Is the point of my mantle in the middle , and have I looped my dress evenly ? I like to show my boots , for my feet are pretty , though my nose is n't . '' `` You are a thing of beauty and a joy forever , '' said Jo , looking through her hand with the air of a connoisseur at the blue feather against the golden hair . `` Am I to drag my best dress through the dust , or loop it up , please , ma'am ? '' `` Hold it up when you walk , but drop it in the house . The sweeping style suits you best , and you must learn to trail your skirts gracefully . You have n't half buttoned one cuff , do it at once . You 'll never look finished if you are not careful about the little details , for they make up the pleasing whole . '' Jo sighed , and proceeded to burst the buttons off her glove , in doing up her cuff , but at last both were ready , and sailed away , looking as ` pretty as picters ' , Hannah said , as she hung out of the upper window to watch them . `` Now , Jo dear , the Chesters consider themselves very elegant people , so I want you to put on your best deportment . Do n't make any of your abrupt remarks , or do anything odd , will you ? Just be calm , cool , and quiet , that 's safe and ladylike , and you can easily do it for fifteen minutes , '' said Amy , as they approached the first place , having borrowed the white parasol and been inspected by Meg , with a baby on each arm . `` Let me see . ` Calm , cool , and quiet ' , yes , I think I can promise that . I 've played the part of a prim young lady on the stage , and I 'll try it off . My powers are great , as you shall see , so be easy in your mind , my child . '' Amy looked relieved , but naughty Jo took her at her word , for during the first call she sat with every limb gracefully composed , every fold correctly draped , calm as a summer sea , cool as a snowbank , and as silent as the sphinx . In vain Mrs. Chester alluded to her ` charming novel ' , and the Misses Chester introduced parties , picnics , the opera , and the fashions . Each and all were answered by a smile , a bow , and a demure `` Yes '' or `` No '' with the chill on . In vain Amy telegraphed the word ` talk ' , tried to draw her out , and administered covert pokes with her foot .
XXXXX sat as if blandly unconscious of it all , with deportment like Maud 's face , ` icily regular , splendidly null ' .
Amy Calm Chesters Hannah Jo Meg deportment minutes picters snowbank