Could she have run to Momsey for comfort it would have helped, Oh, how much!
“I am a silly,” Nan told herself at last, warmly. “But I cannot help it. Oh, dear! Where can Beulah have gone?”
She bathed her eyes well in the cold spring water brought by Tom that she always found in the jug outside her door in the morning, and removed such traces of tears as she could; and nobody noticed when she went out to breakfast that her eyelids were puffy and her nose a bit red.
The moment Rafe caught sight of her he began to squall, supposedly like an infant, crying:
“Ma-ma! Ma-ma! Tum an' take Too-tums. Waw! Waw! Waw!”
After all her hurt pride and sorrow, Nan would have called up a laugh at this. But Tom, who was drinking at the water bucket, wheeled with the full dipper and threw the contents into Rafe's face. That broke off the teasing cousin's voice for a moment; but Rafe came up, sputtering and mad.
“Say! You big oaf!” he shouted. “What you trying to do?”
“Trying to be funny,” said Tom, sharply. “And you set me the example.”
“Now, boys!” begged Aunt Kate. “Don't quarrel.”
“And, dear me, boys,” gasped Nan, “please don't squabble about me.”