Mrs. Lupo looked up mildly surprised.
“There ain’t no more bread and there ain’t no more eggs,” she said, in a voice that sounded like an echo.
Billie went back to her work without a word, and later, when they had started on the walk with the small allowance of lunch packed in a candy box, Percy teased her and called her the javelin thrower.
“I was almost tempted to pitch it at her,” said Billie. “She is the most aggravating human being I ever saw. I’ll certainly never address another word to her, but it’s so hard to remember not to be agreeable.”
The placid depths of Billie’s amiable nature had been so stirred by the incident that it took her some time to calm down, and she went blindly along the trail following Ben without seeing anything or anybody.
“Don’t let her jar you, Billie,” said Ben, soothingly. “If you want to forget your troubles, just have a look at Nancy-Bell. She looks like a fashion plate lady standing on the top of Mont Blanc.”
Nancy had disappeared just when they were ready to start and kept them waiting fifteen minutes, which had also served to aggravate Billie’s ruffled temper.
“Goodness me,” exclaimed Billie, laughing, “the child has put on her new walking costume made by Delosia Moxley’s mother! When the climbing part comes, what will she do, Ben?”
Ben shook his head doubtfully.
“How do you like it, Billie dear?” asked Nancy in a honeyed tone, noticing her friend’s backward glances.