But indeed Jack, in the character of a dainty, fairylike creature, all fluffy frock, silkened sash and slippered feet, was quite a different person from the little scratch-cat who had flown at Clarence as Li Hung's avenger, and after being borne away with reluctant feet from the tea, he could not be persuaded to remain, but was back again at the Roberts' gate, a wistful figure, as soon as his mother's absence from home gave him an excuse to escape, and when Jack graciously invited him in he was her shadow until the time came for her departure.
Thereafter every afternoon saw him hanging around the entrance to the Corners' garden waiting for Jack to appear. Nan called him the tame bear and nicknamed him Teddy. Carter pretended to be jealous and said that Clarence had cut him out, while Mrs. Corner watched carefully to see whether the benefit to Clarence outweighed the possible disadvantage to her own children. But since there were four girls to the one boy and each was a self-appointed mentor the advantage to Clarence at last began to tell.
"We're making a real nice boy of him," Jean said complacently. "He doesn't say Gol darn any more and he doesn't pull off the flies' legs and wings like he used to, 'cause Jack and I showed him how it felt. We were going to tie his hair to the hedge like he did Li Hung's but it wasn't long enough. He said we were screamish when we began to crarrel with him about the flies."
"Do you mean you screamed?" said Carter, to whom the remark was addressed.
"No of course not," said Jack; "she means squeamish. Aren't you used to her way of talking yet? You ought to be by this time."
"I am very stupid," said Carter meekly.
"I told him if he didn't say Gol darn or Gosh gorm for a week, I'd ask you to take him next time we go out in the automobile," said Jack following up her advantage.
"Now," said Carter, "that's a straw too much. When you have deserted me for a little unlicked cub like that and I get you away from him only by inviting you to ride you want him to go along, too. I protest."
"Oh, but it will only be once," said Jack.
"Yes, I know how much it will. Give him an inch and he'll take an ell. Next thing you will be refusing to go with me at all unless he is invited, too, you're getting so thick with him."