ny one, because they'd laugh; but on my word and honour, darling, I've
never been kissed by a living soul outside my own people in all my life.
Don't laugh, dear. I wouldn't tell any one but you, but it's the solemn
truth."

"I knew! You are you. Oh, I knew you'd come some day; but I didn't know
you were you in the least till you spoke."

"Then give me another."

"And you never cared or looked anywhere? Why, all the round world must
have loved you from the very minute they saw you, Boy."

"They kept it to themselves if they did. No; I never cared."

"And we shall be late for dinner--horribly late. Oh, how can I look at
you in the light before your mother--and mine!"

"We'll play you're Miss Lacy till the proper time comes. What's the
shortest limit for people to get engaged? S'pose we have got to go
through all the fuss of an engagement, haven't we?"

"Oh, I don't want to talk about that. It's so commonplace. I've thought
of something that you don't know. I'm sure of it. What's my name?"

"Miri--no, it isn't, by Jove! Wait half a second, and it'll come back
to me. You aren't--you can't? Why, those old tales--before I went to
school! I've never thought of 'em from that day to this. Are you the
original, only Annieanlouise?"

"It was what you always called me ever since the beginning. Oh! We've
turned into the avenue, and we must be an hour late."

"What does it matter? The chain goes as far back as those days? It must,
of course--of course it must. I've got to ride round with this pestilent
old bird-confound him!"

"'"Ha! ha!" said the duck, laughing'--do you remember that?"

"Yes, I do--flower-pots on my feet, and all. We've been together all
this while; and I've got to say good bye to you till dinner. Sure I'll
see you at dinner-time? Sure you won't sneak up to your room, darling,
and leave me all the evening? Good-bye, dear--good-bye."

"Good-bye, Boy, good-bye. Mind the arch! Don't let Rufus bolt into his
stables. Good-bye. Yes, I'll come down to dinner; but--what shall I do
when I see you in the light!"

End of Project Gutenberg's The Day's Work, Volume 1, by Rudyard Kipling

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DAY'S WORK, VOLUME 1 ***

***** This file should be named 2569.txt or 2569.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/6/2569/

Produced by An Anonymous Project Gutenberg Volunteer

Updated editions will