“I’lltry，Beth。“AndthenandthereJorenouncedheroldambition，pledgedherselftoanewandbetterone，acknowledgingthepovertyofotherdesires，andfeelingtheblessedsolaceofabeliefintheimmortalityoflove。
　　Sothespringdayscameandwent，theskygrewclearer，theearthgreener，theflowerswereupfairlyearly，andthebirdscamebackintimetosaygoodbyetoBeth，who，likeatiredbuttrustfulchild，clungtothehandsthathadledherallherlife，asFatherandMotherguidedhertenderlythroughtheValleyoftheShadow，andgaveheruptoGod。
　　Seldomexceptinbooksdothedyinguttermemorablewords，seevisions，ordepartwithbeatifiedcountenances，andthosewhohavespedmanypartingsoulsknowthattomosttheendcomesasnaturallyandsimplyassleep。AsBethhadhoped，the`tidewentouteasily’，andinthedarkhourbeforedawn，onthebosomwhereshehaddrawnherfirstbreath，shequietlydrewherlast，withnofarewellbutonelovinglook，onelittlesigh。
　　Withtearsandprayersandtenderhands，Motherandsistersmadeherreadyforthelongsleepthatpainwouldnevermaragain，seeingwithgratefuleyesthebeautifulserenitythatsoonreplacedthepatheticpatiencethathadwrungtheirheartssolong，andfeelingwithreverentjoythattotheirdarlingdeathwasabenignantangel，notaphantomfullofdread。
　　Whenmorningcame，forthefirsttimeinmanymonthsthefirewasout，Jo’splacewasempty，andtheroomwasverystill。
　　Butabirdsangblithelyonabuddingbough，closeby，thesnowdropsblossomedfreshlyatthewindow，andthespringsunshinestreamedinlikeabenedictionovertheplacidfaceuponthepillow，afacesofullofpainlesspeacethatthosewholoveditbestsmiledthroughtheirtears，andthankedGodthatBethwaswellatlast。
　　Amy’slecturedidLauriegood，though，ofcourse，hedidnotownittilllongafterward。Menseldomdo，forwhenwomenaretheadvisers，thelordsofcreationdon’ttaketheadvicetilltheyhavepersuadedthemselvesthatitisjustwhattheyintendedtodo。Thentheyactuponit，and，ifitsucceeds，theygivetheweakervesselhalfthecreditofit。Ifitfails，theygenerouslygiveherthewhole。Lauriewentbacktohisgrandfather，andwassodutifullydevotedforseveralweeksthattheoldgentlemandeclaredtheclimateofNicehadimprovedhimwonderfully，andhehadbettertryitagain。
　　Therewasnothingtheyounggentlemanwouldhavelikedbetter，butelephantscouldnothavedraggedhimbackafterthescoldinghehadreceived。Prideforbid，andwheneverthelonginggrewverystrong，hefortifiedhisresolutionbyrepeatingthewordsthathadmadethedeepestimpression，“Idespiseyou。“
　　“Goanddosomethingsplendidthatwillmakeherloveyou。“
　　Laurieturnedthematteroverinhismindsooftenthathesoonbroughthimselftoconfessthathehadbeenselfishandlazy，butthenwhenamanhasagreatsorrow，heshouldbeindulgedinallsortsofvagariestillhehasliveditdown。Hefeltthathisblightedaffectionswerequitedeadnow，andthoughheshouldneverceasetobeafaithfulmourner，therewasnooccasiontowearhisweedsostentatiously。Jowouldn’tlovehim，buthemightmakeherrespectandadmirehimbydoingsomethingwhichshouldprovethatagirl’snohadnotspoiledhislife。Hehadalwaysmeanttodosomething，andAmy’sadvicewasquiteunnecessary。Hehadonlybeenwaitingtilltheaforesaidblightedaffectionsweredecentlyinterred。
　　Thatbeingdone，hefeltthathewasreadyto`hidehisstrickenheart，andstilltoilon’。
　　AsGoethe，whenhehadajoyoragrief，putitintoasong，soLaurieresolvedtoembalmhislovesorrowinmusic，andtocomposeaRequiemwhichshouldharrowupJo’ssoulandmelttheheartofeveryhearer。Thereforethenexttimetheoldgentlemanfoundhimgettingrestlessandmoodyandorderedhimoff，hewenttoVienna，wherehehadmusicalfriends，andfelltoworkwiththefirmdeterminationtodistinguishhimself。Butwhetherthesorrowwastoovasttobeembodiedinmusic，ormusictooetherealtoupliftamortalwoe，hesoondiscoveredthattheRequiemwasbeyondhimjustatpresent。Itwasevidentthathismindwasnotinworkingorderyet，andhisideasneededclarifying，forofteninthemiddleofaplaintivestrain，hewouldfindhimselfhummingadancingtunethatvividlyrecalledtheChristmasballatNice，especiallythestoutFrenchman，andputaneffectualstoptotragiccompositionforthetimebeing。
