The captured apples were only just pared and the seeds
counted, when Mrs. Adams called them away to try their fate on one
single apple which hung by a string from the top of the room.
"It is an unfailing test," she said. "If you can take a bite out
of this apple without touching it, except with your teeth, you
will live to get married. Otherwise, you will die an old maid."
Now, it sounds like a very easy matter to bite an apple; but when
it is free to swing this way and that as you touch it, the success
is not so sure. Alan first chased the apple up and down, gnashed
his teeth and retired. Next Florence took her turn, with no better
success. Jessie, too, failed to get a taste, even of the skin.
Then Jean advanced to the charge.
"Now watch," she said, laughing. "I'm going at this on scientific
principles. See here!"
She hit the apple with such force as to throw it far up and out,
waited with wide-open mouth until, pendulum-like, it swung back
and, at the instant of its reaching her, before it had turned, she
struck her strong, young teeth into the side and brought away a
generous mouthful.
"There!" said she triumphantly, as she marched back to her place.
"I defy anybody to do better than that.
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