Mr。LaurencecamehurryingbackwithBeth，bringingeverycomfortthekindoldgentlemancouldthinkoffortheinvalid，andfriendliestpromisesofprotectionforthegirlsduringthemother’sabsence，whichcomfortedherverymuch。Therewasnothinghedidn’toffer，fromhisowndressinggowntohimselfasescort。Butthelastwasimpossible。Mrs。Marchwouldnothearoftheoldgentleman’sundertakingthelongjourney，yetanexpressionofreliefwasvisiblewhenhespokeofit，foranxietyillfitsonefortraveling。
　　Hesawthelook，knithisheavyeyebrows，rubbedhishands，andmarchedabruptlyaway，sayinghe’dbebackdirectly。Noonehadtimetothinkofhimagaintill，asMegranthroughtheentry，withapairofrubbersinonehandandacupofteaintheother，shecamesuddenlyuponMr。Brooke。
　　“I’mverysorrytohearofthis，MissMarch，“hesaid，inthekind，quiettonewhichsoundedverypleasantlytoherperturbedspirit。“Icametooffermyselfasescorttoyourmother。
　　Mr。
　　LaurencehascommissionsformeinWashington，anditwillgivemerealsatisfactiontobeofservicetoherthere。“
　　Downdroppedtherubbers，andtheteawasverynearfollowing，asMegputoutherhand，withafacesofullofgratitudethatMr。
　　Brookewouldhavefeltrepaidforamuchgreatersacrificethanthetriflingoneoftimeandcomfortwhichhewasabouttotake。
　　“Howkindyouallare!Motherwillaccept，I’msure，anditwillbesucharelieftoknowthatshehassomeonetotakecareofher。Thankyouvery，verymuch!“
　　Megspokeearnestly，andforgotherselfentirelytillsomethinginthebrowneyeslookingdownathermadeherrememberthecoolingtea，andleadthewayintotheparlor，sayingshewouldcallhermother。
　　EverythingwasarrangedbythetimeLauriereturnedwithanotefromAuntMarch，enclosingthedesiredsum，andafewlinesrepeatingwhatshehadoftensaidbefore，thatshehadalwaystoldthemitwasabsurdforMarchtogointothearmy，alwayspredictedthatnogoodwouldcomeofit，andshehopedtheywouldtakeheradvicethenexttime。Mrs。Marchputthenoteinthefire，themoneyinherpurse，andwentonwithherpreparations，withherlipsfoldedtightlyinawaywhichJowouldhaveunderstoodifshehadbeenthere。
　　Theshortafternoonworeaway。Allothererrandsweredone，andMegandhermotherbusyatsomenecessaryneedlework，whileBethandAmygothtea，andHannahfinishedherironingwithwhatshecalleda`slapandabang’，butstillJodidnotcome。Theybegantogetanxious，andLauriewentofftofindher，fornooneknewwhatfreakJomighttakeintoherhead。Hemissedher，however，andshecamewalkinginwithaveryqueerexpressionofcountenance，fortherewasamixtureoffunandfear，satisfactionandregretinit，whichpuzzledthefamilyasmuchasdidtherollofbillsshelaidbeforehermother，sayingwithalittlechokeinhervoice，“That’smycontributiontowardmakingFathercomfortableandbringinghimhome!“
　　“Mydear，wheredidyougetit？Twenty-fivedollars!Jo，I
　　hopeyouhaven’tdoneanythingrash？“
　　“No，it’sminehonestly。Ididn’tbeg，borrow，orstealit。
　　I
　　earnedit，andIdon’tthinkyou’llblameme，forIonlysoldwhatwasmyown。“
　　Asshespoke，Jotookoffherbonnet，andageneraloutcryarose，forallherabundanthairwascutshort。
　　“Yourhair!Yourbeautifulhair!““Oh，Jo，howcouldyou？
　　Youronebeauty。““Mydeargirl，therewasnoneedofthis。“
　　“Shedoesn’tlooklikemyJoanymore，butIloveherdearlyforit!“
　　Aseveryoneexclaimed，andBethhuggedthecroppedheadtenderly，Joassumedanindifferentair，whichdidnotdeceiveanyoneaparticle，andsaid，rumplingupthebrownbushandtryingtolookasifshelikedit，“Itdoesn’taffectthefateofthenation，sodon’twail，Beth。
　　Itwillbegoodformyvanity，Igettingtooproudofmywig。Itwilldomybrainsgoodtohavethatmoptakenoff。Myheadfeelsdeliciouslylightandcool，andthebarbersaidIcouldsoonhaveacurlycrop，whichwillbeboyish，becoming，andeasytokeepinorder。I’msatisfied，sopleasetakethemoneyandlet’shavesupper。“
