“I’ll go too,” Valerie said.
“Excuse me,” Madge put in. “I feel as Carol does. I won’t face Phyl’s Aunt!”
“Then we three will go and beard the dragon in her den,” Janet said with dignity. “Come along, girls.”
The three went out and walked briskly up the long hill. However, as they neared Phyllis’ home their steps began to lag. Some of their bravado was vanishing now that they were actually nearing the tall, cold, sharp-faced woman whose strong will so dominated the life of their friend.
The house itself did not look very encouraging. The curtains were drawn over all the windows and the panes looked bleak and unfriendly. The outside was grey and weatherbeaten and the girls knew from their infrequent visits the inside was just as bleak.
“Well, ring the bell,” Janet said as they stood undecided on the porch.
Gale stretched out a hand and pulled the old fashioned bell handle. They could hear the peal of the iron bell somewhere within the interior.
“Don’t forget,” Valerie told Janet, “you are to do the talking!”
A second later the door was opened by Phyllis’ Aunt in person. The woman took in the three girls standing there and remained firmly planted in the doorway. Obviously she did not intend to invite them in.
“Well?” she said when neither of them spoke.