Jo's Boys - Charter 9

Two very superior bicycles went twinkling up the road to Plumfield one September afternoon, bearing two brown and dusty riders evidently returning from a successful run, for though their legs might be a trifle weary, their faces beamed as they surveyed the world from their lofty perches ¹ with the air of calm content all wheelmen wear after they have learned to ride; before that happy period anguish ² of mind and body is the chief expression of the manly ³ countenance ⁴., ,'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 Mother Bhaer first,' returned Tom, wheeling in at the gate with a heavy sigh., , ,To his great joy Mrs Jo was discovered alone in a grove ⁷ of proof-sheets, which she dropped, to greet the returning wanderer cordially. But after the first glance she saw that something was the matter, recent events having made her unusually sharp-eyed and suspicious., ,'What is it now, Tom?' she asked, as he subsided ⁸ into an easy-chair with a curious expression of mingled ⁹ fear, shame, amusement, and distress ¹⁰ in his brick-red countenance., ,The birds were hopping about on their perches and twittering. 鸟儿在栖木上跳来跳去，吱吱地叫着。,She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时 ，她由于痛苦而失声大哭 。