Твен Марк - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer / Приключения Тома Сойера стр 12.

I been to the circus three or four times-lots of times. Church aint shucks to a circus. Theres things going on at a circus all the time. Im going to be a clown in a circus when I grow up.

Oh, are you! That will be nice. Theyre so lovely, all spotted up.

Yes, thats so. And they get slathers of money-most a dollar a day, Ben Rogers says. Say, Becky, was you ever engaged?

Whats that?

Why, engaged to be married.

No.

Would you like to?

I reckon so. I dont know. What is it like?

Like? Why it aint like anything. You only just tell a boy you wont ever have anybody but him, ever ever ever, and then you kiss and thats all. Anybody can do it.

Kiss? What do you kiss for?

Why, that, you know, is to-well, they always do that.

Everybody?

Why, yes, everybody thats in love with each other. Do you remember what I wrote on the slate?

Ye-yes.

What was it?

I shant tell you.

Shall I tell you?

Ye-yes-but some other time.

No, now.

No, not now-to-morrow.

Oh, no, now. Please, Becky-Ill whisper it, Ill whisper it ever so easy.

Becky hesitating, Tom took silence for consent, and passed his arm about her waist and whispered the tale ever so softly, with his mouth close to her ear. And then he added:

Now you whisper it to me-just the same.

She resisted, for a while, and then said:

You turn your face away so you cant see, and then I will. But you mustnt ever tell anybody-will you, Tom? Now you wont, will you?

No, indeed, indeed I wont. Now, Becky.

He turned his face away. She bent timidly around till her breath stirred his curls and whispered, I-love-you!

Then she sprang away and ran around and around the desks and benches, with Tom after her, and took refuge in a corner at last, with her little white apron to her face. Tom clasped her about her neck and pleaded:

Now, Becky, its all done-all over but the kiss. Dont you be afraid of that-it aint anything at all. Please, Becky. And he tugged at her apron and the hands.

By and by she gave up, and let her hands drop; her face, all glowing with the struggle, came up and submitted. Tom kissed the red lips and said:

Now its all done, Becky. And always after this, you know, you aint ever to love anybody but me, and you aint ever to marry anybody but me, ever never and forever. Will you?

No, Ill never love anybody but you, Tom, and Ill never marry anybody but you-and you aint to ever marry anybody but me, either.

Certainly. Of course. Thats part of it. And always coming to school or when were going home, youre to walk with me, when there aint anybody looking-and you choose me and I choose you at parties, because thats the way you do when youre engaged.

Its so nice. I never heard of it before.

Oh, its ever so gay! Why, me and Amy Lawrence-