"Now something has happened," cried Alexia, dropping the little bunch of laurel. "I must see what it is," and she sprang off.
"Polly, don't look so," she begged. "What is it?"
Ben sat down on the step-ladder, having heard Polly's exclamation, but missing Jane's words. "What is it?" he asked.
"Oh, Ben, those dreadful children have come over this morning," cried Polly, aghast and quite swept along, "to spoil all our fun."
Ben stepped down quickly. "Is that so, Jane?" he asked.
"They shan't come in," cried Alexia, vindictively, and running over to slam the playroom door.
"Alexia," called Ben, "come right straight back here."
"Well, Polly doesn't want them," grumbled Alexia, yet she came back.
"Never mind if they do come in," said Ben, laying a soothing hand on Polly's shoulder. "What harm will they do, Polly?"
"They'll spoil every bit of our fun," said Polly, with flashing brown eyes—"every single bit; you know they will, Ben, and that Elvira—oh, they can't come in!"