“Whatmischiefareyouatnow，badchild？“askedNursey，withagood-naturedshake，whichmadethesleeperopenhiseyestosaymeekly，­；
　　“IonlyranintoNat’sroomtoseehimaboutsomething。Goaway，andletmealone；I’mawfulsleepy。“
　　NurseytuckedDemiin，andwentofftoreconnoitre，butonlyfoundtwoboysslumberingpeacefullyinDan’sroom。“Somelittlefrolic，“shethought，andastherewasnoharmdoneshesaidnothingtoMrs。Bhaer，whowasbusyandworriedoverlittleTeddy。
　　Tommywassleepy，andtellingDemitomindhisownbusinessandnotaskquestions，hewassnoringintenminutes，littledreamingwhatwasgoingonunderhisbed。Thecigardidnotgoout，butsmoulderedawayonthestrawcarpettillitwasnicelyonfire，andahungrylittleflamewentcreepingalongtillthedimitybedcovercaught，thenthesheets，andthenthebeditself。ThebeermadeTommysleepheavily，andthesmokestupifiedDemi，sotheysleptontillthefirebegantoscorchthem，andtheywereindangerofbeingburnedtodeath。
　　Franzwassittinguptostudy，andashelefttheschool-roomhesmeltthesmoke，dashedup-stairsandsawitcominginacloudfromtheleftwingofthehouse。Withoutstoppingtocallanyone，heranintotheroom，draggedtheboysfromtheblazingbed，andsplashedallthewaterhecouldfindathandontotheflames。Itcheckedbutdidnotquenchthefire，andthechildrenwakenedonbeingtumbledtopsy-turvyintoacoldhall，begantoroaratthetopoftheirvoices。Mrs。Bhaerinstantlyappeared，andaminuteafterSilasburstoutofhisroomshouting，“Fire!“inatonethatraisedthewholehouse。Aflockofwhitegoblinswithscaredfacescrowdedintothehall，andforaminuteeveryonewaspanic-stricken。
　　ThenMrs。Bhaerfoundherwits，badeNurseyseetotheburntboys，andsentFranzandSilasdown-stairsforsometubsofwetclotheswhichsheflungonthebed，overthecarpet，andupagainstthecurtains，nowburningfinely，andthreateningtokindlethewalls。
　　Mostoftheboysstooddumblylookingon，butDanandEmilworkedbravely，runningtoandfrowithwaterfromthebath-room，andhelpingtopulldownthedangerouscurtains。
　　Theperilwassoonover，andorderingtheboysallbacktobed，andleavingSilastowatchlestthefirebrokeoutagain，Mrs。BhaerandFranzwenttoseehowthepoorboysgoton。Demihadescapedwithoneburnandagrandscare，butTommyhadnotonlymostofhishairscorchedoffhishead，butagreatburnonhisarm，thatmadehimhalfcrazywiththepain。
　　Demiwassoonmadecosy，andFranztookhimawaytohisownbed，wherethekindladsoothedhisfrightandhummedhimtosleepascosilyasawoman。NurseywatchedoverpoorTommyallnight，tryingtoeasehismisery，andMrs。BhaervibratedbetweenhimandlittleTeddywithoilandcotton，paregoricandsquills，sayingtoherselffromtimetotime，asifshefoundgreatamusementinthethought，“IalwaysknewTommywouldsetthehouseonfire，andnowhehasdoneit!“
　　WhenMr。Bhaergothomenextmorninghefoundanicestateofthings。
　　Tommyinbed，Teddywheezinglikealittlegrampus，Mrs。Joquiteusedup，andthewholeflockofboyssoexcitedthattheyalltalkedatonce，andalmostdraggedhimbymainforcetoviewtheruins。Underhisquietmanagementthingssoonfellintoorder，foreveryonefeltthathewasequaltoadozenconflagrations，andworkedwithawillatwhatevertaskhegavethem。
　　Therewasnoschoolthatmorning，butbyafternoonthedamagedroomwasputtorights，theinvalidswerebetter，andtherewastimetohearandjudgethelittleculpritsquietly。NatandTommytoldtheirpartsinthemischief，andwerehonestlysorryforthedangertheyhadbroughttothedearoldhouseandallinit。ButDanputonhisdevil-may-carelook，andwouldnotownthattherewasmuchharmdone。
　　Now，ofallthings，Mr。Bhaerhateddrinking，gambling，andswearing；
