Everyone was welcomed cordially , whether he rolled up in a fine carriage , or trudged afoot to see the good son or daughter come to honour on the happy day that rewarded many a mutual sacrifice . Mr Laurie and his wife were on the reception committee , and their lovely house was overflowing . Mrs Meg , with Daisy and Jo as aides , was in demand among the girls , helping on belated toilettes , giving an eye to spreads , and directing the decorations . Mrs Jo had her hands full as President 's lady , and the mother of Ted ; for it took all the power and skill of that energetic woman to get her son into his Sunday best . Not that he objected to be well arrayed ; far from it ; he adored good clothes , and owing to his great height already revelled in a dress-suit , bequeathed him by a dandy friend . The effect was very funny ; but he would wear it in spite of the jeers of his mates , and sighed vainly for a beaver , because his stern parent drew the line there . He pleaded that English lads of ten wore them and were ` no end nobby ' ; but his mother only answered , with a consoling pat of the yellow mane : ` My child , you are absurd enough now ; if I let you add a tall hat , Plumfield would n't hold either of us , such would be the scorn and derision of all beholders . Content yourself with looking like the ghost of a waiter , and do n't ask for the most ridiculous head-gear in the known world . ' Denied this noble badge of manhood , Ted soothed his wounded soul by appearing in collars of an amazing height and stiffness , and ties which were the wonder of all female eyes . This freak was a sort of vengeance on his hard-hearted mother ; for the collars drove the laundress to despair , never being just right , and the ties required such art in the tying that three women sometimes laboured long before -- like Beau Brummel -- he turned from a heap of ` failures ' with the welcome words : ` That will do . ' Rob was devoted on these trying occasions , his own toilet being distinguished only by its speed , simplicity , and neatness . Ted was usually in a frenzy before he was suited , and roars , whistles , commands , and groans were heard from the den wherein the Lion raged and the Lamb patiently toiled . Mrs Jo bore it till boots were hurled and a rain of hair-brushes set in , then , fearing for the safety of her eldest , she would go to the rescue , and by a wise mixture of fun and authority finally succeed in persuading Ted that he was ' a thing of beauty ' , if not ' a joy for ever ' . At last he would stalk majestically forth , imprisoned in collars compared to which those worn by Dickens 's afflicted Biler were trifles not worth mentioning . The dresscoat was a little loose in the shoulders , but allowed a noble expanse of glossy bosom to be seen , and with a delicate handkerchief negligently drooping at the proper angle , had a truly fine effect . Boots that shone , and likewise pinched , appeared at one end of the ` long , black clothes-pin ' -- as Josie called him -- and a youthful but solemn face at the other , carried at an angle which , if long continued , would have resulted in spinal curvature . Light gloves , a cane , and -- oh , bitter drop in the cup of joy ! -- an ignominious straw hat , not to mention a choice floweret in the buttonhole , and a festoon of watchguard below , finished off this impressive boy . ` How 's that for style ? ' he asked , appearing to his mother and cousins whom he was to escort to the hall on this particular occasion .
A shout of laughter greeted him , followed by exclamations of horror ; for he had artfully added the little blond moustache he often XXXXX when acting .
add answered bore devoted get pinched pleaded seen suited wore