“Iwassureshewouldthinkbetterofit。Pooroldfellow!
I’vebeenthroughitall，andIcansympathize。“
Withthatheheavedagreatsigh，andthen，asifhehaddischargedhisdutytothepast，puthisfeetuponthesofaandenjoyedAmy’sletterluxuriously。
Whilethesechangesweregoingonabroad，troublehadcomeathome。ButthelettertellingthatBethwasfailingneverreachedAmy，andwhenthenextfoundheratVevay，fortheheathaddriventhemfromNiceinMay，andtheyhadtravelledslowlytoSwitzerland，bywayofGenoaandtheItalianlakes。Sheboreitverywell，andquietlysubmittedtothefamilydecreethatsheshouldnotshortenhervisit，forsinceitwastoolatetosaygoodbyetoBeth，shehadbetterstay，andletabsencesoftenhersorrow。Butherheartwasveryheavy，shelongedtobeathome，andeverydaylookedwistfullyacrossthelake，waitingforLaurietocomeandcomforther。
Hedidcomeverysoon，forthesamemailbroughtletterstothemboth，buthewasinGermany，andittooksomedaystoreachhim。Themomenthereadit，hepackedhisknapsack，badeadieutohisfellowpedestrians，andwasofftokeephispromise，withaheartfullofjoyandsorrow，hopeandsuspense。
HeknewVevaywell，andassoonastheboattouchedthelittlequay，hehurriedalongtheshoretoLaTour，wheretheCarrolswerelivingenpension。Thegarconwasindespairthatthewholefamilyhadgonetotakeapromenadeonthelake，butno，theblondemademoisellemightbeinthechateaugarden。Ifmonsierwouldgivehimselfthepainofsittingdown，aflashoftimeshouldpresenther。Butmonsieurcouldnotwaitevena`flashoftime’，andinthemiddleofthespeechdepartedtofindmademoisellehimself。
Apleasantoldgardenonthebordersofthelovelylake，withchestnutsrustlingoverhead，ivyclimbingeverywhere，andtheblackshadowofthetowerfallingfaracrossthesunnywater。Atonecornerofthewide，lowwallwasaseat，andhereAmyoftencametoreadorwork，orconsoleherselfwiththebeautyallabouther。Shewassittingherethatday，leaningherheadonherhand，withahomesickheartandheavyeyes，thinkingofBethandwonderingwhyLauriedidnotcome。Shedidnothearhimcrossthecourtyardbeyond，norseehimpauseinthearchwaythatledfromthesubterraneanpathintothegarden。Hestoodaminutelookingatherwithneweyes，seeingwhatnoonehadeverseenbefore，thetendersideofAmy’scharacter。
Everythingabouthermutelysuggestedloveandsorrow，theblottedlettersinherlap，theblackribbonthattiedupherhair，thewomanlypainandpatienceinherface，eventhelittleebonycrossatherthroatseemedpathetictoLaurie，forhehadgivenittoher，andsheworeitasheronlyornament。
Ifhehadanydoubtsaboutthereceptionshewouldgivehim，theyweresetatresttheminuteshelookedupandsawhim，fordroppingeverything，sherantohim，exclaiminginatoneofunmistakableloveandlonging……
“Oh，Laurie，Laurie，Iknewyou’dcometome!“
Ithinkeverythingwassaidandsettledthen，forastheystoodtogetherquitesilentforamoment，withthedarkheadbentdownprotectinglyoverthelightone，AmyfeltthatnoonecouldcomfortandsustainhersowellasLaurie，andLauriedecidedthatAmywastheonlywomanintheworldwhocouldfillJo’splaceandmakehimhappy。Hedidnottellherso，butshewasnotdisappointed，forbothfeltthetruth，weresatisfied，andgladlylefttheresttosilence。
InaminuteAmywentbacktoherplace，andwhileshedriedhertears，Lauriegatheredupthescatteredpapers，findinginthesightofsundrywell-wornlettersandsuggestivesketchesgoodomensforthefuture。Ashesatdownbesideher，amyfeltshyagain，andturnedrosyredattherecollectionofherimpulsivegreeting。
“Icouldn’thelpit，Ifeltsolonelyandsad，andwassoverygladtoseeyou。Itwassuchasurprisetolookupandfindyou，justasIwasbeginningtofearyouwouldn’tcome，“shesaid，tryinginvaintospeakquitenaturally。
“IcametheminuteIheard。IwishIcouldsaysomethingtocomfortyouforthelossofdearlittleBeth，butIcanonlyfeel，and……“Hecouldnotgetanyfurther，forhertooturnedbashfulallofasudden，anddidnotquiteknowwhattosay。HelongedtolayAmy’sheaddownonhisshoulder，andtellhertohaveagoodcry，buthedidnotdare，sotookherhandinstead，andgaveitasympatheticsqueezethatwasbetterthanwords。
“Youneedn’tsayanything，thiscomfortsme，“shesaidsoftly。“Bethiswellandhappy，andImustn’twishherback，butIdreadthegoinghome，muchasIlongtoseethemall。
