William glared at her speechless. He was glad of the presence of his manly friends, yet horrified as to what revelations this terrible young female might make, disgracing him for ever in their eyes.
“Go away,” he said sternly at last, “we aren’t playing girls’ games.”
“We don’t like girls,” said Ginger contemptuously.
“William doth,” she said indignantly. “He thaid he did. He thaid he liked all little girlth. He thaid he withed he wath a little girl. He kithed me an’ played fairieth with me.”
A glorious blush of a rich and dark red overspread William’s countenance.
“Oh!” he ejaculated as if astounded at the depth of her untruthfulness, but it was not convincing.
“Oh, you did!” said Violet Elizabeth. Somehow that was convincing. Ginger and Douglas looked at William rather coldly. Even Jumble seemed to look slightly ashamed of him.
“Well, come along,” said Ginger, “we can’t stop here all day talking—to a girl.”
“But I want to come with you,” said Violet Elizabeth. “I want to play with you.”
“We’re going to play boys’ games. You wouldn’t like it,” said Douglas who was somewhat of a diplomatist.