The first one who is affianced will have the pearls , Madame has said it , and I have a fancy that the little turquoise ring will be given to you when you go , for Madame approves your good behavior and charming manners . '' `` Do you think so ? Oh , I 'll be a lamb , if I can only have that lovely ring ! It 's ever so much prettier than Kitty Bryant 's . I do like Aunt March after all . '' And Amy tried on the blue ring with a delighted face and a firm resolve to earn it . From that day she was a model of obedience , and the old lady complacently admired the success of her training . Esther fitted up the closet with a little table , placed a footstool before it , and over it a picture taken from one of the shut-up rooms . She thought it was of no great value , but , being appropriate , she borrowed it , well knowing that Madame would never know it , nor care if she did . It was , however , a very valuable copy of one of the famous pictures of the world , and Amy 's beauty-loving eyes were never tired of looking up at the sweet face of the Divine Mother , while her tender thoughts of her own were busy at her heart . On the table she laid her little testament and hymnbook , kept a vase always full of the best flowers Laurie brought her , and came every day to ` sit alone ' thinking good thoughts , and praying the dear God to preserve her sister . Esther had given her a rosary of black beads with a silver cross , but Amy hung it up and did not use it , feeling doubtful as to its fitness for Protestant prayers . The little girl was very sincere in all this , for being left alone outside the safe home nest , she felt the need of some kind hand to hold by so sorely that she instinctively turned to the strong and tender Friend , whose fatherly love most closely surrounds His little children . She missed her mother 's help to understand and rule herself , but having been taught where to look , she did her best to find the way and walk in it confidingly . But , Amy was a young pilgrim , and just now her burden seemed very heavy . She tried to forget herself , to keep cheerful , and be satisfied with doing right , though no one saw or praised her for it . In her first effort at being very , very good , she decided to make her will , as Aunt March had done , so that if she did fall ill and die , her possessions might be justly and generously divided . It cost her a pang even to think of giving up the little treasures which in her eyes were as precious as the old lady 's jewels . During one of her play hours she wrote out the important document as well as she could , with some help from Esther as to certain legal terms , and when the good-natured Frenchwoman had signed her name , Amy felt relieved and laid it by to show Laurie , whom she wanted as a second witness . As it was a rainy day , she went upstairs to amuse herself in one of the large chambers , and took Polly with her for company .
In this room there was a wardrobe full of old-fashioned costumes with which XXXXX allowed her to play , and it was her favorite amusement to array herself in the faded brocades , and parade up and down before the long mirror , making stately curtsies , and sweeping her train about with a rustle which delighted her ears .
Bryant Esther Madame Mother Polly day first hours rosary second