第六章　贝丝发现“丽宫”

大房子确实是座“丽宫”，不过大家也是颇费周折才进到里面。贝丝觉得很难躲过“几只拦路狮子”：劳伦斯老先生是最大的狮子，不过，他来登门拜访了，与每个姑娘都说笑一番，和她们的母亲叙了旧。从此之后，除了腼腆的贝丝没人再怕他了。另一只狮子是：她们贫穷，劳里富有。既然不能礼尚往来，她们也就不肯接受恩惠。但是，一段时间之后，她们发现劳里竟把她们当成了恩人，对马奇太太慈母般的款待、姑娘们的热情相伴，以及在她们那所简陋的房子里所感受到的温暖，他觉得怎么做都不足以表达感激之情。于是，她们忘记了穷人的志气，投桃报李，不再计较谁付出更多。

新的友谊如春草般茁壮成长，各种愉快的事都在那时发生了。大家都喜欢劳里，而他在暗地里向家庭教师夸“马奇家的姑娘都十分出色”。出于年轻人的热情，她们把寂寞男孩接纳到她们中间，如众星捧月。她们心地单纯，劳里对这种纯洁无邪的友谊感到十分陶醉。由于他从小就失去了母亲，又没有姐妹，因此很快便感受到她们给他带来的影响。她们忙碌、活跃的生活方式，使他对自己的懒散生活感到羞愧。他厌倦读书，却发现与人交往极有乐趣。布鲁克先生不得不提交不如意的成绩报告单，因为劳里常常逃学跑到马奇家去。

“不要紧，让他放个假，以后再补回来。”老人说，“邻居那位好太太说，他学习太用功，需要年轻人做伴，需要娱乐和锻炼。我想她说得有道理，我一直对这小子娇生惯养，都像他奶奶了。只要他快乐，由着他干什么吧。他在那边的小修道院里不会捣蛋的，马奇太太比我们更能培养他。”

真的，他们度过了多么美妙的时光啊！他们一起演戏、亮相做活人造型；一起坐雪橇、溜冰；一起在马奇家的旧客厅里度过愉快的夜晚，有时则在劳里家的大房子里开小型晚会。美格随时可以去暖房漫步，尽情地采摘花束。乔在新的书房里贪婪地饱览群书，并常常发表高见，使老人捧腹大笑。艾美临摹图画，尽情地欣赏美。劳里则非常可爱地充当“庄园主”。

而贝丝呢，虽然对大钢琴朝思暮想，却鼓不起勇气走进那座被美格称为“极乐大厦”的房子。她跟乔去过一次，可老人不知道她的弱点，浓眉大眼瞪着她，还大叫一声“嘿”，吓得她双脚在地板上直打战，但绝口不跟妈妈提起。她落荒而逃，并宣布以后永远都不再踏进那里半步，也顾不得那心爱的钢琴了。任凭大家百般哄骗劝说，都无济于事。后来，此事不知怎么传到了劳伦斯先生的耳中，于是他自己着手弥补。在一次简短的拜访中，他巧妙地把话题引向音乐，大谈他见到过的大歌唱家，听到过的管风琴雅乐，还讲了许多趣闻逸事。贝丝听得着了迷，在她偏僻的角落里待不住了，悄悄地靠上前来，在老先生椅子后面停了下来。她站在那里聆听，眼睛瞪得大大的，面颊为自己不寻常的举动而涨得红红的。劳伦斯先生只当没看见她这个小飞虫，继续大讲劳里的学业和老师。不久，他好像突然想到一个主意，对马奇太太说：

“现在这孩子不理会音乐了，我很高兴，过去他太迷恋音乐了。可钢琴闲着不行啊，你家的姑娘中有哪个愿意来，经常去弹弹，这样才不会走调。你说呢，太太？”

贝丝上前一步，紧握双手，就怕一兴奋拍起手来。这个诱惑确实是无法抗拒的，一想到在那架华美的钢琴上练曲子，她就激动不已。马奇太太还没来得及回答，劳伦斯先生古怪地微微点头，笑着说：

“她们不用跟任何人打招呼，可以随时进来。我总是关着门在屋子另一头的书房里，劳里经常出去，用人们九点以后就不会再进客厅。”

