“Never mind,” whispered Amy Drew quickly, quite understanding her chum’s feelings regarding Belle and her group. “I’ll ask them. It’s my fault, anyway. And I only meant it for a joke––”
“A pretty poor joke, Amy,” Jessie said, with some sharpness. “And I don’t want you to borrow of them. I’ll run back to the church.”
She started to leave the Dainties Shop. Sally Moon, who was just behind Belle Ringold, halted Jessie with a firm grasp on her sleeve.
“Don’t run away just because we came in, Jess,” she said.
“I’m coming right back,” Jessie Norwood explained. “Don’t keep me.”
“Where you going, Jess?” drawled another of the group.
“I’ve got to run back to the church to speak to mother for a moment.”
“Your mother’s not there,” broke in Belle. “She was leaving in her flivver when we came away. The committee’s broken up and the parish house door is locked.” 97
“Oh, no!” murmured Jessie, a good deal appalled.
“Don’t I tell you yes?” snapped Belle. “Don’t you believe me?”