Thelittlemaidpassedroundmolassesandwaterinsuchsmallcupsthatoneguestactuallyemptiednine。Irefrainfrommentioninghisname，becausethismildbeverageaffectedhimsomuchthatheputcupandallintohismouthattheninthround，andchokedhimselfpublicly。
“YoumustaskNantoplayandsingnow，“saidDaisytoherbrother，whosatlookingverymuchlikeanowl，ashegravelyregardedthefestivescenebetweenhishighcollars。
“Giveusasong，mum，“saidtheobedientguest，secretlywonderingwherethepianowas。
MissSmithsaileduptoanoldsecretarywhichstoodintheroom，threwbackthelidofthewriting-desk，andsittingdownbeforeit，accompaniedherselfwithavigorwhichmadetheolddeskrattleasshesangthatnewandlovelysong，beginning­；“GailythetroubadourTouchedhisguitar，AshewashasteningHomefromthewar。“Thegentlemenapplaudedsoenthusiasticallythatshegavethem“BoundingBillows，““LittleBo-Peep，“andothergemsofsong，tilltheywereobligedtohintthattheyhadhadenough。Gratefulforthepraisesbestoweduponherdaughter，Mrs。Smithgraciouslyannounced，­；
“Nowwewillhavetea。Sitdowncarefully，anddon’tgrab。“
Itwasbeautifultoseetheairofpridewithwhichthegoodladydidthehonorsofhertable，andthecalmnesswithwhichsheborethelittlemishapsthatoccurred。Thebestpieflewwildlyonthefloorwhenshetriedtocutitwithaverydullknife；thebreadandbuttervanishedwitharapiditycalculatedtodismayahousekeeper’ssoul；and，worstofall，thecustardsweresosoftthattheyhadtobedrunkup，insteadofbeingeatenelegantlywiththenewtinspoons。
IgrievetostatethatMissSmithsquabbledwiththemaidforthebestjumble，whichcausedBesstotossthewholedishintotheair，andburstoutcryingamidarainoffallingcakes。Shewascomfortedbyaseatatthetable，andthesugar-bowltoempty；butduringthisflurryalargeplateofpattieswasmysteriouslylost，andcouldnotbefound。Theywerethechiefornamentofthefeast，andMrs。Smithwasindignantattheloss，forshehadmadethemherself，andtheywerebeautifultobehold。Iputittoanyladyifitwasnothardtohaveonedozendeliciouspattiesmadeofflour，salt，andwater，withalargeraisininthemiddleofeach，andmuchsugaroverthewholesweptawayatonefellswoop？
“Youhidthem，Tommy；Iknowyoudid!“criedtheoutragedhostess，threateninghersuspectedguestwiththemilk-pot。
“Ididn’t!“
“Youdid!“
“Itisn’tpropertocontradict，“saidNan，whowashastilyeatingupthejellyduringthefray。
“Givethemback，Demi，“saidTommy。
“That’safib，you’vegottheminyourownpocket，“bawledDemi，rousedbythefalseaccusation。
“Let’stake’emawayfromhim。It’stoobadtomakeDaisycry，“suggestedNat，whofoundhisfirstballmoreexcitingthanheexpected。
Daisywasalreadyweeping，Besslikeadevotedservantmingledhertearswiththoseofhermistress，andNandenouncedtheentireraceofboysas“plagueythings。“Meanwhilethebattleragedamongthegentlemen，for，whenthetwodefendersofinnocencefelluponthefoe，thathardenedyouthintrenchedhimselfbehindatableandpeltedthemwiththestolentarts，whichwereveryeffectivemissiles，beingnearlyashardasbullets。Whilehisammunitionheldoutthebesiegedprospered，butthemomentthelastpattyflewovertheparapet，thevillainwasseized，draggedhowlingfromtheroom，andcastuponthehallfloorinanignominiousheap。Theconquerorsthenreturnedflushedwithvictory，andwhileDemiconsoledpoorMrs。Smith，NatandNancollectedthescatteredtarts，replacedeachraisininitsproperbed，andrearrangedthedishsothatitreallylookedalmostaswellasever。Buttheirgloryhaddeparted，forthesugarwasgone，andnoonecaredtoeatthemaftertheinsultofferedtothem。
“Iguesswehadbettergo，“saidDemi，suddenly，asAuntJo’svoicewasheardonthestairs。
“P’r’apswehad，“andNathastilydroppedastrayjumblethathehadjustpickedup。
ButMrs。Jowasamongthembeforetheretreatwasaccomplished，andintohersympatheticeartheyoungladiespouredthestoryoftheirwoes。
