“‘Hope and keep busy’, that’s the motto for us, so let’s see who will remember it best.  I shall go to Aunt March, as usual.  Oh, won’t she lecture though!” said Jo, as she sipped with returning spirit.

“I shall go to my Kings, though I’d much rather stay at home and attend to things here,” said Meg, wishing she hadn’t made her eyes so red.

“No need of that.  Beth and I can keep house perfectly well,” put in Amy, with an important air.

“Hannah will tell us what to do, and we’ll have everything nice when you come home,” added Beth, getting out her mop and dish tub without delay.

“I think anxiety is very interesting,” observed Amy, eating sugar pensively.

The girls couldn’t help laughing, and felt better for it, though Meg shook her head at the young lady who could find consolation in a sugar bowl.

The sight of the turnovers made Jo sober again; and when the two went out to their daily tasks, they looked sorrowfully back at the window where they were accustomed to see their mother’s face.  It was gone, but Beth had remembered the little household ceremony, and there she was, nodding away at them like a rosyfaced mandarin.

“That’s so like my Beth!” said Jo, waving her hat, with a grateful face.  “Goodbye, Meggy, I hope the Kings won’t strain today.  Don’t fret about Father, dear,” she added, as they parted.

“And I hope Aunt March won’t croak.  Your hair is becoming, and it looks very boyish and nice,” returned Meg, trying not to smile at the curly head, which looked comically small on her tall sister’s shoulders.

“That’s my only comfort.”  And, touching her hat a la Laurie, away went Jo, feeling like a shorn sheep on a wintry day.

News from their father comforted the girls very much, for though dangerously ill, the presence of the best and tenderest of nurses had already done him good.  Mr. Brooke sent a bulletin every day, and as the head of the family, Meg insisted on reading the dispatches, which grew more cheerful as the week passed.  At first, everyone was eager to write, and plump envelopes were carefully poked into the letter box by one or other of the sisters, who felt rather important with their Washington correspondence.  As one of these packets contained characteristic notes from the party, we will rob an imaginary mail, and read them.

My dearest Mother: 

It is impossible to tell you how happy your last letter made us, for the news was so good we couldn’t help laughing and crying over it.  How very kind Mr. Brooke is, and how fortunate that Mr. Laurence’s business detains him near you so long, since he is so useful to you and Father.  The girls are all as good as gold.  Jo helps me with the sewing, and insists on doing all sorts of hard jobs.  I should be afraid she might overdo, if I didn’t know her ‘moral fit’ wouldn’t last long.  Beth is as regular about her tasks as a clock, and never forgets what you told her.