　　“Tellmeallaboutit，Jo。Iamnotquitesatisfied，butIcan’tblameyou，forIknowhowwillinglyyousacrificedyourvanity，asyoucallit，toyourlove。But，mydear，itwasnotnecessary，andI’mafraidyouwillregretitoneofthesedays，“saidMrs。March。
　　“No，Iwon’t!“returnedJostoutly，feelingmuchrelievedthatherprankwasnotentirelycondemned。
　　“Whatmadeyoudoit？“askedAmy，whowouldassoonhavethoughtofcuttingoffherheadasherprettyhair。
　　“Well，IwaswildtotosomethingforFather，“repliedJo，astheygatheredaboutthetable，forhealthyyoungpeoplecaneateveninthemidstoftrouble。“IhatetoborrowasmuchasMotherdoes，andIknewAuntMarchwouldcroak，shealwaysdoes，ifyouaskforaninepence。Meggaveallherquarterlysalarytowardtherent，andIonlygotsomeclotheswithmine，soIfeltwicked，andwasboundtohavesomemoney，ifIsoldthenoseoffmyfacetogetit。“
　　“Youneedn’tfeelwicked，mychild!Youhadnowinterthingsandgotthesimplestwithyourownhardearnings，“saidMrs。MarchwithalookthatwarmedJo’sheart。
　　“Ihadn’ttheleastideaofsellingmyhairatfirst，butasI
　　wentalongIkeptthinkingwhatIcoulddo，andfeelingasifI’dliketodiveintosomeoftherichstoresandhelpmyself。Inabarber’swindowIsawtailsofhairwiththepricesmarked，andoneblacktail，notsothickasmine，wasfortydollars。ItcametomeallofasuddenthatIhadonethingtomakemoneyoutof，andwithoutstoppingtothink，Iwalkedin，askediftheyboughthair，andwhattheywouldgiveformine。“
　　“Idon’tseehowyoudaredtodoit，“saidBethinatoneofawe。
　　“Oh，hewasalittlemanwholookedasifhemerelylivedtooilhishair。Heratherstaredatfirst，asifhewasn’tusedtohavinggirlsbounceintohisshopandaskhimtobuytheirhair。Hesaidhedidn’tcareaboutmine，itwasn’tthefashionablecolor，andheneverpaidmuchforitinthefirstplace。Theworkheputitintoitmadeitdear，andsoon。Itwasgettinglate，andIwasafraidifitwasn’tdonerightawaythatIshouldn’thaveitdoneatall，andyouknowwhenIstarttodoathing，Ihatetogiveitup。SoIbeggedhimtotakeit，andtoldhimwhyIwasinsuchahurry。Itwassilly，Idaresay，butitchangedhismind，forIgotratherexcited，andtoldthestoryinmytopsy-turvyway，andhiswifeheard，andsaidsokindly，`Takeit，Thomas，andobligetheyounglady。I’ddoasmuchforourJimmyanydayifIhadaspireofhairworthselling。“
　　“WhowasJimmy？“askedAmy，wholikedtohavethingsexplainedastheywentalong。
　　“Herson，shesaid，whowasinthearmy。Howfriendlysuchthingsmakestrangersfeel，don’tthey？Shetalkedawayallthetimethemanclipped，anddivertedmymindnicely。“
　　“Didn’tyoufeeldreadfullywhenthefirstcutcame？“askedMeg，withashiver。
　　“Itookalastlookatmyhairwhilethemangothisthings，andthatwastheendofit。Ineversnivelovertrifleslikethat。
　　Iwillconfess，though，IfeltqueerwhenIsawthedearoldhairlaidoutonthetable，andfeltonlytheshortroughendsofmyhead。
　　ItalmostseemedasifI’danarmorlegoff。Thewomansawmelookatit，andpickedoutalonglockformetokeep。I’llgiveittoyou，Marmee，justtorememberpastgloriesby，foracropissocomfortableIdon’tthinkIshalleverhaveamaneagain。“
　　Mrs。Marchfoldedthewavychestnutlock，andlaiditawaywithashortgrayoneinherdesk。Sheonlysaid，“Thankyou，deary，“
　　butsomethinginherfacemadethegirlschangethesubject，andtalkascheerfullyastheycouldaboutMr。Brooke’skindness，theprospectofafinedaytomorrow，andthehappytimestheywouldhavewhenFathercamehometobenursed。
　　Noonewantedtogotobedwhenatteno’clockMrs。Marchputbythelastfinishedjob，andsaid，“Comegirls。“Bethwenttothepianoandplayedthefather’sfavoritehymn。Allbeganbravely，butbrokedownonebyonetillBethwasleftalone，singingwithallherheart，fortohermusicwasalwaysasweetconsoler。
　　“Gotobedanddon’ttalk，forwemustbeupearlyandshallneedallthesleepwecanget。Goodnight，mydarlings，“saidMrs。