“Nomoreballsfortheseboystilltheyhaveatonedforthisbadbehaviorbydoingsomethingkindtoyou，“saidMrs。Jo，shakingherheadatthethreeculprits。
“Wewereonlyinfun，“beganDemi。
“Idon’tlikefunthatmakesotherpeopleunhappy。Iamdisappointedinyou，Demi，forIhopedyouwouldneverlearntoteaseDaisy。Suchakindlittlesisterassheistoyou。“
“Boysalwaysteasetheirsisters；Tomsaysso，“mutteredDemi。
“Idon’tintendthatmyboysshall，andImustsendDaisyhomeifyoucannotplayhappilytogether，“saidAuntJo，soberly。
Atthisawfulthreat，Demisidleduptohissister，andDaisyhastilydriedhertears，fortobeseparatedwastheworstmisfortunethatcouldhappentothetwins。
“Natwasbad，too，andTommywasbaddestofall，“observedNan，fearingthattwoofthesinnerswouldnotgettheirfairshareofpunishment。
“Iamsorry，“saidNat，muchashamed。
“Iain’t!“bawledTommythroughthekeyhole，wherehewaslisteningwithallhismight。
Mrs。Jowantedverymuchtolaugh，butkepthercountenance，andsaidimpressively，asshepointedtothedoor，­；
“Youcango，boys，butremember，youarenottospeaktoorplaywiththelittlegirlstillIgiveyouleave。Youdon’tdeservethepleasure，soIforbidit。“
Theill-manneredyounggentlemenhastilyretired，tobereceivedoutsidewithderisionandscornbytheunrepentantBangs，whowouldnotassociatewiththemforatleastfifteenminutes。Daisywassoonconsoledforthefailureofherball，butlamentedtheedictthatpartedherfromherbrother，andmournedoverhisshort-comingsinhertenderlittleheart。Nanratherenjoyedthetrouble，andwentaboutturningupherpugnoseatthethree，especiallyTommy，whopretendednottocare，andloudlyproclaimedhissatisfactionatbeingridofthose“stupidgirls。“Butinhissecretsoulhesoonrepentedoftherashactthatcausedthisbanishmentfromthesocietyheloved，andeveryhourofseparationtaughthimthevalueofthe“stupidgirls。“
Theothersgaveinverysoon，andlongedtobefriends，fornowtherewasnoDaisytopetandcookforthem；noNantoamuseanddoctorthem；
and，worstofall，noMrs。Jotomakehomelifepleasantandlifeeasyforthem。Totheirgreataffliction，Mrs。Joseemedtoconsiderherselfoneoftheoffendedgirls，forshehardlyspoketotheoutcasts，lookedasifshedidnotseethemwhenshepassed，andwasalwaystoobusynowtoattendtotheirrequests。Thissuddenandentireexilefromfavorcastagloomovertheirsouls，forwhenMotherBhaerdesertedthem，theirsunhadsetatnoon-day，asitwere，andtheyhadnorefugeleft。
Thisunnaturalstateofthingsactuallylastedforthreedays，thentheycouldbearitnolonger，andfearingthattheeclipsemightbecometotal，wenttoMr。Bhaerforhelpandcounsel。
Itismyprivateopinionthathehadreceivedinstructionshowtobehaveifthecaseshouldbelaidbeforehim。Butnoonesuspectedit，andhegavetheafflictedboyssomeadvice，whichtheygratefullyacceptedandcarriedoutinthefollowingmanner：­；
Secludingthemselvesinthegarret，theydevotedseveralplay-hourstothemanufactureofsomemysteriousmachine，whichtooksomuchpastethatAsiagrumbled，andthelittlegirlswonderedmightily。Nannearlygotherinquisitivenosepinchedinthedoor，tryingtoseewhatwasgoingon，andDaisysatabout，openlylamentingthattheycouldnotallplaynicelytogether，andnothaveanydreadfulsecrets。Wednesdayafternoonwasfine，andafteragooddealofconsultationaboutwindandweather，NatandTommywentoff，bearinganimmenseflatparcelhiddenundermanynewspapers。Nannearlydiedwithsuppressedcuriosity，Daisynearlycriedwithvexation，andbothquitetrembledwithinterestwhenDemimarchedintoMrs。Bhaer’sroom，hatinhand，andsaid，inthepolitesttonepossibletoamortalboyofhisyears，­；
“Please，AuntJo，wouldyouandthegirlscomeouttoasurprisepartywehavemadeforyou？Doit’saveryniceone。“
