“Why，yes。Didyoubringyourbigdoll？“askedDaisy，hopingshehad，foronthelastvisitNanhadravagedthebabyhouse，andinsistedonwashingBlancheMatilda’splasterface，whichspoiltthepoordear’scomplexionforever。
　　“Yes，she’ssomewhereround，“returnedNan，withmostunmaternalcarelessness。
　　“Imadeyouaringcomingalong，andpulledthehairsoutofDobbin’stail。
　　Don’tyouwantit？“andNanpresentedahorse-hairringintokenoffriendship，astheyhadbothvowedtheywouldneverspeaktooneanotheragainwhentheylastparted。
　　Wonbythebeautyoftheoffering，Daisygrewmorecordial，andproposedretiringtothenursery，butNansaid，“No，Iwanttoseetheboys，andthebarn，“andranoff，swingingherhatbyonestringtillitbroke，whensheleftittoitsfateonthegrass。
　　“Hullo!Nan!“criedtheboysasshebouncedinamongthemwiththeannouncement，­；
　　“I’mgoingtostay。“
　　“Hooray!“bawledTommyfromthewallonwhichhewasperched，forNanwasakindredspirit，andheforesaw“larks“inthefuture。
　　“Icanbat；letmeplay，“saidNan，whocouldturnherhandtoanything，anddidnotmindhardknocks。
　　“Weain’tplayingnow，andoursidebeatwithoutyou。“
　　“Icanbeatyouinrunning，anyway，“returnedNan，fallingbackonherstrongpoint。
　　“Canshe？“askedNatofJack。
　　“Sherunsverywellforagirl，“answeredJack，wholookeddownuponNanwithcondescendingapproval。
　　“Willyoutry？“saidNan，longingtodisplayherpowers。
　　“It’stoohot，“andTommylanguishedagainstthewallasifquiteexhausted。
　　“What’sthematterwithStuffy？“askedNan，whosequickeyeswererovingfromfacetoface。
　　“Ballhurthishand；hehowlsateverything，“answeredJackscornfully。
　　“Idon’t，Inevercry，nomatterhowI’mhurt；it’sbabyish，“saidNan，loftily。
　　“Pooh!Icouldmakeyoucryintwominutes，“returnedStuffy，rousingup。
　　“Seeifyoucan。“
　　“Goandpickthatbunchofnettles，then，“andStuffypointedtoasturdyspecimenofthatpricklyplantgrowingbythewall。
　　Naninstantly“graspedthenettle，“pulleditup，andhelditwithadefiantgesture，inspiteofthealmostunbearablesting。
　　“Goodforyou，“criedtheboys，quicktoacknowledgecourageeveninoneoftheweakersex。
　　Morenettledthanshewas，Stuffydeterminedtogetacryoutofhersomehow，andhesaidtauntingly，“Youareusedtopokingyourhandsintoeverything，sothatisn’tfair。Nowgoandbumpyourheadrealhardagainstthebarn，andseeifyoudon’thowlthen。“
　　“Don’tdoit，“saidNat，whohatedcruelty。
　　ButNanwasoff，andrunningstraightatthebarn，shegaveherheadablowthatknockedherflat，andsoundedlikeabattering-ram。Dizzy，butundaunted，shestaggeredup，sayingstoutly，thoughherfacewasdrawnwithpain，­；
　　“Thathurt，butIdon’tcry。“
　　“Doitagain，“saidStuffyangrily；andNanwouldhavedoneit，butNatheldher；andTommy，forgettingtheheat，flewatStuffylikealittlegame-cock，roaringout，­；
　　“Stopit，orI’llthrowyouoverthebarn!“andsoshookandhustledpoorStuffythatforaminutehedidnotknowwhetherhewasonhisheadorhisheels。
　　“Shetoldmeto，“wasallhecouldsay，whenTommylethimalone。
　　“Nevermindifshedid；itisawfullymeantohurtalittlegirl，“saidDemi，reproachfully。
　　“Ho!Idon’tmind；Iain’talittlegirl，I’molderthanyouandDaisy；
　　sonow，“criedNan，ungratefully。
　　“Don’tpreach，Deacon，youbullyPosyeverydayofyourlife，“calledouttheCommodore，whojustthenhoveinsight。
　　“Idon’thurther；doI，Daisy？“andDemiturnedtohissister，whowas“pooring“Nan’stinglinghands，andrecommendingwaterforthepurplelumprapidlydevelopingitselfonherforehead。
　　“Youarethebestboyintheworld，“promptlyansweredDaisy；adding，astruthcompelledhertodo，“Youhurtmesometimes，butyoudon’tmeanto。“
　　“Putawaythebatsandthings，andmindwhatyouareabout，myhearties。
