"Ye speyk in riddles, Curly."
He tried to laugh but succeeded badly, and stood before her, with downcast eyes, poking his thorn-stick into the mass of pebbles. Annie waited in silence, and that brought it out at last.
"Annie, when we war at the schule thegither, I wad hae gien ye onything. Noo I hae gien ye a' thing, and my hert to the beet (boot) o' the bargain."
"Curly!" said Annie, and said no more, for she felt as if her heart would break.
"I likit ye at the schule, Annie; but noo there's naething i' the warl but you."
Annie rose gently, came close to him, and laying a hand on his arm, said,
"I'm richt sorry for ye, Curly."
He half turned his back, was silent for a moment, and then said coldly, but in a trembling voice,
"Dinna distress yersel'. We canna help it."
"But what'll ye do, Curly?" asked Annie in a tone full of compassionate loving-kindness, and with her hand still on his arm. "It's sair to bide."