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diff --git a/26122-h/26122-h.htm b/26122-h/26122-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8a455b --- /dev/null +++ b/26122-h/26122-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14989 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Five Little Peppers at School, by Margaret Sidney. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; margin-bottom: .75em; } + + .noindent {text-indent: 0em;} + +/* all headings centered */ + h1 {text-align: center; clear: both; } + h2 {text-align: left; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; clear: both; } + h3 {text-align: center; clear: both; } + h4 {text-align: center; clear: both; } + +div.trans-note {border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; + background-color: #DEE; color: #000; + margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: center;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; } + + .pagenum { position: absolute; left: 2%; font-size: 75%; + text-align: right; } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; } + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 12%; margin-right: 12%; + margin-bottom: 5%; margin-top: 5%; padding-left: 1em;} + + .g {letter-spacing: 0.5em;} + + .first {font-size: 400%; float: left; padding: 0.1em; + clear: left; line-height: 70%;} + + .totoc {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .left {text-align: left;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 85%} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .author {text-align: right; margin-right: 5%;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Five Little Peppers at School, by Margaret Sidney + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Five Little Peppers at School + +Author: Margaret Sidney + +Illustrator: Hermann Heyer + +Release Date: July 25, 2008 [EBook #26122] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AT SCHOOL *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Marcia Brooks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from scans of public domain material +produced by Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS<br /> +AT SCHOOL</h1> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="bbox"> +<h4>BOOKS BY</h4> + +<h3>MARGARET SIDNEY</h3> + +<p class="noindent"> +<b>A LITTLE MAID OF CONCORD TOWN</b><br /> +<i>Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill</i> +<br /><br /> +<b>A LITTLE MAID OF BOSTON TOWN</b><br /> +<i>Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill</i><br /> +</p> + +<h3>THE FAMOUS PEPPER BOOKS</h3> +<center><span class="g">IN ORDER OF PUBLICATION</span></center> + + +<p><i>Twelve Volumes <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Illustrated</span></i></p> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><b>FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND HOW THEY GREW<br /> +<br /> +FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS MIDWAY<br /> +<br />FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS GROWN UP<br /> +<br />PHRONSIE PEPPER<br /> +<br />THE STORIES POLLY PEPPER TOLD<br /> +<br />THE ADVENTURES OF JOEL PEPPER<br /> +<br />FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS ABROAD<br /> +<br />FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AT SCHOOL<br /> +<br />FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND THEIR FRIENDS<br /> +<br />BEN PEPPER<br /> +<br />FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS IN THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE<br /> +<br />OUR DAVIE PEPPER</b></p> +<br /> +<br /> +<center>LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON</center> +</div> + +<a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="318" height="500" alt="frontispiece" title="TAKE RICKIE: HE BEAT, TOO, AS MUCH AS I." /> +</div><div class="figcenter"> +<span class="caption">“TAKE RICKIE: HE BEAT, TOO, AS MUCH AS I.”</span></div> +<br /><br /> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'>1</span></p> +<h1>FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS<br /> +AT SCHOOL</h1> + + + +<p class="center">By</p> + +<h3>MARGARET SIDNEY</h3> + +<p class="center">AUTHOR OF “FIVE LITTLE<br /> +PEPPERS ABROAD,” “A<br /> +LITTLE MAID OF CONCORD<br /> +TOWN,” “SALLY, MRS. TUBBS”</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Illustrated by</i></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="g">HERMANN HEYER</span></p> + +<p class="center">BOSTON<br /> +LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.</p> + + +<br /><br /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>2</span></p> +<div class="center"> +<b>PEPPER</b> + +<h4>TRADE-MARK</h4> + +Registered in U. S. Patent Office.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="g"> +<i>COPYRIGHT,<br /> +1903, BY<br /> +LOTHROP<br /> +PUBLISHING<br /> +COMPANY.</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>ALL RIGHTS<br /> +RESERVED</i><br /> +<br /> +<i>PUBLISHED<br /> +NOV. 1903</i><br /> +</span> +<br /><br /><br /> +<i>Fifty-fourth Thousand.</i> +</div> +<br /><br /> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">3</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he story of young people's lives is not +complete without many and broad glimpses +of their school days. It was impossible to +devote the space to this recital of the Five +Little Peppers' school life, in the books that +showed their growing up. The author, therefore, +was obliged unwillingly to omit all the +daily fun and study and growth, that she, loving +them as if they were real children before her +eyes, saw in progress.