"Oh, was she? Then she tells stories, does she? I don't want to have anything more to do with you. You are very, very rude girls, and I am sorry I invited you to the party. I only asked you because you were halt."
"I dun'no' what yer talkin' about," replied Eva Louise, as she put on her hat; "only I guess yer'd better not name me no names, or I'll hev yer 'rested. Halt! I ain't no halt;" and with her head held high as she proudly sniffed the air, she walked from the room. Bella still lingered.
"Don't yer give no presents at yer party?" she asked.
Elizabeth had already begun to repent of her hasty speech. She feared that she had been rude, and she felt that she must make amends.
"Wait a minute," she said, flying up the short flight of stairs which led to her own room.
Eva Louise delayed her departure, and Bella looked more hopeful. Valentine hovered in the background, wondering what was going to happen next.
Presently Elizabeth returned. In one hand she held a silver calendar which had ornamented her desk, in the other a handsomely bound book.
"These are all I can find," she said, bestowing one upon either guest. "You see, I have to give you things that are really my own, and not Aunt Caroline's or Aunt Rebecca's. Val, we will go down with them to the front door."
The little procession in silence descended the two long double flights of stairs. The front door was opened for them, and the two visitors were about to depart, one carrying the silver calendar, which flashed gayly in a ray of sunlight, the other holding the large red-covered book.
"Good-by!" they said, cheerfully, feeling mollified by the presents.