“Agloomywood，“accordingtotheoneplaybill，wasrepresentedbyafewshrubsinpots，greenbaizeonthefloor，andacaveinthedistance。Thiscavewasmadewithaclotheshorseforaroof，bureausforwalls，andinitwasasmallfurnaceinfullblast，withablackpotonitandanoldwitchbendingoverit。Thestagewasdarkandtheglowofthefurnacehadafineeffect，especiallyasrealsteamissuedfromthekettlewhenthewitchtookoffthecover。Amomentwasallowedforthefirstthrilltosubside，thenHugo，thevillain，stalkedinwithaclankingswordathisside，aslouchinghat，blackbeard，mysteriouscloak，andtheboots。Afterpacingtoandfroinmuchagitation，hestruckhisforehead，andburstoutinawildstrain，singingofhishatredtoRoderigo，hisloveforZara，andhispleasingresolutiontokilltheoneandwintheother。
　　ThegrufftonesofHugo’svoice，withanoccasionalshoutwhenhisfeelingsovercamehim，wereveryimpressive，andtheaudienceapplaudedthemomenthepausedforbreath。bowingwiththeairofoneaccustomedtopublicpraise，hestoletothecavernandorderedHagartocomeforthwithacommanding，“Whatho，minion!
　　Ineedthee!“
　　OutcameMeg，withgrayhorsehairhangingaboutherface，aredandblackrobe，astaff，andcabalisticsignsuponhercloak。HugodemandedapotiontomakeZaraadorehim，andonedestroyRoderigo。Hagar，inafinedramaticmelody，promisedboth，andproceededtocallupthespiritwhowouldbringthelovephilter。
　　Hither，hither，fromthyhome，Airysprite，Ibidtheecome!
　　Bornofroses，fedondew，Charmsandpotionscanstthoubrew？
　　Bringmehere，withelfinspeed，ThefragrantphilterwhichIneed。
　　Makeitsweetandswiftandstrong，Spirit，answernowmysong!
　　Asoftstrainofmusicsounded，andthenatthebackofthecaveappearedalittlefigureincloudywhite，withglitteringwings，goldenhair，andagarlandofrosesonitshead。Wavingawand，itsang……
　　HitherIcome，Frommyairyhome，Afarinthesilvermoon。
　　Takethemagicspell，Anduseitwell，Oritspowerwillvanishsoon!
　　Anddroppingasmall，gildedbottleatthewitch’sfeet，thespiritvanished。AnotherchantfromHagarproducedanotherapparition，notalovelyone，forwithabanganuglyblackimpappearedand，havingcroakedareply，tossedadarkbottleatHugoanddisappearedwithamockinglaugh。Havingwarbledhisthanksandputthepotionsinhisboots，Hugodeparted，andHagarinformedtheaudiencethatashehadkilledafewofherfriendsintimespast，shehadcursedhim，andintendstothwarthisplans，andberevengedonhim。
　　Thenthecurtainfell，andtheaudiencereposedandatecandywhilediscussingthemeritsoftheplay。
　　Agooddealofhammeringwentonbeforethecurtainroseagain，butwhenitbecameevidentwhatamasterpieceofstagecarpenteryhadbeengotup，noonemurmuredatthedelay。Itwastrulysuperb。
　　Atowerrosetotheceiling，halfwayupappearedawindowwithalampburninginit，andbehindthewhitecurtainappearedZarainalovelyblueandsilverdress，waitingforRoderigo。Hecameingorgeousarray，withplumedcap，redcloak，chestnutlovelocks，aguitar，andtheboots，ofcourse。Kneelingatthefootofthetower，hesangaserenadeinmeltingtones。Zararepliedand，afteramusicaldialogue，consentedtofly。Thencamethegrandeffectoftheplay。Roderigoproducedaropeladder，withfivestepstoit，threwuponeend，andinvitedZaratodescend。Timidlyshecreptfromherlattice，putherhandonRoderigo’sshoulder，andwasabouttoleapgracfullydownwhen“Alas!AlasforZara!“sheforgothertrain。Itcaughtinthewindow，thetowertottered，leanedforward，fellwithacrash，andburiedtheunhappyloversintheruins。
