Mr。Marchtoldhowhehadlongedtosurprisethem，andhow，whenthefineweathercame，hehadbeenallowedbyhisdoctor，totakeadvantageofit，howdevotedBrookehadbeen，andhowhewasaltogetheramostestimableanduprightyoungman。WhyMr。Marchpausedaminutejustthere，andafteraglanceatMeg，whowasviolentlypokingthefire，lookedathiswifewithaninquiringliftoftheeyebrows，Ileaveyoutoimagine。AlsowhyMrs。
Marchgentlynoddedherheadandasked，ratherabruptly，ifhewouldn’tliketohavesomethingtoeat。Josawandunderstoodthelook，andshestalkedgrimlyawaytogetwineandbeeftea，mutteringtoherselfassheslammedthedoor，“Ihateestimableyoungmenwithbrowneyes!“
ThereneverwassuchaChristmasdinnerastheyhadthatday。
Thefatturkeywasasighttobehold，whenHannahsenthimup，stuffed，browned，anddecorated。Sowastheplumpudding，whichmeltedinone’smouth，likewisethejellies，inwhichAmyreveledlikeaflyinahoneypot。Everythingturnedoutwell，whichwasamercy，Hannahsaid，“Formymindwasthatflustered，Mum，thatit’samerrycleIdidn’troastthepudding，andstufftheturkeywithraisins，letalonebilin’ofitinacloth。“
Mr。Laurenceandhisgrandsondinedwiththem，alsoMr。
Brooke，atwhomJoglowereddarkly，toLaurie’sinfiniteamusement。
Twoeasychairsstoodsidebysideattheheadofthetable，inwhichsatBethandherfather，feastingmodestlyonchickenandalittlefruit。Theydrankhealths，toldstories，sangsongs，`reminisced’，astheoldfolkssay，andhadathoroughlygoodtime。
Asleighridehadbeenplanned，butthegirlswouldnotleavetheirfather，sotheguestsdepartedearly，andastwilightgathered，thehappyfamilysattogetherroundthefire。
“JustayearagoweweregroaningoverthedismalChristmasweexpectedtohave。Doyouremember？“askedJo，breakingashortpausewhichhadfollowedalongconversationaboutmanythings。
“Ratherapleasantyearonthewhole!“saidMeg，smilingatthefire，andcongratulatingherselfonhavingtreatedMr。Brookewithdignity。
“Ithinkit’sbeenaprettyhardone，“observedAmy，watchingthelightshineonherringwiththoughtfuleyes。
“i’mgladit’sover，becausewe’vegotyouback，“whisperedBeth，whosatonherfather’sknee。
“Ratheraroughroadforyoutotravel，mylittlepilgrims，especiallythelatterpartofit。Butyouhavegotonbravely，andIthinktheburdensareinafairwaytotumbleoffverysoon，“
saidMr。March，lookingwithfatherlysatisfactionatthefouryoungfacesgatheredroundhim。
“Howdoyouknow？DidMothertellyou？’askedJo。
“Notmuch。Strawsshowwhichwaythewindblows，andI’vemadeseveraldiscoveriestoday。“
“Oh，telluswhattheyare!“criedMeg，whosatbesidehim。
“Hereisone。“Andtakingupthehandwhichlayonthearmofhischair，hepointedtotheroughenedforefinger，aburnontheback，andtwoorthreelittlehardspotsonthepalm。“I
rememberatimewhenthishandwaswhiteandsmooth，andyourfirstcarewastokeepitso。Itwasveryprettythen，buttomeitismuchprettiernow，forinthisseemingblemishesIreadalittlehistory。Aburntofferinghasbeenmadetovanity，thishardenedpalmhasearnedsomethingbetterthanblisters，andI’msurethesewingdonebytheseprickedfingerswilllastalongtime，somuchgoodwillwentintothestitches。Meg，mydear，Ivaluethewomanlyskillwhichkeepshomehappymorethanwhitehandsorfashionableaccomplishments。I’mproudtoshakethisgood，industriouslittlehand，andhopeIshallnotsoonbeaskedtogiveitaway。“
IfMeghadwantedarewardforhoursofpatientlabor，shereceiveditintheheartypressureofherfather’shandandtheapprovingsmilehegaveher。
