I thought it was a spirit , ' answered Dan , looking down at her with a curious softness and wonder in his face . ` I 've grown very much , but two years have changed you entirely ' ; and Bess looked up with girlish pleasure at the picturesque figure before her -- for it was a decided contrast to the well-dressed people about her . Before they could say more , Josie rushed in , and , forgetfull of the newly acquired dignity of her teens , let Dan catch her up and kiss her like a child . Not till he set her down did he discover she also was changed , and exclaimed in comic dismay : ` Hallo ! Why , you are growing up too ! What am I going to do , with no young one to play with ? Here 's Ted going it like a beanstalk , and Bess a young lady , and even you , my mustard-seed , letting down your frocks and putting on airs . ' The girls laughed , and Josie blushed as she stared at the tall man , conscious that she had leaped before she looked . They made a pretty contrast , these two young cousins -- one as fair as a lily , the other a little wild rose . And Dan gave a nod of satisfaction as he surveyed them ; for he had seen many bonny girls in his travels , and was glad that these old friends were blooming so beautifully . ` Here ! we ca n't allow any monopoly of Dan ! ' called Mrs Jo . ` Bring him back and keep an eye on him , or he will be slipping off for another little run of a year or two before we have half seen him . ' Led by these agreeable captors , Dan returned to the parlour to receive a scolding from Josie for getting ahead of all the other boys and looking like a man first . 'Em il is older ; but he 's only a boy , and dances jigs and sings sailor songs just as he used to . You look about thirty , and as big and black as a villain in a play . Oh , I 've got a splendid idea ! You are just the thing for Arbaces in The Last Days of Pompeii . We want to act it ; have the lion and the gladiators and the eruption .
Tom and Ted are XXXXX to shower bushels of ashes down and roll barrels of stones about .
am blushed going looked looking play returned surveyed thought used