The big house did prove a Palace Beautiful, though it took some time for all to get in, and Beth found it very hard to pass the lions. Old Mr. Laurence was the biggest one; but after he had called, said something funny or kind to each one of the girls, and talked over old times 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 favours which they could not return. But, after a while they found that he considered them the benefactors, and could not do enough to show how grateful he was for Mrs. March's motherly welcome, their cheerful society, and the comfort he took in that humble home of theirs. So they soon forgot their pride, and interchanged kindnesses without stopping to think which was the greater.
All sorts of pleasant things happened about that time; for the new friendshipourished like grass in spring. Everyone liked Laurie, and he privately informed his tutor that `the Marches were regular splendid girls'. With the delightful enthusiasm of youth they 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 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 truant 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 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 mischief 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 tableaux, such sleigh-rides and skating frolics, such pleasant evenings in the old parlour, and now and then such gay 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 the old gentleman with her criticisms. Amy copied pictures and enjoyed beauty to her heart's content; and Laurie played `lord of the manor' in the most delightful style.
But Beth, though yearning for the grand piano, could not pluck up courage to go to the `Mansion 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 eyebrows, and said `Hey!' so loud, that he frightened her so much her `feet chattered 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 persuasions or enticements could overcome her fears, 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 stay in her distant comer, 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 tune, you know, ma'am?'
Beth took a step forward, and pressed her hands tightly together to keep from clapping them, for this was an irresistible 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 anyone, 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.' Here a little hand slipped into his, and Beth looked up at him with a face full of gratitude, as she said, in her earnest, yet timid way:
`Oh, sir, they do care, very, very much!'
`Are you the musical girl?' he asked, without any startling `Hey!' as he looked down at her very kindly.
`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 spoke.
`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 of 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 rapture with her mother, and then rushed up to impart the glorious news to her family of invalids, as the girls were not at home. How blithely she sang 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 the young gentlemen 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 the piano; and, with trembling fingers, and frequent stops to listen and look about, Beth at last touched the great instrument, and straightaway 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 everyone in a general state of beatitude.
After that, the little brown hood 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 heartily, 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 blessing that a greater was given her; at any rate she deserved both.
`Mother, I'm going to work Mr. Laurence a pair of slippers. 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 peculiar pleasure in granting Beth's requests, because she so seldom asked anything for herself.
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 anyone got tired of them. Then she wrote a very short, simple note, and, with Laurie's help, got them smuggled 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 acknowledgement 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 invalid 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 parlour windows, and the moment they saw her, several hands were waved, and several joyful voices screamed:
`Here's a letter from the old gentleman! Come quick, and read it!'
`Oh, Beth, he's sent you——' began Amy, gesticulating with unseemly energy; but she got no further, for Jo quenched her by slamming down the window.
Beth hurried on in a flutter of suspense. At the door, her sisters seized and bore her to the parlour 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 glossy lid, directed, like a signboard, to `Miss Elizabeth March'.
`For me?' gasped 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.
`You read it! I can't! I feel so queer! Oh, it is too lovely!' and Beth hid her face in Jo's apron, 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 someone 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 favourite 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 hearty thanks and best wishes, I remain, your grateful friend and humble servant,
`JAMES LAURENCE.'
`There, Beth, that's an honour 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 soothe 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, puckered 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.
So Beth tried it; and everyone pronounced it the most remarkable piano ever heard. It had evidently been newly tuned 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 too. I guess I'll go now, before I get frightened thinking about it.' And, to the utter amazement of the assembled family, Beth walked deliberately 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 afterwards. 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.
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 confiding little kiss, that all his crustiness vanished; and he just 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 cosily 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 his hat as he marched back again, looking very stately and erect, like a handsome, soldierly old gentleman, as he was. When the girls saw that performance, Jo began to dance a jig, 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!'
