Two very superior bicycles went twinkling up the road to Plumfieldone September afternoon, bearing two brown and dusty riders evidentlyreturning from a successful run, for though their legs might be atrifle weary, their faces beamed as they surveyed the world fromtheir lofty perches with the air of calm content all wheelmen wearafter they have learned to ride; before that happy period anguish ofmind and body is the chief expression of the manly countenance.

'Go ahead and report, Tom; I'm due here. See you later,' said Demi,swinging himself down at the door of the Dovecote.

'Don't peach, there's a good fellow. Let me have it out with MotherBhaer first,' returned Tom, wheeling in at the gate with a heavysigh.

Demi laughed, and his comrade went slowly up the avenue, devoutlyhoping that the coast was clear; for he was the bearer of tidingswhich would, he thought, convulse the entire family with astonishmentand dismay.

To his great joy Mrs Jo was discovered alone in a grove ofproof-sheets, which she dropped, to greet the returning wanderercordially. But after the first glance she saw that something was thematter, recent events having made her unusually sharp-eyed andsuspicious.

'What is it now, Tom?' she asked, as he subsided into an easy-chairwith a curious expression of mingled fear, shame, amusement, anddistress in his brick-red countenance.

'I'm in an awful scrape, ma'am.'

'Of course; I'm always prepared for scrapes when you appear. What isit? Run over some old lady who is going to law about it?' asked MrsJo cheerfully.

'Worse than that,' groaned Tom.

'Not poisoned some trusting soul who asked you to prescribe, I hope?'

'Worse than that.'

'You haven'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 histhunderbolt 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 hasn't; it's another girl.'

Tom's face was so funny as he said the words, that it was impossibleto help laughing; for he looked both sheepish and pleased, besidesvery much perplexed and worried.

'I'm glad, very glad indeed! Don't care who it is; and I hope you'llbe married soon. Now tell me all about it,' commanded Mrs Jo, so muchrelieved that she felt ready for anything.

'What will Nan say?' demanded Tom, rather taken aback at this view ofhis predicament.

'She will be rejoiced to get rid of the mosquito who has plagued herso long. Don't worry about Nan. Who is this "other girl"?'

'Demi hasn't written about her?'

'Only something about your upsetting a Miss West down at Quitno; Ithought that was scrape enough.'

'That was only the beginning of a series of scrapes. Just my luck!Of course after sousing the poor girl I had to be attentive to her,hadn't I? Everyone seemed to think so, and I couldn't get away, andso I was lost before I knew it. It's all Demi's fault, he would staythere and fuss with his old photos, because the views were good andall the girls wanted to be taken. Look at these, will you, ma'am?That's the way we spent our time when we weren't playing tennis'; andTom pulled a handful of pictures from his pocket, displaying severalin which he was conspicuous, either holding a sun-umbrella over avery pretty young lady on the rocks, reposing at her feet in thegrass, or perched on a piazza railing with other couples in seasidecostumes and effective attitudes.

'This is she of course?' asked Mrs Jo, pointing to the much-ruffleddamsel with the jaunty hat, coquettish shoes, and racquet in herhand.

'That's Dora. Isn't she lovely?' cried Tom, forgetting histribulations for a moment and speaking with lover-like ardour.

'Very nice little person to look at. Hope she is not a Dickens Dora?That curly crop looks like it.'

'Not a bit; she's very smart; can keep house, and sew, and do lots ofthings, I assure you, ma'am. All the girls like her, and she's sweet-tempered and jolly, and sings like a bird, and dancesbeautifully, and loves books. Thinks yours are splendid, and made metalk about you no end.'

'That last sentence is to flatter me and win my help to get you outof the scrape. Tell me first how you got in'; and Mrs Jo settledherself to listen with interest, never tired of boys' affairs.

Tom gave his head a rousing rub all over to clear his wits, andplunged into his story with a will.

