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 looked 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 . Moved by a sudden impulse , Mrs Jo caught up her work-basket and went to join her neighbours , feeling that a non-conductor might be needed ; for Dan looked like a thundercloud full of electricity . ` What shall we read , Aunty ? Dan does n't seem to care . You know his taste ; tell me something quiet and pleasant and short . Josie will be back soon , ' said Bess , still turning over the books piled on the centre-table . Before Mrs Jo could answer , Dan pulled a shabby little volume from under his pillow , and handing it to her said : ` Please read the third one ; it 's short and pretty -- I 'm fond of it . ' The book opened at the right place , as if the third story had been often read , and Bess smiled as she saw the name . ` Why , Dan , I should n't think you 'd care for this romantic German tale . There is fighting in it ; but it is very sentimental , if I remember rightly . ' ' I know it ; but I 've read so few stories , I like the simple ones best .
Had nothing else to read sometimes ; I guess I know it all by heart , and never seem to be tired of those XXXXX fellows , and the fiends and angels and lovely ladies .
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