All sorts of pleasant things happened about that time; for the new friendship flourished like grass in spring. Every one liked Laurie, and he privately3 informed his tutor that "the Marches were regularly splendid girls." With the delightful4 enthusiasm of youth, they took the solitary5 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 their busy, lively ways made him ashamed of the indolent life he led. He was tired of books, and found people so interesting now that Mr. Brooke was obliged to make very unsatisfactory reports; for Laurie was always playing truant6, and running over to the Marches.
"Never mind; let him take a holiday, and make it up afterwards," said the old gentleman. "The good lady next door says he is studying 74 too hard, and needs 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 what he likes, as long as he is happy. He can't get into mischief8 in that little nunnery over there; and Mrs. March is doing more for him than we can."
What good times they had, to be sure! Such plays and tableaux9, such sleigh-rides and skating frolics, such pleasant evenings in the old parlor10, and now and then such gay little parties at the great house. Meg could walk in the conservatory11 whenever she liked, and revel12 in bouquets13; Jo browsed14 over the new library voraciously15, and convulsed the old gentleman with her criticisms; Amy copied pictures, and enjoyed beauty to her heart's content; and Laurie played "lord of the manor16" in the most delightful style.
But Beth, though yearning17 for the grand piano, could not pluck up courage to go to the "Mansion18 of Bliss," as Meg called it. She went once with Jo; but the old gentleman, not being aware of her infirmity, stared at her so hard from under his heavy eyebrows19, and said "Hey!" so loud, that he frightened her so much her "feet chattered20 on the floor," she told her mother; and she ran away, declaring she would never go there any more, not even for the dear piano. No persuasions21 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 anecdotes22 that Beth found it impossible to stay in her distant corner, but crept nearer and nearer, as if fascinated. At the back of his chair she stopped, and stood listening, with her great eyes wide open, and her cheeks red with the excitement of this unusual performance. Taking no more notice of her than if she had been a fly, Mr. Laurence talked on about Laurie's lessons and teachers; and presently, as if the idea had just occurred to him, he said to Mrs. March,—
"The boy neglects his music now, and I'm glad of it, for he was getting too fond of it. But the piano suffers for want of use. Wouldn't some of your girls like to run over, and practise on it now and then, just to keep it in tune23, you know, ma'am?"
75 Beth took a step forward, and pressed her hands tightly together to keep from clapping them, for this was an irresistible24 temptation; and the thought of practising on that splendid instrument quite took her breath away. Before Mrs. March could reply, Mr. Laurence went on with an odd little nod and smile,—
"They needn't see or speak to any one, but run in at any time; for I'm shut up in my study at the other end of the house, Laurie is out a great deal, and the servants are never near the drawing-room after nine o'clock."
Here he rose, as if going, and Beth made up her mind to speak, for that last arrangement left nothing to be desired. "Please tell the young ladies what I say; and if they don't care to come, why, never mind." 76 Here a little hand slipped into his, and Beth looked up at him with a face full of gratitude25, as she said, in her earnest yet timid way,—
"O sir, they do care, very, very much!"
O sir, they do care very much
"Are you the musical girl?" he asked, without any startling "Hey!" as he looked down at her very kindly26.
"I'm Beth. I love it dearly, and I'll come, if you are quite sure nobody will hear me—and be disturbed," she added, fearing to be rude, and trembling at her own boldness as she spoke27.
"Not a soul, my dear. The house is empty half the day; so come, and drum away as much as you like, and I shall be obliged to you."
"How kind you are, sir!"
Beth blushed like a rose under the friendly look he wore; but she was not frightened now, and gave the big hand a grateful squeeze, because she had no words to thank him for the precious gift he had given her. The old gentleman softly stroked the hair off her forehead, and, stooping down, he kissed her, saying, in a tone few people ever heard,—
"I had a little girl once, with eyes like these. God bless you, my dear! Good day, madam;" and away he went, in a great hurry.
