“IjustsatandhelditsoftlytillMrs。Hummelcamewiththedoctor。Hesaiditwasdead，andlookedatHeinrichandMinna，whohavesorethroats。`Scarletfever，ma’am。Oughttohavecalledmebefore，’hesaidcrossly。Mrs。Hummeltoldhimshewaspoor，andhadtriedtocurebabyherself，butnowitwastoolate，andshecouldonlyaskhimtohelptheothersandtrusttocharityforhispay。Hesmiledthen，andwaskinder，butitwasverysad，andI
criedwiththemtillheturnedroundallofasudden，andtoldmetogohomeandtakebelladonnarightaway，orI’dhavethefever。“
“No，youwon’t!“criedJo，huggingherclose，withafrightenedlook。“Oh，Beth，ifyoushouldbesickInevercouldforgivemyself!
Whatshallwedo？“
“Don’tbefrightened，IguessIshan’thaveitbadly。IlookedinMother’sbook，andsawthatitbeginswithheadache，sorethroat，andqueerfeelingslikemine，soIdidtakesomebelladonna，andI
feelbetter，“saidBeth，layinghercoldhandsonherhotforeheadandtryingtolookwell。
“IfMotherwasonlyathome!“exclaimedJo，seizingthebook，andfeelingthatWashingtonwasanimmensewayoff。Shereadapage，lookedatBeth，feltherhead，peepedintoherthroat，andthensaidgravely，“You’vebeenoverthebabyeverydayformorethanaweek，andamongtheotherswhoaregoingtohaveit，soI’mafraidyouaregoingtohaveit，Beth。I’llcallHannah，sheknowsallaboutsickness。“
“Don’tletAmycome。Sheneverhadit，andIshouldhatetogiveittoher。Can’tyouandMeghaveitoveragain？“askedBeth，anxiously。
“Iguessnot。Don’tcareifIdo。Servemeright，selfishpig，toletyougo，andstaywritingrubbishmyself!“mutteredJo，asshewenttoconsultHannah。
Thegoodsoulwaswideawakeinaminute，andtooktheleadatonce，assuringthattherewasnoneedtoworry；everyonehadscarletfever，andifrightlytreated，nobodydied，allofwhichJobelieved，andfeltmuchrelievedastheywentuptocallMeg。
“NowI’lltellyouwhatwe’lldo，“saidHannah，whenshehadexaminedandquestionedBeth，“wewillhaveDr。Bangs，justtotakealookatyou，dear，andseethatwestartright。Thenwe’llsendAmyofftoAuntMarch’sforaspell，tokeepheroutofharm’sway，andoneofyougirlscanstayathomeandamuseBethforadayortwo。“
“Ishallstay，ofcourse，I’moldest，“beganMeg，lookinganxiousandself-reproachful。
“Ishall，becauseit’smyfaultsheissick。ItoldMotherI’ddotheerrands，andIhaven’t，“saidJodecidedly。
“Whichwillyouhave，Beth？Thereain’tnoneedofbutone，“
aidHannah。
“Jo，please。“AndBethleanedherheadagainsthersisterwithacontentedlook，whicheffectuallysettledthatpoint。
“I’llgoandtellAmy，“saidMeg，feelingalittlehurt，yetratherrelievedonthewhole，forshedidnotlikenursing，andJodid。
Amyrebelledoutright，andpassionatelydeclaredthatshehadratherhavethefeverthangotoAuntMarch。Megreasoned，pleaded，andcommanded，allinvain。Amyprotestedthatshewouldnotgo，andMegleftherindespairtoaskHannahwhatshouldbedone。
Beforeshecameback，LauriewalkedintotheparlortofindAmysobbing，withherheadinthesofacushions。Shetoldherstory，expectingtobeconsoled，butLaurieonlyputhishandsinhispocketsandwalkedabouttheroom，whistlingsoftly，asheknithisbrowsindeepthought。Presentlyhesatdownbesideher，andsaid，inhismostwheedlesometone，“Nowbeasensiblelittlewoman，anddoastheysay。
