"Oh, my goodness!" cried Sadie, in consternation. "Now, what have I done?"
CHAPTER XVI
A MUDDY TENNIS BALL
Nan and Jo ran to join Sadie in an instinctive gesture of defense.
Lottie Sparks staggered beneath the blow—for it was really a pretty hard wallop—but rallied the next moment in admirable style.
She wiped the mud from her ear as several of the other girls, sensing a scene, came running up. A flush of fury spread over Lottie's dark face. She had been made ridiculous. Out of the corner of her eye she could see that some of the girls were trying to hide their amusement at sight of her mud-streaked face. Others were tittering outright.
"Of all the outrageous things!" cried Kate Speed, adding fuel to her crony's wrath. "You might know one of those Woodford girls would try a thing like that!"
"I don't know what you mean, Kate Speed!" cried Jo, stepping forward angrily.
Nan spoke urgently to her more fiery chum.
"Don't make a scene, Jo. Let it go." Then to Sadie, "Tell the girl you're sorry, Sade. We don't want any trouble."