“WhataboutJo？Pleasesaysomethingnice，forshehastriedsohardandbeensovery，verygoodtome，“saidBethinherfather’sear。
Helaughedandlookedacrossatthetallgirlwhosatopposite，withandunusuallymildexpressioninherface。
“Inspiteofthecurlycrop，Idon’tseethe`sonJo’whomI
leftayearago，“saidMr。March。“Iseeayoungladywhopinshercollarstraight，lacesherbootsneatly，andneitherwhistles，talksslang，norliesontherugassheusedtodo。Herfaceisratherthinandpalejustnow，withwatchingandanxiety，butI
liketolookatit，forithasgrowngentler，andhervoiceislower。Shedoesn’tbounce，butmovesquietly，andtakescareofacertainlittlepersoninamotherlywaywhichdelightsme。I
rathermissmywildgirl，butifIgetastrong，helpful，tenderheartedwomaninherplace，Ishallfeelquitesatisfied。
Idon’tknowwhethertheshearingsoberedourblacksheep，butIdoknowthatinallWashingtonIcouldn’tfindanythingbeautifulenoughtobeboughtwiththefive-and-twentydollarsmygoodgirlsentme。“
Jo’skeeneyeswereratherdimforaminute，andherthinfacegrewrosyinthefirelightasshereceivedherfather’spraise，feelingthatshediddeserveaportionofit。
“Now，Beth，“saidAmy，longingforherturn，butreadytowait。
“There’ssolittleofher，I’mafraidtosaymuch，forfearshewillslipawayaltogether，thoughsheisnotsoshyassheusedtobe，“begantheirfathercheerfully。Butrecollectinghownearlyhehadlosther，heheldherclose，sayingtenderly，withhercheekagainsthisown，“I’vegotyousafe，myBeth，andI’llkeepyouso，pleaseGod。“
Afteraminute’ssilence，helookeddownatAmy，whosatonthecricketathisfeet，andsaid，withacaressoftheshininghair……
“IobservedthatAmytookdrumsticksatdinner，ranerrandsforhermotheralltheafternoon，gaveMegherplacetonight，andhaswaitedoneveryonwithpatienceandgoodhumor。Ialsoobservethatshedoesnotfretmuchnorlookintheglass，andhasnotevenmentionedaveryprettyringwhichshewears，soI
concludethatshehaslearnedtothinkofotherpeoplemoreandofherselfless，andhasdecidedtotryandmoldhercharacterascarefullyasshemoldsherlittleclayfigures。Iamgladofthis，forthoughIshouldbeveryproudofagracefulstatuemadebyher，Ishallbeinfinitelyprouderofalovabledaughterwithatalentformakinglifebeautifultoherselfandothers。“
“Whatareyouthinkingof，Beth？“askedJo，whenAmyhadthankedherfatherandtoldaboutherring。
“IreadinPILGRIM’SPROGRESStodayhow，aftermanytroubles，christianandHopefulcametoapleasantgreenmeadowwhereliliesbloomedallyearround，andtheretheyrestedhappily，aswedonow，beforetheywentontotheirjourney’send，“answeredBeth，adding，assheslippedoutofherfather’sarmsandwenttotheinstrument，“It’ssingingtimenow，andIwanttobeinmyoldplace。I’lltrytosingthesongoftheshepherdboywhichthePilgrimsheard。ImadethemusicforFather，becausehelikestheverses。“
So，sittingatthedearlittlepiano，Bethsoftlytouchedthekeys，andinthesweetvoicetheyhadneverthoughttohearagain，sangtoherownaccompanimentthequainthymn，whichwasasingularlyfittingsongforher。
Hethatisdownneedfearnofall，Hethatislownopride。
HethatishumbleevershallHaveGodtobehisguide。
IamcontentwithwhatIhave，Littlebeit，ormuch。
And，Lord!ContentmentstillIcrave，BecauseThousavestsuch。
Fulnesstothemaburdenis，Thatgoonpilgrimage。
Herelittle，andhereafterbliss，Isbestfromagetoage!
