` Poor Tom , his fate is a hard one , and he 's wasting his time ! Do advise him to quit philandering and go to work , Jo . ' ' I have , Teddy , often ; but it will take some great shock to make that boy wise . I wait with interest to see what it will be . Bless me ! what is all this ? ' She might well ask ; for on a rustic stool stood Ted trying to pose on one foot , with the other extended , and both hands waving in the air . Josie , with several young mates , was watching his contortions with deep interest as they talked about ` little wings ' , ` gilded wire twisted ' , and a ` cunning skull-cap ' . ` This might be called `` Mercury Trying to Fly '' , ' said Mr Laurie , as they peeped through the lace curtains . ` Bless the long legs of that boy ! how does he expect to manage them ? They are planning for the Owlsdark Marbles , and a nice muddle they will make of my gods and goddesses with no one to show them how , ' answered Mrs Jo , enjoying this scene immensely . ` Now , he 's got it ! ' ` That 's perfectly splendid ! ' ` See how long you can keep so ! ' cried the girls , as Ted managed to maintain his equilibrium a moment by resting one toe on the trellis . Unfortunately this brought all his weight on the other foot ; the straw seat of the stool gave way , and the flying Mercury came down with a crash , amid shrieks of laughter from the girls . Being accustomed to ground and lofty tumbling , he quickly recovered himself , and hopped gaily about , with one leg through the stool as he improvised a classic jig . ` Thanks for four nice little pictures . You have given me an idea , and I think some time we will get up regular tableaux of this sort and march our company round a set of dissolving views .
New and striking ; I 'll propose it to our manager and give you all the glory , ' said Mrs XXXXX , as they strolled towards the room whence came the clash of glass and china , and glimpses of agitated black coats .
Jo Laurie Owlsdark Tom crash goddesses muddle skull-cap tableaux trellis