45-第1部分

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　CHAPTER　FORTY…FIVE

I　cannot　feel　that　I　have　done　my　duty　as　humble　historian　of　the　March　family；　without　devoting　at　least　one　chapter　to　the　two　most　precious　and　important　members　of　it。　Daisy　and　Demi　had　now　arrived　at　years　of　discretion；　for　in　this　fast　age　babies　of　three　or　four　assert　their　rights；　and　get　them；　too；　which　is　more　than　many　of　their　elders　do。　If　there　ever　were　a　pair　of　twins　in　danger　of　being　utterly　spoiled　by　adoration；　it　was　these　prattling　Brookes。　Of　course　they　were　the　most　remarkable　children　ever　born；　as　will　be　shown　when　I　mention　that　they　walked　at　eight　months；　talked　fluently　at　twelve　months；　and　at　two　years　they　took　their　places　at　table；　and　behaved　with　a　propriety　which　charmed　all　beholders。　At　three；　Daisy　demanded　a　‘needler'；　and　actually　made　a　bag　with　four　stitches　in　it。　She　likewise　set　up　housekeeping　in　the　sideboard；　and　managed　a　microscopic　cooking　stove　with　a　skill　that　brought　tears　of　pride　to　Hannah's　eyes；　while　Demi　learned　his　letters　with　his　grandfather；　who　invented　a　new　mode　of　teaching　the　alphabet　by　forming　letters　with　his　arms　and　legs；　thus　uniting　gymnastics　for　head　and　heels。　The　boy　early　developed　a　mechanical　genius　which　delighted　his　father　and　distracted　his　mother；　for　he　tried　to　imitate　every　machine　he　saw；　and　kept　the　nursery　in　a　chaotic　condition；　with　his　‘sewinsheen'；　a　mysterious　structure　of　string；　chairs；　clothespins；　and　spools；　for　wheels　to　go　‘wound　and　wound'。　Also　a　basket　hung　over　the　back　of　a　chair；　in　which　he　vainly　tried　to　hoist　his　too　confiding　sister；　who；　with　feminine　devotion；　allowed　her　little　head　to　be　bumped　till　rescued；　when　the　young　inventor　indignantly　remarked；　〃Why；　Marmar；　dat's　my　lellywaiter；　and　me's　trying　to　pull　her　up。〃　

Though　utterly　unlike　in　character；　the　twins　got　on　remarkably　well　together；　and　seldom　quarreled　more　than　thrice　a　day。　Of　course；　Demi　tyrannized　over　Daisy；　and　gallantly　defended　her　from　every　other　aggressor；　while　Daisy　made　a　galley　slave　of　herself；　and　adored　her　brother　as　the　one　perfect　being　in　the　world。　A　rosy；　chubby；　sunshiny　little　soul　was　Daisy；　who　found　her　way　to　everybody's　heart；　and　nestled　there。　One　of　the　captivating　children；　who　seem　made　to　be　kissed　and　cuddled；　adorned　and　adored　like　little　goddesses；　and　produced　for　general　approval　on　all　festive　occasions。　Her　small　virtues　were　so　sweet　that　she　would　have　been　quite　angelic　if　a　few　small　naughtinesses　had　not　kept　her　delightfully　human。　It　was　all　fair　weather　in　her　world；　and　every　morning　she　scrambled　up　to　the　window　in　her　little　nightgown　to　look　our；　and　say；　no　matter　whether　it　rained　or　shone；　〃Oh；　pitty　day；　oh；　pitty　day！〃　Everyone　was　a　friend；　and　she　offered　kisses　to　a　stranger　so　confidingly　that　the　most　inveterate　bachelor　relented；　and　baby…lovers　became　faithful　worshipers。　

〃Me　loves　evvybody；〃　she　once　said；　opening　her　arms；　with　her　spoon　in　one　hand；　and　her　mug　in　the　other；　as　if　eager　to　embrace　and　nourish　the　whole　world。　

As　she　grew；　her　mother　began　to　feel　that　the　Dovecote　would　be　blessed　by　the　presence　of　an　inmate　as　serene　and　loving　as　that　which　had　helped　to　make　the　old　house　home；　and　to　pray　that　she　might　be　spared　a　loss　like　that　which　had　latelytaught　them　how　long　they　had　entertained　an　angel　unawares。　Her　grandfather　often　called　her　‘Beth'；　and　her　grandmother　watched　over　her　with　untiring　devotion；　as　if　trying　to　atone　for　some　past　mistake；　which　no　eye　but　her　own　could　see。　

