“Frank,” called Mrs. Hallock, “are you ready to ask your sister’s forgiveness?”
“Yes, ma’am,” shouted Frank in the most amiable of moods.
He was set free, marched down stairs and into his father’s presence, where, without the slightest hesitation, he made the required apology.
Kate kissed him for answer. As she did so, she turned suddenly very red in the face and nearly bit her lip through with the quick effort she made to suppress a scream; for Frank slyly caught a bit of her arm between his fingers and pinched it cruelly. The tears filled her eyelids, and she ran away quickly to hide all sign of her hurt.
The same night, by the light of the moon, Kate saw Frank standing beside her bed.
“Did I pinch you much?” he whispered.
“Awfully, Frank.”
“You were first-rate not to tell of a fellow by making a fuss.”
“And you were meaner than anybody I ever thought of; after I had been so good to you all day and everything.” Kate could not help saying this.
“I’ll just tell you what ’tis, Kate, you are a great deal better to me than you ought to be.”