“Hooper.”
“He means Hoop.”
“And you are Cal,” she said, reaching that youth.
“Short for Calamity,” explained Spud gravely.
“Isn’t he quick?” sneered Hoop, still resentful.
“Quickest thing ever,” answered Spud affably. “Lightning is cold molasses beside me. That’s where I get my name, you know,” he added, turning to Molly. “Ex-spud-itious.”
The boys groaned, but Molly laughed appreciatively.
“I suppose,” she said, “I’ll get you all terribly mixed up at first, and I hope you won’t mind.”
“We never mind,” declared Dutch quite flippantly for him. He received his reward from Molly in the shape of a smile and for some time after secretly rather fancied himself as a wit.
“My name,” she announced, “is Molly. I guess you’d better call me that, if we are going to be friends.”