`` You 'll have to go and thank him , '' said Jo , by way of a joke , for the idea of the child 's really going never entered her head . `` Yes , I mean to . I guess I 'll go now , before I get frightened thinking about it . '' And , to the utter amazement of the assembled family , Beth walked deliberately down the garden , through the hedge , and in at the Laurences ' door . `` Well , I wish I may die if it ai n't the queerest thing I ever see ! The pianny has turned her head ! She 'd never have gone in her right mind , '' cried Hannah , staring after her , while the girls were rendered quite speechless by the miracle . They would have been still more amazed if they had seen what Beth did afterward . If you will believe me , she went and knocked at the study door before she gave herself time to think , and when a gruff voice called out , `` come in ! '' she did go in , right up to Mr. Laurence , who looked quite taken aback , and held out her hand , saying , with only a small quaver in her voice , `` I came to thank you , sir , for ... '' But she did n't finish , for he looked so friendly that she forgot her speech and , only remembering that he had lost the little girl he loved , she put both arms round his neck and kissed him . If the roof of the house had suddenly flown off , the old gentleman would n't have been more astonished . But he liked it . Oh , dear , yes , he liked it amazingly ! And was so touched and pleased by that confiding little kiss that all his crustiness vanished , and he just set her on his knee , and laid his wrinkled cheek against her rosy one , feeling as if he had got his own little granddaughter back again . Beth ceased to fear him from that moment , and sat there talking to him as cozily as if she had known him all her life , for love casts out fear , and gratitude can conquer pride . When she went home , he walked with her to her own gate , shook hands cordially , and touched his hat as he marched back again , looking very stately and erect , like a handsome , soldierly old gentleman , as he was . When the girls saw that performance , Jo began to dance a jig , by way of expressing her satisfaction , Amy nearly fell out of the window in her surprise , and Meg exclaimed , with up-lifted hands , `` Well , I do believe the world is coming to an end . '' CHAPTER SEVEN AMY 'S VALLEY OF HUMILIATION `` That boy is a perfect cyclops , is n't he ? '' said Amy one day , as Laurie clattered by on horseback , with a flourish of his whip as he passed . `` How dare you say so , when he 's got both his eyes ?
And very handsome ones they are , too , '' cried XXXXX , who resented any slighting remarks about her friend .
Amy Beth Hannah Jo Laurence Laurie crustiness cyclops pianny right