Do you know when she's likely to be in ?" "Naw," said Bessie again, beginning to eat her pinafore as well as her fingers.

Meanwhile Charlie had been creeping behind Bessie to get out of Olly's way; for Olly, who always wanted to make friends, was trying to shake hands with him, and Charlie was dreadfully afraid that he wanted to kiss him too.
"What a pity," said Mrs.Norton, "I wanted to ask her a question.

Come away, Olly, and don't tease Charlie if he doesn't want to shake hands.
Can you remember, Bessie, to tell your mother that I came to see her ?" "Yis," said Bessie.
"And can you remember, too, to ask her if she will let you and Charlie come down to tea with Miss Milly and Master Olly, this afternoon, at five o'clock ?" "Yis," said Bessie, getting shyer and shyer, and eating up her pinafore faster than ever.
"Good-bye, then," said Mrs.Norton.
"Good-bye, Bessie," said Milly, softly, taking her hand.
Bessie stared at her, but didn't say anything.
Olly, having quite failed in shaking hands, was now trying to kiss Charlie; but Charlie wouldn't have it at all, and every time Olly came near, Charlie pushed him away with his little fists.

This made Olly rather cross, and he began to try with all his strength to make Charlie kiss him, when suddenly Charlie got away from him, and running to a pile of logs of wood which was lying in the yard he climbed up the logs like a little squirrel, and was soon at the top of the heap, looking down on Olly, who was very much astonished.
"Mother, _do_ let me climb up too!" entreated Olly, as Mrs.Norton took his hand to lead him away.

"I want to climb up krick like that! Oh, do let me try!" "No, no, Olly! come along.