Likebeesswarmingaftertheirqueen，motheranddaughtershoveredaboutMr。Marchthenextday，neglectingeverythingtolookat，waitupon，andlistentothenewinvalid，whowasinafairwaytobekilledbykindness。AshesatproppedupinabigchairbyBeth’ssofa，withtheotherthreecloseby，andHannahpoppinginherheadnowandthen`topeekatthedearman’，nothingseemedneededtocompletetheirhappiness。Butsomethingwasneeded，andtheelderonesfeltit，thoughnoneconfessedthefact。Mr。andMrs。Marchlookedatoneanotherwithananxiousexpression，astheireyesfollowedMeg。Johadsuddenfitsofsobriety，andwasseentoshakeherfistatMr。Brooke’sumbrella，whichhadbeenleftinthehall。Megwasabsent-minded，shy，andsilent，startedwhenthebellrang，andcoloredwhenJohn’snamewasmentioned。Amysaid，“Everyoneseemedwaitingforsomething，andcouldn’tsettledown，whichwasqueer，sinceFatherwassafeathome，“andBethinnocentlywonderedwhytheirneighborsdidn’trunoverasusual。
Lauriewentbyintheafternoon，andseeingMegatthewindow，seemedsuddenlypossessedwithamelodramaticfit，forhefelldownononekneeinthesnow，beathisbreast，torehishair，andclaspedhishandsimploringly，asifbeggingsomeboon。
AndwhenMegtoldhimtobehavehimselfandgoaway，hewrungimaginarytearsoutofhishandkerchief，andstaggeredroundthecornerasifinutterdespair。
“Whatdoesthegoosemean？“saidMeg，laughingandtryingtolookunconscious。
“He’sshowingyouhowyourJohnwillgoonby-and-by。
Touchin，isn’tit？“answeredJoscornfully。
“Don’tsaymyJohn，itisn’tproperortrue，“butMeg’svoicelingeredoverthewordsasiftheysoundedpleasanttoher。“Pleasedon’tplagueme，Jo，I’vetoldyouIdon’tcaremuchabouthim，andthereisn’ttobeanythingsaid，butwearealltobefriendly，andgoonasbefore。“
“Wecan’t，forsomethinghasbeensaid，andLaurie’smischiefhasspoiledyouforme。Iseeit，andsodoesMother。Youarenotlikeyouroldselfabit，andseemeversofarawayfromme。I
don’tmeantoplagueyouandwillbearitlikeaman，butIdowishitwasallsettled。Ihatetowait，soifyoumeanevertodoit，makehasteandhaveitoverquickly，“saidJopettishly。
“Ican’tsayanythingtillhespeaks，andhewon’t，becauseFathersaidIwastooyoung，“beganMeg，bendingoverherworkwithaqueerlittlesmile，whichsuggestedthatshedidnotquiteagreewithherfatheronthatpoint。
“Ifhedidspeak，youwouldn’tknowwhattosay，butwouldcryorblush，orlethimhavehisownway，insteadofgivingagood，decidedno。“
“I’mnotsosillyandweakasyouthink。IknowjustwhatIshouldsay，forI’veplanneditall，soIneedn’tbetakenunawares。There’snoknowingwhatmayhappen，andIwishedtobeprepared。“
Jocouldn’thelpsmilingattheimportantairwhichMeghadunconsciouslyassumedandwhichwasasbecomingastheprettycolorvaryinginhercheeks。
“Wouldyoumindtellingmewhatyou’dsay？“askedJomorerespectfully。
“Notatall。Youaresixteennow，quiteoldenoughtobemyconfidente，andmyexperiencewillbeusefultoyouby-and-by，perhaps，inyourownaffairsofthissort。“
“Don’tmeantohaveany。It’sfuntowatchotherpeoplephilander，butIshouldfeellikeafooldoingitmyself，“saidJo，lookingalarmedatthethought。