　　Thenhetriedanopera，fornothingseemedimpossibleinthebeginning，buthereagainunforeseendifficultiesbesethim。HewantedJoforhisheroine，andcalleduponhismemorytosupplyhimwithtenderrecollectionsandromanticvisionsofhislove。Butmemoryturnedtraitor，andasifpossessedbytheperversespiritofthegirl，wouldonlyrecallJo’soddities，faults，andfreaks，wouldonlyshowherinthemostunsentimentalaspects——beatingmatswithherheadtiedupinabandana，barricadingherselfwiththesofapillow，orthrowingcoldwateroverhispassionalaGummidge——andanirresistablelaughspoiledthepensivepicturehewasendeavoringtopaint。Jowouldn’tbeputintotheoperaatanyprice，andhehadtogiveherupwitha“Blessthatgirl，whatatormentsheis!“
　　andaclutchathishair，asbecameadistractedcomposer。
　　Whenhelookedabouthimforanotherandalessintractabledamseltoimmortalizeinmelody，memoryproducedonewiththemostobligingreadiness。Thisphantomworemanyfaces，butitalwayshadgoldenhair，wasenvelopedinadiaphanouscloud，andfloatedairilybeforehismind’seyeinapleasingchaosofroses，peacocks，whiteponies，andblueribbons。Hedidnotgivethecomplacentwraithanyname，buthetookherforhisheroineandgrewquitefondofher，aswellhemight，forhegiftedherwitheverygiftandgraceunderthesun，andescortedher，unscathed，throughtrialswhichwouldhaveannihilatedanymortalwoman。
　　Thankstothisinspiration，hegotonswimminglyforatime，butgraduallytheworklostitscharm，andheforgottocompose，whilehesatmusing，peninhand，orroamedaboutthegaycitytogetsomenewideasandrefreshhismind，whichseemedtobeinasomewhatunsettledstatethatwinter。Hedidnotdomuch，buthethoughtagreatdealandwasconsciousofachangeofsomesortgoingoninspiteofhimself。“It’sgeniussimmering，perhaps。I’llletitsimmer，andseewhatcomesofit，“hesaid，withasecretsuspicionallthewhilethatitwasn’tgenius，butsomethingfarmorecommon。Whateveritwas，itsimmeredtosomepurpose，forhegrewmoreandmorediscontentedwithhisdesultorylife，begantolongforsomerealandearnestworktogoat，soulandbody，andfinallycametothewiseconclusionthateveryonewholovedmusicwasnotacomposer。ReturningfromoneofMozart’sgrandoperas，splendidlyperformedattheRoyalTheatre，helookedoverhisown，playedafewofthebestparts，satstaringatthebustsofMendelssohn，Beethoven，andbach，whostaredbenignlybackagain。Thensuddenlyhetoreuphismusicsheets，onebyone，andasthelastflutteredoutofhishand，hesaidsoberlytohimself……
　　“Sheisright!Talentisn’tgenius，andyoucan’tmakeitso。ThatmusichastakenthevanityoutofmyasRometookitoutofher，andIwon’tbeahumbuganylonger。NowwhatshallIdo？“
　　Thatseemedahardquestiontoanswer，andLauriebegantowishhehadtoworkforhisdailybread。Nowifever，occurredaneligibleopportunityfor`goingtothedevil’，asheonceforciblyexpressedit，forhehadplentyofmoneyandnothingtodo，andSatanisproverbiallyfondofprovidingemploymentforfullandidlehands。Thepoorfellowhadtemptationsenoughfromwithoutandfromwithin，buthewithstoodthemprettywell，formuchashevaluedliberty，hevaluedgoodfaithandconfidencemore，sohispromisetohisgrandfather，andhisdesiretobeabletolookhonestlyintotheeyesofthewomenwholovedhim，andsay“All’swell，“kepthimsafeandsteady。
