“You say often you wish a library.  Here I gif you one, for between these lids (he meant covers) is many books in one.  Read him well, and he will help you much, for the study of character in this book will help you to read it in the world and paint it with your pen.”

I thanked him as well as I could, and talk now about ’my library’, as if I had a hundred books.  I never knew how much there was in Shakespeare before, but then I never had a Bhaer to explain it to me.  Now don’t laugh at his horrid name.  It isn’t pronounced either Bear or Beer, as people will say it, but something between the two, as only Germans can give it.  I’m glad you both like what I tell you about him, and hope you will know him some day.  Mother would admire his warm heart, Father his wise head.  I admire both, and feel rich in my new ‘friend Friedrich Bhaer’.

Not having much money, or knowing what he’d like, I got several little things, and put them about the room, where he would find them unexpectedly.  They were useful, pretty, or funny, a new standish on his table, a little vase for his flower, he always has one, or a bit of green in a glass, to keep him fresh, he says, and a holder for his blower, so that he needn’t burn up what Amy calls ‘mouchoirs’.  I made it like those Beth invented, a big butterfly with a fat body, and black and yellow wings, worsted feelers, and bead eyes.  It took his fancy immensely, and he put it on his mantlepiece as an article of virtue, so it was rather a failure after all.  Poor as he is, he didn’t forget a servant or a child in the house, and not a soul here, from the French laundrywoman to Miss Norton forgot him.  I was so glad of that.

They got up a masquerade, and had a gay time New Year’s Eve.  I didn’t mean to go down, having no dress.  But at the last minute, Mrs. Kirke remembered some old brocades, and Miss Norton lent me lace and feathers.  So I dressed up as Mrs. Malaprop, and sailed in with a mask on.  No one knew me, for I disguised my voice, and no one dreamed of the silent, haughty Miss March (for they think I am very stiff and cool, most of them, and so I am to whippersnappers) could dance and dress, and burst out into a ’nice derangement of epitaphs, like an allegory on the banks of the Nile’.  I enjoyed it very much, and when we unmasked it was fun to see them stare at me.  I heard one of the young men tell another that he knew I’d been an actress, in fact, he thought he remembered seeing me at one of the minor theaters.  Meg will relish that joke.  Mr. Bhaer was Nick Bottom, and Tina was Titania, a perfect little fairy in his arms.  To see them dance was ‘quite a landscape’, to use a Teddyism.

I had a very happy New Year, after all, and when I thought it over in my room, I felt as if I was getting on a little in spite of my many failures, for I’m cheerful all the time now, work with a will, and take more interest in other people than I used to, which is satisfactory.  Bless you all!  Ever your loving . . .  Jo