Little Women

THE PALAC

s with their mother, nobody felt much afraid of him, except timid Beth. The other lion was the fact that they were poor and Laurie rich, for this made them shy of accepting favors which they could not return. But, after a while, they found that he considered them the benefacto

ey took the solitary boy into their midst and made much of him, and he found something very charming in the innocent companionship of these simple-hearted girls. Never having known mother or sisters, he was quick to feel the influences they brought about him, and

ds young society, amusement, and exercise. I suspect she is right, and that I've been coddling the fellow as if I'd been his grandmother. Let him do

little parties at the great house. Meg could walk in the conservatory whenever she liked and revel in bouquets, Jo browsed over the new library voraciously, and convulsed

here any more, not even for the dear piano. No persuasions or enticements could overcome her fear, till, the fact coming to Mr. Laurence's ear in some mysterious way, he set about mending matters. During one of the brief calls he made, he artfully led the conversation to music, and talked away about great singers whom he had seen, fine organs he had heard, and told such charming anecdotes that Beth found it impossible to

f it. But the piano suffers for want of use. Wouldn't some of your girls like to r

was an irresistible temptation, and the thought of practicing on that splendid instrument quite took h

ut up in my study at the other end of the house, Laurie is out a great d

"Please, tell the young ladies what I say, and if they don't care to come, why, never mind." Here a little hand sli

do care, ver

ed, without any startling "Hey!" a

sure nobody will hear me, and be disturbed," she added, feari

lf the day, so come and drum away as much a

d you ar

eful squeeze because she had no words to thank him for the precious gift he had given her. The old gentleman softl

these. God bless you, my dear! Good day, m

Next day, having seen both the old and young gentleman out of the house, Beth, after two or three retreats, fairly got in at the side door, and made her way as noiselessly as any mouse to the drawing room where her idol stood. Quite by accident, of course, some pretty, easy music lay on

er, but she had no appetite, and could only sit and

w Laurie mount guard in the hall to warn the servants away. She never suspected that the exercise books and new songs which she found in the rack were put there for her especial benefit, and when he talked to her about music at home, she only thought how kind he was to te

o kind to me, I must thank him, and I don't know any other way. Can

l help you about them, and I will pay for the making up," replied Mrs. March, who took pec

und was pronounced very appropriate and pretty, and Beth worked away early and late, with occasional lifts over hard parts. She was a nimble little needlewoman, and they were finis

offended her crochety friend. On the afternoon of the second day, she went out to do an errand, and give poor Joanna, the invalid doll, her daily exercise. As she came up the street

the old gentleman! Com

ting with unseemly energy, but she got no further

all pointing and all saying at once, "Look there! Look there!" Beth did look, and turned pale with delight and surprise, for

feeling as if she should tumble down, it

earest old man in the world? Here's the key in the letter. We didn't open it, but we

, it is too lovely!" and Beth hid her face

egan to laugh, for the fi

rch: "De

d write to me so!" said Amy, who thought

and these will always remind me of the gentle giver. I like to pay my debts, so I know you will allow 'the old gentleman' to send you something which onc

ied, and how he kept all her little things carefully. Just think, he's given you her piano. That comes of having big blue

red up, with a gold rose in the middle, and the pretty rack and stool, al

is writing that to you. I'll tell the girls. They'll th

e baby pianny," said Hannah, who always to

ed and put in apple-pie order, but, perfect as it was, I think the real charm lay in the happiest of all happy fac

, by way of a joke, for the idea of the ch

t it." And, to the utter amazement of the assembled family, Beth walked del

has turned her head! She'd never have gone in her right mind," cried Hannah, s

f voice called out, "come in!" she did go in, right up to Mr. Laurence, who looked quite taken aback, and held out her hand, saying, with only a small quaver in her voice, "I came to thank you, sir,

st set her on his knee, and laid his wrinkled cheek against her rosy one, feeling as if he had got his own little granddaughter back again. Beth ceased to fear him from that moment, and sat there talking to him as cozily as if she had known him all her life, for

g her satisfaction, Amy nearly fell out of the window in her surprise, and Meg ex