Jowasaloneinthetwilight，lyingontheoldsofa，lookingatthefire，andthinking。Itwasherfavoritewayofspendingthehourofdusk。Noonedisturbedher，andsheusedtoliethereonBeth’slittleredpillow，planningstories，dreamingdreams，orthinkingtenderthoughtsofthesisterwhoneverseemedfaraway。Herfacelookedtired，grave，andrathersad，fortomorrowwasherbirthday，andshewasthinkinghowfasttheyearswentby，howoldshewasgetting，andhowlittlesheseemedtohaveaccomplished。Almosttwenty-five，andnothingtoshowforit。Jowasmistakeninthat。Therewasagooddealtoshow，andby-and-byshesaw，andwasgratefulforit。
“Anoldmaid，that’swhatI’mtobe。Aliteraryspinster，withapenforaspouse，afamilyofstoriesforchildren，andtwentyyearshenceamorseloffame，perhaps，when，likepoorJohnson，I’moldandcan’tenjoyit，solitary，andcan’tshareit，independent，anddon’tneedit。Well，Ineedn’tbeasoursaintnoraselfishsinner，and，Idaresay，oldmaidsareverycomfortablewhentheygetusedtoit，but……“AndthereJosighed，asiftheprospectwasnotinviting。
Itseldomis，atfirst，andthirtyseemstheendofallthingstofive-and-twenty。Butit’snotasbadasitlooks，andonecangetonquitehappilyifonehassomethinginone’sselftofallbackupon。Attwenty-five，girlsbegintotalkaboutbeingoldmaids，butsecretlyresolvethattheyneverwillbe。Atthirtytheysaynothingaboutit，butquietlyacceptthefact，andifsensible，consolethemselvesbyrememberingthattheyhavetwentymoreuseful，happyyears，inwhichtheymaybelearningtogrowoldgracefully。Don’tlaughatthespinsters，deargirls，foroftenverytender，tragicromancesarehiddenawayintheheartsthatbeatsoquietlyunderthesobergowns，andmanysilentsacrificesofyouth，health，ambition，loveitself，makethefadedfacesbeautifulinGod’ssight。Eventhesad，soursistersshouldbekindlydealtwith，becausetheyhavemissedthesweetestpartoflife，iffornootherreason。Andlookingatthemwithcompassion，notcontempt，girlsintheirbloomshouldrememberthattheytoomaymisstheblossomtime。Thatrosycheeksdon’tlastforever，thatsilverthreadswillcomeinthebonniebrownhair，andthat，by-and-by，kindnessandrespectwillbeassweetasloveandadmirationnow。
Gentlemen，whichmeansboys，becourteoustotheoldmaids，nomatterhowpoorandplainandprim，fortheonlychivalryworthhavingisthatwhichisthereadiesttopaydeferencetotheold，protectthefeeble，andservewomankind，regardlessofrank，age，orcolor。Justrecollectthegoodauntswhohavenotonlylecturedandfussed，butnursedandpetted，toooftenwithoutthanks，thescrapestheyhavehelpedyououtof，thetipstheyhavegivenyoufromtheirsmallstore，thestitchesthepatientoldfingershavesetforyou，thestepsthewillingoldfeethavetaken，andgratefullypaythedearoldladiesthelittleattentionsthatwomenlovetoreceiveaslongastheylive。Thebright-eyedgirlsarequicktoseesuchtraits，andwilllikeyouallthebetterforthem，andifdeath，almosttheonlypowerthatcanpartmotherandson，shouldrobyouofyours，youwillbesuretofindatenderwelcomeandmaternalcherishingfromsomeAuntPriscilla，whohaskeptthewarmestcornerofherlonelyoldheartfor`thebestnevvyintheworld’。
JomusthavefallenasleepasIdaresaymyreaderhasduringthislittlehomily，forsuddenlyLaurie’sghostseemedtostandbeforeher，asubstantial，lifelikeghost，leaningoverherwiththeverylookheusedtowearwhenhefeltagooddealanddidn’tliketoshowit。But，likeJennyintheballad……
