AweeklaterAmydidgetherreward，andpoorJofoundithardtobedelighted。AlettercamefromAuntCarrol，andMrs。
March’sfacewasilluminatedtosuchadegreewhenshereaditthatJoandBeth，whowerewithher，demandedwhatthegladtidingwere。
“AuntCarrolisgoingabroadnextmonth，andwants……“
“Metogowithher!“burstinJo，flyingoutofherchairinanuncontrollablerapture。
“No，dear，notyou。It’sAmy。“
“Oh，Mother!She’stooyoung，it’smyturnfirst。I’vewanteditsolong。Itwoulddomesomuchgood，andbesoaltogethersplendid。Imustgo!“
“I’mafraidit’simpossible，Jo。AuntsaysAmy，decidedly，anditisnotforustodictatewhensheofferssuchafavor。“
“It’salwaysso。AmyhasallthefunandIhaveallthework。
Itisn’tfair，oh，itisn’tfair!“criedJopassionately。
“I’mafraidit’spartlyyourownfault，dear。WhenAuntspoketometheotherday，sheregrettedyourbluntmannersandtooindependentspirit，andhereshewrites，asifquotingsomethingyouhadsaid——`IplannedatfirsttoaskJo，butas`favorsburdenher’，andshe`hatesFrench’，IthinkIwon’tventuretoinviteher。
Amyismoredocile，willmakeagoodcompanionforFlo，andreceivegratefullyanyhelpthetripmaygiveher。“
“Oh，mytongue，myabominabletongue!Whycan’tIlearntokeepitquiet？’groanedJo，rememberingwordswhichhadbeenherundoing。Whenshehadheardtheexplanationofthequotedphrases，Mrs。Marchsaidsorrowfully……
“Iwishyoucouldhavegone，butthereisnohopeofitthistime，sotrytobearitcheerfully，anddon’tsaddenAmy’spleasurebyreproachesorregrets。“
“I’lltry，“saidJo，winkinghardasshekneltdowntopickupthebasketshehadjoyfullyupset。“I’lltakealeafoutofherbook，andtrynotonlytoseemglad，buttobeso，andnotgrudgeheroneminuteofhappiness。Butitwon’tbeeasy，foritisadreadfuldisappointment。“AndpoorJobedewedthelittlefatpincushionsheheldwithseveralverybittertears。
“Jo，dear，I’mveryselfish，butIcouldn’tspareyou，andI’mgladyouarenotgoingquiteyet，“whisperedBeth，embracingher，basketandall，withsuchaclingingtouchandlovingfacethatJofeltcomfortedinspiteofthesharpregretthatmadeherwanttoboxherownears，andhumblybegAuntCarroltoburdenherwiththisfavor，andseehowgratefullyshewouldbearit。
BythetimeAmycamein，Jowasabletotakeherpartinthefamilyjubilation，notquiteasheartilyasusual，perhaps，butwithoutrepiningsatAmy’sgoodfortune。Theyoungladyherselfreceivedthenewsastidingsofgreatjoy，wentaboutinasolemnsortofrapture，andbegantosorthercolorsandpackherpencilsthatevening，leavingsuchtriflesasclothes，money，andpassportstothoselessabsorbedinvisionsofartthanherself。
“Itisn’tamerepleasuretriptome，girls，“shesaidimpressively，asshescrapedherbestpalette。“Itwilldecidemycareer，forifIhaveanygenius，IshallfinditoutinRome，andwilldosomethingtoproveit。“
“Supposeyouhaven’t？“saidJo，sewingaway，withredeyes，atthenewcollarswhichweretobehandedovertoAmy。
“ThenIshallcomehomeandteachdrawingformyliving，“
repliedtheaspirantforfame，withphilosophiccomposure。
Butshemadeawryfaceattheprospect，andscratchedawayatherpaletteasifbentonvigorousmeasuresbeforeshegaveupherhopes。
“No，youwon’t。Youhatehardwork，andyou’llmarrysomerichman，andcomehometositinthelapofluxuryallyourdays，“saidJo。
“Yourpredictionssometimescometopass，butIdon’tbelievethatonewill。I’msureIwishitwould，forifIcan’tbeanartistmyself，Ishouldliketobeabletohelpthosewhoare，“
