“Please，sir，isthisPlumfield？“askedaraggedboyofthemanwhoopenedthegreatgateatwhichtheomnibuslefthim。
“Yes。Whosentyou？“
“Mr。Laurence。Ihavegotaletterforthelady。“
“Allright；gouptothehouse，andgiveittoher；she’llseetoyou，littlechap。“
Themanspokepleasantly，andtheboywenton，feelingmuchcheeredbythewords。Throughthesoftspringrainthatfellonsproutinggrassandbuddingtrees，Natsawalargesquarehousebeforehim­；ahospitable-lookinghouse，withanold-fashionedporch，widesteps，andlightsshininginmanywindows。Neithercurtainsnorshuttershidthecheerfulglimmer；and，pausingamomentbeforeherang，Natsawmanylittleshadowsdancingonthewalls，heardthepleasanthumofyoungvoices，andfeltthatitwashardlypossiblethatthelightandwarmthandcomfortwithincouldbeforahomeless“littlechap“likehim。
“Ihopetheladywillseetome，“hethought，andgaveatimidrapwiththegreatbronzeknocker，whichwasajovialgriffin’shead。
Arosy-facedservant-maidopenedthedoor，andsmiledasshetooktheletterwhichhesilentlyoffered。Sheseemedusedtoreceivingstrangeboys，forshepointedtoaseatinthehall，andsaid，withanod：
“Sitthereanddriponthematabit，whileItakethisintomissis。“
Natfoundplentytoamusehimwhilehewaited，andstaredabouthimcuriously，enjoyingtheview，yetgladtodosounobservedintheduskyrecessbythedoor。
Thehouseseemedswarmingwithboys，whowerebeguilingtherainytwilightwithallsortsofamusements。Therewereboyseverywhere，“up-stairsanddown-stairsandinthelady’schamber，“apparently，forvariousopendoorsshowedpleasantgroupsofbigboys，littleboys，andmiddle-sizedboysinallstagesofeveningrelaxation，nottosayeffervescence。Twolargeroomsontherightwereevidentlyschoolrooms，fordesks，maps，blackboards，andbookswerescatteredabout。Anopenfireburnedonthehearth，andseveralindolentladslayontheirbacksbeforeit，discussinganewcricket-ground，withsuchanimationthattheirbootswavedintheair。Atallyouthwaspractisingonthefluteinonecorner，quiteundisturbedbytheracketallabouthim。Twoorthreeotherswerejumpingoverthedesks，pausing，nowandthen，togettheirbreathandlaughatthedrollsketchesofalittlewagwhowascaricaturingthewholehouseholdonablackboard。
Intheroomontheleftalongsupper-tablewasseen，setforthwithgreatpitchersofnewmilk，pilesofbrownandwhitebread，andperfectstacksoftheshinygingerbreadsodeartoboyishsouls。Aflavoroftoastwasintheair，alsosuggestionsofbakedapples，verytantalizingtoonehungrylittlenoseandstomach。
Thehall，however，presentedthemostinvitingprospectofall，forabriskgameoftagwasgoingonintheupperentry。Onelandingwasdevotedtomarbles，theothertocheckers，whilethestairswereoccupiedbyaboyreading，agirlsingingalullabytoherdoll，twopuppies，akitten，andaconstantsuccessionofsmallboysslidingdownthebanisters，tothegreatdetrimentoftheirclothesanddangertotheirlimbs。
SoabsorbeddidNatbecomeinthisexcitingrace，thatheventuredfartherandfartheroutofhiscorner；andwhenoneverylivelyboycamedownsoswiftlythathecouldnotstophimself，butfelloffthebanisters，withacrashthatwouldhavebrokenanyheadbutonerenderednearlyashardasacannon-ballbyelevenyearsofconstantbumping，Natforgothimself，andranuptothefallenrider，expectingtofindhimhalf-dead。Theboy，however，onlywinkedrapidlyforasecond，thenlaycalmlylookingupatthenewfacewithasurprised，“Hullo!“
