andnomorepowerfulrestraintcouldhavebeenimposeduponhimthantheinnocentcompanionconfidedtohiscare。HefoundcouragenowtotellMrs。
JooftheplanalreadymadewithDemi，andshewasgladthatthefirststephadbeensonaturallytaken。EverythingseemedtobeworkingwellforDan，andsherejoicedoverhim，becauseithadseemedahardtask，yet，workingonwithafirmbeliefinthepossibilityofreformationinfarolderandworsesubjectsthanhe，therehadcomethisquickandhopefulchangetoencourageher。Hefeltthathehadfriendsnowandaplaceintheworld，somethingtoliveandworkfor，and，thoughhesaidlittle，allthatwasbestandbravestinacharactermadeoldbyahardexperiencerespondedtotheloveandfaithbestowedonhim，andDan’ssalvationwasassured。
TheirquiettalkwasinterruptedbyashoutofdelightfromTeddy，who，tothesurpriseofeveryone，didactuallycatchatroutwherenotrouthadbeenseenforyears。HewassoenchantedwithhissplendidsuccessthatheinsistedonshowinghisprizetothefamilybeforeAsiacookeditforsupper；sothethreedescendedandwenthappilyawaytogether，allsatisfiedwiththeworkofthathalfhour。
Nedwasthenextvisitortothetree，butheonlymadeashortstay，sittingthereathiseasewhileDickandDollycaughtapailfulofgrasshoppersandcricketsforhim。HewantedtoplayajokeonTommy，andintendedtotuckupafewdozenofthelivelycreaturesinhisbed，sothatwhenBangsgotinhewouldspeedilytumbleoutagain，andpassaportionofthenightinchasing“hopper-grasses“roundtheroom。Thehuntwassoonover，andhavingpaidthehunterswithafewpeppermintsapieceNedretiredtomakeTommy’sbed。
Foranhourtheoldwillowsighedandsungtoitself，talkedwiththebrook，andwatchedthelengtheningshadowsasthesunwentdown。Thefirstrosycolorwastouchingitsgracefulbrancheswhenaboycamestealinguptheavenue，acrossthelawn，and，spyingBillybythebrook-side，wenttohim，saying，inamysterioustone，­；
“GoandtellMr。BhaerIwanttoseehimdownhere，please。Don’tletanyonehear。“
Billynoddedandranoff，whiletheboyswunghimselfupintothetree，andsattherelookinganxious，yetevidentlyfeelingthecharmoftheplaceandhour。Infiveminutes，Mr。Bhaerappeared，and，steppinguponthefence，leanedintothenest，saying，kindly，­；
“Iamgladtoseeyou，Jack；butwhynotcomeinandmeetusallatonce？“
“Iwantedtoseeyoufirst，please，sir。Unclemademecomeback。I
knowIdon’tdeserveanything，butIhopethefellowswon’tbeharduponme。“
PoorJackdidnotgetonverywell，butitwasevidentthathewassorryandashamed，andwantedtobereceivedaseasilyaspossible；forhisUnclehadthrashedhimwellandscoldedhimsoundlyforfollowingtheexamplehehimselfset。Jackhadbeggednottobesentback，buttheschoolwascheap，andMr。Fordinsisted，sotheboyreturnedasquietlyaspossible，andtookrefugebehindMr。Bhaer。
“Ihopenot，butIcan’tanswerforthem，thoughIwillseethattheyarenotunjust。Ithink，asDanandNathavesufferedsomuch，beinginnocent，youshouldsuffersomething，beingguilty。Don’tyou？“askedMr。Bhaer，pityingJack，yetfeelinghedeservedpunishmentforafaultwhichhadsolittleexcuse。
“Isupposeso，butIsentTommy’smoneyback，andIsaidIwassorry，isn’tthatenough？“saidJack，rathersullenly；fortheboywhocoulddosomeanathingwasnotbraveenoughtobeartheconsequenceswell。
“No；Ithinkyoushouldaskpardonofallthreeboys，openlyandhonestly。
Youcannotexpectthemtorespectandtrustyouforatime，butyoucanlivedownthisdisgraceifyoutry，andIwillhelpyou。Stealingandlyingaredetestablesins，andIhopethiswillbealessontoyou。Iamgladyouareashamed，itisagoodsign；bearitpatiently，anddoyourbesttoearnabetterreputation。“
“I’llhaveanauction，andselloffallmygoodsdirtcheap，“saidJack，showinghisrepentanceinthemostcharacteristicway。
“Ithinkitwouldbebettertogivethemaway，andbeginonanewfoundation。Take’Honestyisthebestpolicy’foryourmotto，andliveuptoitinact，andword，andthought，andthoughyoudon’tmakeacentofmoneythissummer，youwillbearichboyintheautumn，“saidMr。Bhaer，earnestly。