Demi；　like　a　true　Yankee；　was　of　an　inquiring　turn；　wanting　to　know　everything；　and　often　getting　much　disturbed　because　he　could　not　get　satisfactory　answers　to　his　perpetual　〃What　for？〃　

He　also　possessed　a　philosophic　bent；　to　the　great　delight　of　his　grandfather；　who　used　to　hold　Socratic　conversations　with　him；　in　which　the　precocious　pupil　occasionally　posed　his　teacher；　to　the　undisguised　satisfaction　of　the　womenfolk。　

〃What　makes　my　legs　go；　Dranpa？〃　asked　the　young　philosopher；　surveying　those　active　portions　of　his　frame　with　a　meditative　air；　while　resting　after　a　go…to…bed　frolic　one　night。　

〃It's　your　little　mind；　Demi；〃　replied　the　sage；　stroking　the　yellow　head　respectfully。　

〃What　is　a　little　mine？〃　

〃It　is　something　which　makes　your　body　move；　as　the　spring　made　the　wheels　go　in　my　watch　when　I　showed　it　to　you。〃　

〃Open　me。　I　want　to　see　it　go　wound。〃　

〃I　can't　do　that　any　more　than　you　could　open　the　watch。　God　winds　you　up；　and　you　go　till　He　stops　you。〃　

〃Does　I？〃　And　Demi's　brown　eyes　grew　big　and　bright　as　he　took　in　the　new　thought。　〃Is　I　wounded　up　like　the　watch？〃　

〃Yes；　but　I　can't　show　you　how；　for　it　is　done　when　we　don't　see。〃　

Demi　felt　his　back；　as　if　expecting　to　find　it　like　that　of　the　watch；　and　then　gravely　remarked；　〃I　dess　Dod　does　it　when　I's　asleep。〃　

A　careful　explanation　followed；　to　which　he　listened　so　attentively　that　his　anxious　grandmother　said；　〃My　dear；　do　you　think　it　wise　to　talk　about　such　things　to　that　baby？　He's　getting　great　bumps　
over　his　eyes；　and　learning　to　ask　the　most　unanswerable　questions。〃　
〃If　he　is　old　enough　to　ask　the　question　he　is　old　enough　to　receive　true　answers。　I　am　not　putting　the　thoughts　into　his　head；　but　helping　him　unfold　those　already　there。　These　children　are　wiser　than　we　are；　and　I　have　no　doubt　the　boy　understands　every　word　I　have　said　to　him。　Now；　Demi；　tell　me　where　you　keep　your　mind。〃　

If　the　boy　had　replied　like　Alcibiades；　〃By　the　gods；　Socrates；　I　cannot　tell；〃　his　grandfather　would　not　have　been　surprised；　but　when；　after　standing　a　moment　on　one　leg；　like　a　meditative　youngstork；　he　answered；　in　a　tone　of　calm　conviction；　〃In　my　little　belly；〃　the　old　gentleman　could　only　join　in　Grandma's　laugh；　and　dismiss　the　class　in　metaphysics。　

There　might　have　been　cause　for　maternal　anxiety；　if　Demi　had　not　given　convincing　proofs　that　he　was　a　true　boy；　as　well　as　a　budding　philosopher；　for　often；　after　a　discussion　which　caused　Hannah　to　prophesy；　with　ominous　nods；　〃That　child　ain't　long　for　this　world；〃　he　would　turn　about　and　set　her　fears　at　rest　by　some　of　the　pranks　with　which　dear；　dirty；　naughty　little　rascals　distract　and　delight　their　parent's　souls。　

Meg　made　many　moral　rules；　and　tried　to　keep　them；　but　what　mother　was　ever　proof　against　the　winning　wiles；　the　ingenious　evasions；　or　the　tranquil　audacity　of　the　miniature　men　and　women　who　so　early　show　themselves　accomplished　Artful　Dodgers？　

〃No　more　raisins；　Demi。　They'll　make　you　sick；〃　says　Mamma　to　the　young　person　who　offers　his　services　in　the　kitchen　with　unfailing　regularity　on　plum…pudding　day。　

〃Me　likes　to　be　sick。〃　

〃I　don't　want　to　have　you；　so　run　away　and　help　Daisy　make　patty　cakes。〃　

He　reluctantly　departs；　but　his　wrongs　weigh　upon　his　spirit；　and　by…and…by　when　an　opportunity　comes　to　redress　them；　he　outwits　Mamma　by　a　shrewd　bargain。　

