"
"I wonner gin ye'll be as glaid to see me the neist time, Annie."
Then Annie perceived that Curly looked earnest and anxious.
"What do ye say, Curly?" she returned.
"I hardly ken what I say, Annie, though I ken what I mean. And I dinna
ken what I'm gaun to say neist, but they say the trowth will oot. I
wiss it wad, ohn a body said it."
"What can be the maitter, Curly?"???-Annie was getting frightened.???-"It
maun be ill news, or ye wadna luik like that."
"I doobt it'll be warst news to them that it's nae news till."
"Ye speyk in riddles, Curly."
He tried to laugh but succeeded badly, and stood before her, with
downcast eyes, poking his thorn-stick into the mass of pebbles. Annie
waited in silence, and that brought it out at last.
"Annie, when we war at the schule thegither, I wad hae gien ye
onything. Noo I hae gien ye a' thing, and my hert to the beet (boot) o'
the bargain."
"Curly!" said Annie, and said no more, for she felt as if her heart
would break.
"I likit ye at the schule, Annie; but noo there's naething i' the warl
but you."
Annie rose gently, came close to him, and laying a hand on his arm,
said,
"I'm richt sorry for ye, Curly.
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