“Don’t be so silly, Leslie. I’m not in the least afraid of you. You can’t bully me even a tiny bit. I told you I’d help you, and I will. But you must allow me to use my own judgment in some things. If that doesn’t please you, take back all you’ve given me. I can get along nicely without your further help. I don’t fancy gifts that have strings attached to them.” Doris elevated her chin to a haughty angle.
Leslie’s face lost its tensity and registered half a dozen varied expressions while Doris was announcing her declaration of independence. At the last a look of glum perplexity replaced the others. While she had been leader of the Sans at Hamilton she had had many altercations with her chums. She had never taken their angry protests against her tyranny seriously. No one of them had actually defied her except Dulcie Vale, and she had “begun” on Dulcie.
Face to face with a girl who coolly ordered her not to be “silly,” and declined to be bound by obligation further than she chose Leslie had received the surprise of her life.
“Let me know as soon as you can. Phone me at the hotel and I’ll meet you.” The dessert she had ordered, untouched, Leslie rose from her chair. She had determined to show Doris that she was deeply offended.
Without saying good-bye she stalked sulkily from the tea room. On her way to the door she demanded the check from the waitress and stopped at the desk to pay it. She half hoped Doris would hurry after her and beg her to go back. Instead Doris sat tranquilly at the table Leslie had quitted and enjoyed her dessert of Nesselrode pudding. For once Leslie had met her match.
CHAPTER X.
PLANNING FOR THANKSGIVING
“Truly, Robin, it is so selfish in me to be going home and leaving so much for you to do.” Marjorie surveyed Robin Page with a troubled, conscience-stricken air indicative of her feelings.
“Oh, shucks!” exclaimed Robin blithely as she glanced up at Marjorie from a list she was busily compiling. “Go home to Castle Dean and forget for four days that Hamilton is on the map. Don’t be so conceited. We can get along beautifully without you,” she teased. “Phil, Anna Towne, Barbara and I are a splendiferous combination. You’ll hardly be missed.”
“I don’t doubt that.” A good-humored smile touched Marjorie’s rosy lips. “I know things will run along on wheels. What I’m thinking of is the amount of extra effort your splendiferous combination will have to make. You see I’m taking with me not only the Sanfordites but Leila, Vera and Kathie as well. That leaves you and Lillian, the only original Travelers to keep the new Nineteen Travelers going and manage the different stunts.”