"Howdye, Little Girl?"

One bare toe went burrowing suddenly into the sand, one finger
went to her red mouth--and that was all. She merely stared him
straight in the eye and he smiled again.

"Cat got your tongue?"

Her eyes fell at the ancient banter, but she lifted them
straightway and stared again.

"You live around here?"

She stared on.

"Where?"

No answer.

"What's your name, little girl?"

And still she stared.

"Oh, well, of course, you can't talk, if the cat's got your
tongue."

The steady eyes leaped angrily, but there was still no answer, and
he bent to take the fish off his hook, put on a fresh minnow,
turned his back and tossed it into the pool.