Bess really seemed relieved; I'm sure I was'; and Mrs Amy smoothed an anxious line out of her white forehead, as she smiled at her daughter, laughing happily among her cousins.
Mrs Jo shook her head as if the silver lining of that cloud was hard to find; but she had no time to croak again, for just then Mr Laurie came in looking well pleased at something.
'A new picture has arrived; face towards the music-room, good people, and tell me how you like it.

I call it "Only a fiddler", after Andersen's story.

What name will you give it ?' As he spoke he threw open the wide doors, and just beyond they saw a young man standing, with a beaming face, and a violin in his hand.

There was no doubt about the name to this picture, and with the cry 'Nat! Nat!' there was a general uprising.

But Daisy reached him first, and seemed to have lost her usual composure somewhere on the way, for she clung to him, sobbing with the shock of a surprise and joy too great for her to bear quietly.