'Well, we've met her before, but I didn't know she was there. Demiwanted to see a fellow, so we went, and finding it nice and coolrested over Sunday. Found some pleasant people and went out rowing; Ihad Dora, and came to grief on a confounded rock. She could swim, noharm done, only the scare and the spoilt gown. She took it well, andwe got friendly at once - couldn't help it, scrambling into that beastof a boat while the rest laughed at us. Of course we had to stayanother day to see that Dora was all right. Demi wanted to. AliceHeath is down there and two other girls from our college, so we sortof lingered along, and Demi kept taking pictures, and we danced, andgot into a tennis tournament; and that was as good exercise aswheeling, we thought. Fact is, tennis is a dangerous game, ma'am. Agreat deal of courting goes on in those courts, and we fellows findthat sort of "serving" mighty agreeable, don'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 hadn't the least idea of being serious,' he continued slowly, as if this part of his tale was hard to tell; 'buteveryone else spooned, so I did. Dora seemed to like it and expectit, and of course I was glad to be agreeable. She thought I amountedto something, though Nan does not, and it was pleasant to beappreciated after years of snubbing. Yes, it was right down jolly tohave a sweet girl smile at you all day, and blush prettily when yousaid a neat thing to her, and look glad when you came, sorry when youleft, and admire all you did, and make you feel like a man and actyour best. That's the sort of treatment a fellow enjoys and ought toget if he behaves himself; not frowns and cold shoulders year in andyear out, and made to look like a fool when he means well, and isfaithful, and has loved a girl ever since he was a boy. No, by Jove,it's not fair, and I won't stand it!'

Tom waxed warm and eloquent as he thought over his wrongs, andbounced up to march about the room, wagging his head and trying tofeel aggrieved as usual, but surprised to find that his heart did notache a bit.

'I wouldn't. Drop the old fancy, for it was nothing more, and take upthe new one, if it is genuine. But how came you to propose, Tom, asyou must have done to be engaged?' asked Mrs Jo, impatient for thecrisis of the tale.

'Oh, that was an accident. I didn't mean it at all; the donkey didit, and I couldn't get out of the scrape without hurting Dora'sfeelings, 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.

'Don'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 lovetrials did not quite blind him to the comic side of the adventure.

'The girls admired our new wheels, and of course we liked to showoff. Took 'em to ride, and had larks generally. Well, one day, Dorawas 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'dmove, but he didn't, so I gave him a kick; he kicked back, and overwe went in a heap, donkey and all. Such a mess! I thought only ofDora, and she had hysterics; at least, she laughed till she cried,and that beast brayed, and I lost my head. Any fellow would, with apoor girl gasping in the road, and he wiping her tears and beggingpardon, not knowing whether her bones were broken or not. I calledher my darling, and went on like a fool in my flurry, till she grewcalmer, and said, with such a look: "I forgive you, Tom. Pick me up,and let us go on again."

'Wasn't that sweet now, after I'd upset her for the second time? Ittouched me to the heart; and I said I'd like to go on for ever withsuch an angel to steer for, and - well I don't know what I did say;but you might have knocked me down with a feather when she put herarm round my neck and whispered: "Tom, dear, with you I'm not afraidof any lions in the path." She might have said donkeys; but she wasin 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 ascrape.'

Finding it impossible to contain herself another moment, Mrs Jolaughed till the tears ran down her cheeks at this characteristicepisode; and after one reproachful look, which only added to hermerriment, Tom burst into a jolly roar that made the room ring.

'Tommy Bangs! Tommy Bangs! who but you could ever get into such acatastrophe?' said Mrs Jo, when she recovered her breath.

'Isn't it a muddle all round, and won't everyone chaff me to deathabout it? I shall have to quit old Plum for a while,' answered Tom,as he mopped his face, trying to realize the full danger of hisposition.

'No, indeed; I'll stand by you, for I think it the best joke of theseason. But tell me how things ended. Is it really serious, or only asummer flirtation? I don't approve of them, but boys and girls willplay with edged tools and cut their fingers.'

'Well, Dora considers herself engaged, and wrote to her people atonce. I couldn't say a word when she took it all in solemn earnestand seemed so happy. She's only seventeen, never liked anyone before,and is sure all will be all right; as her father knows mine, and weare both well off. I was so staggered that I said:

'"Why, you can't love me really when we know so little of oneanother?" But she answered right out of her tender little heart:"Yes, I do, dearly, Tom; you are so gay and kind and honest, Icouldn't help it." Now, after that what could I do but go ahead andmake her happy while I stayed, and trust to luck to straighten thesnarl out afterwards?'

'A truly Tomian way of taking things easy. I hope you told yourfather at once.'

