Deargirls，InmylastItoldyouaboutourLondonvisit，howkindtheVaughnswere，andwhatpleasantpartiestheymadeforus。IenjoyedthetripstoHamptonCourtandtheKensingtonMuseummorethananythingelse，foratHamptonIsawRaphael’scartoons，andattheMuseum，roomsfullofpicturesbyTurner，Lawrence，Reynolds，Hogarth，andtheothergreatcreatures。ThedayinRichmondParkwascharming，forwehadaregularEnglishpicnic，andIhadmoresplendidoaksandgroupsofdeerthanIcouldcopy，alsoheardanightingale，andsawlarksgoup。We`did’Londontoourheart’scontent，thankstoFredandFrank，andweresorrytogoaway，forthoughEnglishpeopleareslowtotakeyouin，whentheyoncemakeuptheirmindstodoittheycannotbeoutdoneinhospitality，Ithink。TheVaughnshopetomeetusinRomenextwinter，andIshallbedreadfullydisappointediftheydon’t，forGraceandIaregreatfriends，andtheboysverynicefellows，especiallyFred。
　　Well，wewerehardlysettledhere，whenheturnedupagain，sayinghehadcomeforaholiday，andwasgoingtoSwitzerland。
　　Auntlookedsoberatfirst，buthewassocoolaboutitshecouldn’tsayaword。Andnowwegetonnicely，andareverygladhecame，forhespeaksFrenchlikeanative，andIdon’tknowwhatweshoulddowithouthim。Uncledoesn’tknowtenwords，andinsistsontalkingEnglishveryloud，asifitwouldmakepeopleunderstandhim。Aunt’spronunciationisold-fashioned，andFloandI，thoughweflatteredourselvesthatweknewagooddeal，findwedon’t，andareverygratefultohaveFreddothe`parleyvooing’，asUnclecallsit。
　　Suchdelightfultimesaswearehaving!Sight-seeingfrommorningtillnight，stoppingfornicelunchesinthegaycafes，andmeetingwithallsortsofdrolladventures。RainydaysI
　　spendintheLouvre，revellinginpictures。Jowouldturnuphernaughtynoseatsomeofthefinest，becauseshehasnosoulforart，butIhave，andI’mcultivationeyeandtasteasfastasIcan。Shewouldliketherelicsofgreatpeoplebetter，forI’veseenherNapoleon’scockedhatandgraycoat，hisbaby’scradleandhisoldtoothbrush，alsoMarieAntoinette’slittleshoe，theringofSaintDenis，Charlemagne’ssword，andmanyotherinterestingthings。I’lltalkforhoursaboutthemwhenIcome，buthaven’ttimetowrite。
　　ThePalaisRoyaleisaheavenlyplace，sofullofbijouterieandlovelythingsthatI’mnearlydistractedbecauseIcan’tbuythem。Fredwantedtogetmesome，butofcourseIdidn’tallowit。ThentheBoisandChampsElyseesaretresmagnifique。
　　I’veseentheimperialfamilyseveraltimes，theemperoranugly，hard-lookingman，theempresspaleandpretty，butdressedinbadtaste，Ithought——purpledress，greenhat，andyellowgloves。
　　LittleNapisahandsomeboy，whositschattingtohistutor，andkissedhishandtothepeopleashepassesinhisfour-horsebarouche，withpostilionsinredsatinjacketsandamountedguardbeforeandbehind。
　　WeoftenwalkintheTuileriesGardens，fortheyarelovely，thoughtheantiqueLuxembourgGardenssuitmebetter。
　　PerelaChaiseisverycurious，formanyofthetombsarelikesmallrooms，andlookingin，oneseesatable，withimagesorpicturesofthedead，andchairsforthemournerstositinwhentheycometolament。ThatissoFrenchy。
　　OurroomsareontheRuedeRivoli，andsittingonthebalcony，welookupanddownthelong，brilliantstreet。Itissopleasantthatwespendoureveningstalkingtherewhentootiredwithourday’sworktogoout。Fredisveryentertaining，andisaltogetherthemostagreeableyoungmanIeverknew——
　　exceptLaurie，whosemannersaremorecharming。IwishFredwasdark，forIdon’tfancylightmen，however，theVaughnsareveryrichandcomeofanexcellentfamily，soIwon’tfindfaultwiththeiryellowhair，asmyownisyellower。
