Page:Comin' Thro' the Rye (1898).djvu/92

84 Minto, who is the spryest on his legs of the assembled company, next to me. He is after me like a shot; but though I take him twice round the ring, his fingers do not once touch my gown, and I dive in between Dolly and Lily Floyd, victorious. All at once young Tempest joins the ring; and presently, on receiving a dropped token from Lily, rushes after, catches, and kisses her, to her huge delight, for is he not the biggest person present? I wish Jack was here! He would not care about it though, he would think it beneath him, while I—it only shows what an insignificant creature I am—love it. I am enjoying myself down to the ground.

"Look, Nell!" cries Dolly, unloosing my hand; and turning my head, I see behind me the symbol that invites me to pursuit. Off I set with a will, but I do not come up with the hare, who is young Tempest; on the contrary, his long legs bear him away with a fleetness that moves me to grudging envy.

"I wonder," say to myself, as I walk round, swinging the pocket-handkerchief, "whether he could catch me? We will see." Gingerly I drop it behind him, swiftly I fly along; but I am not a dozen yards away when he is up with me, and I am caught, without his ever having given me a chance.

"Now for the forfeit," he says, as he lifts me from the ground and stoops his head to mine. I meet his saucy, bent face with a vigorous slap that turns it scarlet; but he never moves or blushes, only looks at me with frank, amused blue eyes, before which my sudden anger melts like snow before the sun.

"Put me down," I say, and he puts me down. "I hope I—I didn't hurt much?"—(looking up at him rather anxiously). "I did not mean to do it quite so hard, only you should not be rude, you know."

"Lily did not mind," he says, looking down on me with a queer smile.