“Is it fairies?” asked Amy,

“It’s Santa Claus,” said Beth.

“Mother did it”; and Meg smiled her sweetest, in spite of her gray beard and white eyebrows.

“Aunt March had a good fit, and sent the supper,” cried Jo, with a sudden inspiration.

“All wrong. Old Mr. Laurence sent it,” replied Mrs. March.

“The Laurence boy’s grandfather! What in the world put such a thing into his head? We don’t know him!” exclaimed Meg.