“It whistled like a blue jay,” said Katherine promptly.
“It couldn’t,” protested Roberta. “You said it was only six inches long.”
“On the plan of a blue jay’s call, but smaller, Roberta,” explained Betty pacifically.
“Well, it’s funny that you can never find any of these birds when I’m with you,” said Roberta.
Katherine looked scornful. “We were mighty lucky to see them even twice, I think,” she retorted.
Next day Mary came home from zoology 1a, which to add to its other unpleasant features met in the afternoon, wearing the air of a martyr to circumstance. Roberta, Katherine and Betty happened to be sitting on the piazza translating Livy together. “Girls,” she demanded, as she came up the steps, “if I get you the box of Huyler’s that Mr. Burgess sent me will you tell me the truth about those birds?”
“She had the lists read in class!” shouted Katherine.
“I knew it!” said Roberta in tragic tones.
“Did you tell her about the shelcuff’s neck?” inquired Betty.
Mary sat down on the piazza railing with her feet cushioned on a lexicon. “I told her all about the shelcuff,” she said, “likewise the euthuma and the nestle. What is more, the head of the zoology department was visiting the class, so I also told him, and when I stayed to explain he stayed too, and–oh, you little wretches!”