Jo's Boys - Bibliotecadigital.puc-campinas.edu.br

Chapter 3 29suffice to show a few of the claims made on a busy woman's time, and make my readers pardon Mrs Jo if shedid not carefully reply to all.'That job is done. Now I will dust a bit, and then go to my work. I'm all behind-hand, and serials can't wait; sodeny me to everybody, Mary. I won't see Queen Victoria if she comes today.' And Mrs Bhaer threw down hernapkin as if defying all creation.'I hope the day will go well with thee, my dearest,' answered her husband, who had been busy with his ownvoluminous correspondence. 'I will dine at college with Professor Plock, who is to visit us today. TheJunglings can lunch on Parnassus; so thou shalt have a quiet time.' And smoothing the worried lines out of herforehead with his good-bye kiss, the excellent man marched away, both pockets full of books, an old umbrellain one hand, and a bag of stones for the geology class in the other.'If all literary women had such thoughtful angels for husbands, they would live longer and write more.Perhaps that wouldn't be a blessing to the world though, as most of us write too much now,' said Mrs Jo,waving her feather duster to her spouse, who responded with flourishes of the umbrella as he went down theavenue.Rob started for school at the same time, looking so much like him with his books and bag and squareshoulders and steady air that his mother laughed as she turned away, saying heartily: 'Bless both my dearprofessors, for better creatures never lived!'Emil was already gone to his ship in the city; but Ted lingered to steal the address he wanted, ravage thesugar-bowl, and talk with 'Mum'; for the two had great larks together. Mrs Jo always arranged her ownparlour, refilled her vases, and gave the little touches that left it cool and neat for the day. Going to draw downthe curtain, she beheld an artist sketching on the lawn, and groaned as she hastily retired to the back windowto shake her duster.At that moment the bell rang and the sound of wheels was heard in the road.'I'll go; Mary lets 'em in'; and Ted smoothed his hair as he made for the hall.'Can't see anyone. Give me a chance to fly upstairs,' whispered Mrs Jo, preparing to escape. But before shecould do so, a man appeared at the door with a card in his hand. Ted met him with a stern air, and his motherdodged behind the window-curtains to bide her time for escape.'I am doing a series of articles for the Saturday Tattler, and I called to see Mrs Bhaer the first of all,' began thenewcomer in the insinuating tone of his tribe, while his quick eyes were taking in all they could, experiencehaving taught him to make the most of his time, as his visits were usually short ones.'Mrs Bhaer never sees reporters, sir.''But a few moments will be all I ask,' said the man, edging his way farther in.'You can't see her, for she is out,' replied Teddy, as a backward glance showed him that his unhappy parenthad vanished--through the window, he supposed, as she sometimes did when hard bestead.'Very sorry. I'll call again. Is this her study? Charming room!' And the intruder fell back on the parlour, boundto see something and bag a fact if he died in the attempt. 'It is not,' said Teddy, gently but firmly backing himdown the hall, devoutly hoping that his mother had escaped round the corner of the house.'If you could tell me Mrs Bhaer's age and birthplace, date of marriage, and number of children, I should be