Маленькие мужчины / Little men. Уровень 4

“Oh dear, no,” said Mother Bhaer, briskly. “I like her. You see, Fritz, I feel a great sympathy for Nan, because I was such a naughty child myself that I know all about it. She is full of spirits. The tricksy midget will soon become a happy child. I know how to manage her, for I remember how my blessed mother managed me.”

“I only hope she won’t be another trouble-maker.”

“My poor Dan! I never can quite forgive myself for letting him go,” sighed Mrs. Bhaer.

At the sound of the name, little Teddy, who had never forgotten his friend, trotted to the door, and then trotted back again,

“My Danny will come soon.

“Then I may have Nan, may I?” asked Mrs. Jo.

“A dozen Nans if you want them, my dear,” answered Mr. Bhaer.

When Mrs. Bhaer returned from her drive that afternoon, a small girl into the house, shouting,

“Hi, Daisy! Where are you?”

Daisy came, and looked pleased to see her guest, but also a trifle alarmed, when Nan said,

“I’m going to stay here always, papa says I may, and my box is coming tomorrow, all my things had to be washed and mended, and your aunt came and carried me off.

“Why, yes. Did you bring your big doll?” asked Daisy.

“Yes, she’s somewhere here,” said Nan. “I want to see the boys and the barn,” and ran off.

“Hello! Nan!” cried the boys.

“I’m going to stay.”

“Hooray!” bawled Tommy from the wall on which he was perched.

“What’s the matter with Stuffy?” asked Nan, whose quick eyes were roving from face to face.

“The ball hurt his hand; that’s why he is crying,” answered Jack scornfully.

“I don’t, I never cry, no matter how I’m hurt; it’s babyish,” said Nan, loftily.

“Pooh! I could make you cry in two minutes,” returned Stuffy.

“See if you can.”

“Go and pick that bunch of nettles, then,” and Stuffy pointed to that prickly plant growing by the wall.

Nan instantly grasped the nettle, pulled it up, and held it with a defiant gesture, in spite of the almost unbearable sting.

“Good for you,” cried the boys.

Stuffy said tauntingly,

“You poke your hands into everything. Now go and bump your head real hard against the barn, and see if you don’t howl then.”

“Don’t do it,” said Nat, who hated cruelty.

But Nan ran to the barn.