Bess was busy with the bust of a little child , while her mother added the last touches to a fine head of her husband . Time seemed to have stood still with Amy , for happiness had kept her young and prosperity given her the culture she needed . A stately , graceful woman , who showed how elegant simplicity could be made by the taste with which she chose her dress and the grace with which she wore it . As someone said : ' I never know what Mrs Laurence has on , but I always receive the impression that she is the best-dressed lady in the room . ' It was evident that she adored her daughter , and well she might ; for the beauty she had longed for seemed , to her fond eyes at least , to be impersonated in this younger self . Bess inherited her mother 's Diana-like figure , blue eyes , fair skin , and golden hair , tied up in the same classic knot of curls . Also -- ah ! never-ending source of joy to Amy -- she had her father 's handsome nose and mouth , cast in a feminine mould . The severe simplicity of a long linen pinafore suited her ; and she worked away with the entire absorption of the true artist , unconscious of the loving eyes upon her , till Aunt Jo came in exclaiming eagerly : ` My dear girls , stop your mud-pies and hear the news ! ' Both artists dropped their tools and greeted the irrepressible woman cordially , though genius had been burning splendidly and her coming spoilt a precious hour . They were in the full tide of gossip when Laurie , who had been summoned by Meg , arrived , and sitting down between the sisters , with no barricade anywhere , listened with interest to the news of Franz and Emil . ` The epidemic has broke out , and now it will rage and ravage your flock . Be prepared for every sort of romance and rashness for the next ten years , Jo . Your boys are growing up and will plunge headlong into a sea of worse scrapes than any you have had yet , ' said Laurie , enjoying her look of mingled delight and despair . ' I know it , and I hope I shall be able to pull them through and land them safely ; but it 's an awful responsibility , for they will come to me and insist that I can make their poor little loves run smoothly . I like it , though , and Meg is such a mush of sentiment she revels in the prospect , ' answered Jo , feeling pretty easy about her own boys , whose youth made them safe for the present . ` I 'm afraid she wo n't revel when our Nat begins to buzz too near her Daisy . Of course you see what all that means ? As musical director I am also his confidante , and would like to know what advice to give , ' said Laurie soberly . ` Hush !
you forget that child , ' began Jo , nodding towards XXXXX , who was at work again .
Bess Daisy Diana-like Emil Franz Laurence Meg hour mud-pies mush