"No, you are going to wait," said Joel, with a grimace at her.
"Hurry up, Joe, or we will go on," warned Ben.
So Joel tore open his letter and plunged into it. The next moment he stood outside the circle and stamped up and down the library floor like a wild beast. "I'm not going; I won't, I won't,—I—"
"Joey, what is the matter?" cried Polly, in great alarm, and springing out from the group, she ran up to seize his arm. But he slipped away from her.
"She wants me to go and play with those boys," cried Joel, in a towering passion, and plunging up and down. "I won't! So there! Let me alone, Polly," for she ran after him; this time she was more successful.
"Now see here," Ben jumped to his feet, "stop acting like a goose, Joel."
"He's more like a wild-cat," said Alexia, stretching herself comfortably in the space he had vacated.
"Joel, stop this moment," commanded Grandpapa. Joel's head dropped at the tone, but he ran over to the big easy-chair. Phronsie popped up her yellow head in dismay from its nest in the old gentleman's arms.
"Now don't you see how you are frightening this child to death?" said old Mr. King. "What is the matter, my boy?" for Joel's face was working dreadfully.
"She wants me—that old woman," began Joel, swallowing hard, and grasping the chair-arm for dear life.