Sniffs were audible all through the latter part of this scene ; and when the curtain fell , people were so busy wiping their eyes that for a moment they forgot to applaud . That silent moment was more flattering than noise ; and as Mrs Jo wiped the real tears off her sister 's face , she said as solemnly as an unconscious dab of rouge on her nose permitted : ` Meg , you have saved my play ! Oh , why are n't you a real actress , and I a real playwright ? ' ` Do n't gush now , dear , but help me dress Josie ; she 's in such a quiver of excitement , I ca n't manage her , and this is her best scene , you know . ' So it was ; for her aunt had written it especially for her , and little Jo was happy in a gorgeous dress , with a train long enough to satisfy her wildest dreams . The rich relation 's parlour was in festival array , and the country cousin sails in , looking back at her sweeping flounces with such artless rapture that no one had the heart to laugh at the pretty jay in borrowed plumes . She has confidences with herself in the mirror , from which it is made evident that she had discovered all is not gold that glitters , and has found greater temptations than those a girlish love of pleasure , luxury , and flattery bring her . She is sought by a rich lover ; but her honest heart resists the allurements he offers , and in its innocent perplexity wishes ` mother ' was there to comfort and counsel . A gay little dance , in which Dora , Nan , Bess , and several of the boys took part , made a good background for the humble figure of the old woman in her widow 's bonnet , rusty shawl , big umbrella , and basket . Her naive astonishment , as she surveys the spectacle , feels the curtains , and smooths her old gloves during the moment she remains unseen , was very good ; but Josie 's unaffected start when she sees her , and the cry : ` Why , there 's mother ! ' was such a hearty little bit of nature , it hardly needed the impatient tripping over her train as she ran into the arms that seemed now to be her nearest refuge . The lover plays his part ; and ripples of merriment greeted the old woman 's searching questions and blunt answers during the interview which shows the girl how shallow his love is , and how near she had been to ruining her life as bitterly as poor ` Elizy ' did . She gives her answer frankly , and when they are alone , looks from her own bedizened self to the shabby dress , work-worn hands , and tender face , crying with a repentant sob and kiss : ` Take me home , mother , and keep me safe . I 've had enough of this ! ' ` That will do you good , Maria ; do n't forget it , ' said one lady to her daughter as the curtain went down ; and the girl answered : ` Well , I 'm sure I do n't see why it 's touching ; but it is , ' as she spread her lace handkerchief to dry . Tom and Nan came out strong in the next scene ; for it was a ward in an army hospital , and surgeon and nurse went from bed to bed , feeling pulses , administering doses , and hearing complaints with an energy and gravity which convulsed the audience . The tragic element , never far from the comic at such times and places , came in when , while they bandaged an arm , the doctor told the nurse about an old woman who was searching through the hospital for her son , after days and nights on battlefields , through ambulances , and among scenes which would have killed most women . ` She will be here directly , and I dread her coming , for I 'm afraid the poor lad who has just gone is her boy . I 'd rather face a cannon than these brave women , with their hope and courage and great sorrow , ' says the surgeon . ` Ah , these poor mothers break my heart ! '
adds the nurse , wiping her eyes on her big apron ; and with the words Mrs XXXXX came in .
Bess Elizy Meg Sniffs Tom allurements flounces nights parlour quiver