“Ihadanewpairofshoesonce，andwantedtoshowthem；so，thoughIwastoldnottoleavethegarden，Iranawayandwaswanderingaboutallday。Itwasinthecity，andwhyIwasn’tkilledIdon’tknow。SuchatimeasIhad。Ifrolickedintheparkwithdogs，sailedboatsintheBackBaywithstrangeboys，dinedwithalittleIrishbeggar-girlonsaltfishandpotatoes，andwasfoundatlastfastasleeponadoor-stepwithmyarmsroundagreatdog。Itwaslateintheevening，andIwasadirtyasalittlepig，andthenewshoeswerewornout­；Ihadtravelledsofar。“
　　“Hownice!“criedNan，lookingallreadytogoanddoitherself。
　　“Itwasnotnicenextday；“andMrs。Jotriedtokeephereyesfrombetrayinghowmuchsheenjoyedthememoryofherearlycapers。
　　“Didyourmotherwhipyou？“askedNan，curiously。
　　“Sheneverwhippedmebutonce，andthenshebeggedmypardon，orI
　　don’tthinkIevershouldhaveforgivenher，ithurtmyfeelingssomuch。“
　　“Whydidshebegyourpardon？­；myfatherdon’t。“
　　“Because，whenshehaddoneit，Iturnedroundandsaid，’Well，youaremadyourself，andoughttobewhippedasmuchasme。’Shelookedatmeaminute，thenherangeralldiedout，andshesaid，asifashamed，’Youareright，Jo，Iamangry；andwhyshouldIpunishyouforbeinginapassionwhenIsetyousuchabadexample？Forgiveme，dear，andletustrytohelponeanotherinabetterway。’Ineverforgotit，anditdidmemoregoodthanadozenrods。“
　　Nansatthoughtfullyturningthelittlecold-creamjarforaminute，andMrs。Josaidnothing，butletthatideagetwellintothebusylittlemindthatwassoquicktoseeandfeelwhatwentonabouther。
　　“Ilikethat，“saidNan，presently，andherfacelookedlesselfish，withitssharpeyes，inquisitivenose，andmischievousmouth。“Whatdidyourmotherdotoyouwhenyouranawaythattime？“
　　“Shetiedmetothebed-postwithalongstring，sothatIcouldnotgooutoftheroom，andthereIstayedalldaywiththelittleworn-outshoeshangingupbeforemetoremindmeofmyfault。“
　　“Ishouldthinkthatwouldcureanybody，“criedNan，wholovedherlibertyaboveallthings。
　　“Itdidcureme，andIthinkitwillyou，soIamgoingtotryit，“
　　saidMrs。Jo，suddenlytakingaballofstrongtwineoutofadrawerinherwork-table。
　　Nanlookedasifshewasdecidedlygettingtheworstoftheargumentnow，andsatfeelingmuchcrestfallenwhileMrs。Jotiedoneendroundherwaistandtheothertothearmofthesofa，saying，asshefinished，­；
　　“Idon’tliketotieyouuplikeanaughtylittledog，butifyoudon’trememberanybetterthanadog，Imusttreatyoulikeone。“
　　“I’djustasliefbetiedupasnot­；Iliketoplaydog；“andNanputonadon’t-careface，andbegantogrowlandgrovelonthefloor。
　　Mrs。Jotooknonotice，butleavingabookortwoandahandkerchieftohem，shewentaway，andleftMissNantoherowndevices。Thiswasnotagreeable，andaftersittingamomentshetriedtountiethecord。Butitwasfastenedinthebeltofherapronbehind，soshebeganontheknotattheotherend。Itsooncameloose，and，gatheringitup，Nanwasabouttogetoutofthewindow，whensheheardMrs。Josaytosomebodyasshepassedthroughthehall，­；
　　“No，Idon’tthinkshewillrunawaynow；sheisanhonorablelittlegirl，andknowsthatIdoittohelpher。“
　　Inaminute，Nanwhiskedback，tiedherselfup，andbegantosewviolently。
　　Robcameinamomentafter，andwassocharmedwiththenewpunishment，thathegotajump-ropeandtetheredhimselftotheotherarmofthesofainthemostsocialmanner。
　　“Igotlosttoo，soIoughttobetiedupasmuchasNan，“heexplainedtohismotherwhenshesawthenewcaptive。
　　“I’mnotsurethatyoudon’tdeservealittlepunishment，foryouknewitwaswrongtogofarawayfromtherest。“
　　“Nantookme，“beganRob，willingtoenjoythenovelpenalty，butnotwillingtotaketheblame。
　　“Youneedn’thavegone。Youhavegotaconscience，thoughyouarealittleboy，andyoumustlearntomindit。“
　　“Well，myconsciencedidn’tprickmeabitwhenshesaid’Let’sgetoverthewall，’“answeredRob，quotingoneofDemi’sexpressions。
　　“Didyoustoptoseeifitdid？“