“Ithinknot，ifyoulikedanyoneverymuch，andhelikedyou。“Megspokeasiftoherself，andglancedoutatthelanewhereshehadoftenseenloverswalkingtogetherinthesummertwilight。
“Ithoughtyouweregoingtotellyourspeechtothatman，“
saidJo，rudelyshorteninghersister’slittlereverie。
“Oh，Ishouldmerelysay，quitecalmlyanddecidedly，`Thankyou，Mr。Brooke，youareverykind，butIagreewithFatherthatIamtooyoungtoenterintoanyengagementatpresent，sopleasesaynomore，butletusbefriendsaswewere。“
“Hum，that’sstiffandcoolenough!Idon’tbelieveyou’lleversayit，andIknowhewon’tbesatisfiedifyoudo。Ifhegoesonliketherejectedloversinbooks，you’llgivein，ratherthanhurthisfeelings。“
“No，Iwon’t。IshalltellhimI’vemadeupmymind，andshallwalkoutoftheroomwithdignity。“
Megroseasshespoke，andwasjustgoingtorehearsethedignifiedexit，whenastepinthehallmadeherflyintoherseatandbegintosewasfastasifherlifedependedonfinishingthatparticularseaminagiventime。Josmotheredalaughatthesuddenchange，andwhensomeonegaveamodesttap，openedthedoorwithagrimaspectwhichwasanythingbuthospitable。
“Goodafternoon。Icametogetmyumbrella，thatis，toseehowyourfatherfindshimselftoday，“saidMr。Brooke，gettingatrifleconfusedashiseyeswentfromonetelltalefacetotheother。
“It’sverywell，he’sintherack。I’llgethim，andtellityouarehere。“Andhavingjumbledherfatherandtheumbrellawelltogetherinherreply，JoslippedoutoftheroomtogiveMegachancetomakeherspeechandairherdignity。Buttheinstantshevanished，Megbegantosidletowardthedoor，murmuring……
“Motherwillliketoseeyou。Praysitdown，I’llcallher。“
“Don’tgo。Areyouafraidofme，Margaret？“AndMr。BrookelookedsohurtthatMegthoughtshemusthavedonesomethingveryrude。Sheblusheduptothelittlecurlsonherforehead，forhehadnevercalledherMargaretbefore，andshewassurprisedtofindhownaturalandsweetitseemedtohearhimsayit。Anxioustoappearfriendlyandatherease，sheputoutherhandwithaconfidinggesture，andsaidgratefully……
“HowcanIbeafraidwhenyouhavebeensokindtoFather？
IonlywishIcouldthankyouforit。“
“ShallItellyouhow？“askedMr。Brooke，holdingthesmallhandfastinbothhisown，andlookingdownatMegwithsomuchloveinthebrowneyesthatherheartbegantoflutter，andshebothlongedtorunawayandtostopandlisten。
“Ohno，pleasedon’t，I’drathernot，“shesaid，tryingtowithdrawherhand，andlookingfrightenedinspiteofherdenial。
“Iwon’ttroubleyou。Ionlywanttoknowifyoucareformealittle，Meg。Iloveyousomuch，dear，“addedMr。Brooketenderly。
Thiswasthemomentforthecalm，properspeech，butMegdidn’tmakeit。Sheforgoteverywordofit，hungherhead，andanswered，“Idon’tknow，“sosoftlythatJohnhadtostoopdowntocatchthefoolishlittlereply。
Heseemedtothinkitwasworththetrouble，forhesmiledtohimselfasifquitesatisfied，pressedtheplumphandgratefully，andsaidinhismostpersuasivetone，“Willyoutryandfindout？Iwanttoknowsomuch，forIcan’tgotoworkwithanyheartuntilIlearnwhetherIamtohavemyrewardintheendornot。“
“I’mtooyoung，“falteredMeg，wonderingwasshewassofluttered，yetratherenjoyingit。