The two girls had been discussing plans, and as Patty stuck to her determination to spend Christmas Eve at the Blaneys', Elise was angry, because she was to have her own Christmas tree that night, and, of course, wanted Patty with her.
They were in the Farringtons' library.

It was nearly dusk, and Patty was just about to get her hat to go home, when they began the controversy afresh.
"I can't help laughing, because you're so silly, but I'm angry at you all the same," Elise averred, with a shake of her dark, curly head.
"You're so wrapped up in the Blaneys and their idiotic old crowd, that you have no time or attention for your old friends." "It does seem so," mused Patty; "of course, it might be, because the idiotic crowd are nice and pleasant to me, while my old friends, one of them, at least, is as cross as a bear with a bumped head." "Well, you're enough to make me cross.

Here I'm going to have a big Christmas tree, and a lovely Christmas party, and you won't come to it.
That makes me cross, but to have you throw me over for those ridiculous Blaneys makes me crosser yet." "You can't get much crosser, you're about at the limit." "No, I'm not, either.

It makes me still crosser that you won't have the House Sale." "Oh, Elise, it's such a nuisance! Turn the whole place upside down and inside out, for a few dollars! Let's get the money by subscription.
Everybody would be glad to give something for the girls' library." "No, they won't.

Everybody has been asked for money for charity all winter, and they're tired of it.