Shecouldnotthinkithe，andlaystaringupathiminstartledsilence，tillhestoopedandkissedher。Thensheknewhim，andflewup，cryingjoyfully……
“OhmyTeddy!OhmyTeddy!“
“DearJo，youaregladtoseeme，then？“
“Glad!Myblessedboy，wordscan’texpressmygladness。
Where’sAmy？“
“YourmotherhasgotherdownatMeg’s。Westoppedtherebytheway，andtherewasnogettingmywifeoutoftheirclutches。“
“Yourwhat？“criedJo，forLaurieutteredthosetwowordswithanunconsciousprideandsatisfactionwhichbetrayedhim。
“Oh，thedickens!NowI’vedoneit。“AndhelookedsoguiltythatJowasdownonhimlikeaflash。
“You’vegoneandgotmarried!“
“Yes，please，butIneverwillagain。“Andhewentdownuponhisknees，withapenitentclaspingofhands，andafacefullofmischief，mirth，andtriumph。
“Actuallymarried？“
“Verymuchso，thankyou。“
“Mercyonus。Whatdreadfulthingwillyoudonext？“AndJofellintoherseatwithagasp。
“Acharacteristic，butnotexactlycomplimentary，congratulation，“
returnedLaurie，stillinanabjectattitude，butbeamingwithsatisfaction。
“Whatcanyouexpect，whenyoutakeone’sbreathaway，creepinginlikeaburglar，andlettingcatsoutofbagslikethat？Getup，youridiculousboy，andtellmeallaboutit。“
“Notaword，unlessyouletmecomeinmyoldplace，andpromisenottobarricade。“
Jolaughedatthatasshehadnotdoneformanyalongday，andpattedthesofainvitingly，asshesaidinacordialtone，“Theoldpillowisupgarret，andwedon’tneeditnow。So，comeandfess，Teddy。“
“Howgooditsoundstohearyousay`Teddy’!Nooneevercallsmethatbutyou。“AndLauriesatdownwithanairofgreatcontent。
“WhatdoesAmycallyou？“
“Mylord。“
“That’slikeher。Well，youlookit。“AndJo’seyeplainlybetrayedthatshefoundherboycomelierthanever。
Thepillowwasgone，buttherewasabarricade，nevertheless，anaturalone，raisedbytimeabsence，andchangeofheart。Bothfeltit，andforaminutelookedatoneanotherasifthatinvisiblebarriercastalittleshadowoverthem。Itwasgonedirectlyhowever，forLauriesaid，withavainattemptatdignity……
“Don’tIlooklikeamarriedmanandtheheadofafamily？“
“Notabit，andyouneverwill。You’vegrownbiggerandbonnier，butyouarethesamescapegraceasever。“
“Nowreally，Jo，yououghttotreatmewithmorerespect，“
beganLaurie，whoenjoyeditallimmensely。
“HowcanI，whenthemereideaofyou，marriedandsettled，issoirresistiblyfunnythatIcan’tkeepsober!“answeredJo，smilingalloverherface，soinfectiouslythattheyhadanotherlaugh，andthensettleddownforagoodtalk，quiteinthepleasantoldfashion。
“It’snouseyourgoingoutinthecoldtogetAmy，fortheyareallcominguppresently。Icouldn’twait。Iwantedtobetheonetotellyouthegrandsurprise，andhave`firstskim’
asweusedtosaywhenwesquabbledaboutthecream。“
“Ofcourseyoudid，andspoiledyourstorybybeginningatthewrongend。Now，startright，andtellmehowitallhappened。
I’mpiningtoknow。“
“Well，IdidittopleaseAmy，“beganLaurie，withatwinklethatmadeJoexclaim……
“Fibnumberone。Amydidittopleaseyou。Goon，andtellthetruth，ifyoucan，sir。“
“Nowshe’sbeginningtomarmit。Isn’titjollytohearher？“
saidLaurietothefire，andthefireglowedandsparkledasifitquiteagreed。“It’sallthesame，youknow，sheandIbeingone。
WeplannedtocomehomewiththeCarrols，amonthormoreago，buttheysuddenlychangedtheirminds，anddecidedtopassanotherwinterinParis。ButGrandpawantedtocomehome。Hewenttopleaseme，andIcouldn’tlethimgoalong，neithercouldIleaveAmy，andMrs。CarrolhadgotEnglishnotionsaboutchaperonsandsuchnonsense，andwouldn’tletAmycomewithus。SoIjustsettledthedifficultybysaying，`Let’sbemarried，andthenwecandoaswelike’。“
