Then feeling that he was going very fast, he hastily embraced them all round, not forgetting the afflicted Hannah, and ran downstairs as if for his life.

Jo followed a minute after to wave her hand to him if he looked round.

He did look round, came back, put his arms about her as she stood on the step above him, and looked up at her with a face that made his short appeal eloquent and pathetic.
"Oh, Jo, can't you ?" "Teddy, dear, I wish I could!" That was all, except a little pause.

Then Laurie straightened himself up, said, "It's all right, never mind," and went away without another word.

Ah, but it wasn't all right, and Jo did mind, for while the curly head lay on her arm a minute after her hard answer, she felt as if she had stabbed her dearest friend, and when he left her without a look behind him, she knew that the boy Laurie never would come again..