“‘Let me go, sir; your assurance is unbearable!’ she exclaimed, making violent but ineffectual efforts to release herself from my embrace.
“‘You’ll not go till you kiss me,’ said I, as calmly as possible. A loud knock at this moment was heard at the door.
“‘Let me go, sir. Here’s my grandmother and my aunt returned, and they’ll abuse me famously if they catch you here.’
“‘You’ll not go till you kiss me,’ I repeated in exactly the same tone of voice I had previously used. Another louder knock was now heard.
“‘There then, you plague!’ she cried as she hurriedly pressed her lips to mine; ‘and now let me go.’
“‘Leave every thing to me, I’ll manage the old ladies,’ said I as I allowed her to escape.
“‘It’s very strange, Floss, that you always will keep us at the door so long when we knock,’ mumbled the eldest of the two old ladies as well as her want of teeth would allow her, as soon as the door was opened.
“‘It’s very strange,’ remarked the other with stronger emphasis.
“‘I’ve spoken to you so often about it, that I’m quite shocked at your negligence,’ mumbled the first.