Mrs Erastus Kingsbury Parmalee , of Oshkosh , tell her . We do n't mind waitin ' ; we can look round a spell if she ai n't ready to see folks yet . ' All this was uttered with such rapidity that Ted could only stand gazing at the buxom damsels , who fixed their six blue eyes upon him so beseechingly that his native gallantry made it impossible to deny them a civil reply at least . ` Mrs Bhaer is not visible today -- out just now , I believe ; but you can see the house and grounds if you like , ' he murmured , falling back as the four pressed in gazing rapturously about them . ` Oh , thank you ! Sweet , pretty place I 'm sure ! That 's where she writes , ai n't it ? Do tell me if that 's her picture ! Looks just as I imagined her ! ' With these remarks the ladies paused before a fine engraving of the Hon. Mrs Norton , with a pen in her hand and a rapt expression of countenance , likewise a diadem and pearl necklace . Keeping his gravity with an effort , Teddy pointed to a very bad portrait of Mrs Jo , which hung behind the door , and afforded her much amusement , it was so dismal , in spite of a curious effect of light upon the end of the nose and cheeks as red as the chair she sat in . ` This was taken for my mother ; but it is not very good , ' he said , enjoying the struggles of the girls not to look dismayed at the sad difference between the real and the ideal . The youngest , aged twelve , could not conceal her disappointment , and turned away , feeling as so many of us have felt when we discover that our idols are very ordinary men and women . ' I thought she 'd be about sixteen and have her hair braided in two tails down her back . I do n't care about seeing her now , ' said the honest child , walking off to the hall door , leaving her mother to apologize , and her sisters to declare that the bad portrait was ` perfectly lovely , so speaking and poetic , you know , ` specially about the brow ' . ` Come girls , we must be goin ' , if we want to get through today . You can leave your albums and have them sent when Mrs Bhaer has written a sentiment in 'em . We are a thousand times obliged . Give our best love to your ma , and tell her we are so sorry not to see her . ' Just as Mrs. Erastus Kingsbury Parmalee uttered the words her eye fell upon a middle-aged woman in a large checked apron , with a handkerchief tied over her head , busily dusting an end room which looked like a study .
` One peep at her sanctum since she is out , ' cried the enthusiastic lady , and swept across the hall with her flock before XXXXX could warn his mother , whose retreat had been cut off by the artist in front , the reporter at the back of the house -- for he had n't gone and the ladies in the hall .
Bhaer Norton Oshkosh Parmalee Ted Teddy back damsels diadem house