Let me have it out with Mother Bhaer first , ' returned Tom , wheeling in at the gate with a heavy sigh . Demi laughed , and his comrade went slowly up the avenue , devoutly hoping that the coast was clear ; for he was the bearer of tidings which would , he thought , convulse the entire family with astonishment and dismay . To his great joy Mrs Jo was discovered alone in a grove of proof-sheets , which she dropped , to greet the returning wanderer cordially . But after the first glance she saw that something was the matter , recent events having made her unusually sharp-eyed and suspicious . ` What is it now , Tom ? ' she asked , as he subsided into an easy-chair with a curious expression of mingled fear , shame , amusement , and distress in his brick-red countenance . ` I 'm in an awful scrape , ma'am . ' ` Of course ; I 'm always prepared for scrapes when you appear . What is it ? Run over some old lady who is going to law about it ? ' asked Mrs Jo cheerfully . ` Worse than that , ' groaned Tom . ` Not poisoned some trusting soul who asked you to prescribe , I hope ? ' ` Worse than that . ' ` You have n't let Demi catch any horrid thing and left him behind , have you ? ' ` Worse even than that . ' ' I give it up . Tell me quick ; I hate to wait for bad news . ' Having got his listener sufficiently excited , Tom launched his thunderbolt in one brief sentence , and fell back to watch the effect . ` I 'm engaged ! '
Mrs Jo 's XXXXX flew wildly about as she clasped her hands , exclaiming in dismay : ` If Nan has yielded , I 'll never forgive her ! '
Demi Jo Tom avenue first left poisoned proof-sheets shame thunderbolt