“Of course, he’s SMART enough. I don’t mean that! Perhaps he doesn’t want to.”
“Oh,” said Laura, “I wish you did want to.”
“Why?” asked Arthur.
“I promised to string all these for the Mullins’ Christmas tree,” replied Laura. “The market-man brought them so late, I have not much time now.”
“Thread another needle,” said Arthur.
In a few moments he was working as busily as Laura, herself. As Arthur finished his last long string, he tied the ends together and threw it around Laura’s neck. When she bent her head a little, it reached the floor.
“There,” said he, “that proves that a boy can do a girl’s work.”
“Yes,” said Laura, “when”—then she stopped and smiled.
“When what?” asked Arthur.
“When he has a girl to show him how,” laughed Laura, as she danced out of the room with the cranberry strings.