` That last sentence is to flatter me and win my help to get you out of the scrape . Tell me first how you got in ' ; and Mrs Jo settled herself to listen with interest , never tired of boys ' affairs . Tom gave his head a rousing rub all over to clear his wits , and plunged into his story with a will . ` Well , we 've met her before , but I did n't know she was there . Demi wanted to see a fellow , so we went , and finding it nice and cool rested over Sunday . Found some pleasant people and went out rowing ; I had Dora , and came to grief on a confounded rock . She could swim , no harm done , only the scare and the spoilt gown . She took it well , and we got friendly at once -- could n't help it , scrambling into that beast of a boat while the rest laughed at us . Of course we had to stay another day to see that Dora was all right . Demi wanted to . Alice Heath is down there and two other girls from our college , so we sort of lingered along , and Demi kept taking pictures , and we danced , and got into a tennis tournament ; and that was as good exercise as wheeling , we thought . Fact is , tennis is a dangerous game , ma'am . A great deal of courting goes on in those courts , and we fellows find that sort of `` serving '' mighty agreeable , do n't you know ? ' ` 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 ! '
XXXXX 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 . '
Demi Heath Jo Jove Tom day first right rowing years