But after once taking a stand, Jinnie held her ground. 90 Her mouth was pursed up as if she was going to whistle. Would Peg refuse such a little request? Evidently Peggy would, for she scoffingly ordered.
“Go along with you, kid—go long, you flip little brat!”
“I’d like a kiss awful much,” repeated Jinnie, still standing. Her voice was low-toned and pleading, her blue eyes questioningly on Peg’s face.
Peg shook her head.
“I won’t kiss you ’cause I hate you,” she sniffed. “I’ve always hated you.”
Jinnie’s eyes filled with tears.
“I know it,” she replied sadly, “I know it, but I’d like a kiss just the same because—because I do love you, Peg.”
A bit of the same sentiment that had worried her for over a year now attacked Mrs. Grandoken. Her common sense told her to dash away to the kitchen, but a tugging in her breast kept her anchored to the spot. Suddenly, without a word, she snatched the girl close to her broad breast and pressed her lips on Jinnie’s with resounding smacks.
“There! There! And there!” she cried, between the kisses. “An’ if y’ ever tell a soul I done it, I’ll scrape every inch of skin off’n your flesh, an’ mebbe I’ll do something worse, I hate y’ that bad.”
In less seconds than it takes to tell it, Peg let Jinnie go, and the girl went out of the door with a smiling sigh.