Tears rose to her eyes as she remembered that it was all her own fault ; and she said aloud , addressing a fat bee who was rolling about in the yellow heart of a rose just under the window , `` If you have run away , you 'd better go right home , and tell your mother you are sorry , and never do so any more . '' `` I am glad to hear you give him such good advice , and I think he has taken it , '' said Mrs. Jo , smiling , as the bee spread his dusty wings and flew away . Nan brushed off a bright drop or two that shone on the window-sill , and nestled against her friend as she took her on her knee , adding kindly for she had seen the little drops , and knew what they meant , `` Do you think my mother 's cure for running away a good one ? '' `` Yes , ma'am , '' answered Nan , quite subdued by her quiet day . `` I hope I shall not have to try it again . '' `` I guess not ; '' and Nan looked up with such an earnest little face that Mrs. Jo felt satisfied , and said no more , for she liked to have her penalties do their own work , and did not spoil the effect by too much moralizing . Here Rob appeared , bearing with infinite care what Asia called a `` sarcer pie , '' meaning one baked in a saucer . `` It 's made out of some of my berries , and I 'm going to give you half at supper-time , '' he announced with a flourish . `` What makes you , when I 'm so naughty ? '' asked Nan , meekly . `` Because we got lost together . You ai n't going to be naughty again , are you ? '' `` Never , '' said Nan , with great decision . `` Oh , goody ! now let 's go and get Mary Ann to cut this for us all ready to eat ; it 's ` most tea time ; '' and Rob beckoned with the delicious little pie . Nan started to follow , then stopped , and said , `` I forgot , I ca n't go . '' `` Try and see , '' said Mrs. Bhaer , who had quietly untied the cord sash while she had been talking . Nan saw that she was free , and with one tempestuous kiss to Mrs. Jo , she was off like a humming-bird , followed by Robby , dribbling huckleberry juice as he ran . CHAPTER XIII . GOLDILOCKS After the last excitement peace descended upon Plumfield and reigned unbroken for several weeks , for the elder boys felt that the loss of Nan and Rob lay at their door , and all became so paternal in their care that they were rather wearying ; while the little ones listened to Nan 's recital of her perils so many times , that they regarded being lost as the greatest ill humanity was heir to , and hardly dared to put their little noses outside the great gate lest night should suddenly descend upon them , and ghostly black cows come looming through the dusk .
`` It is too good to last , '' said Mrs. Jo ; for years of boy-culture had taught her that such lulls were usually XXXXX by outbreaks of some sort , and when less wise women would have thought that the boys had become confirmed saints , she prepared herself for a sudden eruption of the domestic volcano .
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