Feeling like a thief who has stolen something very precious , Mrs Jo slipped away to her study , and before long Bess followed to report that Dan was fast asleep . Sending her home , with the firm resolve to keep her there as much as possible , Mother Bhaer had an hour of serious thought all alone in the red sunset ; and when a sound in the next room led her there , she found that the feigned sleep had become real repose ; for Dan lay breathing heavily , with a scarlet spot on either cheek , and one hand clinched on his broad breast . Yearning over him with a deeper pity than ever before , she sat in the little chair beside him , trying to see her way out of this tangle , till his hand slipped down , and in doing so snapped a cord he wore about his neck and let a small case drop to the floor . Mrs Jo picked it up , and as he did not wake , sat looking at it , idly wondering what charm it held ; for the case was of Indian workmanship and the broken cord , of closely woven grass , sweet scented and pale yellow . ' I wo n't pry into any more of the poor fellow 's secrets . I 'll mend and put it back , and never let him know I 've seen his talisman . ' As she spoke she turned the little wallet to examine the fracture , and a card fell into her lap . It was a photograph , cut to fit its covering , and two words were written underneath the face , ` My Aslauga ' . For an instant Mrs Jo fancied that it might be one of herself , for all the boys had them ; but as the thin paper fell away , she saw the picture Demi took of Bess that happy summer day . There was no doubt now , and with a sigh she put it back , and was about to slip it into Dan 's bosom so that not even a stitch should betray her knowledge , when as she leaned towards him , she saw that he was looking straight at her with an expression that surprised her more than any of the strange ones she had ever seen in that changeful face before . ` Your hand slipped down ; it fell ; I was putting it back , ' explained Mrs Jo , feeling like a naughty child caught in mischief . ` You saw the picture ? ' ` Yes . ' ` And know what a fool I am ? ' ` Yes , Dan , and am so grieved -- ' ` Do n't worry about me . I 'm all right -- glad you know , though I never meant to tell you . Of course it is only a crazy fancy of mine , and nothing can ever come of it . Never thought there would . Good Lord ! what could that little angel ever be to me but what she is -- a sort of dream of all that 's sweet and good ? '
More afflicted by the quiet resignation of his look and tone than by the most passionate ardour , Mrs XXXXX could only say , with a face full of sympathy : ` It is very hard , dear , but there is no other way to look at it .
Aslauga Bess Bhaer Dan Indian Jo day hour right talisman