"A scup! may be you don't know it by that name; some folks call it a swing."
"A swing! oh, yes," said Ellen, "now I know. Oh, I like it very much."
"Would you like to have one?"
"Yes, indeed I should, very much."
"Well, what'll you give me, if I'll fix you out?"
"I don't know," said Ellen, "I have nothing to give; I'll be very much obliged to you, indeed."
"Well now, come I'll make a bargain with you: I'll engage to fix up a scup for you, if you'll give me a kiss."
Poor Ellen was struck dumb. The good-natured Dutchman had taken a fancy to the little pale-faced, sad-looking stranger, and really felt very kindly disposed toward her, but she neither knew, nor at the moment cared about that. She stood motionless, utterly astounded at his unheard-of proposal, and not a little indignant; but when, with a good-natured smile upon his round face, he came near to claim the kiss he no doubt thought himself sure of, Ellen shot from him like an arrow from a bow. She rushed to the house, and bursting open the door, stood with flushed face and sparkling eyes in the presence of her astonished aunt.
"What in the world is the matter?" exclaimed that lady.
"He wanted to kiss me!" said Ellen, scarce knowing whom she was talking to, and crimsoning more and more.