　　“No。“
　　“Thenyoucannottell。“
　　“Iguessit’ssuchalittleconsciencethatitdon’tprickhardenoughformetofeelit，“addedRob，afterthinkingthematteroverforaminute。
　　“Wemustsharpenitup。It’sbadtohaveadullconscience；soyoumaystayheretilldinner-time，andtalkaboutitwithNan。ItrustyoubothnottountieyourselvestillIsaytheword。“
　　“No，wewon’t，“saidboth，feelingacertainsenseofvirtueinhelpingtopunishthemselves。
　　Foranhourtheywereverygood，thentheygrewtiredofoneroom，andlongedtogetout。Neverhadthehallseemedsoinviting；eventhelittlebedroomacquiredasuddeninterest，andtheywouldgladlyhavegoneinandplayedtentwiththecurtainsofthebestbed。Theopenwindowsdrovethemwildbecausetheycouldnotreachthem；andtheouterworldseemedsobeautiful，theywonderedhowtheyeverfoundthehearttosayitwasdull。Nanpinedforaraceroundthelawn，andRobrememberedwithdismaythathehadnotfedhisdogthatmorning，andwonderedwhatpoorPolluxwoulddo。Theywatchedtheclock，andNandidsomenicecalculationsinminutesandseconds，whileRoblearnedtotellallthehoursbetweeneightandonesowellthatheneverforgotthem。Itwasmaddeningtosmellthedinner，toknowthattherewastobesuccotashandhuckleberrypudding，andtofeelthattheywouldnotbeonthespottosecuregoodhelpsofboth。WhenMaryAnnbegantosetthetable，theynearlycutthemselvesintwotryingtoseewhatmeattherewastobe；andNanofferedtohelphermakethebeds，ifshewouldonlyseethatshehad“lotsofsauceonherpudding。“
　　Whentheboyscameburstingoutofschool，theyfoundthechildrentuggingattheirhalterslikeapairofrestivelittlecolts，andweremuchedified，aswellasamused，bythesequeltotheexcitingadventuresofthenight。
　　“Untiemenow，Marmar；myconsciencewillpricklikeapinnexttime，Iknowitwill，“saidRob，asthebellrang，andTeddycametolookathimwithsorrowfulsurprise。
　　“Weshallsee，“answeredhismother，settinghimfree。Hetookagoodrundownthehall，backthroughthedining-room，andbroughtupbesideNan，quitebeamingwithvirtuoussatisfaction。
　　“I’llbringherdinnertoher，mayI？“heasked，pityinghisfellow-captive。
　　“That’smykindlittleson!Yes，pulloutthetable，andgetachair；“
　　andMrs。Johurriedawaytoquelltheardoroftheothers，whowerealwaysinaragingstateofhungeratnoon。
　　Nanatealone，andspentalongafternoonattachedtothesofa。Mrs。
　　Bhaerlengthenedherbondssothatshecouldlookoutofthewindow；andthereshestoodwatchingtheboysplay，andallthelittlesummercreaturesenjoyingtheirliberty。Daisyhadapicnicforthedollsonthelawn，sothatNanmightseethefunifshecouldnotjoininit。Tommyturnedhisbestsomersaultstoconsoleher；Demisatonthestepsreadingaloudtohimself，whichamusedNanagooddeal；andDanbroughtalittletree-toadtoshowherasthemostdelicateattentioninhispower。
　　Butnothingatonedforthelossoffreedom；andafewhoursofconfinementtaughtNanhowpreciousitwas。Agoodmanythoughtswentthroughthelittleheadthatlayonthewindow-sillduringthelastquiethourwhenallthechildrenwenttothebrooktoseeEmil’snewshiplaunched。Shewastohavechristenedit，andhaddependedonsmashingatinybottleofcurrant-wineovertheprowasitwasnamedJosephineinhonorofMrs。Bhaer。
　　Nowshehadlostherchance，andDaisywouldn’tdoithalfsowell。Tearsrosetohereyesassherememberedthatitwasallherownfault；andshesaidaloud，addressingafatbeewhowasrollingaboutintheyellowheartofarosejustunderthewindow，­；
　　“Ifyouhaverunaway，you’dbettergorighthome，andtellyourmotheryouaresorry，andneverdosoanymore。“
　　“Iamgladtohearyougivehimsuchgoodadvice，andIthinkhehastakenit，“saidMrs。Jo，smiling，asthebeespreadhisdustywingsandflewaway。
　　Nanbrushedoffabrightdroportwothatshoneonthewindow-sill，andnestledagainstherfriendasshetookheronherknee，addingkindly­；forshehadseenthelittledrops，andknewwhattheymeant­；