　　Nofightingallowedaboardthisship，“saidEmil，whoratherlordeditovertheothers。
　　“Howdoyoudo，MadgeWildfire？“saidMr。Bhaer，asNancameinwiththeresttosupper。“Givetherighthand，littledaughter，andmindthymanners，“headded，asNanofferedhimherleft。
　　“Theotherhurtsme。“
　　“Thepoorlittlehand!whathasitbeendoingtogetthoseblisters？“
　　heasked，drawingitfrombehindherback，whereshehadputitwithalookwhichmadehimthinkshehadbeeninmischief。
　　BeforeNancouldthinkofanyexcuse，Daisyburstoutwiththewholestory，duringwhichStuffytriedtohidehisfaceinabowlofbreadandmilk。Whenthetalewasfinished，Mr。Bhaerlookeddownthelongtabletowardshiswife，andsaidwithalaughinhiseyes，­；
　　“Thisratherbelongstoyoursideofthehouse，soIwon’tmeddlewithit，mydear。“
　　Mrs。Joknewwhathemeant，butshelikedherlittleblacksheepallthebetterforherpluck，thoughsheonlysaidinhersoberestway，­；
　　“DoyouknowwhyIaskedNantocomehere？“
　　“Toplagueme，“mutteredStuffy，withhismouthfull。
　　“Tohelpmakelittlegentlemenofyou，andIthinkyouhaveshownthatsomeofyouneedit。“
　　HereStuffyretiredintohisbowlagain，anddidnotemergetillDemimadethemalllaughbysaying，inhisslowwonderingway，­；
　　“Howcanshe，whenshe’ssuchatomboy？“
　　“That’sjustit，sheneedshelpasmuchasyou，andIexpectyousetheranexampleofgoodmanners。“
　　“Isshegoingtobealittlegentlemantoo？“askedRob。
　　“She’dlikeit；wouldn’tyou，Nan？“addedTommy。
　　“No，Ishouldn’t；Ihateboys!“saidNanfiercely，forherhandstillsmarted，andshebegantothinkthatshemighthaveshownhercourageinsomewiserway。
　　“Iamsorryyouhatemyboys，becausetheycanbewell-mannered，andmostagreeablewhentheychoose。Kindnessinlooksandwordsandwaysistruepoliteness，andanyonecanhaveitiftheyonlytrytotreatotherpeopleastheyliketobetreatedthemselves。“
　　Mrs。BhaerhadaddressedherselftoNan，buttheboysnudgedoneanother，andappearedtotakethehint，forthattimeatleast，andpassedthebutter；
　　said“please，“and“thankyou，““yes，sir，“and“no，ma’am，“withunusualeleganceandrespect。Nansaidnothing，butkeptherselfquietandrefrainedfromticklingDemi，thoughstronglytemptedtodoso，becauseofthedignifiedairsheputon。Shealsoappearedtohaveforgottenherhatredofboys，andplayed“Ispy“withthemtilldark。Stuffywasobservedtoofferherfrequentsucksonhiscandy-ballduringthegame，whichevidentlysweetenedhertemper，forthelastthingshesaidongoingtobedwas，­；
　　“Whenmybattledoreandshuttle-cockcomes，I’llletyouallplaywith’em。“
　　Herfirstremarkinthemorningwas“Hasmyboxcome？“andwhentoldthatitwouldarrivesometimeduringtheday，shefrettedandfumed，andwhippedherdoll，tillDaisywasshocked。Shemanagedtoexist，however，tillfiveo’clock，whenshedisappeared，andwasnotmissedtillsupper-time，becausethoseathomethoughtshehadgonetothehillwithTommyandDemi。
　　“Isawhergoingdowntheavenuealoneashardasshecouldpelt，“saidMaryAnn，cominginwiththehasty-pudding，andfindingeveryoneasking，“WhereisNan？“
　　“Shehasrunhome，littlegypsy!“criedMrs。Bhaer，lookinganxious。
　　“Perhapsshehasgonetothestationtolookafterherluggage，“suggestedFranz。
　　’Thatisimpossible，shedoesnotknowtheway，andifshefoundit，shecouldnevercarrytheboxamile，“saidMrs。Bhaer，beginningtothinkthathernewideamightberatherahardonetocarryout。
　　“Itwouldbelikeher，“andMr。Bhaercaughtuphishattogoandfindthechild，whenashoutfromJack，whowasatthewindow，madeeveryonehurrytothedoor。
　　TherewasMissNan，tobesure，tuggingalongaverylargeband-boxtiedupinlinenbag。Veryhotanddustyandtireddidshelook，butmarchedstoutlyalong，andcamepuffinguptothesteps，whereshedroppedherloadwithasighofrelief，andsatdownuponit，observedasshecrossedhertiredarms，­；
