“What nonsense!” drawled Belle. “Who will stop us, please?” and she came on down the path toward the spring.
The other girls had now got up. Jessie tried to reach out and seize Henrietta; but the latter was so angry that she jerked away. She stood before Belle and Sally with flashing eyes and her hands clenched tight.
“You go away! This is my woods and my spring! You sha’n’t have a drink!”
“The child is crazy,” said Belle, harshly. “Let me pass, you mean little thing!”
At that Henrietta stooped and caught up dirt in each grubby hand. It was a little damp where she stood, and the muck stuck to her palms. She shrieked hatred and defiance at Belle and, running forward, smeared the dirt all up and down the front of the rich girl’s fine dress.
Belle shrieked quite as loudly as the angry Henrietta and threatened all manner of punishment. But she could not catch the freckled girl, who was as wriggly as an eel.
“I’ll—I’ll have you whipped! You ought to be spanked hard!” panted Belle Ringold. “And it is your fault, Jess Norwood. You egged her on.”
“I did not,” said Jessie, angrily.
But she was vexed with Henrietta, too. She ran after and caught the panting, sobbing little thing. She really was tempted to shake her.
“What do you mean, Henrietta Haney, by acting this way and talking so? Do you want to disgrace us all? For shame!”