“I shall do nothing of the kind,” she said sharply, as Henrietta and her friends drew away. “Don’t go, Henrietta—and the rest of you children. She does not own this place. You have quite as much right here as we have.”
“I—want—to—know!” sputtered Belle.
“It is the truth. You children can stay and look on. And at supper time I think we have brought enough lunch for you all to have a bite.” She turned her back on Belle Ringold and spoke to the other boys and girls with Henrietta: “Is that you, Monty Shannon? Have you got your radio fixed yet?”
“Got the antenna all strung. Just waiting for the set now. I’ve sent for it,” said the young radio enthusiast with promptness.
“Oh!” said Jessie, thoughtfully. “Then you’ve bought and paid for it?”
“Well, I’ve bought it. I don’t pay for it till they deliver it. Oh, I’m going to have it all right.”
“Come on,” said Darry, breaking in. “There’s the encore of that dance. Let’s finish it, Jess. See you later, Hen,” and he whirled the Roselawn girl away.
Jessie waved her hand at the little group of Dogtown children. Her warm speech had defended Henrietta and her friends from the unpleasant tongue of Belle Ringold. Perhaps the latter might really have succeeded in driving the Dogtown children away; while in the music and dancing of the New Melford and Roselawn young folks, Henrietta and her party took pleasure.
“Isn’t it kind of pitiful,” Jessie ventured before the dance concluded, “that those children should have to take their pleasure by proxy?”
“My goodness!” gasped Darry, “you’re a funny girl, Jess. Do you want to give Hen and those others dancing lessons?” and he chuckled.