Afterthat，thelittlebrownhoodslippedthroughthehedgenearlyeveryday，andthegreatdrawingroomwashauntedbyatunefulspiritthatcameandwentunseen。SheneverknewthatMr。Laurenceopenedhisstudydoortoheartheold-fashionedairsheliked。
　　SheneversawLauriemountguardinthehalltowarntheservantsaway。
　　Sheneversuspectedthattheexercisebooksandnewsongswhichshefoundintherackwereputthereforherespecialbenefit，andwhenhetalkedtoheraboutmusicathome，sheonlythoughthowkindhewastotellthingsthathelpedhersomuch。Sosheenjoyedherselfheartily，andfound，whatisn’talwaysthecase，thathergrantedwishwasallshehadhoped。Perhapsitwasbecauseshewassogratefulforthisblessingthatagreaterwasgivenher。Atanyrateshedeservedboth。
　　“Mother，I’mgoingtoworkMr。Laurenceapairofslippers。Heissokindtome，Imustthankhim，andIdon’tknowanyotherway。
　　CanIdoit？“askedBeth，afewweeksafterthateventfulcallofhis。
　　“Yes，dear。Itwillpleasehimverymuch，andbeanicewayofthankinghim。Thegirlswillhelpyouaboutthem，andIwillpayforthemakingup，“repliedMrs。March，whotookpeculiarpleasureingrantingBeth’srequestsbecauseshesoseldomaskedanythingforherself。
　　AftermanyseriousdiscussionswithMegandJo，thepatternwaschosen，thematerialsbought，andtheslippersbegun。Aclusterofgraveyetcheerfulpansiesonadeeperpurplegroundwaspronouncedveryappropriateandpretty，andbethworkedawayearlyandlate，withoccasionalliftsoverhardparts。Shewasanimblelittleneedlewoman，andtheywerefinishedbeforeanyonegottiredofthem。Thenshewroteashort，simplenote，andwithLaurie’shelp，gotthemsmuggledontothestudytableonemorningbeforetheoldgentlemanwasup。
　　Whenthisexcitementwasover，Bethwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen。Alldaypassedaapartofthenextbeforeanyacknowledgementarrived，andshewasbeginningtofearshehadoffendedhercrochetyfriend。Ontheafternoonofthesecondday，shewentouttodoanerrand，andgivepoorJoanna，theinvaliddoll，herdailyexercise。Asshecameupthestreet，onherreturn，shesawthree，yes，fourheadspoppinginandoutoftheparlorwindows，andthemomenttheysawher，severalhandswerewaved，andseveraljoyfulvoicesscreamed……
　　“Here’saletterfromtheoldgentleman!Comequick，andreadit!“
　　“Oh，Beth，he’ssentyou……“beganAmy，gesticulatingwithunseemlyenergy，butshegotnofurther，forJoquenchedherbyslammingdownthewindow。
　　Bethhurriedoninaflutterofsuspense。Atthedoorhersistersseizedandborehertotheparlorinatriumphalprocession，allpointingandallsayingatonce，“Lookthere!Lookthere!“
　　Bethdidlook，andturnedpalewithdelightandsurprise，fortherestoodalittlecabinetpiano，withaletterlyingontheglossylid，directedlikeasignboardto“MissElizabethMarch。“
　　“Forme？“gaspedBeth，holdingontoJoandfeelingasifsheshouldtumbledown，itwassuchanoverwhelmingthingaltogether。
　　“Yes，allforyou，myprecious!Isn’titsplendidofhim？
　　Don’tyouthinkhe’sthedearestoldmanintheworld？Here’sthekeyintheletter。Wedidn’topenit，butwearedyingtoknowwhathesays，“
　　criedJo，hugginghersisterandofferingthenote。
　　“Youreadit!Ican’t，Ifeelsoqueer!Oh，itistoolovely!“
　　andBethhidherfaceinJo’sapron，quiteupsetbyherpresent。
　　Joopenedthepaperandbegantolaugh，forthefirstworkedshesawwere……
　　“MissMarch：
　　“DearMadam——“
　　“Howniceitsounds!Iwishsomeonewouldwritetomeso!“saidAmy，whothoughttheold-fashionedaddressveryelegant。