“Ofcourseyoudid。Youalwayshavethingstosuityou。“
“Notalways。“AndsomethinginLaurie’svoicemadeJosayhastily……
“HowdidyouevergetAunttoagree？“
“Itwashardwork，butbetweenus，wetalkedherover，forwehadheapsofgoodreasonsonourside。Therewasn’ttimetowriteandaskleave，butyoualllikedit，hadconsentedtoitby-and-by，anditwasonly`takingtimebythefetlock’，asmywifesays。“
“Aren’tweproudofthosetwoword，anddon’tweliketosaythem？“interruptedJo，addressingthefireinherturn，andwatchingwithdelightthehappylightitseemedtokindleintheeyesthathadbeensotragicallygloomywhenshesawthemlast。
“Atrifle，perhaps，she’ssuchacaptivatinglittlewomanI
can’thelpbeingproudofher。Well，thenUncleandAuntweretheretoplaypropriety。Weweresoabsorbedinoneanotherwewereofnomortaluseapart，andthatcharmingarrangementwouldmakeeverythingeasyallround，sowedidit。“
“When，where，how？“askedJo，inafeveroffeminineinterestandcuriosity，forshecouldnotrealizeitaparticle。
“Sixweeksago，attheAmericanconsul’s，inParis，averyquietweddingofcourse，foreveninourhappinesswedidn’tforgetdearlittleBeth。“
Joputherhandinhisashesaidthat，andLauriegentlysmoothedthelittleredpillow，whichherememberedwell。
“Whydidn’tyouletusknowafterward？“askedJo，inaquietertone，whentheyhadsatquitestillaminute。
“Wewantedtosurpriseyou。Wethoughtwewerecomingdirectlyhome，atfirst，butthedearoldgentleman，assoonasweweremarried，foundhecouldn’tbereadyunderamonth，atleast，andsentusofftospendourhoneymoonwhereverweliked。
AmyhadoncecalledValrosaaregularhoneymoonhome，sowewentthere，andwereashappyaspeoplearebutonceintheirlives。
Myfaith!Wasn’titloveamongtheroses!“
LaurieseemedtoforgetJoforaminute，andJowasgladofit，forthefactthathetoldherthesethingssofreelyandsonaturallyassuredherthathehadquiteforgivenandforgotten。
Shetriedtodrawawayherhand，butasifheguessedthethoughtthatpromptedthehalf-involuntaryimpulse，Lauriehelditfast，andsaid，withamanlygravityshehadneverseeninhimbefore……
“Jo，dear，Iwanttosayonething，andthenwe’llputitbyforever。AsItoldyouinmyletterwhenIwrotethatAmyhadbeensokindtome，Inevershallstoplovingyou，buttheloveisaltered，andIhavelearnedtoseethatitisbetterasitis。
Amyandyouchangedplacesinmyheart，that’sall。Ithinkitwasmeanttobeso，andwouldhavecomeaboutnaturally，ifIhadwaited，asyoutriedtomakeme，butInevercouldbepatient，andsoIgotaheartache。Iwasaboythen，headstrongandviolent，andittookahardlessontoshowmemymistake。Foritwasone，Jo，asyousaid，andIfounditout，aftermakingafoolofmyself。
Uponmyword，Iwassotumbledupinmymind，atonetime，thatI
didn’tknowwhichIlovedbest，youorAmy，andtriedtoloveyoubothalike。ButIcouldn’t，andwhenIsawherinSwitzerland，everythingseemedtoclearupallatonce。Youbothgotintoyourrightplaces，andIfeltsurethatitwaswelloffwiththeoldlovebeforeitwasonwiththenew，thatIcouldhonestlysharemyheartbetweensisterJoandwifeAmy，andlovethemdearly。
Willyoubelieveit，andgobacktothehappyoldtimeswhenwefirstknewoneanother？“
