Afterthat，thelittlebrownhoodslippedthroughthehedgenearlyeveryday，andthegreatdrawingroomwashauntedbyatunefulspiritthatcameandwentunseen。SheneverknewthatMr。Laurenceopenedhisstudydoortoheartheold-fashionedairsheliked。
SheneversawLauriemountguardinthehalltowarntheservantsaway。
Sheneversuspectedthattheexercisebooksandnewsongswhichshefoundintherackwereputthereforherespecialbenefit，andwhenhetalkedtoheraboutmusicathome，sheonlythoughthowkindhewastotellthingsthathelpedhersomuch。Sosheenjoyedherselfheartily，andfound，whatisn’talwaysthecase，thathergrantedwishwasallshehadhoped。Perhapsitwasbecauseshewassogratefulforthisblessingthatagreaterwasgivenher。Atanyrateshedeservedboth。
“Mother，I’mgoingtoworkMr。Laurenceapairofslippers。Heissokindtome，Imustthankhim，andIdon’tknowanyotherway。
CanIdoit？“askedBeth，afewweeksafterthateventfulcallofhis。
“Yes，dear。Itwillpleasehimverymuch，andbeanicewayofthankinghim。Thegirlswillhelpyouaboutthem，andIwillpayforthemakingup，“repliedMrs。March，whotookpeculiarpleasureingrantingBeth’srequestsbecauseshesoseldomaskedanythingforherself。
AftermanyseriousdiscussionswithMegandJo，thepatternwaschosen，thematerialsbought，andtheslippersbegun。Aclusterofgraveyetcheerfulpansiesonadeeperpurplegroundwaspronouncedveryappropriateandpretty，andbethworkedawayearlyandlate，withoccasionalliftsoverhardparts。Shewasanimblelittleneedlewoman，andtheywerefinishedbeforeanyonegottiredofthem。Thenshewroteashort，simplenote，andwithLaurie’shelp，gotthemsmuggledontothestudytableonemorningbeforetheoldgentlemanwasup。
Whenthisexcitementwasover，Bethwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen。Alldaypassedaapartofthenextbeforeanyacknowledgementarrived，andshewasbeginningtofearshehadoffendedhercrochetyfriend。Ontheafternoonofthesecondday，shewentouttodoanerrand，andgivepoorJoanna，theinvaliddoll，herdailyexercise。Asshecameupthestreet，onherreturn，shesawthree，yes，fourheadspoppinginandoutoftheparlorwindows，andthemomenttheysawher，severalhandswerewaved，andseveraljoyfulvoicesscreamed……
“Here’saletterfromtheoldgentleman!Comequick，andreadit!“
“Oh，Beth，he’ssentyou……“beganAmy，gesticulatingwithunseemlyenergy，butshegotnofurther，forJoquenchedherbyslammingdownthewindow。
Bethhurriedoninaflutterofsuspense。Atthedoorhersistersseizedandborehertotheparlorinatriumphalprocession，allpointingandallsayingatonce，“Lookthere!Lookthere!“
Bethdidlook，andturnedpalewithdelightandsurprise，fortherestoodalittlecabinetpiano，withaletterlyingontheglossylid，directedlikeasignboardto“MissElizabethMarch。“
“Forme？“gaspedBeth，holdingontoJoandfeelingasifsheshouldtumbledown，itwassuchanoverwhelmingthingaltogether。
“Yes，allforyou，myprecious!Isn’titsplendidofhim？
Don’tyouthinkhe’sthedearestoldmanintheworld？Here’sthekeyintheletter。Wedidn’topenit，butwearedyingtoknowwhathesays，“
criedJo，hugginghersisterandofferingthenote。
“Youreadit!Ican’t，Ifeelsoqueer!Oh，itistoolovely!“
andBethhidherfaceinJo’sapron，quiteupsetbyherpresent。
Joopenedthepaperandbegantolaugh，forthefirstworkedshesawwere……
“MissMarch：
“DearMadam——“
“Howniceitsounds!Iwishsomeonewouldwritetomeso!“saidAmy，whothoughttheold-fashionedaddressveryelegant。