　　“`Ihavehadmanypairsofslippersinmylife，butIneverhadanythatsuitedmesowellasyours，’“continuesJo。“`Heartseaseismyfavoriteflower，andthesewillalwaysremindmeofthegentlegiver。Iliketopaymydebts，soIknowyouwillallow`theoldgentleman’tosendyousomethingwhichoncebelongedtothelittlegranddaughterhelost。Withheartythanksandbestwishes，I
　　remain“`Yourgratefulfriendandhumbleservant，“`JAMESLAURENCE’
　　“There，Beth，that’sanhonortobeproudof，I’msure!LaurietoldmehowfondMr。Laurenceusedtobeofthechildwhodied，andhowhekeptallherlittlethingscarefully。Justthink，he’sgivenyouherpiano。Thatcomesofhavingbigblueeyesandlovingmusic，“
　　saidJo，tryingtosootheBeth，whotrembledandlookedmoreexcitedthanshehadeverbeenbefore。
　　“Seethecunningbracketstoholdcandles，andthenicegreensild，puckeredup，withagoldroseinthemiddle，andtheprettyrackandstool，allcomplete，“addedMeg，openingtheinstrumentanddisplayingitsbeauties。
　　“`Yourhumbleservant，JamesLaurence’。Onlythinkofhiswritingthattoyou。I’lltellthegirls。They’llthinkit’ssplendid，“saidAmy，muchimpressedbythenote。
　　“Tryit，honey。Let’shearthesoundofthebabypianny，“
　　saidHannah，whoalwaystookashareinthefamilyjoysandsorrows。
　　SoBethtriedit，andeveryonepronounceditthemostremarkablepianoeverheard。Ithadevidentlybeennewlytunedandputinapple-
　　pieorder，but，perfectasitwas，Ithinktherealcharmlayinthehappiestofallhappyfaceswhichleanedoverit，asBethlovinglytouchedthebeautifulblackandwhitekeysandpressedthebrightpedals。
　　“You’llhavetogoandthankhim，“saidJo，bywayofajoke，fortheideaofthechild’sreallygoingneverenteredherhead。
　　“Yes，Imeanto。IguessI’llgono，beforeIgetfrightenedthinkingaboutit。“And，totheutteramazementoftheassembledfamily，Bethwalkeddeliberatelydownthegarden，throughthehedge，andinattheLaurences’door。
　　“Well，IwishImaydieifitain’tthequeerestthingIeversee!Thepiannyhasturnedherhead!She’dneverhavegoneinherrightmind，“criedHannah，staringafterher，whilethegirlswererenderedquitespeechlessbythemiracle。
　　TheywouldhavebeenstillmoreamazediftheyhadseenwhatBethdidafterward。Ifyouwillbelieveme，shewentandknockedatthestudydoorbeforeshegaveherselftimetothink，andwhenagruffvoicecalledout，“comein!“shedidgoin，rightuptoMr。Laurence，wholookedquitetakenaback，andheldoutherhand，saying，withonlyasmallquaverinhervoice，“Icametothankyou，sir，for……“Butshedidn’tfinish，forhelookedsofriendlythatsheforgotherspeechand，onlyrememberingthathehadlostthelittlegirlheloved，sheputbotharmsroundhisneckandkissedhim。
　　Iftheroofofthehousehadsuddenlyflownoff，theoldgentlemanwouldn’thavebeenmoreastonished。Buthelikedit。
　　Oh，dear，yes，helikeditamazingly!Andwassotouchedandpleasedbythatconfidinglittlekissthatallhiscrustinessvanished，andhejustsetheronhisknee，andlaidhiswrinkledcheekagainstherrosyone，feelingasifhehadgothisownlittlegranddaughterbackagain。Bethceasedtofearhimfromthatmoment，andsattheretalkingtohimascozilyasifshehadknownhimallherlife，forlovecastsoutfear，andgratitudecanconquerpride。Whenshewenthome，hewalkedwithhertoherowngate，shookhandscordially，andtouchedhishatashemarchedbackagain，lookingverystatelyanderect，likeahandsome，soldierlyoldgentleman，ashewas。
