Anny laughed.
“Maybe,” she said, “but I don’t hold with gentlefolk,” and she walked across the room to where Hal was adding up the yesterday’s reckonings.
“Hal,” she said as she sat down beside him, “I did not kiss thee last night when you bade me good-night.”
Hal kept his eyes fixed on the slate in front of him, but he ceased to take any account of the figures thereon.
“Hal,” said Anny again coaxingly. “Thou didst not kiss me when I said good-night to thee.”
The boy did not raise his eyes and the girl moved a little closer to him.
“Hal,” she said plaintively. Still he did not move. “Hal,” said Anny again. “O, very well,” she added, a catch in her voice, “if thou wilt not——” And she rose to her feet.
“What do you want, maid?” said Hal gruffly, albeit somewhat hastily.
Anny sat down again.
“I owe you a kiss, Hal,” she said softly, twisting her fingers together as they lay on her lap.