"There, dear, I wouldn't worry about him," said Stella soothingly. "It was very wrong for Ted to do so."
Ted, who was standing near, also watching the departing lieutenant with some surprise, heard these words and turned to look at the girls.
He smiled, however, when he heard Stella trying to comfort Hallie by blaming him, for over the shoulder of the crying girl his girl pard winked at him with a smile that assured him that, no matter what she said, she thought that whatever happened he was all right.
"Say," drawled Bud to the other boys, "Ted put ther bloom o' youth on Clarence's cheek, didn't he?"
"He certainly did," said Ben, "and probably saved Clarence from getting a good, stout punch on the nose from me."
Ben held up for inspection a fist as big as a picnic ham, and worked it around as if it was fitted to a toggle joint.
"He didn't get all that was coming to him, either," said Kit. "If ever there was a cad he's got the job."
"And seems to be swelled up over it, too," said Clay.
"Ach, yes, dot iss der vay mit dem army offichers," sighed Carl. "Dey vas so conspicuousness in deir uniforms dot dey vos ridiculousness."
"Say, Dutch, you want ter look out or you'll blow out all o' yer teeth some o' these days sayin' them words," warned Bud.