saidAmy，smiling，asifthepartofLadyBountifulwouldsuitherbetterthanthatofapoordrawingteacher。
“Hum!“saidJo，withasigh。“Ifyouwishityou’llhaveit，foryourwishesarealwaysgranted——minenever。“
“Wouldyouliketogo？“askedAmy，thoughtfullypattinghernosewithherknife。
“Rather!“
“Well，inayearortwoI’llsendforyou，andwe’lldigintheForumforrelics，andcarryoutalltheplanswe’vemadesomanytimes。“
“Thankyou。I’llremindyouofyourpromisewhenthatjoyfuldaycomes，ifiteverdoes，“returnedJo，acceptingthevaguebutmagnificentofferasgratefullyasshecould。
“Therewasnotmuchtimeforpreparation，andthehousewasinafermenttillAmywasoff。Joboreupverywelltillthelastflutterofblueribbonvanished，whensheretiredtoherrefuge，thegarret，andcriedtillshecouldn’tcryanymore。
Amylikewiseboreupstoutlytillthesteamersailed。Thenjustasthegangwaywasabouttobewithdrawn，itsuddenlycameoverherthatawholeoceanwassoontorollbetweenherandthosewholovedherbest，andsheclungtoLaurie，thelastlingerer，sayingwithasob……
“Oh，takecareofthemforme，andifanythingshouldhappen……“
“Iwill，dear，Iwill，andifanythinghappens，I’llcomeandcomfortyou，“whisperedLaurie，littledreamingthathewouldbecalledupontokeephisword。
SoAmysailedawaytofindtheOldWorld，whichisalwaysnewandbeautifultoyoungeyes，whileherfatherandfriendwatchedherfromtheshore，ferventlyhopingthatnonebutgentlefortuneswouldbefallthehappy-heartedgirl，whowavedherhandtothemtilltheycouldseenothingbutthesummersunshinedazzlingonthesea。
LondonDearestPeople，HereIreallysitatafrontwindowoftheBathHotel，Piccadilly。It’snotafashionableplace，butUnclestoppedhereyearsago，andwon’tgoanywhereelse。However，wedon’tmeantostaylong，soit’snogreatmatter。Oh，Ican’tbegintotellyouhowIenjoyitall!Inevercan，soI’llonlygiveyoubitsoutofmynotebook，forI’vedonenothingbutsketchandscribblesinceIstarted。
IsentalinefromHalifax，whenIfeltprettymiserable，butafterthatIgotondelightfully，seldomill，ondeckallday，withplentyofpleasantpeopletoamuseme。Everyonewasverykindtome，especiallytheofficers。Don’tlaugh，Jo，gentlemenreallyareverynecessaryaboardship，toholdonto，ortowaituponone，andastheyhavenothingtodo，it’samercytomakethemuseful，otherwisetheywouldsmokethemselvestodeath，I’mafraid。
AuntandFlowerepoorlyalltheway，andlikedtobeletalone，sowhenIhaddonewhatIcouldforthem，Iwentandenjoyedmyself。Suchwalksondeck，suchsunsets，suchsplendidairandwaves!Itwasalmostasexcitingasridingafasthorse，whenwewentrushingonsograndly。IwishBethcouldhavecome，itwouldhavedonehersomuchgood。AsforJo，shewouldhavegoneupandsatonthemaintopjib，orwhateverthehighthingiscalled，madefriendswiththeengineers，andtootedonthecaptain’sspeakingtrumpet，she’dhavebeeninsuchastateofrapture。
Itwasallheavenly，butIwasgladtoseetheIrishcoast，andfounditverylovely，sogreenandsunny，withbrowncabinshereandthere，ruinsonsomeofthehills，andgentlemen’scountryseatsinthevalleys，withdeerfeedingintheparks。
Itwasearlyinthemorning，butIdidn’tregretgettinguptoseeit，forthebaywasfulloflittleboats，theshoresopicturesque，andarosyskyoverhead。Inevershallforgetit。
AtQueenstownonofmynewacquaintancesleftus，Mr。
