"What good to be here without gasolene?" retorted Henrietta.
"I can not leave the car," reiterated the general.
"Father," exclaimed the exasperated Henrietta, "some night I will find that you have taken the car to bed with you."
"Suppose we leave the car here—" began the general argumentatively.
"We can't," sighed Henrietta. "Such a supposition would be impossible with you the owner of the car."
The Watermelon laughed. "Aw, cut out the conversation," said he. "I will be right back."
"So will I," said Billy.
Now the Watermelon objected. He did not feel equal to a tête-à-tête with the adorable Billy, adorable still, though a bit cross.
"Cut out the conversation," mimicked Billy, and scrambled with more speed than grace under the broken bars of the worm-eaten fence.
The Watermelon leaped the fence after her. Henrietta slipped under the fence after the Watermelon. Bartlett hesitated one moment, glanced guiltily at the deserted general and then followed Henrietta.