To-night Jean came running up to me when school was dismissed.
"Gie's my hapenny!" she cried; "Aw didna speak to Annie and Janet a' day!"
"Honest?"
"It's true," said Ellen, "isn't it Gladys?"
"Then I'll pay up my debt of honour," I said, and I held out a ha'penny.
Jean took it, and then she set off round the steading in great haste. She returned with her arms round Janet and Annie.
"Aw got Bets Burnett to tell them aboot the ha'penny," she confessed, "and to speer them no to speak to me a' day and Aw wud gie them a bit o' sugarelly."
"You scheming besom!" I cried and I laid her on my bothy table and sat on her.
"Eh! Jean!" said Gladys, "if only ye had said ye wud bet a shillin'!"
"Dear me," I said hastily, "when I come to think of it I did bet a shilling. Jean bet a hapenny, but I distinctly remember saying that I was betting a shilling. Here you are, Jean!" but Jean refused it with indignation. Not one of them would touch it.