Pick me up , and let us go on again . '' ` Was n't that sweet now , after I 'd upset her for the second time ? It touched me to the heart ; and I said I 'd like to go on for ever with such an angel to steer for , and -- well I do n't know what I did say ; but you might have knocked me down with a feather when she put her arm round my neck and whispered : `` Tom , dear , with you I 'm not afraid of any lions in the path . '' She might have said donkeys ; but she was in earnest , and she spared my feelings . Very nice of the dear girl ; but there I am with two sweethearts on my hands , and in a deuce of a scrape . ' Finding it impossible to contain herself another moment , Mrs Jo laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks at this characteristic episode ; and after one reproachful look , which only added to her merriment , Tom burst into a 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 she recovered her breath . ` Is n't it a muddle all round , and wo n't everyone chaff me to death about it ? I shall have to quit old Plum for a while , ' 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 it really serious , or only a summer flirtation ? I do n't approve of them , but boys and girls will play with edged tools and cut their fingers . ' ` Well , Dora considers herself engaged , and wrote to her people at once . I could n't say a word when she took it all in solemn earnest and seemed so happy . She 's only seventeen , never liked anyone before , and is sure all will be all right ; as her father knows mine , and we are both well off . I was so staggered that I said : ' `` Why , you ca n't love me really when we know so little of one another ? ''
But she answered right out of her tender little XXXXX : `` Yes , I do , dearly , Tom ; you are so gay and kind and honest , I could n't help it . ''
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