He straightened up, threw back his head and shoulders, and assumed a wholly monarchical air.
“That’s fine an’ dandy,” said Chick, not knowing what else to say.
“Yes; and let me tell you what she said, Chick. She said that if any one else had found the letter, and had shown it, and it had become public property, as it were, and people had identified me as the writer and her as the proposed recipient, she wouldn’t have married me in a thousand years; just to punish me in the first place for my crass negligence, and in the second place to spite the gossips.”
Chick laughed a little. “She’s got some spunk, ain’t she?” he said.
“You bet she has. So you see where you come in, Chick. She’s under everlasting obligations to you, and so am I.”
The boy shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and reached out a caressing hand to the gate-post.
“You ’member,” he asked, “what you promised me the night I give you back the letter?”
“Sure I do. I promised you I’d do you any favor in my power, any time.”
“Well, you can do it now.”