Mamma could not resist all these coaxings, and I think she was very pleased to accept the nursery invitation, for it seemed to her a long time since she had seen dear Baby Dolly. So she told Leigh to run up and tell nurse she was coming, and then, when all the parcels were brought into the hall, she chose out some which she sent upstairs; but the parcel of cakes for tea she gave to Artie to carry up.
That was a very happy tea-party. There was so much to tell, and so much to ask about. Mary chattered so fast that mamma had to remind her that her tea would be getting quite cold and everybody would have finished before her if she did not take care. But Mary said she was not very hungry because of the afternoon luncheon she had had at the confectioner’s; and that reminded her of what had happened there, and she told Leigh and Artie and nurse and Dolly—though I am not sure if Dolly quite understood—the story of the rude boy and how frightened she had been.
“Horrid cad,” said Leigh; “I’d like to knock him down.”
“He were much bigger than you, Leigh,” said Mary.
“What does that matter?” said Leigh. “I’d knock any fellow down who was rude to my sister.”
Mary thought it was very brave of Leigh to talk like that. She wondered if he would be vexed if he heard she had forgiven the boy afterwards.
“I think he was sorry,” said mamma. “He had no idea Mary would have minded so much, you see.”
“I cried,” said Mary,—she felt rather proud of herself now for having had such an adventure,—“I cried lotses.”
“I hope he didn’t see you crying,” said Leigh. “He would think you a baby and not a lady if he saw you crying.”
“I leaved off crying when mamma came,” said Mary; “but my eyes was reddy.”