Mr。Bhaerspokewarmly，andwalkedtothefire，crumplingthepaperinhishands。Josatstill，lookingasifthefirehadcometoher，forhercheeksburnedlongafterthecockedhathadturnedtosmokeandgoneharmlesslyupthechimney。
“Ishouldlikemuchtosendalltherestafterhim，“mutteredtheProfessor，comingbackwitharelievedair。
Jothoughtwhatablazeherpileofpapersupstairswouldmake，andherhard-earnedmoneylayratherheavilyonherconscienceatthatminute。Thenshethoughtconsolinglytoherself，“Minearenotlikethat，theyareonlysilly，neverbad，soIwon’tbeworried，“andtakingupherbook，shesaid，withastudiousface，“Shallwegoon，Sir？I’llbeverygoodandpropernow。“
“Ishallhopeso，“wasallhesaid，buthemeantmorethansheimagined，andthegrave，kindlookhegavehermadeherfeelasifthewordsWeeklyVolcanowereprintedinlargetypeonherforehead。
Assoonasshewenttoherroom，shegotoutherpapers，andcarefullyrereadeveryoneofherstories。Beingalittleshortsighted，Mr。Bhaersometimesusedeyeglasses，andJohadtriedthemonce，smilingtoseehowtheymagnifiedthefineprintofherbook。NowsheseemedtohaveontheProfessor’smentalormoralspectaclesalso，forthefaultsofthesepoorstoriesglaredatherdreadfullyandfilledherwithdismay。
“Theyaretrash，andwillsoonbeworsetrashifIgoon，foreachismoresensationalthanthelast。I’vegoneblindlyon，hurtingmyselfandotherpeople，forthesakeofmoney。Iknowit’sso，forIcan’treadthisstuffinsoberearnestwithoutbeinghorriblyashamedofit，andwhatshouldIdoiftheywereseenathomeorMr。Bhaergotholdofthem？“
Joturnedhotatthebareidea，andstuffedthewholebundleintoherstove，nearlysettingthechimneyafirewiththeblaze。
“Yes，that’sthebestplaceforsuchinflammablenonsense。
I’dbetterburnthehousedown，Isuppose，thanletotherpeopleblowthemselvesupwithmygunpowder，“shethoughtasshewatchedtheDemonoftheJurawhiskaway，alittleblackcinderwithfieryeyes。
Butwhennothingremainedofallherthreemonth’sworkexceptaheapofashesandthemoneyinherlap，Jolookedsober，asshesatonthefloor，wonderingwhatsheoughttodoaboutherwages。
“IthinkIhaven’tdonemuchharmyet，andmaykeepthistopayformytime，“shesaid，afteralongmeditation，addingimpatiently，“IalmostwishIhadn’tanyconscience，it’ssoinconvenient。IfIdidn’tcareaboutdoingright，anddidn’tfeeluncomfortablewhendoingwrong，Ishouldgetoncapitally。
Ican’thelpwishingsometimes，thatMotherandFatherhadn’tbeensoparticularaboutsuchthings。“
Ah，Jo，insteadofwishingthat，thankGodthat`FatherandMotherwereparticular’。andpityfromyourheartthosewhohavenosuchguardianstohedgethemroundwithprincipleswhichmayseemlikeprisonwallstoimpatientyouth，butwhichwillprovesurefoundationstobuildcharacteruponinwomanhood。
Jowrotenomoresensationalstories，decidingthatthemoneydidnotpayforhershareofthesensation，butgoingtotheotherextreme，asisthewaywithpeopleofherstamp，shetookacourseofMrs。Sherwood，MissEdgeworth，andHannahMore，andthenproducedatalewhichmighthavebeenmoreproperlycalledanessayorasermon，sointenselymoralwasit。Shehadherdoubtsaboutitfromthebeginning，forherlivelyfancyandgirlishromancefeltasillateaseinthenewstyleasshewouldhavedonemasqueradinginthestiffandcumbrouscostumeofthelastcentury。Shesentthisdidacticgemtoseveralmarkets，butitfoundnopurchaser，andshewasinclinedtoagreewithMr。Dashwoodthatmoralsdidn’tsell。
