"But me no buts, Chet, my lad," broke in the impetuous Ferd. "I didn't ask you anything. I merely stated a fact."
"I—I'd give almost anything I own to make it a fact," said Chet, his eyes on the ground. "But I'm very much afraid you'll have to guess again, old man."
"Guess again? Well, I should say not!" cried Ferd, getting to his feet indignantly. "Why, the thing can't be done without you, Chet. Didn't Billie say—"
"Billie only said," interrupted Violet, coming to Billie's rescue, "that
Chet was crazy to go and would if he had half a chance."
Ferd sank back in his chair, too dismayed to speak.
"Well, of all—Say, old man, you've got to go," and he turned to Chet pleadingly. "What sort of a party do you think this is going to be anyway, with Billie at Three Towers Hall and you back here in North Bend? It's not fair."
"Not fair," flared Billie. "You don't suppose I'd go to Three Towers and leave Chet here, do you?"
"Then you're not going either?" cried Ferd, seeing all his castles in the air coming down about his ears with a crash.
Billie shook her head unhappily.
"No, I'm not going either," she said.