“Hereareyourflowers。Iarrangedthemmyself，rememberingthatyoudidn’tlikewhatHannahcallsa`sot-bookay’，saidLaurie，handingheradelicatenosegay，inaholderthatshehadlongcovetedasshedailypasseditinCardiglia’swindow。
“Howkindyouare!“sheexclaimedgratefully。“IfI’dknownyouwerecomingI’dhavehadsomethingreadyforyoutoday，thoughnotasprettyasthis，I’mafraid。“
“Thankyou。Itisn’twhatitshouldbe，butyouhaveimprovedit，“
headded，asshesnappedthesilverbraceletonherwrist。
“Pleasedon’t。“
“Ithoughtyoulikedthatsortofthing。“
“Notfromyou，itdoesn’tsoundnatural，andIlikeyouroldbluntnessbetter。“
“I’mgladofit，“heanswered，withalookofrelief，thenbuttonedherglovesforher，andaskedifhistiewasstraight，justasheusedtodowhentheywenttopartiestogetherathome。
ThecompanyassembledinthelongsalleamangerthateveningwassuchasoneseesnowherebutontheContinent。ThehospitableAmericanshadinvitedeveryacquaintancetheyhadinNice，andhavingnoprejudiceagainsttitles，securedafewtoaddlustertotheirChristmasball。
ARussianprincecondescendedtositinacornerforanhourandtalkwithamassivelady，dressedlikeHamlet’smotherinblackvelvetwithapearlbridleunderherchin。APolishcount，agedeighteen，devotedhimselftotheladies，whopronouncedhim，`afascinatingdear’，andaGermanSereneSomething，havingcometosupperalone，roamedvaguelyabout，seekingwhathemightdevour。BaronRothschild’sprivatesecretary，alargenosedJewintightboots，affablybeamedupontheworld，asifhismaster’snamecrownedhimwithagoldenhalo。AstoutFrenchman，whoknewtheEmperor，cametoindulgehismaniafordancing，andLadydeJones，aBritishmatron，adornedthescenewithherlittlefamilyofeight。Ofcourse，thereweremanylight-footed，shrill-voicedAmericangirls，handsome，lifeless-lookingEnglishditto，andafewplainbutpiquanteFrenchdemoiselles，likewisetheusualsetoftravelingyounggentlemenwhodisportedthemselvesgaily，whilemammasofallnationslinedthewallsandsmileduponthembenignlywhentheydancedwiththeirdaughters。
AnyyounggirlcanimagineAmy’sstateofmindwhenshe`tookthestage’thatnight，leaningonLaurie’sarm。Sheknewshelookedwell，shelovedtodance，shefeltthatherfootwasonhernativeheathinaballroom，andenjoyedthedelightfulsenseofpowerwhichcomeswhenyounggirlsfirstdiscoverthenewandlovelykingdomtheyareborntorulebyvirtueofbeauty，youth，andwomanhood。ShedidpitytheDavisgirls，whowereawkward，plain，anddestituteofescort，exceptagrimpapaandthreegrimmermaidenaunts，andshebowedtotheminherfriendliestmannerasshepassed，whichwasgoodofher，asitpermittedthemtoseeherdress，andburnwithcuriositytoknowwhoherdistinguished-lookingfriendmightbe。Withthefirstburstoftheband，Amy’scolorrose，hereyesbegantosparkle，andherfeettotapthefloorimpatiently，forshedancedwellandwantedLaurietoknowit。Thereforetheshockshereceivedcanbetterbeimaginedthandescribed，whenhesaidinaperfectlytranquiltone，“Doyoucaretodance？“
“Oneusuallydoesataball。“
HeramazedlookandquickanswercausedLaurietorepairhiserrorasfastaspossible。
“Imeantthefirstdance。MayIhavethehonor？“
“IcangiveyouoneifIputofftheCount。Hedancesdevinely，buthewillexcuseme，asyouareanoldfriend，“saidAmy，hopingthatthenamewouldhaveagoodeffect，andshowLauriethatshewasnottobetrifledwith。
“Nicelittleboy，butratherashortPoletosupport……
Adaughterofthegods，Devinelytall，andmostdevinelyfair，“
wasallthesatisfactionshegot，however。
ThesetinwhichtheyfoundthemselveswascomposedofEnglish，andAmywascompelledtowalkdecorouslythroughacotillion，feelingallthewhileasifshecoulddancethetarantellawithrelish。Laurieresignedhertothe`nicelittleboy’，andwenttodohisdutytoFlo，withoutsecuringAmyforthejoystocome，whichreprehensiblewantofforethoughtwasproperlypunished，forsheimmediatelyengagedherselftillsupper，meaningtorelentifhethengaveanysignspenitence。
Sheshowedhimherballbookwithdemuresatisfactionwhenhestrolledinsteadofrusheduptoclaimherforthenext，agloriouspolkaredowa。Buthispoliteregretsdidn’timposeuponher，andwhenshegallopedawaywiththeCount，shesawLauriesitdownbyherauntwithanactualexpressionofrelief。