</p> + +<p>So she packed it all away in her mind, ready +to tell to all those young people who also loved +the Peppers, when they clamored for more +stories about them—just what Polly and Joel +and David did in their merry school days. Ben +never got as much schooling as the others, for +he insisted on getting into business life as early +as possible, in order the sooner to begin to pay +Grandpapa King back for all his kindness. But +Jasper and Percy and Van joined the Peppers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">4</a></span> +at school, and a right merry time they had +of it!</p> + +<p>And now the time seems ripe to accede to all +the insistent demands from those who love the +Five Little Peppers, that this record of their +school days should be given. So here it is, +just as they all gave it to</p> + +<p class="author">MARGARET SIDNEY.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5-6</a></span></p> +<a name="toc" id="toc"></a> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents" width="80%"> +<tr> + <td align='left'>CHAPTER</td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'>PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>I.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#I_HARD_TIMES_FOR_JOEL"><span class="smcap">Hard Times for Joel</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>9</td></tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>II.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#II_THE_TENNIS_MATCH"><span class="smcap">The Tennis Match</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>24</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>III.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#III_A_NARROW_ESCAPE"><span class="smcap">A Narrow Escape</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>35</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>IV.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#IV_OF_VARIOUS_THINGS"><span class="smcap">Of Various Things</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>49</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>V.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#V_AT_SILVIA_HORNES"><span class="smcap">At Silvia Horne's</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>60</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>VI.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#VI_THE_ACCIDENT"><span class="smcap">The Accident</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>75</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>VII.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#VII_THE_SALISBURY_GIRLS"><span class="smcap">The Salisbury Girls</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>89</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>VIII.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#VIII_WERE_TO_HAVE_OUR_PICNIC"><span class="smcap">“We're to have our picnic!”</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>105</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>IX.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#IX_ALL_ABOUT_THE_POOR_BRAKEMAN"><span class="smcap">All About the Poor Brakeman</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>121</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>X.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#X_JOEL_AND_HIS_DOG"><span class="smcap"> Joel and His Dog</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>135</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XI.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XI_THE_UNITED_CLUBS"><span class="smcap">The United Clubs</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>154</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XII.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XII_SOME_EVERY-DAY_FUN"><span class="smcap">Some Every-day Fun</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>173</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XIII.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XIII_THE_PICNIC"><span class="smcap">The Picnic</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>186</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XIV.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XIV_MISS_SALISBURYS_STORY"><span class="smcap">Miss Salisbury's Story</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>206</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XV.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XV_THE_BROKEN_VASE"><span class="smcap">The Broken Vase</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>233</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XVI.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XVI_NEW_PLANS"><span class="smcap">New Plans</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>247</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XVII.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XVII_PHRONSIE"><span class="smcap">Phronsie</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>262</td></tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XVIII.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XVIII_TOMS_STORY"><span class="smcap">Tom's Story</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>280</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XIX.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XIX_THE_GRAND_ENTERTAINMENT"><span class="smcap">The Grand Entertainment</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>300</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XX.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XX_THE_CORCORAN_FAMILY"><span class="smcap">The Corcoran Family</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>322</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XXI.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XXI_AT_THE_PLAY"><span class="smcap">At the Play</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>346</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XXII.