Itwashard，butJackconsented，forhereallyfeltthatcheatingdidn’tpay，andwantedtowinbackthefriendshipoftheboys。Hisheartclungtohispossessions，andhegroanedinwardlyatthethoughtofactuallygivingawaycertainpreciousthings。Askingpardonpubliclywaseasycomparedtothis；butthenhebegantodiscoverthatcertainotherthings，invisible，butmostvaluable，werebetterpropertythanknives，fish-hooks，orevenmoneyitself。Sohedecidedtobuyupalittleintegrity，evenatahighprice，andsecuretherespectofhisplaymates，thoughitwasnotasalablearticle。
“Well，I’lldoit，“hesaid，withasuddenairofresolution，whichpleasedMr。Bhaer。
“Good!andI’llstandbyyou。Nowcomeandbeginatonce。“
AndFatherBhaerledthebankruptboybackintothelittleworld，whichreceivedhimcoldlyatfirst，butslowlywarmedtohim，whenheshowedthathehadprofitedbythelesson，andwassincerelyanxioustogointoabetterbusinesswithanewstock-in-trade。CHAPTERXVITAMINGTHECOLT
“Whatintheworldisthatboydoing？“saidMrs。Jotoherself，asshewatchedDanrunningroundthehalf-miletriangleasifforawager。Hewasallalone，andseemedpossessedbysomestrangedesiretorunhimselfintoafever，orbreakhisneck；for，afterseveralrounds，hetriedleapingwalls，andturningsomersaultsuptheavenue，andfinallydroppeddownonthegrassbeforethedoorasifexhausted。
“Areyoutrainingforarace，Dan？“askedMrs。Jo，fromthewindowwhereshesat。
Helookedupquickly，andstoppedpantingtoanswer，withalaugh，­；
“No；I’monlyworkingoffmysteam。“
“Can’tyoufindacoolerwayofdoingit？Youwillbeillifyoutearaboutsoinsuchwarmweather，“saidMrs。Jo，laughingalso，asshethrewhimoutagreatpalm-leaffan。
“Can’thelpit。Imustrunsomewhere，“answeredDan，withsuchanoddexpressioninhisrestlesseyes，thatMrs。Jowastroubled，andasked，quickly，­；
“IsPlumfieldgettingtoonarrowforyou？“
“Iwouldn’tmindifitwasalittlebigger。Ilikeitthough；onlythefactisthedevilgetsintomesometimes，andthenIdowanttobolt。“
Thewordsseemedtocomeagainsthiswill，forhelookedsorrytheminutetheywerespoken，andseemedtothinkhedeservedareproofforhisingratitude。
ButMrs。Jounderstoodthefeeling，andthoughsorrytoseeit，shecouldnotblametheboyforconfessingit。Shelookedathimanxiously，seeinghowtallandstronghehadgrown，howfullofenergyhisfacewas，withitseagereyesandresolutemouth；andrememberingtheutterfreedomhehadknownforyearsbefore，shefelthoweventhegentlerestraintofthishomewouldweighuponhimattimeswhentheoldlawlessspiritstirredinhim。“Yes，“shesaidtoherself，“mywildhawkneedsalargercage；
andyet，ifIlethimgo，Iamafraidhewillbelost。Imusttryandfindsomelurestrongenoughtokeephimsafe。“
“Iknowallaboutit，“sheadded，aloud。“Itisnot’thedevil，’asyoucallit，buttheverynaturaldesireofallyoungpeopleforliberty。
Iusedtofeeljustso，andonce，IreallydidthinkforaminutethatIwouldbolt。“
“Whydidn’tyou？“saidDan，comingtoleanonthelowwindow-ledge，withanevidentdesiretocontinuethesubject。
“Iknewitwasfoolish，andloveformymotherkeptmeathome。“
“Ihaven’tgotanymother，“beganDan。
“Ithoughtyouhadnow，“saidMrs。Jo，gentlystrokingtheroughhairoffhishotforehead。
“Youarenoendgoodtome，andIcan’teverthankyouenough，butitjustisn’tthesame，isit？“andDanlookedupatherwithawistful，hungrylookthatwenttoherheart。
“No，dear，itisnotthesame，andnevercanbe。Ithinkanownmotherwouldhavebeenagreatdealtoyou。Butasthatcannotbe，youmusttrytoletmefillherplace。IfearIhavenotdoneallIought，oryouwouldnotwanttoleaveme，“sheadded，sorrowfully。
“Yes，youhave!“criedDan，eagerly。“Idon’twanttogo，andIwon’tgo，ifIcanhelpit；buteverynowandthenIfeelasifImustburstoutsomehow。Iwanttorunstraightaheadsomewhere，tosmashsomething，orpitchintosomebody。Don’tknowwhy，butIdo，andthat’sallaboutit。“