　　VerylikelysomeMrs。Grundywillobserve，“Idon’tbelieveit，boyswillbeboys，youngmenmustsowtheirwildoats，andwomenmustnotexpectmiracles。“Idaresayyoudon’t，Mrs。Grundy，butit’struenevertheless。Womenworkagoodmanymiracles，andIhaveapersuasionthattheymayperformeventhatofraisingthestandardofmanhoodbyrefusingtoechosuchsayings。Lettheboysbeboys，thelongerthebetter，andlettheyoungmensowtheirwildoatsiftheymust。Butmothers，sisters，andfriendsmayhelptomakethecropasmallone，andkeepmanytaresfromspoilingtheharvest，bybelieving，andshowingthattheybelieve，inthepossibilityofloyaltytothevirtueswhichmakemenmanliestingoodwomen’seyes。Ifitisafemininedelusion，leaveustoenjoyitwhilewemay，forwithoutithalfthebeautyandtheromanceoflifeislost，andsorrowfulforebodingswouldembitterallourhopesofthebrave，tenderheartedlittlelads，whostilllovetheirmothersbetterthanthemselvesandarenotashamedtoownit。
　　LauriethoughtthatthetaskofforgettinghisloveforJowouldabsorballhispowersforyears，buttohisgreatsurprisehediscovereditgreweasiereveryday。Herefusedtobelieveitatfirst，gotangrywithhimself，andcouldn’tunderstandit，buttheseheartsofoursarecuriousandcontrarythings，andtimeandnatureworktheirwillinspiteofus。Laurie’sheartwouldn’tache。Thewoundpersistedinhealingwitharapiditythatastonishedhim，andinsteadoftryingtoforget，hefoundhimselftryingtoremember。Hehadnotforeseenthisturnofaffairs，andwasnotpreparedforit。Hewasdisgustedwithhimself，surprisedathisownfickleness，andfullofaqueermixtureofdisappointmentandreliefthathecouldrecoverfromsuchatremendousblowsosoon。Hecarefullystirreduptheembersofhislostlove，buttheyrefusedtoburstintoablaze。Therewasonlyacomfortableglowthatwarmedanddidhimgoodwithoutputtinghimintoafever，andhewasreluctantlyobligedtoconfessthattheboyishpassionwasslowlysubbsidingintoamoretranquilsentiment，verytender，alittlesadandresentfulstill，butthatwassuretopassawayintime，leavingabrotherlyaffectionwhichwouldlastunbrokentotheend。
　　Astheword`brotherly’passedthroughhismindinoneofhisreveries，hesmiled，andglancedupatthepictureofMozartthatwasbeforehim……
　　“Well，hewasagreatman，andwhenhecouldn’thaveonesisterhetooktheother，andwashappy。“
　　Lauriedidnotutterthewords，buthethoughtthem，andthenextinstantkissedthelittleoldring，sayingtohimself，“No，Iwon’t!Ihaven’tforgotten，Inevercan。I’lltryagain，andifthatfails，whythen……
　　Leavinghissentenceunfinished，heseizedpenandpaperandwrotetoJo，tellingherthathecouldnotsettletoanythingwhiletherewastheleasthopeofherchanginghermind。
　　Couldn’tshe，wouldn’tshe，andlethimcomehomeandbehappy？
　　Whilewaitingforananswerhedidnothing，buthediditenergetically，forhewasinafeverofimpatience。Itcameatlast，andsettledhismindeffectuallyononepoint，forJodecidedlycouldn’tandwouldn’t。ShewaswrappedupinBeth，andneverwishedtohearthewordloveagain。Thenshebeggedhimtobehappywithsomebodyelse，butalwayskeepalittlecornerofhisghartforhislovingsisterJo。InapostscriptshedesiredhimnottotellAmythatBethwasworse，shewascominghomeinthespringandtherewasnoneedofsaddeningtheremainderofherstay。Thatwouldbetimeenough，pleaseGod，butLauriemustwritetoheroften，andnotletherfeellonely，homesickoranxious。
　　“SoIwill，atonce。Poorlittlegirl，itwillbeasadgoinghomeforher，I’mafraid。“AndLaurieopenedhisdesk，asifwritingtoAmyhadbeentheproperconclusionofthesentenceleftunfinishedsomeweeksbefore。
　　Buthedidnotwritetheletterthatday，forasherummagedouthisbestpaper，hecameacrosssomethingwhichchangedhispurpose。Tumblingaboutinonepartofthedeskamongbills，passports，andbusinessdocumentsofvariouskindswereseveralofJo’sletters，andinanothercompartmentwerethreenotesfromAmy，carefullytiedupwithoneofherblueribbonsandsweetlysuggestiveofthelittledeadrosesputawayinside。withahalf-repentant，half-amusedexpression，LauriegatheredupallJo’sletters，smoothed，folded，andputthemneatlyintoasmalldrawerofthedesk，stoodaminuteturningtheringthoughtfullyonhisfinger，thenslowlydrewitoff，laiditwiththeletters，lockedthedrawer，andwentouttohearHighMassatSaintStefan’s，feelingasiftherehadbeenafuneral，andthoughnotoverwhelmedwithaffliction，thisseemedamoreproperwaytospendtherestofthedaythaninwritingletterstocharmingyoungladies。
