"Why, here's a piece of nutshell!" cried Lluella.
"How careless those boys were!" Helen added. "They got some of the shells in with the meat."
"We should have expected it," Belle cried. "They never should have been trusted to crack the nuts."
"Oh, girls!" gasped Ruth, who had quickly examined the candy in the pan.
Her voice was tragic, and the others looked at her (all but Madge) in surprise. "What have those horrid boys done?" demanded Jennie Stone.
"They've spoiled it all!" Ruth cried. "There's nothing but shells in the candy. They've ruined it!"
"Oh! oh! oh!" shrieked Heavy again. "It can't be true!"
"It can be, for it is!" said Madge Steele, decidedly. "Those mean boys! I certainly will fix Bob for that."
"And Tom!" cried Helen, almost in tears. "How could he be so mean?"
"I don't believe Tom did it, Helen," said Ruth, slowly.