meg’seyeskeptfillinginspiteofherself，Jowasobligedtohideherfaceinthekitchenrollermorethanonce，antthelittlegirlsworeagrave，troubledexpression，asifsorrowwasanewexperiencetothem。
Nobodytalkedmuch，butasthetimedrewverynearandtheysatwaitingforthecarriage，Mrs。Marchsaidtothegirls，whowereallbusiedabouther，onefoldinghershawl，anothersmoothingoutthestringsofherbonnet，athirdputtingonherovershoes，andaforthfasteninguphertravellingbag……
“Children，IleaveyoutoHannah’scareandMr。Laurence’sprotection。Hannahisfaithfulnessitself，andourgoodneighborwillguardyouasifyouwerehisown。Ihavenofearsforyou，yetIamanxiousthatyoushouldtakethistroublerightly。Don’tgrieveandfretwhenIamgone，orthinkthatyoucanbeidleandcomfortyourselvesbybeingidleandtryingtoforget。Goonwithyourworkasusual，forworkisablessedsolace。Hopeandkeepbusy，andwhateverhappens，rememberthatyounevercanbefatherless。“
“Yes，Mother。“
“Meg，dear，beprudent，watchoveryoursisters，consultHannah，andinanyperplexity，gotoMr。Laurence。Bepatient，Jo，don’tgetdespondentordorashthings，writetomeoften，andbemybravegirl，readytohelpandcheerall。Beth，comfortyourselfwithyourmusic，andbefaithfultothelittlehomeduties，andYouAmy，helpallyoucan，beobedient，andkeephappysafeathome。“
“Wewill，Mother!Wewill!“
Therattleofanapproachingcarriagemadethemallstartandlisten。Thatwasthehardminute，butthegirlsstooditwell。
Noonecried，nooneranawayorutteredalamentation，thoughtheirheartswereveryheavyastheysentlovingmessagestoFather，remembering，astheyspokethatitmightbetoolatetodeliverthem。
Theykissedtheirmotherquietly，clungabouthertenderly，andtriedtowavetheirhandscheerfullywhenshedroveaway。
Laurieandhisgrandfathercameovertoseeheroff，andMr。
Brookelookedsostrongandsensibleandkindthatthegirlschristenedhim`Mr。Greatheart’onthespot。
“Goodby，mydarlings!Godblessandkeepusall!“whisperedMrs。March，asshekissedonedearlittlefaceaftertheother，andhurriedintothecarriage。
Assherolledaway，thesuncameout，andlookingback，shesawitshiningonthegroupatthegatelikeagoodomen。Theysawitalso，andsmiledandwavedtheirhands，andthelastthingshebeheldassheturnedthecornerwasthefourbrightfaces，andbehindthemlikeabodyguard，oldMr。Laurence，faithfulHannah，anddevotedLaurie。
“Howkindeveryoneistous!“shesaid，turningtofindfreshproofofitintherespectfulsympathyoftheyoungman’sface。
“Idon’tseehowtheycanhelpit，“returnedMr。Brooke，laughingsoinfectiouslythatMrs。Marchcouldnothelpsmiling。
Andsothejourneybeganwiththegoodomensofsunshine，smiles，andcheerfulwords。
“Ifeelasiftherehadbeenanearthquake，“saidJo，astheirneighborswenthometobreakfast，leavingthemtorestandrefreshthemselves。
“Itseemsasifhalfthehousewasgone，“addedMegforlornly。
Bethopenedherlipstosaysomething，butcouldonlypointtothepileofnicelymendedhosewhichlayonMother’stable，showingthateveninherlasthurriedmomentsshehadthoughtandworkedforthem。Itwasalittlething，butitwentstraighttotheirhearts，andinspiteoftheirbraveresolutions，theyallbrokedownandcriedbitterly。
Hannahwiselyallowedthemtorelievetheirfeelings，andwhentheshowershowedsignsofclearingup，shecametotherescue，armedwithacoffeepot。
“Now，nydearyoungladies，rememberwhatyourmasaid，anddon’tfret。Comeandhaveacupofcoffeeallround，andthenlet’sfalltoworkandbeacredittothefamily。“
Coffeewasatreat，andHannahshowedgreattactinmakingitthatmorning。Noonecouldresistherpersuasivenods，orthefragrantinvitationissuingfromthenoseofthecoffeepot。Theydrewuptothetable，exchangedtheirhandkerchiefsfornapkins，andintenminuteswereallrightagain。
“`Hopeandkeepbusy’，that’sthemottoforus，solet’sseewhowillrememberitbest。IshallgotoAuntMarch，asusual。
Oh，won’tshelecturethough!“saidJo，asshesippedwithreturningspirit。
“IshallgotomyKings，thoughI’dmuchratherstayathomeandattendtothingshere，“saidMeg，wishingshehadn’tmadehereyessored。
“Noneedofthat。BethandIcankeephouseperfectlywell，“
putinAmy，withanimportantair。
“Hannahwilltelluswhattodo，andwe’llhaveeverythingnicewhenyoucomehome，“addedBeth，gettingouthermopanddishtubwithoutdelay。
“Ithinkanxietyisveryinteresting，“observedAmy，eatingsugarpensively。
Thegirlscouldn’thelplaughing，andfeltbetterforit，thoughMegshookherheadattheyoungladywhocouldfindconsolationinasugarbowl。
ThesightoftheturnoversmadeJosoberagain，andwhenthetwowentouttotheirdailytasks，theylookedsorrowfullybackatthewindowwheretheywereaccustomedtoseetheirmother’sface。Itwasgone，butBethhadrememberedthelittlehouseholdceremony，andthereshewas，noddingawayatthemlikearosyfacedmandarin。