Beth had a rapture28 with her mother, and then rushed up to impart the glorious news to her family of invalids29, as the girls were not at home. How blithely31 she sung that evening, and how they all laughed at her, because she woke Amy in the night by playing the piano on her face in her sleep. 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 idol32 stood. Quite by accident, of course, some pretty, easy music lay on the piano; and, with trembling fingers, and frequent stops to listen and look about, Beth at last touched the great instrument, and straightway forgot her fear, herself, and everything else but the unspeakable delight which the music gave her, for it was like the voice of a beloved friend.
She stayed till Hannah came to take her home to dinner; but she had no appetite, and could only sit and smile upon every one in a general state of beatitude.
77
Mr. Laurence often opened his study door
After that, the little brown hood33 slipped through the hedge nearly every day, and the great drawing-room was haunted by a tuneful spirit that came and went unseen. She never knew that Mr. Laurence often opened his study-door to hear the old-fashioned airs he liked; she never saw 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 tell things that helped her so much. So she enjoyed herself heartily34, and found, what isn't always the case, that her granted wish was all she had hoped. Perhaps it was because she was so grateful for this blessing35 that a greater was given her; at any rate, she deserved both.
"Mother, I'm going to work Mr. Laurence a pair of slippers36. He is so kind to me, I must thank him, and I don't know any other way. Can I do it?" asked Beth, a few weeks after that eventful call of his.
"Yes, dear. It will please him very much, and be a nice way of thanking him. The girls will help you about them, and I will pay for the making up," replied Mrs. March, who took peculiar37 pleasure in granting Beth's requests, because she so seldom asked anything for herself.
78 After many serious discussions with Meg and Jo, the pattern was chosen, the materials bought, and the slippers begun. A cluster of grave yet cheerful pansies, on a deeper purple ground, was pronounced very appropriate and pretty; and Beth worked away early and late, with occasional lifts over hard parts. She was a nimble little needle-woman, and they were finished before any one got tired of them. Then she wrote a very short, simple note, and, with Laurie's help, got them smuggled38 on to the study-table one morning before the old gentleman was up.
When this excitement was over, Beth waited to see what would happen. All that day passed, and a part of the next, before any acknowledgment arrived, and she was beginning to fear she had offended her crotchety friend. On the afternoon of the second day, she went out to do an errand, and give poor Joanna, the invalid30 doll, her daily exercise. As she came up the street, on her return, she saw three, yes, four, heads popping in and out of the parlor windows, and the moment they saw her, several hands were waved, and several joyful39 voices screamed,—
"Here's a letter from the old gentleman! Come quick, and read it!"
"O Beth, he's sent you—" began Amy, gesticulating with unseemly energy; but she got no further, for Jo quenched40 her by slamming down the window.
Beth hurried on in a flutter of suspense41. At the door, her sisters seized and bore her to the parlor in a triumphal procession, all pointing, and all saying at once, "Look there! look there!" Beth did look, and turned pale with delight and surprise; for there stood a little cabinet-piano, with a letter lying on the glossy42 lid, directed, like a sign-board, to "Miss Elizabeth March."
"For me?" gasped43 Beth, holding on to Jo, and feeling as if she should tumble down, it was such an overwhelming thing altogether.
"Yes; all for you, my precious! Isn't it splendid of him? Don't you think he's the dearest old man in the world? Here's the key in the letter. We didn't open it, but we are dying to know what he says," cried Jo, hugging her sister, and offering the note.
79 "You read it! I can't, I feel so queer! Oh, it is too lovely!" and Beth hid her face in Jo's apron44, quite upset by her present.
Jo opened the paper, and began to laugh, for the first words she saw were,—
"Miss March:
"Dear Madam,—"
"How nice it sounds! I wish some one would write to me so!" said Amy, who thought the old-fashioned address very elegant.
"'I have had many pairs of slippers in my life, but I never had any that suited me so well as yours,'" continued Jo. "'Heart's-ease is my favorite flower, 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 once belonged to the little granddaughter he lost. With hearty45 thanks and best wishes, I remain,
"'Your grateful friend and humble servant,
"'James Laurence.'"
