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

Chapter 9 79Finding it impossible to contain herself another moment, Mrs Jo laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks atthis characteristic episode; and after one reproachful look, which only added to her merriment, Tom burst intoa jolly roar that made the room ring.'Tommy Bangs! Tommy Bangs! who but you could ever get into such a catastrophe?' said Mrs Jo, when sherecovered her breath.'Isn't it a muddle all round, and won't everyone chaff me to death about it? I shall have to quit old Plum for awhile,' answered Tom, as he mopped his face, trying to realize the full danger of his position.'No, indeed; I'll stand by you, for I think it the best joke of the season. But tell me how things ended. Is itreally serious, or only a summer flirtation? I don't approve of them, but boys and girls will play with edgedtools and cut their fingers.''Well, Dora considers herself engaged, and wrote to her people at once. I couldn't say a word when she took itall in solemn earnest and seemed so happy. She's only seventeen, never liked anyone before, and is sure allwill be all right; as her father knows mine, and we are both well off. I was so staggered that I said:'"Why, you can't love me really when we know so little of one another?" But she answered right out of hertender little heart: "Yes, I do, dearly, Tom; you are so gay and kind and honest, I couldn't help it." Now, afterthat what could I do but go ahead and make her happy while I stayed, and trust to luck to straighten the snarlout afterwards?''A truly Tomian way of taking things easy. I hope you told your father at once.''Oh yes, I wrote off and broke it to him in three lines. I said: "Dear Father, I'm engaged to Dora West, and Ihope she will suit the family. She suits me tip-top. Yours ever, Tom." He was all right, never liked Nan, youknow; but Dora will suit him down to the ground.' And Tom looked entirely satisfied with his own tact andtaste.'What did Demi say to this rapid and funny lovemaking? Wasn't he scandalized?' asked Mrs Jo, trying not tolaugh again as she thought of the unromantic spectacle of donkey, bicycle, boy, and girl all in the dusttogether.'Not a bit. He was immensely interested and very kind; talked to me like a father; said it was a good thing tosteady a fellow, only I must be honest with her and myself and not trifle a moment. Demi is a regularSolomon, especially when he is in the same boat,' answered Tom, looking wise.'You don't mean--?' gasped Mrs Jo, in sudden alarm at the bare idea of more love-affairs just yet.'Yes, I do, please, ma'am; it's a regular sell all the way through, and I owe Demi one for taking me intotemptation blindfold. He said he went to Quitno to see Fred Wallace, but he never saw the fellow. How couldhe, when Wallace was off in his yacht all the time we were there? Alice was the real attraction, and I was leftto my fate, while they were maundering round with that old camera. There were three donkeys in this affair,and I'm not the worst one, though I shall have to bear the laugh. Demi will look innocent and sober, and noone will say a word to him.''The midsummer madness has broken out, and no one knows who will be stricken next. Well, leave Demi tohis mother, and let us see what you are going to do, Tom.''I don't know exactly; it's awkward to be in love with two girls at once. What do you advise?'