Rob chanted this effusion, and Battalion B arose as one body and echoed, as a refrain:
"But, 'spite of cold, these garments old repay a journey there."
Then the entire eight departed atticward with Polly and her doll, Roberta Charlotte, bringing up the rear.
"Go on, Wythie; I must put Polly's jacket on," said Rob, pausing at her chamber door. "Queer, that little bodies take cold more easily than larger ones, which have more surface to catch cold on."
"What an absurd girl she is!" sighed grave Hester with supreme content in the qualities which she lacked and which Rob possessed in excess.
"She talks nonsense all the day long, and acts sense more than any one," said Wythie, with her loving smile.
Rob and Polly came quickly, the bunch of keys dangling from Rob's hand.
"We forgot these," she cried breathlessly. "We may get too cold if we try to look over all the clothes. Shall we omit the fantastic ones, Wythie, and get out only the serious ones, which we can use for the gavotte?"
"Let us open the cedar chest first," said Oswyth, taking the key Rob offered her.