“Thankyou，wewillcomewithpleasure；only，ImusttakeTeddywithme，“repliedMrs。Bhaer，withasmilethatcheeredDemilikesunshineafterrain。
“We’dliketohavehim。Thelittlewagonisallreadyforthegirls；
youwon’tmindwalkingjustuptoPennyroyalHill，willyouAunty？“
“Ishouldlikeitexceedingly；butareyouquitesureIshallnotbeintheway？“
“Oh，no，indeed!wewantyouverymuch；andthepartywillbespoiltifyoudon’tcome，“criedDemi，withgreatearnestness。
“Thankyoukindly，sir；“andAuntJomadehimagrandcurtsey，forshelikedfrolicsaswellasanyofthem。
“Now，youngladies，wemustnotkeepthemwaiting；onwiththehats，andletusbeoffatonce。I’mallimpatiencetoknowwhatthesurpriseis。“
AsMrs。Bhaerspokeeveryonebustledabout，andinfiveminutesthethreelittlegirlsandTeddywerepackedintothe“clothes-basket，“astheycalledthewickerwagonwhichTobydrew。Demiwalkedattheheadoftheprocession，andMrs。Jobroughtuptherear，escortedbyKit。Itwasamostimposingparty，Iassureyou，forTobyhadaredfeather-dusterinhishead，tworemarkableflagswavedoverthecarriage，Kithadabluebowonhisneck，whichnearlydrovehimwild，Demiworeanosegayofdandelionsinhisbuttonhole，andMrs。JocarriedthequeerJapaneseumbrellainhonoroftheoccasion。
Thegirlshadlittlefluttersofexcitementalltheway；andTeddywassocharmedwiththedrivethathekeptdroppinghishatoverboard，andwhenitwastakenfromhimhepreparedtotumbleouthimself，evidentlyfeelingthatitbehoovedhimtodosomethingfortheamusementoftheparty。
Whentheycametothehill“nothingwastobeseenbutthegrassblowinginthewind，“asthefairybookssay，andthechildrenlookeddisappointed。
ButDemisaid，inhismostimpressivemanner，­；
“Now，youallgetoutandstandstill，andthesurprisepartywithcomein；“withwhichremarkheretiredbehindarock，overwhichheadshadbeenbobbingatintervalsforthelasthalf-hour。
Ashortpauseofintensesuspense，andthenNat，Demi，andTommymarchedforth，eachbearinganewkite，whichtheypresentedtothethreeyoungladies。Shrieksofdelightarose，butweresilencedbytheboys，whosaid，withfacesbrimfulofmerriment，“Thatisn’tallthesurprise；“and，runningbehindtherock，againemergedbearingafourthkiteofsuperbsize，onwhichwasprinted，inbrightyellowletters，“ForMotherBhaer。“
“Wethoughtyou’dlikeone，too，becauseyouwereangrywithus，andtookthegirls’part，“criedallthree，shakingwithlaughter，forthispartoftheaffairevidentlywasasurprisetoMrs。Jo。
Sheclappedherhands，andjoinedinthelaugh，lookingthoroughlytickledatthejoke。
“Now，boys，thatisregularlysplendid!Whodidthinkofit？“sheasked，receivingthemonsterkitewithasmuchpleasureasthelittlegirlsdidtheirs。
“UncleFritzproposeditwhenweplannedtomaketheothers；hesaidyou’dlikeit，sowemadeabouncer，“answeredDemi，beamingwithsatisfactionatthesuccessoftheplot。
“UncleFritzknowswhatIlike。Yes，thesearemagnificentkites，andwewerewishingwehadsometheotherdaywhenyouwereflyingyours，weren’twe，girls？“
“That’swhywemadethemforyou，“criedTommy，standingonhisheadasthemostappropriatewayofexpressinghisemotions。
“Letusflythem，“saidenergeticNan。
“Idon’tknowhow，“beganDaisy。
“We’llshowyou，wewantto!“criedalltheboysinaburstofdevotion，asDemitookDaisy’s，TommyNan’s，andNat，withdifficulty，persuadedBesstoletgoherlittleblueone。
“Aunty，ifyouwillwaitaminute，we’llpitchyoursforyou，“saidDemi，feelingthatMrs。Bhaer’sfavormustnotbelostagainbyanyneglectoftheirs。
“Blessyourbuttons，dear，Iknowallaboutit；andhereisaboywhowilltossupforme，“addedMrs。Jo，astheprofessorpeepedovertherockwithafacefulloffun。
Hecameoutatonce，tossedupthebigkite，andMrs。Joranoffwithitinfinestyle，whilethechildrenstoodandenjoyedthespectacle。Onebyoneallthekiteswentup，andfloatedfaroverheadlikegaybirds，balancingthemselvesonthefreshbreezethatblewsteadilyoverthehill。