“Hullo!“returnedNat，notknowingwhatelsetosay，andthinkingthatformofreplybothbriefandeasy。
“Areyouanewboy？“askedtherecumbentyouth，withoutstirring。
“Don’tknowyet。“
“What’syourname？“
“NatBlake。“
“Mine’sTommyBangs。Comeupandhaveago，willyou？“andTommygotuponhislegslikeonesuddenlyrememberingthedutiesofhospitality。
“GuessIwon’t，tillIseewhetherI’mgoingtostayornot，“returnedNat，feelingthedesiretostayincreaseeverymoment。
“Isay，Demi，here’sanewone。Comeandseetohim；“andthelivelyThomasreturnedtohissportwithunabatedrelish。
Athiscall，theboyreadingonthestairslookedupwithapairofbigbrowneyes，andafteraninstant’spause，asifalittleshy，heputthebookunderhisarm，andcamesoberlydowntogreetthenew-comer，whofoundsomethingveryattractiveinthepleasantfaceofthisslender，mild-eyedboy。
“HaveyouseenAuntJo？“heasked，asifthatwassomesortofimportantceremony。
“Ihaven’tseenanybodyyetbutyouboys；I’mwaiting，“answeredNat。
“DidUncleLauriesendyou？“proceededDemi，politely，butgravely。
“Mr。Laurencedid。“
“HeisUncleLaurie；andhealwayssendsniceboys。“
Natlookedgratifiedattheremark，andsmiled，inawaythatmadehisthinfaceverypleasant。Hedidnotknowwhattosaynext，sothetwostoodstaringatoneanotherinfriendlysilence，tillthelittlegirlcameupwithherdollinherarms。ShewasverylikeDemi，onlynotsotall，andhadarounder，rosierface，andblueeyes。
“Thisismysister，Daisy，“announcedDemi，asifpresentingarareandpreciouscreature。
Thechildrennoddedtooneanother；andthelittlegirl’sfacedimpledwithpleasure，asshesaidaffably：
“Ihopeyou’llstay。Wehavesuchgoodtimeshere；don’twe，Demi？“
“Ofcourse，wedo：that’swhatAuntJohasPlumfieldfor。“
“Itseemsaveryniceplaceindeed，“observedNat，feelingthathemustrespondtotheseamiableyoungpersons。
“It’sthenicestplaceintheworld，isn’tit，Demi？“saidDaisy，whoevidentlyregardedherbrotherasauthorityonallsubjects。
“No，IthinkGreenland，wheretheicebergsandsealsare，ismoreinteresting。
ButI’mfondofPlumfield，anditisaveryniceplacetobein，“returnedDemi，whowasinterestedjustnowinabookonGreenland。HewasabouttooffertoshowNatthepicturesandexplainthem，whentheservantreturned，sayingwithanodtowardtheparlor-door：
“Allright；youaretostop。“
“I’mglad；nowcometoAuntJo。“AndDaisytookhimbythehandwithaprettyprotectingair，whichmadeNatfeelathomeatonce。
Demireturnedtohisbelovedbook，whilehissisterledthenew-comerintoabackroom，whereastoutgentlemanwasfrolickingwithtwolittleboysonthesofa，andathinladywasjustfinishingtheletterwhichsheseemedtohavebeenre-reading。
“Hereheis，aunty!“criedDaisy。
“Sothisismynewboy？Iamgladtoseeyou，mydear，andhopeyou’llbehappyhere，“saidthelady，drawinghimtoher，andstrokingbackthehairfromhisforeheadwithakindhandandamotherlylook，whichmadeNat’slonelylittleheartyearntowardher。