　　March，asthehymnended，fornoonecaredtotryanother。
　　Theykissedherquietly，andwenttobedassilentlyasifthedearinvalidlayinthenextroom。BethandAmysoonfellasleepinspiteofthegreattrouble，butMeglayawake，thinkingthemostseriousthoughtsshehadeverknowninhershortlife。Jolaymotionless，andhersisterfanciedthatshewasasleep，tillastifledsobmadeherexclaim，asshetouchedawetcheek……
　　“Jo，dear，whatisit？Areyoucryingaboutfather？“
　　“No，notnow。“
　　“Whatthen？“
　　“My……Myhair!“burstoutpoorJo，tryingvainlytosmotherheremotioninthepillow。
　　ItdidnotseematallcomicaltoMeg，whokissedandcaressedtheafflictedheroineinthetenderestmanner。
　　“I’mnotsorry，“protestedJo，withachoke。“I’ddoitagaintomorrow，ifIcould。It’sonlythevainpartofmethatgoesandcriesinthissillyway。Don’ttellanyone，it’sallovernow。
　　I
　　thoughtyouwereasleep，soIjustmadealittleprivatemoanformyonebeauty。Howcameyoutobeawake？“
　　“Ican’tsleep，I’msoanxious，“saidMeg。
　　“Thinkaboutsomethingpleasant，andyou’llsoondropoff。“
　　“Itriedit，butfeltwiderawakethanever。“
　　“Whatdidyouthinkof？“
　　“Handsomefaces——eyesparticularly，“answeredMeg，smilingtoherselfinthedark。
　　“Whatcolordoyoulikebest？“
　　“Brown，thatis，sometimes。Bluearelovely。“
　　Jo，laughed，andMegsharplyorderedhernottotalk，thenamiablypromisedtomakeherhaircurl，andfellasleeptodreamoflivinginhercastleintheair。
　　Theclockswerestrikingmidnightandtheroomswereverystillasafigureglidedquietlyfrombedtobed，smoothingacoverlethere，settlingapillowthere，andpausingtolooklongandtenderlyateachunconsciousface，tokisseachwithlipsthatmutelyblessed，andtopraytheferventprayerswhichonlymothersutter。Assheliftedthecurtaintolookoutintothedrearynight，themoonbrokesuddenlyfrombehindthecloudsandshoneuponherlikeabright，benignantface，whichseemedtowhisperinthesilence，“Becomforted，dearsoul!Thereisalwayslightbehindtheclouds。“
　　Chapter16CHAPTERSIXTEEN
　　Inthecoldgraydawnthesisterslittheirlampandreadtheirchapterwithanearnestnessneverfeltbefore。Fornowtheshadowofarealtroublehadcome，thelittlebookswerefullofhelpandcomfort，andastheydressed，theyagreedtosaygoodbyecheerfullyandhopefully，andsendtheirmotheronheranxiousjourneyunsaddenedbytearsorcomplaintsfromthem。Everythingseemedverystrangewhentheywentdown，sodimandstilloutside，sofulloflightandbustlewithin。Breakfastatthatearlyhourseemedodd，andevenHannah’sfamiliarfacelookedunnaturalassheflewaboutherkitchenwithhernightcapon。Thebigtrunkstoodreadyinthehall，Mother’scloakandbonnetlayonthesofa，andMotherherselfsattryingtoeat，butlookingsopaleandwornwithsleeplessnessandanxietythatthegirlsfounditveryhardtokeeptheirresolution。Meg’seyeskeptfillinginspiteofherself，Jowasobligedtohideherfaceinthekitchenrollermorethanonce，antthelittlegirlsworeagrave，troubledexpression，asifsorrowwasanewexperiencetothem。
　　Nobodytalkedmuch，butasthetimedrewverynearandtheysatwaitingforthecarriage，Mrs。Marchsaidtothegirls，whowereallbusiedabouther，onefoldinghershawl，anothersmoothingoutthestringsofherbonnet，athirdputtingonherovershoes，andaforthfasteninguphertravellingbag……
　　“Children，IleaveyoutoHannah’scareandMr。Laurence’sprotection。Hannahisfaithfulnessitself，andourgoodneighborwillguardyouasifyouwerehisown。Ihavenofearsforyou，yetIamanxiousthatyoushouldtakethistroublerightly。Don’tgrieveandfretwhenIamgone，orthinkthatyoucanbeidleandcomfortyourselvesbybeingidleandtryingtoforget。Goonwithyourworkasusual，forworkisablessedsolace。Hopeandkeepbusy，andwhateverhappens，rememberthatyounevercanbefatherless。“
　　“Yes，Mother。“