他起身要走，贝丝打定主意要开口了，因为这最后的安排完全符合她的心愿。“请把我的话转告姑娘们。如果她们不想来，那也没关系。”这时一只小手握住了他的手，贝丝抬头望着他，脸上充满感激的表情。她热切而腼腆地说：

“先生，她们想去，非常非常想去！”

“你就是那个学音乐的姑娘吗？”他问，这回他没有吓人地叫“嘿”，而是慈祥地看着她。

“我叫贝丝，我很喜欢音乐。我会来的，要是您保证没人听我弹琴——也没有打扰人的话。”她补充说，唯恐不礼貌，又担心自己冒失，因而说的时候身体有点颤抖。

“不会有人来听的，乖乖。房子里有半天是没人的，来吧，你可以尽情地弹，我会感谢你的。”

“您心肠真好，先生！”

他友好地看着贝丝，她脸红得像朵玫瑰。但这次她并没害怕，而是感激地握了握大手，对老先生赠送的珍贵礼物，她没有感激的话可说。老先生轻轻地抚着她的刘海，俯身下去，吻了她一下，用几乎没人听到过的语气说：

“我以前有一个小囡囡，眼睛长得很像你。愿上帝保佑你，乖乖！再见，太太。”说完，他匆匆地走了。

贝丝和妈妈狂喜一番，由于姐妹们不在家，她跑到楼上，把振奋人心的消息告诉那些病娃娃家人。那天晚上，贝丝欢快地歌唱着，连深夜睡觉的时候，她都在艾美的脸上弹钢琴，把艾美弄醒了，引得全家人都取笑她。第二天，看到祖孙俩都出了门，贝丝犹豫再三后，壮着胆从侧门进去，然后蹑手蹑脚地来到放着她的崇拜对象的过道。当然是十分凑巧，钢琴上竟安放着一些简单而悦耳的乐谱。贝丝不时停下朝四面窥探，最后用颤抖的手指弹起了琴键。接着，她立刻忘掉了恐惧，忘掉了自己，忘掉了一切，完全陶醉在音乐中。音乐就像是她的一位心爱朋友的话语，给她带来了无以言表的快乐。

她一直弹到汉娜来叫她回家吃饭，但她没有胃口，只是坐在一边，一个劲地对着大家会心地笑。

打那以后，几乎每天都能看到一个戴棕色帽子的小姑娘穿过树篱，一个音乐精灵在过道里悄悄出没。可她从来都不知道，劳伦斯先生常常打开书房门，聆听他喜欢的老曲子；她也没看到劳里在走廊里放哨，不让用人走近；她更没怀疑放在乐谱架上的乐谱和新曲子都是特意为她安排的。每当劳伦斯先生在家里跟她漫谈音乐，她只知道他是善意地给指点迷津。她尽情徜徉在音乐中，以为自己已经如愿以偿，可事实不尽如此。也许是因为她对这种福分心存感激，更大的赐福正接踵而来，但无论如何，她都是受之无愧的。

“妈妈，我要为劳伦斯先生做一双便鞋。他待我很好，我得谢谢他，可我想不出其他什么方法。这样行吗？”在劳伦斯先生那次重要拜访的几个礼拜后，贝丝问。

“行，乖乖。这是谢他的好办法，他会高兴的。姐妹们会帮你做，我来出钱。”马奇太太回答。她特别愉快地答应了贝丝的要求，因为贝丝很少为自己提过要求。

经过与美格和乔多次认真商议后，选定了样式，买好了材料，于是便动手做鞋。深紫色的底色衬着一簇朴素而富有生机的三色堇花，鞋子设计得美观大方，大家交口称赞。贝丝起早贪黑地做，偶尔遇到难做的地方才找人帮忙。她俨然是一个麻利的针线工，还没等大家感到厌烦，鞋子就完工了。然后，她写了一张简短的便条，一天早上趁老人还没起床，让劳里帮忙悄悄地把东西放到书房桌子上。

一阵忙碌过后，贝丝等待着即将发生的事情。一天过去了，到了第二天中午，仍没有消息，她开始担心冒犯了这位脾气古怪的朋友。下午，她要出去办点事，顺便带上乔安娜，就是那个病娃娃，去做例行锻炼。回来走到大街时，她看到三个，哦，是四个脑袋在客厅的窗口探头探脑。一见她，她们就一起朝她挥手，快乐地高声尖叫：

“老先生来信了！快过来看！”