　　NextweekweareofftoGermanyandSwitzerland，andasweshalltravelfast，Ishallonlybeabletogiveyouhastyletters。Ikeepmydiary，andtryto`remembercorrectlyanddescribeclearlyallthatIseeandadmire’，asFatheradvised。
　　Itisgoodpracticeforme，andwithmysketchbookwillgiveyouabetterideaofmytourthanthesescribbles。
　　Adieu，Iembraceyoutenderly。
　　MydearMamma，HavingaquiethourbeforeweleaveforBerne，I’lltrytotellyouwhathashappened，forsomeofitisveryimportant，asyouwillsee。
　　ThesailuptheRhinewasperfect，andIjustsatandenjoyeditwithallmymight。GetFather’soldguidebooksandreadaboutit。Ihaven’twordsbeautifulenoughtodescribeit。
　　AtCoblenzwehadalovelytime，forsomestudentsfromBonn，withwhomFredgotacquaintedontheboat，gaveusaserenade。
　　Itwasamoonlightnight，andaboutoneo’clockFloandIwerewakedbythemostdeliciousmusicunderourwindows。Weflewup，andhidbehindthecurtains，butslypeepsshowedusFredandthestudentssingingawaydownbelow。ItwasthemostromanticthingIeversaw——theriver，thebridgeofboats，thegreatfortressopposite，moonlighteverywhere，andmusicfittomeltaheartofstone。
　　Whentheyweredonewethrewdownsomeflowers，andsawthemscrambleforthem，kisstheirhandstotheinvisibleladies，andgolaughingaway，tosmokeanddrinkbeer，Isuppose。NextmorningFredshowedmeoneofthecrumpledflowersinhisvestpocket，andlookedverysentimental。Ilaughedathim，andsaidIdidn’tthrowit，butFlo，whichseemedtodisgusthim，forhetosseditoutofthewindow，andturnedsensibleagain。I’mafraidI’mgoingtohavetroublewiththatboy，itbeginstolooklikeit。
　　ThebathsatNassauwereverygay，sowasBaden-Baden，whereFredlostsomemoney，andIscoldedhim。HeneedssomeonetolookafterhimwhenFrankisnotwithhim。Katesaidonceshehopedhe’dmarrysoon，andIquiteagreewithherthatitwouldbewellforhim。Frankfurtwasdelightful。
　　I
　　sawGoeth’shouse，Schiller’sstatue，andDannecker’sfamousAriadne。Itwasverylovely，butIshouldhaveenjoyeditmoreifIhadknownthestorybetter。Ididn’tliketoask，aseveryoneknewitorpretendedtheydid。IwishJowouldtellmeallaboutit。Ioughttohavereadmore，forIfindIdon’tknowanything，anditmortifiesme。
　　Nowcomestheseriouspart，forithappenedhere，andFredhasjustgone。Hehasbeensokindandjollythatweallgotquitefondofhim。Ineverthoughtofanythingbutatravelingfriendshiptilltheserenadenight。SincethenI’vebeguntofeelthatthemoonlightwalks，balconytalks，anddailyadventuresweresomethingmoretohimthanfun。Ihaven’tflirted，Mother，truly，butrememberedwhatyousaidtome，andhavedonemyverybest。Ican’thelpitifpeoplelikeme。Idon’ttrytomakethem，anditworriesmeifIdon’tcareforthem，thoughJosaysIhaven’tgotanyheart。NowIknowMotherwillshakeherhead，andthegirlssay，“Oh，themercenarylittlewretch!“，butI’vemadeupmymind，andifFredasksme，Ishallaccepthim，thoughI’mnotmadlyinlove。Ilikehim，andwegetoncomfortablytogether。Heishandsome，young，cleverenough，andveryrich——eversomuchricherthantheLaurences。Idon’tthinkhisfamilywouldobject，andIshouldbeveryhappy，fortheyareallkind，well-bred，generouspeople，andtheylikeme。Fred，astheeldesttwin，willhavetheestate，Isuppose，andsuchasplendidoneitis!Acityhouseinafashionablestreet，notsoshowyasourbighouses，buttwiceascomfortableandfullofsolidluxury，suchasEnglishpeoplebelievein。Ilikeit，forit’sgenuine。I’veseentheplate，thefamilyjewels，theoldservants，andpicturesofthecountryplace，withitspark，greathouse，lovelygrounds，andfinehorses。Oh，itwouldbeallIshouldask!AndI’dratherhaveitthananytitlesuchasgirlssnapupsoreadily，andfindnothingbehind。Imaybemercenary，butIhatepoverty，anddon’tmeantobearitaminutelongerthanIcanhelp。