　　“Doyouthinkmymother’scureforrunningawayagoodone？“
　　“Yes，ma’am，“answeredNan，quitesubduedbyherquietday。
　　“IhopeIshallnothavetotryitagain。“
　　“Iguessnot；“andNanlookedupwithsuchanearnestlittlefacethatMrs。Jofeltsatisfied，andsaidnomore，forshelikedtohaveherpenaltiesdotheirownwork，anddidnotspoiltheeffectbytoomuchmoralizing。
　　HereRobappeared，bearingwithinfinitecarewhatAsiacalleda“sarcerpie，“meaningonebakedinasaucer。
　　“It’smadeoutofsomeofmyberries，andI’mgoingtogiveyouhalfatsupper-time，“heannouncedwithaflourish。
　　“Whatmakesyou，whenI’msonaughty？“askedNan，meekly。
　　“Becausewegotlosttogether。Youain’tgoingtobenaughtyagain，areyou？“
　　“Never，“saidNan，withgreatdecision。
　　“Oh，goody!nowlet’sgoandgetMaryAnntocutthisforusallreadytoeat；it’s’mostteatime；“andRobbeckonedwiththedeliciouslittlepie。
　　Nanstartedtofollow，thenstopped，andsaid，­；
　　“Iforgot，Ican’tgo。“
　　“Tryandsee，“saidMrs。Bhaer，whohadquietlyuntiedthecordsashwhileshehadbeentalking。
　　Nansawthatshewasfree，andwithonetempestuouskisstoMrs。Jo，shewasofflikeahumming-bird，followedbyRobby，dribblinghuckleberryjuiceasheran。
　　AfterthelastexcitementpeacedescendeduponPlumfieldandreignedunbrokenforseveralweeks，fortheelderboysfeltthatthelossofNanandRoblayattheirdoor，andallbecamesopaternalintheircarethattheywereratherwearying；whilethelittleoneslistenedtoNan’srecitalofherperilssomanytimes，thattheyregardedbeinglostasthegreatestillhumanitywasheirto，andhardlydaredtoputtheirlittlenosesoutsidethegreatgatelestnightshouldsuddenlydescenduponthem，andghostlyblackcowscomeloomingthroughthedusk。
　　“Itistoogoodtolast，“saidMrs。Jo；foryearsofboy-culturehadtaughtherthatsuchlullswereusuallyfollowedbyoutbreaksofsomesort，andwhenlesswisewomenwouldhavethoughtthattheboyshadbecomeconfirmedsaints，shepreparedherselfforasuddeneruptionofthedomesticvolcano。
　　OnecauseofthiswelcomecalmwasavisitfromlittleBess，whoseparentslentherforaweekwhiletheywereawaywithGrandpaLaurence，whowaspoorly。TheboysregardedGoldilocksasamixtureofchild，angel，andfairy，forshewasalovelylittlecreature，andthegoldenhairwhichsheinheritedfromherblondemammaenvelopedherlikeashiningveil，behindwhichshesmileduponherworshipperswhengracious，andhidherselfwhenoffended。Herfatherwouldnothaveitcutandithungbelowherwaist，sosoftandfineandbright，thatDemiinsistedthatitwassilkspunfromacocoon。EveryonepraisedthelittlePrincess，butitdidnotseemtodoherharm，onlytoteachherthatherpresencebroughtsunshine，hersmilesmadeansweringsmilesonotherfaces，andherbabygriefsfilledeveryheartwithtenderestsympathy。
　　Unconsciously，shedidheryoungsubjectsmoregoodthanmanyarealsovereign，forherrulewasverygentleandherpowerwasfeltratherthanseen。Hernaturalrefinementmadeherdaintyinallthings，andhadagoodeffectuponthecarelessladsabouther。Shewouldletnoonetouchherroughlyorwithuncleanhands，andmoresoapwasusedduringhervisitsthanatanyothertime，becausetheboysconsidereditthehighesthonortobeallowedtocarryherhighness，andthedeepestdisgracetoberepulsedwiththedisdainfulcommand，“Doaway，dirtyboy!“
　　Lourvoicesdispleasedherandquarrellingfrightenedher；sogentlertonescameintotheboyishvoicesastheyaddressedher，andsquabbleswerepromptlysuppressedinherpresencebylookers-oniftheprinciplescouldnotrestrainthemselves。Shelikedtobewaitedon，andthebiggestboysdidherlittleerrandswithoutamurmur，whilethesmallladswereherdevotedslavesinallthings。Theybeggedtobeallowedtodrawhercarriage，bearherberry-basket，orpassherplateattable。Noservicewastoohumble，andTommyandNedcametoblowsbeforetheycoulddecidewhichshouldhavethehonorofblackingherlittleboots。