Animated by the same thought, Laura and Vi left off hugging Billie and turned to the strange girl.
“We don’t know how to thank you,” Vi began.
“If you knew how much I hate thanks you wouldn’t go to the bother,” responded the stranger ungraciously. “I don’t do such things for thanks. Well—good-by!” She turned abruptly and would have plunged into the woods had not Billie called her.
“I don’t know why you have taken such a sudden dislike to me—to us,” she said. “I am sorry if I have done or said anything to offend you. After saving my life, I don’t like you to go away angry.”
“I’m not mad,” muttered the girl. “And I don’t dislike you. I think you’re grand!”
Was ever such a contradictory, amazing creature? Billie stared at her in helpless bewilderment.
“Well, then!”
The girl suddenly flung up her head. Her round face was stern and her mouth was combative, but there were tears in her eyes!
“You won’t be so nice to me when you know who I am, I tell you,” she blurted. “You’ll be like all the rest of the sneerin’, titterin’ lot of ’em. I hate them, I hate every last one of them!”
This outburst amazed the three girls and roused their curiosity. What did the strange creature mean?