He is n't as handsome as my grandfather , but I like him . '' `` Thank you , ma'am , '' said a gruff voice behind her , and there , to her great dismay , stood old Mr. Laurence . Poor Jo blushed till she could n't blush any redder , and her heart began to beat uncomfortably fast as she thought what she had said . For a minute a wild desire to run away possessed her , but that was cowardly , and the girls would laugh at her , so she resolved to stay and get out of the scrape as she could . A second look showed her that the living eyes , under the bushy eyebrows , were kinder even than the painted ones , and there was a sly twinkle in them , which lessened her fear a good deal . The gruff voice was gruffer than ever , as the old gentleman said abruptly , after the dreadful pause , `` So you 're not afraid of me , hey ? '' `` Not much , sir . '' `` And you do n't think me as handsome as your grandfather ? '' `` Not quite , sir . '' `` And I 've got a tremendous will , have I ? '' `` I only said I thought so . '' `` But you like me in spite of it ? '' `` Yes , I do , sir . '' That answer pleased the old gentleman . He gave a short laugh , shook hands with her , and , putting his finger under her chin , turned up her face , examined it gravely , and let it go , saying with a nod , `` You 've got your grandfather 's spirit , if you have n't his face . He was a fine man , my dear , but what is better , he was a brave and an honest one , and I was proud to be his friend . '' `` Thank you , sir , '' And Jo was quite comfortable after that , for it suited her exactly . `` What have you been doing to this boy of mine , hey ? '' was the next question , sharply put . `` Only trying to be neighborly , sir . ''
And XXXXX told how her visit came about .
Jo Laurence Mr. girls grandfather heart minute pause second sir