“There’s plenty of room for three of us under Ma Parraday’s umbrella, Mr. Haley,” Annette called, with a laugh. “Come on, now! we must hasten home.”
Haley shrugged his shoulders impatiently. But he opened Janice’s umbrella and thrust it into the younger girl’s hand. Of course, as he had come with Annette, he must see her home, such being the unwritten law of the community.
Janice started off rather blindly through the snow, holding the umbrella low to hide her smarting eyes. It seemed as though every time she and Nelson had a chance to come to an understanding, Annette Bowman or Frank came between them. She had no suspicion of the little scene between the school teacher and the engineer’s sister when they arrived at the Lake View Inn and were warming themselves before the open fire in the parlor.
“Annette, you are a terribly ‘bossy’ girl,” grumbled Nelson. “Nothing suits you but having folks go your way all the time. You didn’t need me to come home with you. You had Mrs. Parraday.”
“And you wanted to go with that Janice Day,” said Annette, with a hard laugh.
“Well, what if I did? She and I were very good friends long before you came to Polktown. I’ve been spending a lot of my time with you.”
“Just as though you didn’t want to! You’re awfully polite—I don’t think!”
“Now, don’t get on your high horse,” said Nelson coolly. “You know you don’t care a fig for my company. You just like to have a whole lot of fellows hanging around. That’s what made trouble for you with Jim Brainard.”
“You just stop!” commanded Annette, flushing hotly. “You’ve no right to criticize my conduct, as he did.”
“No, thank heaven!” rejoined Nelson Haley, with more emphasis than courtesy. “But don’t you see, Annette, that your foolish way of acting with other fellows is what has made trouble for you? I’d like to see you——”