“Great! Do you mind if I do a little dance? Just a few steps to show my joy?” asked Jack, and Tom perceived at once that his new friend was a jolly lad.
“Not at all,” Tom answered, and Jack gravely did a hop skip and jump on the top platform of the steps.
As he finished there came a laugh from a couple of lads passing.
“Look at the ballet lady!” mocked a voice, and Tom saw Sam Heller and Nick Johnson approaching.
“Did you like it?” asked Jack, coolly. He was not to be easily disconcerted.
“Oh, it was great!” declared Sam with a sneer. “We’ll have you in the Patchwork Club if you keep on.”
There was no mistaking the sneering tone of his voice, and Jack flushed.
“Friends of yours?” he asked Tom.
“Just the reverse. But don’t bother with them now. We can attend to them later—if we have to.”