Boy Hugh recalled certain things which he had heard at Hunker Court.
"Are you an angel?" he said, quite seriously.
"Oh no, silly!" cried the maiden gaily, shaking her fleece bewilderingly at him. "Of course, I am only a little girl. I just tooked my parolsol and comed a walk. And you are the very nicest little boy that ever I saw—quite a child, of course," she added patronisingly. "But take hold of my parolsol. Be careful not to splash me when you shake yourself. And after that I'll give you a kiss. I like nice little boys!"
"What is a kiss?" asked Boy Hugh.
They did not deal in the commodity in the Tinklers' Lands. And even if his sister Vara did kiss him to sleep every night, and was for ever kissing the baby as if its mouth was a sweetmeat, she did not think it becoming or menseful to mention the word. So that, quite sincerely, Boy Hugh asked again, "What is a kiss, little girl?"
"Come up here, nice boy, and I will show you!" replied the maiden promptly.
And somehow Hugh knew that this was an invitation by no means to be declined.