"Well," said she, "I didn't fill my fingers with splinters."
"Nor with jackstones either; if I can't do any better than you I'm sure
I can't do any worse."
"Well, Smarty, what are you waiting for?"
"For you to pay attention."
"I'm doing that."
With cool, careful steadiness, Tim set to work, and lo! he finished the
game without a break, performing the more difficult exploits with a
skill that compelled the admiration of his sister.
"I'm glad to see that you're not such a big dunce as you look; I've
been discouraged in trying to teach you, but you seem to be learning at
last."
"Wouldn't you like me to give you a few lessons?"
"No; for, if you did, I should never win another game," was the pert
reply; "I wonder whether you will ever be able to beat me again."
"Didn't you know that I have been fooling with you all the time, just
as I fool a trout till I get him to take the hook?"
Maggie stared at him with open mouth for a moment and then asked in an
awed whisper:
"No; I didn't know that: did _you_?"
"Never mind; the best thing you can do is to tend to bus'ness, for I'm
not going to show you a bit of mercy."
During this friendly chaffing, both noticed that the wind was rising.
It moaned around the barn, and enough of it entered the window far
above their heads for them to feel it fan their cheeks. An eddy even
lifted one of the curls from the temple of the girl.
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