Know’stthouthelandwherethecitronblooms，usedtobetheProfessor’sfavoriteline，for`dasland’meantGermanytohim，butnowheseemedtodwell，withpeculiarwarmthandmelody，uponthewords……
There，ohthere，mightIwiththee，O，mybeloved，goandonelistenerwassothrilledbythetenderinvitationthatshelongedtosayshedidknowtheland，andwouldjoyfullydepartthitherwheneverhelikedThesongwasconsideredagreatsuccess，andthesingerretiredcoveredwithlaurels。Butafewminutesafterward，heforgothismannersentirely，andstaredatAmyputtingonherbonnet，forshehadbeenintroducedsimplyas`mysister’，andononehadcalledherbyhernewnamesincehercame。HeforgothimselfstillfurtherwhenLauriesaid，inhismostgraciousmanner，atparting……
“MywifeandIareverygladtomeetyou，sir。Pleaserememberthatthereisalwaysawelcomewaitingforyouovertheway。“
ThentheProfessorthankedhimsoheartily，andlookedsosuddenlyilluminatedwithsatisfaction，thatLauriethoughthimthemostdelightfullydemonstrativeoldfellowheevermet。
“Itooshallgo，butIshallgladlycomeagain，ifyouwillgifmeleave，dearmadame，foralittlebusinessinthecitywillkeepmeheresomedays。“
HespoketoMrs。March，buthelookedatJo，andthemother’svoicegaveascordialanassentasdidthedaughter’seyes，forMrs。Marchwasnotsoblindtoherchildren’sinterestasMrs。
Moffatsupposed。
“Isuspectthatisawiseman，“remarkedMr。March，withplacidsatisfaction，fromthehearthrug，afterthelastguesthadgone。
“Iknowheisagoodone，“addedMrs。March，withdecidedapproval，asshewounduptheclock。
“Ithoughtyou’dlikehim，“wasallJosaid，assheslippedawaytoherbed。
ShewonderedwhatthebusinesswasthatbroughtMr。Bhaertothecity，andfinallydecidedthathehadbeenappointedtosomegreathonor，somewhere，buthadbeentoomodesttomentionthefact。Ifshehadseenhisfacewhen，safeinhisownroom，helookedatthepictureofasevereandrigidyounglady，withagooddealofhair，whoappearedtobegazingdarklyintofuturity，itmighthavethrownsomelightuponthesubject，especiallywhenheturnedoffthegas，andkissedthepictureinthedark。
Chapter44CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR
“Please，MadamMother，couldyoulendmemywifeforhalfanhour？Theluggagehascome，andI’vebeenmakinghayofAmy’sParisfinery，tryingtofindsomethingsIwant，“saidLaurie，cominginthenextdaytofindMrs。Laurencesittinginhermother’slap，asifbeingmade`thebaby’again。
“Certainly。Go，dear，Iforgotthatyouhaveanyhomebutthis。“AndMrs。Marchpressedthewhitehandthatworetheweddingring，asifaskingpardonforhermaternalcovetousness。
“Ishouldn’thavecomeoverifIcouldhavehelpedit，butIcan’tgetonwithoutmylittlewomananymorethana……“
“Weathercockcanwithoutthewind，“suggestedJo，ashepausedforasimile。JohadgrownquiteherownsaucyselfagainsinceTeddycamehome。
“Exactly，forAmykeepsmepointingduewestmostofthetime，withonlyanoccasionalwhiffleroundtothesouth，andIhaven’thadaneasterlyspellsinceIwasmarried。Don’tknowanythingaboutthenorth，butamaltogethersalubriousandbalmy，hey，mylady？“
“Lovelyweathersofar。Idon’tknowhowlongitwilllast，butI’mnotafraidofstorms，forI’mlearninghowtosailmyship。Comehome，dear，andI’llfindyourbootjack。Isupposethat’swhatyouarerummagingafteramongmythings。Menaresohelpless，Mother，“saidAmy，withamatronlyair，whichdelightedherhusband。
