Nanwasespeciallybenefitedbyaweekinthesocietyofawell-bredlady，thoughsuchaverysmallone；forBesswouldlookatherwithamixtureofwonderandalarminhergreatblueeyeswhenthehoydenscreamedandromped；andsheshrunkfromherasifshethoughtherasortofwildanimal。
　　Warm-heartedNanfeltthisverymuch。Shesaidatfirst，“Pooh!Idon’tcare!“Butshedidcare，andwassohurtwhenBesssaid，“Ilovemytuzzinbest，tausesheistwiet，“thatsheshookpoorDaisytillherteethchatteredinherhead，andthenfledtothebarntocrydismally。Inthatgeneralrefugeforperturbedspiritsshefoundcomfortandgoodcounselfromsomesourceorother。Perhapstheswallowsfromtheirmud-builtnestsoverheadtwitteredheralittlelectureonthebeautyofgentleness。Howeverthatmighthavebeen，shecameoutquitesubdued，andcarefullysearchedtheorchardforacertainkindofearlyapplethatBesslikedbecauseitwassweetandsmallandrosy。Armedwiththispeace-offering，sheapproachedthelittlePrincess，andhumblypresentedit。Tohergreatjoyitwasgraciouslyaccepted，andwhenDaisygaveNanaforgivingkiss，Bessdidlikewise，asifshefeltthatshehadbeentoosevere，anddesiredtoapologize。
　　Afterthistheyplayedpleasantlytogether，andNanenjoyedtheroyalfavorfordays。Tobesureshefeltalittlelikeawildbirdinaprettycageatfirst，andoccasionallyhadtoslipouttostretchherwingsinalongflight，ortosingatthetopofhervoice，whereneitherwoulddisturbtheplumpturtle-doveDaisy，northedaintygoldencanaryBess。Butitdidhergood；for，seeinghoweveryonelovedthelittlePrincessforhersmallgracesandvirtues，shebegantoimitateher，becauseNanwantedmuchlove，andtriedhardtowinit。
　　Notaboyinthehousebutfelttheprettychild’sinfluence，andwasimprovedbyitwithoutexactlyknowinghoworwhy，forbabiescanworkmiraclesintheheartsthatlovethem。PoorBillyfoundinfinitesatisfactioninstaringather，andthoughshedidnotlikeitshepermittedwithoutafrown，aftershehadbeenmadetounderstandthathewasnotquiteliketheothers，andonthataccountmustbemorekindlytreated。DickandDollyoverwhelmedherwithwillowwhistles，theonlythingtheyknewhowtomake，andsheacceptedbutneverusedthem。Robservedherlikealittlelover，andTeddyfollowedherlikeapetdog。Jackshedidnotlike，becausehewasafflictedwithwartsandhadaharshvoice。Stuffydispleasedherbecausehedidnoteattidily，andGeorgetriedhardnottogobble，thathemightnotdisgustthedaintylittleladyopposite。Nedwasbanishedfromcourtinutterdisgracewhenhewasdiscoveredtormentingsomeunhappyfield-mice。
　　Goldilockscouldneverforgetthesadspectacle，andretiredbehindherveilwhenheapproached，wavinghimawaywithanimperiouslittlehand，andcrying，inatoneofmingledgriefandanger，­；
　　“No，Itarn’tlovehim；hetutthepoormouses’littletailsoff，andtheyqueeked!“
　　DaisypromptlyabdicatedwhenBesscame，andtookthehumblepostofchiefcook，whileNanwasfirstmaidofhonor；Emilwaschancelloroftheexchequer，andspentthepublicmonieslavishlyingettingupspectaclesthatcostwholeninepences。Franzwasprimeminister，anddirectedheraffairsofstate，plannedroyalprogressesthroughthekingdom，andkeptforeignpowersinorder。Demiwasherphilosopher，andfaredmuchbetterthansuchgentlemenusuallydoamongcrownedheads。Danwasherstandingarmy，anddefendedherterritoriesgallantly；Tommywascourtfool，andNatatunefulRizziotothisinnocentlittleMary。
　　UncleFritzandAuntJoenjoyedthispeacefulepisode，andlookedonattheprettyplayinwhichtheyoungfolkunconsciouslyimitatedtheirelders，withoutaddingthetragedythatissoapttospoilthedramasactedonthelargerstage。
　　“Theyteachusquiteasmuchasweteachthem，“saidMr。Bhaer。
　　“Blessthedears!theyneverguesshowmanyhintstheygiveusastothebestwayofmanagingthem，“answeredMrs。Jo。
