"No, he doesn't need glasses!" retorted Polly. "His eyes are first-rate. Dear me! Is it eleven o'clock? I must go home! Let's start early—by two, can you?"
"Oh, I don't believe I'll go this afternoon!" The voice sounded weary.
"Why, Miss Nita! you said you would!"
"I know, but I wasn't tired then. I guess I'll have to put it off a day or two."
"You haven't done anything to tire you! You'll never get well if you don't go more!" cried Polly plaintively. "And we won't go a step farther than you like. We needn't ask anybody else, if you'd rather not—we can go all by ourselves." Polly waited anxiously.
Miss Sterling shook her head with a little sigh. "You go with the others to-day. I don't feel as if I could."
Polly finally went off, her face downcast. Coaxings had availed nothing.
CHAPTER X
"GOOD-BYE, PUDDING"
Juanita Sterling scowled a perfunctory thank-you to Mrs. Nobbs, who handed her a long box. She had come to hate those long boxes.