“Whatareyougoingtodowithyourselvesafteryougetsettled？“
askedJo，buttoningAmy’scloakassheusedtobuttonherpinafores。
“Wehaveourplans。Wedon’tmeantosaymuchaboutthemyet，becausewearesuchverynewbrooms，butwedon’tintendtobeidle。I’mgoingintobusinesswithadevotionthatshalldelightGrandfather，andprovetohimthatI’mnotspoiled。Ineedsomethingofthesorttokeepmesteady。I’mtiredofdawdling，andmeantoworklikeaman。“
“AndAmy，whatisshegoingtodo？“askedMrs。March，wellpleasedatLaurie’sdecisionandtheenergywithwhichhespoke。
“Afterdoingthecivilallround，andairingourbestbonnet，weshallastonishyoubytheeleganthospitalitiesofourmansion，thebrilliantsocietyweshalldrawaboutus，andthebeneficialinfluenceweshallexertovertheworldatlarge。That’saboutit，isn’tit，MadameRecamier？“askedLauriewithaquizzicallookatAmy。
“Timewillshow。Comeaway，Impertinence，anddon’tshockmyfamilybycallingmenamesbeforetheirfaces，“answeredAmy，resolvingthatthereshouldbeahomewithagoodwifeinitbeforeshesetupasalonasaqueenofsociety。
“Howhappythosechildrenseemtogether!“observedMr。March，findingitdifficulttobecomeabsorbedinhisAristotleaftertheyoungcouplehadgone。
“Yes，andIthinkitwilllast，“addedMrs。March，withtherestfulexpressionofapilotwhohasbroughtashipsafelyintoport。
“Iknowitwill。HappyAmy!“AndJosighed，thensmiledbrightlyasProfessorBhaeropenedthegatewithanimpatientpush。
Laterintheevening，whenhismindhadbeensetatrestaboutthebootjack，Lauriesaidsuddenlytohiswife，“Mrs。
Laurence。“
“MyLord!“
“ThatmanintendstomarryourJo!“
“Ihopeso，don’tyou，dear？“
“Well，mylove，Iconsiderhimatrump，inthefullestsenseofthatexpressiveword，butIdowishhewasalittleyoungerandagooddealricher。“
“Now，Laurie，don’tbetoofastidiousandworldly-minded。
Iftheyloveoneanotheritdoesn’tmatteraparticlehowoldtheyarenorhowpoor。Womennevershouldmarryformoney……“
Amycaughtherselfupshortasthewordsescapedher，andlookedatherhusband，whoreplied，withmaliciousgravity……
“Certainlynot，thoughyoudohearcharminggirlssaythattheyintendtodoitsometimes。Ifmymemoryservesme，youoncethoughtityourdutytomakearichmatch。Thataccounts，perhaps，foryourmarryingagood-for-nothinglikeme。“
“Oh，mydearestboy，don’t，don’tsaythat!IforgotyouwererichwhenIsaid`Yes’。I’dhavemarriedyouifyouhadn’tapenny，andIsometimeswishyouwerepoorthatImightshowhowmuchIloveyou。“AndAmy，whowasverydignifiedinpublicandveryfondinprivate，gaveconvincingproofsofthetruthofherwords。
“Youdon’treallythinkIamsuchamercenarycreatureasItriedtobeonce，doyou？Itwouldbreakmyheartifyoudidn’tbelievethatI’dgladlypullinthesameboatwithyou，evenifyouhadtogetyourlivingbyrowingonthelake。“2
“AmIanidiotandabrute？HowcouldIthinkso，whenyourefusedarichermanforme，andwon’tletmegiveyouhalfIwanttonow，whenIhavetheright？Girlsdoiteveryday，poorthings，andaretaughttothinkitistheironlysalvation，butyouhadbetterlessons，andthoughItrembledforyouatonetime，Iwasnotdisappointed，forthedaughterwastruetothemother’steaching。ItoldMammasoyesterday，andshelookedasgladandgratefulasifI’dgivenheracheckforamillion，tobespentincharity。Youarenotlisteningtomymoralremarks，Mrs。Laurence。“AndLauriepaused，forAmy’seyeshadanabsentlook，thoughfixeduponhisface。
