“Yes, I fell in,” admitted Tess. “But that was after the rock splashed, and Dot couldn’t have heard me. I slipped in and got my feet wet and it felt so nice—and I was wet anyhow—that I waded out and sat down. You ought to see that rock! It’s all ribs and crinkles like a regular washboard. If you could take it home, I’ll show you where it is!”
She tried to pull away from Ruth as if with the intention of wading out into the stream again, but her sister held her back.
“No, none of that any more!” decided Ruth.
“Oh, but you’re a sight!” giggled Agnes.
“Pooh! Let ’em dry on me,” suggested Tess indifferently. “I’ve been wet before, lots of times. If you had been here I could have taken Alice-doll’s dress out and washed it,” she said to Dot.
“I wouldn’t have her dress washed. It’s clean now. And you can’t tell whether your doll’s old black dress is clean or not.”
“Oh, it’s clean,” declared Tess. “I sozzled it in the water a lot of times and I rubbed it on the washboard rock.”
“Well, you’ve given us all something of a fright,” sighed Ruth. “Though I don’t suppose you meant it. Dear me! we haven’t anything dry to put on you, though I suppose we might go to some house.”
“I’ll run her back in the car and let Mrs. MacCall look after her,” offered Neale. “I’ve got to get gasoline, anyhow.”
“All right,” agreed Ruth, and so Tess had the advantage of getting an extra ride, and all by herself, in the machine with Neale.