Wewon’ttalkaboutitnow，foritmakesmecry，andIwanttoenjoyyouwhileyoustay。Youneedn’tgorightback，needyou？“
“Notifyouwantme，dear。“
“Ido，somuch。AuntandFloareverykind，butyouseemlikeoneofthefamily，anditwouldbesocomfortabletohaveyouforalittlewhile。“
AmyspokeandlookedsolikeahomesickchildwhoseheartwasfullthatLaurieforgothisbashfulnessallatonce，andgaveherjustwhatshewanted——thepettingshewasusedtoandthecheerfulconversationsheneeded。
“Poorlittlesoul，youlookasifyou’dgrievedyourselfhalfsick!I’mgoingtotakecareofyou，sodon’tcryanymore，butcomeandwalkaboutwithme，thewindistoochillyforyoutositstill，“hesaid，inthehalf-caressing，half-commandingwaythatAmyliked，ashetiedonherhat，drewherarmthroughhis，andbegantopaceupanddownthesunnywalkunderthenew-leavedchestnuts。Hefeltmoreateaseuponhislegs，andAmyfounditpleasanttohaveastrongarmtoleanupon，afamiliarfacetosmileather，andakindvoicetotalkdelightfullyforheralone。
Thequaintoldgardenhadshelteredmanypairsoflovers，andseemedexpresslymadeforthem，sosunnyandsecludedwasit，withnothingbutthetowertooverlookthem，andthewidelaketocarryawaytheechooftheirwords，asitrippledbybelow。Foranhourthisnewpairwalkedandtalked，orrestedonthewall，enjoyingthesweetinfluenceswhichgavesuchacharmtotimeandplace，andwhenanunromanticdinnerbellwarnedthemaway，Amyfeltasifsheleftherburdenoflonlinessandsorrowbehindherinthechateaugarden。
ThemomentMrs。Carrolsawthegirl’salteredface，shewasilluminatedwithanewidea，andexclaimedtoherself，“NowIunderstanditall——thechildhasbeenpiningforyoungLaurence。Blessmyheart，Ineverthoughtofsuchathing!“
Withpraiseworthydiscretion，thegoodladysaidnothing，andbetrayednosignofenlightenment，butcordiallyurgedLaurietostayandbeggedAmytoenjoyhissociety，foritwoulddohermoregoodthansomuchsolitude。Amywasamodelofdocility，andasherauntwasagooddealoccupiedwithFlo，shewaslefttoentertainherfriend，anddiditwithmorethanherusualsuccess。
AtNice，LauriehadloungedandAmyhadscolded。AtVevay，Lauriewasneveridle，butalwayswalking，riding，boating，orstudyinginthemostenergeticmanner，whileAmyadmiredeverythinghedidandfollowedhisexampleasfarandasfastasshecould。Hesaidthechangewasowingtotheclimate，andshedidnotcontradicthim，beinggladofalikeexcuseforherownrecoveredhealthandspirits。
Theinvigoratingairdidthembothgood，andmuchexerciseworkedwholesomechangesinmindsaswellasbodies。
Theyseemedtogetclearerviewsoflifeanddutyupthereamongtheeverlastinghills。Thefreshwindsblewawaydespondingdoubts，delusivefancies，andmoodymists。Thewarmspringsunshinebroughtoutallsortsofaspiringideas，tenderhopes，andhappythoughts。Thelakeseemedtowashawaythetroublesofthepast，andthegrandoldmountainstolookbenignlydownuponthemsaying，“Littlechildren，loveoneanother。“
Inspiteofthenewsorrow，itwasaveryhappytime，sohappythatLauriecouldnotbeartodisturbitbyaword。Ittookhimalittlewhiletorecoverfromhissurpriseatthecureofhisfirst，andashehadfirmlybelieved，hislastandonlylove。HeconsoledhimselffortheseemingdisloyaltybythethoughtthatJo’ssisterwasalmostthesameasJo’sself，andtheconvictionthatitwouldhavebeenimpossibletoloveanyotherwomanbutAmysosoonandsowell。Hisfirstwooinghadbeenofthetempestuousorder，andhelookedbackupon；itasifthroughalongvistaofyearswithafeelingofcompassionblendedwithregret。Hewasnotashamedofit，butputitawayasoneofthebitter-sweetexperiencesofhislife，forwhichhecouldbegratefulwhenthepainwasover。
Hissecondwooing，heresolved，shouldbeascalmandsimpleaspossible。Therewasnoneedofhavingascene，hardlyanyneedoftellingAmythathelovedher，sheknewitwithoutwordsandhadgivenhimhisanswerlongago。Itallcameaboutsonaturallythatnoonecouldcomplain，andheknewthateverybodywouldbepleased，evenJo。Butwhenourfirstlittlepassionhasbeencrushed，weareapttobewaryandslowinmakingasecondtrial，soLaurieletthedayspass，enjoyingeveryhour，andleavingtochancetheutteranceofthewordthatwouldputanendtothefirstandsweetestpartofhisnewromance。