“Yes，Iam，andadmiringthempleinyourchinatthesametime。Idon’twishtomakeyouvain，butImustconfessthatI’mprouderofmyhandsomehusbandthanofallhismoney。
Don’tlaugh，butyournoseissuchacomforttome。“AndAmysoftlycaressedthewell-cutfeaturewithartisticsatisfaction。
Lauriehadreceivedmanycomplimentsinhislife，butneveronethatsuitedhimbetter，asheplainlyshowedthoughhedidlaughathiswife’speculiartaste，whileshesaidslowly，“MayIaskyouaquestion，dear？“
“Ofcourse，youmay。“
“ShallyoucareifJodoesmarryMr。Bhaer？“
“Oh，that’sthetroubleisit？Ithoughttherewassomethinginthedimplethatdidn’tquitesuityou。Notbeingadoginthemanger，butthehappiestfellowalive，IassureyouIcandanceatJo’sweddingwithaheartaslightasmyheels。Doyoudoubtit，mydarling？“
Amylookedupathim，andwassatisfied。Herlittlejealousfearvanishedforever，andshethankedhim，withafacefullofloveandconfidence。
“IwishwecoulddosomethingforthatcapitaloldProfessor。
Couldn’tweinventarichrelation，whoshallobliginglydieoutthereinGermany，andleavehimatidylittlefortune？“saidLaurie，whentheybegantopaceupanddownthelongdrawingroom，arminarm，astheywerefondofdoing，inmemoryofthechateaugarden。
“Jowouldfindusout，andspoilitall。Sheisveryproudofhim，justasheis，andsaidyesterdaythatshethoughtpovertywasabeautifulthing。“
“Blessherdearheart!Shewon’tthinksowhenshehasaliteraryhusband，andadozenlittleprofessorsandprofessorinstosupport。Wewon’tinterferenow，butwatchourchance，anddothemagoodturninspiteofthemselves。IoweJoforapartofmyeducation，andshebelievesinpeople’spayingtheirhonestdebts，soI’llgetroundherinthatway。“
“Howdelightfulitistobeabletohelpothers，isn’tit？
Thatwasalwaysoneofmydreams，tohavethepowerofgivingfreely，andthankstoyou，thedreamhascometrue。“
“Ah，we’lldoquantitiesofgood，won’twe？There’sonesortofpovertythatIparticularlyliketohelp。Out-and-outbeggarsgettakencareof，butpoorgentlefolksfarebadly，becausetheywon’task，andpeopledon’tdaretooffercharity。
Yetthereareathousandwaysofhelpingthem，ifoneonlyknowshowtodoitsodelicatelythatitdoesnotoffend。I
mustsay，Iliketoserveadecayedgentlemanbetterthanablarneryingbeggar。Isupposeit’swrong，butIdo，thoughitisharder。“
“Becauseittakesagentlemantodoit，“addedtheothermemberofthedomesticadmirationsociety。
“Thankyou，I’mafraidIdon’tdeservethatprettycompliment。
ButIwasgoingtosaythatwhileIwasdawdlingaboutabroad，I
sawagoodmanytalentedyoungfellowsmakingallsortsofsacrifices，andenduringrealhardships，thattheymightrealizetheirdreams。
Splendidfellows，someofthem，workinglikeheros，poorandfriendless，butsofullofcourage，patience，andambitionthatIwasashamedofmyself，andlongedtogivethemarightgoodlift。Thosearepeoplewhomit’sasatisfactiontohelp，forifthey’vegotgenius，it’sanhonortobeallowedtoservethem，andnotletitbelostordelayedforwantoffueltokeepthepotboiling。Iftheyhaven’t，it’sapleasuretocomfortthepoorsouls，andkeepthemfromdespairwhentheyfinditout。“