　　Auniversalshriekaroseastherussetbootswavedwildlyfromthewreckandagoldenheademerged，exclaiming，“Itoldyouso!Itoldyouso!“Withwonderfulpresenceofmind，DonPedro，thecruelsire，rushedin，draggedouthisdaughter，withahastyaside……
　　“Don’tlaugh!Actasifitwasallright!“and，orderingRoderigoup，banishedhimformthekingdomwithwrathandscorn。
　　Thoughdecidedlyshakenbythefallfromthetoweruponhim，Roderigodefiedtheoldgentlemanandrefusedtostir。ThisdauntlessexamplefiredZara。Shealsodefiedhersire，andheorderedthembothtothedeepestdungeonsofthecastle。Astoutlittleretainercameinwithchainsandledthemaway，lookingverymuchfrightenedandevidentlyforgettingthespeechheoughttohavemade。
　　Actthirdwasthecastlehall，andhereHagarappeared，havingcometofreetheloversandfinishHugo。Shehearshimcomingandhides，seeshimputthepotionsintotwocupsofwineandbidthethetimidlittleservant，“Bearthemtothecaptivesintheircells，andtellthemIshallcomeanon。“TheservanttakesHugoasidetotellhimsomething，andHagarchangesthecupsfortwootherswhichareharmless。Ferdinando，the`minion’，carriesthemaway，andHagarputsbackthecupwhichholdsthepoisonmeantforRoderigo。
　　Hugo，gettingthirstyafteralongwarble，drinksit，loseshiswits，andafteragooddealofclutchingandstamping，fallsflatanddies，whileHagarinformshimwhatshehasdoneinasongofexquisitepowerandmelody。
　　Thiswasatrulythrillingscene，thoughsomepersonsmighthavethoughtthatthesuddentumblingdownofaquantityoflongredhairrathermarredtheeffectofthevillain’sdeath。Hewascalledbeforethecurtain，andwithgreatproprietyappeared，leadingHagar，whosesingingwasconsideredmorewonderfulthanalltherestoftheperformanceputtogether。
　　ActfourthdisplayedthedespairingRoderigoonthepointofstabbinghimselfbecausehehasbeentoldthatZarahasdesertedhim。
　　Justasthedaggerisathisheart，alovelysongissungunderhiswindow，informinghimthatZaraistruebutindanger，andhecansaveherifhewill。Akeyisthrownin，whichunlocksthedoor，andinaspasmofrapturehetearsoffhischainsandrushesawaytofindandrescuehisladylove。
　　ActfifthopenedwithastormyscenebetweenZaraandDonPedro。
　　Hewisheshertogointoaconvent，butshewon’thearofit，andafteratouchingappeal，isabouttofaintwhenRoderigodashesinanddemandsherhand。DonPedrorefuses，becauseheisnotrich。
　　Theyshoutandgesticulatetremendouslybutcannotagree，andRodrigoisabouttobearawaytheexhaustedZara，whenthetimidservantenterswithaletterandabagfromHagar，whohasmysteriouslydisappeared。ThelatterinformsthepartythatshebequethsuntoldwealthtotheyoungpairandanawfuldoomtoDonPedro，ifhedoesn’tmakethemhappy。Thebagisopened，andseveralquartsoftinmoneyshowerdownuponthestagetillitisquiteglorifiedwiththeglitter。Thisentirelysoftensthesternsire。Heconsentswithoutamurmur，alljoininajoyfulchorus，andthecurtainfallsupontheloverskneelingtoreceiveDonPedro’sblessinginattitudesofthemostromanticgrace。
