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 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 XXXXX 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 . ''
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