Then you'll be ashamed."
She looked at him pleadingly. "Are YOU ashamed of me? Because I'm
ignorant? Are ye?"
"Not a bit," replied Jerry heartily. "I was just the same at your
age. I used to scamp at school and shirk at college until I found
myself so far behind fellows I despised that _I_ was ashamed. Then I
went after them tooth and nail until I caught them up and passed
them."
"Did ye?" cried Peg eagerly.
"I did."
"I will, too," she said.
"WILL you?"
She nodded vigorously:
"I will--INDEED I will. From now on I'll do everythin' they tell me
an' learn everythin' they teach me, if it kills me!"
"I wish you would," he said seriously.
"An' when I pass everybody else, an' know more than anyone EVER
knew--will ye be very proud of me?"
"Yes, Peg. Even more than I am now."
"Are ye NOW?"
"I am. Proud to think you are my friend."
"Ye'd ha' won yer wager. We ARE friends, aren't we?"
"I am YOURS."
"Sure, I'm YOURS ALL RIGHT."
She looked at him, laughed shyly and pressed her cheeks. He was
watching her closely.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked.
"Do ye know what Tom Moore wrote about Friendship?"
"No."
"Shall I tell ye?" excitedly.
"Do."
"See if anywan's comin' first." As he looked around the room and
outside the door to detect the advent of an intruder Peg sat at the
piano and played very softly the prelude to an old Irish song.
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