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XXII_PICKERING_DODGE"><span class="smcap">Pickering Dodge</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>368</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XXIII.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XXIII_THE_CLEMCY_GARDEN_PARTY"><span class="smcap">The Clemcy Garden Party</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>389</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XXIV.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XXIV_THE_PIECE_OF_NEWS"><span class="smcap">The Piece of News</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>417</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'>XXV.</td> + <td align='left'><a href="#XXV_THE_VERY_PRETTIEST_AFFAIR"><span class="smcap">“The Very Prettiest Affair”</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>435</td> +</tr> +</table></div> +<br /><br /> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'>7</span></p> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations" width="80%"> +<tr> + <td align='left'></td> + <td align='right'>PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href="#frontis">“<span class="smcap">Take Rickie! He Beat Too, as Much as I</span>.”</a></td> + <td align='right'><i>Frontispiece</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href="#Page_100"><span class="smcap">And She Told Them the Whole Story as +Fast as She Could</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>100</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href="#Page_155"><span class="smcap">Just Then Something Skimmed Out From +The Corner</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>155</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href="#Page_207"><span class="smcap">“I Never Did Regard Picnics as Pleasant +Affairs,” Gasped Miss Anstice</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>206</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href="#Page_287"><span class="smcap">“See, Joel, I'm All Fixed Up Nice,” Laughed +Phronsie from Her Perch</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>286</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href="#Page_307"><span class="smcap">“Oh, I Do Hope I Shall Draw the Right +One, Jasper.”</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>307</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href="#Page_339"><span class="smcap">“And So We Had a Little Entertainment, +and Sold the Tickets, and Here is our Gift!”</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>337</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align='left'><a href="#Page_412"><span class="smcap">There Stood the Little Vase, Presenting +as Brave an Appearance as in its First Perfection</span></a></td> + <td align='right'>412</td> +</tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'>8</span></p> +<br /><br /> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1><i>Five Little Peppers at School</i></h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="I_HARD_TIMES_FOR_JOEL" id="I_HARD_TIMES_FOR_JOEL"></a>I HARD TIMES FOR JOEL</h2> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“C</span>ome on, Pepper.” One of the boys +rushed down the dormitory hall, giving +a bang on Joel's door as he passed.</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Joel a bit crossly, “I'm coming.”</p> + +<p>“Last bell,” came back on the wind.</p> + +<p>Joel threw his tennis racket on the bed, and +scowled. Just then a flaxen head peeped in, +and two big eyes stared at him.</p> + +<p>“Ugh!”—Joel took one look—“off with +you, Jenkins.” Jenkins withdrew at once.</p> + +<p>Joel jumped up and slammed the door hard, +whirled around in vexation, sprang over and +thrust the tennis racket under the bed, seized a +dog-eared book, and plunged off, taking the precaution, +despite his hurry, to shut the door fast +behind him.</p> + +<p>Jenkins stole out of his room three doors<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> +beyond, and as the hall was almost deserted +about this hour, so many boys being in recitation, +he had nothing to do but tiptoe down to +Joel's room and go softly in.</p> + +<p>“Hullo!” A voice behind made him skip.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Berry,”—it was a tone of relief,—“it's +you.”</p> + +<p>“Um,” said Berry, “what's up now, Jenk?” +He tossed back his head, while a smile of delight +ran all over his face.</p> + +<p>“Hush—come here.” Jenk had him now +within Joel's room and the door shut. “We'll +have fun with the beggar now.”</p> + +<p>“Who—Dave?”</p> + +<p>“Dave? No. Who wants to haul him over?” +cried Jenk in scorn. “You are a flat, Berry, if +you think that.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you are a flat, if you think to tackle +Joe,” declared Berry with the air and tone of +one who knows. “Better let him alone, after +what you got last term.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I ain't going to let him alone,” declared +Jenk angrily, and flushing all up to his shock of +light hair; “and I gave him quite as good as he +gave me, I'd have you know, Tom Beresford.”</p> + +<p>“Hoh, hoh!” Tom gave a howl of derision,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> +and slapped his knee in pure delight. “Tell that +to the marines, sonny,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Hush—old Fox will hear you. Be still, +can't you?”—twitching his jacket—“and stop +your noise.”