Page:Delight - de la Roche - 1926.djvu/239

 "Really people are kind, though. Why those men tonight, they were fighting cruel to see which one would come over to marry me. Just think of it, Jimmy."

"Well, I showed them which was your man. And Kirke, he helped me, Delight. He's a good head. A regular brick is Kirke."

"Good old Fine Nicht! He wanted to marry me, too. He was asking me two months ago in his wee dairy to be his wife."

"He was? Oh, I like his cheek! When he knew you was promised to me."

"But he knew you'd broke it off, Jimmy." Jimmy groaned and held her closer.

"Well, I'll never let you out of my sight again till we're safely tied up. It's an awful thing to love a girl like you, Delight, that other men can't look at without something inside them just turning over."

"Yes, isn't it, Jimmy? Even the schoolmaster and all. . . . But I'll be true to you and never give you any cause for worry. Have you got my tea-set safe?"

"Yes, dear. Are you all right? It's not hurting you to walk? I do feel anxious about you in all those wet clothes."

"But my coat is so warm and dry on top. I'm as snug as can be. . . . O-o, Jimmy, see the moon!"

'Yes, and hear the crows! My crows. Dear old fellows, they were almost wild at the way those women were treating you. Listen to 'em now. Cozy, I call it.

Truly, the crows were going to bed, folding their long black wings, pouting their breasts, snuggling their sharp black beaks against the down. Now they uttered only sleepy little croaks as they settled on the resinous pine boughs.