Two girlish performances , which would have scandalized Dan to the last degree . `` It 's all right now , old fellow , so do n't be a fool , '' he said , swallowing the lump in his throat , and laughing out as he had not done for weeks . `` Does Mrs. Bhaer know ? '' he asked , eagerly . `` Yes ; and she is so happy I do n't know what she will do to you , '' began Mr. Bhaer , but got no farther , for here the boys came crowding about Dan in a tumult of pleasure and curiosity ; but before he had answered more than a dozen questions , a voice cried out , `` Three cheers for Dan ! '' and there was Mrs. Jo in the doorway waving her dish-towel , and looking as if she wanted to dance a jig for joy , as she used to do when a girl . `` Now then , '' cried Mr. Bhaer , and led off a rousing hurrah , which startled Asia in the kitchen , and made old Mr. Roberts shake his head as he drove by , saying , `` Schools are not what they were when I was young ! '' Dan stood it pretty well for a minute , but the sight of Mrs. Jo 's delight upset him , and he suddenly bolted across the hall into the parlor , whither she instantly followed , and neither were seen for half an hour . Mr. Bhaer found it very difficult to calm his excited flock ; and , seeing that lessons were an impossibility for a time , he caught their attention by telling them the fine old story of the friends whose fidelity to one another has made their names immortal . The lads listened and remembered , for just then their hearts were touched by the loyalty of a humbler pair of friends . The lie was wrong , but the love that prompted it and the courage that bore in silence the disgrace which belonged to another , made Dan a hero in their eyes . Honesty and honor had a new meaning now ; a good name was more precious than gold ; for once lost money could not buy it back ; and faith in one another made life smooth and happy as nothing else could do . Tommy proudly restored the name of the firm ; Nat was devoted to Dan ; and all the boys tried to atone to both for former suspicion and neglect . Mrs. Jo rejoiced over her flock , and Mr. Bhaer was never tired of telling the story of his young Damon and Pythias . CHAPTER XV . IN THE WILLOW The old tree saw and heard a good many little scenes and confidences that summer , because it became the favorite retreat of all the children , and the willow seemed to enjoy it , for a pleasant welcome always met them , and the quiet hours spent in its arms did them all good . It had a great deal of company one Saturday afternoon , and some little bird reported what went on there . First came Nan and Daisy with their small tubs and bits of soap , for now and then they were seized with a tidy fit , and washed up all their dolls ' clothes in the brook . Asia would not have them `` slopping round '' in her kitchen , and the bath-room was forbidden since Nan forgot to turn off the water till it overflowed and came gently dripping down through the ceiling . Daisy went systematically to work , washing first the white and then the colored things , rinsing them nicely , and hanging them to dry on a cord fastened from one barberry-bush to another , and pinning them up with a set of tiny clothes-pins Ned had turned for her .
But XXXXX put all her little things to soak in the same tub , and then forgot them while she collected thistledown to stuff a pillow for Semiramis , Queen of Babylon , as one doll was named .
Asia Bhaer Nan Pythias Roberts Tommy barberry-bush bath-room dish-towel weeks