asked Dan , gravely picking grass and leaves out of his hair and beard ; for he had been lying on the grass , thinking many thoughts in the quiet summer night . ` Not at all ; you are beginning to get civilized . It 's a good sign , and I 'm glad to see it , ' answered Mrs Jo promptly . ` You 've had your swing , and want a change . Hope the farming will give it to you , though helping the Indians pleases me more : it is so much better to work for others than for one 's self alone . ' ` So 't is , ' assented Dan heartily . ' I seem to want to root somewhere and have folks of my own to take care of . Tired of my own company , I suppose , now I 've seen so much better . I 'm a rough , ignorant lot , and I 've been thinking maybe I 've missed it loafing round creation , instead of going in for education as the other chaps did . Hey ? ' He looked anxiously at Mrs Jo ; and she tried to hide the surprise this new outburst caused her ; for till now Dan had scorned books and gloried in his freedom . ` No ; I do n't think so in your case . So far I 'm sure the free life was best . Now that you are a man you can control that lawless nature better ; but as a boy only great activity and much adventure could keep you out of mischief . Time is taming my colt , you see , and I shall yet be proud of him , whether he makes a pack-horse of himself to carry help to the starving or goes to ploughing as Pegasus did . ' Dan liked the comparison , and smiled as he lounged in the sofa-corner , with the new thoughtfulness in his eyes . ` Glad you think so . The fact is it 's going to take a heap of taming to make me go well in harness anywhere . I want to , and I try now and then , but always kick over the traces and run away . No lives lost yet ; but I should n't wonder if there was some time , and a general smash-up . '
` Why , XXXXX , did you have any dangerous adventures during this last absence ?
Dan Indians Jo Pegasus creation hair night pack-horse smash-up sofa-corner