“Here’salandscape!“thoughtLaurie，peepingthroughthebushes，andlookingwide-awakeandgood-naturedalready。
Itwasaratherprettylittlepicture，forthesisterssattogetherintheshadynook，withsunandshadowflickeringoverthem，thearomaticwindliftingtheirhairandcoolingtheirhotcheeks，andallthelittlewoodpeoplegoingonwiththeiraffairsasifthesewerenostrangersbutoldfriends。Megsatuponhercushion，sewingdaintilywithherwhitehands，andlookingasfreshandsweetasaroseinherpinkdressamongthegreen。Bethwassortingtheconesthatlaythickunderthehemlocknearby，forshemadeprettythingswiththem。Amywassketchingagroupofferns，andJowasknittingasshereadaloud。Ashadowpassedovertheboy’sfaceashewatchedthem，feelingthatheoughttogoawaybecauseuninvited，yetlingeringbecausehomeseemedverylonelyandthisquietpartyinthewoodsmostattractivetohisrestlessspirit。Hestoodsostillthatasquirrel，busywithit’sharvesting，randawnapineclosebesidehim，sawhimsuddenlyandskippedback，scoldingsoshrillythatBethlookedup，espiedthewistfulfacebehindthebirches，andbeckonedwithareassuringsmile。
“MayIcomein，please？OrshallIbeabother？“heasked，advancingslowly。
Megliftedhereyebrows，butJoscowledatherdefiantlyandsaidatonce，“Ofcourseyoumay。Weshouldhaveaskedyoubefore，onlywethoughtyouwouldn’tcareforsuchagirl’sgameasthis。“
“Ialwayslikeyourgames，butifMegdoesn’twantme，I’llgoaway。“
“I’venoobjection，ifyoudosomething。It’sagainsttherulestobeidlehere，“repliedMeggravelybutgraciously。
“Muchobliged。I’lldoanythingifyou’llletmestopabit，forit’sasdullastheDesertofSaharadownthere。ShallIsew，read，cone，draw，ordoallatonce？Bringonyourbears。
I’mready。“AndLauriesatdownwithasubmissiveexpressiondelightfultobehold。
“FinishthisstorywhileIsetmyheel，“saidJo，handinghimthebook。
“Yes’m。“wasthemeekanswer，ashebegan，doinghisbesttoprovehisgratitudeforthefavorofadmissionintothe`BusyBeeSociety’。
Thestorywasnotalongone，andwhenitwasfinished，heventuredtoaskafewquestionsasarewardofmerit。
“Please，ma’am，couldIinquireifthishighlyinstructiveandcharminginstitutionisanewone？“
“Wouldyoutellhim？“askedMegofhersisters。
“He’lllaugh，“saidAmywarningly。
“Whocares？“saidJo。
“Iguesshe’lllikeit，“addedBeth。
“OfcourseIshall!IgiveyoumywordIwon’tlaugh。Tellaway，Jo，anddon’tbeafraid。“
“Theideaofbeingafraidofyou!Well，youseeweusedtoplayPilgrim’sProgress，andwehavebeengoingonwithitinearnest，allwinterandsummer。“
“Yes，Iknow，“saidLaurie，noddingwisely。
“Whotoldyou？“demandedJo。
“Spirits。“
“No，Idid。Iwantedtoamusehimonenightwhenyouwereallaway，andhewasratherdismal。Hedidlikeit，sodon’tscold，Jo，“saidBethmeekly。
“Youcan’tkeepasecret。Nevermind，itsavestroublenow。“
“Goon，please，“saidLaurie，asJobecameabsorbedinherwork，lookingatrifledispleased。
“Oh，didn’tshetellyouaboutthisnewplanofours？Well，wehavetriednottowasteourholiday，buteachhashadataskandworkedatitwithawill。Thevacationisnearlyover，thestintsarealldone，andweareeversogladthatwedidn’tdawdle。“
“Yes，Ishouldthinkso，“andLauriethoughtregretfullyofhisownidledays。
