"Let's have a sample ourselves,"suggested one.She caught up the box and handed out the remaining sandwich.Another girl divided it into bites each little over an inch square,and then she lifted the cup lid and deposited a preserved strawberry on each bite."One,two,three,altogether now!"she cried.
"You old mean things!"screamed Billy.
In an instant he was down in the road and handfuls of dust began to fly among them.The girls scattered before him.
"Billy!"cried Elnora."Billy!I'll never give you another bite,if you throw dust on any one!"Then Billy dropped the dust,bored both fists into his eyes,and fled sobbing into Elnora's new blue skirt.
She stooped to meet him and consolation began.Those girls laughed on.They screamed and shouted until the little bridge shook.
"To-morrow might as well be a clear day,"said Ellen,passing around and feeding the remaining berries to the girls as they could compose themselves enough to take them.
"Billy,I admire your taste more than your temper."Elnora looked up."The little soul is nothing but skin and bones,"she said."I never was really hungry myself;were any of you?"
"Well,I should say so,"cried a plump,rosy girl.
"I'm famished right now.Let's have breakfast immediate!""We got to refill this box first!"said Ellen Brownlee.
"Who's got the butter?"A girl advanced with a wooden tray.
"Put it in the preserve cup,a little strawberry flavour won't hurt it.Next!"called Ellen.
A loaf of bread was produced and Ellen cut off a piece which filled the sandwich box.
"Next!"A bottle of olives was unwrapped.The grocer's boy who was waiting opened that,and Ellen filled the salad dish.
"Next!"
A bag of macaroons was produced and the cake compartment filled.
"Next!"
"I don't suppose this will make quite as good dog feed as a bird,"laughed a girl holding open a bag of sliced ham while Ellen filled the meat dish.
"Next!"
A box of candy was handed her and she stuffed every corner of the lunch box with chocolates and nougat.
Then it was closed and formally presented to Elnora.
The girls each helped themselves to candy and olives,and gave Billy the remainder of the food.Billy took one bite of ham,and approved.Belle and Jimmy had given up chasing the dog,and angry and ashamed,stood waiting half a block away.
"Come back!"cried Billy."You great big dunces,come back!They's a new kind of meat,and cake and candy."The boy delayed,but the girl joined Billy.Ellen wiped her fingers,stepped to the cement abutment and began reciting "Horatio at the Bridge!"substituting Elnora wherever the hero appeared in the lines.
Elnora gathered up the sacks,and gave them to Belle,telling her to take the food home,cut and spread the bread,set things on the table,and eat nicely.
Then Elnora was taken into the wagon with the girls,and driven on the run to the high school.They sang a song beginning--"Elnora,please give me a sandwich.
I'm ashamed to ask for cake"
as they went.Elnora did not know it,but that was her initiation.She belonged to "the crowd."She only knew that she was happy,and vaguely wondered what her mother and Aunt Margaret would have said about the proceedings.