</p> + +<p>“I can't help it; you say such very funny +things,” said Beresford, wiping his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Well, anyway, I'm going to pay him up this +term,” declared Jenkins decidedly. He was rushing +around the small room; the corners devoted +to David being neatness itself, which couldn't +truthfully be said of Joel's quarters. “I'm after +his new tennis racket. Where in thunder is it?” +tossing up the motley array of balls, dumb-bells, +and such treasures, that showed on their surface +they belonged to no one but Joel.</p> + +<p>“Great Scott!” Tom cried with sudden interest, +and coming out of his amusement. “You +won't find it.”</p> + +<p>“Saw him looking at it just now, before he +went to class,” cried Jenkins, plunging around the +room. “Where is the thing?” he fumed.</p> + +<p>Berry gave a few swift, bird-like glances around +the room, then darted over to the end of one of +the small beds, leaned down, and picked out from +underneath the article in question.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh! give it to me,” cried Jenk, flying at him, +and possessing himself of the treasure; “it's +mine; I told you of it.”</p> + +<p>“Isn't it a beauty!” declared Berry, his eyes +very big and longing.</p> + +<p>“Ha, ha—ain't it? Well, Joe won't see this +in one spell.”</p> + +<p>Jenkins gave it a swing over his head, then +batted his knee with it.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do, Jenk?” demanded +Berry, presently, when he could get his mind off +from the racket itself.</p> + +<p>“Do? Ha, ha! Who says I can't pay the +beggar back?” grinned Jenk, hopping all over +the room, and knocking into things generally.</p> + +<p>“Hush—hush,” warned Berry, plunging after +him; “here's old Fox,” which brought both boys +up breathless in the middle of the floor.</p> + +<p>“She's gone by”—a long breath of relief; +“and there she goes down the stairs,” finished +Berry.</p> + +<p>“Sure?” Not daring to breathe, but clutching +the racket tightly, and with one eye on Berry, +Jenk cried again in a loud whisper, “Sure, +Berry?”</p> + +<p>“As if any one could mistake the flap of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> +those slipper-heels on the stairs!” said Berry +scornfully.</p> + +<p>“Well, look out of the window,” suggested +Jenk suddenly. “She'll go across the yard, +maybe.”</p> + +<p>So Berry dashed to the window, and gave one +look. “There she sails with a bottle in her +hand, going over to South” (the other dormitory +across the yard). “Most likely Jones has the +colic again. Good! Now that disposes finely of +old Fox,” which brought him back to the subject +in hand, the disposal of Joel's racket.</p> + +<p>“Give me that,” he said, hurrying over to +Jenkins.</p> + +<p>“No, you don't,” said that individual; “and I +must be lively before old Fox gets back.” With +that, he rushed out of the room.</p> + +<p>“If you don't give me that racket, I'll tell on +you,” cried Beresford in a passion, flying after +him.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” Jenk turned on him suddenly, and +gripped him fast. “See here,” he cried in a suppressed +tone, and curbing his anger as best he +could, “you don't want Joe to go into that +match, this afternoon, with this racket.” He +shook it with eager, angry fingers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span></p> + +<p>“No,” said Berry without stopping to think, +“I don't.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, you better keep still, and hold +your tongue,” advised Jenk angrily.</p> + +<p>“Well, what are you going to do with it?”</p> + +<p>“None of your——” what, he didn't say, for +just then a boy flew out of his room, to tear +down the long hall. He had his back to them, +and there was no time to skip back into Jenkins' +own room, for the two had already passed it. +One wild second, and Jenkins thrust the racket +into the depths of the housemaid's closet close at +hand, under some cleaning-cloths on a shelf. +Then he stuck his hands in his pockets.</p> + +<p>“Hullo!” The boy who was rushing along, +suddenly turned, to see him whistling.</p> + +<p>“Oh Jenk, is that you? See here, where's +your Cæsar?”</p> + +<p>“Don't know—gone up the spout,” said Jenkins +carelessly, and keeping well in front of +Beresford.</p> + +<p>“Well, who has one? You haven't, Berry?” +He turned to Tom anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Not on your life he hasn't,” Jenk answered +for him.</p> + +<p>“Botheration!” ejaculated the boy. “I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> +fifty lines to do, else I'm shut in from the +game. And Simmons has run off with my +book.”</p> + +<p>“Try Joe Pepper's room; he's in math recitation,” +said Jenk suddenly. “He has one, Toppy.”</p> + +<p>“You're a brick.” Toppy flew down the hall, +and bolted into Joel's room.</p> + +<p>“Holy Moses, what luck! He'll prowl for an +hour over Joe's duds. Come on.” Jenk had his +head in the cupboard, and his fingers almost on +the racket, when Toppy's voice rang dismally +down the hall: “Joe must have taken it.”</p> + +<p>Jenk pulled his fingers out, and had the door +fast, and was quite turned away from the dangerous +locality. “Well, I don't know what you'll +do, Toppy,” he said, controlling his dismay +enough to speak. “Run down and skin through +the fellows' rooms on first floor. Oh, good gracious!” +he groaned, “it's all up with getting it +now,” as a swarm of boys came tumbling over +the stairs.</p> + +<p>So he mixed with them, laughing and talking, +and Berry melted off somewhere. And no one +had time to think a syllable of anything but the +great game of tennis to be called at two o'clock, +between the two divisions of Dr. Marks' boys.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> +Some of the team of the St. Andrew's School, a +well-known set of fellows at this sport and terribly +hard to beat, were going to be visitors. So +there was unusual excitement.</p> + +<p>“What's up, Pepper?” A howl that rose above +every other sort of din that was then in progress, +came from Joel's room.