Thenshetriedachild’sstory，whichshecouldeasilyhavedisposedofifshehadnotbeenmercenaryenoughtodemandfilthylucreforit。Theonlypersonwhoofferedenoughtomakeitworthherwhiletotryjuvenileliteraturewasaworthygentlemanwhofeltithismissiontoconvertalltheworldtohisparticularbelief。Butmuchasshelikedtowriteforchildren，JocouldnotconsenttodepictallhernaughtyboysasbeingeatenbybearsortossedbymadbullsbecausetheydidnotgotoaparticularSabbathschool，norallthegoodinfantswhodidgoasrewardedbyeverykindofbliss，fromgildedgingerbreadtoescortsofangelswhentheydepartedthislifewithpsalmsorsermonsontheirlispingtongues。Sonothingcameofthesetrials，landJocorkedupherinkstand，andsaidinafitofverywholesomehumility……
“Idon’tknowanything。I’llwaituntilIdobeforeItryagain，andmeantime，`sweepmudinthestreet’ifIcan’tdobetter，that’shonest，atleast。“Whichdecisionprovedthathersecondtumbledownthebeanstalkhaddonehersomegood。
Whiletheseinternalrevolutionsweregoingon，herexternallifehadbeenasbusyanduneventfulasusual，andifshesometimeslookedseriousoralittlesadnooneobserveditbutProfessorBhaer。HediditsoquietlythatJoneverknewhewaswatchingtoseeifshewouldacceptandprofitbyhisreproof，butshestoodthetest，andhewassatisfied，forthoughnowordspassedbetweenthem，heknewthatshehadgivenupwriting。Notonlydidheguessitbythefactthatthesecondfingerofherrighthandwasnolongerinky，butshespenthereveningsdownstairsnow，wasmetnomoreamongnewspaperoffices，andstudiedwithadoggedpatience，whichassuredhimthatshewasbentonoccupyinghermindwithsomethinguseful，ifnotpleasant。
Hehelpedherinmanyways，provinghimselfatruefriend，andJowashappy，forwhileherpenlayidle，shewaslearningotherlessonsbesidesGerman，andlayingafoundationforthesensationstoryofherownlife。
Itwasapleasantwinterandalongone，forshedidnotleaveMrs。KirketillJune。Everyoneseemedsorrywhenthetimecame。Thechildrenwereinconsolable，andMr。Bhaer’shairstuckstraightupalloverhishead，forhealwaysrumpleditwildlywhendisturbedinmind。
“Goinghome？Ah，youarehappythatyouhafahometogoin，“hesaid，whenshetoldhim，andsatsilentlypullinghisbeardinthecorner，whilesheheldalittleleveeonthatlastevening。
Shewasgoingearly，soshebadethemallgoodbyeovernight，andwhenhisturncame，shesaidwarmly，“Now，Sir，youwon’tforgettocomeandseeus，ifyouevertravelourway，willyou？
I’llneverforgiveyouifyoudo，forIwantthemalltoknowmyfriend。“
“Doyou？ShallIcome？“heasked，lookingdownatherwithaneagerexpressionwhichshedidnotsee。
“Yes，comenextmonth。Lauriegraduatesthen，andyou’denjoycommencementassomethingnew。“
“Thatisyourbestfriend，ofwhomyouspeak？“hesaidinanalteredtone。
“Yes，myboyTeddy。I’mveryproudofhimandshouldlikeyoutoseehim。“
Jolookedupthen，quiteunconsciousofanythingbutherownpleasureintheprospectofshowingthemtooneanother。
SomethinginMr。Bhaer’sfacesuddenlyrecalledthefactthatshemightfindLauriemorethana`bestfriend’，andsimplybecausesheparticularlywishednottolookasifanythingwasthematter，sheinvoluntarilybegantoblush，andthemoreshetriednotto，thereddershegrew。IfithadnotbeenforTinaonherknee。Shedidn’tknowwhatwouldhavebecomeofher。
Fortunatelythechildwasmovedtohugher，soshemanagedtohideherfaceaninstant，hopingtheProfessordidnotseeit。
