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 I hope she will suit the family . She suits me tip-top . Yours ever , Tom . '' He was all right , never liked Nan , you know ; but Dora will suit him down to the ground . ' And Tom looked entirely satisfied with his own tact and taste . ` What did Demi say to this rapid and funny lovemaking ? Was n't he scandalized ? ' asked Mrs Jo , trying not to laugh again as she thought of the unromantic spectacle of donkey , bicycle , boy , and girl all in the dust together . ` Not a bit . He was immensely interested and very kind ; talked to me like a father ; said it was a good thing to steady a fellow , only I must be honest with her and myself and not trifle a moment . Demi is a regular Solomon , especially when he is in the same boat , ' answered Tom , looking wise . ` You do n'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 into temptation blindfold . He said he went to Quitno to see Fred Wallace , but he never saw the fellow . How could he , when Wallace was off in his yacht all the time we were there ? Alice was the real attraction , and I was left to 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 XXXXX .
bit boat father ground laugh lines suits tact taste time