She certainly did , as she sat in the farmhouse kitchen by a cheery fire , rocking a cradle and darning stockings , as if she had done nothing else all her life . Grey hair , skilfully drawn lines on the forehead , and a plain gown , with cap , little shawl , and check apron , changed her into a comfortable , motherly creature who found favour the moment the curtain went up and discovered her rocking , darning , and crooning an old song . In a short soliloquy about Sam , her boy , who wanted to enlist ; Dolly , her discontented little daughter , who longed for city ease and pleasures ; and poor ` Elizy ' , who had married badly , and came home to die , bequeathing her baby to her mother , lest its bad father should claim it , the little story was very simply opened , and made effective by the real boiling of the kettle on the crane , the ticking of a tall clock , and the appearance of a pair of blue worsted shoes which waved fitfully in the air to the soft babble of a baby 's voice . Those shapeless little shoes won the first applause ; and Mr Laurie , forgetting elegance in satisfaction , whispered to his coadjutor : ' I thought the baby would fetch them ! ' ` If the dear thing wo n't squall in the wrong place , we are saved . But it is risky . Be ready to catch it if all Meg 's cuddlings prove in vain , ' answered Mrs Jo , adding , with a clutch at Mr Laurie 's arm as a haggard face appeared at the window : ` Here 's Demi ! I hope no one will recognize him when he comes on as the son . I 'll never forgive you for not doing the villain yourself . ' ` Ca n't run the thing and act too . He 's capitally made up , and likes a bit of melodrama . ' ` This scene ought to have come later ; but I wanted to show that the mother was the heroine as soon as possible . I 'm tired of love-sick girls and runaway wives . We 'll prove that there 's romance in old women also . Now he 's coming ! ' And in slouched a degraded-looking man , shabby , unshaven , and evil-eyed , trying to assume a masterful air as he dismayed the tranquil old woman by demanding his child . A powerful scene followed ; and Mrs Meg surprised even those who knew her best by the homely dignity with which she at first met the man she dreaded ; then , as he brutally pressed his claim , she pleaded with trembling voice and hands to keep the little creature she had promised the dying mother to protect ; and when he turned to take it by force , quite a thrill went through the house as the old woman sprung to snatch it from the cradle , and holding it close , defied him in God 's name to tear it from that sacred refuge . It was really well done ; and the round of applause that greeted the fine tableau of the indignant old woman , the rosy , blinking baby clinging to her neck , and the daunted man who dared not execute his evil purpose with such a defender for helpless innocence , told the excited authors that their first scene was a hit . The second was quieter , and introduced Josie as a bonny country lass setting the supper-table in a bad humour . The pettish way in which she slapped down the plates , hustled the cups , and cut the big brown loaf , as she related her girlish trials and ambitions , was capital .
Mrs XXXXX kept her eye on Miss Cameron , and saw her nod approval several times at some natural tone or gesture , some good bit of by-play or a quick change of expression in the young face , which was as variable as an April day .
Demi Elizy Grey Jo Laurie Meg Sam cuddlings fire first