"Now see what you've gone and done," she cried in a passion. "Polly won't go down-town because you're keeping her home. And there we've all had our Christmas put off (Alexia wouldn't hear to celebrating the holiday until the Peppers could have theirs), and you two boys have just gone and spoiled it all."
"Alexia—Alexia!" implored Polly.
"I will say so," cried Alexia, perversely, "they've upset all our nice Christmas; and just think, Jasper almost killed, and—"
"Ow!" howled Joel, springing from the old sofa. He wavered a moment on unsteady feet, then dashed out of the room.
Larry, left without any support whatever, concluded to sink down against the sofa-pillow and bury his face in its soft depths.
"Oh, Alexia!" mourned Polly, but that one word was quite enough.
"O dear, dear!" gasped Alexia, wringing her long fingers together, "I didn't mean—oh, what have I done?"
"I must go after him," said Polly, hoarsely, and springing past her to the door.
"Let me, oh, let me," mumbled Alexia, plunging after her. "I'll go, Polly."
"No, you stay here." Polly was off halfway down the stairs. Alexia turned back to the sofa.