"My head aches and I'm tired, so I notion maybe some of you would cross," stated Beth.
"Amy will be in currently, and she will run down for us," suggested Meg.
So Beth lay down on the sofa, the others returned to their paintings, and the Hummels were forgotten. An hour handed. Amy did not come, Meg went to her room to strive on a brand new dress, Jo became absorbed in her tale, and Hannah become slumbering before the kitchen hearth, when Beth quietly put on her hood, filled her basket with odds and ends for the negative kids, and went out into the cold air with a heavy head and a grieved appearance in her affected person eyes. It turned into past due whilst she got here lower back, and no one noticed her creep upstairs and shut herself into her mom's room. Half an hour after, Jo went to 'Mother's closet' for some thing, and there located little Beth sitting on the medication chest, looking very grave, with crimson eyes and a camphor bottle in her hand.
"Christopher Columbus! What's the problem?" cried Jo, as Beth put out her hand as though to warn her off, and requested fast. . .
"You've had the scarlet fever, have not you?"
"Years ago, whilst Meg did. Why?"
"Then I'll inform you. Oh, Jo, the child's dead!"
"What baby?"
"Mrs. Hummel's. It died in my lap before she were given domestic," cried Beth with a sob.
"My poor pricey, how dreadful for you! I have to have long gone," stated Jo, taking her sister in her hands as she sat down in her mom's huge chair, with a remorseful face.
"It wasn't dreadful, Jo, handiest so unhappy! I noticed in a minute it was sicker, but Lottchen said her mom had gone for a doctor, so I took Baby and allow Lotty rest. It appeared asleep, but all of a unexpected if gave a little cry and trembled, and then lay very nevertheless. I tried to heat its toes, and Lotty gave it some milk, but it did not stir, and I knew it become lifeless."
"Don't cry, pricey! What did you do?"
"I simply sat and held it softly until Mrs. Hummel got here with the physician. He said it became useless, and checked out Heinrich and Minna, who've sore throats. 'Scarlet fever, ma'am. Ought to have referred to as me before,' he stated crossly. Mrs. Hummel instructed him she become terrible, and had tried to cure infant herself, however now it was too past due, and she may want to best ask him to assist the others and agree with to charity for his pay. He smiled then, and was kinder, but it was very sad, and I cried with them until he became spherical all of a sudden, and instructed me to move domestic and take belladonna right away, or I'd have the fever."
"No, you may not!" cried Jo, hugging her close, with a anxious look. "Oh, Beth, in case you should be ill I never ought to forgive myself! What lets do?"
"Don't be fearful, I guess I shan't have it badly. I seemed in Mother's e-book, and saw that it starts with headache, sore throat, and queer feelings like mine, so I did take a few belladonna, and I feel higher," stated Beth, laying her cold arms on her warm brow and trying to appearance properly.
"If Mother turned into most effective at home!" exclaimed Jo, seizing the e book, and feeling that Washington become a giant manner off. She study a web page, looked at Beth, felt her head, peeped into her throat, after which said gravely, "You've been over the child every day for more than a week, and some of the others who're going to have it, so I'm afraid you are going to have it, Beth. I'll name Hannah, she knows all approximately illness."
"Don't allow Amy come. She never had it, and I ought to hate to give it to her. Can't you and Meg have it over again?" requested Beth, anxiously.
"I bet not. Don't care if I do. Serve me right, egocentric pig, to can help you move, and live writing rubbish myself!" muttered Jo, as she went to consult Hannah.
The suitable soul was extensive wakeful in a minute, and took the lead without delay, assuring that there has been no need to worry; every one had scarlet fever, and if rightly treated, nobody died, all of which Jo believed, and felt tons relieved as they went up to name Meg.
"Now I'll inform you what we're going to do," said Hannah, while she had examined and wondered Beth, "we will have Dr. Bangs, simply to test you, dear, and spot that we start proper. Then we'll ship Amy off to Aunt March's for a spell, to hold her out of harm's way, and one of you women can stay at home and amuse Beth for a day or two."
"I shall live, of direction, I'm oldest," started out Meg, looking nerve-racking and self-reproachful.
"I shall, because it's my fault she is unwell. I informed Mother I'd do the errands, and I have not," said Jo decidedly.
"Which will you have got, Beth? There ain't no want of but one," aid Hannah.
"Jo, please." And Beth leaned her head against her sister with a happy appearance, which effectively settled that point.
"I'll go and tell Amy," said Meg, feeling a little hurt, yet rather relieved on the complete, for she did now not like nursing, and Jo did.
Amy rebelled outright, and passionately declared that she had rather have the fever than go to Aunt March. Meg reasoned, pleaded, and commanded, all in useless. Amy protested that she could no longer pass, and Meg left her in melancholy to invite Hannah what ought to be carried out. Before she got here back, Laurie walked into the parlor to discover Amy sobbing, along with her head inside the sofa cushions. She advised her tale, waiting for to be consoled, however Laurie best placed his fingers in his pockets and walked about the room, whistling softly, as he knit his brows in deep idea. Presently he sat down beside her, and stated, in his most wheedlesome tone, "Now be a realistic little girl, and do as they say. No, don't cry, however hear what a jolly plan I've got. You go to Aunt March's, and I'll come and take you out every day, driving or taking walks, and we'll have capital times. Won't that be better than moping right here?"
