“Why, Uncle Josiah Pott! I don’t like that one little bit.”
“You seem so growed up, Beth, and I cal’late you’re getting too big–––”
“For you to love me?”
“No!” he said vehemently.
“Then, just what do you mean?”
“I don’t know.” He drew awkwardly back as she approached him, and fumbled his hat till it fell from his fingers. “You’re getting to be quite a woman,” he observed.
“And you’re getting very foolish! Now, you kiss me before I get angry.”
He stooped, kissed her hastily, and wiped 298 his lips with the back of his coat-sleeve. He picked up his hat, and began to rub it vigorously with his finger-tips.
“If ever you talk like that again I’ll punish you by never giving you another kiss.”
“I ain’t got no right to expect it, anyway, Beth.”