“Goodforyou，Jo!Didyoudoitonyourownresponsibility？“
askedLaurie，asheseatedherinthehallchairandtookofftherebelliousboots，seeinghowherhandsshook。
“No。Thedoctortoldusto。“
“Oh，Jo，it’snotsobadasthat？“criedLaurie，withastartledface。
“Yes，itis。Shedoesn’tknowus，shedoesn’teventalkabouttheflocksofgreendoves，asshecallsthevineleavesonthewall。
Shedoesn’tlooklikemyBeth，andthere’snobodytohelpusbearit。
Motherandfatherbothgone，andGodseemssofarawayIcan’tfindHim。“
AsthetearsstreamedfastdownpoorJo’scheeks，shestretchedoutherhandinahelplesssortofway，asifgropinginthedark，andLaurietookitinhis，whisperingaswellashecouldwithalumpinhisthroat，“I’mhere。Holdontome，Jo，dear!“
Shecouldnotspeak，butshedid`holdon’，andthewarmgraspofthefriendlyhumanhandcomfortedhersoreheart，andseemedtoleadhernearertotheDivinearmwhichalonecouldupholdherinhertrouble。
Laurielongedtosaysomethingtenderandcomfortable，butnofittingwordscametohim，sohestoodsilent，gentlystrokingherbentheadashermotherusedtodo。Itwasthebestthinghecouldhavedone，farmoresoothingthanthemosteloquentwords，forJofelttheunspokensympathy，andinthesilencelearnedthesweetsolacewhichaffectionadministerstosorrow。Soonshedriedthetearswhichhadrelievedher，andlookedupwithagratefulface。
“Thankyou，Teddy，I’mbetternow。Idon’tfeelsoforlorn，andwilltrytobearitifitcomes。“
“Keephopingforthebest，thatwillhelpyou，Jo。Soonyourmotherwillbehere，andtheneverythingwillbeallright。“
“I’msogladFatherisbetter。Nowshewon’tfeelsobadaboutleavinghim。Oh，me!Itdoesseemasifallthetroublescameinaheap，andIgottheheaviestpartonmyshoulders，“sighedJo，spreadingherwethandkerchiefoverherkneestodry。
“Doesn’tMegpullfair？“askedLaurie，lookingindignant。
“Oh，yes，shetriesto，butshecan’tloveBethyasIdo，andshewon’tmissherasIshall。Bethismyconscience，andIcan’tgiveherup。Ican’t!Ican’t!“
DownwentJo’sfaceintothewethandkerchief，andshecrieddespairingly，forshehadkeptupbravelytillnowandnevershedatear。Lauriedrewhishandacrosshiseyes，butcouldnotspeaktillhehadsubduedthechokyfeelinginhisthroatandsteadiedhislips。Itmightbeunmanly，buthecouldn’thelpit，andIamgladofit。Presently，asJo’ssobsquieted，hesaidhopefully，“I
don’tthinkshewilldie。She’ssogood，andwealllovehersomuch，Idon’tbelieveGodwilltakeherawayyet。“
“Thegoodanddearpeoplealwaysdodie，“groanedJo，butshestoppedcrying，forherfriend’swordscheeredherupinspiteofherowndoubtsandfears。
“Poorgirl，you’rewornout。Itisn’tlikeyoutobeforlorn。
Stopabit。I’llheartenyouupinajiffy。“
Lauriewentofftwostairsatatime，andJolaidherweariedheaddownonBeth’slittlebrownhood，whichnoonehadthoughtofmovingfromthetablewheresheleftit。Itmusthavepossessedsomemagic，forthesubmissivespiritofitsgentleownerseemedtoenterintoJo，andwhenLauriecamerunningdownwithaglassofwine，shetookitwithasmile，andsaidbravely，“Idrink——
HealthtomyBeth!Youareagooddoctor，Teddy，andsuchacomfortablefriend。HowcanIeverpayyou？“sheadded，asthewinerefreshedherbody，asthekindwordshaddonehertroubledmind。
“I’llsendmybill，by-and-by，andtonightI’llgiveyousome-
