But as they entered the gym Polly forgot her shyness, and as she rattled on about basket-ball and the coming Field Day, Bob was able to console his injured pride with the thought that after all, she was only one of his kid sister’s friends.
In the course of their walk, which led them past all the landmarks in the grounds, they talked to each other with the ease of old friends, and Bob had started to tease.
“Lois says you play basket-ball wonderfully,” he said to Polly, as they tramped through the woods on their way to the old fort.
“I don’t play half as well as she does,” she answered. “Besides, she knows nothing about it; I’ve never played in a big game. Perhaps if I did, I’d lose my nerve.”
“You almost played once,” Lois reminded her.
“What happened?”
“I sprained my ankle instead.”
“Oh, was that the time you were so plucky about
giving the fire alarm? That was great; Lo wrote me about it.”
“What else could I have done? I couldn’t very well let the place burn down, could I?” Polly asked, smiling a little self-consciously.