“Let go, I say. Who are you?” was the first rough greeting.
“O Charlie, Charlie!” almost sobbing, and still grasping his arm tight.
“Oh, I say!” and he stood with open mouth staring at her.
“O Charlie! take me home!”
“Yes, yes; come along!—Get off with you, fellows!” he added—turning round upon the other boys, who were beginning to stare—and exclaimed, “It’s nothing but our Kate!”
Oh! what a thrill there was in hearing those words; and the boys, who were well-behaved and gentlemanly, were not inclined to molest her. So she hurried on, holding Charles’s arm for several steps, till they were out of the hubbub, when he turned again and stared, and again exclaimed, “I say!” all that he could at present utter; and Kate looked at his ruddy face and curly head, and dusty coat and inky collar, as if she would eat him for very joy.
“I say!” and this time he really did say, “Where are the rest of them?”
“At home, aren’t they?”
“What, didn’t they bring you in?”
“Oh no!”