Hope it is n't spoilt ; it was very pretty just now . This is `` Othello telling his adventures to Desdemona '' . ' The second window framed a very picturesque group of three . Mr March in an arm-chair , with Bess on a cushion at his feet , was listening to Dan , who , leaning against a pillar , was talking with unusual animation . The old man was in shadow , but little Desdemona was looking up with the moonlight full upon her into young Othello 's face , quite absorbed in the story he was telling so well . The gay drapery over Dan 's shoulder , his dark colouring , and the gesture of his arm made the picture very striking , and both spectators enjoyed it with silent pleasure , till Mrs Jo said in a quick whisper : ` I 'm glad he 's going away . He 's too picturesque to have here among so many romantic girls . Afraid his `` grand , gloomy , and peculiar '' style will be too much for our simple maids . ' ` No danger ; Dan is in the rough as yet , and always will be , I fancy ; though he is improving in many ways . How well Queenie looks in that soft light ! ' ` Dear little Goldilocks looks well everywhere . ' And with a backward glance full of pride and fondness , Mrs Jo went on . But that scene returned to her long afterward and her own prophetic words also . Number three was a tragical tableau at first sight ; and Mr Laurie stifled a laugh as he whispered ` The Wounded Knight ' , pointing to Tom with his head enveloped in a large handkerchief , as he knelt before Nan , who was extracting a thorn or splinter from the palm of his hand with great skill , to judge from the patient 's blissful expression of countenance . ` Do I hurt you ? ' she asked , turning the hand to the moonlight for a better view . ` Not a bit ; dig away ; I like it , ' answered Tom , regardless of his aching knees and the damage done to his best trousers . ' I wo n't keep you long . ' ` Hours , if you please . Never so happy as here . '
Quite unmoved by this tender remark , XXXXX put on a pair of large , round-eyed glasses , saying in a matter-of-fact tone : ` Now I see it .
Bess Dan Desdemona Goldilocks Mr Nan Othello Queenie first second