　　“Meg，dear，beprudent，watchoveryoursisters，consultHannah，andinanyperplexity，gotoMr。Laurence。Bepatient，Jo，don’tgetdespondentordorashthings，writetomeoften，andbemybravegirl，readytohelpandcheerall。Beth，comfortyourselfwithyourmusic，andbefaithfultothelittlehomeduties，andYouAmy，helpallyoucan，beobedient，andkeephappysafeathome。“
　　“Wewill，Mother!Wewill!“
　　Therattleofanapproachingcarriagemadethemallstartandlisten。Thatwasthehardminute，butthegirlsstooditwell。
　　Noonecried，nooneranawayorutteredalamentation，thoughtheirheartswereveryheavyastheysentlovingmessagestoFather，remembering，astheyspokethatitmightbetoolatetodeliverthem。
　　Theykissedtheirmotherquietly，clungabouthertenderly，andtriedtowavetheirhandscheerfullywhenshedroveaway。
　　Laurieandhisgrandfathercameovertoseeheroff，andMr。
　　Brookelookedsostrongandsensibleandkindthatthegirlschristenedhim`Mr。Greatheart’onthespot。
　　“Goodby，mydarlings!Godblessandkeepusall!“whisperedMrs。March，asshekissedonedearlittlefaceaftertheother，andhurriedintothecarriage。
　　Assherolledaway，thesuncameout，andlookingback，shesawitshiningonthegroupatthegatelikeagoodomen。Theysawitalso，andsmiledandwavedtheirhands，andthelastthingshebeheldassheturnedthecornerwasthefourbrightfaces，andbehindthemlikeabodyguard，oldMr。Laurence，faithfulHannah，anddevotedLaurie。
　　“Howkindeveryoneistous!“shesaid，turningtofindfreshproofofitintherespectfulsympathyoftheyoungman’sface。
　　“Idon’tseehowtheycanhelpit，“returnedMr。Brooke，laughingsoinfectiouslythatMrs。Marchcouldnothelpsmiling。
　　Andsothejourneybeganwiththegoodomensofsunshine，smiles，andcheerfulwords。
　　“Ifeelasiftherehadbeenanearthquake，“saidJo，astheirneighborswenthometobreakfast，leavingthemtorestandrefreshthemselves。
　　“Itseemsasifhalfthehousewasgone，“addedMegforlornly。
　　Bethopenedherlipstosaysomething，butcouldonlypointtothepileofnicelymendedhosewhichlayonMother’stable，showingthateveninherlasthurriedmomentsshehadthoughtandworkedforthem。Itwasalittlething，butitwentstraighttotheirhearts，andinspiteoftheirbraveresolutions，theyallbrokedownandcriedbitterly。
　　Hannahwiselyallowedthemtorelievetheirfeelings，andwhentheshowershowedsignsofclearingup，shecametotherescue，armedwithacoffeepot。
　　“Now，nydearyoungladies，rememberwhatyourmasaid，anddon’tfret。Comeandhaveacupofcoffeeallround，andthenlet’sfalltoworkandbeacredittothefamily。“
　　Coffeewasatreat，andHannahshowedgreattactinmakingitthatmorning。Noonecouldresistherpersuasivenods，orthefragrantinvitationissuingfromthenoseofthecoffeepot。Theydrewuptothetable，exchangedtheirhandkerchiefsfornapkins，andintenminuteswereallrightagain。
　　“`Hopeandkeepbusy’，that’sthemottoforus，solet’sseewhowillrememberitbest。IshallgotoAuntMarch，asusual。
　　Oh，won’tshelecturethough!“saidJo，asshesippedwithreturningspirit。
　　“IshallgotomyKings，thoughI’dmuchratherstayathomeandattendtothingshere，“saidMeg，wishingshehadn’tmadehereyessored。
　　“Noneedofthat。BethandIcankeephouseperfectlywell，“
　　putinAmy，withanimportantair。
　　“Hannahwilltelluswhattodo，andwe’llhaveeverythingnicewhenyoucomehome，“addedBeth，gettingouthermopanddishtubwithoutdelay。
　　“Ithinkanxietyisveryinteresting，“observedAmy，eatingsugarpensively。
　　Thegirlscouldn’thelplaughing，andfeltbetterforit，thoughMegshookherheadattheyoungladywhocouldfindconsolationinasugarbowl。
　　ThesightoftheturnoversmadeJosoberagain，andwhenthetwowentouttotheirdailytasks，theylookedsorrowfullybackatthewindowwheretheywereaccustomedtoseetheirmother’sface。Itwasgone，butBethhadrememberedthelittlehouseholdceremony，andthereshewas，noddingawayatthemlikearosyfacedmandarin。