"Oh, I don't _want_ to!" "My dear little girl, don't let it distress you so!" begged Mrs.
Sherman, leaning over and tenderly wiping the flushed little face.
"It will not be any worse for you than for the other girls, and in a few days when you feel better we are going to have all sorts of sport out of it.

The girls are planning now what they shall do to make up to you for this disappointment.

They feel as if they are to blame for bringing this illness upon you by their disobedience, and you cannot imagine how bad it makes them feel to have you take it to heart so bitterly." But even that failed to stop her tears, and presently Mrs.Sherman went out into the hall, where the girls were waiting for her.
"There is some reason for all this distress that I am unable to discover," she said.

"Joyce, maybe if you would go in and talk to her you might find out." "She must be lots worse than we were," whispered Eugenia to Lloyd, as the high, shrill voice, so unlike Betty's usual tones, went on complainingly in the next room.
"Hush!" warned Lloyd.

"She's telling Joyce what the matter is." The words came out to them distinctly.