“And if you dare, Miss Grimshaw,” said Beth, quietly, “I shall tell madam just what you said to her.”
“So will I,” broke in Molly, eagerly. “And glad to do it!”
Maude hesitated, then sat down. She knew that with two against her no story she could tell the madam would hurt Cynthia Fogg.
“Well, anyway,” she grumbled, at last, “let her pass the butter.”
At that there was general, if subdued, laughter all about the table; for most of the girls had heard a part of the controversy. For some time thereafter, whenever Maude Grimshaw threatened to fly into one of her tantrums, somebody would be sure to say:
“Well, anyway, let her pass the butter!”
CHAPTER XVIII
ANOTHER BARRIER
Beth went home to Hudsonvale for the winter holidays, which lasted till the middle of the first week in the new year. Molly went with her on the train, as, of course, navigation on the river had ceased, keeping on to Hambro—and the seven aunts—farther down the stream.
Beth was delighted to see her father and mother and the children. And many of her old schoolmates beside Mary Devine came to see her.
But she did not see Larry. She had heard from him again, after that first letter; and he had told her he would be away over the holidays. Mrs. Euphemia had expressed a sudden wish to go to Old Point Comfort and had insisted that Larry go with her.