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 Jo , who resented any slighting remarks about her friend . `` I did n't say anything about his eyes , and I do n't see why you need fire up when I admire his riding . '' `` Oh , my goodness ! That little goose means a centaur , and she called him a Cyclops , '' exclaimed Jo , with a burst of laughter . `` You need n't be so rude , it 's only a ` lapse of lingy ' , as Mr. Davis says , '' retorted Amy , finishing Jo with her Latin . `` I just wish I had a little of the money Laurie spends on that horse , '' she added , as if to herself , yet hoping her sisters would hear . `` Why ? '' asked Meg kindly , for Jo had gone off in another laugh at Amy 's second blunder .
`` I XXXXX it so much .
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