“O dear me!” said Joel, turning off in great disgust, “perhaps it’s half an hour now. I’m going out to look for him,” and he danced out to the flat door-stone.
“Nonsense!” exclaimed Polly with a little laugh and hurrying after him. “Why, it isn’t any time yet, Joey.”
“Why, Polly Pepper!” declared Joel, hopping up and down impatiently, “it’s an awful long time, and he keeps saying things over and over.”
“Well, never mind,” said Polly again. “Now, you must come in and we’ll begin to play something.”
“He can’t play,” said Joel, “and he keeps saying things over and over.”
“Well, you’re just doing that yourself, Joel Pepper,” Polly burst into a merry laugh. “Now, come in.”
“I’m going to watch for Ezekiel,” said Joel obstinately.
“Oh, no, you mustn’t,” cried Polly decidedly. “I never heard of such a way to have company. You must come in and make him have a good time at your party.” And she laid hold of his sleeve.
“There isn’t any good time,” grumbled Joel, stumbling along, Polly still holding his sleeve.
“Well now, boys,” said Polly, shutting the green door. “I think the first thing we’ll do, will be to march.”