　　“Ithinkyouwererightaboutthegoodeffectofhavinggirlsamongtheboys。NanhasstirredupDaisy，andBessisteachingthelittlebearshowtobehavebetterthanwecan。Ifthisreformationgoesonasithasbegun，IshallsoonfeellikeDr。Blimberwithhismodelyounggentlemen，“
　　saidProfessor，laughing，ashesawTommynotonlyremovehisownhat，butknockoffNed’salso，astheyenteredthehallwherethePrincesswastakingarideontherocking-horse，attendedbyRobandTeddyastrideofchairs，andplayinggallantknightstothebestoftheirability。
　　“YouwillneverbeaBlimber，Fritz，youcouldn’tdoitifyoutried；
　　andourboyswillneversubmittotheforcingprocessofthatfamoushot-bed。
　　Nofearthattheywillbetooelegant：Americanboyslikelibertytoowell。
　　Butgoodmannerstheycannotfailtohave，ifwegivethemthekindlyspiritthatshinesthroughthesimplestdemeanor，makingitcourteousandcordial，likeyours，mydearoldboy。“
　　“Tut!tut!wewillnotcompliment；forifIbeginyouwillrunaway，andIhaveawishtoenjoythishappyhalfhourtotheend；“yetMr。Bhaerlookedpleasedwiththecompliment，foritwastrue，andMrs。Jofeltthatshehadreceivedthebestherhusbandcouldgiveher，bysayingthathefoundhistruestrestandhappinessinhersociety。
　　“Toreturntothechildren：IhavejusthadanotherproofofGoldilocks’
　　goodinfluence，“saidMrs。Jo，drawingherchairnearerthesofa，wheretheProfessorlayrestingafteralongday’sworkinhisvariousgardens。
　　“Nanhatessewing，butforloveofBesshasbeentoilinghalftheafternoonoveraremarkablebaginwhichtopresentadozenofourlove-applestoheridolwhenshegoes。Ipraisedherforit，andshesaid，inherquickway，’Iliketosewforotherpeople；itisstupidsewingformyself。’
　　Itookthehint，andshallgivehersomelittleshirtsandapronsforMrs。
　　Carney’schildren。Sheissogenerous，shewillsewherfingerssoreforthem，andIshallnothavetomakeataskofit。“
　　“Butneedleworkisnotafashionableaccomplishment，mydear。“
　　“Sorryforit。MygirlsshalllearnallIcanteachthemaboutit，eveniftheygiveuptheLatin，Algebra，andhalf-a-dozenologiesitisconsiderednecessaryforgirlstomuddletheirpoorbrainsovernow-a-days。AmymeanstomakeBessanaccomplishedwoman，butthedear’smiteofaforefingerhaslittlepricksonitalready，andhermotherhasseveralspecimensofneedleworkwhichshevaluesmorethantheclaybirdwithoutabill，thatfilledLauriewithsuchpridewhenBessmadeit。“
　　“IalsohaveproofofthePrincess’spower，“saidMrs。Bhaer，afterhehadwatchedMrs。Josewonabuttonwithanairofscornforthewholesystemoffashionableeducation。“JackissounwillingtobeclassedwithStuffyandNed，asdistastefultoBess，thathecametomealittlewhileago，andaskedmetotouchhiswartswithcaustic。Ihaveoftenproposedit，andheneverwouldconsent；butnowheborethesmartmanfully，andconsoleshispresentdiscomfortbyhopesoffuturefavor，whenhecanshowherfastidiousladyshipasmoothhand。“
　　Mrs。Bhaerlaughedatthestory，andjustthenStuffycameintoaskifhemightgiveGoldilockssomeofthebonbonshismotherhadsenthim。
　　“Sheisnotallowedtoeatsweeties；butifyouliketogivehertheprettyboxwiththepinksugar-roseinit，shewouldlikeitverymuch，“
　　saidMrs。Jo，unwillingtospoilthisunusualpieceofself-denial，forthe“fatboy“seldomofferedtosharehissugar-plums。
　　“Won’tsheeatit？Ishouldn’tliketomakehersick，“saidStuffy，eyeingthedelicatesweetmeatlovingly，yetputtingitintothebox。
　　“Oh，no，shewon’ttouchit，ifItellheritistolookat，nottoeat。Shewillkeepitforweeks，andneverthinkoftastingit。Canyoudoasmuch？“
　　“Ishouldhopeso!I’meversomucholderthansheis，“criedStuffy，indignantly。
　　“Well，supposewetry。Here，putyourbonbonsinthisbag，andseehowlongyoucankeepthem。Letmecount­；twohearts，fourredfishes，threebarley-sugarhorses，ninealmonds，andadozenchocolatedrops。Doyouagreetothat？“askedslyMrs。Jo，poppingthesweetiesintoherlittlespool-bag。
