came to confirm it. He 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 time. Keep 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 words. When 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
to-morrow if she -- went away from us. But 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 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!"

-201-