</p> + +<p>“He's been in here!” Joel plunged out of the +doorway, tossing his black, curly locks, that were +always his bane, his eyes flashing dangerously. +“Say, where's Jenk? He's been in my room,” +he cried, doubling up his small fists.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” cried Jenkins, making as if just +coming up the stairs. “What's all the row +about?”</p> + +<p>“You've been in my room,” shouted Joel in a +loud, insistent voice, “and taken my——” The +rest was lost in a babel of voices.</p> + +<p>“What? What's gone, Joe?” They all +crowded into the small space, and swarmed all +over the room.</p> + +<p>“My racket,” yelled Joel wrathfully. “Jenk +has got it; he better give it up. Quick now.” +He pushed up the sleeves of his tennis shirt, and +squared off, glaring at them all, but making the +best of his way over toward Jenk.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span></p> + +<p>That individual, when he saw him coming, +thought it better to get behind some intervening +boys. Everybody huddled against everybody else, +and it was impossible to get at the truth.</p> + +<p>“See here now, Mother Fox will be after us +all if you don't hush up,” called one boy. “I +guess she's coming,” which had the desired effect. +All the voices died down except Joel's.</p> + +<p>“I don't care,” said Joel wrathfully. “I wish +she would come. Jenk has got my racket. He +saw me with it before I ran to math; and now +it's gone.” All eyes turned to Jenkins.</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” A half-dozen hands pushed him +into the centre of the group. “Then you've got +to give him fits, Pepper.”</p> + +<p>“I'm going to,” announced Joel, pushing up +his sleeves higher yet, “until he tells where it is. +Come on, Jenk.” He tossed his head like a +young lion, and squared off.</p> + +<p>“I haven't your old racket,” declared Jenk, a +white line beginning to come around his mouth. +It wasn't pleasant to see his reckoning quite so +near.</p> + +<p>“Then you know where it is,” declared Joel.</p> + +<p>“And give it to the beggar,” cried several of +the boys, with whom Jenkins was by no means a +favorite.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span></p> + +<p>“Give it to him worse than you did last term, +Joe,” called some one on the edge of the circle +closing around the two.</p> + +<p>“I'm going to,” nodded Joel, every nerve in +his body tingling to begin. “Come on, Jenk, if +you won't tell where you've put my racket.”</p> + +<p>“He's afraid,” said the boy who had advised +the more severe pommelling, “old 'fraid-cat!”</p> + +<p>Jenkins, his knees knocking together miserably, +but with a wild rage in his heart at these words, +struck out blindly to meet Joel's sturdy little fists, +and to find his Waterloo.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the din and confusion that this +encounter produced, steps that could never by +any possibility be mistaken for those of a schoolboy +struck upon their ears.</p> + +<p>The circle of spectators flew wide, and before +Joel and Jenkins realized what was coming, a +good two dozen hands were laid on their collars, +and they were dragged apart, and hauled into +separate rooms, the rest of the boys scattering +successfully. Tom Beresford fled with the rest, +and the long hall was cleared.</p> + +<p>“Boys!” the voice of the matron, Mrs. Fox, +rang down the deserted, long hall, as she looked +up from the stairway. “Humph! they are quiet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> +enough now.” She gave a restful sigh, and went +down again. Jones and his colic were just so +much extra on a terribly busy day.</p> + +<p>“What did you fellows touch me for?” roared +Joel, lifting a bloody nose. In his own room, +Jenkins was in that state that recognizes any +interruption as a blessing.</p> + +<p>“Old Fox would have caught you, if we +hadn't rushed you both,” cried the boys.</p> + +<p>Tom Beresford worked his way up to say close +to Joel's ear, “Don't speak, get into your room; +I'll tell you where it is,” then melted off to the +outer circle of boys.</p> + +<p>Joel looked up, gave a little nod, then broke +away from the boys, and dashed to Jenkins' door.</p> + +<p>“See here,”—he flung the words out,—“you've +got to finish sometime when Mrs. Fox +isn't round.”</p> + +<p>Jenkins, who was under the impression that he +had had quite enough, was made to say, “All +right;” something in the boys' faces making it +seem imperative that he should do so.</p> + +<p>Quite pleased, Joel withdrew as suddenly as he +had come.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, up the stairs, two at a time, came +Davie, singing at the memory of the special commendation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> +given by his instructor in the recitation +just over; and secretly David's heart bounded +with a wild hope of taking home a prize in +classics for Mamsie!</p> + +<p>“Everything's just beautiful this term!” he +hummed to himself. And then, in a breathing +space he was in his room, and there, well drawn +behind the door, was a boy with big eyes. +“<i>Hush</i>” he warned.</p> + +<p>“What's the matter?” asked David in astonishment, +“and where's Joel?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don't speak his name; he's in disgrace. +Oh, it's perfectly awful!” The boy huddled up +in a heap, and tried to shut the door.</p> + +<p>“Who?” cried David, not believing his ears.</p> + +<p>“Joel—oh dear! it's perfectly awful!”</p> + +<p>“Stop saying it's perfectly awful, Bates, and +tell me what's the matter.” Davie felt faintish, +and sat down on the shoe-box.</p> + +<p>Bates shut the door with a clap, and then +came to stand over him, letting the whole information +out with a rush.