“`Ihavehadmanypairsofslippersinmylife，butIneverhadanythatsuitedmesowellasyours，’“continuesJo。“`Heartseaseismyfavoriteflower，andthesewillalwaysremindmeofthegentlegiver。Iliketopaymydebts，soIknowyouwillallow`theoldgentleman’tosendyousomethingwhichoncebelongedtothelittlegranddaughterhelost。Withheartythanksandbestwishes，I
remain“`Yourgratefulfriendandhumbleservant，“`JAMESLAURENCE’
“There，Beth，that’sanhonortobeproudof，I’msure!LaurietoldmehowfondMr。Laurenceusedtobeofthechildwhodied，andhowhekeptallherlittlethingscarefully。Justthink，he’sgivenyouherpiano。Thatcomesofhavingbigblueeyesandlovingmusic，“
saidJo，tryingtosootheBeth，whotrembledandlookedmoreexcitedthanshehadeverbeenbefore。
“Seethecunningbracketstoholdcandles，andthenicegreensild，puckeredup，withagoldroseinthemiddle，andtheprettyrackandstool，allcomplete，“addedMeg，openingtheinstrumentanddisplayingitsbeauties。
“`Yourhumbleservant，JamesLaurence’。Onlythinkofhiswritingthattoyou。I’lltellthegirls。They’llthinkit’ssplendid，“saidAmy，muchimpressedbythenote。
“Tryit，honey。Let’shearthesoundofthebabypianny，“
saidHannah，whoalwaystookashareinthefamilyjoysandsorrows。
SoBethtriedit，andeveryonepronounceditthemostremarkablepianoeverheard。Ithadevidentlybeennewlytunedandputinapple-
pieorder，but，perfectasitwas，Ithinktherealcharmlayinthehappiestofallhappyfaceswhichleanedoverit，asBethlovinglytouchedthebeautifulblackandwhitekeysandpressedthebrightpedals。
“You’llhavetogoandthankhim，“saidJo，bywayofajoke，fortheideaofthechild’sreallygoingneverenteredherhead。
“Yes，Imeanto。IguessI’llgono，beforeIgetfrightenedthinkingaboutit。“And，totheutteramazementoftheassembledfamily，Bethwalkeddeliberatelydownthegarden，throughthehedge，andinattheLaurences’door。
“Well，IwishImaydieifitain’tthequeerestthingIeversee!Thepiannyhasturnedherhead!She’dneverhavegoneinherrightmind，“criedHannah，staringafterher，whilethegirlswererenderedquitespeechlessbythemiracle。
TheywouldhavebeenstillmoreamazediftheyhadseenwhatBethdidafterward。Ifyouwillbelieveme，shewentandknockedatthestudydoorbeforeshegaveherselftimetothink，andwhenagruffvoicecalledout，“comein!“shedidgoin，rightuptoMr。Laurence，wholookedquitetakenaback，andheldoutherhand，saying，withonlyasmallquaverinhervoice，“Icametothankyou，sir，for……“Butshedidn’tfinish，forhelookedsofriendlythatsheforgotherspeechand，onlyrememberingthathehadlostthelittlegirlheloved，sheputbotharmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。
Iftheroofofthehousehadsuddenlyflownoff，theoldgentlemanwouldn’thavebeenmoreastonished。Buthelikedit。
Oh，dear，yes，helikeditamazingly!Andwassotouchedandpleasedbythatconfidinglittlekissthatallhiscrustinessvanished，andhejustsetheronhisknee，andlaidhiswrinkledcheekagainstherrosyone，feelingasifhehadgothisownlittlegranddaughterbackagain。Bethceasedtofearhimfromthatmoment，andsattheretalkingtohimascozilyasifshehadknownhimallherlife，forlovecastsoutfear，andgratitudecanconquerpride。Whenshewenthome，hewalkedwithhertoherowngate，shookhandscordially，andtouchedhishatashemarchedbackagain，lookingverystatelyanderect，likeahandsome，soldierlyoldgentleman，ashewas。
