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 her tender little heart: "Yes, I do, dearly, Tom; you are so gay and kind and honest, I couldn't help it." Now, after that what could I do but go ahead and make her happy while I stayed, and trust to luck to straighten the snarl out 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 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?
Wasn'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.