那座大楼确实是个"丽宫"，不过众人颇费时日才全部走进去，贝思更是觉得很难走过"狮子群"。劳伦斯老先生就是最大的狮子。不过，自他到她们家拜访，跟众姐妹逐个谈笑一番并和她们母亲交谈旧事后，大家便不再害怕他了，只有腼腆的贝思例外。另一头狮子是两家贫富悬殊这个现实，这使她们不好意思接受她们报答不了的恩惠。不过，后来她们发觉他反把她们视为恩人，他对马奇太太的亲切款待、姐妹们的温馨情意，以及他在那间简陋的屋子里所得到的温暖深表感激。于是她们不再自卑，更加亲热往来，不再理会谁付出的更多。
新的友谊像春草一样茁壮成长，各种美好的事情都在那个时候发生。人人喜欢劳里，他也悄悄告诉他的私人教师"马奇家的姑娘们十分出众"。充满热情的年轻姑娘们把孤独的男孩带进她们的圈子里，对他悉心照顾。她们心地善良而单纯，劳里在这种天真无邪的交往中感到十分陶醉。由于他从小失去母亲，又没有姐妹，因此很快便感受到她们给他带来的影响。她们忙碌、活跃的生活方式使他对自己的懒惰生活感到惭愧。他现在厌倦读书，发现与人交往极有乐趣。布鲁克先生不得不非常不满意地向劳伦斯先生告状，因为劳里常常逃学跑到马奇家去。
“不要紧，让他放个假，以后再补回来，”老人说，”邻居那位好太太说他学习太用功，需要年轻人作伴，需要娱乐活动。我想她说得有道理，我一直溺爱这小子，都像他奶奶了。
只要他快乐，他爱干什么就干什么吧。他在那边的小尼姑庵里不会捣蛋的，马奇太太比我们更能管教他。”这样的时光多么美好！他们一起演戏，一起滑雪，一起在旧客厅度过愉快的夜晚，有时也在大楼举行快乐的小晚会。
梅格可以随意进入温室，采摘大捧大捧的鲜花，乔在新藏书室里贪婪地浏览，向老人发表高见，艾美摹绘图画，尽情地沐浴在美的享受中，劳里则非常可爱地扮演"庄园主"的角色。
而贝思，虽然对大钢琴朝思暮想，却鼓不起勇气走进那间被梅格称为"极乐大厦"的屋子。她也曾随乔去过一次，但老人不知道她天性懦弱，浓眉下的一双眼睛紧紧盯着她，大叫一声"嗨！”吓得她"双脚在地板上乱抖"，这是她后来告诉妈妈的；她夺路而逃，并宣布以后永不踏足此地，对大钢琴也忍痛割爱了。大家百般劝哄无效，后来，劳伦斯先生不知从何处听到了这事，亲自着手弥补。在一次短暂的拜访中，他巧妙地把话题扯到音乐，大谈他所见所闻的歌唱家和弦琴珍曲等奇闻趣事。呆在远远一角的贝思听入迷了，忍不住渐渐靠上前来，站在他椅子背后悄悄聆听，眼睛瞪大，脸颊因自己不寻常的举动而羞得通红。劳伦斯先生对她视如不见，继续谈劳里的功课和教师，一会，他似乎突然想起了什么，对马奇太太说“那孩子现在不大理音乐了，我倒挺高兴，因为他原来喜欢得有点过头。不过钢琴闲置着太可惜，你家姑娘们愿不愿意过来时不时弹弹，免得荒废了。你说呢，夫人？”贝思上前一步，双手紧紧握住才没有拍起掌来。这个诱惑不可抗拒，想到在那架漂亮的钢琴上弹奏，她真是又惊又喜。还没等马奇太太回答，劳伦斯先生古怪地轻轻点点头，微笑道- “她们用不着跟人说，随时都可以跑进来；因为我总呆在屋子另一头的书房里，劳里常常不在家，九点钟后佣人也从不走近客厅。”说到这他站起来，似乎要告辞了。贝思下定决心要讲两句话，因为最后的安排完全乘了她的心愿。”请把我的话转告年轻女士们，如果她们不想来，嘿，那就算了。”这时一只小手塞进他的手里，贝思满脸感激地仰头望着他，诚恳而腼腆地说“噢，先生，她们想的，非常非常想！”“你就是弹琴的姑娘？”他问道，没有吓人地叫"嗨！”而是非常慈爱地望着她。
