THE COMPLETE WORKS OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT: Novels, Short Stories, Plays & Poems (Illustrated Edition). Louisa May Alcott

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СКАЧАТЬ come and stay with us," began Mrs. Jo, in a friendly tone.

      "Yes," was the gruff reply.

      "Have you no friends to take care of you?"

      "No."

      "Say, 'No, ma'am,' " whispered Nat.

      "Shan't neither," muttered Dan.

      "How old are you?"

      "About fourteen."

      "You look older. What can you do?"

      "'Most anything."

      "If you stay here we shall want you to do as the others do, work and study as well as play. Are you willing to agree to that?"

      "Don't mind trying."

      "Well, you can stay a few days, and we will see how we get on together. Take him out, Nat, and amuse him till Mr. Bhaer comes home, when we will settle about the matter," said Mrs. Jo, finding it rather difficult to get on with this cool young person, who fixed his big black eyes on her with a hard, suspicious expression, sorrowfully unboyish.

      "Come on, Nat," he said, and slouched out again.

      "Thank you, ma'am," added Nat, as he followed him, feeling without quite understanding the difference in the welcome given to him and to his ungracious friend.

      "The fellows are having a circus out in the barn; don't you want to come and see it?" he asked, as they came down the wide steps on to the lawn.

      "Are they big fellows?" said Dan.

      "No; the big ones are gone fishing."

      "Fire away, then," said Dan.

      Nat led him to the great barn and introduced him to his set, who were disporting themselves among the half-empty lofts. A large circle was marked out with hay on the wide floor, and in the middle stood Demi with a long whip, while Tommy, mounted on the much-enduring Toby, pranced about the circle playing being a monkey.

      "You must pay a pin apiece, or you can't see the show," said Stuffy, who stood by the wheelbarrow in which sat the band, consisting of a pocket-comb blown upon by Ned, and a toy drum beaten spasmodically by Rob.

      "He's company, so I'll pay for both," said Nat, handsomely, as he stuck two crooked pins in the dried mushroom which served as money-box.

      With a nod to the company they seated themselves on a couple of boards, and the performance went on. After the monkey act, Ned gave them a fine specimen of his agility by jumping over an old chair, and running up and down ladders, sailor fashion. Then Demi danced a jig with a gravity beautiful to behold. Nat was called upon to wrestle with Stuffy, and speedily laid that stout youth upon the ground. After this, Tommy proudly advanced to turn a somersault, an accomplishment which he had acquired by painful perseverance, practising in private till every joint of his little frame was black and blue. His feats were received with great applause, and he was about to retire, flushed with pride and a rush of blood to the head, when a scornful voice in the audience was heard to say,

      "Ho! that ain't any thing!"

      "Say that again, will you?" and Tommy bristled up like an angry turkey-cock.

      "Do you want to fight?" said Dan, promptly descending from the barrel and doubling up his fists in a business-like manner.

      "No, I don't;" and the candid Thomas retired a step, rather taken aback by the proposition.

      "Fighting isn't allowed!" cried the others, much excited.

      "You're a nice lot," sneered Dan.

      "Come, if you don't behave, you shan't stay," said Nat, firing up at that insult to his friends.

      "I'd like to see him do better than I did, that's all," observed Tommy, with a swagger.

      "Clear the way, then," and without the slightest preparation Dan turned three somersaults one after the other and came up on his feet.

      "You can't beat that, Tom; you always hit your head and tumble flat," said Nat, pleased at his friend's success.

      Before he could say any more the audience were electrified by three more somersaults backwards, and a short promenade on the hands, head down, feet up. This brought down the house, and Tommy joined in the admiring cries which greeted the accomplished gymnast as he righted himself, and looked at them with an air of calm superiority.

      "Do you think I could learn to do it without its hurting me very much?" Tom meekly asked, as he rubbed the elbows which still smarted after the last attempt.

      "What will you give me if I'll teach you?" said Dan.

      "My new jack-knife; it's got five blades, and only one is broken."

      "Give it here, then."

      Tommy handed it over with an affectionate look at its smooth handle. Dan examined it carefully, then putting it into his pocket, walked off, saying with a wink,

      "Keep it up till you learn, that's all."

      A howl of wrath from Tommy was followed by a general uproar, which did not subside till Dan, finding himself in a minority, proposed that they should play stick-knife, and whichever won should have the treasure. Tommy agreed, and the game was played in a circle of excited faces, which all wore an expression of satisfaction, when Tommy won and secured the knife in the depth of his safest pocket.

      "You come off with me, and I'll show you round," said Nat, feeling that he must have a little serious conversation with his friend in private.

      What passed between them no one knew, but when they appeared again, Dan was more respectful to every one, though still gruff in his speech, and rough in his manner; and what else could be expected of the poor lad who had been knocking about the world all his short life with no one to teach him any better?

      The boys had decided that they did not like him, and so they left him to Nat, who soon felt rather oppressed by the responsibility, but too kind-hearted to desert him.

      Tommy, however, felt that in spite of the jack-knife transaction, there was a bond of sympathy between them, and longed to return to the interesting subject of somersaults. He soon found an opportunity, for Dan, seeing how much he admired him, grew more amiable, and by the end of the first week was quite intimate with the lively Tom.

      Mr. Bhaer, when he heard the story and saw Dan, shook his head, but only said quietly,

      "The experiment may cost us something, but we will try it."

      If Dan felt any gratitude for his protection, he did not show it, and took without thanks all that was give him. He was ignorant, but very quick to learn when he chose; had sharp eyes to watch what went on about him; a saucy tongue, rough manners, and a temper that was fierce and sullen by turns. He played with all his might, and played well at almost all the games. He was silent and gruff before grown people, and only now and then was thoroughly sociable among the lads. Few of them really liked him, but few could help admiring his courage and strength, for nothing daunted him, and he knocked tall Franz flat on one occasion with an ease that caused all the others to keep at a respectful distance from his fists. Mr. Bhaer watched him silently, and did his best to tame the "Wild СКАЧАТЬ