“Shirley!” said Mr. Willing.
“Mabel!” exclaimed Colonel Ashton.
The girls became silent, but continued to glare at each other.
Then, suddenly, a smile broke over Shirley’s face. Her father breathed more freely. Even Colonel Ashton looked at the two girls eagerly.
Then Shirley advanced toward Mabel and held out her hand.
“I’m sorry for what I said, Mabel,” she declared earnestly.
For a moment Mabel hesitated, but for a moment only. Then she jumped quickly forward, and ignoring her friend’s outstretched hand, threw her arms around her and broke into tears.
“It was all my fault,” she sobbed. “You didn’t say anything.”
“Yes I did, too,” said Shirley. “It was as much my fault as it was yours.”
“No it wasn’t.”