　　smokinghehadgivenupthattheladsmightnotbetemptedtotryit，anditgrievedandangeredhimdeeplytofindthattheboy，withwhomhehadtriedtobemostforbearing，shouldtakeadvantageofhisabsencetointroducetheseforbiddenvices，andteachhisinnocentlittleladstothinkitmanlyandpleasanttoindulgeinthem。Hetalkedlongandearnestlytotheassembledboys，andendedbysaying，withanairofmingledfirmnessandregret，­；
　　“IthinkTommyispunishedenough，andthatscaronhisarmwillremindhimforalongtimetoletthesethingsalone。Nat’sfrightwilldoforhim，forheisreallysorry，anddoestrytoobeyme。Butyou，Dan，havebeenmanytimesforgiven，andyetitdoesnogood。Icannothavemyboyshurtbyyourbadexample，normytimewastedintalkingtodeafears，soyoucansaygood-byetothemall，andtellNurseytoputupyourthingsinmylittleblackbag。“
　　“Oh!sir，whereishegoing？“criedNat。
　　“Toapleasantplaceupinthecountry，whereIsometimessendboyswhentheydon’tdowellhere。Mr。Pageisakindman，andDanwillbehappythereifhechoosestodohisbest。“
　　“Willheevercomeback？“askedDemi。
　　“Thatwilldependonhimself；Ihopeso。“
　　Ashespoke，Mr。BhaerlefttheroomtowritehislettertoMr。Page，andtheboyscrowdedroundDanverymuchaspeopledoaboutamanwhoisgoingonalongandperilousjourneytounknownregions。
　　“Iwonderifyou’lllikeit，“beganJack。
　　“Shan’tstayifIdon’t，“saidDancoolly。
　　“Wherewillyougo？“askedNat。
　　“Imaygotosea，oroutwest，ortakealookatCalifornia，“answeredDan，witharecklessairthatquitetookawaythebreathofthelittleboys。
　　“Oh，don’t!staywithMr。Pageawhileandthencomebackhere；do，Dan，“
　　pleadedNat，muchaffectedatthewholeaffair。
　　“Idon’tcarewhereIgo，orhowlongIstay，andI’llbehangedifIevercomebackhere，“withwhichwrathfulspeechDanwentawaytoputuphisthings，everyoneofwhichMr。Bhaerhadgivenhim。
　　Thatwastheonlygood-byehegavetheboys，fortheywerealltalkingthematteroverinthebarnwhenhecamedown，andhetoldNatnottocallthem。Thewagonstoodatthedoor，andMrs。BhaercameouttospeaktoDan，lookingsosadthathisheartsmotehim，andhesaidinalowtone，­；
　　“MayIsaygood-byetoTeddy？“
　　“Yes，dear；goinandkisshim，hewillmisshisDannyverymuch。“
　　NoonesawthelookinDan’seyesashestoopedoverthecrib，andsawthelittlefacelightupatfirstsightofhim，butheheardMrs。Bhaersaypleadingly，­；
　　“Can’twegivethepoorladonemoretrial，Fritz？“andMr。Bhaeranswerinhissteadyway，­；
　　“Mydear，itisnotbest，solethimgowherehecandonoharmtoothers，whiletheydogoodtohim，andbyandbyheshallcomeback，Ipromiseyou。“
　　“He’stheonlyboyweeverfailedwith，andIamsogrieved，forIthoughttherewasthemakingofafinemaninhim，spiteofhisfaults。“
　　DanheardMrs。Bhaersigh，andhewantedtoaskforonemoretrialhimself，buthispridewouldnotlethim，andhecameoutwiththehardlookonhisface，shookhandswithoutaword，anddroveawaywithMr。Bhaer，leavingNatandMrs。Jotolookafterhimwithtearsintheireyes。
　　AfewdaysafterwardstheyreceivedaletterfromMr。Page，sayingthatDanwasdoingwell，whereattheyallrejoiced。Butthreeweekslatercameanotherletter，sayingthatDanhadrunaway，andnothinghadbeenheardofhim，whereattheyalllookedsober，andMr。Bhaersaid，­；
　　“PerhapsIoughttohavegivenhimanotherchance。“
　　Mrs。Bhaer，however，noddedwiselyandanswered，“Don’tbetroubled，Fritz；theboywillcomebacktous，I’msureofit。“
　　ButtimewentonandnoDancame。CHAPTERVIINAUGHTYNAN
　　“Fritz，I’vegotanewidea，“criedMrs。Bhaer，asshemetherhusbandonedayafterschool。
　　“Well，mydear，whatisit？“andhewaitedwillinglytohearthenewplan，forsomeofMrs。Jo’sideasweresodroll，itwasimpossibletohelplaughingatthem，thoughusuallytheywerequitesensible，andhewasgladtocarrythemout。
　　“Daisyneedsacompanion，andtheboyswouldbeallthebetterforanothergirlamongthem；youknowwebelieveinbringinguplittlemenandwomentogether，anditishightimeweacteduptoourbelief。TheypetandtyrannizeoverDaisybyturns，andsheisgettingspoilt。Thentheymustlearngentleways，andimprovetheirmanners，andhavinggirlsaboutwilldoitbetterthananythingelse。“
