“There, child, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” she said in a wheedling tone. “Just tell me what you did with the contents of the bag.”
“We planted the bulbs in the Brownie Scout bed at the library,” Vevi answered. “I didn’t mean to take your bulbs. But you got mine. So wasn’t it a fair exchange?”
“A fair exchange?” Mrs. Gabriel cried, her voice shrill. “You planted the tulips! That bag was worth a small fortune to me. Oh, I could shake you!”
Vevi backed away, rather afraid of the irate woman.
“What did you do with the pellets that were in the bag?” she demanded.
“You mean those little pieces of fertilizer?” Vevi stammered. “We planted them with the bulbs!”
“Oh!” gasped Mrs. Gabriel. She started to scold Vevi and then abandoned the tirade. With a gesture of both anger and despair, she brushed past the girls and went rapidly away.
Chapter 17
A LIBRARY WINDOW
VEVI, Connie and Jane watched Mrs. Gabriel until she was out of sight far down the street.