thingthatwillwarmthecocklesofyourheartbetterthanquartsofwine，“saidLaurie，beamingatherwithafaceofsuppressedsatisfactionatsomething。
“Whatisit？“criedJo，forgettingherwoesforaminuteinherwonder。
“Itelegraphedtoyourmotheryesterday，andBrookeansweredshe’dcomeatonce，andshe’llbeheretonight，andeverythingwillbeallright。Aren’tyougladIdidit？“
Lauriespokeveryfast，andturnedredandexcitedallinaminute，forhehadkepthisplotasecret，forfearofdisappointingthegirlsorharmingBeth。Jogrewquitewhite，flewoutofherchair，andthemomenthestoppedspeakingsheelectrifiedhimbythrowingherarmsroundhisneck，andcryingout，withajoyfulcry，“Oh，Laurie!Oh，Mother!Iamsoglad!“Shedidnotweepagain，butlaughedhysterically，andtrembledandclungtoherfriendasifshewasalittlebewilderedbythesuddennews。
Laurie，thoughdecidedlyamazed，behavedwithgreatpresenceofmind。Hepattedherbacksoothingly，andfindingthatshewasrecovering，followeditupbyabashfulkissortwo，whichbroughtJoroundatonce。Holdingontothebanisters，sheputhimgentlyaway，sayingbreathlessly，“Oh，don’t!Ididn’tmeanto，itwasdreadfulofme，butyouweresuchadeartogoanddoitinspiteofHannahthatIcouldn’thelpflyingatyou。Tellmeallaboutit，anddon’tgivemewineagain，itmakesmeactso。“
“Idon’tmind，“laughedLaurie，ashesettledhistie。“Why，youseeIgotfidgety，andsodidGrandpa。WethoughtHannahwasoverdoingtheauthoritybusiness，andyourmotheroughttoknow。
She’dneverforgiveusifBeth……Well，ifanythinghappened，youknow。SoIgotgrandpatosayitwashightimewedidsomething，andoffIpeltedtotheofficeyesterday，forthedoctorlookedsober，andHannahmosttookmyheadoffwhenIproposedatelegram。I
nevercanbeartobe`lordedover’，sothatsettledmymind，andIdidit。
Yourmotherwillcome，Iknow，andthelatetrainisinattwoA。M。
Ishallgoforher，andyou’veonlygottobottleupyourrapture，andkeepBethquiettillthatblessedladygetshere。“
“Laurie，you’reanangel!HowshallIeverthankyou？“
“Flyatmeagain。Iratherlikedit，“saidLaurie，lookingmischievous，athinghehadnotdoneforafortnight。
“No，thankyou。I’lldoitbyproxy，whenyourgrandpacomes。
Don’ttease，butgohomeandrest，foryou’llbeuphalfthenight。
Blessyou，Teddy，blessyou!“
Johadbackedintoacorner，andasshefinishedherspeech，shevanishedprecipitatelyintothekitchen，whereshesatdownuponadresserandtoldtheassembledcatsthatshewas“happy，oh，sohappy!“whileLauriedeparted，feelingthathehadmadearatherneatthingofit。
“That’stheinterferingestchapIeversee，butIforgivehimanddohopeMrs。Marchiscomingrightaway，“saidHannah，withanairofrelief，whenJotoldthegoodnews。
Meghadaquietrapture，andthenbroodedovertheletter，whileJosetthesickroominorder，andHannah`knockedupacoupleofpiesincaseofcompanyunexpected“。Abreathoffreshairseemedtoblowthroughthehouse，andsomethingbetterthansunshinebrightenedthequietrooms。Everythingappearedtofeelthehopefulchange。Beth’sbirdbegantochirpagain，andahalf-blownrosewasdiscoveredonAmy’sbushinthewindow。
Thefiresseemedtoburnwithunusualcheeriness，andeverytimethegirlsmet，theirpalefacesbrokeintosmilesastheyhuggedoneanother，whisperingencouragingly，“Mother’scoming，dear!
