Taking her dinner-basket she packed it quite full, and for the third time that day Kate trudged away to that absent brother of hers in the cornfield.
“Can’t stop to eat!” called Frank the instant he perceived what Kate carried. “I’ve got to work right on, night and day, till this is done.”
“O, Frank! do put that hoe down and eat this dinner! See how nice it is! Salmon, strawberries, and things! You never saw such nice strawberries in your life, I know. I saved half of mine for you, I knew you liked them so much.”
Holding forth the luscious berries, Kate pleaded with Frank thus:
“Now, Frank, please, won’t you eat them? Just the berries, if nothing more.”
“I can’t, Kate; ’twould take time.”
“You provoking fellow! I’ve a great mind to eat them myself.”
“Do! I know you want them.”
Kate’s eyes filled with tears. She stood silently during the time that Frank hoed four hills of corn. Then putting the basket down, and taking the dish of berries with its spoon, she followed down the furrow until she came to Frank.
“See!” she said, hiding her dim eyes behind an eager little laugh, “you hoe away, and I will feed you—a spoonful of berries at every hill. Take one now,” holding up her short white arm so that the spoon just touched his dusty lips. Frank caught back his face from contact with the berries. He was determined to be a martyr, and that Kate should have her pleasure marred by pity for him; and yet Frank was very hungry. He wanted his dinner as only a healthy, hungry boy can want it.