“Yes，indeed，andthere’sanotherclasswhocan’task，andwhosufferinsilence。Iknowsomethingofit，forIbelongedtoitbeforeyoumadeaprincessofme，asthekingdoesthebeggarmaidintheoldstory。Ambitiousgirlshaveahardtime，Laurie，andoftenhavetoseeyouth，health，andpreciousopportunitiesgoby，justforwantofalittlehelpattherightminute。Peoplehavebeenverykindtome，andwheneverIseegirlsstrugglingalong，asweusedtodo，Iwanttoputoutmyhandandhelpthem，asIwashelped。“
“Andsoyoushall，likeanangelasyouare!“criedLaurie，resolving，withaglowofphilanthropiczeal，tofoundandendowaninstitutionfortheexpressbenefitofyoungwomenwithartistictendencies。“Richpeoplehavenorighttositdownandenjoythemselves，orlettheirmoneyaccumulateforotherstowaste。It’snothalfsosensibletoleavelegacieswhenonediesasitistousethemoneywiselywhilealive，andenjoymakingone’sfellowcreatureshappywithit。We’llhaveagoodtimeourselves，andaddanextrarelishtoourownpleasurebygivingotherpeopleageneroustaste。WillyoubealittleDorcal，goingaboutemptyingabigbasketofcomforts，andfillingitupwithgooddeeds？“
“Withallmyheart，ifyouwillbeabraveSt。Martin，stoppingasyouridegallantlythroughtheworldtoshareyourcloakwiththebeggar。“
“It’sabargain，andweshallgetthebestofit!“
Sotheyoungpairshookhandsuponit，andthenpacedhappilyonagain，feelingthattheirpleasanthomewasmorehomelikebecausetheyhopedtobrightenotherhomes，believingthattheirownfeetwouldwalkmoreuprightlyalongtheflowerypathbeforethem，iftheysmoothedroughwaysforotherfeet，andfeelingthattheirheartsweremorecloselyknittogetherbyalovewhichcouldtenderlyrememberthoselessblestthanthey。
Chapter45CHAPTERFORTY-FIVE
IcannotfeelthatIhavedonemydutyashumblehistorianoftheMarchfamily，withoutdevotingatleastonechaptertothetwomostpreciousandimportantmembersofit。DaisyandDemihadnowarrivedatyearsofdiscretion，forinthisfastagebabiesofthreeorfourasserttheirrights，andgetthem，too，whichismorethanmanyoftheireldersdo。Ifthereeverwereapairoftwinsindangerofbeingutterlyspoiledbyadoration，itwastheseprattlingBrookes。Ofcoursetheywerethemostremarkablechildreneverborn，aswillbeshownwhenImentionthattheywalkedateightmonths，talkedfluentlyattwelvemonths，andattwoyearstheytooktheirplacesattable，andbehavedwithaproprietywhichcharmedallbeholders。
Atthree，Daisydemandeda`needler’，andactuallymadeabagwithfourstitchesinit。Shelikewisesetuphousekeepinginthesideboard，andmanagedamicroscopiccookingstovewithaskillthatbroughttearsofpridetoHannah’seyes，whileDemilearnedhisletterswithhisgrandfather，whoinventedanewmodeofteachingthealphabetbyformingletterswithhisarmsandlegs，thusunitinggymnasticsforheadandheels。Theboyearlydevelopedamechanicalgeniuswhichdelightedhisfatheranddistractedhismother，forhetriedtoimitateeverymachinehesaw，andkeptthenurseryinachaoticcondition，withhis`sewinsheen’，amysteriousstructureofstring，chairs，clothespins，andspools，forwheelstogo`woundandwound’。Alsoabaskethungoverthebackofachair，inwhichhevainlytriedtohoisthistooconfidingsister，who，withfemininedevotion，allowedherlittleheadtobebumpedtillrescued，whentheyounginventorindignantlyremarked，“Why，Marmar，dat’smylellywaiter，andme’stryingtopullherup。“