Charming room ! ' And the intruder fell back on the parlour , bound to see something and bag a fact if he died in the attempt . ` It is not , ' said Teddy , gently but firmly backing him down the hall , devoutly hoping that his mother had escaped round the corner of the house . ` If you could tell me Mrs Bhaer 's age and birthplace , date of marriage , and number of children , I should be much obliged , ' continued the unabashed visitor as he tripped over the door-mat . ` She is about sixty , born in Nova Zembla , married just forty years ago today , and has eleven daughters . Anything else , sir ? ' And Ted 's sober face was such a funny contrast to his ridiculous reply that the reporter owned himself routed , and retired laughing just as a lady followed by three beaming girls came up the steps . ` We are all the way from Oshkosh , and could n't go home without seein ' dear Aunt Jo . My girls just admire her works , and lot on gettin ' a sight of her . I know it 's early ; but we are goin ' to see Holmes and Longfeller , and the rest of the celebrities , so we ran out here fust thing . Mrs Erastus Kingsbury Parmalee , of Oshkosh , tell her . We do n't mind waitin ' ; we can look round a spell if she ai n't ready to see folks yet . ' All this was uttered with such rapidity that Ted could only stand gazing at the buxom damsels , who fixed their six blue eyes upon him so beseechingly that his native gallantry made it impossible to deny them a civil reply at least . ` Mrs Bhaer is not visible today -- out just now , I believe ; but you can see the house and grounds if you like , ' he murmured , falling back as the four pressed in gazing rapturously about them . ` Oh , thank you ! Sweet , pretty place I 'm sure ! That 's where she writes , ai n't it ? Do tell me if that 's her picture ! Looks just as I imagined her ! ' With these remarks the ladies paused before a fine engraving of the Hon. Mrs Norton , with a pen in her hand and a rapt expression of countenance , likewise a diadem and pearl necklace .
Keeping his gravity with an effort , XXXXX pointed to a very bad portrait of Mrs Jo , which hung behind the door , and afforded her much amusement , it was so dismal , in spite of a curious effect of light upon the end of the nose and cheeks as red as the chair she sat in .
Longfeller Norton Parmalee Ted Teddy damsels diadem door-mat parlour seein