"You either invite Georgie Bassett to play in the shack all he wants to," the man said, "or the shack comes down."
"But--"
"Take your choice. I'm not going to have neighbourhood quarrels over such--"
"But, Papa--"
"That's enough! You said yourself you haven't anything against Georgie."
"I said--"
"You said you didn't like him, but you couldn't tell why. You couldn't state a single instance of bad behaviour against him.
You couldn't mention anything he ever did which wasn't what a gentleman should have done. It's no use, I tell you. Either you invite Georgie to play in the shack as much as he likes next Saturday, or the shack comes down."
"But, PAPA--"
"I'm not going to talk any more about it. If you want the shack pulled down and hauled away, you and your friends continue to tantalize this inoffensive little boy the way you have been. If you want to keep it, be polite and invite him in."
"But--"
"That's ALL, I said!"
Sam was crushed.
Next day he communicated the bitter substance of the edict to the other members, and gloom became unanimous. So serious an aspect did the affair present that it was felt necessary to call a special meeting of the order after school. The entire membership was in attendance; the door was closed, the window covered with a board, and the candle lighted. Then all of the brothers--except one--began to express their sorrowful apprehensions. The whole thing was spoiled, they agreed, if Georgie Bassett had to be taken in. On the other hand, if they didn't take him in, "there wouldn't be anything left." The one brother who failed to express any opnion was little Verman. He was otherwise occupied.