[Illustration: "AND THERE, JUST AS COOL AND UNCONCERNED AS YOU PLEASE,
WERE THE RUNAWAYS."]
Of course I was thankful to see them, _very_ thankful; but at the same
time I must say I was provoked, too, at the cool way in which they were
taking things, when we'd been so frightened about them. "You mean little
animals!" I said, giving Paul's shoulder a shake. "There's poor Nonie at
home crying her eyes out about you, and here're you all _enjoying_
yourselves! What d'you mean by behaving like this?"
Instead of being sorry, if they didn't get saucy right away,--at least
the boys did. Judge jerked himself away from me. "If anybody's going to
punish us, _I'm not_ coming home," he drawled, planting his feet wide
apart on the asphalt pavement, and looking me square in the eye. "Nor
me!" chimed in Alan, defiantly.
The parasol was lifted a little, and Maedel peeped out. "Will Nora make
us go to bed right away?" she asked anxiously; "before we get any
dinner?"
Up went the parasol altogether, and Kathie slipped to the ground. "Oh,
Jack, is everybody awfully mad? and what'll they do to us?" she said,
and she looked just ready to begin weeping again.
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