And both girls forgot their gowns and their suppers for a moment to look with grateful , affectionate eyes at the friends who tried to care for bodies and for souls as well as minds . Now come to a lively party supping on the stairs , girls like foam at the top , and a substratum of youths below , where the heaviest particles always settle . Emil , who never sat if he could climb or perch , adorned the newel-post ; Tom , Nat , Demi , and Dan were camped on the steps , eating busily , as their ladies were well served and they had earned a moment 's rest , which they enjoyed with their eyes fixed on the pleasing prospect above them . ` I 'm so sorry the boys are going . It will be dreadfully dull without them . Now they have stopped teasing and are polite , I really enjoy them , ' said Nan , who felt unusually gracious tonight as Tom 's mishap kept him from annoying her . ` So do I ; and Bess was mourning about it today , though as a general thing she does n't like boys unless they are models of elegance . She has been doing Dan 's head , and it is not quite finished . I never saw her so interested in any work , and it 's very well done . He is so striking and big he always makes me think of the Dying Gladiator or some of those antique creatures . There 's Bess now . Dear child , how sweet she looks tonight ! ' answered Daisy , waving her hand as the Princess went by with Grandpa on her arm . ' I never thought he would turn out so well . Do n't you remember how we used to call him `` the bad boy '' and be sure he would become a pirate or something awful because he glared at us and swore sometimes ? Now he is the handsomest of all the boys , and very entertaining with his stories and plans . I like him very much ; he 's so big and strong and independent . I 'm tired of mollycoddles and book-worms , ' said Nan in her decided way . ` Not handsomer that Nat ! ' cried loyal Daisy , contrasting two faces below , one unusually gay , the other sentimentally sober even in the act of munching cake . '
I like XXXXX , and am glad he is doing well ; but he tires me , and I 'm still a little afraid of him .
Bess Daisy Dan Demi Gladiator Nan Nat Tom independent mollycoddles