　　“Icouldn’twaitanylonger，soIwentandgotit。“
　　“Butyoudidnotknowtheway，“saidTommy，whilethereststoodroundenjoyingthejoke。
　　“Oh，Ifoundit，Inevergetlost。“
　　“It’samile，howcouldyougosofar？“
　　“Well，itwasprettyfar，butIrestedagooddeal。“
　　“Wasn’tthatthingveryheavy？“
　　“It’ssoround，Icouldn’tgetholdofitgood，andIthoughtmyarmswouldbreakrightoff。“
　　“Idon’tseehowthestation-masterletyouhaveit，“saidTommy。
　　“Ididn’tsayanythingtohim。Hewasinthelittleticketplace，anddidn’tseeme，soIjusttookitofftheplatform。“
　　“Rundownandtellhimitisallright，Franz，oroldDoddwillthinkitisstolen，“saidMr。Bhaer，joiningintheshoutoflaughteratNan’scoolness。
　　“Itoldyouwewouldsendforitifitdidnotcome。Anothertimeyoumustwait，foryouwillgetintotroubleifyourunaway。Promisemethis，orIshallnotdaretotrustyououtofmysight，“saidMrs。Bhaer，wipingthedustoffNan’slittlehotface。
　　“Well，Iwon’t，onlypapatellsmenottoputoffdoingthings，soI
　　don’t。“
　　“Thatisratheraposer；Ithinkyouhadbettergivehersomesuppernow，andaprivatelecturebyandby，“saidMr。Bhaer，toomuchamusedtobeangryattheyounglady’sexploit。
　　Theboysthoughtit“greatfun，“andNanentertainedthemallsupper-timewithanaccountofheradventures；forabigdoghadbarkedather，amanhadlaughedather，awomanhadgivenheradoughnut，andherhathadfallenintothebrookwhenshestoppedtodrink，exhaustedwithherexertion。
　　’Ifancyyouwillhaveyourhandsfullnow，mydear；TommyandNanarequiteenoughforonewoman，“saidMr。Bhaer，halfanhourlater。
　　“Iknowitwilltakesometimetotamethechild，butsheissuchagenerous，warm-heartedlittlething，Ishouldloveherevenifsheweretwiceasnaughty，“answeredMrs。Jo，pointingtothemerrygroup，inthemiddleofwhichstoodNan，givingawayherthingsrightandleft，aslavishlyasifthebigband-boxhadnobottom。
　　Itwasthosegoodtraitsthatsoonmadelittle“Giddygaddy，“astheycalledher，afavoritewitheveryone。Daisynevercomplainedofbeingdullagain，forNaninventedthemostdelightfulplays，andherpranksrivalledTommy’s，totheamusementofthewholeschool。Sheburiedherbigdollandforgotitforaweek，andfounditwellmildewedwhenshedraggeditup。Daisywasindespair，butNantookittothepainterwhoasatworkaboutthehouse，gothimtopaintitbrickred，withstaringblackeyes，thenshedresseditupwithfeathers，andscarletflannel，andoneofNed’sleadenhatchets；andinthecharacterofanIndianchief，thelatePoppydillatomahawkedalltheotherdolls，andcausedthenurserytorunredwithimaginarygore。Shegaveawayhernewshoestoabeggarchild，hopingtobeallowedtogobarefoot，butfounditimpossibletocombinecharityandcomfort，andwasorderedtoaskleavebeforedisposingofherclothes。Shedelightedtheboysbymakingafire-shipoutofashinglewithtwolargesailswetwithturpentine，whichshelighted，andthensentthelittlevesselfloatingdownthebrookatdusk。Sheharnessedtheoldturkey-cocktoastrawwagon，andmadehimtrotroundthehouseatatremendouspace。Shegavehercoralnecklaceforfourunhappykittens，whichhadbeentormentedbysomeheartlesslads，andtendedthemfordaysasgentlyasamother，dressingtheirwoundswithcoldcream，feedingthemwithadoll’sspoon，andmourningoverthemwhentheydied，tillshewasconsoledbyoneofDemi’sbestturtles。ShemadeSilastattooananchoronherarmlikehis，andbeggedhardtohaveabluestaroneachcheek，buthedarednotdoit，thoughshecoaxedandscoldedtillthesoft-heartedfellowlongedtogivein。Sherodeeveryanimalontheplace，fromthebighorseAndytothecrosspig，fromwhomshewasrescuedwithdifficulty。Whatevertheboysdaredhertodosheinstantlyattempted，nomatterhowdangerousitmightbe，andtheywerenevertiredoftestinghercourage。