Mother’scoming!“EveryonerejoicedbutBeth。Shelayinthatheavystupor，alikeunconsciousofhopeandjoy，doubtanddanger。
Itwasapiteoussight，theoncerosyfacesochangedandvacant，theoncebusyhandssoweakandwasted，theoncesmilinglipsquitedumb，andtheoncepretty，well-kepthairscatteredroughandtangledonthepillow。Alldayshesayso，onlyrousingnowandthentomutter，“Water!“withlipssoparchedtheycouldhardlyshapetheword。AlldayJoandMeghoveredoverher，watching，waiting，hoping，andtrustinginGodandMother，andalldaythesnowfell，thebitterwindraged，andthehoursdraggedslowlyby。Butnightcameatlast，andeverytimetheclockstruck，thesisters，stillsittingoneithersideofthebed，lookedateachotherwithbrighteningeyes，foreachhourbroughthelpnearer。Thedoctorhadbeenintosaythatsomechange，forbetterorworse，wouldprobablytakeplaceaboutmidnight，atwhichtimehewouldreturn。
Hannah，quitewornout，laydownonthesofaatthebed’sfootandfellfastasleep，Mr。Laurencemarchedtoandfrointheparlor，feelingthathewouldratherfacearebelbatterythanMrs。March’scountenanceassheentered。Laurielayontherug，pretendingtorest，butstaringintothefirewiththethoughtfullookwhichmadehisblackeyesbeautifullysoftandclear。
Thegirlsneverforgotthatnight，fornosleepcametothemastheykepttheirwatch，withthatdreadfulsenseofpowerlessnesswhichcomestousinhourslikethose。
“IfGodsparesBeth，Ineverwillcomplainagain，“whisperedMegearnestly。
“IfgodsparesBeth，I’lltrytoloveandserveHimallmylife，“answeredJo，withequalfervor。
“IwishIhadnoheart，itachesso，“sighedMeg，afterapause。
“Iflifeisoftenashardasthis，Idon’tseehowweevershallgetthroughit，“addedhersisterdespondently。
Heretheclockstrucktwelve，andbothforgotthemselvesinwatchingBeth，fortheyfanciedachangepassedoverherwanface。
Thehousewasstillasdeath，andnothingbutthewailingofthewindbrokethedeephush。WearyHannahslepton，andnoonebutthesisterssawthepaleshadowwhichseemedtofalluponthelittlebed。Anhourwentby，andnothinghappenedexceptLaurie’squietdepartureforthestation。Anotherhour，stillnoonecame，andanxiousfearsofdelayinthestorm，oraccidentsbytheway，or，worstofall，agreatgriefatWashington，hauntedthegirls。
Itwaspasttwo，whenJo，whostoodatthewindowthinkinghowdrearytheworldlookedinitswindingsheetofsnow，heardamovementbythebed，andturningquickly，sawMegkneelingbeforetheirmother’seasychairwithherfacehidden。AdreadfulfearpassedcoldlyoverJo，asshethought，“Bethisdead，andMegisafraidtotellme。“
Shewasbackatherpostinaninstant，andtoherexcitedeyesagreatchangeseemedtohavetakenplace。Thefeverflushandthelookofpainweregone，andthebelovedlittlefacelookedsopaleandpeacefulinitsutterreposethatJofeltnodesiretoweeportolament。Leaninglowoverthisdearestofhersisters，shekissedthedampforeheadwithherheartonherlips，andsoftlywhispered，“Goodby，myBeth。Goodby!“
Asifawakedbythestir，Hannahstartedoutofhersleep，hurriedtothebed，lookedatBeth，feltherhands，listenedatherlips，andthen，throwingherapronoverherhead，satdowntorocktoandfro，exclaiming，underherbreath，“Thefever’sturned，she’ssleepin’nat’ral，herskin’sdamp，andshebreatheseasy。Praisebegiven!Oh，mygoodnessme!“
Beforethegirlscouldbelievethehappytruth，thedoctorcametoconfirmit。Hewasahomelyman，buttheythoughthisfacequiteheavenlywhenhesmiledandsaid，withafatherlylookatthem，“Yes，mydears，Ithinkthelittlegirlwillpullthroughthistime。Keepthehousequiet，lethersleep，andwhenshewakes，giveher……“