Oneofusmustmarrywell。Megdidn’t，Jowon’t，Bethcan’tyet，soIshall，andmakeeverythingokayallround。Iwouldn’tmarryamanIhatedordespised。Youmaybesureofthat，andthoughFredisnotmymodelhero，hedoesverywell，andintimeIshouldgetfondenoughofhimifhewasveryfondofme，andletmedojustasIliked。SoI’vebeenturningthematteroverinmymindthelastweek，foritwasimpossibletohelpseeingthatFredlikedme。Hesaidnothing，butlittlethingsshowedit。HenevergoeswithFlo，alwaysgetsonmysideofthecarriage，table，orpromenade，lookssentimentalwhenwearealone，andfrownsatanyoneelsewhoventurestospeaktome。Yesterdayatdinner，whenanAustrianofficerstaredatusandthensaidsomethingtohisfriend，arakish-lookingbaron，about`einwonderschonesBlondchen’，Fredlookedasfierceasalion，andcuthismeatsosavagelyitnearlyflewoffhisplate。Heisn’toneofthecool，stiffEnglishmen，butisratherpeppery，forhehasScotchbloodinhim，asonemightguessfromhisbonnieblueeyes。
　　Well，lasteveningwewentuptothecastleaboutsunset，atleastallofusbutFred，whowastomeetusthereaftergoingtothePostRestanteforletters。Wehadacharmingtimepokingabouttheruins，thevaultswherethemonstertunis，andthebeautifulgardensmadebytheelectorlongagoforhisEnglishwife。Ilikedthegreatterracebest，fortheviewwasdivine，sowhiletherestwenttoseetheroomsinside，Isattheretryingtosketchthegraystonelion’sheadonthewall，withscarletwoodbinesprayshangingroundit。IfeltasifI’dgotintoaromance，sittingthere，watchingtheMeckarrollingthroughthevalley，listeningtothemusicoftheAustrianbandbelow，andwaitingformylover，likearealstorybookgirl。IhadafeelingthatsomethingwasgoingtohappenandIwasreadyforit。I
　　didn’tfeelblushyorquakey，butquitecoolandonlyalittleexcited。
　　By-and-byIheardFred’svoice，andthenhecamehurryingthroughthegreatarchtofindme。HelookedsotroubledthatI
　　forgotallaboutmyself，andaskedwhatthematterwas。Hesaidhe’djustgotaletterbegginghimtocomehome，forFrankwasveryill。Sohewasgoingatonceonthenighttrainandonlyhadtimetosaygood-by。Iwasverysorryforhim，anddisappointedformyself，butonlyforaminutebecausehesaid，asheshookhands，andsaiditinawaythatIcouldnotmistake，“Ishallsooncomeback，youwon’tforgetme，Amy？“
　　Ididn’tpromise，butIlookedathim，andheseemedsatisfied，andtherewasnotimeforanythingbutmessagesandgood-byes，forhewasoffinanhour，andweallmisshimverymuch。
　　Iknowhewantedtospeak，butIthink，fromsomethingheoncehinted，thathehadpromisedhisfathernottodoanythingofthesortyetawhile，forisisarashboy，andtheoldgentlemandreadsaforeigndaughter-in-law。WeshallsoonmeetinRome，andthen，ifIdon’tchangemymind，I’llsay“Yes，thankyou，“whenhesays“Willyou，please？“
　　Ofcoursethisisallveryprivate，butIwishedyoutoknowwhatwasgoingon。Don’tbeanxiousaboutme，rememberI
　　amyour`prudentAmy’，andbesureIwilldonothingrashly。
　　Sendmeasmuchadviceasyoulike。I’lluseitifIcan。
　　I
　　wishIcouldseeyouforagoodtalk，Marmee。Loveandtrustme。
　　EveryourAMY
　　Chapter32CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
　　“Jo，I’manxiousaboutBeth。“
　　“Why，Mother，shehasseemedunusuallywellsincethebabiescame。“
　　“It’snotherhealththattroublesmenow，it’sherspirits。
　　I’msurethereissomethingonhermind，andIwantyoutodiscoverwhatitis。“
　　“Whatmakesyouthinkso，Mother？“
　　“Shesitsaloneagooddeal，anddoesn’ttalktoherfatherasmuchassheused。Ifoundhercryingoverthebabiestheotherday。Whenshesings，thesongsarealwayssadones，andnowandthenIseealookinherfacethatIdon’tunderstand。