“Johnnie—Johnnie called me a toad.”
The others all burst out laughing, and Miss Fosbrook, trying to silence them with a frown, said it was very rude of John, but she saw no reason why a girl of Bessie’s age should act so childish a part.
“He’s been teasing me, and so has Anne, all this time!” cried Bessie. “They’ve been at me ever since I came out, pulling me and plaguing me, and—”
“Well,” said Susan, “I told you to walk in front of Miss Fosbrook, where they could not.”
“I didn’t do anything to her,” said John.
“Now, Johnnie!”
“He only pulled her frock and poked her ankles,” said Anne pleadingly
“Only—and why did you do what she did not like?”
Johnnie looked sturdy and cross. Anne hung her head; and Elizabeth burst out again,
“They always do—they always are cross to me! I said I’d tell you, and now they said Ida was a conceited little toad, and stingy Bet was another;” and out burst her howls again.