“Motherlikestohaveusout-of-doorsasmuchaspossible，sowebringourworkhereandhavenicetimes。Forthefunofitwebringourthingsinthesebags，weartheoldhats，usepolestoclimbthehill，andplaypilgrims，asweusedtodoyearsago。
WecallthishilltheDelectableMountain，forwecanlookfarawayandseethecountrywherewehopetolivesometime。“
Jopointed，andLauriesatuptoexamine，forthroughanopeninginthewoodonecouldlookcrossthewide，blueriver，themeadowsontheotherside，farovertheoutskirtsofthegreatcity，tothegreenhillsthatrosetomeetthesky。Thesunwaslow，andtheheavensglowedwiththesplendorofanautumnsunset。Goldandpurplecloudslayonthehilltops，andrisinghighintotheruddylightweresilverywhitepeaksthatshoneliketheairyspiresofsomeCelestialCity。
“Howbeautifulthatis!“saidLauriesoftly，forhewasquicktoseeandfeelbeautyofanykind。
“It’softenso，andweliketowatchit，foritisneverthesame，butalwayssplendid，“repliedAmy，wishingshecouldpaintit。
“Jotalksaboutthecountrywherewehopetolivesometime——therealcountry，shemeans，withpigsandchickensandhaymaking。
Itwouldbenice，butIwishthebeautifulcountryuptherewasreal，andwecouldevergotoit，“saidBethmusingly。
“Thereisaloveliercountryeventhanthat，whereweshallgo，by-and-by，whenwearegoodenough，“answeredMegwithhersweetestvoice。
“Itseemssolongtowait，sohardtodo。Iwanttoflyawayatonce，asthoseswallowsfly，andgoinatthatsplendidgate。“
“You’llgetthere，Beth，soonerorlater，nofearofthat，“
saidJo。“I’mtheonethatwillhavetofightandwork，andclimbandwait，andmaybenevergetinafterall。“
“you’llhavemeforcompany，ifthat’sanycomfort。IshallhavetodoadealoftravelingbeforeIcomeinsightofyourCelestialCity。IfIarrivelate，you’llsayagoodwordforme，won’tyou，Beth？“
Somethingintheboy’sfacetroubledhislittlefriend，butshesaidcheerfully，withherquieteyesonthechangingclouds，“Ifpeoplereallywanttogo，andreallytryalltheirlives，I
thinktheywillgetin，forIdon’tbelievethereareanylocksonthatdoororanyguardsatthegate。Ialwaysimagineitisasitisinthepicture，wheretheshiningonesstretchouttheirhandstowelcomepoorChristianashecomesupfromtheriver。
“Wouldn’titbefunifallthecastlesintheairwhichwemakecouldcometrue，andwecouldliveinthem？“saidJo，afteralittlepause。
“I’vemadesuchquantitiesitwouldbehardtochoosewhichI’dhave，“saidLaurie，lyingflatandthrowingconesatthesquirrelwhohadbetrayedhim。
“You’dhavetotakeyourfavoriteone。Whatisit？“askedMeg。
“IfItellmine，willyoutellyours？“
“Yes，ifthegirlswilltoo。“
“Wewill。Now，Laurie。“
“AfterI’dseenasmuchoftheworldasIwantto，I’dliketosettleinGermanyandhavejustasmuchmusicasIchoose。
I’mtobeafamousmusicianmyself，andallcreationistorushtohearme。AndI’mnevertobebotheredaboutmoneyorbusiness，butjustenjoymyselfandliveforwhatIlike。That’smyfavoritecastle。
What’syours，Meg？“
Margaretseemedtofinditalittlehardtotellhers，andwavedabrakebeforeherface，asiftodisperseimaginarygnats，whileshesaidslowly，“Ishouldlikealovelyhouse，fullofallsortsofluxuriousthings——nicefood，prettyclothes，handsomefurniture，pleasantpeople，andheapsofmoney。Iamtobemistressofit，andmanageitasIlike，withplentyofservants，soIneverneedworkabit。HowIshouldenjoyit!ForI
