Give me a chance to fly upstairs , ' whispered Mrs Jo , preparing to escape . But before she could do so , a man appeared at the door with a card in his hand . Ted met him with a stern air , and his mother dodged behind the window-curtains to bide her time for escape . ' I am doing a series of articles for the Saturday Tattler , and I called to see Mrs Bhaer the first of all , ' began the newcomer in the insinuating tone of his tribe , while his quick eyes were taking in all they could , experience having taught him to make the most of his time , as his visits were usually short ones . ` Mrs Bhaer never sees reporters , sir . ' ` But a few moments will be all I ask , ' said the man , edging his way farther in . ` You ca n't see her , for she is out , ' replied Teddy , as a backward glance showed him that his unhappy parent had vanished -- through the window , he supposed , as she sometimes did when hard bestead . ` Very sorry . I 'll call again . Is this her study ? 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 XXXXX , tell her .
Holmes Oshkosh Teddy Zembla door-mat escape first gettin parlour seein