“I’llbelieveit，withallmyheart，but，Teddy，wenevercanbeboyandgirlagain。Thehappyoldtimescan’tcomeback，andwemustn’texpectit。Wearemanandwomannow，withsoberworktodo，forplaytimeisover，andwemustgiveupfrolicking。I’msureyoufeelthis。Iseethechangeinyou，andyou’llfinditinme。
I
shallmissmyboy，butIshalllovethemanasmuch，andadmirehimmore，becausehemeanstobewhatIhopedhewould。Wecan’tbelittleplaymatesanylonger，butwewillbebrotherandsister，toloveandhelponeanotherallourlives，won’twe，Laurie？“
Hedidnotsayaword，buttookthehandsheofferedhim，andlaidhisfacedownonitforaminute，feelingthatoutofthegraveofaboyishpassion，therehadrisenabeautiful，strongfriendshiptoblessthemboth。PresentlyJosaidcheerfully，forshedidn’tthecominghometobeasadone，“Ican’tmakeittruethatyouchildrenarereallymarriedandgoingtosetuphousekeeping。
Why，itseemsonlyyesterdaythatIwasbuttoningAmy’spinafore，andpullingyourhairwhenyouteased。Mercyme，howtimedoesfly!“
“Asoneofthechildrenisolderthanyourself，youneedn’ttalksolikeagrandma。IflattermyselfI’ma`gentlemangrowed’
asPeggottysaidofDavid，andwhenyouseeAmy，you’llfindherratheraprecociousinfant，“saidLaurie，lookingamusedathermaternalair。
“Youmaybealittleolderinyears，butI’meversomucholderinfeeling，Teddy。Womenalwaysare，andthislastyearhasbeensuchahardonethatIfeelforty。“
“PoorJo!Weleftyoutobearitalone，whilewewentpleasuring。
Youareolder。Here’saline，andthere’sanother。Unlessyousmile，youreyeslooksad，andwhenItouchedthecushion，justnow，Ifoundatearonit。You’vehadagreatdealtobear，andhadtobearitallalone。WhataselfishbeastI’vebeen!“
AndLauriepulledhisownhair，witharemorsefullook。
ButJoonlyturnedoverthetraitorouspillow，andanswered，inatonewhichshetriedtomakemorecheerful，“No，IhadFatherandMothertohelpme，andthedearbabiestocomfortme，andthethoughtthatyouandAmyweresafeandhappy，tomakethetroubleshereeasiertobear。Iamlonely，sometimes，butIdaresayit’sgoodforme，and……“
“Younevershallbeagain，“brokeinLaurie，puttinghisarmabouther，asiftofenceouteveryhumanill。“AmyandIcan’tgetonwithoutyou，soyoumustcomeandteach`thechildren’tokeephouse，andgohalvesineverything，justasweusedtodo，andletuspetyou，andallbeblissfullyhappyandfriendlytogether。“
“IfIshouldn’tbeintheway，itwouldbeverypleasant。I
begintofeelquiteyoungalready，forsomehowallmytroublesseemedtoflyawaywhenyoucame。Youalwayswereacomfort，Teddy。“
AndJoleanedherheadonhisshoulder，justasshedidyearsago，whenBethlayillandLaurietoldhertoholdontohim。
Helookeddownather，wonderingifsherememberedthetime，butJowassmilingtoherself，asifintruthhertroubleshadallvanishedathiscoming。
“YouarethesameJostill，droppingtearsaboutoneminute，andlaughingthenext。Youlookalittlewickednow。Whatisit，Grandma？“
“IwaswonderinghowyouandAmygetontogether。“
“Likeangels!“
“Yes，ofcourse，butwhichrules？“
“Idon’tmindtellingyouthatshedoesnow，atleastIletherthinkso，itpleasesher，youknow。By-and-byweshalltaketurns，formarriage，theysay，halvesone’srightsanddoublesone’sduties。“
“You’llgoonasyoubegin，andAmywillruleyouallthedaysofyourlife。“
“Well，shedoesitsoimperceptiblythatIdon’tthinkIshallmindmuch。Sheisthesortofwomanwhoknowshowtorulewell。
Infact，Iratherlikeit，forshewindsoneroundherfingerassoftlyandprettilyasaskeinofsilk，andmakesyoufeelasifshewasdoingyouafavorallthewhile。“