It fascinated Lane.
"There!" she said, ending with a flourish and a smile.
But Lane, foreshadowing the import of the verse, took the page with reluctance.

Then he read it.

Verses of this significance were new to him.

Relief came to Lane in the divination that Bessy could not have had experience of what she had written.

There was worldliness in the verse, but innocence in her eyes.
"Well, Bessy, my heart isn't much stronger than Miss Hill's," he said, finally.
Her merry laughter rang out.
"Bessy, what will you do for me ?" "Anything." "Bring me every scrap of verse you have, every note you've got from boys and girls." "Shall I get them now ?" "Yes, if it's safe.