"Goodness, if he can't do it without being asked," retorted Grace crossly, "he can keep his old candies."
"If I thought you meant that, I'd say you ought to be ashamed of yourself," put in Amy, with unaccustomed spirit, as Mollie threw in the clutch and the big car started off again. "Anybody that had been as good to you as Roy has been—"
"Well, I don't know that you've been particularly neglected," retorted Grace, meaningly, while Amy reddened. "I never thought that Will could be such a perfect Romeo."
"Oh, dear," murmured Betty protestingly. "Can't we have just one good time, without bringing the boys into it?"
"Now, see who's talking," chuckled Mollie delightedly, changing into high and driving with wild, care-free recklessness along the smooth road. "Oh, Betty darling, much as I love you, there do come times when you make me laugh."
"Well, it's good to know I'm bringing happiness into some dark life," retorted Betty good-naturedly. "At least I have not lived in vain."
"And they were just mad," Mollie continued, as though talking to herself, "when they found we were going off this afternoon without them."
"Yes, and isn't it funny?" agreed Grace lazily. "They think they're so important."
"Well, they are," announced Amy suddenly, and even Mollie turned an amazed eye upon her.
"I think they're the most important people in the world," Amy continued stoutly. "I guess if we were going to give up our lives for somebody else we might think we were important, too."