burst out poor Jo , trying vainly to smother her emotion in the pillow . It did not seem at all comical to Meg , who kissed and caressed the afflicted heroine in the tenderest manner . `` I 'm not sorry , '' protested Jo , with a choke . `` I 'd do it again tomorrow , if I could . It 's only the vain part of me that goes and cries in this silly way . Do n't tell anyone , it 's all over now . I thought you were asleep , so I just made a little private moan for my one beauty . How came you to be awake ? '' `` I ca n't sleep , I 'm so anxious , '' said Meg . `` Think about something pleasant , and you 'll soon drop off . '' `` I tried it , but felt wider awake than ever . '' `` What did you think of ? '' `` Handsome faces -- eyes particularly , '' answered Meg , smiling to herself in the dark . `` What color do you like best ? '' `` Brown , that is , sometimes . Blue are lovely . '' Jo laughed , and Meg sharply ordered her not to talk , then amiably promised to make her hair curl , and fell asleep to dream of living in her castle in the air . The clocks were striking midnight and the rooms were very still as a figure glided quietly from bed to bed , smoothing a coverlet here , settling a pillow there , and pausing to look long and tenderly at each unconscious face , to kiss each with lips that mutely blessed , and to pray the fervent prayers which only mothers utter . As she lifted the curtain to look out into the dreary night , the moon broke suddenly from behind the clouds and shone upon her like a bright , benignant face , which seemed to whisper in the silence , `` Be comforted , dear soul ! There is always light behind the clouds . ''
CHAPTER SIXTEEN LETTERS In the cold gray dawn the sisters lit their lamp and read their chapter with an earnestness never XXXXX before .
Think felt lifted said seem settling smiling smoothing tell trying