　　Theletterwentverysoon，however，andwaspromptlyanswered，forAmywashomesick，andconfesseditinthemostdelightfullyconfidingmanner。Thecorrespondenceflourishedfamously，andlettersflewtoandfrowithunfailingregularityallthroughtheearlyspring。Lauriesoldhisbusts，madeallumettesofhisopera，andwentbacktoParis，hopingsomebodywouldarrivebeforelong。HewanteddesperatelytogotoNice，butwouldnottillhewasasked，andAmywouldnotaskhim，forjustthenshewashavinglittleexperiencesofherown，whichmadeherratherwishtoavoidthequizzicaleyesof`outboy’。
　　FredVaughnhadreturned，andputthequestiontowhichshehadoncedecidedtoanswer，“Yes，thankyou，“butnowshesaid，“No，thankyou，“kindlybutsteadily，forwhenthetimecame，hercouragefailedher，andshefoundthatsomethingmorethanmoneyandpositionwasneededtosatisfythenewlongingthatfilledherheartsofulloftenderhopesandfears。Thewords，“Fredisagoodfellow，butnotatallthemanIfanciedyouwouldeverlike，“andLaurie’sfacewhenheutteredthem，keptreturningtoheraspertinaciouslyasherowndidwhenshesaidinlook，ifnotinwords，“I
　　shallmarryformoney。“Ittroubledhertorememberthatnow，shewishedshecouldtakeitback，itsoundedsounwomanly。
　　Shedidn’twantLaurietothinkheraheartless，worldlycreature。Shedidn’tcaretobeaqueenofsocietynowhalfsomuchasshedidtobealovablewoman。Shewassogladhedidn’thateherforthedreadfulthingsshesaid，buttookthemsobeautifullyandwaskinderthanever。Hislettersweresuchacomfort，forthehomeletterswereveryirregularandnothalfsosatisfactoryashiswhentheydidcome。Itwasnotonlyapleasure，butadutytoanswerthem，forthepoorfellowwasforlorn，andneededpetting，sinceJopersistedinbeingstonyhearted。Sheoughttohavemadeaneffortandtriedtolovehim。Itcouldn’tbeveryhard，manypeoplewouldbeproudandgladtohavesuchadearboycareforthem。ButJoneverwouldactlikeothergirls，sotherewasnothingtodobutbeverykindandtreathimlikeabrother。
　　IfallbrothersweretreatedaswellasLauriewasatthisperiod，theywouldbeamuchhappierraceofbeingsthantheyare。Amyneverlecturednow。Sheaskedhisopiniononallsubjects，shewasinterestedineverythinghedid，madecharminglittlepresentsforhim，andsenthimtwolettersaweek，fulloflivelygossip，sisterlyconfidences，andcaptivatingsketchesofthelovelyscenesabouther。Asfewbrothersarecomplimentedbyhavingtheirletterscarriedaboutintheirsister’spockets，readandrereaddiligently，criedoverwhenshort，kissedwhenlong，andtreasuredcarefully，wewillnothintthatAmydidanyofthesefondandfoolishthings。Butshecertainlydidgrowalittlepaleandpensivethatspring，lostmuchofherrelishforsociety，andwentoutsketchingaloneagooddeal。Sheneverhadmuchtoshowwhenshecamehome，butwasstudyingnature，Idaresay，whileshesatforhours，withherhandsfolded，ontheterraceatValrosa，orabsentlysketchedanyfancythatoccurredtoher，astalwartknightcarvedonatomb，ayoungmanasleepinthegrass，withhishatoverhiseyes，oracurlyhairedgirlingorgeousarray，promenadingdownaballroomonthearmofatallgentleman，bothfacesbeingleftabluraccordingtothelastfashioninart，whichwassafebutnotaltogethersatisfactory。
　　HerauntthoughtthatsheregrettedheranswertoFred，andfindingdenialsuselessandexplanationsimpossible，Amylefthertothinkwhatsheliked，takingcarethatLaurieshouldknowthatFredhadgonetoEgypt。Thatwasall，butheunderstoodit，andlookedrelieved，ashesaidtohimself，withavenerableair