“我是贝思。我很喜欢音乐。如果您肯定没有人会听到我弹琴- 被我骚扰的话，我会来的，”她接着说，唯恐出言不敬，边说边因自己的勇敢而颤抖。
“不会有人听到，亲爱的。屋子有半天空着；你尽管过来弹吧，非常欢迎你。“您真是菩萨心肠，先生！”贝思被他友善的眼光看得脸红耳赤；不过她现在不再害怕，因为找不到话来感谢他送给自己的珍贵礼物，便感激地把那只大手紧紧攥祝老人轻轻拨开她额上的头发，俯下身来吻了一下，用一种少有的声调说 “我曾经有个小姑娘，眼睛跟你的一模一样。上帝保佑你，亲爱的孩子！再见，夫人，”说毕他匆匆离去。
贝思与母亲狂喜一番后，因为姑娘们不在家，便冲上去把好消息告诉那班残破不堪的布娃娃。那天晚上她高兴得唱个不停，半夜，她睡梦中在艾美脸上弹钢琴，把艾美闹醒，引得姐妹们大笑不已。第二天，贝思看到一老一少两位绅士都出了门，犹豫再三后，从侧门走进去，轻手轻脚地朝搁置着钢琴的客厅走去。碰巧，当然啦，钢琴上摆着几张简单而动听的乐谱，贝思不时四面窥探，终于用颤抖的手指弹响了琴键，旋即便忘掉了恐惧，忘掉了自己和周围的一切，音乐声仿如一位挚友的声音，给她带来难以言喻的快乐。
她一直弹到罕娜过来带她回家吃饭；但她毫无食欲，只是坐在一边，无比快乐地望着大家痴笑。
从此以后，一个戴着棕色小帽的身影几乎每天都溜过树篱，一个静悄悄的音乐精灵常常在那间大客厅出没。她不知道劳伦斯先生经常打开书房门聆听他喜欢的旧曲子；没有看到劳里在大厅放哨，提醒佣人不要走近；也从不怀疑乐器架上的练习书和新歌是特意为她放置的；劳伦斯先生在家里跟她谈论音乐，使她大获裨益，她也只以为他是出于好心而已。
因此她尽情陶醉在音乐的天地中，有时甚至觉得自己已经得偿毕生之愿。也许正因为她对这种恩赐常怀感激之心，更大的恩赐接踵而来，但无论怎样，她都受之无愧。
“妈妈，我想为劳伦斯先生做一双便鞋，他对我这么好，我得感谢他，其他方法我又不会。您说可以吗？”贝思问母亲。
这时距老人那次重要拜访已有好几个星期。
“可以，亲爱的。他会非常高兴，这是感谢他的好办法。
姐妹们会帮你做，缝制费用我来出，”马奇太太答道。她特别乐于答应贝思的要求，因为她极少为自己要求什么。
贝思跟梅格和乔严肃讨论后，选定了图案，接着便购买材料，开始动工。大家一致称紫黑色底衬着一丛庄重而生机勃勃的三色堇非常合适漂亮。贝思夜以继日地缝制，只是难做的部分才偶尔要人帮忙。她做缝纫活儿心灵手巧，众人还未感到厌倦鞋子便完工了。然后她写了一张简单的便条，一天早上趁老人尚未起床，让劳里帮她悄悄把它们捎到书房，放在书桌上。
此后，贝思怀着紧张的心情等着看老人的反应。当天无事发生，第二天中午仍然无声无息，她开始担心自己冒犯了那位怪癖的朋友。下午，她出去办点差事，并带乔安娜，一个残破的洋娃娃，去做日常锻炼。回来走近大街时，她看到三个，对了，是四个人在客厅的窗边探头探脑。看到她走来，她们一起招手，快乐地尖声高叫- “老先生来了一封信！快，快来读吧！”“噢，贝思，他送你- "艾美争先说，笨拙地使劲打着手势，不过她没再往下说，因为乔砰的一声关上窗户，把她的话堵了回去。
贝思悬着一颗心加快了脚步，刚走到门边，姐妹们便将她一把抓住，众星拱月般地把她拥到大厅，一起指着说：“看哪！看哪！”贝思仔细一看，惊喜得脸色发白，原来地上放着一架小巧精致的钢琴，光滑的琴盖上放着一封信，像个招牌一样摆着，上书"致伊丽莎白·马奇小姐"。
“给我的？”贝思气喘吁吁，她扶着乔，觉得自己就要跌倒。这事来得毕竟太突然了，令她难以承受。
