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

Chapter 9 82burns warm and clear for life. Nothing could be done about it but to help them make wise choices, and beworthy of good mates. But of all the lessons Mrs Jo had tried to teach her boys, this great one was the hardest;for love is apt to make lunatics of even saints and sages, so young people cannot be expected to escape thedelusions, disappointments, and mistakes, as well as the delights, of this sweet madness.'I suppose it is inevitable, since we live in America, so I won't borrow trouble, but hope that some of the newideas of education will produce a few hearty, happy, capable, and intelligent girls for my lads. Lucky for methat I haven't the whole twelve on my hands, I should lose my wits if I had, for I foresee complications andtroubles ahead worse than Tom's boats, bicycles, donkeys, and Doras,' meditated Mrs Jo, as she went back toher neglected proof-sheets.Tom was quite satisfied with the tremendous effect his engagement produced in the little community atPlumfield.'It was paralysing,' as Demi said; and astonishment left most of Tom's mates little breath for chaff. That he,the faithful one, should turn from the idol to strange goddesses, was a shock to the romantic and a warning tothe susceptible. It was comical to see the airs our Thomas put on; for the most ludicrous parts of the affairwere kindly buried in oblivion by the few who knew them, and Tom burst forth as a full-blown hero who hadrescued the maiden from a watery grave, and won her gratitude and love by his daring deed. Dora kept thesecret, and enjoyed the fun when she came to see Mother Bhaer and pay her respects to the family generally.Everyone liked her at once, for she was a gay and winning little soul; fresh, frank, and so happy, it wasbeautiful to see her innocent pride in Tom, who was a new boy, or man rather; for with this change in his lifea great change took place in him. Jolly he would always be, and impulsive, but he tried to become all thatDora believed him, and his best side came uppermost for everyday wear. It was surprising to see how manygood traits Tom had; and his efforts to preserve the manly dignity belonging to his proud position as anengaged man was very comical. So was the entire change from his former abasement and devotion to Nan to asomewhat lordly air with his little betrothed; for Dora made an idol of him, and resented the idea of a fault ora flaw in her Tom. This new state of things suited both, and the once blighted being bloomed finely in thewarm atmosphere of appreciation, love, and confidence. He was very fond of the dear girl, but meant to be aslave no longer, and enjoyed his freedom immensely, quite unconscious that the great tyrant of the world hadgot hold of him for life.To his father's satisfaction he gave up his medical studies, and prepared to go into business with the oldgentleman, who was a flourishing merchant, ready now to make the way smooth and smile upon his marriagewith Mr West's well-endowed daughter. The only thorn in Tom's bed of roses was Nan's placid interest in hisaffairs, and evident relief at his disloyalty. He did not want her to suffer, but a decent amount of regret at theloss of such a lover would have gratified him; a slight melancholy, a word of reproach, a glance of envy as hepassed with adoring Dora on his arm, seemed but the fitting tribute to such years of faithful service andsincere affection. But Nan regarded him with a maternal sort of air that nettled him very much, and pattedDora's curly head with a worldlywise air worthy of the withered spinster, Julia Mills, in David Copperfield.It took some time to get the old and the new emotions comfortably adjusted, but Mrs Jo helped him, and MrLaurie gave him some wise advice upon the astonishing gymnastic feats the human heart can perform, and beall the better for it if it only held fast to the balancing-pole of truth and common sense. At last our Tommy gothis bearings, and as autumn came on Plumfield saw but little of him; for his new lode star was in the city, andbusiness kept him hard at work. He was evidently in his right place now, and soon throve finely, to his father'sgreat contentment; for his jovial presence pervaded the once quiet office like a gale of fresh wind, and hislively wits found managing men and affairs much more congenial employment than studying disease, orplaying unseemly pranks with skeletons.Here we will leave him for a time and turn to the more serious adventures of his mates, though thisengagement, so merrily made, was the anchor which kept our mercurial Tom happy, and made a man of him.