"And he wouldn't say a thing--not a thing to blame you." "We said we'd come over right off--and tried to bring him--but he said he'd got to go back to the store," Coraline explained.
"He was mad though!" said Dora--"_I_ know." Diantha looked from one to the other helplessly.
"Come in! Come in!" said Mrs.Bell hospitably.

"Have this rocker, Mrs.
Warden--wouldn't you like some cool drink?
Diantha ?" "No indeed!" Mrs.Warden protested.

"Don't get a thing.

We're going right back, it's near supper time.

No, we can't think of staying, of course not, no indeed!--But we had to come over and hear about this dear child's idea!--Now tell us all about it, Diantha!" There they sat--five pairs of curious eyes--and her mother's sad ones--all kind--all utterly incapable of understanding.
She moistened her lips and plunged desperately.