</p> + +<p>“He's pitched into Jenk—and they've had a +fight—and they're all blood—and the old Fox +almost got 'em both.” Then he shut his mouth +suddenly, the whole being told.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span></p> + +<p>Davie put both hands to his head. For a +minute everything turned dark around him. +Then he thought of Mamsie. “Oh dear me!” +he said, coming to.</p> + +<p>“How I wish he'd had it all out with that +beggar!” exploded Bates longingly.</p> + +<p>David didn't say anything, being just then +without words. At this instant Joel rushed in +with his bloody nose, and a torn sleeve where +Jenk in his desperation had gripped it fast.</p> + +<p>“Oh Joel!” screamed Davie at sight of him, +and springing from his shoe-box. “Are you +hurt? Oh Joey!”</p> + +<p>“Phoo! that's nothing,” said Joel, running over +to the wash-basin, and plunging his head in, to +come up bright and smiling. “See, Dave, I'm +all right,” he announced, his black eyes shining. +“But he's a mean beggar to steal my new racket,” +he concluded angrily.</p> + +<p>“To steal your new racket that Grandpapa sent +you!” echoed David. “Oh dear me! who has +taken it? Oh Joel!”</p> + +<p>“That beggar Jenkins,” exploded Joel. “But +I'm to know where it is.” Just then the door +opened cautiously, enough to admit a head. +“Don't speak, Pepper, but come.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span></p> + +<p>Joel flung down the towel, and pranced to the +door.</p> + +<p>“No one else,” said the boy to whom the head +belonged.</p> + +<p>“Not me?” asked David longingly. “Can't +I come?”</p> + +<p>“No—no one but Joe.” Joel rushed over the +sill tumultuously, deserting David and the Bates +boy.</p> + +<p>“Don't speak a single word,” said the boy out +in the hall, putting his mouth close to Joel's ear, +“but move lively.”</p> + +<p>No need to tell him so. In a minute they +were both before the housemaid's closet.</p> + +<p>“Feel under,” whispered the boy, with a sharp +eye down the length of the hall.</p> + +<p>Joel's brown hands pawed among the cleaning-cloths +and brushes, bringing up in a trice the +racket, Grandpapa's gift, to flourish it high.</p> + +<p>“Take care; keep it down,” said the boy in a +hurried whisper.</p> + +<p>“Oh, oh!” cried Joel, hanging to it in a +transport.</p> + +<p>“Um,” the boy nodded. “Hush, be still. +Now skip for your room.”</p> + +<p>“Beresford,” said Joel, his black eyes shining<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> +as he paused a breathing space before rushing +back to Davie, the new racket gripped fast, “if +I don't pay Jenk for this!”</p> + +<p>“Do.” Tom grinned all over his face in great +delight; “you'll be a public benefactor,” and he +softly beat his hands together.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="II_THE_TENNIS_MATCH" id="II_THE_TENNIS_MATCH"></a>II THE TENNIS MATCH</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span></p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">J</span>oel, hugging his recovered tennis racket, +rushed off to the court. Tom Beresford, +staring out of his window, paused while pulling +on his sweater to see him go, a sorry little feeling +at his heart, after all, at Joe's good spirits.</p> + +<p>“He'll play like the mischief, and a great deal +better for the row and the fright over that old +racket. Well, I had to tell. 'Twould have been +too mean for anything to have kept still.”</p> + +<p>So he smothered a sigh, and got into his togs, +seized his implements of battle, and dashed off +too. Streams of boys were rushing down to the +court, and the yard was black with them. In the +best places were the visitors. Royalty couldn't +have held stronger claims to distinction in the +eyes of Dr. Marks' boys; and many were the +anxious glances sent over at the four St. Andrew's +boys. If the playing shouldn't come up +to the usual high mark!</p> + +<p>“Pepper will score high,” one after another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> +said as he dropped to the ground next to his +chums, in the circle around the court.</p> + +<p>“Of course.” Nobody seemed to doubt Joel's +powers along that line. “He always does.” And +cries of “Pepper—Pepper,” were taken up, and +resounded over the yard.</p> + +<p>Joel heard it as he dashed along, and he held +his head high, well pleased. But David followed +his every movement with anxiety. “I'm afraid +he was hurt,” he said to himself; “and if he +should lose the game, he'd never get over it. +Oh dear me! if Mamsie could only be here!”</p> + +<p>But Mamsie was far away from her boys, +whom she had put at Dr. Marks' school for the +very purpose of achieving self-reliance and obedience +to the training of the little brown house. +So Davie, smothering his longing, got into a front +row with several boys of his set, and bent all his +attention to the game just beginning.</p> + +<p>Sharp at two o'clock the four went on to the +court—Joel and Fred Ricketson against Tom +Beresford and Lawrence Greene, otherwise +“Larry.” And amid howls of support from +the “rooters,” the game began.</p> + +<p>At first Joel's luck seemed to desert him, and +he played wild, causing much consternation in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> +the ranks violently rooting for him. David's +head sank, and he leaned his elbows on his +knees, to bury his hot cheeks in his hands.</p> + +<p>“Wake up,” cried Paul Sykes, his very particular +friend, hoarsely, giving him a dig in the +ribs. “Don't collapse, Dave.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” groaned David, his head sinking lower +yet, “I can't look; I simply can't. It will kill +Joel.”</p> + +<p>“Stiffen up!” cried Paul. “Joe's all right; +he'll come to. <i>Ha!