No，don’tcry，buthearwhatajollyplanI’vegot。YougotoAuntMarch’s，andI’llcomeandtakeyououteveryday，drivingorwalking，andwe’llhavecapitaltimes。Won’tthatbebetterthanmopinghere？“
“Idon’twishtobesentoffasifIwasintheway，“beganAmy，inaninjuredvoice。
“Blessyourheart，child，it’stokeepyouwell。Youdon’twanttobesick，doyou？“
“No，I’msureIdon’t，butIdaresayIshallbe，forI’vebeenwithBethallthetime。“
“That’stheveryreasonyououghttogoawayatonce，sothatyoumayescapeit。Changeofairandcarewillkeepyouwell，I
daresay，orifitdoesnotentirely，youwillhavethefevermorelightly。Iadviseyoutobeoffassoonasyoucan，forscarletfeverisnojoke，miss。“
“Butit’sdullatAuntMarch’s，andsheissocross，“saidAmy，lookingratherfrightened。
“Itwon’tbedullwithmepopping；ineverydaytotellyouhowBethis，andtakeyououtgallivanting。Theoldladylikesme，andI’llbeassweetaspossibletoher，soshewon’tpeckatus，whateverwedo。“
“WillyoutakemeoutinthetrottingwagonwithPuck？“
“Onmyhonorasagentleman。“
“Andcomeeverysingleday？“
“SeeifIdon’t/“
“AndbringmebacktheminuteBethiswell？“
“Theidenticalminute。“
“Andgotothetheater，truly？“
“Adozentheaters，ifwemay。“
“Well——IguessIwill，“saidAmyslowly。
“Goodgirl!CallMeg，andtellheryou’llgivein，“saidLaurie，withanapprovingpat，whichannoyedAmymorethanthe`givingin’。
MegandJocamerunningdowntobeholdthemiraclewhichhadbeenwrought，andAmy，feelingverypreciousandself-sacrificing，promisedtogo，ifthedoctorsaidBethwasgoingtobeill。
“Howisthelittledear？“askedLaurie，forBethwashisespecialpet，andhefeltmoreanxiousaboutherthanhelikedtoshow。
“SheislyingdownonMother’sbed，andfeelsbetter。Thebaby’sdeathtroubledher，butIdaresayshehasonlygotcold。
Hannahsaysshethinksso，butshelooksworried，andthatmakesmefidgety，“answeredMeg。
“Whatatryingworlditis!“saidJo，rumplingupherhairinafretfulway。“Nosoonerdowegetoutofonetroublethandowncomesanother。Theredoesn’tseemtobeanythingtoholdontowhenMother’sgone，soI’mallatsea。“
“Well，don’tmakeaporcupineofyourself，itisn’tbecoming。
Settleyourwig，Jo，andtellmeifIshalltelegraphtoyourmother，ordoanything？“askedLaurie，whoneverhadbeenreconciledtothelossofhisfriend’sonebeauty。
“Thatiswhattroublesme，“saidMeg。“IthinkweoughttotellherifBethisreallyill，butHannahsayswemustn’t，forMothercan’tleaveFather，anditwillonlymakethemanxious。Bethwon’tbesicklong，andHannahknowsjustwhattodo，andMothersaidweweretomindher，soIsupposewemust，butitdoesn’tseemquiterighttome。“
“Hum，well，Ican’tsay。SupposeyouaskGrandfatherafterthedoctorhasbeen。“
“Wewill。Jo，goandgetDr。Bangsatonce，“commandedMeg。
“Wecan’tdecideanythingtillhehasbeen。“
“Staywhereyouare，Jo。I’merrandboytothisestablishment，“
saidLaurie，takinguphiscap。
“I’mafraidyouarebusy，“beganMeg。
“No，I’vedonemylessonsfortheday。“
“Doyoustudyinvacationtime？“askedJo。
“Ifollowthegoodexamplemyneighborssetme，“wasLaurie’sanswer，asheswunghimselfoutoftheroom。
“Ihavegreathopesformyboy，“observedJo，watchinghimflyoverthefencewithanapprovingsmile。
“Hedoesverywell，foraboy，“wasMeg’ssomewhatungraciousanswer，forthesubjectdidnotinteresther。
