Buthedidnotwritetheletterthatday，forasherummagedouthisbestpaper，hecameacrosssomethingwhichchangedhispurpose。Tumblingaboutinonepartofthedeskamongbills，passports，andbusinessdocumentsofvariouskindswereseveralofJo’sletters，andinanothercompartmentwerethreenotesfromAmy，carefullytiedupwithoneofherblueribbonsandsweetlysuggestiveofthelittledeadrosesputawayinside。withahalf—repentant，half—amusedexpression，LauriegatheredupallJo’sletters，smoothed，folded，andputthemneatlyintoasmalldrawerofthedesk，stoodaminuteturningtheringthoughtfullyonhisfinger，thenslowlydrewitoff，laiditwiththeletters，lockedthedrawer，andwentouttohearHighMassatSaintStefan’s，feelingasiftherehadbeenafuneral，andthoughnotoverwhelmedwithaffliction，thisseemedamoreproperwaytospendtherestofthedaythaninwritingletterstocharmingyoungladies。
Theletterwentverysoon，however，andwaspromptlyanswered，forAmywashomesick，andconfesseditinthemostdelightfullyconfidingmanner。Thecorrespondenceflourishedfamously，andlettersflewtoandfrowithunfailingregularityallthroughtheearlyspring。Lauriesoldhisbusts，madeallumettesofhisopera，andwentbacktoParis，hopingsomebodywouldarrivebeforelong。HewanteddesperatelytogotoNice，butwouldnottillhewasasked，andAmywouldnotaskhim，forjustthenshewashavinglittleexperiencesofherown，whichmadeherratherwishtoavoidthequizzicaleyesof`outboy’。
FredVaughnhadreturned，andputthequestiontowhichshehadoncedecidedtoanswer，\"Yes，thankyou，\"butnowshesaid，\"No，thankyou，\"kindlybutsteadily，forwhenthetimecame，hercouragefailedher，andshefoundthatsomethingmorethanmoneyandpositionwasneededtosatisfythenewlongingthatfilledherheartsofulloftenderhopesandfears。Thewords，\"Fredisagoodfellow，butnotatallthemanIfanciedyouwouldeverlike，\"andLaurie’sfacewhenheutteredthem，keptreturningtoheraspertinaciouslyasherowndidwhenshesaidinlook，ifnotinwords，\"Ishallmarryformoney。\"Ittroubledhertorememberthatnow，shewishedshecouldtakeitback，itsoundedsounwomanly。Shedidn’twantLaurietothinkheraheartless，worldlycreature。Shedidn’tcaretobeaqueenofsocietynowhalfsomuchasshedidtobealovablewoman。Shewassogladhedidn’thateherforthedreadfulthingsshesaid，buttookthemsobeautifullyandwaskinderthanever。Hislettersweresuchacomfort，forthehomeletterswereveryirregularandnothalfsosatisfactoryashiswhentheydidcome。Itwasnotonlyapleasure，butadutytoanswerthem，forthepoorfellowwasforlorn，andneededpetting，sinceJopersistedinbeingstonyhearted。Sheoughttohavemadeaneffortandtriedtolovehim。Itcouldn’tbeveryhard，manypeoplewouldbeproudandgladtohavesuchadearboycareforthem。ButJoneverwouldactlikeothergirls，sotherewasnothingtodobutbeverykindandtreathimlikeabrother。
IfallbrothersweretreatedaswellasLauriewasatthisperiod，theywouldbeamuchhappierraceofbeingsthantheyare。Amyneverlecturednow。Sheaskedhisopiniononallsubjects，shewasinterestedineverythinghedid，madecharminglittlepresentsforhim，andsenthimtwolettersaweek，fulloflivelygossip，sisterlyconfidences，andcaptivatingsketchesofthelovelyscenesabouther。Asfewbrothersarecomplimentedbyhavingtheirletterscarriedaboutintheirsister’spockets，readandrereaddiligently，criedoverwhenshort，kissedwhenlong，andtreasuredcarefully，wewillnothintthatAmydidanyofthesefondandfoolishthings。Butshecertainlydidgrowalittlepaleandpensivethatspring，lostmuchofherrelishforsociety，andwentoutsketchingaloneagooddeal。Sheneverhadmuchtoshowwhenshecamehome，butwasstudyingnature，Idaresay，whileshesatforhours，withherhandsfolded，ontheterraceatValrosa，orabsentlysketchedanyfancythatoccurredtoher，astalwartknightcarvedonatomb，ayoungmanasleepinthegrass，withhishatoverhiseyes，oracurlyhairedgirlingorgeousarray，promenadingdownaballroomonthearmofatallgentleman，bothfacesbeingleftabluraccordingtothelastfashioninart，whichwassafebutnotaltogethersatisfactory。
HerauntthoughtthatsheregrettedheranswertoFred，andfindingdenialsuselessandexplanationsimpossible，Amylefthertothinkwhatsheliked，takingcarethatLaurieshouldknowthatFredhadgonetoEgypt。Thatwasall，butheunderstoodit，andlookedrelieved，ashesaidtohimself，withavenerableair……