It was the first time he had ever refused her an innocent wish; his heart tightened as he answered:
“We ain’t got no time to buy sweets to-day. We’se got a long way to go. Ye must come along like a good girl, and maybe ye shall ’ave some sweets another time.”
“Does ’oo promise?” said she authoritatively.
And with the tightening at his heart again, he said: “I promise!”
They struck out again on to the sun-scorched marsh-land beyond the town. She was a sunny-souled babe, and she was reconciled, but as the heat began to pour down on them, she began to flag.
“Where be we goin’, Daddie?” she would ask. “To the se’side? I ain’t never been to this se’side before. Be it a far beach?”
“Yes,” he would answer, “it be a very far beach.”
Then, presently: “Ain’t we goin’ to ’ave no dinner, Dad? I’d rather go ’ome. I be tired.”
“Soon,” he would reply; but the complaints multiplied.
“I don’t want to go no further,” was the next. “Daddy carry Daisy on his back!”