Dr。Bangscame，saidBethhadsymptomsofthefever，buthethoughtshewouldhaveitlightly，thoughhelookedsoberovertheHummelstory。
Amywasorderedoffatonce，andprovidedwithsomethingtowardoffdanger，shedepartedingreatstate，withJoandLaurieasescort。
AuntMarchreceivedthemwithherusualhospitality。
“Whatdoyouwantnow？“sheasked，lookingsharplyoverherspectacles，whiletheparrot，sittingonthebackofherchair，calledout……
“Goaway。Noboysallowedhere。“
Laurieretiredtothewindow，andJotoldherstory。
“NomorethanIexpected，ifyouareallowedtogopokingaboutamongpoorfolks。Amycanstayandmakeherselfusefulifsheisn’tsick，whichI’venodoubtshewillbe，lookslikeitnow。Don’tcry，child，itworriesmetohearpeoplesniff。“
Amywasonthepointofcrying，butLaurieslylypulledtheparrot’stail，whichcausedPollytoutteranastonishedcroakandcallout，“Blessmyboots!“insuchafunnyway，thatshelaughedinstead。
“Whatdoyouhearfromyourmother？“askedtheoldladygruffly。
“Fatherismuchbetter，“repliedJo，tryingtokeepsober。
“Oh，isher？Well，thatwon’tlastlong，Ifancy。Marchneverhadanystamina，“wasthecheerfulreply。
“Ha，ha!Neversaydie，takeapinchofsnuff，goodbye，goodbye!“
squalledPolly，dancingonherperch，andclawingattheoldlady’scapasLaurietweakedhimintherear。
“Holdyourtongue，youdisrespectfuloldbird!And，Jo，you’dbettergoatonce。Itisn’tpropertobegaddingaboutsolatewitharattlepatedboylike……“
“Holdyourtongue，youdisrespectfuloldbird!“criedPolly，tumblingoffthechairwithabounce，andrunningtopeckthe`rattlepated’boy，whowasshakingwithlaughteratthelastspeech。
“Idon’tthinkIcanbearit，butI’lltry，“thoughtAmy，asshewasleftalonewithAuntMarch。
“Getalong，youfright!“screamedPolly，andatthatrudespeechAmycouldnotrestrainasniff。
Chapter18CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Bethdidhavethefever，andwasmuchsickerthananyonebutHannahandthedoctorsuspected。Thegirlsknewnothingaboutillness，andMr。Laurencewasnotallowedtoseeher，soHannahhadeverythingherownway，andbusyDr。Bangsdidhisbest，butleftagooddealtotheexcellentnurse。Megstayedathome，lestsheshouldinfecttheKings，andkepthouse，feelingveryanxiousandalittleguiltywhenshewrotelettersinwhichnomentionwasmadeofBeth’sillness。Shecouldnotthinkitrighttodeceivehermother，butshehadbeenbiddentomindHannah，andHannahwouldn’thearof`Mrs。Marchbein’told，andworriedjustforsechatrifle。’
JodevotedherselftoBethdayandnight，notahardtask，forBethwasverypatient，andboreherpainuncomplaininglyaslongasshecouldcontrolherself。Buttherecameatimewhenduringthefeverfitsshebegantotalkinahoarse，brokenvoice，toplayonthecoverletasifonherbelovedlittlepiano，andtrytosingwithathroatsoswollenthattherewasnomusicleft，atimewhenshedidnotknowthefamiliarfacesaroundher，butaddressedthembywrongnames，andcalledimploringlyforhermother。ThenJogrewfrightened，Megbeggedtobeallowedtowritethetruth，andevenHannahsaidshe`wouldthinkofit，thoughtherewasnodangeryet’。AletterfromWashingtonaddedtotheirtrouble，forMr。
Marchhadhadarelapse，andcouldnotthinkofcominghomeforalongwhile。
