-it--it'd be just good for 'em--it would!"

Of course, everything Janet said was gospel truth, and there was no
gainsaying it; but even truth is sometimes depressing, and not the thing
one wishes forever to have dinned into one's ears.

"And I know just as well as I know my own name, Margery, that now, after
he's acted this way, he'll be coming back trying to make friends with
you. You needn't tell me! I know him! But listen here, Margery, don't
have a thing to do with him! Don't ever speak to him again, and pretend
you don't even see him. He's not worth it--honestly he's not!"

When Margery parted from them later in the afternoon Janet made her
solemnly promise that henceforward she would consider Willie Jones as
dirt beneath her feet. It was neither the time nor the place for Margery
to ask herself whether she really wished to make such a promise, for, in
the presence of so fiery an apostle of female rights, her private
inclinations simply shriveled to fine ashes and blew away.

"Of course," murmured Margery meekly, "of course I'll never speak to him
again."

"That's right!" Janet declared. "He don't deserve it."

"And say, Margery," Rosie O'Brien begged, in parting, "come down to East
Maplewood again some afternoon, won't you? I start on my paper route at
half past three--you know where. I'd love to have you come again."

"I'll come if I can, Rosie--honest, I will. Both of you have been just
as nice to me! Good-by."

Margery trudged homeward, feeling tired and a little down-hearted. Janet
McFadden was entirely right: Willie Jones was a villain and a rogue.
But, even so, wasn't it rather a pity to end things forever, after all
the good times they had once had together? Dear, dear! In a maleless
world, justice to ladies would no doubt prevail; but, alas, alas, in
such a world the ladies who enjoy male society would probably feel a bit
lonesome.

"Say, Margery, hold on a minute!"

The voice was unmistakable, but Margery did not turn her head.

"Say, Margery, I'm awfully sorry--honest, I am. I was only fooling."

There he was, just as Janet said he would be. Janet knew. So far as
Margery herself was concerned, she would just as soon make friends, but
she had promised Janet, and she must keep her word. Heigho!

"And lookee here, Margery, here are all your jaw-breakers. I ain't et
one--honest, I ain't."

Margery looked, and, lo, in his hand lay four jaw-breakers, three of
them as black and shiny as the mome