"You are a brick," he cried, "you are indeed, Cissy. Come on, let's go at once and see Billy Blythe."
And he took her hand. She held back a moment. They were safe behind the great ivy bush at the back of the stables.
"Couldn't you say it now?" she whispered, with a soft light in her eyes; "I wish you could. Try."
Hugh John's face darkened. He unshipped his elbow from his side to be ready for action.
"Well, I won't ask you till after," she said regretfully. "'Tain't fair, I know; but—" she looked at him again yet more wistfully, still holding him by the hand which had last passed over the mutual joint-stock candy-stick; "don't you think you could do the other—just once?"
"What other?" grumbled Hugh John, sulking. He felt that Cissy was taking an unfair advantage.
"Oh, you know," said Cissy, "what I did to you a little while ago."
"'Twasn't to be till after," urged our hero, half relenting. Like a woman, Cissy was quick to see her advantage.
"Just a little one to be going on with?" she pleaded.