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Meg had a quiet rapture, and then brooded over the letter, while Jo set the sickroom in order, and Hannah `knocked up a couple of pies in case of company unexpected"A breath of fresh air seemed to blow through the house, and something better than sunshine brightened the quiet roomsEverything appeared to feel the hopeful changeBeth's bird began to chirp again, and a half-blown rose was discovered on Amy's bush in the windowThe fires seemed to burn with unusual cheeriness, and every time the girls met, their pale faces broke into smiles as they hugged one another, whispering encouragingly, "Mother's coming, dear! Mother's coming!" Every one rejoiced but BethShe lay in that heavy stupor, alike unconscious of hope and joy, doubt and dangerIt was a piteous sight, the once rosy face so changed and vacant, the once busy hands so weak and wasted, the once smiling lips quite dumb, and the once pretty, well-kept hair scattered rough and tangled on the pillowAll day she say so, only rousing now and then to mutter, "Water!" with lips so parched they could hardly shape the wordAll day Jo and Meg hovered over her, watching, waiting, hoping, and trusting in God and Mother, and all day the snow fell, the bitter wind raged, and the hours dragged slowly byBut night came at last, and every time the clock struck, the sisters, still sitting on either side of the bed, looked at each chanel classic handbags other with brightening eyes, for each hour brought help nearerThe doctor had been in to say that some change, for better or worse, would probably take place about midnight, at which time he would return Hannah, quite worn out, lay down on the sofa at the bed's foot and fell fast asleep, MrLaurence marched to and fro in the parlor, feeling that he would rather face a rebel battery than MrsMarch's countenance as she enteredLaurie lay on the rug, pretending to rest, but staring into the fire with the thoughtful look which made his black eyes beautifully soft and clear The girls never forgot that night, for no sleep came to them as they kept their watch, with that dreadful sense of powerlessness which comes to us in hours like those "If God spares Beth, I never will complain again," whispered Meg earnestly "If god spares Beth, I'll try to love and serve Him all my life," answered Jo, with equal fervor "I wish I had no heart, it aches so," sighed Meg, after a pause "If life is often as hard as this, I don't see how we ever shall get through it," added her sister despondently Here the clock struck twelve, and both forgot themselves in watching Beth, for they fancied a change passed over her wan faceThe house was still as death, and nothing but the wailing of the wind broke the deep hushWeary Hannah slept on, and no one but the sisters saw the pale shadow which hermes kelly handbag seemed to fall upon the little bedAn hour went by, and nothing happened except Laurie's quiet departure for the stationAnother hour, still no one came, and anxious fears of delay in the storm, or accidents by the way, or, worst of all, a great grief at Washington, haunted the girls It was past two, when Jo, who stood at the window thinking how dreary the world looked in its winding sheet of snow, heard a movement by the bed, and turning quickly, saw Meg kneeling before their mother's easy chair with her face hiddenA dreadful fear passed coldly over Jo, as she thought, "Beth is dead, and Meg is afraid to tell me She was back at her post in an instant, and to her excited eyes a great change seemed to have taken placeThe fever flush and the look of pain were gone, and the beloved little face looked so pale and peaceful in its utter repose that Jo felt no desire to weep or to lamentLeaning low over this dearest of her sisters, she kissed the damp forehead with her heart on her lips, and softly whispered, "Goodby, my BethGoodby!" As if awaked by the stir, Hannah started out of her sleep, hurried to the bed, looked at Beth, felt her hands, listened at her lips, and then, throwing her apron over her head, sat down to rock to and fro, exclaiming, under her breath, "The fever's turned, she's sleepin' nat'ral, her skin's damp, and she breathes easyPraise be given! Oh, my omega seamaster de ville goodness me!" Before the girls could believe the happy truth, the doctor came to confirm itHe was a homely man, but they thought his face quite heavenly when he smiled and said, with a fatherly look at them, "Yes, my dears, I think the little girl will pull through this timeKeep the house quiet, let her sleep, and when she wakes, give her What they were to give, neither heard, for both crept into the dark hall, and, sitting on the stairs, held each other close, rejoicing with hearts too full for wordsWhen they went back to be kissed and cuddled by faithful Hannah, they found Beth lying, as she used to do, with her cheek pillowed on her hand, the dreadful pallor gone, and breathing quietly, as if just fallen asleep "If Mother would only come now!" said Jo, as the winter night began to wane "See," said Meg, coming up with a white, half-opened rose, "I thought this would hardly be ready to lay in Beth's hand tomorrow if she--went away from usBut it has blossomed in the night, and now I mean to put it in my vase here, so that when the darling wakes, the first thing she sees will be the little rose, and Mother's face Never had the sun risen so beautifully, and never had the world seemed so lovely as it did to the heavy eyes of Meg and Jo, as they looked out in the early morning, when their long, sad vigil was done "It looks like a fairy world," said Meg, smiling chanel jewelry to herself, as she stood behind the curtain, watching the dazzling sight "Hark!" cried Jo, starting to her feet Yes, there was a sound of bells at the door below, a cry from Hannah, and then Laurie's voice saying in a joyful whisper, "Girls, she's come! She's come!" CHAPTER NINETEEN While these things were happening at home, Amy was having hard times at Aunt March'sShe felt her exile deeply, and for the first time in her life, realized how much she was beloved and petted at homeAunt March never petted any oneShe did not approve of it, but she meant to be kind, for the well- behaved little girl pleased her very much, and Aunt March had a soft place in her old heart for her nephew's children, though she didn't think it proper to confess itShe really did her best to make Amy happy, but, dear me, what mistakes she madeSome old people keep young at heart in spite of wrinkles and gray hairs, can sympathize with children's little cares and joys, make them feel at home, and can hide wise lessons under pleasant plays, giving and receiving friendship in the sweetest wayBut Aunt March had not this gift, and she worried Amy very much with her rules and orders, her prim ways, and long, prosy talksFinding the child more docile and amiable than her sister, the old lady felt it her duty to try and counteract, as far as possible, the bad effects of home freedom and gucci bangle watch indulg