Shewasnotatallhandsome，butshehadamerrysortoffacethatneverseemedtohaveforgottencertainchildishwaysandlooks，anymorethanhervoiceandmannerhad；andthesethings，hardtodescribebutveryplaintoseeandfeel，madeheragenial，comfortablekindofperson，easytogetonwith，andgenerally“jolly，“asboyswouldsay。ShesawthelittletrembleofNat’slipsasshesmoothedhishair，andherkeeneyesgrewsofter，butsheonlydrewtheshabbyfigurenearerandsaid，laughing：
“IamMotherBhaer，thatgentlemanisFatherBhaer，andthesearethetwolittleBhaers。­；Comehere，boys，andseeNat。“
Thethreewrestlersobeyedatonce；andthestoutman，withachubbychildoneachshoulder，cameuptowelcomethenewboy。RobandTeddymerelygrinnedathim，butMr。Bhaershookhands，andpointingtoalowchairnearthefire，said，inacordialvoice：
“Thereisaplaceallreadyforthee，myson；sitdownanddrythywetfeetatonce。“
“Wet？Sotheyare!Mydear，offwithyourshoesthisminute，andI’llhavesomedrythingsreadyforyouinajiffy，“criedMrs。Bhaer，bustlingaboutsoenergeticallythatNatfoundhimselfinthecosylittlechair，withdrysocksandwarmslippersonhisfeet，beforehewouldhavehadtimetosayJackRobinson，ifhehadwantedtotry。Hesaid“Thankyou，ma’am，“instead；andsaiditsogratefullythatMrs。Bhaer’seyesgrewsoftagain，andshesaidsomethingmerry，becauseshefeltsotender，whichwasawayshehad。
“ThereareTommyBangs’slippers；butheneverwillremembertoputthemoninthehouse；soheshallnothavethem。Theyaretoobig；butthat’sallthebetter；youcan’trunawayfromussofastasiftheyfitted。“
“Idon’twanttorunaway，ma’am。“AndNatspreadhisgrimylittlehandsbeforethecomfortableblaze，withalongsighofsatisfaction。
“That’sgood!NowIamgoingtotoastyouwell，andtrytogetridofthatuglycough。Howlonghaveyouhadit，dear？“askedMrs。Bhaer，assherummagedinherbigbasketforastripofflannel。
“Allwinter。Igotcold，anditwouldn’tgetbetter，somehow。“
“Nowonder，livinginthatdampcellarwithhardlyaragtohispoordearback!“saidMrs。Bhaer，inalowtonetoherhusband，whowaslookingattheboywithaskillfulpairofeyesthatmarkedthethintemplesandfeverishlips，aswellasthehoarsevoiceandfrequentfitsofcoughingthatshookthebentshouldersunderthepatchedjacket。
“Robin，myman，trotuptoNursey，andtellhertogivetheethecough-bottleandtheliniment，“saidMr。Bhaer，afterhiseyeshadexchangedtelegramswithhiswife’s。
Natlookedalittleanxiousatthepreparations，butforgothisfearsinaheartylaugh，whenMrs。Bhaerwhisperedtohim，withadrolllook：
“HearmyrogueTeddytrytocough。ThesyrupI’mgoingtogiveyouhashoneyinit；andhewantssome。“
LittleTedwasredinthefacewithhisexertionsbythetimethebottlecame，andwasallowedtosuckthespoonafterNathadmanfullytakenadoseandhadthebitofflannelputabouthisthroat。
Thesefirststepstowardacurewerehardlycompletedwhenagreatbellrang，andaloudtrampingthroughthehallannouncedsupper。BashfulNatquakedatthethoughtofmeetingmanystrangeboys，butMrs。Bhaerheldoutherhandtohim，andRobsaid，patronizingly，“Don’tbe’fraid；I’lltakecareofyou。“
Twelveboys，sixonaside，stoodbehindtheirchairs，prancingwithimpatiencetobegin，whilethetallflute-playingyouthwastryingtocurbtheirardor。ButnoonesatdowntillMrs。Bhaerwasinherplacebehindtheteapot，withTeddyonherleft，andNatonherright。
