And Mrs Bhaer threw down her napkin 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 own voluminous correspondence . ' I will dine at college with Professor Plock , who is to visit us today . The Junglings can lunch on Parnassus ; so thou shalt have a quiet time . ' And smoothing the worried lines out of her forehead with his good-bye kiss , the excellent man marched away , both pockets full of books , an old umbrella in 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 would n'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 the avenue . Rob started for school at the same time , looking so much like him with his books and bag and square shoulders and steady air that his mother laughed as she turned away , saying heartily : ` Bless both my dear professors , 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 the sugar-bowl , and talk with ` Mum ' ; for the two had great larks together . Mrs Jo always arranged her own parlour , refilled her vases , and gave the little touches that left it cool and neat for the day . Going to draw down the curtain , she beheld an artist sketching on the lawn , and groaned as she hastily retired to the back window to 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 . ` Ca n't see anyone . Give me a chance to fly upstairs , ' whispered Mrs Jo , preparing to escape . But before she could do so , a man appeared at the door with a card in his hand . Ted met him with a stern air , and his mother dodged 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 the newcomer in the insinuating tone of his tribe , while his quick eyes were taking in all they could , experience having 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 ca n't XXXXX her , for she is out , ' replied Teddy , as a backward glance showed him that his unhappy parent had vanished -- through the window , he supposed , as she sometimes did when hard bestead .
Give answered bide fly go lived looking met see waving