Struck dumb is never to be able to speak again, and I wish I had been struck dumb when you wanted it." "But I didn't want it!" Elspeth cried.
"If Thrums had been one little bit beautier than it is," he went on solemnly, "it would have struck me dumb.

It would have hurt me sore, but what about that, if it pleased you!" Then did Elspeth see what a wicked girl she had been, and when next the two were observed by the curious (it was on the cemetery road), they were once more looking cheerful.

At the smallest provocation they exchanged notes of admiration, such as, "Oh, Tommy, what a bonny barrel!" or "Oh, Elspeth, I tell yer that's a dyke, and there's just walls in London," but sometimes Elspeth would stoop hastily, pretending that she wanted to tie her bootlace, but really to brush away a tear, and there were moments when Tommy hung very limp.

Each was trying to deceive the other for the other's sake, and one of them was never good at deception.

They saw through each other, yet kept up the chilly game, because they could think of nothing better, and perhaps the game was worth playing, for love invented it.
They sat down on their mother's grave.