He was one of the men who are at home with children , and looked particularly well when little faces made a pleasant contrast with his manly one . His business , whatever it was , detained him from day to day , but evening seldom failed to bring him out to see -- well , he always asked for Mr. March , so I suppose he was the attraction . The excellent papa labored under the delusion that he was , and reveled in long discussions with the kindred spirit , till a chance remark of his more observing grandson suddenly enlightened him . Mr. Bhaer came in one evening to pause on the threshold of the study , astonished by the spectacle that met his eye . Prone upon the floor lay Mr. March , with his respectable legs in the air , and beside him , likewise prone , was Demi , trying to imitate the attitude with his own short , scarlet-stockinged legs , both grovelers so seriously absorbed that they were unconscious of spectators , till Mr. Bhaer laughed his sonorous laugh , and Jo cried out , with a scandalized face ... `` Father , Father , here 's the Professor ! '' Down went the black legs and up came the gray head , as the preceptor said , with undisturbed dignity , `` Good evening , Mr. Bhaer . Excuse me for a moment . We are just finishing our lesson . Now , Demi , make the letter and tell its name . '' `` I knows him ! '' and , after a few convulsive efforts , the red legs took the shape of a pair of compasses , and the intelligent pupil triumphantly shouted , `` It 's a We , Dranpa , it 's a We ! '' `` He 's a born Weller , '' laughed Jo , as her parent gathered himself up , and her nephew tried to stand on his head , as the only mode of expressing his satisfaction that school was over . `` What have you been at today , bubchen ? '' asked Mr. Bhaer , picking up the gymnast . `` Me went to see little Mary . '' `` And what did you there ? '' `` I kissed her , '' began Demi , with artless frankness . `` Prut ! Thou beginnest early . What did the little Mary say to that ? ''
asked Mr. XXXXX , continuing to confess the young sinner , who stood upon the knee , exploring the waistcoat pocket .
Bhaer Demi Dranpa Mary Professor Weller compasses evening grovelers preceptor