“哦，贝丝，他送你——”艾美抢先说，并拼命地用手比划着，可没等她再说下去，乔就猛地关上窗，堵住了艾美的口。

贝丝提心吊胆地往家里赶。刚到门口，姐妹们就围住了她，簇拥着来到客厅，指指点点，齐声说：“快看那儿！快看！”贝丝抬眼望去，惊喜得脸色都白了。那儿立着一架小钢琴，锃亮的琴盖上放着一封信，就像是告示牌，上面写着：“致伊丽莎白·马奇小姐。”

“给我的？”贝丝惊得吸了口气说。她抱住乔，感觉好像要昏倒，毕竟这件事真让她不知所措。

“是的，是给你的，宝贝！他是不是很棒？你觉得他是不是天底下最可爱的老先生？钥匙是放在信封里的。信还没拆看，可我们都很想知道他说了些什么。”乔叫了起来，一边抱住妹妹，一边把信递给她。

“你读吧！我不行！感觉头很晕！哦，真是太好了！”贝丝把脸埋在乔的围裙中，被礼物弄得神魂颠倒。

乔打开信，看到开头几个字就大笑起来：

马奇小姐：

亲爱的女士：

“称呼真好听！真希望有人也会这样给我写信！”艾美觉得这种传统的称呼很优雅。乔继续往下念。

我一生中穿过很多双鞋，不过，你做的这双最合脚。

三色堇是我最喜欢的花，会不时让我想起你这位温柔的赠送者。无以回礼，我想你会同意“老先生”把这份礼物送上，它是已故小孙女的。谨致以诚挚的谢意和深深的祝福。你永远的——

心存感激的朋友和谦卑的仆人，

詹姆斯·劳伦斯

“你看，贝丝，我敢说，这是值得骄傲的光荣。劳里跟我说过，劳伦斯先生最疼爱死去的小孙女，她用过的东西都小心珍藏。你想，他把她的钢琴都送给你了。那是因为你有一双大大的蓝眼睛，又喜欢音乐。”乔说。贝丝从来都没有这么激动过，她兴奋得浑身发抖，乔在安慰她。

“看这些巧夺天工的烛台，还有细腻的绿绸折成花纹，中间点缀着一朵金玫瑰，再看看这漂亮的乐谱架和琴凳，一样不缺。”美格接着说。她打开钢琴，向大家展示精妙无比的造型。

“‘谦卑的仆人，詹姆斯·劳伦斯’，听，他居然这样写。一定要告诉同学们的，她们肯定觉得妙极了。”艾美被信深深打动了。

“弹弹看，乖乖。让大家听听这宝贝琴的声音。”汉娜说，她一向与全家人同甘共苦。

于是贝丝试弹了一下，大家都说这是她们听到过的最动人的琴声。显然，钢琴刚调过音，外表收拾得整整齐齐。贝丝脚踩发亮的踏板，手指满怀深情地在漂亮的黑白琴键上跳动，脸上洋溢着最开心的笑靥。钢琴虽然很美，但我想，其真正的魅力在于此——俯在琴上的那张笑脸。

“你得上门去感谢他。”乔开玩笑说，她以为妹妹根本不敢去。

“好的，我是要去谢谢他。我现在就去，要不然，又会害怕得不敢去的。”贝丝从容不迫地走过花园，穿过树篱，走进劳伦斯家，这令全家人都感到万分惊讶。

“哎！我发毒誓保证，这是我见过的最怪的事。钢琴竟然使她头脑发热！要是脑子没问题的话，她肯定不会去的。”汉娜望着贝丝的身影惊叫道，姑娘们也被这一幕惊得哑口无言。

如果她们看到贝丝此后的所作所为，肯定会更加大惊失色。信我的话，她想都没想就敲了书房的门，听到一个粗哑的声音说：“进来！”她真的进去了，径直走到惊讶的劳伦斯先生跟前，伸出手，声音只是稍微有点颤抖地说：“我是来感谢您的，先生，谢谢您——”她没有说完，他的慈祥面容使她一下子忘了要说的话，脑子里只想着他失去了钟爱的小囡囡，便双手搂住老人的脖子，吻了他一下。

