“Thatwilldo，thatwilldo，younglady。toomanysugarplumsarenotgoodforhim。Hismusicisn’tbad，butIhopehewilldoaswellinmoreimportantthings。Going？well，I’mmuchobligedtoyou，andIhopeyou’llcomeagain。Myrespectstoyourmother。
　　Goodnight，DoctorJo。“
　　Heshookhandskindly，butlookedasifsomethingdidnotpleasehim。Whentheygotintothehall，JoaskedLaurieifshehadsaidsomethingamiss。Heshookhishead。
　　“No，itwasme。Hedoesn’tliketohearmeplay。“
　　“Whynot？“
　　“I’lltellyousomeday。Johnisgoinghomewithyou，asI
　　can’t。“
　　“Noneedofthat。Iamnotayounglady，andit’sonlyastep。Takecareofyourself，won’tyou？“
　　“Yes，butyouwillcomeagain，Ihope？“
　　“Ifyoupromisetocomeandseeusafteryouarewell。“
　　“Iwill。“
　　“Goodnight，Laurie!“
　　“Goodnight，Jo，goodnight!“
　　Whenalltheafternoon’sadventureshadbeentold，thefamilyfeltinclinedtogovisitinginabody，foreachfoundsomethingveryattractiveinthebighouseontheothersideofthehedge。
　　Mrs。Marchwantedtotalkofherfatherwiththeoldmanwhohadnotforgottenhim，Meglongedtowalkintheconservatory，Bethsighedforthegrandpiano。andAmywaseagertoseethefinepicturesandstatues。
　　“Mother，whydidn’tMr。LaurenceliketohaveLaurieplay？“
　　askedJo，whowasofaninquiringdisposition。
　　“Iamnotsure，butIthinkitwasbecausehisson，Laurie’sfather，marriedanItalianlady，amusician，whichdispleasedtheoldman，whoisveryproud。Theladywasgoodandlovelyandaccomplished，buthedidnotlikeher，andneversawhissonafterhemarried。TheybothdiedwhenLauriewasalittlechild，andthenhisgrandfathertookhimhome。Ifancytheboy，whowasborninItaly，isnotverystrong，andtheoldmanisafraidoflosinghim，whichmakeshimsocareful。Lauriecomesnaturallybyhisloveofmusic，forheislikehismother，andIdaresayhisgrandfatherfearsthathemaywanttobeamusician。Atanyrate，hisskillremindshimofthewomanhedidnotlike，andsohe`glowered’asJosaid。“
　　“Dearme，howromantic!“exclaimedMeg。
　　“Howsilly!“saidJo。“Lethimbeamusicianifhewantsto，andnotplaguehislifeoutsendinghimtocollege，whenhehatestogo。“
　　“That’swhyhehassuchhandsomeblackeyesandprettymanners，Isuppose。Italiansarealwaysnice，“saidMeg，whowasalittlesentimental。
　　“Whatdoyouknowabouthiseyesandhismanners？Youneverspoketohim，hardly，“criedJo，whowasnotsentimental。
　　“Isawhimattheparty，andwhatyoutellshowsthatheknowshowtobehave。ThatwasanicelittlespeechaboutthemedicineMothersenthim。“
　　“Hemeanttheblancmange，Isuppose。“
　　“Howstupidyouare，child!Hemeantyou，ofcourse。“
　　“Didhe？“AndJoopenedhereyesasifithadneveroccurredtoherbefore。
　　“Ineversawsuchagirl!Youdon’tknowacomplimentwhenyougetit，“saidMeg，withtheairofayoungladywhoknewallaboutthematter。
　　“Ithinktheyaregreatnonsense，andI’llthankyounottobesillyandspoilmyfun。Laurie’saniceboyandIlikehim，andIwon’thaveanysentimentalstuffaboutcomplimentsandsuchrubbish。We’llallbegoodtohimbecausehehasn’tgotanymother，andhemaycomeoverandseeus，mayn’the，Marmee？“
　　“Yes，Jo，yourlittlefriendisverywelcome，andIhopeMegwillrememberthatchildrenshouldbechildrenaslongastheycan。“
　　“Idon’tcallmyselfachild，andI’mnotinmyteensyet，“
　　observedAmy。“Whatdoyousay，Beth？“
