“I say, do you want me to shove you off the top here?”
“No; and you couldn’t, if I did.”
“Oh, couldn’t I?—you’d see. But I say, go on, Ydoll; tell us all about it. I did tell you what my father said.”
“Said he supposed it was from associating with such a boy as you; for he was sure that I was too well-meaning a lad to do such things without being prompted.”
“Oh, my! What a shame!” cried Joe. “It was too bad.”
“Well, I didn’t want to tell you, only you bothered me till I did speak.”
“Of course. Isn’t it better to know than have any one thinking such things of you without knowing. But I say, though, it is too bad; I couldn’t help turning like I did. It came on all at once, and I couldn’t stir.”
“He didn’t mean about that so much. He bullied me for not taking care of you, and stopping you from going up the ladder.”
“Did he? Why, you couldn’t help it.”
“He talked as if he supposed I could, and said if we went out again together, I had better take Grip’s collar and chain, put the collar round your neck, and lead you.”