Buthedid，andhisownchangedagainfromthatmomentaryanxietytoitsusualexpression，ashesaidcordially……
“IfearIshallnotmakethetimeforthat，butIwishthefriendmuchsuccess，andyouallhappiness。Gottblessyou!“Andwiththat，heshookhandswarmly，shoulderedTina，andwentaway。
Butaftertheboyswereabed，hesatlongbeforehisfirewiththetiredlookonhisfaceandthe`heimweh’，orhomesickness，lyingheavyathisheart。Once，whenherememberedJoasshesatwiththelittlechildinherlapandthatnewsoftnessinherface，heleanedhisheadonhishandsaminute，andthenroamedabouttheroom，asifinsearchofsomethingthathecouldnotfind。
“Itisnotforme，Imustnothopeitnow，“hesaidtohimself，withasighthatwasalmostagroan。Then，asifreproach-
inghimselfforthelongingthathecouldnotrepress，hewentandkissedthetwotousledheadsuponthepillow，tookdownhisseldom-usedmeerschaum，andopenedhisPlato。
Hedidhisbestanddiditmanfully，butIdon’tthinkhefoundthatapairoframpantboys，apipe，oreventhedivinePlato，wereverysatisfactorysubstitutesforwifeandchildathome。
Earlyasitwas，hewasatthestationnextmorningtoseeJooff，andthankstohim，shebeganhersolitaryjourneywiththepleasantmemoryofafamiliarfacesmilingitsfarewell，abunchofvioletstokeephercompany，andbestofall，thehappythought，“Well，thewinter’sgone，andI’vewrittennobooks，earnednofortune，butI’vemadeafriendworthhavingandI’lltrytokeephimallmylife。“
Whateverhismotivemighthavebeen，Lauriestudiedtosomepurposethatyear，forhegraduatedwithhonor，andgavetheLatinorationwiththegraceofaPhillipsandtheeloquenceofaDemosthenes，sohisfriendssaid。Theywereallthere，hisgrandfather——oh，soproud——Mr。andMrs。March，JohnandMeg，JoandBeth，andallexultedoverhimwiththesincereadmirationwhichboysmakelightofatthetime，butfailtowinfromtheworldbyanyafter-triumphs。
“I’vegottostayforthisconfoundedsupper，butIshallbehomeearlytomorrow。You’llcomeandmeetmeasusual，girls？“Lauriesaid，asheputthesistersintothecarriageafterthejoysofthedaywereover。Hesaid`girls’，buthemeantJo，forshewastheonlyonewhokeptuptheoldcustom。
Shehadnotthehearttorefusehersplendid，successfulboyanything，andansweredwarmly……
“I’llcome，Teddy，rainorshine，andmarchbeforeyou，playing`Hailtheconqueringherocomes’onajew’s-harp。“
Lauriethankedherwithalookthatmadeherthinkinasuddenpanic，“Oh，dearyme!Iknowhe’llsaysomething，andthenwhatshallIdo？“
Eveningmeditationandmorningworksomewhatallayedherfears，andhavingdecidedthatshewouldn’tbevainenoughtothinkpeopleweregoingtoproposewhenshehadgiventhemeveryreasontoknowwhatheranswerwouldbe，shesetforthattheappointedtime，hopingTeddywouldn’tdoanythingtomakeherhurthispoorfeelings。AcallatMeg’s，andarefreshingsniffandsipattheDaisyandDemijohn，stillfurtherfortifiedherforthetete-a-tete，butwhenshesawastalwartfigureloominginthedistance，shehadastrongdesiretoturnaboutandrunaway。
“Where’sthejew’s-harp，Jo？“criedLaurie，assoonashewaswithinspeakingdistance。
“Iforgotit。“AndJotookheartagain，forthatsalutationcouldnotbecalledloverlike。
Shealwaysusedtotakehisarmontheseoccasions，nowshedidnot，andhemadenocomplaint，whichwasabadsign，buttalkedonrapidlyaboutallsortsoffarawaysubjects，tilltheyturnedfromtheroadintothelittlepaththatledhomewardthroughthegrove。Thenhewalkedmoreslowly，suddenlylosthisfineflowoflanguage，andnowandthenadreadfulpauseoccurred。Torescuetheconversationfromoneofthewellsofsilenceintowhichitkeptfalling，Josaidhastily，“Nowyoumusthaveagoodlongholiday!“
