So quiet and reposeful within , for everyone slept , spent with watching , and a Sabbath stillness reigned through the house , while nodding Hannah mounted guard at the door . With a blissful sense of burdens lifted off , Meg and Jo closed their weary eyes , and lay at rest , like storm-beaten boats safe at anchor in a quiet harbor . Mrs. March would not leave Beth 's side , but rested in the big chair , waking often to look at , touch , and brood over her child , like a miser over some recovered treasure . Laurie meanwhile posted off to comfort Amy , and told his story so well that Aunt March actually ` sniffed ' herself , and never once said `` I told you so '' . Amy came out so strong on this occasion that I think the good thoughts in the little chapel really began to bear fruit . She dried her tears quickly , restrained her impatience to see her mother , and never even thought of the turquoise ring , when the old lady heartily agreed in Laurie 's opinion , that she behaved ` like a capital little woman ' . Even Polly seemed impressed , for he called her a good girl , blessed her buttons , and begged her to `` come and take a walk , dear '' , in his most affable tone . She would very gladly have gone out to enjoy the bright wintry weather , but discovering that Laurie was dropping with sleep in spite of manful efforts to conceal the fact , she persuaded him to rest on the sofa , while she wrote a note to her mother . She was a long time about it , and when she returned , he was stretched out with both arms under his head , sound asleep , while Aunt March had pulled down the curtains and sat doing nothing in an unusual fit of benignity . After a while , they began to think he was not going to wake up till night , and I 'm not sure that he would , had he not been effectually roused by Amy 's cry of joy at sight of her mother . There probably were a good many happy little girls in and about the city that day , but it is my private opinion that Amy was the happiest of all , when she sat in her mother 's lap and told her trials , receiving consolation and compensation in the shape of approving smiles and fond caresses . They were alone together in the chapel , to which her mother did not object when its purpose was explained to her . `` On the contrary , I like it very much , dear , '' looking from the dusty rosary to the well-worn little book , and the lovely picture with its garland of evergreen . `` It is an excellent plan to have some place where we can go to be quiet , when things vex or grieve us . There are a good many hard times in this life of ours , but we can always bear them if we ask help in the right way . I think my little girl is learning this . '' `` Yes , Mother , and when I go home I mean to have a corner in the big closet to put my books and the copy of that picture which I 've tried to make . The woman 's face is not good , it 's too beautiful for me to draw , but the baby is done better , and I love it very much . I like to think He was a little child once , for then I do n't seem so far away , and that helps me . '' As Amy pointed to the smiling Christ child on his Mother 's knee , Mrs. March saw something on the lifted hand that made her smile .
She said nothing , but XXXXX understood the look , and after a minute 's pause , she added gravely , `` I wanted to speak to you about this , but I forgot it .
Amy Christ Hannah Mother Polly Sabbath benignity miser night right