“Hal, I’m ashamed that you should be such a child,” she said, a little smile hovering round her mouth. “Why should I love any one but you?”
The boy appeared to be satisfied, for he laughed and kissed her, but then he added, “I don’t like the Spaniard, lass. I wish you wouldn’t hark to his swaggerings.”
Anny turned round.
“Hal, you wouldn’t have me ill-tempered to the customers?” she said as she picked up the half-cleaned candlestick and set to work on it again.
Hal thrust his hands into his pockets and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“Nay, lass, of course not. I would not bid you be uncivil, but, truth, I thought you liked the foreigner’s big talk and notice of you. I——”
“He is a pleasant gentleman,” said the girl, “but, Lord! I mark not half he says.”
“You’d not let him kiss you, Anny?”
Hal spoke sharply and Anny looked up in amazement.
“Mother of Grace,” she ejaculated, “for what do you take me?”