CHAPTER XXIII
"DO YOU MEAN THAT?"
"It was right along here—at the bridge, you know—I saw you the first time, Janice," said the teacher, when they had covered some two miles of the way. "Do you remember?"
"I didn't suppose you would," laughed Janice, blushing a little. "And I stared at you because you were the first citified-looking person I had seen since coming to Poketown."
He laughed. "Did I look as bad as all that? I was going fast, I know, but I could see that you were a mighty pretty girl."
"Why! That's a story!" exclaimed Janice, seriously, and looking at the young man in astonishment. "You know that isn't so. I'm not pretty."
"Goodness me! am I not to have my way in anything?" demanded Nelson Haley, in mock anger. "If I think you're pretty I can say so, I hope?"
"No, sir. Such ridiculous statements are forbidden. I shall think your eyes need treating almost as badly as do poor little Lottie's. Dear me, whatever are we going to do about that child?"
"If either of us were rich it would be an easy question to answer."
"True enough. I know what I'd do. And I believe you'd be a very generous young man, indeed—as long as being generous did not entail any particular work on your part."