Everyone liked her at once , for she was a gay and winning little soul ; fresh , frank , and so happy , it was beautiful to see her innocent pride in Tom , who was a new boy , or man rather ; for with this change in his life a great change took place in him . Jolly he would always be , and impulsive , but he tried to become all that Dora believed him , and his best side came uppermost for everyday wear . It was surprising to see how many good traits Tom had ; and his efforts to preserve the manly dignity belonging to his proud position as an engaged man was very comical . So was the entire change from his former abasement and devotion to Nan to a somewhat lordly air with his little betrothed ; for Dora made an idol of him , and resented the idea of a fault or a flaw in her Tom . This new state of things suited both , and the once blighted being bloomed finely in the warm atmosphere of appreciation , love , and confidence . He was very fond of the dear girl , but meant to be a slave no longer , and enjoyed his freedom immensely , quite unconscious that the great tyrant of the world had got hold of him for life . To his father 's satisfaction he gave up his medical studies , and prepared to go into business with the old gentleman , who was a flourishing merchant , ready now to make the way smooth and smile upon his marriage with Mr West 's well-endowed daughter . The only thorn in Tom 's bed of roses was Nan 's placid interest in his affairs , and evident relief at his disloyalty . He did not want her to suffer , but a decent amount of regret at the loss of such a lover would have gratified him ; a slight melancholy , a word of reproach , a glance of envy as he passed with adoring Dora on his arm , seemed but the fitting tribute to such years of faithful service and sincere affection . But Nan regarded him with a maternal sort of air that nettled him very much , and patted Dora '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 Mr Laurie gave him some wise advice upon the astonishing gymnastic feats the human heart can perform , and be all the better for it if it only held fast to the balancing-pole of truth and common sense . At last our Tommy got his bearings , and as autumn came on Plumfield saw but little of him ; for his new lode star was in the city , and business kept him hard at work . He was evidently in his right place now , and soon throve finely , to his father 's great contentment ; for his jovial presence pervaded the once quiet office like a gale of fresh wind , and his lively wits found managing men and affairs much more congenial employment than studying disease , or playing unseemly pranks with skeletons . Here we will leave him for a time and turn to the more serious adventures of his mates , though this engagement , so merrily made , was the anchor which kept our mercurial Tom happy , and made a man of him . Chapter 10 . DEMI SETTLES ` Mother , can I have a little serious conversation with you ? ' asked Demi one evening , as they sat together enjoying the first fire of the season , while Daisy wrote letters upstairs and Josie was studying in the little library close by . ` Certainly , dear . No bad news , I hope ? ' and Mrs Meg looked up from her sewing with a mixture of pleasure and anxiety on her motherly face ; for she dearly loved a good talk with her son , and knew that he always had something worth telling .
` It will be good XXXXX for you , I think , ' answered Demi , smiling as he threw away his paper and went to sit beside her on the little sofa which just held two .
Everyone anchor autumn conversation father girl news position presence way