The women telegraphed their approval to one another , and Mr. March , feeling that he had got a kindred spirit , opened his choicest stores for his guest 's benefit , while silent John listened and enjoyed the talk , but said not a word , and Mr. Laurence found it impossible to go to sleep . If Jo had not been otherwise engaged , Laurie 's behavior would have amused her , for a faint twinge , not of jealousy , but something like suspicion , caused that gentleman to stand aloof at first , and observe the newcomer with brotherly circumspection . But it did not last long . He got interested in spite of himself , and before he knew it , was drawn into the circle . For Mr. Bhaer talked well in this genial atmosphere , and did himself justice . He seldom spoke to Laurie , but he looked at him often , and a shadow would pass across his face , as if regretting his own lost youth , as he watched the young man in his prime . Then his eyes would turn to Jo so wistfully that she would have surely answered the mute inquiry if she had seen it . But Jo had her own eyes to take care of , and feeling that they could not be trusted , she prudently kept them on the little sock she was knitting , like a model maiden aunt . A stealthy glance now and then refreshed her like sips of fresh water after a dusty walk , for the sidelong peeps showed her several propitious omens . Mr. Bhaer 's face had lost the absent-minded expression , and looked all alive with interest in the present moment , actually young and handsome , she thought , forgetting to compare him with Laurie , as she usually did strange men , to their great detriment . Then he seemed quite inspired , though the burial customs of the ancients , to which the conversation had strayed , might not be considered an exhilarating topic . Jo quite glowed with triumph when Teddy got quenched in an argument , and thought to herself , as she watched her father 's absorbed face , `` How he would enjoy having such a man as my Professor to talk with every day ! '' Lastly , Mr. Bhaer was dressed in a new suit of black , which made him look more like a gentleman than ever . His bushy hair had been cut and smoothly brushed , but did n't stay in order long , for in exciting moments , he rumpled it up in the droll way he used to do , and Jo liked it rampantly erect better than flat , because she thought it gave his fine forehead a Jove-like aspect . Poor Jo , how she did glorify that plain man , as she sat knitting away so quietly , yet letting nothing escape her , not even the fact that Mr. Bhaer actually had gold sleeve-buttons in his immaculate wristbands . `` Dear old fellow ! He could n't have got himself up with more care if he 'd been going a-wooing , '' said Jo to herself , and then a sudden thought born of the words made her blush so dreadfully that she had to drop her ball , and go down after it to hide her face . The maneuver did not succeed as well as she expected , however , for though just in the act of setting fire to a funeral pyre , the Professor dropped his torch , metaphorically speaking , and made a dive after the little blue ball . Of course they bumped their heads smartly together , saw stars , and both came up flushed and laughing , without the ball , to resume their seats , wishing they had not left them . Nobody knew where the evening went to , for Hannah skillfully abstracted the babies at an early hour , nodding like two rosy poppies , and Mr. Laurence went home to rest .
The others sat round the XXXXX , talking away , utterly regardless of the lapse of time , till Meg , whose maternal mind was impressed with a firm conviction that Daisy had tumbled out of bed , and Demi set his nightgown afire studying the structure of matches , made a move to go .
Hannah Laurie Professor day fire first hour omens sleeve-buttons wristbands