“Oh, my dear! what is the matter?” cried Julie.
But Hester could not speak.
Julie picked up the battered box, disclosing the cake within crushed to a pancake. She turned to find Hester’s head buried in her arms; the girl was sobbing convulsively.
“Never mind, dear,” said Julie, stroking her head sympathetically, “it would be much worse if you were hurt too.”
“I am not crying,” the younger girl asserted stoutly; “not crying at all.” She spoke in short gasps that were strangely like sobs, but Julie ignored them. “I am all out of breath from running, that is all, and I did not fall, you goose! A woman sat on me!” She broke into a peal of hysterical laughter.
It was Julie’s turn to be speechless now.
“If she had just sat on me it wouldn’t have mattered but she tumbled in the car before I knew it and there is the result!” She waved her hand tragically toward the table and wiped her eyes.
“We’ll make another one right away, dear.”
“Of course we will,” responded Hester, pulling off her hat and coat and flinging them down impatiently; “but it breaks my heart to see such a ruin of all our work not to mention the waste of materials!”
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall;
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
And all the king’s horses and all the king’s men—