　　“Yes，“saidStuffy，withasigh；andpocketingtheforbiddenfruit，hewentawaytogiveBessthepresent，thatwonasmilefromher，andpermissiontoescortherroundthegarden。
　　“PoorStuffy’shearthasreallygotthebetterofhisstomachatlast，andhiseffortswillbemuchencouragedbytherewardsBessgiveshim，“
　　saidMrs。Jo。
　　“Happyisthemanwhocanputtemptationinhispocketandlearnself-denialfromsosweetalittleteacher!“addedMr。Bhaer，asthechildrenpassedthewindow，Stuffy’sfatfacefullofplacidsatisfaction，andGoldilockssurveyinghersugar-rosewithpoliteinterest，thoughshewouldhavepreferredarealflowerwitha“pittysmell。“
　　Whenherfathercametotakeherhome，auniversalwailarose，andthepartinggiftsshowereduponherincreasedherluggagetosuchanextentthatMr。Laurieproposedhavingoutthebigwagontotakeitintotown。
　　Everyonehadgivenhersomething；anditwasfounddifficulttopackwhitemice，cake，aparcelofshells，apples，arabbitkickingviolentlyinabag，alargecabbageforhisrefreshment，abottleofminnows，andamammothbouquet。Thefarewellscenewasmoving，forthePrincesssatuponthehall-table，surroundedbyhersubjects。Shekissedhercousins，andheldoutherhandtotheotherboys，whoshookitgentlywithvarioussoftspeeches，fortheyweretaughtnottobeashamedofshowingtheiremotions。
　　“Comeagainsoon，littledear，“whisperedDan，fasteninghisbestgreen-and-goldbeetleinherhat。
　　“Don’tforgetme，Princess，whateveryoudo，“saidtheengagingTommy，takingalaststrokeoftheprettyhair。
　　“Iamcomingtoyourhousenextweek，andthenIshallseeyou，Bess，“
　　addedNat，asifhefoundconsolationinthethought。
　　“Doshakehandsnow，“criedJack，offeringasmoothpaw。
　　“Herearetwonicenewonestorememberusby，“saidDickandDolly，presentingfreshwhistles，quiteunconsciousthatsevenoldoneshadbeenprivatelydepositedinthekitchen-stove。
　　“Mylittleprecious!Ishallworkyouabook-markrightaway，andyoumustkeepitalways，“saidNan，withawarmembrace。
　　Butofallthefarewells，poorBilly’swasthemostpathetic，forthethoughtthatshewasreallygoingbecamesounbearablethathecasthimselfdownbeforeher，huggingherlittlebluebootsandblubberingdespairingly，“Don’tgoaway!oh，don’t!“Goldilockswassotouchedbythisburstoffeeling，thatsheleanedoverandliftingthepoorlad’shead，said，inhersoft，littlevoice，­；
　　“Don’tcry，poorBilly!Iwilltissyouandtumadainsoon。“
　　ThispromiseconsoledBilly，andhefellbackbeamingwithprideattheunusualhonorconferreduponhim。
　　“Metoo!metoo!“clamoredDickandDolly，feelingthattheirdevotiondeservedsomereturn。Theotherslookedasiftheywouldliketojoininthecry；andsomethinginthekind，merryfacesabouthermovedthePrincesstostretchoutherarmsandsay，withrecklesscondescension，­；
　　“Iwilltissevvybody!“
　　Likeaswarmofbeesaboutaverysweetflower，theaffectionateladssurroundedtheirprettyplaymate，andkissedhertillshelookedlikealittlerose，notroughly，butsoenthusiasticallythatnothingbutthecrownofherhatwasvisibleforamoment。Thenherfatherrescuedher，andshedroveawaystillsmilingandwavingherhands，whiletheboyssatonthefencescreaminglikeaflockofguinea-fowls，“Comeback!comeback!“
　　tillshewasoutofsight。
　　Theyallmissedher，andeachdimlyfeltthathewasbetterforhavingknownacreaturesolovely，delicate，andsweet；forlittleBessappealedtothechivalrousinstinctinthemassomethingtolove，admire，andprotectwithatendersortofreverence。Manyamanrememberssomeprettychildwhohasmadeaplaceinhisheartandkepthermemoryalivebythesimplemagicofherinnocence；theselittlemenwerejustlearningtofeelthispower，andtoloveitforitsgentleinfluence，notashamedtoletthesmallhandleadthem，nortoowntheirloyaltytowomankind，eveninthebud。