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Rh I had half a mind to open it myself and give her a good hug, but I hate to yield about anything, so I lay still and after a little while she got tired and stopped her pounding; then I could hear her walking slowly down the path, I came out of my corner and began to laugh, and cough and laugh again till I was nearly choking, and when I got over the fit, and stopped to wipe my eyes, I heard a voice behind me saying, "You ought to be ashamed of yourself!"

It nearly knocked me flat, but I turned my head and there on top of the wall was Martine looking at me.

"I've got you now, you old joker!" she cried.

"I'm caught, sure enough," said I, and we both laughed to our hearts' content.

As soon as I had let her in she stood sternly before me, then grabbed me by the beard. "Say you're sorry," she cried.

You know how it is at confession; you repent, meaning to do it again the next opportunity, so I replied meekly, "Mea culpa!"

But she kept pulling me to and fro, declaring that it was a disgrace for an old white-beard like me to have no more sense than a baby; finally she gave me a last pull and tap on the cheek, and threw her arms round my neck saying, "Why didn't you