"Molly."
We had reached the stile over which you have to climb to get into the wood. He had crossed first, and I was standing on the top step--he was holding my hand in his to help me over. I did not notice that he had called me Molly.
"Yes?"
"I wish you would be pleasant to me sometimes. You don't know what a difference it would make to me."
"What nonsense! I am perfectly convinced that, under any circumstances, nothing I could say or do could be of the slightest consequence to you."
"Couldn't it? You try!"
"I am much too young."
"Too young! Too young!"
There was all at once something in his voice and manner which gave me quite a start. I snatched my hand away and jumped down to the ground.
"We can't stop here all day if we mean to do any skating, and I for one certainly do."