` 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 proof-sheets flew wildly about as she clasped her hands , exclaiming in dismay : ` If Nan has yielded , I 'll never forgive her ! ' ` She has n't ; it 's another girl . ' Tom 's face was so funny as he said the words , that it was impossible to help laughing ; for he looked both sheepish and pleased , besides very much perplexed and worried . ` I 'm glad , very glad indeed ! Do n't care who it is ; and I hope you 'll be married soon . Now tell me all about it , ' commanded Mrs Jo , so much relieved that she felt ready for anything .
` What will XXXXX say ? '
Demi Jo Nan Run Tom left poisoned proof-sheets sentence thunderbolt