　　Tumultuousapplausefollowedbutreceivedanunexpectedcheck，forthecotbed，onwhichthedresscirclewasbuilt，suddenlyshutupandextinguishedtheenthusiasticaudience。RoderigoandDonPedroflewtotherescue，andallweretakenoutunhurt，thoughmanywerespeechlesswithlaughter。theexcitementhadhardlysubsidedwhenHannahappeared，with“Mrs。March’scompliments，andwouldtheladieswalkdowntosupper。“
　　Thiswasasurpriseeventotheactors，andwhentheysawthetable，theylookedatoneanotherinrapturousamazement。ItwaslikeMarmeetogetupalittletreatforthem，butanythingsofineasthiswasunheardofsincethedeparteddaysofplenty。Therewasicecream，actuallytwodishesofit，pinkandwhite，andcakeandfruitanddistractingfrenchbonbonsand，inthemiddleofthetable，fourgreatbouquetsofhothouseflowers。
　　Itquitetooktheirbreathaway，andtheystaredfirstatthetableandthenattheirmother，wholookedasifsheenjoyeditimmensely。
　　“Isitfairies？“askedAmy。
　　“SantaClaus，“saidBeth。
　　“Motherdidit。“AndMegsmiledhersweetest，inspiteofhergraybeardandwhiteeyebrows。
　　“AuntMarchhadagoodfitandsentthesupper，“criedJo，withasuddeninspiration。
　　“Allwrong。OldMr。Laurencesentit，“repliedMrs。March。
　　“TheLaurenceboy’sgrandfather!Whatintheworldputsuchathingintohishead？Wedon’tknowhim!’exclaimedMeg。
　　“Hannahtoldoneofhisservantsaboutyourbreakfastparty。
　　Heisanoddoldgentleman，butthatpleasedhim。Heknewmyfatheryearsago，andhesentmeapolitenotethisafternoon，sayinghehopedIwouldallowhimtoexpresshisfriendlyfeelingtowardmychildrenbysendingthemafewtriflesinhonoroftheday。I
　　couldnotrefuse，andsoyouhavealittlefeastatnighttomakeupforthebread-and-milkbreakfast。“
　　“Thatboy；putitintohishead，Iknowhedid!He’sacapitalfellow，andIwishwecouldgetacquainted。Helooksasifhe’dliketoknowusbuthe’sbashful，andMegissoprimshewon’tletmespeaktohimwhenwepass，“saidJo，astheplateswentround，andtheicebegantomeltoutofsight，withohsandahsofsatisfaction。
　　“Youmeanthepeoplewholiveinthebighousenextdoor，don’tyou？“askedoneofthegirls。“MymotherknowsoldMr。Laurence，butsayshe’sveryproudanddoesn’tliketomixwithhisneighbors。
　　Hekeepshisgrandsonshutup，whenheisn’tridingorwalkingwithhistutor，andmakeshimstudyveryhard。Weinvitedhimtoourparty，buthedidn’tcome。Mothersayshe’sverynice，thoughheneverspeakstousgirls。“
　　“Ourcatranawayonce，andhebroughtherback，andwetalkedoverthefence，andweregettingoncapitally，allaboutcricket，andsoon，whenhesawMegcoming，andwalkedoff。I
　　meantoknowhimsomeday，forheneedsfun，I’msurehedoes，“
　　saidJodecidedly。
　　“Ilikehismanners，andhelookslikealittlegentleman，soI’venoobjectiontoyourknowinghim，ifaproperopportunitycomes。
　　Hebroughttheflowershimself，andIshouldhaveaskedhimin，ifIhadbeensurewhatwasgoingonupstairs。Helookedsowistfulashewentaway，hearingthefrolicandevidentlyhavingnoneofhisown。“
　　“It’samercyyoudidn’t，Mother!“laughedJo，lookingatherboots。“Butwe’llhaveanotherplaysometimethathecansee。Perhapshe’llhelpact。Wouldn’tthatbejolly？“
　　“Ineverhadsuchafinebouquetbefore!Howprettyitis!“
　　AndMegexaminedherflowerswithgreatinterest。
　　“Theyarelovely。ButBeth’srosesaresweetertome，“saidMrs。March，smellingthehalf-deadposyinherbelt。
　　Bethnestleduptoher，andwhisperedsoftly，“IwishI
　　couldsendmybunchtoFather。I’mafraidheisn’thavingsuchamerryChristmasasweare。“