</i>”</p> + +<p>A shout, stunning at first, that finally bore +down all before it in the shape of opposing enthusiasm, +swept over the whole yard. Screams of +applause, perfectly deafening, rent the air. And +look! even the visitors from St. Andrew's are +leaping to their feet, and yelling, “Good—good.” +Something quite out of the common, even in a +close tennis match, was taking place. David +shuddered, and crouched down on the ground as +far as he could. Paul gave him an awful whack +on the back.</p> + +<p>“You're losing it all,” he cried as he stood on +his tiptoes. “Hi! Hi! Tippety Rippety! Hi! +Hi!”</p> + +<p>It was Joel's especial yell; and there he was,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> +as David scrambled up to see him, head thrown +back, and black eyes shining in the way they always +did when he worked for Mamsie and Polly, +and that dealt despair to all opponents. He had +just made a brilliant stroke, returning one of +Larry's swiftest balls in such a manner that it +just skimmed over the net and passed the boys +before they could recover themselves, and fairly +taking off from their feet the St. Andrew's men +who had been misled by Joel's previous slow +playing in the first set, which Tom and Larry +had won.</p> + +<p>“Who is he? Gee Whiz! but that's good +form!” declared Vincent Parry, the St. Andrew's +champion, excitedly.</p> + +<p>“Pepper—don't you know Pepper?” cried a +dozen throats, trying to seem unconscious that it +was Parry, the champion, who was asking the +question.</p> + +<p>“Oh, is that Pepper?” said the St. Andrew's +boy. While “Pepper—Pepper. Hi! Hi! Tippety +Rippety! Hi! Hi!” rolled out, till there +wasn't any other sound to be heard. And a +regular tussle of boys were getting in the wildest +excitement when it was announced that Pepper +and Ricketson had won the second set, the referees<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> +trying to quiet them so that the game could +proceed.</p> + +<p>In the third set, Joel seemed to have it all his +own way, and fairly swept Ricketson along with +him. The excitement was now so intense that +the boys forgot to yell, afraid they would miss +some strokes.</p> + +<p>David clenched his hands tightly. The net +and flying balls spun all together inextricably before +his eyes as he strained them to see Joe's +brilliant returns. This was the deciding set, as +the cup was to go to the winners of two sets out +of three.</p> + +<p>Joel's last serve was what finished it; the ball +flashing by Tom with such impetus, that even +the St. Andrew's champion said he couldn't ever +have returned it.</p> + +<p>Everybody drew a long breath, and then the +crowd rushed and converged to Joel; surrounded +him, fighting for first place, the fortunate ones tossing +him up to their shoulders to race him in triumph +around the yard.</p> + +<p>“Take Ricket!” screamed Joel, red in the face. +“Take him!” he roared. “He beat too, as +much as I.” So a second group seized Fred; +and up he went to be trotted after, the crowd<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> +swarming alongside, yelling, tumbling over each +other,—gone perfectly wild; Joe waving the cup, +thrust into his hand, which would be kept by the +winners for a year.</p> + +<br /> + +<p>It was the middle of the night. Davie, flushed +with the happiest thoughts, had peacefully settled +to dreams in which Mamsie and Grandpapa, and +Polly and Jasper, and all the dear home people, +were tangled up. And Phronsie seemed to be +waving a big silver cup, and piping out with a +glad little laugh, “Oh, I am so glad!” And now +and then the scene of operations flew off to the +little brown house, that it appeared impossible to +keep quite out of dreamland. Some one gripped +him by the arm.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what is it, Joe?” David flew up to a +sitting posture in the middle of his bed.</p> + +<p>“It isn't Joe. Get up as quick as you +can.”</p> + +<p>David, with a dreadful feeling at his heart, +tumbled out of bed. “<i>Isn't Joe!</i>” he found +time to say, with a glance in the darkness over +toward Joel's bed.</p> + +<p>“Hurry up, don't stop to talk.” The voice +was Tom Beresford's. “Get on your clothes.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span></p> + +<p>Meantime he was scuffing around. “Where in +time are your shoes?” But David already had +those articles, and was pulling them on with hasty +fingers. “Oh, tell me,” he couldn't help crying; +but “Hurry up!” was all he got for his pains. +And at last, after what seemed an age to Tom, +David was piloted out into the hall, with many +adjurations to “go softly,” down the long flight +of stairs. Here he came to a dead stop. “I +can't go another single step, Tom,” he said firmly, +“unless you tell me what you want me for. And +where is Joel?” he gasped.</p> + +<p>“Oh, bother! in another minute you'd have +been outside, and then it would be safe to tell +you,” said Tom. “Well, if you will have it, +Dave, Joe's finishing up that business with Jenk, +and you're the only one that can stop it. Now +don't keel over.”</p> + +<p>David clung to the door, which Tom had managed +to open softly, and for a minute it looked +as if Beresford would have his hands full without +in the least benefiting Joel. But suddenly +he straightened up. “Oh, tell me where he is,” +he cried, in a manner and voice exactly like Polly +when she had anything that must be done set +before her. And clear ahead of his guide when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> +Tom whispered, “Down in the pine grove,” +sped Davie on the very wings of the wind.</p> + +<p>“Gracious! Joel is nothing to Dave as a +sprinter,” said Tom to himself, as his long legs +got him over the ground in the rear.