即使屋顶突然掀掉，老先生也不会更惊讶。不过，他喜欢这样——哦，老天，是的，他喜欢得不得了！——那信赖的轻轻一吻，使他那么感动、那么高兴，生硬的脾气就此一扫而光。他让贝丝坐在膝头，布满皱纹的脸靠着她的红红脸颊，仿佛觉得找回了自己的小孙女。从那一刻起，贝丝不再怕他，坐在那里跟他温馨地聊着天，仿佛一生下来就与他相识；正是：爱必消除恐惧，感激能征服傲慢。她回家时，老人一直送到她家门口，与她诚挚地握手，往回走时又碰了一下帽檐向她致意，身子挺直，神情庄重，就像一位英俊勇武的老绅士，事实上，他也确是如此。

姑娘们看到这一幕时，乔掩饰不住内心的喜悦，跳起了快步舞；艾美惊讶得差点掉到窗外；美格举着双手惊叫：“完了，我看世界末日要到了！”

CHAPTER 6 BETH FINDS THE PALACE BEAUTIFUL

THE BIG HOUSE did prove a Palace Beautiful, though it took some time for all to get in, and Beth found it very hard to pass the lions. Old Mr. Laurence was the biggest one, but after he had called, said something funny or kind to each one of the girls, and talked over old times with their mother, nobody felt much afraid of him, except timid Beth. The other lion was the fact that they were poor and Laurie rich, for this made them shy of accepting favors which they could not return. But, after a while, they found that he considered them the benefactors, and could not do enough to show how grateful he was for Mrs. March's motherly welcome, their cheerful society, and the comfort he took in that humble home of theirs. So they soon forgot their pride and interchanged kindnesses without stopping to think which was the greater.

All sorts of pleasant things happened about that time, for the new friendship flourished like grass in spring. Every one liked Laurie, and he privately informed his tutor that “the Marches were regularly splendid girls.”With the delightful enthusiasm of youth, they took the solitary boy into their midst and made much of him, and he found something very charming in the innocent companionship of these simple-hearted girls. Never having known mother or sisters, he was quick to feel the influences they brought about him, and their busy, lively ways made him ashamed of the indolent life he led. He was tired of books, and found people so interesting now that Mr. Brooke was obliged to make very unsatisfactory reports, for Laurie was always playing truant and running over to the Marches'.

“Never mind, let him take a holiday, and make it up afterward, ” said the old gentleman. “The good lady next door says he is studying too hard and needs young society, amusement, and exercise. I suspect she is right, and that I've been coddling the fellow as if I'd been his grandmother. Let him do what he likes, as long as he is happy. He can't get into mischief in that little nunnery over there, and Mrs. March is doing more for him than we can.”

What good times they had, to be sure! Such plays and tableaux, such sleigh rides and skating frolics, such pleasant evenings in the old parlor, and now and then such gay little parties at the great house. Meg could walk in the conservatory whenever she liked and revel in bouquets, Jo browsed over the new library voraciously, and convulsed the old gentleman with her criticisms, Amy copied pictures and enjoyed beauty to her heart's content, and Laurie played “lord of the manor” in the most delightful style.

But Beth, though yearning for the grand piano, could not pluck up courage to go to the “Mansion of Bliss”, as Meg called it. She went once with Jo, but the old gentleman, not being aware of her infirmity, stared at her so hard from under his heavy eyebrows, and said “Hey! ” so loud, that he frightened her so much her “feet chattered on the floor, ” she never told her mother, and she ran away, declaring she would never go there any more, not even for the dear piano. No persuasions or enticements could overcome her fear, till, the fact coming to Mr. Laurence's ear in some mysterious way, he set about mending matters. During one of the brief calls he made, he artfully led the conversation to music, and talked away about great singers whom he had seen, fine organs he had heard, and told such charming anecdotes that Beth found it impossible to stay in her distant corner, but crept nearer and nearer, as if fascinated. At the back of his chair she stopped and stood listening, with her great eyes wide open and her cheeks red with excitement of this unusual performance. Taking no more notice of her than if she had been a fly, Mr. Laurence talked on about Laurie's lessons and teachers. And presently, as if the idea had just occurred to him, he said to Mrs. March—

“The boy neglects his music now, and I'm glad of it, for he was getting too fond of it. But the piano suffers for want of use. Wouldn't some of your girls like to run over, and practice on it now and then, just to keep it in tune, you know, ma'am? ”

Beth took a step forward, and pressed her hands tightly together to keep from clapping them, for this was an irresistible temptation, and the thought of practicing on that splendid instrument quite took her breath away. Before Mrs. March could reply, Mr. Laurence went on with an odd little nod and smile—

“They needn't see or speak to anyone, but run in at any time. For I'm shut up in my study at the other end of the house, Laurie is out a great deal, and the servants are never near the drawing room after nine o'clock.”