Thatwasunpardonable，andAmytooknomorenoticeofhimforalongwhile，exceptawordnowandthenwhenshecametoherchaperonbetweenthedancesforanecessarypinoramoment’srest。Herangerhadagoodeffect，however，forshehiditunderasmilingface，andseemedunusuallyblitheandbrilliant。Laurie’seyesfollowedherwithpleasure，forsheneitherrompednorsauntered，butdancedwithspiritandgrace，makingthedelightsomepastimewhatitshouldbe。Heverynaturallyfelltostudyingherfromthisnewpointofview，andbeforetheeveningwashalfover，haddecidedthat`littleAmywasgoingtomakeaverycharmingwoman’。
Itwasalivelyscene，forsoonthespiritofthesocialseasontookpossessionofeveryone，andChristmasmerrimentmadeallfacesshine，heartshappy，andheelslight。Themusiciansfiddled，tooted，andbangedasiftheyenjoyedit，everybodydancedwhocould，andthosewhocouldn’tadmiredtheirneighborswithuncommonwarmth。TheairwasdarkwithDavises，andmanyJonesgamboledlikeaflockofyounggiraffes。Thegoldensecretarydartedthroughtheroomlikeameteorwithadashingfrenchwomanwhocarpedthefloorwithherpinksatintrain。ThesereneTeutonfoundthesuppertableandwashappy，eatingsteadilythroughthebilloffare，anddismayedthegarconsbytheravageshecommitted。ButtheEmperor’sfriendcoveredhimselfwithglory，forhedancedeverything，whetherheknewitornot，andintroducedimpromptupirouetteswhenthefiguresbewilderedhim。Theboyishabandonofthatstoutmanwascharmingtobehold，forthoughhe`carriedweight’，hedancedlikeanIndia-rubberball。Heran，heflew，hepranced，hisfaceglowed，hisbaldheadshown，hiscoattailswavedwildly，hispumpsactuallytwinkledintheair，andwhenthemusicstopped，hewipedthedropsfromhisbrow，andbeameduponhisfellowmenlikeaFrenchPickwickwithoutglasses。
AmyandherPoledistinguishedthemselvesbyequalenthusiasmbutmoregracefulagility，andLauriefoundhimselfinvoluntarilykeepingtimetotherhythmicriseandfallofthewhiteslippersastheyflewbyasindefatigablyasifwinged。
WhenlittleVladimirfinallyrelinquishedher，withassurancesthathewas`desolatedtoleavesoearly’，shewasreadytorest，andseehowherrecreantknighthadbornehispunishment。
Ithadbeensuccessful，foratthree-and-twenty，blightedaffectionsfindabalminfriendlysociety，andyoungnerveswillthrill，youngblooddance，andhealthyyoungspiritsrise，whensubjectedtotheenchantmentofbeauty，light，music，andmotion。Lauriehadawaked-uplookasherosetogiveherhisseat，andwhenhehurriedawaytobringhersomesupper，shesaidtoherself，withasatisfiedsmile，“Ah，Ithoughtthatwoulddohimgood!“
“YoulooklikeBalzac’s`FEMMEPEINTEPARELLE-NENE’，“
hesaid，ashefannedherwithonehandandheldhercoffeecupintheother。
“Myrougewon’tcomeoff。“AndAmyrubbedherbrilliantcheek，andshowedhimherwhiteglovewithasobersimplicitythatmadehimlaughoutright。
“Whatdoyoucallthisstuff？“heasked，touchingafoldofherdressthathadblownoverhisknee。
“Illusion。“
“Goodnameforit。It’sverypretty——newthing，isn’tit？“
“It’sasoldasthehills。Youhaveseenitondozensofgirls，andyouneverfoundoutthatitwasprettytillnow？
Stupide!“
“Ineversawitonyoubefore，whichaccountsforthemistake，yousee。“
“Noneofthat，itisforbidden。I’drathertakecoffeethancomplimentsjustnow。No，don’tlounge，itmakesmenervous。“
Lauriesatboldupright，andmeeklytookheremptyplatefeelinganoddsortofpleasureinhaving`littleAmy’orderhimabout，forshehadlosthershynessnow，andfeltanirrestibledesiretotrampleonhim，asgirlshaveadelightfulwayofdoingwhenlordsofcreationshowanysignsofsubjection。
“Wheredidyoulearnallthissortofthing？“heaskedwithaquizzicallook。
“As`thissortofthing’isratheravagueexpression，wouldyoukindlyexplain？“returnedAmy，knowingperfectlywellwhathemeant，butwickedlyleavinghimtodescribewhatisindescribable。
“Well——thegeneralair，thestyle，theself-possession，the——
the——illusion——youknow“，laughedLaurie，breakingdownandhelpinghimselfoutofhisquandarywiththenewword。
