BOY SENTIMENT. 59
afraid of her, will never venture upon any liberties with her gipsy bonnet.
You sometimes wish, in your vexation, as you see her running, that she would fall and hurt herself badly ; but the next moment, it seems a very wicked wish, and you renounce it. Once, she did come very near it. You were all playing together by the big swing (how plainly it swings in your memory now !) Madge had the seat, and you were famous for running under with a long push, which Madge liked better than anything else : well, you have half run over the ground, when crash comes the swing, and poor Madge with it ! You fairly scream as you catch her up. But she is not hurt only a cry of fright, and a little sprain of that fairy ankle ; and as she brushes away the tears, and those flaxen curls, and breaks into a merry laugh, half at your woe-worn face, and half in vexation at herself; and leans her hand (such a hand !) upon your shoulder, to limp away into the shade, you dream your first dream of love.
But it is only a dream, not at all acknowledged by you : she is three or four years your junior, too young altogether. It is very absurd to talk about it. There is nothing to be said of Madge only Madge ! The name does it.
