"Carnation!"
She did not answer him by any word. Instead, she stood silent with the song stilled mid-flight upon her lips. She smiled happily, however, as he came near.
"Carnation!" he cried again. And there was something shining in the lad's eyes which she had never seen there before.
She held out the green bag. Then she turned her elbow towards him with a certain defensive instinct.
"Here, take my books, John Charles!" she said, as if he had never been away; and with no more than that they began to walk homeward together.
"Are you not glad to see me?" he asked presently.
"Oh, yes, indeed—very glad!" she answered, looking at the ground; "you will be able to carry my books again, you see!"
"Who has carried them while I have been away?"
"Carried them myself!"
"For true?"