"There, Beth, that's an honor to be proud of, I'm sure! Laurie told me how fond Mr. Laurence used to be of the child who died, and how he kept all her little things carefully. Just think, he's given you her piano. That comes of having big blue eyes and loving music," said Jo, trying to soothe46 Beth, who trembled, and looked more excited than she had ever been before.
"See the cunning brackets to hold candles, and the nice green silk, puckered47 up, with a gold rose in the middle, and the pretty rack and stool, all complete," added Meg, opening the instrument and displaying its beauties.
"'Your humble servant, James Laurence'; only think of his writing that to you. I'll tell the girls. They'll think it's splendid," said Amy, much impressed by the note.
"Try it, honey. Let's hear the sound of the baby-pianny," said Hannah, who always took a share in the family joys and sorrows.
80 So Beth tried it; and every one pronounced it the most remarkable48 piano ever heard. It had evidently been newly tuned49 and put in apple-pie order; but, perfect as it was, I think the real charm of it lay in the happiest of all happy faces which leaned over it, as Beth lovingly touched the beautiful black and white keys and pressed the bright pedals.
"You'll have to go and thank him," said Jo, by way of a joke; for the idea of the child's really going never entered her head.
"Yes, I mean to. I guess I'll go now, before I get frightened thinking about it." And, to the utter amazement50 of the assembled family, Beth walked deliberately51 down the garden, through the hedge, and in at the Laurences' door.
"Well, I wish I may die if it ain't the queerest thing I ever see! The pianny has turned her head! She'd never have gone in her right mind," cried Hannah, staring after her, while the girls were rendered quite speechless by the miracle.
They would have been still more amazed if they had seen what Beth did afterward7. If you will believe me, she went and knocked at the study-door before she gave herself time to think; and when a gruff 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, for—" But she didn't finish; for he looked so friendly that she forgot her speech, and, only remembering that he had lost the little girl he loved, she put both arms round his neck, and kissed him.
She put both arms around his neck and kissed him
If the roof of the house had suddenly flown off, the old gentleman wouldn't have been more astonished; but he liked it,—oh, dear, yes, he liked it amazingly!—and was so touched and pleased by that confiding52 little kiss that all his crustiness vanished; and he just set her on his knee, and laid his wrinkled cheek against her rosy53 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 cosily54 as if she had known him all her life; for love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride. When she went home, he walked with her to her own gate, shook hands cordially, and touched 81 his hat as he marched back again, looking very stately and erect55, like a handsome, soldierly old gentleman, as he was.
When the girls saw that performance, Jo began to dance a jig56, by way of expressing her satisfaction; Amy nearly fell out of the window in her surprise; and Meg exclaimed, with uplifted hands, "Well, I do believe the world is coming to an end!"
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1
benefactors
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| n.捐助者，施主( benefactor的名词复数 )；恩人 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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6
truant
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| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
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7
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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9
tableaux
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| n.舞台造型，（由活人扮演的）静态画面、场面；人构成的画面或场景( tableau的名词复数 )；舞台造型；戏剧性的场面；绚丽的场景 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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11
conservatory
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| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
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12
revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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13
bouquets
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| n.花束( bouquet的名词复数 )；（酒的）芳香 | |
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14
browsed
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| v.吃草( browse的过去式和过去分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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voraciously
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| adv.贪婪地 | |
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manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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18
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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19
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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20
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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21
persuasions
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| n.劝说，说服（力）( persuasion的名词复数 )；信仰 | |
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22
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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23
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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24
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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25
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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26
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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27
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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28
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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29
invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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30
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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31
blithely
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| adv.欢乐地，快活地，无挂虑地 | |
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32
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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33
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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34
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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35
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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36
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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37
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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38
smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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39
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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40
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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41
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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42
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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43
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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44
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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45
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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46
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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47
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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49
tuned
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| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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50
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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51
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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52
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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53
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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54
cosily
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| adv.舒适地，惬意地 | |
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55
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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56
jig
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| n.快步舞（曲）；v.上下晃动；用夹具辅助加工；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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