` Not much tennis in my day , but I understand perfectly , ' said Mrs Jo , enjoying it all as much as Tom did . ` Upon my word , I had n't the least idea of being serious , ' he continued slowly , as if this part of his tale was hard to tell ; ` but everyone else spooned , so I did . Dora seemed to like it and expect it , and of course I was glad to be agreeable . She thought I amounted to something , though Nan does not , and it was pleasant to be appreciated after years of snubbing . Yes , it was right down jolly to have a sweet girl smile at you all day , and blush prettily when you said a neat thing to her , and look glad when you came , sorry when you left , and admire all you did , and make you feel like a man and act your best . That 's the sort of treatment a fellow enjoys and ought to get if he behaves himself ; not frowns and cold shoulders year in and year out , and made to look like a fool when he means well , and is faithful , and has loved a girl ever since he was a boy . No , by Jove , it 's not fair , and I wo n't stand it ! ' Tom waxed warm and eloquent as he thought over his wrongs , and bounced up to march about the room , wagging his head and trying to feel aggrieved as usual , but surprised to find that his heart did not ache a bit . ' I would n't . Drop the old fancy , for it was nothing more , and take up the new one , if it is genuine . But how came you to propose , Tom , as you must have done to be engaged ? ' asked Mrs Jo , impatient for the crisis of the tale . ` Oh , that was an accident . I did n't mean it at all ; the donkey did it , and I could n't get out of the scrape without hurting Dora 's feelings , you see , ' began Tom , seeing that the fatal moment had come . ` So there were two donkeys in it , were there ? ' said Mrs Jo , foreseeing fun of some sort . ` Do n't laugh ! It sounds funny , I know ; but it might have been awful , ' answered Tom darkly , though a twinkle of the eye showed that his love trials did not quite blind him to the comic side of the adventure . ` The girls admired our new wheels , and of course we liked to show off . Took 'em to ride , and had larks generally .
Well , one day , Dora was on behind , and we were going nicely along a good bit of road , when a ridiculous old donkey got XXXXX across the way .
Dora Jo Jove Nan Tom accident donkeys right year years