Whattheyweretogive，neitherheard，forbothcreptintothedarkhall，and，sittingonthestairs，heldeachotherclose，rejoicingwithheartstoofullforwords。WhentheywentbacktobekissedandcuddledbyfaithfulHannah，theyfoundBethlying，assheusedtodo，withhercheekpillowedonherhand，thedreadfulpallorgone，andbreathingquietly，asifjustfallenasleep。
“IfMotherwouldonlycomenow!“saidJo，asthewinternightbegantowane。
“See，“saidMeg，comingupwithawhite，half-openedrose，“IthoughtthiswouldhardlybereadytolayinBeth’shandtomorrowifshe——wentawayfromus。Butithasblossomedinthenight，andnowImeantoputitinmyvasehere，sothatwhenthedarlingwakes，thefirstthingsheseeswillbethelittlerose，andMother’sface。“
Neverhadthesunrisensobeautifully，andneverhadtheworldseemedsolovelyasitdidtotheheavyeyesofMegandJo，astheylookedoutintheearlymorning，whentheirlong，sadvigilwasdone。
“Itlookslikeafairyworld，“saidMeg，smilingtoherself，asshestoodbehindthecurtain，watchingthedazzlingsight。
“Hark!“criedJo，startingtoherfeet。
Yes，therewasasoundofbellsatthedoorbelow，acryfromHannah，andthenLaurie’svoicesayinginajoyfulwhisper，“Girls，she’scome!She’scome!“
Chapter19CHAPTERNINETEEN
Whilethesethingswerehappeningathome，AmywashavinghardtimesatAuntMarch’s。Shefeltherexiledeeply，andforthefirsttimeinherlife，realizedhowmuchshewasbelovedandpettedathome。AuntMarchneverpettedanyone。
Shedidnotapproveofit，butshemeanttobekind，forthewell-
behavedlittlegirlpleasedherverymuch，andAuntMarchhadasoftplaceinheroldheartforhernephew’schildren，thoughshedidn’tthinkitpropertoconfessit。ShereallydidherbesttomakeAmyhappy，but，dearme，whatmistakesshemade。
Someoldpeoplekeepyoungatheartinspiteofwrinklesandgrayhairs，cansympathizewithchildren’slittlecaresandjoys，makethemfeelathome，andcanhidewiselessonsunderpleasantplays，givingandreceivingfriendshipinthesweetestway。ButAuntMarchhadnotthisgift，andsheworriedAmyverymuchwithherrulesandorders，herprimways，andlong，prosytalks。Findingthechildmoredocileandamiablethanhersister，theoldladyfeltitherdutytotryandcounteract，asfaraspossible，thebadeffectsofhomefreedomandindulgence。SoshetookAmybythehand，andtaughtherassheherselfhadbeentaughtsixtyyearsago，aprocesswhichcarrieddismaytoAmy’ssoul，andmadeherfeellikeaflyinthewebofaverystrictspider。
Shehadtowashthecupseverymorning，andpolishuptheold-fashionedspoons，thefatsilverteapot，andtheglassestilltheyshone。Thenshemustdusttheroom，andwhatatryingjobthatwas。NotaspeckescapedAuntMarch’seye，andallthefurniturehadclawlegsandmuchcarving，whichwasneverdustedtosuit。ThenPollyhadtobefed，thelapdogcombed，andadozentripsupstairsanddowntogetthingsordeliverorders，fortheoldladywasverylameandseldomleftherbigchair。
Afterthesetiresomelabors，shemustdoherlessons，whichwasadailytrialofeveryvirtueshepossessed。Thenshewasallowedonehourforexerciseorplay，anddidn’tsheenjoyit？
Lauriecameeveryday，andwheedledAuntMarchtillAmywasallowedtogooutwithhim，whentheywalkedandrodeandhadcapitaltimes。Afterdinner，shehadtoreadaloud，andsitstillwhiletheoldladyslept，whichsheusuallydidforanhour，asshedroppedoffoverthefirstpage。Thenpatchworkortowelsappeared，andAmysewedwithoutwardmeeknessandinwardrebelliontilldusk，whenshewasallowedtoamuseherselfasshelikedtillteatime。Theeveningsweretheworstofall，forAuntMarchfelltotellinglongstoriesaboutheryouth，whichweresounutterablydullthatAmywasalwaysreadytogotobe，intendingtocryoverherhardfate，butusuallygoingtosleepbeforeshehadsqueezedoutmorethanatearortwo。