'Oh yes, I wrote off and broke it to him in three lines. I said:"Dear Father, I'm engaged to Dora West, and I hope she will suit thefamily. She suits me tip-top. Yours ever, Tom." He was all right,never liked Nan, you know; but Dora will suit him down to theground.' And Tom looked entirely satisfied with his own tact andtaste.

'What did Demi say to this rapid and funny lovemaking? Wasn't hescandalized?' asked Mrs Jo, trying not to laugh again as she thoughtof the unromantic spectacle of donkey, bicycle, boy, and girl all inthe dust together.

'Not a bit. He was immensely interested and very kind; talked to melike a father; said it was a good thing to steady a fellow, only Imust be honest with her and myself and not trifle a moment. Demi is aregular Solomon, especially when he is in the same boat,' answeredTom, looking wise.

'You don't mean - ?' gasped Mrs Jo, in sudden alarm at the bare ideaof more love-affairs just yet.

'Yes, I do, please, ma'am; it's a regular sell all the way through,and I owe Demi one for taking me into temptation blindfold. He saidhe went to Quitno to see Fred Wallace, but he never saw the fellow.How could he, when Wallace was off in his yacht all the time we werethere? Alice was the real attraction, and I was left to my fate,while they were maundering round with that old camera. There werethree donkeys in this affair, and I'm not the worst one, though Ishall have to bear the laugh. Demi will look innocent and sober, andno one will say a word to him.'

'The midsummer madness has broken out, and no one knows who will bestricken next. Well, leave Demi to his mother, and let us see whatyou are going to do, Tom.'

'I don't know exactly; it's awkward to be in love with two girls atonce. What do you advise?'

'A common-sense view of the case, by all means. Dora loves you and thinks you love her. Nan does not care for you, and you only care forher as a friend, though you have tried to do more. It is my opinion,Tom, that you love Dora, or are on the way to it; for in all theseyears I've never seen you look or speak about Nan as you do aboutDora. Opposition has made you obstinately cling to her till accidenthas shown you a more attractive girl. Now, I think you had bettertake the old love for a friend, the new one for a sweetheart, and indue time, if the sentiment is genuine, marry her.'

If Mrs Jo had any doubts about the matter, Tom's face would haveproved the truth of her opinion; for his eyes shone, his lips smiled,and in spite of dust and sunburn a new expression of happiness quiteglorified him as he stood silent for a moment, trying to understandthe beautiful miracle which real love works when it comes to a youngman's heart.

'The fact is I meant to make Nan jealous, for she knows Dora, and Iwas sure would hear of our doings. I was tired of being walked on,and I thought I'd try to break away and not be a bore and alaughing-stock any more,' he said slowly, as if it relieved him topour out his doubts and woes and hopes and joys to his old friend.'I was regularly astonished to find it so easy and so pleasant. Ididn't mean to do any harm, but drifted along beautifully, and toldDemi to mention things in his letters to Daisy, so Nan might know.Then I forgot Nan altogether, and saw, heard, felt, cared for no onebut Dora, till the donkey - bless his old heart! - pitched her into myarms and I found she loved me. Upon my soul, I don't see why sheshould! I'm not half good enough.'

'Every honest man feels that when an innocent girl puts her hand inhis. Make yourself worthy of her, for she isn't an angel, but a womanwith faults of her own for you to bear, and forgive, and you musthelp one another,' said Mrs Jo, trying to realize that this soberyouth was her scapegrace Tommy.

'What troubles me is that I didn't mean it when I began, and wasgoing to use the dear girl as an instrument of torture for Nan. Itwasn't right, and I don't deserve to be so happy. If all my scrapesended as well as this, what a state of bliss I should be in!' and Tombeamed again at the rapturous prospect.

'My dear boy, it is not a scrape, but a very sweet experiencesuddenly dawning upon you,' answered Mrs Jo, speaking very soberly;for she saw he was in earnest. 'Enjoy it wisely and be worthy of it,for it is a serious thing to accept a girl's love and trust, and lether look up to you for tenderness and truth in return. Don't letlittle Dora look in vain, but be a man in all things for her sake,and make this affection a blessing to you both.'