　　“Youareright，asusual。Now，whoshallwehave？“askedMr。Bhaer，seeingbythelookinhereyethatMrs。Johadsomeoneallreadytopropose。
　　“LittleAnnieHarding。“
　　“What!NaughtyNan，astheladscallher？“criedMr。Bhaer，lookingverymuchamused。
　　“Yes，sheisrunningwildathomesincehermotherdied，andistoobrightachildtobespoiltbyservants。Ihavehadmyeyeonherforsometime，andwhenImetherfatherintowntheotherdayIaskedhimwhyhedidnotsendhertoschool。Hesaidhewouldgladlyifhecouldfindasgoodaschoolforgirlsasourswasforboys。Iknowhewouldrejoicetohavehercome；sosupposewedriveoverthisafternoonandseeaboutit。“
　　“Havenotyoucaresenoughnow，myJo，withoutthislittlegypsytotormentyou？“askedMr。Bhaer，pattingthehandthatlayonhisarm。
　　“Ohdear，no，“saidMotherBhaer，briskly。“Ilikeit，andneverwashappierthansinceIhadmywildernessofboys。Yousee，Fritz，IfeelagreatsympathyforNan，becauseIwassuchanaughtychildmyselfthatIknowallaboutit。Sheisfullofspirits，andonlyneedstobetaughtwhattodowiththemtobeasnicealittlegirlasDaisy。Thosequickwitsofherswouldenjoylessonsiftheywererightlydirected，andwhatisnowatricksymidgetwouldsoonbecomeabusy，happychild。Iknowhowtomanageher，forIrememberhowmyblessedmothermanagedme，and­；“
　　“Andifyousucceedhalfaswellasshedid，youwillhavedoneamagnificentwork，“interruptedMr。Bhaer，wholaboredunderthedelusionthatMrs。
　　B。wasthebestandmostcharmingwomanalive。
　　“Now，ifyoumakefunofmyplanI’llgiveyoubadcoffeeforaweek，andthenwhereareyou，sir？“criedMrs。Jo，tweakinghimbytheearjustasifhewasoneoftheboys。
　　“Won’tDaisy’shairstanderectwithhorroratNan’swildways？“askedMr。Bhaer，presently，whenTeddyhadswarmeduphiswaistcoat，andRobuphisback，fortheyalwaysflewattheirfathertheminuteschoolwasdone。
　　“Atfirst，perhaps，butitwilldoPosygood。SheisgettingprimandBettyish，andneedsstirringupabit。ShealwayshasagoodtimewhenNancomesovertoplay，andthetwowillhelpeachotherwithoutknowingit。Dearme，halfthescienceofteachingisknowinghowmuchchildrendoforoneanother，andwhentomixthem。“
　　“Ionlyhopeshewon’tturnoutanotherfirebrand。“
　　“MypoorDan!Inevercanquiteforgivemyselfforlettinghimgo，“
　　sighedMrs。Bhaer。
　　Atthesoundofthename，littleTeddy，whohadneverforgottenhisfriend，struggleddownfromhisfather’sarms，andtrottedtothedoor，lookedoutoverthesunnylawnwithawistfulface，andthentrottedbackagain，saying，ashealwaysdidwhendisappointedofthelonged-forsight，­；
　　“MyDanny’stummin’soon。“
　　“Ireallythinkweoughttohavekepthim，ifonlyforTeddy’ssake，hewassofondofhim，andperhapsbaby’slovewouldhavedoneforhimwhatwefailedtodo。“
　　“I’vesometimesfeltthatmyself；butafterkeepingtheboysinaferment，andnearlyburningupthewholefamily，Ithoughtitsafertoremovethefirebrand，foratimeatleast，“saidMr。Bhaer。
　　“Dinner’sready，letmeringthebell，“andRobbeganasolouponthatinstrumentwhichmadeitimpossibletohearone’sselfspeak。
　　“ThenImayhaveNan，mayI？“askedMrs。Jo。
　　“AdozenNansifyouwantthem，mydear，“answeredMr。Bhaer，whohadroominhisfatherlyheartforallthenaughtyneglectedchildrenintheworld。
　　WhenMrs。Bhaerreturnedfromherdrivethatafternoon，beforeshecouldunpacktheloadoflittleboys，withoutwhomsheseldommoved，asmallgirloftenskippedoutatthebackofthecarry-allandranintothehouse，shouting，­；
　　“Hi，Daisy!whereareyou？“
　　Daisycame，andlookedpleasedtoseeherguest，butalsoatriflealarmed，whenNansaid，stillprancing，asifitwasimpossibletokeepstill，­；
　　“I’mgoingtostayherealways，papasaysImay，andmyboxiscomingtomorrow，allmythingshadtobewashedandmended，andyourauntcameandcarriedmeoff。Isn’titgreatfun？“