“Oh, all right, I’ll go,” replied Biddy, with her head up very high, “but I’m coming in when you takes the leap. It’ll take you an hour to get ready.”
But Tom was not listening to Biddy’s chatter. He was looking deep into Nellie’s eyes, and the girl felt in her heart that something was coming, that there would be a change in her life after to-day.
She bowed her head upon Tom’s hands as she saw the color creep into his face and mount high to his forehead.
CHAPTER VIII.
For a long time there could be nothing heard but the ticking of the clock, and the loud breathing of Nellie’s pet cat, in whose soft fur the girl had entwined her fingers. The other hand was enclosed in Tom’s.
“I am not your cousin, Nellie,” he said deliberately after a while.
“Not my cousin? Then who are you, and who am I?” This startled exclamation brought the tears to the man’s eyes.
“Oh, dear,” Nellie added as she saw that Tom was not answering, “I’ve treated you just like my cousin, kissed you many times, and——”
“I hope you will kiss me many times again,” said Tom, his tones having taken on a deepness which caused the tender face of the girl to flood with color.
“But I want to be a relation to you, Tom, dear,” cried the girl sharply.