‘Well, what does this mean, my dear girl?’ he asked.
Her inner mirth escaping in spite of her she turned askance and said: ‘When you was following me to Street o’ Wells, two hours ago, I looked round and saw you, and huddied behind a stone! You passed and brushed my frock without seeing me. And when, on my way backalong, I saw you waiting hereabout again, I slipped over the wall, and ran past you! If I had not stopped and looked round at ‘ee, you would never have catched me!’
‘What did you do that for, you elf!’
‘That you shouldn’t find me.’
‘That’s not exactly a reason. Give another, dear Avice,’ he said, as he turned and walked beside her homeward.
She hesitated. ‘Come!’ he urged again.
‘’Twas because I thought you wanted to be my young man,’ she answered.
‘What a wild thought of yours! Supposing I did, wouldn’t you have me?’
‘Not now.... And not for long, even if it had been sooner than now.’
‘Why?’