Whenthegirlssawthatperformance，Jobegantodanceajig，bywayofexpressinghersatisfaction，Amynearlyfelloutofthewindowinhersurprise，andMegexclaimed，withup-liftedhands，“Well，Idobelievetheworldiscomingtoanend。
“Thatboyisaperfectcyclops，isn’the？“saidAmyoneday，asLaurieclatteredbyonhorseback，withaflourishofhiswhipashepassed。
“Howdareyousayso，whenhe’sgotbothhiseyes？Andveryhandsomeonestheyare，too，“criedJo，whoresentedanyslightingremarksaboutherfriend。
“Ididn’tdayanythingabouthiseyes，andIdon’tseewhyyouneedfireupwhenIadmirehisriding。“
“Oh，mygoodness!Thatlittlegoosemeansacentaur，andshecalledhimaCyclops，“exclaimedJo，withaburstoflaughter。
“Youneedn’tbesorude，it’sonlya`lapseoflingy’，asMr。
Davissays，“retortedAmy，finishingJowithherLatin。“IjustwishIhadalittleofthemoneyLauriespendsonthathorse，“sheadded，asiftoherself，yethopinghersisterswouldhear。
“Why？“askedMegkindly，forJohadgoneoffinanotherlaughatAmy’ssecondblunder。
“Ineeditsomuch。I’mdreadfullyindebt，anditwon’tbemyturntohavetheragmoneyforamonth。“
“Indebt，Amy？Whatdoyoumean？“AndMeglookedsober。
“Why，Ioweatleastadozenpickledlimes，andIcan’tpaythem，youknow，tillIhavemoney，forMarmeeforbademyhavinganythingchargedattheshop。“
“Tellmeallaboutit。Arelimesthefashionnow？Itusedtobeprickingbitsofrubbertomakeballs。“AndMegtriedtokeephercountenance，Amylookedsograveandimportant。
“Why，yousee，thegirlsarealwaysbuyingthem，andunlessyouwanttobethoughtmean，youmustdoittoo。It’snothingbutlimesnow，foreveryoneissuckingthemintheirdesksinschooltime，andtradingthemoffforpencils，beadrings，paperdolls，orsomethingelse，atrecess。Ifonegirllikesanother，shegivesheralime。Ifshe’smadwithher，sheeatsonebeforeherface，anddoesn’tofferevenasuck。Theytreatbyturns，andI’vehadeversomanybuthaven’treturnedthem，andIoughtfortheyaredebtsofhonor，youknow。“
“Howmuchwillpaythemoffandrestoreyourcredit？“askedMeg，takingoutherpurse。“
“Aquarterwouldmorethandoit，andleaveafewcentsoverforatreatforyou。Don’tyoulikelimes？“
“Notmuch。Youmayhavemyshare。Here’sthemoney。
Makeitlastaslongasyoucan，foritisn’tveryplenty，youknow。“
“Oh，thankyou!Itmustbesonicetohavepocketmoney!
I’llhaveagrandfeast，forIhaven’ttastedalimethisweek。Ifeltdelicateabouttakingany，asIcouldn’treturnthem，andI’mactuallysufferingforone。“
NextdayAmywasratherlateatschool，butcouldnotresistthetemptationofdisplaying，withpardonablepride，amoistbrown-paperparcel，beforesheconsignedittotheinmostrecessesofherdesk。
DuringthenextfewminutestherumorthatAmyMarchhadgottwenty-
fourdeliciouslimessheateoneonthewayandwasgoingtotreatcirculatedthroughher`set’，andtheattentionsofherfriendsbecamequiteoverwhelming。KatyBrowninvitedhertohernextpartyonthespot。MaryKinglseyinsistedonlendingherherwatchtillrecess，andJennySnow，asatiricalyounglady，whohadbaselytwittedAmyuponherlimelessstate，promptlyburiedthehatchetandofferedtofurnishanswerstocertainappallingsums。ButAmyhadnotforgottenMissSnow’scuttingremarksabout`somepersonswhosenoseswerenottooflattosmellotherpeople’slimes，andstuck-uppeoplewhowerenottooproudtoaskforthem’，andsheinstantlycrushed`thatSnowgirl’s’hopesbythewitheringtelegram，“Youneedn’tbesopoliteallofasudden，foryouwon’tgetany。“