Hehadratherimaginedthatthedenoumentwouldtakeplaceinthechateaugardenbymoonlight，andinthemostgracefulanddecorusmanner，butitturnedoutexactlythereverse，forthematterwassettledonthelakeatnoondayinafewbluntwords。
Theyhadbeenfloatingaboutallthemorning，fromgloomySt。GingolftosunnyMontreux，withtheAlpsofSavoyononeside，MontSt。BernardandtheDentduMidiontheother，prettyVevayinthevalley，andLausanneuponthehillbeyond，acloudlessblueskyoverhead，andthebluerlakebelow，dottedwiththepicturesqueboatsthatlooklikewhite-wingedgulls。
TheyhadbeentalkingofBonnivard，astheyglidedpastChillon，andofRousseau，astheylookedupatClarens，wherehewrotehisHeloise。Neitherhadreadit，buttheyknewitwasalovestory，andeachprivatelywonderedifitwashalfasinterestingastheirown。Amyhadbeendabblingherhandinthewaterduringthelittlepausethatfellbetweenthem，andwhenshelookedup，Lauriewasleaningonhisoarswithanexpressioninhiseyesthatmadehersayhastily，merelyforthesakeofsayingsomething……
“Youmustbetired。Restalittle，andletmerow。Itwilldomegood，forsinceyoucameIhavebeenaltogetherlazyandluxurious。“
“I’mnottired，butyoumaytakeanoar，ifyoulike。There’sroomenough，thoughIhavetositnearlyinthemiddle，elsetheboatwon’ttrim，“returnedLaurie，asifheratherlikedthearrangment。
Feelingthatshehadnotmendedmattersmuch，Amytooktheofferedthirdofaseat，shookherhairoverherface，andacceptedanoar。Sherowedaswellasshedidmanyotherthings，andthoughsheusedbothhands，andLauriebutone，theoarskepttime，andtheboatwentsmoothlythroughthewater。
“Howwellwepulltogether，don’twe？“saidAmy，whoobjectedtosilencejustthen。
“SowellthatIwishwemightalwayspullinthesameboat。
Willyou，Amy？“verytenderly。
“Yes，Laurie，“verylow。
Thentheybothstoppedrowing，andunconsciouslyaddedaprettylittletableauofhumanloveandhappinesstothedissolvingviewsreflectedinthelake。
Itwaseasytopromiseself-abnegationwhenselfwaswrappedupinanother，andheartandsoulwerepurifiedbyasweetexample。Butwhenthehelpfulvoicewassilent，thedailylessonover，thebelovedpresencegone，andnothingremainedbutlonlinessandgrief，thenJofoundherpromiseveryhardtokeep。Howcouldshe`comfortFatherandMother’whenherownheartachedwithaceaselesslongingforhersister，howcouldshe`makethehousecheerful’whenallitslightandwarmthandbeautyseemedtohavedeserteditwhenBethlefttheoldhomeforthenew，andwhereinalltheworldcouldshe`findsomeuseful，happyworktodo’，thatwouldtaketheplaceofthelovingservicewhichhadbeenitsownreward？Shetriedinablind，hopelesswaytodoherduty，secretlyrebellingagainstitallthewhile，foritseemedunjustthatherfewjoysshouldbelessened，herburdensmadeheavier，andlifegetharderandharderasshetoiledalong。Somepeopleseemedtogetallsunshine，andsomeallshadow。Itwasnotfair，forshetriedmorethanAmytobegood，butnevergotanyreward，onlydisappointment，troubleandhardwork。
PoorJo，theseweredarkdaystoher，forsomethinglikedespaircameoverherwhenshethoughtofspendingallherlifeinthatquiethouse，devotedtohumdrumcares，afewsmallpleasures，andthedutythatneverseemedtogrowanyeasier。“Ican’tdoit。
Iwasn’tmeantforalifelikethis，andIknowIshallbreakawayanddosomethingdesperateifsomebodydoesn’tcomeandhelpme，“
shesaidtoherself，whenherfirsteffortsfailedandshefellintothemoody，miserablestateofmindwhichoftencomeswhenstrongwillshavetoyieldtotheinevitable。
Butsomeonedidcomeandhelpher，thoughJodidnotrecognizehergoodangelsatoncebecausetheyworefamiliarshapesandusedthesimplespellsbestfittedtopoorhumanity。Oftenshestartedupatnight，thinkingBethcalledher，andwhenthesightofthelittleemptybedmadehercrywiththebittercryofunsubmissivesorrow，“Oh，Beth，comeback!Comeback!“shedidnotstretchoutheryearningarmsinvain。For，asquicktohearhersobbingasshehadbeentohearhersister’sfaintestwhisper，hermothercametocomforther，notwithwordsonly，butthepatienttendernessthatsoothesbyatouch，tearsthatweremuteremindersofagreatergriefthanJo’s，andbrokenwhispers，moreeloquentthanprayers，becausehopefulresignationwenthand-in-handwithnaturalsorrow。