“Sneaky yourself,” returned Jessie. “I told mother how horrid you were.”
“Tattletale,” returned Walter. “Just like a girl.”
This time Jessie had no words except the expressive exclamation “Pff!” given with a most contemptuous toss of the head.
CHAPTER VIII
Dapple Gray
CHAPTER VIII
Dapple Gray
The rest of the time that the boys were at home Jessie did not see much of them. She found so many things to interest her at the yellow house, that she enjoyed the novelty of it, and moreover, when she was there she was free from Walter’s teasing, so she spent most of her time with Adele, to the latter’s delight.
The afternoon of the day when the apples were taken to Ezra, the two little girls sought their playground by the brook, but Max and Walter discovered them, and as they did not want their secrets known, they quickly covered up the grotto and beat a hasty retreat across the brook. “I don’t mind Max so much,” Jessie explained, “though even he teases sometimes, but Walter is such a worry when he sets out to be, and if he knew about Playmate Polly and Peter Pan’s grotto he would be sure to do something to them just to pay me back for taking the apples. So we will play in your garden or the summer-house. I will take Charity and you can get one of your dolls.”
“The back porch is a good place,” returned Adele. “I am sorry your brothers aren’t nice and I am glad I haven’t any.”
“But they are nice,” returned Jessie on the defensive. “They are very nice. All boys tease and Max was lovely the other day when I wanted to go with them. He is older than Walter. I suppose that is the reason. Since Walter has been going to boarding-school he thinks himself so smart.”
The two little girls trudged up the hill toward the yellow house and as they entered the garden they heard some one calling, “Adele! Adele! where are you?”