Howdarkthedaysseemednow，howsadandlonelythehouse，andhowheavyweretheheartsofthesistersastheyworkedandwaited，whiletheshadowofdeathhoveredovertheoncehappyhome。
ThenitwasthatMargaret，sittingalonewithtearsdroppingoftenonherwork，felthowrichshehadbeeninthingsmorepreciousthananyluxuriesmoneycouldbuy——inlove，protection，peace，andhealth，therealblessingsoflife。ThenitwasthatJo，livinginthedarkenedroom，withthatsufferinglittlesisteralwaysbeforehereyesandthatpatheticvoicesoundinginherears，learnedtoseethebeautyandtosweetnessofBeth’snature，tofeelhowdeepandtenderaplaceshefilledinallhearts，andtoacknowledgetheworthofBeth’sunselfishambitiontoliveforothers，andmakehomehappybythatexerciseofthosesimplevirtueswhichallmaypossess，andwhichallshouldloveandvaluemorethantalent，wealth，orbeauty。AndAmy，inherexile，longedeagerlytobeathome，thatshemightworkforBeth，feelingnowthatnoservicewouldbehardorirksome，andremembering，withregretfulgrief，howmanyneglectedtasksthosewillinghandshaddoneforher。Lauriehauntedthehouselikearestlessghost，andMr。Laurencelockethegrandpiano，becausehecouldnotbeartoberemindedoftheyoungneighborwhousedtomakethetwilightpleasantforhim。EveryonemissedBeth。
Themilkman，baker，grocer，andbutcherinquiredhowshedid，poorMrs。HummelcametobegpardonforherthoughtlessnessandtogetashroudforMinna，theneighborssentallsortsofcomfortsandgoodwishes，andeventhosewhoknewherbestweresurprisedtofindhowmanyfriendsshylittleBethhadmade。
MeanwhileshelayonherbedwitholdJoannaatherside，foreveninherwanderingsshedidnotforgetherforlornprotege。
Shelongedforhercats，butwouldnothavethembrought，lesttheyshouldgetsick，andinherquiethoursshewasfullofanxietyaboutJo。ShesentlovingmessagestoAmy，badethemtellhermotherthatshewouldwritesoon，andoftenbeggedforpencilandpapertotrytosayaword，thatFathermightnotthinkshehadneglectedhim。
Butsooneventheseintervalsofconsciousnessended，andshelayhourafterhour，tossingtoandfro，withincoherentwordsonherlips，orsankintoaheavysleepwhichbroughthernorefreshment。
Dr。Bangscametwiceaday，Hannahsatupatnight，Megkeptatelegraminherdeskallreadytosendoffatanyminute，andJoneverstirredfromBeth’sside。
ThefirstofDecemberwasawintrydayindeedtothem，forabitterwindblew，snowfellfast，andtheyearseemedgettingreadyforitsdeath。WhenDr。Bangscamethatmorning，helookedlongatBeth，heldthehothandinbothhisownforaminute，andlaiditgentlydown，saying，inalowvoicetoHannah，“IfMrs。Marchcanleaveherhusbandshe’dbetterbesentfor。“
Hannahnoddedwithoutspeaking，forherlipstwitchednervously，Megdroppeddownintoachairasthestrengthseemedtogooutofherlimbsatthesoundofthosewords，andJo，standingwithapalefaceforaminute，rantotheparlor，snatchedupthetelegram，andthrowingonherthings，rushedoutintothestorm。Shewassoonback，andwhilenoiselesslytakingoffhercloak，Lauriecameinwithaletter，sayingthatMr。Marchwasmendingagain。Joreaditthankfully，buttheheavyweightdidnotseemliftedoffherheart，andherfacewassofullofmiserythatLaurieaskedquickly，“Whatisit？IsBethworse？“
“I’vesentforMother，“saidJo，tuggingatherrubberbootswithatragicexpression。