while Laurie departed , feeling that he had made a rather neat thing of it . `` That 's the interferingest chap I ever see , but I forgive him and do hope Mrs. March is coming right away , '' said Hannah , with an air of relief , when Jo told the good news . 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 rooms . Everything appeared to feel the hopeful change . Beth 's bird began to chirp again , and a half-blown rose was discovered on Amy 's bush in the window . The 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 Beth . She lay in that heavy stupor , alike unconscious of hope and joy , doubt and danger . It 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 pillow . All day she lay so , only rousing now and then to mutter , `` Water ! '' with lips so parched they could hardly shape the word . All 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 by . But night came at last , and every time the clock struck , the sisters , still sitting on either side of the bed , looked at each other with brightening eyes , for each hour brought help nearer . The 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 , Mr. Laurence marched to and fro in the parlor , feeling that he would rather face a rebel battery than Mrs. March 's countenance as she entered . Laurie 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 XXXXX , with equal fervor .
Beth Jo Laurie burn day fire hour midnight powerlessness right