“对，就是给你的，我的宝贝！他是不是棒极了？你说他是不是天底下最可爱的老人？这是信里头的钥匙。信我们没拆，但我们都急着想知道他怎么说，”乔喊道，紧紧搂着妹妹，把信递上。
“你念吧！我念不了，我觉得头晕目眩！呵，这太美了！”贝思把脸埋在乔的围裙里，她被这件礼物搅得六神无主。
乔展开信笺，笑出声来，因为首先映入眼帘的几个字是- "马奇小姐：亲爱的女士 ”“动听极了！但愿有人会这样跟我写信！”艾美说。她认为旧式称呼非常优雅。
“'我一生中穿过无数双鞋子，但没有一双像你做的那么适合我，'"乔接着往下念，”'三色堇是我最喜欢的花，它将使我永远记住温柔的赠花人。我想报答你的恩惠，我知道你会允许"老绅士"给你送上这件一度属于他失去了的小孙女的礼物。谨致诚挚的谢意及美好的祝愿。
“'衷心感激，并愿效犬马之劳。
“'詹姆士·劳伦斯'
“嘿，贝思，这无疑是件值得骄傲的光彩事儿！劳里跟我说过劳伦斯先生最疼爱那死去的孩子了，他把她用过的东西一一小心保存起来。想想看，他竟把她的铜琴送给了你。那是因为你有一对蓝色的大眼睛，而且热爱音乐，”乔说，试图使兴奋得全身发抖的贝思冷静下来。
“你看这些精致的烛台，这些折叠得漂漂亮亮的绿绸子，中间还镶着一朵金色的玫瑰，再看漂亮的凳子和架构，简直是十全十美，”梅格一面接着说一面打开钢琴向大家展览。
“'愿效犬马之劳，詹姆士·劳伦斯'。多有绅士风度！我要告诉学校的姑娘们，她们一定会赞不绝口，”艾美说。她十分欣赏那封信。
“弹一弹吧，小乖乖。让大家听听这架宝贝钢琴的声音，”罕娜说。她一向和她们一家人甘苦与共。
贝思便弹起来，众人齐称这是有史以来听到过的最美妙的琴声。钢琴显然新近调校了音调，并收拾得十分齐整。贝思脚踩亮油油的踏板，轻抚漂亮的黑白色琴键，众人把头聚拢琴边，脸上洋溢着无限的幸福，此情此景，真动人心弦。
“你得去谢谢他哩，”乔开玩笑地说。她并没有想到贝思会真的去。
“是的，我要去。我想现在就去，再犹豫就会害怕了，”说罢，贝思竟然不慌不忙地走过花园，穿过树篱，从劳伦斯家的门口走进去，令一家人大为惊讶。
“老天爷！我发誓我从没见过这么离奇古怪的事情！小钢琴弄得她神魂颠倒了！她脑子正常的话，绝不会去的，”罕娜喊道，呆呆地目送着她走进去，姐妹三人则惊诧得不能言语。
如果她们看到贝思后来做的事情一定会更加惊异。真的，她径直走到书房门口，毫不思索便叩门。一个生硬的声音叫道：“进来！”她果真走进去，走到大吃一惊的劳伦斯先生面前，伸出手，声音微颤地说道：“我来谢谢您，先生。谢谢你- "一语未毕，劳伦斯先生慈爱友善的目光令她忘记了要说的话，她只记得他失去了最钟爱的小孙女，于是伸出双臂抱住他的颈部，吻了他一下。
即使屋顶突然飞落，老人也不会这么震惊，但他非常欢喜 啊，真的，欢喜得难以言喻！ -那流露真情的轻轻一吻使他深深感动、非常愉快，他彻底软化了。他把她放在膝头上，把自己满布皱纹的脸颊贴住她玫瑰色的脸颊，仿佛自己又寻回了自己的小孙女。贝思从那一刻起不再怕他，她坐在那里与他亲密地交谈，仿佛从一生下来就已经认识他一般，因为爱可以驱除恐惧，感激可以征服自尊。她回家时劳伦斯先生把她一直送到家门口，跟她诚挚地握手，往回走时又轻触帽檐向她致意，腰身挺直，神态庄重，活像个英俊勇敢的老绅士，而事实也正是如此。
看到这一幕，乔跳起了快步舞，来表达心里的快慰，艾美惊讶得差一点摔出窗户，梅格则高举双手大叫：“呵，我真相信世界末日到了！”
| 欢迎访问英文小说网http://novel.tingroom.com |