“No, it doesn’t,” said Rollo.
“It does,” said Henry.
Rollo was wrong—and, in fact, Henry was wrong. In disputes, it almost always happens that both boys are wrong. Lucy stood by, looking distressed. She was very sorry to have any disputing about the cabinet.
“O, never mind, Henry,” said she; “let him move them. Jonas will put them all right afterwards.”
“No,” said Rollo, “I am going to keep the cabinet myself.”
This was not at all like Rollo, to be so unreasonable and angry. But Henry’s roughness had irritated and vexed him, and that, in connection with his own determination to keep the charge of his cabinet, had got him into a very wrong state of mind.
Lucy did not know what to do. She walked slowly along to the door, and after standing there a moment, while Rollo was at work upon the cabinet, she said,
“O, here comes Jonas, now.”
James and Henry ran to the door, and, as they saw Jonas walking up the lane, they ran towards him, followed by Lucy, and they all began eagerly to tell him about the society, and about his having been chosen cabinet keeper. Lucy came up to them before they had finished their account; and as they had all turned round when they met Jonas, they came walking along together towards the house. James and Henry talked very fast and eagerly. They told Jonas about the society, and about their having chosen Mary president, and Lucy secretary, and him cabinet keeper. When they had finished their account, Lucy added, in a desponding tone,
“Only Rollo says he means to be cabinet keeper.”