　　Whenthegirlssawthatperformance，Jobegantodanceajig，bywayofexpressinghersatisfaction，Amynearlyfelloutofthewindowinhersurprise，andMegexclaimed，withup-liftedhands，“Well，Idobelievetheworldiscomingtoanend。
　　“Thatboyisaperfectcyclops，isn’the？“saidAmyoneday，asLaurieclatteredbyonhorseback，withaflourishofhiswhipashepassed。
　　“Howdareyousayso，whenhe’sgotbothhiseyes？Andveryhandsomeonestheyare，too，“criedJo，whoresentedanyslightingremarksaboutherfriend。
　　“Ididn’tdayanythingabouthiseyes，andIdon’tseewhyyouneedfireupwhenIadmirehisriding。“
　　“Oh，mygoodness!Thatlittlegoosemeansacentaur，andshecalledhimaCyclops，“exclaimedJo，withaburstoflaughter。
　　“Youneedn’tbesorude，it’sonlya`lapseoflingy’，asMr。
　　Davissays，“retortedAmy，finishingJowithherLatin。“IjustwishIhadalittleofthemoneyLauriespendsonthathorse，“sheadded，asiftoherself，yethopinghersisterswouldhear。
　　“Why？“askedMegkindly，forJohadgoneoffinanotherlaughatAmy’ssecondblunder。
　　“Ineeditsomuch。I’mdreadfullyindebt，anditwon’tbemyturntohavetheragmoneyforamonth。“
　　“Indebt，Amy？Whatdoyoumean？“AndMeglookedsober。
　　“Why，Ioweatleastadozenpickledlimes，andIcan’tpaythem，youknow，tillIhavemoney，forMarmeeforbademyhavinganythingchargedattheshop。“
　　“Tellmeallaboutit。Arelimesthefashionnow？Itusedtobeprickingbitsofrubbertomakeballs。“AndMegtriedtokeephercountenance，Amylookedsograveandimportant。
　　“Why，yousee，thegirlsarealwaysbuyingthem，andunlessyouwanttobethoughtmean，youmustdoittoo。It’snothingbutlimesnow，foreveryoneissuckingthemintheirdesksinschooltime，andtradingthemoffforpencils，beadrings，paperdolls，orsomethingelse，atrecess。Ifonegirllikesanother，shegivesheralime。Ifshe’smadwithher，sheeatsonebeforeherface，anddoesn’tofferevenasuck。Theytreatbyturns，andI’vehadeversomanybuthaven’treturnedthem，andIoughtfortheyaredebtsofhonor，youknow。“
　　“Howmuchwillpaythemoffandrestoreyourcredit？“askedMeg，takingoutherpurse。“
　　“Aquarterwouldmorethandoit，andleaveafewcentsoverforatreatforyou。Don’tyoulikelimes？“
　　“Notmuch。Youmayhavemyshare。Here’sthemoney。
　　Makeitlastaslongasyoucan，foritisn’tveryplenty，youknow。“
　　“Oh，thankyou!Itmustbesonicetohavepocketmoney!
　　I’llhaveagrandfeast，forIhaven’ttastedalimethisweek。Ifeltdelicateabouttakingany，asIcouldn’treturnthem，andI’mactuallysufferingforone。“
　　NextdayAmywasratherlateatschool，butcouldnotresistthetemptationofdisplaying，withpardonablepride，amoistbrown-paperparcel，beforesheconsignedittotheinmostrecessesofherdesk。
　　DuringthenextfewminutestherumorthatAmyMarchhadgottwenty-
　　fourdeliciouslimessheateoneonthewayandwasgoingtotreatcirculatedthroughher`set’，andtheattentionsofherfriendsbecamequiteoverwhelming。KatyBrowninvitedhertohernextpartyonthespot。MaryKinglseyinsistedonlendingherherwatchtillrecess，andJennySnow，asatiricalyounglady，whohadbaselytwittedAmyuponherlimelessstate，promptlyburiedthehatchetandofferedtofurnishanswerstocertainappallingsums。ButAmyhadnotforgottenMissSnow’scuttingremarksabout`somepersonswhosenoseswerenottooflattosmellotherpeople’slimes，andstuck-uppeoplewhowerenottooproudtoaskforthem’，andsheinstantlycrushed`thatSnowgirl’s’hopesbythewitheringtelegram，“Youneedn’tbesopoliteallofasudden，foryouwon’tgetany。“