Her eager
eyes asked the question, "Is it to-day?" and he gasped and then
nodded. Maimie slipped her hand into Tony's, and hers was hot, but
his was cold. She did a very kind thing; she took off her scarf and
gave it to him! "In case you should feel cold," she whispered. Her
face was aglow, but Tony's was very gloomy.
As they turned on the top of the Hump he whispered to her, "I'm afraid
Nurse would see me, so I sha'n't be able to do it."
Maimie admired him more than ever for being afraid of nothing but
their ayah, when there were so many unknown terrors to fear, and she
said aloud, "Tony, I shall race you to the gate," and in a whisper,
"Then you can hide," and off they ran.
Tony could always outdistance her easily, but never had she known him
speed away so quickly as now, and she was sure he hurried that he
might have more time to hide. "Brave, brave!" her doting eyes were
crying when she got a dreadful shock; instead of hiding, her hero had
run out at the gate! At this bitter sight Maimie stopped blankly, as
if all her lapful of darling treasures were suddenly spilled, and then
for very disdain she could not sob; in a swell of protest against all
puling cowards she ran to St. Govor's Well and hid in Tony's stead.
When the ayah reached the gate and saw Tony far in front she thought
her other charge was with him and passed out. Twilight came on, and
scores and hundreds of people passed out, including the last one, who
always has to run for it, but Maimie saw them not.
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