wouldn’tbeidle，butdogood，andmakeeveryonelovemedearly。“
“Wouldn’tyouhaveamasterforyourcastleintheair？“askedLaurieslyly。
“Isaid`pleasantpeople’，youknow，“AndMegcarefullytieduphershoeasshespoke，sothatnoonesawherface。
“Whydon’tyousayyou’dhaveasplendid，wise，goodhusbandandsomeangeliclittlechildren？Youknowyourcastlewouldn’tbeperfectwithout，“saidbluntJo，whohadnotenderfanciesyet，andratherscornedromance，exceptinbooks。
“You’dhavenothingbuthorses，inkstands，andnovelsinyours，“answeredMegpetulantly。
“Wouldn’tIthough？I’dhaveastablefullofArabiansteeds，roomspiledhighwithbooks，andI’dwriteoutofamagicinkstand，sothatmyworksshouldbeasfamousasLaurie’smusic。IwanttodosomethingsplendidbeforeIgointomycastle，somethingheroicorwonderfulthatwon’tbeforgottenafterI’mdead。Idon’tknowwhat，butI’monthewatchforit，andmeantoastonishyouallsomeday。IthinkIshallwritebooks，andgetrichandfamous，thatwouldsuitme，sothatismyfavoritedream。“
“MineistostayathomesafewithFatherandMother，andhelptakecareofthefamily，“saidBethcontentedly。
“Don’tyouwishforanythingelse？“askedLaurie。
“SinceIhadmylittlepiano，Iamperfectlysatisfied。I
onlywishwemayallkeepwellandbetogether，nothingelse。“
“Ihaveeversomanywishes，butthepetoneistobeanartist，andgotoRome，anddofinepictures，andbethebestartistinthewholeworld，“wasAmy’smodestdesire。
“We’reanambitiousset，aren’twe？Everyoneofus，butBeth，wantstoberichandfamous，andgorgeousineveryrespect。
Idowonderifanyofuswillevergetourwishes，“saidLaurie，chewinggrasslikeameditativecalf。
“I’vegotthekeytomycastleintheair，butwhetherIcanunlockthedoorremainstobeseen，“observedJomysteriously。
“I’vegotthekeytomine，butI’mnotallowedtotryit。
Hangcollege!“mutteredLauriewithanimpatientsigh。
“Here’smine!“andAmywavedherpencil。
“Ihaven’tgotany，“saidMegforlornly。
“Yes，youhave，“saidLaurieatonce。
“Where？“
“Inyourface。“
“Nonsense，that’sofnouse。“
“Waitandseeifitdoesn’tbringyousomethingworthhaving，“
repliedtheboy，laughingatthethoughtofacharminglittlesecretwhichhefanciedheknew。
Megcoloredbehindthebrake，butaskednoquestionsandlookedacrosstheriverwiththesameexpectantexpressionwhichMr。Brookehadwornwhenhetoldthestoryoftheknight。
“Ifweareallalivetenyearshence，let’smeet，andseehowmanyofushavegotourwishes，orhowmuchnearerwearethenthannow，“saidJo，alwaysreadywithaplan。
“Blessme!HowoldIshallbe，twenty-seven!“exclaimedMeg，whofeltgrownupalready，havingjustreachedseventeen。
“YouandIwillbetwenty-six，Teddy，Bethtwenty-four，andAmytwenty-two。Whatavenerableparty!“saidJo。
“IhopeIshallhavedonesomethingtobeproudofbythattime，butI’msuchalazydog，I’mafraidIshalldawdle，Jo。“
“Youneedamotive，Mothersays，andwhenyougetit，sheissureyou’llworksplendidly。“
