Shut the window , like a good boy , and wait till I come . '' With that , Jo shouldered her broom and marched into the house , wondering what they would all say to her . Laurie was in a flutter of excitement at the idea of having company , and flew about to get ready , for as Mrs. March said , he was ' a little gentleman ' , and did honor to the coming guest by brushing his curly pate , putting on a fresh color , and trying to tidy up the room , which in spite of half a dozen servants , was anything but neat . Presently there came a loud ring , than a decided voice , asking for ` Mr. Laurie ' , and a surprised-looking servant came running up to announce a young lady . `` All right , show her up , it 's Miss Jo , '' said Laurie , going to the door of his little parlor to meet Jo , who appeared , looking rosy and quite at her ease , with a covered dish in one hand and Beth 's three kittens in the other . `` Here I am , bag and baggage , '' she said briskly . `` Mother sent her love , and was glad if I could do anything for you . Meg wanted me to bring some of her blanc mange , she makes it very nicely , and Beth thought her cats would be comforting . I knew you 'd laugh at them , but I could n't refuse , she was so anxious to do something . '' It so happened that Beth 's funny loan was just the thing , for in laughing over the kits , Laurie forgot his bashfulness , and grew sociable at once . `` That looks too pretty to eat , '' he said , smiling with pleasure , as Jo uncovered the dish , and showed the blanc mange , surrounded by a garland of green leaves , and the scarlet flowers of Amy 's pet geranium . `` It is n't anything , only they all felt kindly and wanted to show it . Tell the girl to put it away for your tea . It 's so simple you can eat it , and being soft , it will slip down without hurting your sore throat . What a cozy room this is ! '' `` It might be if it was kept nice , but the maids are lazy , and I do n't know how to make them mind . It worries me though . '' `` I 'll right it up in two minutes , for it only needs to have the hearth brushed , so -- and the things made straight on the mantelpiece , so -- and the books put here , and the bottles there , and your sofa turned from the light , and the pillows plumped up a bit . Now then , you 're fixed . '' And so he was , for , as she laughed and talked , Jo had whisked things into place and given quite a different air to the room .
XXXXX watched her in respectful silence , and when she beckoned him to his sofa , he sat down with a sigh of satisfaction , saying gratefully ... `` How kind you are !
Amy Beth Laurie Meg Mother bashfulness geranium mange minutes right