As she sat at her desk , settling papers or meditatively nibbling her pen while waiting for the divine afflatus to descend upon her , she often forgot her fictitious heroes and heroines in studying the live models before her , and thus by chance looks , words , and gestures discovered a little romance unsuspected by anyone else . The portiere between the rooms was usually drawn aside , giving a view of the group in the large bay-window -- Bess at one side , in her grey blouse , busy with her tools ; Josie at the other side with her book ; and between , on the long couch , propped with many cushions , lay Dan in a many-hued eastern dressing-gown presented by Mr Laurie and worn to please the girls , though the invalid much preferred an old jacket ` with no confounded tail to bother over ' . He faced Mrs Jo 's room , but never seemed to see her , for his eyes were on the slender figure before him , with the pale winter sunshine touching her golden head , and the delicate hands that shaped the clay so deftly . Josie was just visible , rocking violently in a little chair at the head of the couch , and the steady murmur of her girlish voice was usually the only sound that broke the quiet of the room , unless a sudden discussion arose about the book or the buffalo . Something in the big eyes , bigger and blacker than ever in the thin white face , fixed , so steadily on one object , had a sort of fascination for Mrs Jo after a time , and she watched the changes in them curiously ; for Dan 's mind was evidently not on the story , and he often forgot to laugh or exclaim at the comic or exciting crises . Sometimes they were soft and wistful , and the watcher was very glad that neither damsel caught that dangerous look for when they spoke it vanished ; sometimes it was full of eager fire , and the colour came and went rebelliously , in spite of his attempt to hide it with an impatient gesture of hand or head ; but oftenest it was dark , and sad , and stern , as if those gloomy eyes looked out of captivity at some forbidden light or joy . This expression came so often that it worried Mrs Jo , and she longed to go and ask him what bitter memory overshadowed those quiet hours . She knew that his crime and its punishment must lie heavy on his mind ; but youth , and time , and new hopes would bring comfort , and help to wear away the first sharpness of the prison brand . It lifted at other times , and seemed almost forgotten when he joked with the boys , talked with old friends , or enjoyed the first snows as he drove out every fair day . Why should the shadow always fall so darkly on him in the society of these innocent and friendly girls ? They never seemed to see it , and if either looked or spoke , a quick smile came like a sunburst through the clouds to answer them . So Mrs Jo went on watching , wondering , and discovering , till accident confirmed her fears . Josie was called away one day , and Bess , tired of working , offered to take her place if he cared for more reading . ' I do ; your reading suits me better than Jo 's . She goes so fast my stupid head gets in a muddle and soon begins to ache . Do n't tell her ; she 's a dear little soul , and so good to sit here with a bear like me . ' The smile was ready as Bess went to the table for a new book , the last story being finished . ` You are not a bear , but very good and patient , we think . It is always hard for a man to be shut up , mamma says , and must be terrible for you , who have always been so free . ' If Bess had not been reading titles she would have seen Dan shrink as if her last words hurt him .
He made no answer ; but other eyes saw and understood why he XXXXX as if he would have liked to spring up and rush away for one of his long races up the hill , as he used to do when the longing for liberty grew uncontrollable .
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