“Yes, it is nice,” she agreed, “we were all brought up here—I mean my cousins and myself. There are dozens of us. And dozens left,” she added, as the shouts and laughter of children broke the stillness.
A boy came running around the corner of the path. He struck out at Maude. With a remarkably swift movement she retaliated.
“Ouch!” he exclaimed.
“You got him that time,” I laughed, and, being detected, she suddenly blushed. It was this act that drew my attention to her, that defined her as an individual. Before that I had regarded her merely as a shy and provincial girl. Now she was brimming with an unsuspected vitality. A certain interest was aroused, although her shyness towards me was not altered. I found it rather a flattering shyness.
“It's Hugh,” she explained, “he's always trying to be funny. Speak to Mr. Paret, Hugh.”
“Why, that's my name, too,” I said.
“Is it?”
“She knocked my hat off a little while ago,” said Hugh. “I was only getting square.”
“Well, you didn't get square, did you?” I asked.
“Are you going to speak in the tows hall to-night?” the boy demanded. I admitted it. He went off, pausing once to stare back at me.... Maude and I walked on.