FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   >>  
wn on the horizon. Then he made his way back to the town and the nearest confectioner, and started for home just as Miss Nugent, who was about to pay a call with her aunt, waited, beautifully dressed, in the front garden while that lady completed her preparations. Feeling very spic and span, and still a trifle uncomfortable from the vigorous attentions of Ann, who cleansed her as though she had been a doorstep, she paced slowly up and down the path. Upon these occasions of high dress a spirit of Sabbath calm was wont to descend upon her and save her from escapades to which in a less severe garb she was somewhat prone. She stopped at the gate and looked up the road. Then her face flushed, and she cast her eyes behind her to make sure that the hall-door stood open. The hated scion of the house of Hardy was coming down the road, and, in view of that fact, she forgot all else--even her manners. The boy, still fresh from the loss of his natural protector, kept a wary eye on the house as he approached. Then all expression died out of his face, and he passed the gate, blankly ignoring the small girl who was leaning over it and apparently suffering from elephantiasis of the tongue. He went by quietly, and Miss Nugent, raging inwardly that she had misbehaved to no purpose, withdrew her tongue for more legitimate uses. "Boo," she cried; "who had his hair pulled?" Master Hardy pursued the even tenor of his way. "Who's afraid to answer me for fear my father will thrash him?" cried the disappointed lady, raising her voice. This was too much. The enemy retraced his steps and came up to the gate. "You're a rude little girl," he said, with an insufferably grown-up air. "Who had his hair pulled?" demanded Miss Nugent, capering wildly; "who had his hair pulled?" "Don't be silly," said Master Hardy. "Here." He put his hand in his pocket, and producing some nuts offered them over the gate. At this Miss Nugent ceased her capering, and wrath possessed her that the enemy should thus misunderstand the gravity of the situation. "Well, give 'em to Jack, then," pursued the boy; "he won't say no." This was a distinct reflection on Jack's loyalty, and her indignation was not lessened by the fact that she knew it was true. "Go away from our gate," she stormed. "If my father catches you, you'll suffer." "Pooh!" said the dare-devil. He looked up at the house and then, opening the gate, strode boldly into the f
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   >>  



Top keywords:

Nugent

 

pulled

 

looked

 

father

 

Master

 

tongue

 
pursued
 

capering

 
insufferably
 
retraced

afraid

 
legitimate
 
purpose
 

withdrew

 
answer
 

raising

 
disappointed
 

thrash

 
lessened
 

distinct


reflection

 
loyalty
 

indignation

 

stormed

 

strode

 

opening

 

boldly

 

catches

 

suffer

 

pocket


producing

 

offered

 

wildly

 
demanded
 
gravity
 

misunderstand

 

situation

 

ceased

 

possessed

 

cleansed


doorstep

 

attentions

 
trifle
 

uncomfortable

 
vigorous
 
slowly
 

Sabbath

 
descend
 
spirit
 

occasions