Amywasgratified，butofcoursedidn’tshowit，anddemurelyanswered，“Foreignlifepolishesoneinspiteofone’sself。I
studyaswellasplay，andasforthis“——withalittlegesturetowardherdress——“why，tulleischeap，posiestobehadfornothing，andIamusedtomakingthemostofmypoorlittlethings。“
Amyratherregrettedthatlastsentence，fearingitwasn’tingoodtaste，butLaurielikedherbetterforit，andfoundhimselfbothadmiringandrespectingthebravepatiencethatmadethemostofopportunity，andthecheerfulspiritthatcoveredpovertywithflowers。Amydidnotknowwhyhelookedathersokindly，nowwhyhefilledupherbookwithhisownname，anddevotedhimselftoherfortherestoftheeveninginthemostdelightfulmanner，buttheimpulsethatwroughtthisagreeablechangewastheresultofoneofthenewimpressionswhichbothofthemwereunconsciouslygivingandreceiving。
Chapter38CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT
InFrancetheyounggirlshaveadulltimeofittilltheyaremarried，when`Vivelaliberte!’becomestheirmotto。InAmerica，aseveryoneknows，girlsearlysignthedeclarationofindependence，andenjoytheirfreedomwithrepublicanzest，buttheyoungmatronsusuallyabdicatewiththefirstheirtothethroneandgointoaseclusionalmostascloseasaFrenchnunnery，thoughbynomeansasquiet。Whethertheylikeitornot，theyarevirtuallyputupontheshelfassoonastheweddingexcitementisover，andmostofthemmightexclaim，asdidaveryprettywomantheotherday，“I’mashandsomeasever，butnoonetakesanynoticeofmebecauseI’mmarried。“
Notbeingabelleorevenafashionablelady，Megdidnotexperiencethisafflictiontillherbabieswereayearold，forinherlittleworldprimitivecustomsprevailed，andshefoundherselfmoreadmiredandbelovedthanever。
Asshewasawomanlylittlewoman，thematernalinstinctwasverystrong，andshewasentirelyabsorbedinherchildren，totheutterexclusionofeverythingandeverybodyelse。Dayandnightshebroodedoverthemwithtirelessdevotionandanxiety，leavingJohntothetendermerciesofthehelp，foranIrishladynowpresidedoverthekitchendepartment。Beingadomesticman，Johndecidedlymissedthewifelyattentionshehadbeenaccustomedtoreceive，butasheadoredhisbabies，hecheerfullyrelinquishedhiscomfortforatime，supposingwithmasculineignorancethatpeacewouldsoonberestored。Butthreemonthspassed，andtherewasnoreturnofrepose。Meglookedwornandnervous，thebabiesabsorbedeveryminuteofhertime，thehousewasneglected，andKitty，thecook，whotooklife`aisy’，kepthimonshortcommons。Whenhewentoutinthemorninghewasbewilderedbysmallcommissionsforthecaptivemamma，ifhecamegailyinatnight，eagertoembracehisfamily，hewasquenchedbya“Hush!Theyarejustasleepafterworryingallday。“Ifheproposedalittleamusementathome，“No，itwoulddisturbthebabies。“Ifhehintedatalectureoraconcert，hewasansweredwithareproachfullook，andadecided“Leavemychildrenforpleasure，never!“Hissleepwasbrokenbyinfantwailsandvisionsofaphantomfigurepacingnoiselesslytoandfrointhewatchesofthenight。Hismealswereinterruptedbythefrequentflightofthepresidinggenius，whodesertedhim，half-helped，ifamuffledchirpsoundedfromthenestabove。Andwhenhereadhispaperofanevening，Demi’scolicgotintotheshippinglistandDaisy’sfallaffectedthepriceofstocks，forMrs。Brookewasonlyinterestedindomesticnews。
Thepoormanwasveryuncomfortable，forthechildrenhadberefthimofhiswife，homewasmerelyanurseryandtheperpetual`hushing’madehimfeellikeabrutalintruderwheneverheenteredthesacredprecinctsofBabyland。Heboreitverypatientlyforsixmonths，andwhennosignsofamendmentappeared，hedidwhatotherpaternalexilesdo——triedtogetalittlecomfortelsewhere。Scotthadmarriedandgonetohousekeepingnotfaroff，andJohnfellintothewayofrunningoverforanhourortwoofanevening，whenhisownparlorwasempty，andhisownwifesinginglullabiesthatseemedtohavenoend。Mrs。
Scottwasalively，prettygirl，withnothingtodobutbeagreeable，andsheperformedhermissionmostsuccessfully。Theparlorwasalwaysbrightandattractive，thechessboardready，thepianointune，plentyofgaygossip，andanicelittlesuppersetforthintemptingstyle。