Nan's emphasis on the last word caused Tom to groan, and the rest to
laugh.

'I take great pride and solid satisfaction in you, Nan, and hope to
see you very successful; for we do need just such helpful women in
the world. I sometimes feel as if I've missed my vocation and ought
to have remained single; but my duty seemed to point this way, and I
don't regret it,' said Mrs Jo, folding a large and very ragged blue
sock to her bosom.

'Neither do I. What should I ever have done without my dearest Mum?'
added Ted, with a filial hug which caused both to disappear behind
the newspaper in which he had been mercifully absorbed for a few
minutes.

'My darling boy, if you would wash your hands semi-occasionally, fond
caresses would be less disastrous to my collar. Never mind, my
precious touslehead, better grass stains and dirt than no cuddlings
at all'; and Mrs Jo emerged from that brief eclipse looking much
refreshed, though her back hair was caught in Ted's buttons and her
collar under one ear.

Here Josie, who had been studying her part at the other end of the
piazza, suddenly burst forth with a smothered shriek, and gave
Juliet's speech in the tomb so effectively that the boys applauded,
Daisy shivered, and Nan murmured: 'Too much cerebral excitement for
one of her age.'

'I'm afraid you'll have to make up your mind to it, Meg. That child
is a born actress. We never did anything so well, not even the