Here he rose, as if going, and Beth made up her mind to speak, for that last arrangement left nothing to be desired. “Please, tell the young ladies what I say, and if they don't care to come, why, never mind.” Here a little hand slipped into his, and Beth looked up at him with a face full of gratitude, as she said, in her earnest yet timid way—

“Oh sir, they do care, very very much! ”

“Are you the musical girl? ” he asked, without any startling “Hey! ” as he looked down at her very kindly.

“I'm Beth. I love it dearly, and I'll come, if you are quite sure nobody will hear me, and be disturbed, ” she added, fearing to be rude, and trembling at her own boldness as she spoke.

“Not a soul, my dear. The house is empty half the day; so come and drum away as much as you like, and I shall be obliged to you.”

“How kind you are, sir! ”

Beth blushed like a rose under the friendly look he wore; but she was not frightened now, and gave the hand a grateful squeeze because she had no words to thank him for the precious gift he had given her. The old gentleman softly stroked the hair off her forehead, and, stooping down, he kissed her, saying, in a tone few people ever heard—

“I had a little girl once, with eyes like these. God bless you, my dear! Good day, madam.” And away he went, in a great hurry.

Beth had a rapture with her mother, and then rushed up to impart the glorious news to her family of invalids, as the girls were not home. How blithely she sang that evening, and how they all laughed at her because she woke Amy in the night by playing the piano on her face in her sleep. Next day, having seen both the old and young gentleman out of the house, Beth, after two or three retreats, fairly got in at the side door, and made her way as noiselessly as any mouse to the drawing room where her idol stood. Quite by accident, of course, some pretty, easy music lay on the piano, and with trembling fingers and frequent stops to listen and look about, Beth at last touched the great instrument, and straightway forgot her fear, herself, and everything else but the unspeakable delight which the music gave her, for it was like the voice of a beloved friend.

She stayed till Hannah came to take her home to dinner, but she had no appetite, and could only sit and smile upon everyone in a general state of beatitude.

After that, the little brown hood slipped through the hedge nearly every day, and the great drawing room was haunted by a tuneful spirit that came and went unseen. She never knew that Mr. Laurence opened his study door to hear the old-fashioned airs he liked. She never saw Laurie mount guard in the hall to warn the servants away. She never suspected that the exercise books and new songs which she found in the rack were put there for her especial benefit, and when he talked to her about music at home, she only thought how kind he was to tell things that helped her so much. So she enjoyed herself heartily, and found, what isn't always the case, that her granted wish was all she had hoped. Perhaps it was because she was so grateful for this blessing that a greater was given her. At any rate she deserved both.

“Mother, I'm going to work Mr. Laurence a pair of slippers. He is so kind to me, I must thank him, and I don't know any other way. Can I do it? ” asked Beth, a few weeks after that eventful call of his.

“Yes, dear. It will please him very much, and be a nice way of thanking him. The girls will help you about them, and I will pay for the making up, ”replied Mrs. March, who took peculiar pleasure in granting Beth's requests because she so seldom asked anything for herself.

After many serious discussions with Meg and Jo, the pattern was chosen, the materials bought, and the slippers begun. A cluster of grave yet cheerful pansies on a deeper purple ground was pronounced very appropriate and pretty, and Beth worked away early and late, with occasional lifts over hard parts. She was a nimble little needlewoman, and they were finished before anyone got tired of them. Then she wrote a short, simple note, and with Laurie's help, got them smuggled onto the study table one morning before the old gentleman was up.

When this excitement was over, Beth waited to see what would happen. All day passed and a part of the next before any acknowledgement arrived, and she was beginning to fear she had offended her crotchety friend. On the afternoon of the second day, she went out to do an errand and give poor Joanna, the invalid doll, her daily exercise. As she came up the street, on her return, she saw three, yes, four heads popping in and out of the parlor windows, and the moment they saw her, several hands were waved, and several joyful voices screamed—

“Here's a letter from the old gentleman! Come quick, and read it! ”

“Oh, Beth, he's sent you—” began Amy, gesticulating with unseemly energy, but she got no further, for Jo quenched her by slamming down the window.