Lennox，andwhenIsaidsomethingabouttheLakesofKillarney，hesighedandand，withalookatme……
“Oh，haveyoue’erheardofKateKearney？
ShelivesonthebanksofKillarney；
Fromtheglanceofhereye，Shundangerandfly，Forfatal’stheglanceofKateKearney。“
Wasn’tthatnonsensical？
WeonlystoppedatLiverpoolafewhours。It’sadirty，noisyplace，andIwasgladtoleaveit。Unclerushedoutandboughtapairofdogskingloves，someugly，thickshoes，andanumbrella，andgotshaved`alamuttonchop，thefirstthing。
ThenheflatteredhimselfthathelookedlikeatrueBriton，butthefirsttimehehadthemudcleanedoffhisshoes，thelittlebootblackknewthatanAmericanstoodinthem，andsaid，withagrin，“Thereyerhar，sir。I’vegiven`emthelatestYankeeshine。“ItamusedUncleimmensely。Oh，ImusttellyouwhatthatabsurdLennoxdid!HegothisfriendWard，whocameonwithus，toorderabouquetforme，andthefirstthingI
sawinmyroomwasalovelyone，with“RobertLennox’scompliments，“
onthecard。Wasn’tthatfun，girls？Iliketraveling。
InevershallgettoLondonifIdon’thurry。Thetripwaslikeridingthroughalongpicturegallery，fulloflovelylandscapes。
Thefarmhousesweremydelight，withthatchedroofs，ivyuptotheeaves，latticedwindows，andstoutwomenwithrosychildrenatthedoors。Theverycattlelookedmoretranquilthanours，astheystoodknee-deepinclover，andthehenshadacontentedcluck，asiftheynevergotnervouslikeYankeebiddies。SuchperfectcolorIneversaw，thegrasssogreen，skysoblue，grainsoyellow，woodssodark，Iwasinarapturealltheway。SowasFlo，andwekeptbouncingfromonesidetotheother，tryingtoseeeverythingwhilewewerewhiskingalongattherateofsixtymilesanhour。Auntwastiredandwenttosleep，butUnclereadhisguidebook，andwouldn’tbeastonishedatanything。
Thisisthewaywewenton。Amy，flyingup——“Oh，thatmustbeKenilworth，thatgrayplaceamongthetrees!“Flo，dartingtomywindow——“Howsweet!Wemustgotheresometime，won’twePapa？“Uncle，calmlyadmiringhisboots——“No，mydear，notunlessyouwantbeer，that’sabrewery。“
Apause——thenFlocriedout，“Blessme，there’sagallowsandamangoingup。““Where，where？“shrieksAmy，staringoutattwotallpostswithacrossbeamandsomedanglingchains。“Acolliery，“
remarksUncle，withatwinkleoftheeye。“Here’salovelyflockoflambsalllyingdown，“saysAmy。“See，Papa，aren’ttheypretty？“addedFlosentimentally。“Geese，youngladies，“returnsUncle，inatonethatkeepsusquiettillFlosettlesdowntoenjoytheFLIRTATIONSOFCAPTAINCAVENDISH，andIhavethesceneryalltomyself。
OfcourseitrainedwhenwegottoLondon，andtherewasnothingtobeseenbutfogandumbrellas。Werested，unpacked，andshoppedalittlebetweentheshowers。AuntMarygotmesomenewthings，forIcameoffinsuchahurryIwasn’thalfready。
Awhitehatandbluefeather，amuslindresstomatch，andtheloveliestmantleyoueversaw。ShoppinginRegentStreetisperfectlysplendid。Thingsseemsocheap，niceribbonsonlysixpenceayard。Ilaidinastock，butshallgetmyglovesinParis。Doesn’tthatsoundsortofelegantandrich？
FloandI，forthefunofit，orderedahansomcab，whileAuntandUnclewereout，andwentforadrive，thoughwelearnedafterwardthatitwasn’tthethingforyoungladiestorideinthemalone。Itwassodroll!Forwhenwewereshutinbythewoodenapron，themandrovesofastthatFlowasfrightened，andtoldmetostophim。buthewasupoutsidebehindsomewhere，andIcouldn’tgetathim。Hedidn’thearmecall，norseemeflapmyparasolinfront，andtherewewere，quitehelpless，rattlingaway，andwhirlingaroundcornersatabreakneckpace。
