Geraldine’s tone was pleading, and she looked so grave that Mrs. Douaine inquired in some surprise:
“Why shouldn’t Jerry behave?”
“I punched that fellow’s head once,” explained Jerry, calmly, “but you needn’t worry, Geraldine, I sha’n’t do it again. I guess he’s learned his lesson all right.”
The conversation was cut short by the sight of two approaching figures, and Mrs. Douaine rose, and went forward to greet the visitors.
“You have come to see Gretel, I know,” she said, holding out her hand in her kind, cordial way. “She will be delighted to see you, but she isn’t very strong yet, so please be just a little careful not to excite her by talking of what has happened. We are trying to keep her from thinking too much about her terrible experience.”
“We’ll be careful,” promised Ada, “and we can only stay a few minutes. Mother and my aunt are waiting for us in the car. We only reached Washington this morning, but we couldn’t wait any longer without seeing Gretel.”
“Well, here she is,” said Gretel’s sister-in-law, smiling, and leading the way to the big apple-tree. “She isn’t quite as fat as we would like, but she is improving every day. The Barlow twins are here, too; they have come to make us a visit.”
The three girls greeted each other heartily, and Ada kissed Gretel with more affection than she had ever shown before. Jerry nodded to Archie in a friendly manner, as though to imply that bygones were bygones, but Archie Davenport did not return the greeting. He was very red, and looked so uncomfortable and embarrassed, that Jerry suddenly found himself feeling rather sorry for him.
“We are going to be in Washington a week,” Ada was explaining, as she held Gretel’s hand, and looked anxiously into her pale face. “Mother and Auntie came to see some old friends, and brought Archie and me along. They thought it would be a nice little trip for us before we go back to school. Miss Minton’s opens on the first, you know, and Archie is going to Pomfrey. Mother thought we ought to have telephoned before coming to see you, but Archie and I simply couldn’t wait. You said you must see Gretel this afternoon, didn’t you, Archie?”
Archie had grown redder than ever, but with a mighty effort, he pulled himself together and stepped forward.