Josie fled to the back parlour , but was discovered by exploring youths , and mortally insulted by one of them , who innocently inquired if she was Mrs Bhaer . The reception did not last long , and the end was better than the beginning ; for the rain ceased , and a rainbow shone beautifully over them as the good fellows stood upon the lawn singing sweetly for a farewell . A happy omen , that bow of promise arched over the young heads , as if Heaven smiled upon their union , and showed them that above the muddy earth and rainy skies the blessed sun still shone for all . Three cheers , and then away they went , leaving a pleasant recollection of their visit to amuse the family as they scraped the mud off the carpets with shovels and emptied the tub half-full of water . ` Nice , honest , hard-working fellows , and I do n't begrudge my half-hour at all ; but I must finish , so do n't let anyone disturb me till tea-time , ' said Mrs Jo , leaving Mary to shut up the house ; for papa and the boys had gone off with the guests , and Josie had run home to tell her mother about the fun at Aunt Jo 's . Peace reigned for an hour , then the bell rang and Mary came giggling up to say : ' A queer kind of a lady wants to know if she can catch a grasshopper in the garden . ' ' A what ? ' cried Mrs Jo , dropping her pen with a blot ; for of all the odd requests ever made , this was the oddest . ' A grasshopper , ma'am . I said you was busy , and asked what she wanted , and says she : `` I 've got grasshoppers from the grounds of several famous folks , and I want one from Plumfield to add to my collection . '' Did you ever ? ' And Mary giggled again at the idea . ` Tell her to take all there are and welcome . I shall be glad to get rid of them ; always bouncing in my face and getting in my dress , ' laughed Mrs Jo . Mary retired , to return in a moment nearly speechless with merriment . ` She 's much obliged , ma'am , and she 'd like an old gown or a pair of stockings of yours to put in a rug she 's making . Got a vest of Emerson 's , she says , and a pair of Mr. Holmes 's trousers , and a dress of Mrs Stowe 's . She must be crazy ! ' ` Give her that old red shawl , then I shall make a gay show among the great ones in that astonishing rug . Yes , they are all lunatics , these lion-hunters ; but this seems to be a harmless maniac , for she does n't take my time , and gives me a good laugh , ' said Mrs Jo , returning to her work after a glance from the window , which showed her a tall , thin lady in rusty black , skipping wildly to and fro on the lawn in pursuit of the lively insect she wanted .
No more interruptions till the light began to fade , then XXXXX popped her head in to say a gentleman wished to see Mrs Bhaer , and would n't take no for an answer .
Bhaer Holmes Josie Mary Plumfield fro hour lion-hunters lunatics parlour