Atlast，inmydespair，Isawalittledoorintheroof，andonpokingitopen，aredeyeappeared，andabeeryvoicesaid……
“Now，then，mum？“
IgavemyorderassoberlyasIcould，andslammingdownthedoor，withan“Aye，aye，mum，“themanmadehishorsewalk，asifgoingtoafuneral。Ipokedagainandsaid，“Alittlefaster，“thenoffhewent，helter-skelterasbefore，andweresignedourselvestoourfate。
Todaywasfair，andwewenttoHydePark，closeby，forwearemorearistocraticthanwelook。TheDukeofDevonshirelivesnear。Ioftenseehisfootmenloungingatthebackgate，andtheDukeofWellington’shouseisnotfaroff。SuchsightsasI
saw，mydear!ItwasasgoodasPunch，fortherewerefatdowagersrollingaboutintheirredandyellowcoaches，withgorgeousJeamesesinsilkstockingsandvelvetcoats，upbehind，andpowderedcoachmeninfront。Smartmaids，withtherosiestchildrenIeversaw，handsomegirls，lookinghalfasleep，dandiesinqueerEnglishhatsandlavenderkidsloungingabout，andtallsoldiers，inshortredjacketsandmuffincapsstuckononeside，lookingsofunnyIlongedtosketchthem。
RottenRowmeans`RoutedeRoi’，ortheking’sway，butnowit’smorelikearidingschoolthananythingelse。Thehorsesaresplendid，andthemen，especiallythegrooms，ridewell，butthewomenarestiff，andbounce，whichisn’taccordingtoourrules。IlongedtoshowthematearingAmericangallop，fortheytrottedsolemnlyupanddown，intheirscanthabitsandhighhats，lookinglikethewomeninatoyNoah’sArk。Everyonerides——oldmen，stoutladies，littlechildren——
andtheyoungfolksdoadealofflirtinghere，Isayapairexchangerosebuds，forit’sthethingtowearoneinthebutton-hole，andIthoughtitratheranicelittleidea。
IntheP。M。toWestminsterAbbey，butdon’texpectmetodescribeit，that’simpossible，soI’llonlysayitwassublime!
ThiseveningwearegoingtoseeFechter，whichwillbeanappropriateendtothehappiestdayofmylife。
It’sverylate，butIcan’tletmylettergointhemorningwithouttellingyouwhathappenedlastevening。Whodoyouthinkcamein，aswewereattea？Laurie’sEnglishfriends，FredandFrankVaughn!Iwassosurprised，forIshouldn’thaveknownthembutforthecards。botharetallfellowswithwhiskers，FredhandsomeintheEnglishstyle，andFrankmuchbetter，forheonlylimpsslightly，andusesnocrutches。TheyhadheardfromLauriewhereweweretobe，andcametoaskustotheirhouse，butUnclewon’tgo，soweshallreturnthecall，andseethemaswecan。Theywenttothetheaterwithus，andwedidhavesuchagoodtime，forFrankdevotedhimselftoFlo，andFredandItalkedoverpast，present，andfuturefunasifwehadknoweachotherallourdays。TellBethFrankaskedforher，andwassorrytohearofherillhealth。FredlaughedwhenI
spokeofJo，andsenthis`respectfulcomplimentstothebighat’。
NeitherofthemhadforgottenCampLaurence，orthefunwehadthere。Whatagesagoitseems，doesn’tit？
Auntistappingonthewallforthethirdtime，soImuststop。IreallyfeellikeadissipatedLondonfinelady，writingheresolate，withmyroomfullofprettythings，andmyheadajumbleofparks，theaters，newgowns，andgallantcreatureswhosay“Ah!“andtwirltheirblondmustacheswiththetrueEnglishlordliness。Ilongtoseeyouall，andinspiteofmynonsenseam，asever，yourloving