"Just for a little old mess of candy," snorted Isadore, who was the last to leave the house.
"That's the way to treat them!" declared Madge, tossing her head, when the boys had gone.
"I don't know," said Ruth slowly. "We might be glad to have them help us get the pine-needles."
"I believe you are too soft-hearted, Ruth Fielding," declared Belle
Tingley.
"It's because she likes Tom so well," said Lluella, slily.
"Well, Tom never did so mean a thing before yesterday," said Tom's sister, sharply.
"Boys are all alike when they get together," said Heavy. "It spoils 'em awfully to flock in crowds."
"What does it do to girls?" demanded Ruth, smiling.
"Gives them pluck," declared Madge Steele. "We've got to keep the boys down—that's the only way to manage them."
"My, my!" chuckled Jennie Stone, the stout girl. "Madge is going to be a regular suffragette; isn't she?"