“Fine,” he replied, smiling now in evident relief.
“How did you do it?” Barbara asked.
“Duckin’,” replied Nicky.
“What for?” Dudley wanted to know.
“Fer the half-dollar you gim-me.”
“Oh, you lost your candlestick money?” Barbara exclaimed.
“Yes; Vicky wanted to see the picture on it and she dropped it in. I got to be goin’.” Nicky was again getting anxious about the little sister.
“Yes, we’re going,” Dudley told him, meanwhile saying good-bye to Dr. Hale. But Barbara had suddenly disappeared.
She had dashed up to her own room, and was standing with her back to the door, as if that would shut out everything else.
“I don’t want to go back,” she sighed. “I hate girls’ parties and——” She never gave in to such emotion, she wouldn’t cry about anything so unimportant and yet—her eyes were brimming!