'I'll try. Yes, I do love her, only I can't believe it just yet. Wishyou knew her. Dear little soul, I long to see her already! She criedwhen we parted last night and I hated to go.' Tom's hand went to hischeek as if he still felt the rosy little seal Dora had set upon hispromise not to forget her, and for the first time in hishappy-go-lucky life Tommy Bangs understood the difference betweensentiment and sentimentality. The feeling recalled Nan, for he hadnever known that tender thrill when thinking of her, and the oldfriendship seemed rather a prosaic affair beside this delightfulmingling of romance, surprise, love, and fun. 'I declare, I feel asif a weight was off me, but what the dickens will Nan say when sheknows it!' he exclaimed with a chuckle.

'Knows what?' asked a clear voice that made both start and turn, forthere was Nan calmly surveying them from the doorway.

Anxious to put Tom out of suspense and see how Nan would take thenews, Mrs Jo answered quickly:

'Tom's engagement to Dora West.'

'Really?' and Nan looked so surprised that Mrs Jo was afraid shemight be fonder of her old playmate than she knew; but her next wordsset the fear at rest, and made everything comfortable and merry atonce.

'I knew my prescription would work wonders if he only took it longenough. Dear old Tom, I'm so glad. Bless you! bless you!' And sheshook both his hands with hearty affection.

'It was an accident, Nan. I didn't mean to, but I'm always gettinginto messes, and I couldn't seem to get out of this any other way.Mother Bhaer will tell you all about it. I must go and make myselftidy. Going to tea with Demi. See you later.'

Stammering, blushing, and looking both sheepish and gratified, Tomsuddenly bolted, leaving the elder lady to enlighten the younger atlength, and have another laugh over this new sort of courtship, whichmight well be called accidental. Nan was deeply interested, for sheknew Dora, thought her a nice little thing, and predicted that intime she would make Tom an excellent wife, since she admired and'appreciated' him so much.

'I shall miss him of course, but it will be a relief to me and betterfor him; dangling is so bad for a boy. Now he will go into businesswith his father and do well, and everyone be happy. I shall give Doraan elegant family medicine-chest for a wedding-present, and teach herhow to use it. Tom can't be trusted, and is no more fit for theprofession than Silas.'

The latter part of this speech relieved Mrs Jo's mind, for Nan hadlooked about her as if she had lost something valuable when shebegan; but the medicine-chest seemed to cheer her, and the thought ofTom in a safe profession was evidently a great comfort.

'The worm has turned at last, Nan, and your bond-man is free. Let himgo, and give your whole mind to your work; for you are fitted for theprofession, and will be an honour to it by and by,' she saidapprovingly.

'I hope so. That reminds me - measles are in the village, and you hadbetter tell the girls not to call where there are children. It wouldbe bad to have a run of them just as term begins. Now I'm off toDaisy. Wonder what she will say to Tom. Isn't he great fun?' And Nandeparted, laughing over the joke with such genuine satisfaction thatit was evident no sentimental regrets disturbed her 'maidenmeditation, fancy-free'.

'I shall have my eye on Demi, but won't say a word. Meg likes tomanage her children in her own way, and a very good way it is. Butthe dear Pelican will be somewhat ruffled if her boy has caught theepidemic which seems to have broken out among us this summer.'

Mrs Jo did not mean the measles, but that more serious malady calledlove, which is apt to ravage communities, spring and autumn, whenwinter gaiety and summer idleness produce whole bouquets ofengagements, and set young people to pairing off like the birds.Franz began it, Nat was a chronic and Tom a sudden case; Demi seemedto have the symptoms; and worst of all, her own Ted had only the daybefore calmly said to her: 'Mum, I think I should be happier if I hada sweetheart, like the other boys.' If her cherished son had askedher for dynamite to play with, she would hardly have been morestartled, or have more decidedly refused the absurd request.

'Well, Barry Morgan said I ought to have one and offered to pick me out a nice one among our set. I asked Josie first, and she hooted atthe idea, so I thought I'd let Barry look round. You say it steadiesa fellow, and I want to be steady,' explained Ted in a serious tone, which would have convulsed his parent at any other time.

'Good lack! What are we coming to in this fast age when babes andboys make such demands and want to play with one of the most sacredthings in life?' exclaimed Mrs Jo, and having in a few words set thematter in its true light, sent her son away to wholesome baseball andOctoo for a safe sweetheart.