"I do not desire to be despatched off as though I become within the way," began Amy, in an injured voice.
"Bless your coronary heart, toddler, it's to preserve you properly. You don't need to be unwell, do you?"
"No, I'm certain I don't, but I dare say I will be, for I've been with Beth all of the time."
"That's the very cause you need to go away immediately, so you may also get away it. Change of air and care will preserve you properly, I dare say, or if it does now not completely, you may have the fever more gently. I suggest you to be off as quickly as you may, for scarlet fever is not any comic story, miss."
"But it is stupid at Aunt March's, and she or he is so pass," stated Amy, searching as a substitute fearful.
"It won't be dull with me popping in every day to tell you the way Beth is, and take you out gallivanting. The old girl likes me, and I'll be as candy as viable to her, so she may not % at us, something we do."
"Will you take me out in the trotting wagon with Puck?"
"On my honor as a gentleman."
"And come every unmarried day?"
"See if I do not!"
"And carry me lower back the minute Beth is properly?"
"The same minute."
"And go to the theater, sincerely?"
"A dozen theaters, if we may additionally."
"Well—I bet I will," said Amy slowly.
"Good girl! Call Meg, and inform her you will supply in," stated Laurie, with an approving pat, which annoyed Amy extra than the 'giving in'.
Meg and Jo came going for walks right down to behold the miracle which have been wrought, and Amy, feeling very treasured and self-sacrificing, promised to go, if the medical doctor said Beth was going to be sick.
"How is the little dear?" requested Laurie, for Beth become his especial puppy, and he felt greater stressful about her than he preferred to expose.
"She is mendacity down on Mother's bed, and feels better. The toddler's demise her, however I dare say she has only got bloodless. Hannah says she thinks so, but she looks concerned, and that makes me fidgety," answered Meg.
"What a trying global it's miles!" stated Jo, rumpling up her hair in a fretful manner. "No quicker will we get out of one hassle than down comes any other. There would not seem to be some
thing to hold directly to when Mother's long gone, so I'm all at sea."
"Well, do not make a porcupine of yourself, it is not turning into. Settle your wig, Jo, and tell me if I shall telegraph for your mom, or do something?" requested Laurie, who in no way had been reconciled to the lack of his pal's one beauty.
"That is what issues me," said Meg. "I suppose we ought to inform her if Beth is sincerely unwell, however Hannah says we mustn't, for Mother can't depart Father, and it's going to best cause them to tense. Beth won't be sick long, and Hannah knows simply what to do, and Mother said we were to mind her, so I think we have to, however it would not appear quite proper to me."
"Hum, nicely, I can't say. Suppose you ask Grandfather after the doctor has been."
"We will. Jo, move and get Dr. Bangs immediately," commanded Meg. "We can't decide anything until he has been."
"Stay where you are, Jo. I'm errand boy to this status quo," stated Laurie, taking over his cap.
"I'm afraid you're busy," started Meg.
"No, I've finished my classes for the day."
"Do you take a look at in excursion time?" asked Jo.
"I follow the good instance my associates set me," turned into Laurie's solution, as he swung himself out of the room.
"I have notable hopes for my boy," located Jo, watching him fly over the fence with an approving smile.
"He does thoroughly, for a boy," became Meg's fairly ungracious solution, for the situation did no longer hobby her.
Dr. Bangs came, said Beth had symptoms of the fever, however he notion she might have it lightly, though he seemed sober over the Hummel story. Amy became ordered off immediately, and supplied with some thing to ward off danger, she departed in notable kingdom, with Jo and Laurie as escort.
Aunt March received them with her common hospitality.
"What do you need now?" she requested, looking sharply over her spectacles, whilst the parrot, sitting at the lower back of her chair, called out...
"Go away. No boys allowed right here."
Laurie retired to the window, and Jo instructed her story.
"No extra than I predicted, if you are allowed to head poking approximately amongst negative oldsters. Amy can stay and make herself beneficial if she isn't sick, which I've absolute confidence she can be, looks like it now. Don't cry, baby, it worries me to hear humans sniff."
Amy was getting ready to crying, but Laurie slyly pulled the parrot's tail, which precipitated Polly to utter an astonished croak and get in touch with out, "Bless my boots!" in this sort of humorous way, that she laughed instead.
"What do you pay attention from your mom?" requested the antique female gruffly.
"Father is plenty better," answered Jo, seeking to preserve sober.
"Oh, is he? Well, that may not remaining lengthy, I fancy. March in no way had any stamina," turned into the pleased reply.
"Ha, ha! Never say die, take a pinch of snuff, good-bye, good-bye!" squalled Polly, dancing on her perch, and clawing at the antique lady's cap as Laurie tweaked him inside the rear.
"Hold your tongue, you disrespectful old hen! And, Jo, you would better pass straight away. It isn't right to be gadding about so overdue with a rattlepated boy like..."
