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 right across the way . I thought he 'd move , but he did n't , so I gave him a kick ; he kicked back , and over we went in a heap , donkey and all . Such a mess ! I thought only of Dora , and she had hysterics ; at least , she laughed till she cried , and that beast brayed , and I lost my head . Any fellow would , with a poor girl gasping in the road , and he wiping her tears and begging pardon , not knowing whether her bones were broken or not . I called her my darling , and went on like a fool in my flurry , till she grew calmer , and said , with such a look : `` I forgive you , Tom . Pick me up , and let us go on again . '' ` Was n't that sweet now , after I 'd upset her for the second time ? It touched me to the heart ; and I said I 'd like to go on for ever with such an angel to steer for , and -- well I do n't know what I did say ; but you might have knocked me down with a feather when she put her arm round my neck and whispered : `` Tom , dear , with you I 'm not afraid of any lions in the path . '' She might have said donkeys ; but she was in earnest , and she spared my feelings . Very nice of the dear girl ; but there I am with two sweethearts on my hands , and in a deuce of a scrape . ' Finding it impossible to contain herself another moment , Mrs Jo laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks at this characteristic episode ; and after one reproachful look , which only added to her merriment , Tom burst into a jolly roar that made the room ring . ` Tommy Bangs ! Tommy Bangs ! who but you could ever get into such a catastrophe ? ' said Mrs Jo , when she recovered her breath . ` Is n't it a muddle all round , and wo n't everyone chaff me to death about it ?
I shall have to quit old Plum for a while , ' answered XXXXX , as he mopped his face , trying to realize the full danger of his position .
Bangs Dora Jo Tom day donkeys hysterics muddle right second