Danlaughedashespoke，buthemeantwhathesaid，forheknithisblackbrows，andbroughtdownhisfistontheledgewithsuchforce，thatMrs。Jo’sthimbleflewoffintothegrass。Hebroughtitback，andasshetookitsheheldthebig，brownhandaminute，saying，withalookthatshowedthewordscosthersomething­；
“Well，Dan，runifyoumust，butdon’trunveryfar；andcomebacktomesoon，forIwantyouverymuch。“
Hewasrathertakenabackbythisunexpectedpermissiontoplaytruant，andsomehowitseemedtolessenhisdesiretogo。Hedidnotunderstandwhy，butMrs。Jodid，and，knowingthenaturalperversityofthehumanmind，countedonittohelphernow。Shefeltinstinctivelythatthemoretheboywasrestrainedthemorehewouldfretagainstit；butleavehimfree，andthemeresenseoflibertywouldcontenthim，joinedtotheknowledgethathispresencewasdeartothosewhomhelovedbest。Itwasalittleexperiment，butitsucceeded，forDanstoodsilentamoment，unconsciouslypickingthefantopiecesandturningthematteroverinhismind。Hefeltthatsheappealedtohisheartandhishonor，andownedthatheunderstooditbysayingpresently，withamixtureofregretandresolutioninhisface，­；
“Iwon’tgoyetawhile，andI’llgiveyoufairwarningbeforeIbolt。
That’sfair，isn’tit？“
“Yes，wewillletitstandso。Now，IwanttoseeifIcan’tfindsomewayforyoutoworkoffyoursteambetterthanrunningabouttheplacelikeamaddog，spoilingmyfans，orfightingwiththeboys。Whatcanweinvent？“andwhileDantriedtorepairthemischiefhehaddone，Mrs。Jorackedherbrainforsomenewdevicetokeephertruantsafeuntilhehadlearnedtolovehislessonsbetter。
“Howwouldyouliketobemyexpress-man？“shesaid，asasuddenthoughtpoppedintoherhead。
“Gointotown，anddotheerrands？“askedDan，lookinginterestedatonce。
“Yes；Franzistiredofit，Silascannotbesparedjustnow，andMr。
Bhaerhasnotime。OldAndyisasafehorse，youareagooddriver，andknowyourwayaboutthecityaswellasapostman。Supposeyoutryit，andseeifitwon’tdomostaswelltodriveawaytwoorthreetimesaweekastorunawayonceamonth。“
“I’dlikeiteversomuch，onlyImustgoaloneanddoitallmyself。
Idon’twantanyoftheotherfellowsbotheringround，“saidDan，takingtothenewideasokindlythathebegantoputonbusinessairsalready。
“IfMr。Bhaerdoesnotobjectyoushallhaveitallyourownway。I
supposeEmilwillgrowl，buthecannotbetrustedwithhorses，andyoucan。Bytheway，to-morrowismarket-day，andImustmakeoutmylist。
Youhadbetterseethatthewagonisinorder，andtellSilastohavethefruitandvegetablesreadyformother。Youwillhavetobeupearlyandgetbackintimeforschool，canyoudothat？“
“I’malwaysanearlybird，soIdon’tmind，“andDanslungonhisjacketwithdespatch。
“Theearlybirdgotthewormthistime，I’msure，“saidMrs。Jo，merrily。
“Andajollygoodwormitis，“answeredDan，ashewentlaughingawaytoputanewlashtothewhip，washthewagon，andorderSilasaboutwithalltheimportanceofayoungexpress-man。
“BeforeheistiredofthisIwillfindsomethingelseandhaveitreadywhenthenextrestlessfitcomeson，“saidMrs。Jotoherself，asshewroteherlistwithadeepsenseofgratitudethatallherboyswerenotDans。
Mr。Bhaerdidnotentirelyapproveofthenewplan，butagreedtogiveitatrial，whichputDanonhismettle，andcausedhimtogiveupcertainwildplansofhisown，inwhichthenewlashandthelonghillweretohaveborneapart。Hewasupandawayveryearlythenextmorning，heroicallyresistingthetemptationtoracewiththemilkmengoingintotown。Oncethere，hedidhiserrandscarefully，toMr。Bhaer’ssurpriseandMrs。Jo’sgreatsatisfaction。TheCommodoredidgrowlatDan’spromotion，butwaspacifiedbyasuperiorpadlocktohisnewboat-house，andthethoughtthatseamenweremeantforhigherhonorsthandrivingmarket-wagonsanddoingfamilyerrands。SoDanfilledhisnewofficewellandcontentedlyforweeks，andsaidnomoreaboutbolting。ButonedayMr。BhaerfoundhimpummellingJack，whowasroaringformercyunderhisknee。
“Why，Dan，Ithoughtyouhadgivenupfighting，“hesaid，ashewenttotherescue。