“[‘NELLIE, I FORBID YOU TO GO!’ MEG CRIED.]”
“But you can’t do such an impossible thing!” Meg cried. “Don’t be such a child, Nellie. Go to the Parsonage, or the Courtneys, or anywhere if you want a game; but, for goodness’ sake, keep away from that horrid place!”
Nellie proceeded quietly with her dressing, the resolute light in her eyes not a whit diminished. She buttoned her blue tennis blouse, brushed some specks of dust off her skirt, and put a piece of clean belting in her silver waist-clasp.
“I can’t believe you’re in earnest,” Meg began [183] ]again; “why, you must remember father expressly said we were not to go!”
“He did not tell me; he only said Esther needn’t call,—that’s not forbidding me!” Nell said calmly.
She put on her sailor hat, stuck the pins through with great care, and made a few little deft dabs at her fluffy side hair. Then she put on her very best gloves and picked up her racquet.
“[Nellie, I] forbid you to go!” Meg cried, finding neither reasoning nor asking would answer. “Remember, I have been left here in charge of you all, and I absolutely forbid you to go near those Brownes!”
“Pooh!” said Nellie, “I’m nearly as old as you—I’m too big to be forbidden. Give your orders to Peter and Poppet—I’m going!”
And she went.