　　“Iwasthinkingaboutour`PILGRIM’SPROGRESS’，“answeredBeth，whohadnotheardaword。“HowwegotoutoftheSloughandthroughtheWicketGatebyresolvingtobegood，andupthesteephillbytrying，andthatmaybethehouseoverthere，fullofsplendidthings，isgoingtobeourPalaceBeautiful。“
　　“Wehavegottogetbythelionsfirst，“saidJo，asifsheratherlikedtheprospect。
　　ThebighousedidproveaPalaceBeautiful，thoughittooksometimeforalltogetin，andBethfounditveryhardtopassthelions。OldMr。Laurencewasthebiggestone，butafterhehadcalled，saidsomethingfunnyorkindtoeachoneofthegirls，andtalkedoveroldtimeswiththeirmother，nobodyfeltmuchafraidofhim，excepttimidBeth。TheotherlionwasthefactthattheywerepoorandLaurierich，forthismadethemshyofacceptingfavorswhichtheycouldnotreturn。But，afterawhile，theyfoundthatheconsideredthemthebenefactors，andcouldnotdoenoughtoshowhowgratefulhewasforMrs。March’smotherlywelcome，theircheerfulsociety，andthecomforthetookinthathumblehomeoftheirs。Sotheysoonforgottheirprideandinterchangedkindnesseswithoutstoppingtothinkwhichwasthegreater。
　　Allsortsofpleasantthingshappenedaboutthattime，forthenewfriendshipflourishedlikegrassinspring。EveryonelikedLaurie，andheprivatelyinformedhistutorthat“theMarcheswereregularlysplendidgirls。“Withthedelightfulenthusiasmofyouth，theytookthesolitaryboyintotheirmidstandmademuchofhim，andhefoundsomethingverycharmingintheinnocentcompanionshipofthesesimple-heartedgirls。Neverhavingknownmotherorsisters，hewasquicktofeeltheinfluencestheybroughtabouthim，andtheirbusy，livelywaysmadehimashamedoftheindolentlifeheled。
　　Hewastiredofbooks，andfoundpeoplesointerestingnowthatMr。
　　Brookewasobligedtomakeveryunsatisfactoryreports，forLauriewasalwaysplayingtruantandrunningovertotheMarches’。
　　“Nevermind，lethimtakeaholiday，andmakeitupafterward，“
　　saidtheoldgentleman。“Thegoodladynextdoorsaysheisstudyingtoohardandneedsyoungsociety，amusement，andexercise。Isuspectsheisright，andthatI’vebeencoddlingthefellowasifI’dbeenhisgrandmother。Lethimdowhathelikes，aslongasheishappy。
　　Hecan’tgetintomischiefinthatlittlenunneryoverthere，andMrs。Marchisdoingmoreforhimthanwecan。“
　　Whatgoodtimestheyhad，tobesure。Suchplaysandtableaux，suchsleighridesandskatingfrolics，suchpleasanteveningsintheoldparlor，andnowandthensuchgaylittlepartiesatthegreathouse。Megcouldwalkintheconservatorywhenevershelikedandrevelinbouquets，Jobrowsedoverthenewlibraryvoraciously，andconvulsedtheoldgentlemanwithhercriticisms，Amycopiedpicturesandenjoyedbeautytoherheart’scontent，andLaurieplayed`lordofthemanor’inthemostdelightfulstyle。
　　ButBeth，thoughyearningforthegrandpiano，couldnotpluckupcouragetogotothe`MansionofBliss’，asMegcalledit。ShewentoncewithJo，buttheoldgentleman，notbeingawareofherinfirmity，staredathersohardfromunderhisheavyeyebrows，andsaid“Hey!“soloud，thathefrightenedhersomuchher`feetchatteredonthefloor’，shenevertoldhermother，andsheranaway，declaringshewouldnevergothereanymore，notevenforthedearpiano。Nopersuasionsorenticementscouldovercomeherfear，till，thefactcomingtoMr。Laurence’searinsomemysteriousway，hesetaboutmendingmatters。Duringoneofthebriefcallshemade，heartfullyledtheconversationtomusic，andtalkedawayaboutgreatsingerswhomhehadseen，fineorganshehadheard，andtoldsuchcharminganecdotesthatBethfounditimpossibletostayinherdistantcorner，butcreptnearerandnearer，asiffascinated。Atthebackofhischairshestoppedandstoodlistening，withhergreateyeswideopenandhercheeksredwithexcitementofthisunusualperformance。Takingnomorenoticeofherthanifshehadbeenafly，Mr。LaurencetalkedonaboutLaurie’slessonsandteachers。Andpresently，asiftheideahadjustoccurredtohim，hesaidtoMrs。March……
