“All right!” said Jem. “He will have something appropriate to say about Sabbath-breaking, I dare say.”
“I am sure I don’t know why,” said Philip, laughing.
“He’ll tell you why,” said Jem.
David did not say it was all right, nor think it. Indeed, it proved to his mind to be all wrong, for Mr Caldwell did not make his appearance at all.
“To think of his failing to-day, of all days,” said David.
They waited for him a long time, till the children became restless and impatient.
“We ought to begin, Davie,” said Violet.
“Yes. I wouldn’t mind if we were by ourselves.”
“Why should you mind now? Go ahead, Davie. If he laughs, I’ll knock him down,” said Jem.
It was very foolish in Violet to laugh, and very wrong, too, she knew; but she could not help it. Jem’s idea of the way to keep order was so absurd. David did not laugh. He looked anxious, and at a loss, and a little indignant at his sister’s amusement.