“Iintendto。“
SomethinginhisresolutetonemadeJolookupquicklytofindhimlookingdownatherwithanexpressionthatassuredherthedreadedmomenthadcome，andmadeherputoutherhandwithanimploring，“No，Teddy。Pleasedon’t!“
“Iwill，andyoumusthearme。It’snouse，Jo，we’vegottohaveitout，andthesoonerthebetterforbothofus，“heanswered，gettingflushedandexcitedallatonce。
“Saywhatyoulikethen。I’lllisten，“saidJo，withadesperatesortofpatience。
Lauriewasayounglover，buthewasinearnest，andmeantto`haveitout’，ifhediedintheattempt，soheplungedintothesubjectwithcharacteristicimpetuousity，sayinginavoicethatwouldgetchokynowandthen，inspiteofmanfuleffortstokeepitsteady……
“I’velovedyoueversinceI’veknownyou，Jo，couldn’thelpit，you’vebeensogoodtome。I’vetriedtoshowit，butyouwouldn’tletme。NowI’mgoingtomakeyouhear，andgivemeananswer，forIcan’tgoonsoanylonger。“
“Iwantedtosaveyouthis。Ithoughtyou’dunderstand……
beganJo，findingitagreatdealharderthansheexpected。
“Iknowyoudid，butthegirlsaresoqueeryouneverknowwhattheymean。Theysaynowhentheymeanyes，anddriveamanoutofhiswitsjustforthefunofit，“returnedLaurie，entrenchinghimselfbehindanundeniablefact。
“Idon’t。Ineverwantedtomakeyoucareformeso，andIwentawaytokeepyoufromitifIcould。“
“Ithoughtso。Itwaslikeyou，butitwasnouse。I
onlylovedyouallthemore，andIworkedhardtopleaseyou，andIgaveupbilliardsandeverythingyoudidn’tlike，andwaitedandnevercomplained，forIhopedyou’dloveme，thoughI’mnothalfgoodenough……“Heretherewasachokethatcouldn’tbecontrolled，sohedecapitatedbuttercupswhileheclearedhis`confoundedthroat’。
“You，youare，you’reagreatdealtoogoodforme，andI’msogratefultoyou，andsoproudandfondofyou，Idon’tknowwhyIcan’tloveyouasyouwantmeto。I’vetried，butIcan’tchangethefeeling，anditwouldbealietosayIdowhenIdon’t。“
“Really，truly，Jo？“
Hestoppedshort，andcaughtbothherhandsasheputhisquestionwithalookthatshedidnotsoonforget。
“Really，truly，dear。“
Theywereinthegrovenow，closebythestile，andwhenthelastwordsfellreluctantlyfromJo’slips，Lauriedroppedherhandsandturnedasiftogoon，butforonceinhislifethefencewastoomuchforhim。Sohejustlaidhisheaddownonthemossypost，andstoodsostillthatJowasfrightened。
“Oh，Teddy，I’msorry，sodesperatelysorry，Icouldkillmyselfifitwoulddoanygood!Iwishyouwouldn’ttakeitsohard，Ican’thelpit。Youknowit’simpossibleforpeopletomakethemselvesloveotherpeopleiftheydon’t，“criedJoinelegantlybutremorsefully，asshesoftlypattedhisshoulder，rememberingthetimewhenhehadcomfortedhersolongago。
“Theydosometimes，“saidamuffledvoicefromthepost。
“Idon’tbelieveit’stherightsortoflove，andI’drathernottryit，“wasthedecidedanswer。
Therewasalongpause，whileablackbirdsungblithelyonthewillowbytheriver，andthetallgrassrustledinthewind。
PresentlyJosaidverysoberly，asshesatdownonthestepofthestile，“Laurie，Iwanttotellyousomething。“
Hestartedasifhehadbeenshot，threwuphishead，andcriedoutinafiercetone，“Don’ttellmethat，Jo，Ican’tbearitnow!“
“Tellwhat？“sheasked，wonderingathisviolence。
“Thatyoulovethatoldman。“