Mr. Soffy turned to Venna. "Will you kindly excuse me, Mrs. Hadly?"
"Certainly," returned Venna, thinking how wonderfully kind he was to Miss Harriet when she was so rude.
Miss Harriet turned without another word, and majestically sailed out of the house, followed by Mr. Soffy.
Brother Hallock followed the minister with a keen glance.
As the door outside closed, Venna turned to the girls who were exchanging glances.
"I guess, dears, you had better go now. It is getting late, and your mothers might be looking for you."
Bessie spoke up indignantly, "It's a perfect shame for that old fogie to insult you and your friends. We will tell our mothers all about it and she'll be treated cool by us, anyway."
"Don't make trouble, dear. Just act as though nothing happened. After such a lovely meeting we must bear no ill-will."
"Not on our account, surely," said Brother Hallock. "We are so used to such treatment, we feel only pity for our enemies."
So the girls left, promising to come again.