Beth hurried on in a flutter of suspense. At the door her sisters seized and bore her to the parlor in a triumphal procession, all pointing and all saying at once, “Look there! Look there! ” Beth did look, and turned pale with delight and surprise, for there stood a little cabinet piano, with a letter lying on the glossy lid, directed like a sign board to “Miss Elizabeth March.”

“For me? ” gasped Beth, holding onto Jo and feeling as if she should tumble down, it was such an overwhelming thing altogether.

“Yes, all for you, my precious! Isn't it splendid of him? Don't you think he's the dearest old man in the world? Here's the key in the letter. We didn't open it, but we are dying to know what he says, ” cried Jo, hugging her sister and offering the note.

“You read it! I can't, I feel so queer! Oh, it is too lovely! ” and Beth hid her face in Jo's apron, quite upset by her present.

Jo opened the paper and began to laugh, for the first words she saw were—

Miss March,

Dear Madam—

“How nice it sounds! I wish someone would write to me so! ” said Amy, who thought the old-fashioned address very elegant.

I have had many pairs of slippers in my life, but I never had any that suited me so well as yours.

Heartsease is my favorite flower, and these will always remind me of the gentle giver. I like to pay my debts, so I know you will allow “the old gentleman” to send you something which once belonged to the little grand daughter he lost. With hearty thanks and best wishes, I remain Your grateful friend and humble servant.

JAMES LAURENCE

“There, Beth, that's an honor to be proud of, I'm sure! Laurie told me how fond Mr. Laurence used to be of the child who died, and how he kept all her little things carefully. Just think, he's given you her piano. That comes of having big blue eyes and loving music, ” said Jo, trying to soothe Beth, who trembled and looked more excited than she had ever been before.

“See the cunning brackets to hold candles, and the nice green silk, puckered up, with a gold rose in the middle, and the pretty rack and stool, all complete, ” added Meg, opening the instrument and displaying its beauties.

“‘Your humble servant, James Laurence.' Only think of his writing that to you. I'll tell the girls. They'll think it's splendid, ” said Amy, much impressed by the note.

“Try it, honey. Let's hear the sound of the baby pianny, ” said Hannah, who always took a share in the family joys and sorrows.

So Beth tried it, and everyone pronounced it the most remarkable piano ever heard. It had evidently been newly tuned and put in apple-pie order, but, perfect as it was, I think the real charm lay in the happiest of all happy faces which leaned over it, as Beth lovingly touched the beautiful black and white keys and pressed the bright pedals.

“You'll have to go and thank him, ” said Jo, by way of a joke, for the idea of the child's really going never entered her head.

“Yes, I mean to. I guess I'll go now, before I get frightened thinking about it.” And, to the utter amazement of the assembled family, Beth walked deliberately down the garden, through the hedge, and in at the Laurences' door.

“Well, I wish I may die if it ain't the queerest thing I ever see! The pianny has turned her head! She'd never have gone in her right mind, ” cried Hannah, staring after her, while the girls were rendered quite speechless by the miracle.

They would have been still more amazed if they had seen what Beth did afterward. If you will believe me, she went and knocked at the study door before she gave herself time to think, and when a gruff voice called out,“Come in! ” she did go in, right up to Mr. Laurence, who looked quite taken aback, and held out her hand, saying, with only a small quaver in her voice, “I came to thank you, sir, for—” But she didn't finish, for he looked so friendly that she forgot her speech and, only remembering that he had lost the little girl he loved, she put both arms round his neck and kissed him.

If the roof of the house had suddenly flown off, the old gentleman wouldn't have been more astonished. But he liked it—oh, dear, yes, he liked it amazingly! And was so touched and pleased by that confiding little kiss that all his crustiness vanished, and he just set her on his knee, and laid his wrinkled cheek against her rosy one, feeling as if he had got his own little granddaughter back again. Beth ceased to fear him from that moment, and sat there talking to him as cozily as if she had known him all her life, for love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride. When she went home, he walked with her to her own gate, shook hands cordially, and touched his hat as he marched back again, looking very stately and erect, like a handsome, soldierly old gentleman, as he was.

When the girls saw that performance, Jo began to dance a jig, by way of expressing her satisfaction, Amy nearly fell out of the window in her surprise, and Meg exclaimed, with up-lifted hands, “Well, I do believe the world is coming to an end! ”