He said it in such a funny, excited way that Rose had to laugh, and Russ said:
“I can give you a hit on the nose, too!”
“You don’t dast!” sneered the peddler.
“Yes, I dare!” insisted Russ.
“And I’ll help him!” added Laddie, who had found a stick.
The peddler boy, who was almost a head taller than Russ, closed his fists and was walking toward the three Bunker children. Rose felt her heart beating very fast. She looked back down the road and saw her father and mother coming, followed by Margy, Mun Bun, and Violet.
“Oh, here come daddy and mother!” cried Rose.
Instantly a change came over the peddler boy. His fists unclenched and he smiled in a sickly, frightened sort of way.
“Oh, well, maybe your shortcake did get in my box by mistake,” he said. “I takes me a look and see.”
Quickly he opened his box, and there, wrapped in a clean paper, was the strawberry shortcake Rose had made.