You may tell him that I said I am sorry!" I could have cried "Glory!" and danced and shouted there in the road, but I didn't.

It was no time to lose my head.

That was all so fine and splendid, as far as it went, but it didn't quite cover the case.

I never could have done it for myself; but for Laddie I would venture anything, so I looked her in the eyes, straight as a dart, and said: "He'd want the kiss too, Princess!" You could see her stiffen in the saddle and her fingers grip the reins, but I kept on staring right into her eyes.
"I could come up, you know," I offered.
A dull red flamed in her cheeks and her lips closed tight.

One second she sat very still, then a dancing light leaped sparkling into her eyes; a flock of dimples chased each other around her lips like swallows circling their homing place at twilight.
"What about that wonderful pie ?" she asked me.
I ran to the nearest fence corner, and laid the shingle on the gnarled roots of a Johnny Appleseed apple tree.