CHAPTER XV.
THE END OF THE HOUSE-PARTY With the desire to make this last walk together as pleasant as possible, Lloyd immediately put Bernice out of her mind as far as she was able.
But she could not rid herself entirely of the recollection that something disagreeable had happened.

The impression bore down on her like a heavy cloud, and was a damper on her high spirits.

Outwardly she was as gay as ever, and when the walk was over, led the party on a foraging expedition to the pantry.
Rob and Phil were almost uproarious in their merriment now, and, as they devoured cold baked ham, pickles, cheese, beaten biscuit, and cake, they had a fencing-match with carving-knives, and gave a ridiculous parody of the balcony scene in "Romeo and Juliet." Mary, looking on with a sandwich in each hand, almost choked with laughter, although she, too, was borne down by the same feeling that depressed Lloyd, of something very disagreeable having happened.
She had been so ruffled in spirit all the way home that she had lagged behind the others, and it was only when Rob and Phil began their irresistible foolishness that she had forgotten her grievance long enough to laugh.

No sooner had they all gone up-stairs, and she was alone with Joyce, than her indignation waxed red-hot again, and she sputtered out the whole story to her sister.
"And," she said, in conclusion, "that hateful Bernice Howe said the meanest things to Katie.

Elise and I were walking just behind, and we couldn't help hearing.