She chuckled at her own cunning.
They came to the servants' gate.
Ernie stopped.
"Good-bye, Ruth," he said. "I'll say good-night."
She looked up at him surprised.
"Aren't you comin then?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "But I'm just a-goin to finish my fag first."
She gave him a delicious look.
Innocent as she was, she understood his consideration and thanked him for it mutely.
She gave him her hand. He took it, shook it, and held it awhile, as though weighing it. It was firm and very capable.