“The fire engines! Are they coming?” went on Tess.
“Fire engines? There isn’t any fire!” laughed Agnes. “Though from the way we’re running around I haven’t a doubt but what the neighbors think so,” she added, noting that several curious looks were cast in the direction of the Corner House from residents on either side and across the street.
Then along came Robbie Foote, with a basket of things from Mrs. Kranz, the “delicatessen lady,” as Tess always called her.
“Anything the matter?” asked Robbie.
“No, nothing much,” answered Ruth, with a warning look at the others, telling them not to go into particulars. “And you’d better hurry around to the kitchen with those eggs,” she added. “Mrs. MacCall is waiting for them.”
“And don’t smash them as you did the others,” added Agnes, thinking to so occupy Robbie’s mind with this remark as to exclude from it any desire to ask embarrassing questions. In this Agnes succeeded, for the delivery boy cried:
“I didn’t bust the eggs! It was the goat, and he wouldn’t ’a’ done it if the alligator hadn’t nipped his tail!”
“Yes, I guess that’s right,” admitted Agnes. “But, anyhow, Mrs. MacCall is waiting for you.”
“Oh, aw right,” mumbled Robbie, with an air of having been unjustly treated.
“There’s no use of our waiting out here,” remarked Ruth. “We’re only exciting remark.” If there was one thing more than another Ruth did not like it was to attract attention. “Let’s go in and wait for Luke and Neale to come back.”