“Too bad I came.”
“Oh, no. Glad I lost, really, I’m awfully glad you came.” He was wagging that red head of his like an animated signal light. “You see, Cara is an awfully good sport.”
“I know that.”
“Oh say! I’m getting myself in trouble,” he laughed again. “I mean, she’s better and more than just a sister to a fellow; she’s a whole family.”
They were almost within sight of Billows and Barbara noticed that Dudley had slowed down. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
“You see,” he pursued, “the girls all think you’re sort of different.”
“Why?” Barbara asked so suddenly and so frankly that Dudley’s cheeks flared. He couldn’t have been blushing, yet his face certainly had gone red.
“Oh,” he faltered, “I suppose because you don’t run around a lot. And then, you are so fond of study.”
“I hate it,” flung back Barbara, unconsciously shifting her position, which was alongside of him since Nicky’s departure.
“I mean, studying with your father.”