"Hold your tongue, you disrespectful old chicken!" cried Polly, tumbling off the chair with a soar, and strolling to % the 'rattlepated' boy, who become shaking with laughter at the ultimate speech.
"I do not assume I can bear it, however I'll attempt," concept Amy, as she turned into left on my own with Aunt March.
"Get along, you fright!" screamed Polly, and at that impolite speech Amy couldn't restrain a sniff.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
DARK DAYS
Beth did have the fever, and turned into tons sicker than anyone however Hannah and the physician suspected. The women knew not anything approximately infection, and Mr. Laurence become no longer allowed to look her, so Hannah had the whole thing her own way, and busy Dr. Bangs did his high-quality, but left a good deal to the exceptional nurse. Meg stayed at domestic, lest she must infect the Kings, and stored house, feeling very hectic and a touch guilty whilst she wrote letters in which no mention become fabricated from Beth's illness. She couldn't assume it proper to lie to her mother, however she were bidden to thoughts Hannah, and Hannah wouldn't pay attention of 'Mrs. March bein' told, and worried just for sech a trifle.'
Jo committed herself to Beth day and night time, not a difficult mission, for Beth was very affected person, and bore her pain uncomplainingly as long as she may want to manage herself. But there got here a time whilst at some stage in the fever fits she commenced to speak in a hoarse, damaged voice, to play at the coverlet as though on her liked little piano, and try to sing with a throat so swollen that there was no track left, a time whilst she did now not understand the acquainted faces round her, however addressed them by way of incorrect names, and known as imploringly for her mother. Then Jo grew anxious, Meg begged to be allowed to put in writing the reality, and even Hannah said she 'would think about it, although there was no chance but'. A letter from Washington introduced to their problem, for Mr. March had had a relapse, and could not think about coming home for a protracted while.
How dark the times regarded now, how unhappy and lonely the house, and the way heavy had been the hearts of the sisters as they labored and waited, even as the shadow of dying hovered over the as soon as glad domestic. Then it become that Margaret, sitting on my own with tears dropping regularly on her paintings, felt how rich she were in matters more valuable than any luxuries cash should purchase—in love, safety, peace, and fitness, the real blessings of existence. Then it become that Jo, residing within the darkened room, with that struggling little sister always before her eyes and that pathetic voice sounding in her ears, discovered to see the splendor and the beauty of Beth's nature, to experience how deep and soft an area she stuffed in all hearts, and to acknowledge the well worth of Beth's unselfish ambition to live for others, and make home glad by that exercise of those simple virtues which all may additionally own, and which all need to love and value extra than skills, wealth, or beauty. And Amy, in her exile, longed eagerly to be at domestic, that she would possibly paintings for Beth, feeling now that no service might be hard or irksome, and remembering, with regretful grief, how many disregarded obligations those inclined arms had executed for her. Laurie haunted the residence like a restless ghost, and Mr. Laurence locked the grand piano, due to the fact he couldn't endure to be reminded of the young neighbor who used to make the twilight great for him. Everyone neglected Beth. The milkman, baker, grocer, and butcher inquired how she did, terrible Mrs. Hummel came to beg pardon for her thoughtlessness and to get a shroud for Minna, the buddies sent all types of comforts and right desires, or even people who knew her first-class had been amazed to locate how many pals shy little Beth had made.
Meanwhile she lay on her bed with antique Joanna at her side, for even in her wanderings she did no longer forget about her forlorn protege. She longed for her cats, however could no longer have them added, lest they have to get unwell, and in her quiet hours she was complete of anxiety about Jo. She sent loving messages to Amy, bade them tell her mother that she might write quickly, and often begged for pencil and paper to strive to mention a word, that Father might not assume she had omitted him. But soon even those periods of consciousness ended, and she or he lay hour after hour, tossing to and fro, with incoherent words on her lips, or sank into a heavy sleep which introduced her no refreshment. Dr. Bangs got here two times an afternoon, Hannah sat up at night time, Meg stored a telegram in her desk all geared up to send off at any minute, and Jo by no means stirred from Beth's aspect.
The first of December changed into a wintry day certainly to them, for a sour wind blew, snow fell fast, and the year seemed getting prepared for its death. When Dr. Bangs came that morning, he appeared lengthy at Beth, held the new hand in both his own for a minute, and laid it gently down, saying, in a low voice to Hannah, "If Mrs. March can g
o away her husband she'd higher be despatched for."
Hannah nodded without talking, for her lips twitched nervously, Meg dropped down into a chair as the electricity regarded to go out of her limbs on the sound of these phrases, and Jo, standing with a pale face for a minute, ran to the parlor, snatched up the telegram, and throwing on her things, rushed out into the storm. She changed into quickly back, and while noiselessly setting out her cloak, Laurie came in with a letter, pronouncing that Mr. March changed into mending once more. Jo study it thankfully, however the heavy weight did now not seem lifted off her coronary heart, and her face became so complete of misery that Laurie requested fast, "What is it? Is Beth worse?"
"I've sent for Mother," stated Jo, tugging at her rubber boots with a tragic expression.
"Good for you, Jo! Did you do it for your very own duty?" requested Laurie, as he seated her inside the hall chair and took off the rebellious boots, seeing how her arms shook.
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