'But we must wait and hope

　　'But we must wait and hope, heart's-dearest. Come and let us bear ittogether. Emil's ship is lost, and as yet no news of him.'

　　It was well Mr Bhaer had taken his wife into his strong arms, for shelooked ready to drop, but bore up after a moment, and sitting by hergood man, heard all that there was to tell. Tidings had been sent tothe shipowners at Hamburg by some of the survivors, and telegraphedat once by Franz to his uncle. As one boat-load was safe, there washope that others might also escape, though the gale had sent two tothe bottom. A swift-sailing steamer had brought these scanty news,and happier ones might come at any hour; but kind Franz had not addedthat the sailors reported the captain's boat as undoubtedly wreckedby the falling mast, since the smoke hid its escape, and the galesoon drove all far asunder. But this sad rumour reached Plumfield intime; and deep was the mourning for the happyhearted Commodore, neverto come singing home again. Mrs Jo refused to believe it, stoutlyinsisting that Emil would outlive any storm and yet turn up safe andgay. It was well she clung to this hopeful view, for poor Mr Bhaerwas much afflicted by the loss of his boy, because his sister's sonshad been his so long he scarcely knew a different love for his veryown. Now was a chance for Mrs Juno to keep her word; and she did,speaking cheerily of Emil, even when hope waxed faint and her heartwas heavy. If anything could comfort the Bhaers for the loss of oneboy, it would have been the affection and sorrow shown by all therest. Franz kept the cable busy with his varying messages, Nat sentloving letters from Leipzig, and Tom harassed the shipping agents fornews. Even busy Jack wrote them with unusual warmth; Dolly and Georgecame often, bearing the loveliest flowers and the daintiest bon-bonsto cheer Mrs Bhaer and sweeten Josie's grief; while good-hearted Nedtravelled all the way from Chicago to press their hands and say, witha tear in his eye: 'I was so anxious to hear all about the dear oldboy, I couldn't keep away.'

　　'That's right comfortable, and shows me that if I didn't teach myboys anything else, I did give them the brotherly love that will makethem stand by one another all their lives,' said Mrs Jo, when he hadgone.

　　Rob answered reams of sympathizing letters, which showed how manyfriends they had; and the kindly praises of the lost man would havemade Emil a hero and a saint, had they all been true. The eldersbore it quietly, having learned submission in life's hard school; butthe younger people rebelled; some hoped against hope and kept up,others despaired at once, and little Josie, Emil's pet cousin andplaymate, was so broken-hearted nothing could comfort her. Nan dosedin vain, Daisy's cheerful words went by like the wind, and Bess'sdevices to amuse her all failed utterly. To cry in mother's arms andtalk about the wreck, which haunted her even in her sleep, was allshe cared to do; and Mrs Meg was getting anxious when Miss Cameronsent Josie a kind note bidding her learn bravely her first lesson inreal tragedy, and be like the self-sacrificing heroines she loved toact. That did the little girl good, and she made an effort in whichTeddy and Octoo helped her much; for the boy was deeply impressed bythis sudden eclipse of the firefly whose light and life all missedwhen they were gone, and lured her out every day for long drivesbehind the black mare, who shook her silvery bells till they madesuch merry music Josie could not help listening to it, and whiskedher over the snowy roads at a pace which set the blood dancing in herveins and sent her home strengthened and comforted by sunshine, freshair, and congenial society--three aids young sufferers seldom canresist.