Now, here was Tom's bomb-shell to explode in their midst, carryingwidespread destruction, perhaps; for though one swallow does not makea summer, one engagement is apt to make several, and her boys were,most of them, at the inflammable age when a spark ignites the flame,which soon flickers and dies out, or burns warm and clear for life.Nothing could be done about it but to help them make wise choices,and be worthy of good mates. But of all the lessons Mrs Jo had triedto teach her boys, this great one was the hardest; for love is apt tomake lunatics of even saints and sages, so young people cannot beexpected to escape the delusions, disappointments, and mistakes, aswell as the delights, of this sweet madness.

'I suppose it is inevitable, since we live in America, so I won'tborrow trouble, but hope that some of the new ideas of education willproduce a few hearty, happy, capable, and intelligent girls for mylads. Lucky for me that I haven't the whole twelve on my hands, Ishould lose my wits if I had, for I foresee complications andtroubles ahead worse than Tom's boats, bicycles, donkeys, and Doras,'meditated Mrs Jo, as she went back to her neglected proof-sheets.

Tom was quite satisfied with the tremendous effect his engagementproduced in the little community at Plumfield.

'It was paralysing,' as Demi said; and astonishment left most ofTom's mates little breath for chaff. That he, the faithful one,should turn from the idol to strange goddesses, was a shock to theromantic and a warning to the susceptible. It was comical to see theairs our Thomas put on; for the most ludicrous parts of the affairwere kindly buried in oblivion by the few who knew them, and Tomburst forth as a full-blown hero who had rescued the maiden from awatery grave, and won her gratitude and love by his daring deed.Dora kept the secret, and enjoyed the fun when she came to see MotherBhaer and pay her respects to the family generally. Everyone likedher at once, for she was a gay and winning little soul; fresh, frank,and so happy, it was beautiful to see her innocent pride in Tom, whowas a new boy, or man rather; for with this change in his life agreat change took place in him. Jolly he would always be, andimpulsive, but he tried to become all that Dora believed him, and hisbest side came uppermost for everyday wear. It was surprising to seehow many good traits Tom had; and his efforts to preserve the manlydignity belonging to his proud position as an engaged man was verycomical. So was the entire change from his former abasement anddevotion to Nan to a somewhat lordly air with his little betrothed;for Dora made an idol of him, and resented the idea of a fault or aflaw in her Tom. This new state of things suited both, and the onceblighted being bloomed finely in the warm atmosphere of appreciation,love, and confidence. He was very fond of the dear girl, but meant tobe a slave no longer, and enjoyed his freedom immensely, quiteunconscious that the great tyrant of the world had got hold of himfor life.

To his father's satisfaction he gave up his medical studies, andprepared to go into business with the old gentleman, who was aflourishing merchant, ready now to make the way smooth and smile uponhis marriage with Mr West's well-endowed daughter. The only thorn inTom's bed of roses was Nan's placid interest in his affairs, andevident relief at his disloyalty. He did not want her to suffer, buta decent amount of regret at the loss of such a lover would havegratified him; a slight melancholy, a word of reproach, a glance ofenvy as he passed with adoring Dora on his arm, seemed but thefitting tribute to such years of faithful service and sincereaffection. But Nan regarded him with a maternal sort of air thatnettled him very much, and patted Dora's curly head with aworldlywise air worthy of the withered spinster, Julia Mills, inDavid Copperfield.

It took some time to get the old and the new emotions comfortablyadjusted, but Mrs Jo helped him, and Mr Laurie gave him some wiseadvice upon the astonishing gymnastic feats the human heart canperform, and be all the better for it if it only held fast to thebalancing-pole of truth and common sense. At last our Tommy got hisbearings, and as autumn came on Plumfield saw but little of him; forhis new lode star was in the city, and business kept him hard atwork. He was evidently in his right place now, and soon throvefinely, to his father's great contentment; for his jovial presencepervaded the once quiet office like a gale of fresh wind, and hislively wits found managing men and affairs much more congenialemployment than studying disease, or playing unseemly pranks withskeletons.

Here we will leave him for a time and turn to the more seriousadventures of his mates, though this engagement, so merrily made, wasthe anchor which kept our mercurial Tom happy, and made a man of him.