“Thisisournewboy，NatBlake。Aftersupperyoucansayhowdoyoudo？Gently，boys，gently。“
AsshespokeeveryonestaredatNat，andthenwhiskedintotheirseats，tryingtobeorderlyandfailingutterly。TheBhaersdidtheirbesttohavetheladsbehavewellatmealtimes，andgenerallysucceededprettywell，fortheirruleswerefewandsensible，andtheboys，knowingthattheytriedtomakethingseasyandhappy，didtheirbesttoobey。Buttherearetimeswhenhungryboyscannotberepressedwithoutrealcruelty，andSaturdayevening，afterahalf-holiday，wasoneofthosetimes。
“Dearlittlesouls，doletthemhaveonedayinwhichtheycanhowlandracketandfrolictotheirhearts’content。Aholidayisn’taholidaywithoutplentyoffreedomandfun；andtheyshallhavefullswingonceaweek，“Mrs。Bhaerusedtosay，whenprimpeoplewonderedwhybanister-sliding，pillow-fights，andallmannerofjovialgameswereallowedundertheoncedecorousroofofPlumfield。
Itdidseemattimesasiftheaforesaidroofwasindangerofflyingoff，butitneverdid，forawordfromFatherBhaercouldatanytimeproducealull，andtheladshadlearnedthatlibertymustnotbeabused。So，inspiteofmanydarkpredictions，theschoolflourished，andmannersandmoralswereinsinuated，withoutthepupilsexactlyknowinghowitwasdone。
Natfoundhimselfverywelloffbehindthetallpitchers，withTommyBangsjustaroundthecorner，andMrs。Bhaerclosebytofillupplateandmugasfastashecouldemptythem。
“Whoisthatboynextthegirldownattheotherend？“whisperedNattohisyoungneighborundercoverofagenerallaugh。
“That’sDemiBrooke。Mr。Bhaerishisuncle。“
“Whataqueername!“
“HisrealnameisJohn，buttheycallhimDemi-John，becausehisfatherisJohntoo。That’sajoke，don’tyousee？“saidTommy，kindlyexplaining。
Natdidnotsee，butpolitelysmiled，andasked，withinterest：
“Isn’theaveryniceboy？“
“Ibetyouheis；knowslotsandreadslikeanything。“
“Whoisthefatonenexthim？“
“Oh，that’sStuffyCole。HisnameisGeorge，butwecallhimStuffy’causeheeatssomuch。ThelittlefellownextFatherBhaerishisboyRob，andthenthere’sbigFranzhisnephew；heteachessome，andkindofseestous。“
“Heplaystheflute，doesn’the？“askedNatasTommyrenderedhimselfspeechlessbyputtingawholebakedappleintohismouthatoneblow。
Tommynodded，andsaid，soonerthanonewouldhaveimaginedpossibleunderthecircumstances，“Oh，don’the，though？Andwedancesometimes，anddogymnasticstomusic。Ilikeadrummyself，andmeantolearnassoonaseverIcan。“
“Ilikeafiddlebest；Icanplayonetoo，“saidNat，gettingconfidentialonthisattractivesubject。
“Canyou？“andTommystaredovertherimofhismugwithroundeyes，fullofinterest。“Mr。Bhaer’sgotanoldfiddle，andhe’llletyouplayonitifyouwantto。“
“CouldI？Oh，Iwouldlikeiteversomuch。Yousee，Iusedtogoroundfiddlingwithmyfather，andanotherman，tillhedied。“
“Wasn’tthatfun？“criedTommy，muchimpressed。
“No，itwashorrid；socoldinwinter，andhotinsummer。AndIgottired；andtheywerecrosssometimes；andIdidn’tgetenoughtoeat。“
Natpausedtotakeagenerousbiteofgingerbread，asiftoassurehimselfthatthehardtimeswereover；andthenheaddedregretfully：“ButIdidlovemylittlefiddle，andImissit。Nicolotookitawaywhenfatherdied，andwouldn’thavemeanylonger，’causeIwassick。“
“You’llbelongtothebandifyouplaygood。Seeifyoudon’t。“