“Isshe？ByJupiter，Iwill，ifIonlygetthechance!“criedLaurie，sittingupwithsuddenenergy。“IoughttobesatisfiedtopleaseGrandfather，andIdotry，butit’sworkingagainstthegrain，yousee，andcomeshard。HewantsmetobeanIndiamerchant，ashewas，andI’dratherbeshot。Ihateteaandsildandspices，andeverysortofrubbishhisoldshipsbring，andIdon’tcarehowsoontheygotothebottomwhenIownthem。Goingtocollegeoughttosatisfyhim，forifIgivehimfouryearsheoughttoletmeofffromthebusiness。Buthe’sset，andI’vegottodojustashedid，unlessIbreakawayandpleasemyself，asmyfatherdid。Iftherewasanyonelefttostaywiththeoldgentleman，I’ddoittomorrow。“
Lauriespokeexcitedly，andlookedreadytocarryhisthreatintoexecutionontheslightestprovocation，forhewasgrowingupveryfastand，inspiteofhisindolentways，hadayoungman’shatredofsubjection，ayoungman’srestlesslongingtotrytheworldforhimself。
“Iadviseyoutosailawayinoneofyourships，andnevercomehomeagaintillyouhavetriedyourownway，“saidJo，whoseimaginationwasfiredbythethoughtofsuchadaringexploit，andwhosesympathywasexcitedbywhatshecalled`Teddy’sWrongs’。
“That’snotright，Jo。Youmustn’ttalkinthatway，andLauriemustn’ttakeyourbadadvice。Youshoulddojustwhatyourgrandfatherwishes，mydearboy，“saidMeginhermostmaternaltone。
“Doyourbestatcollege，andwhenheseesthatyoutrytopleasehim，I’msurehewon’tbehardonyouorunjusttoyou。Asyousay，thereisnooneelsetostaywithandlovehim，andyou’dneverforgiveyourselfifyoulefthimwithouthispermission。Don’tbedismalorfret，butdoyourdutyandyou’llgetyourreward，asgoodMr。Brookehas，bybeingrespectedandloved。“
“Whatdoyouknowabouthim？“askedLaurie，gratefulforthegoodadvice，butobjectingtothelecture，andgladtoturntheconversationfromhimselfafterhisunusualoutbreak。
“Onlywhatyourgrandpatoldusabouthim，howhetookgoodcareofhisownmothertillshedied，andwouldn’tgoabroadastutortosomenicepersonbecausehewouldn’tleaveher。Andhowheprovidesnowforanoldwomanwhonursedhismother，andnevertellsanyone，butisjustasgenerousandpatientandgoodashecanbe。“
“Soheis，dearoldfellow!“saidLaurieheartily，asMegpaused，lookingflushedandearnestwithherstory。“It’slikeGrandpatofindoutallabouthimwithoutlettinghimknow，andtotellallhisgoodnesstoothers，sothattheymightlikehim。
Brookecouldn’tunderstandwhyyourmotherwassokindtohim，askinghimoverwithmeandtreatinghiminherbeautifulfriendlyway。Hethoughtshewasjustperfect，andtalkedaboutitfordaysanddays，andwentonaboutyouallinflamingstyle。IfeverIdogetmywish，youseewhatI’lldoforBooke。“
“Begintodosomethingnowbynotplaguinghislifeout，“
saidMegsharply。
“HowdoyouknowIdo，Miss？“
“Icanalwaystellbyhisfacewhenhegoesaway。Ifyouhavebeengood，helookssatisfiedandwalksbriskly。Ifyouhaveplaguedhim，he’ssoberandwalksslowly，asifhewantedtogobackanddohisworkbetter。“
“Well，Ilikethat？SoyoukeepanaccountofmygoodandbadmarksinBrooke’sface，doyou？Iseehimbowandsmileashepassesyourwindow，butIdidn’tknowyou’dgotupatelegraph。“
“Wehaven’t。Don’tbeangry，andoh，don’ttellhimIsaidanything!ItwasonlytoshowthatIcaredhowyougeton，andwhatissaidhereissaidinconfidence，youknow，“criedMeg，muchalarmedatthethoughtofwhatmightfollowfromhercarelessspeech。
“Idon’ttelltales，“repliedLaurie，withhis`highandmighty’
air，asJocalledacertainexpressionwhichheoccasionallywore。