Little Women - 912 Freedom Library

Little WomenShe did neither, but she remembered the scene, andgave the Professor her heartiest respect, for she knew itcost him an effort to speak out then and there, because hisconscience would not let him be silent. She began to seethat character is a better possession than money, rank,intellect, or beauty, and to feel that if greatness is what awise man has defined it to be, ‘truth, reverence, and goodwill’, then her friend friedrich Bhaer was not only good,but great.This belief strengthened daily. She valued his esteem,she coveted his respect, she wanted to be worthy of hisfriendship, and just when the wish was sincerest, she camenear to losing everything. It all grew out of a cocked hat,for one evening the Professor came in to give Jo her lessonwith a paper soldier cap on his head, which Tina had putthere and he had forgotten to take off.‘It’s evident he doesn’t look in his glass before comingdown,’ thought Jo, with a smile, as he said ‘Goot efening,’and sat soberly down, quite unconscious of the ludicrouscontrast between his subject and his headgear, for he wasgoing to read her the Death of Wallenstein.She said nothing at first, for she liked to hear him laughout his big, hearty laugh when anything funny happened,so she left him to discover it for himself, and presently620 of 861