"Madge, did I brace up?"
The girl risked one quick look at him. How boyish he seemed, how eager! What an altogether different Billie! But was the difference all in him! Somehow, despite a conscious shyness in the moment she felt natural and free, without the uncertainty and restraint that had always troubled her while with him.
"Oh, Billie, that glorious home run!"
"Madge, wasn't that hit a dandy? How I made it is a mystery, but the bat felt like a feather. I thought of you. Tell me—what did you think when I hit that ball over the fence?"
"Billie, I'll never, never tell you."
"Yes—please—I want to know. Didn't you think something—nice of me?"
The pink spots in Madge's cheeks widened to crimson flames.
"Billie, are you still—crazy about me? Now, don't come so close. Can't you behave yourself? And don't break my fingers with you terrible baseball hands.... Well, when you made that hit I just collapsed and I said——"
"Say it! Say it!" implored Billie.
She lowered her face and then bravely raised it.