But after lunch he felt cheered. He went down to the road and there was Joan—Joan, dark-eyed and dark-haired and adorable—back from her holidays.
“Hello, William!” she said.
William’s stern freckled countenance relaxed almost to a smile.
“Hello, Joan,” he replied.
“What you doing this afternoon, William?”
“Nothing particular,” replied William graciously.
“Let’s go to the old barn and see if Ginger or any of the others are there. I’m so glad to be back, William. I hated being away. I kept thinking about you and the others and wondering what you were doing ... you especially.”
William felt cheered and comforted. Joan generally had a soothing effect upon William....
As they neared the stile that led to the field, however, William’s spirits dropped, for there, looking her most curled and cleaned and possessive, was Violet Elizabeth.
“Come on, William, and play houth again,” she called imperiously.