Lord's most severe whippings if he could have escaped from it; but
he and Ella had become such firm friends, and he had conceived such
a boyish admiration for her, that he felt as if he were willing to
bear almost anything for the sake of giving her pleasure. Therefore
he said, after a few moments' reflection: "Well, I won't go tonight,
anyway, even if I have the best chance that ever was. I'll stay
one day more, anyhow, an' perhaps I'll have to stay a good many."
"That's a nice boy," said Ella, positively, as Toby thus gave his
decision, "and I'll kiss you for it."
Before Toby fully realized what she was about, almost before he
had understood what she said, she had put her arms around his neck
and given him a good sound kiss right on his freckled face.
Toby was surprised, astonished, and just a little bit ashamed. He
had never been kissed by a girl before -- very seldom by anyone, save
the fat lady -- and he hardly knew what to do or say. He blushed
until his face was almost as red as his hair, and this color had the
effect of making his freckles stand out with startling distinctness.
Then he looked carefully around to see if anyone had seen them.
"I never had a girl kiss me before," said Toby, hesitatingly, "an'
you see it made me feel kinder queer to have you do it out here,
where everybody could see."
"Well, I kissed you because I like you very much and because you
are going to stay and ride with me tomorrow," she said, positively;
and then she added, slyly, "I may kiss you again, if you don't get
a chance to run away very soon.
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