'I'm afraid I don't understand children at all,' she thought to herself, though with a little sigh. 'What in the world can Frances be crying about?'
Jacinth, once they were alone, did not spare her sister.
'I do think you are too silly,' she said. 'If you go on so oddly after having an afternoon's play, I am sure Aunt Alison won't let you go again. First you seemed half asleep, then you jumped and looked terrified for nothing at all, and now you are actually crying. What is the matter?'
'I didn't mean'——began Frances.
'I believe it's those girls,' continued Jacinth, working herself up to rare irritation, for as a rule she was gentle to her sister. 'They really seem to bewitch you. Are you crying because you're not a boarder at school, so that you could be always beside them?' she added ironically.
'No, of course not. I wouldn't be so silly,' said Frances, with a touch of her usual spirit.
'Then what are you crying about?'
Frances murmured something about 'thinking Jacinth was vexed with her.'
'Nonsense,' said Jacinth. 'You know I wasn't in the least till you got so silly. I don't understand you to-night one bit, but I will say I think it has something to do with the Harpers, and if they begin coming between you and me, Frances, I shall end by really disliking them.'
'I think you dislike them already,' retorted Frances, 'and I'm sure I don't know why.'