Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/90

80 “What was the trouble to-day?” asked Bess, leaving the question of future visits to be  settled later.

“Why, nothing, only Fred asked something about Bert, and I said something or other about  the polo game. Fred began to ask all about it, and so I told him. He seemed so interested, but all of a sudden he stopped and said, ‘Bob  Atkinson, I wish you’d keep away from here!’  And I didn’t know what the matter was, so I  asked him. He said, ‘You always do say the meanest things, and I wish you wouldn’t come any more. You’re always round in the way.’ And then I flared up. I didn’t mean to, cousin Bess, but I'd stayed home from the polo game  just to go to see him, and I was awful mad. A fellow can’t stand everything, and I’d only just  answered his questions.”

“I know, Rob. But, you see, only a year ago Fred was in all these good times, and I  suppose it was more than he could bear, to hear  about them, when he knew he couldn’t have  any of the fun.”

“What did he ask about it for, then?”

“He probably did want to hear it all, only it