〃Now　you　have　been　good　children；　and　I'll　play　anything　you　like；〃　says　Meg；　as　she　leads　her　assistant　cooks　upstairs；　when　the　pudding　is　safely　bouncing　in　the　pot。　

〃Truly；　Marmar？〃　asks　Demi；　with　a　brilliant　idea　in　his　well…powdered　head。　

〃Yes；　truly。　Anything　you　say；〃　replies　the　shortsighted　parent；　preparing　herself　to　sing；　〃The　Three　Little　Kittens〃　half　a　dozen　times　over；　or　to　take　her　family　to　〃Buy　a　penny　bun；〃　regardless　of　wind　or　limb。　But　Demi　corners　her　by　the　cool　reply。。。　

〃Then　we'll　go　and　eat　up　all　the　raisins。〃　

Aunt　Dodo　was　chief　playmate　and　confidante　of　both　children；　and　the　trio　turned　the　little　house　topsy…turvy。　Aunt　Amy　was　as　yet　only　a　name　to　them；　Aunt　Beth　soon　faded　into　a　pleasantly　vague　memory；　but　Aunt　Dodo　was　a　living　reality；　and　they　made　the　most　of　her；　for　which　compliment　she　was　deeply　grateful。　But　when　Mr。　Bhaer　came；　Jo　neglected　her　playfellows；　and　dismay　and　desolation　fell　upon　their　little　souls。　Daisy；　who　was　fond　of　going　about　peddling　kisses；　lost　her　best　customer　and　became　bankrupt。　Demi；　with　infantile　penetration；　soon　discovered　that　Dodo　like　to　play　with　‘the　bear…man'　better　than　she　did　him；　but　though　hurt；　he　concealed　his　anguish；　for　he　hadn't　the　heart　to　insult　a　rival　who　kept　a　mine　of　chocolate　drops　inhis　waistcoat　pocket；　and　a　watch　that　could　be　taken　out　of　its　case　and　freely　shaken　by　ardent　admirers。　

Some　persons　might　have　considered　these　pleasing　liberties　as　bribes；　but　Demi　didn't　see　it　in　that　light；　and　continued　to　patronize　the　‘the　bear…man'　with　pensive　affability；　while　Daisy　bestowed　her　small　affections　upon　him　at　the　third　call；　and　considered　his　shoulder　her　throne；　his　arm　her　refuge；　his　gifts　treasures　surpassing　worth。　

Gentlemen　are　sometimes　seized　with　sudden　fits　of　admiration　for　the　young　relatives　of　ladies　whom　they　honor　with　their　regard；　but　this　counterfeit　philoprogenitiveness　sits　uneasily　upon　them；　and　does　not　deceive　anybody　a　particle。　Mr。　Bhaer's　devotion　was　sincere；　however　likewise　effectivefor　honesty　is　the　best　policy　in　love　as　in　law。　He　was　one　of　the　men　who　are　at　home　with　children；　and　looked　particularly　well　when　little　faces　made　a　pleasant　contrast　with　his　manly　one。　His　business；　whatever　it　was；　detained　him　from　day　to　day；　but　evening　seldom　failed　to　bring　him　out　to　seewell；　he　always　asked　for　Mr。　March；　so　I　suppose　he　was　the　attraction。　The　excellent　papa　labored　under　the　delusion　that　he　was；　and　reveled　in　long　discussions　with　the　kindred　spirit；　till　a　chance　remark　of　his　more　observing　grandson　suddenly　enlightened　him。　

Mr。　Bhaer　came　in　one　evening　to　pause　on　the　threshold　of　the　study；　astonished　by　the　spectacle　that　met　his　eye。　Prone　uponthe　floor　lay　Mr。　March；　with　his　respectable　legs　in　the　air；　and　beside　him；　likewise　prone；　was　Demi；　trying　to　imitate　the　attitude　with　his　own　short；　scarlet…stockinged　legs；　both　grovelers　so　seriously　absorbed　that　they　were　unconscious　of　spectators；　till　Mr。　Bhaer　laughed　his　sonorous　laugh；　and　Jo　cried　out；　with　a　scandalized　face。。。　

〃Father；　Father；　here's　the　Professor！〃　

Down　went　the　black　legs　and　up　came　the　gray　head；　as　the　preceptor　said；　with　undisturbed　dignity；　〃Good　evening；　Mr。