"Say! what's the matter with that Somers chap, too?" muttered Harris.
But Lyddy feared that the teacher felt he had cause for offence, and she certainly _was_ uncomfortable.
The recess--or intermission--between the two halves of the literary and musical program, was announced. This was a time always given to social intercourse. The company broke up into groups and chattered and laughed in a friendly--if somewhat boisterous--way.
Newcomers and visitors were made welcome at this time. Nobody now came near the Bray girls--not even Mr. Somers. Whether this was intentional neglect on his part or not they did not know, for the teacher seemed busy at the desk with first one and then another.
Sairy Pritchett and the club historian had their heads together, and the latter, Mayme Lowry, was evidently adding several items to her "Club Chronicles," which amused the two immensely. And there was a deal of nudging and tittering over this among the other girls who gathered about the arch-plotters.
"I'm glad they've got something besides us to giggle about," Lyddy confided to her sister.
But 'Phemie was not sure that the ill-natured girls were not hatching up some scheme to offend the Hillcrest party.
"I believe I'd like to go home," ventured 'Phemie.
"Aw! don't let 'em chase you away," exclaimed the young farmer.
"Oh, I know: 'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me!' But being called names--or, even having names _looked_ at one--isn't pleasant."
Lyddy heard her and said quickly, her expression very decided indeed:
"We're not going--yet. Let us stay until the finish."
"Yes, by jove!" muttered Harris. "I'd just like to see what these Rubes would dare do!"
But girls are not like boys--at least, some girls are not. They won't fight fair.
The Hillcrest party need not have expected an attack in any way that could be openly answered--no, indeed. But they did not escape.
Mr. Somers rang his desk bell at last and called the company to order. After a song from the school song-book, in which everybody joined, the "Club Chronicles" were announced.
This "history"--being mainly hits on what had happened in the community since the last meeting of the Temperance Club--was very popular. Mayme Lowry was a more than ordinarily bright girl, and had a gift for composition. It was whispered that she wrote the "Pounder's Brook Items" for the Bridleburg _Weekly Clarion_.