A sleigh ride had been planned, but the girls would not leave their father, so the guests departed early, and as twilight gathered, the happy family sat together round the fire.
"Just a year ago we were groaning over the dismal Christmas we expected to have.

Do you remember ?" asked Jo, breaking a short pause which had followed a long conversation about many things.
"Rather a pleasant year on the whole!" said Meg, smiling at the fire, and congratulating herself on having treated Mr.Brooke with dignity.
"I think it's been a pretty hard one," observed Amy, watching the light shine on her ring with thoughtful eyes.
"I'm glad it's over, because we've got you back," whispered Beth, who sat on her father's knee.
"Rather a rough road for you to travel, my little pilgrims, especially the latter part of it.

But you have got on bravely, and I think the burdens are in a fair way to tumble off very soon," said Mr.March, looking with fatherly satisfaction at the four young faces gathered round him.
"How do you know?
Did Mother tell you ?" asked Jo.
"Not much.

Straws show which way the wind blows, and I've made several discoveries today." "Oh, tell us what they are!" cried Meg, who sat beside him.
"Here is one." And taking up the hand which lay on the arm of his chair, he pointed to the roughened forefinger, a burn on the back, and two or three little hard spots on the palm.

"I remember a time when this hand was white and smooth, and your first care was to keep it so.
It was very pretty then, but to me it is much prettier now, for in this seeming blemishes I read a little history.