` Afraid I shall disturb you ' ; but Dan looked as if he wanted to stay his restless feet somewhere . ` Not a bit ; I 'm always ready to talk , should n't be a woman if I were not , ' laughed Mrs Jo , as Dan swung himself in and sat down with an air of contentment very pleasant to see . ` Last day is over , yet somehow I do n't seem to hanker to be off . Generally , I 'm rather anxious to cut loose after a short stop . Odd , ai n't it ? ' 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 . '
XXXXX liked the comparison , and smiled as he lounged in the sofa-corner , with the new thoughtfulness in his eyes .
Dan Indians Jo Pegasus books colt education hair night pack-horse