　　“Theboyneglectshismusicnow，andI’mgladofit，forhewasgettingtoofondofit。Butthepianosuffersforwantofuse。Wouldn’tsomeofyourgirlsliketorunover，andpracticeonitnowandthen，justtokeepitintune，youknow，ma`am？“
　　Bethtookastepforward，andpressedherhandstightlytogethertokeepfromclappingthem，forthiswasanirresistibletemptation，andthethoughtofpracticingonthatsplendidinstrumentquitetookherbreathaway。BeforeMrs。Marchcouldreply，Mr。Laurencewentonwithanoddlittlenodandsmile……
　　“Theyneedn’tseeorspeaktoanyone，butruninatanytime。
　　ForI’mshutupinmystudyattheotherendofthehouse，Laurieisoutagreatdeal，andtheservantsarenevernearthedrawingroomafternineo’clock。“
　　Hereherose，asifgoing，andBethmadeuphermindtospeak，forthatlastarrangementleftnothingtobedesired。“Please，telltheyoungladieswhatIsay，andiftheydon’tcaretocome，why，nevermind。“Herealittlehandslippedintohis，andBethlookedupathimwithafacefullofgratitude，asshesaid，inherearnestyettimidway……
　　“Ohsir，theydocare，veryverymuch!“
　　“Areyouthemusicalgirl？“heasked，withoutanystartling“Hey!“ashelookeddownatherverykindly。
　　“I’mBeth。Iloveitdearly，andI’llcome，ifyouarequitesurenobodywillhearme，andbedisturbed，“sheadded，fearingtoberude，andtremblingatherownboldnessasshespoke。
　　“Notasoul，mydear。Thehouseisemptyhalftheday，socomeanddrumawayasmuchasyoulike，andIshallbeobligedtoyou。“
　　“Howkindyouare，sir!“
　　Bethblushedlikearoseunderthefriendlylookhewore，butshewasnotfrightenednow，andgavethehandagratefulsqueezebecauseshehadnowordstothankhimforthepreciousgifthehadgivenher。
　　Theoldgentlemansoftlystrokedthehairoffherforehead，and，stoopingdown，hekissedherr，saying，inatonefewpeopleeverheard……
　　“Ihadalittlegirlonce，witheyeslikethese。Godblessyou，mydear!Goodday。madam。“Andawayhewent，inagreathurry。
　　Bethhadarapturewithhermother，andthenrusheduptoimpartthegloriousnewstoherfamilyofinvalids，asthegirlswerenothome。Howblithelyshesangthatevening，andhowtheyalllaughedatherbecauseshewokeAmyinthenightbyplayingthepianoonherfaceinhersleep。Nextday，havingseenboththeoldandyounggentlemanoutofthehouse，Beth，aftertwoorthreeretreats，fairlygotinatthesidedoor，andmadeherwayasnoiselesslyasanymousetothedrawingroomwhereheridolstood。Quitebyaccident，ofcourse，somepretty，easymusiclayonthepiano，andwithtremblingfingersandfrequentstopstolistenandlookabout，Bethatlasttouchedthegreatinstrument，andstraightwayforgotherfear，herself，andeverythingelsebuttheunspeakabledelightwhichthemusicgaveher，foritwaslikethevoiceofabelovedfriend。
　　ShestayedtillHannahcametotakeherhometodinner，butshehadnoappetite，andcouldonlysitandsmileuponeveryoneinageneralstateofbeatitude。