</p> + +<p>The two boys hugged the shadow of the tall +trees and dashed across the lawn to the shrubbery +beyond. Then it was but a breathing space, +and a few good leaps to the depths of the pine +grove. In the midst of this were two figures, +busily engaged in the cheerful occupation of fisticuffing +each other till the stronger might win.</p> + +<p>“<i>Joel!</i>” called David hoarsely, his breath +nearly spent as he dashed up.</p> + +<p>Joel, at this, wavered, and turned. Seeing +which, his antagonist dealt him a thwack that +made his head spin, and nearly lost him his +footing.</p> + +<p>“That was mean, Jenk!” exclaimed Beresford, +dashing up in time to see it. “You took advantage +when Joe was off guard,” he cried hotly.</p> + +<p>“No such thing,” roared Jenk, losing his head +at what now seemed an easy victory, “and I'll +settle with you when I get through with Joe, for +being such a mean sneak as to turn tell-tale, +Tom.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span></p> + +<p>“All right,” said Tom coolly. “Go it, Joe, +and pay him up. You've several scores to settle +now.”</p> + +<p>“Joel,” gasped Davie. “Oh Mamsie!” He +could get no further.</p> + +<p>Joel's hands, out once more in good fighting +trim, wavered again, and sank helplessly down +to his side.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” Tom groaned in amazement.</p> + +<p>“Hoh—hoh! you see how easy I could whip +him,” laughed Jenkins, raining down blows all +over Joel's figure, who didn't offer to stir.</p> + +<p>“See here you!” Tom fairly roared it out, +perfectly regardless of possible detection. “You +beastly coward!” And he jumped in between +Joel and his antagonist. “You may settle with +me now if you like.”</p> + +<p>“Stop, Tom.” Joel seized him from behind. +Tom, in a fury, turned to see his face working +dreadfully, while the brown hands gripped him +tightly. “I forgot—Mamsie wouldn't—like—you +mustn't, Tom. If you do, I'll scream for +John,” he declared suddenly.</p> + +<p>John, the watchman, being the last person +whom any of Dr. Marks' boys desired to see +when engaged in a midnight prank, Beresford<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> +backed away slowly from Jenkins, who was delighted +once more at the interruption, and fastened +his gaze on Joel. “Well, I never did, +Pepper!” he brought himself to say.</p> + +<p>“Tom,” said David brokenly, and getting over +to him to seize his hand, “don't you know our +Mamsie would feel dreadfully to see Joel doing +any such thing? Oh, she would, Tom,” as Beresford +continued to stare without a word.</p> + +<p>“Not to such a miserable beggar.” Tom at +last found his tongue, and pointed to Jenk.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, she would. It's just as bad in Joel,” +said Davie, shaking his head. Joel turned +suddenly, took two or three steps, then flung +himself down flat on his face on the pine +needles.</p> + +<p>“Well, get up,” said Tom crossly, running +over to him. “John will maybe get over here, +we've made so much noise. Hurry up, Joe, we +must all get back.”</p> + +<p>Joel, thus adjured, especially as David got +down on the ground, to put his arms around the +shaking shoulders, got up slowly. Then they +turned around to look for Jenkins. He was nowhere +to be seen.</p> + +<p>“Little coward!” exclaimed Tom between his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> +teeth. “Well, we'll have to skin it as best we +may back. <i>Here comes John!</i>”</p> + +<p>They could see his lantern moving around +among the trees; and dashing off, taking the +precaution to hug the shadow of the trees again, +they soon made the big door to the dormitory. +Tom reached it first, and turned the knob. “It's +locked,” he said. “The mean, beastly coward +has locked us out.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="III_A_NARROW_ESCAPE" id="III_A_NARROW_ESCAPE"></a>III A NARROW ESCAPE</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span></p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">J</span>oel, in such an emergency, wiped his black +eyes and looked up sharply. David sank +on the upper step.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, Tom,” cried Joel, crowding in between +Beresford and the door, “it can't be. Get +out of the way; let me try.”</p> + +<p>“It is—it is, I tell you,” howled Tom in what +was more of a whine, as he kept one eye out for +John and his lantern. “The mean sneak has +got the best of us, Joe.” He set his teeth hard +together, and his face turned white.</p> + +<p>Joe dropped the doorknob, and whirled off +the steps.</p> + +<p>“Julius Cæsar! where are you going?” began +Tom, as Joel disappeared around the corner of +the dormitory.</p> + +<p>“He's gone to see if John is coming, I suppose,” +said Davie weakly.</p> + +<p>Tom, preferring to see for himself, skipped off, +and disappeared around the angle. “Oh—oh!”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> +was what David heard next, making him fly from +his step to follow in haste.</p> + +<p>What he saw was so much worse than all his +fears as Tom gripped his arm pointing up over +his head, that he screamed right out, “Oh Joe, +come back, you'll be killed!”</p> + +<p>“He can't come back,” said Tom hoarsely. +“He'd much better go on.” Joel, more than +halfway up the lightning conductor, was making +good time shinning along. He turned to say, +“I'm all right, Dave,” as a window above them +was thrown up, and a head in a white nightcap +was thrust out.</p> + +<p>“It's all up with him now; there's old Fox,” +groaned Tom, ducking softly back over the grass. +“Come on, Dave.”</p> + +<p>But David, with clasped hands and white face, +had no thought of deserting Joel.</p> + +<p>The person in the window, having the good +sense to utter no exclamation, waited till Joel +was up far enough for her to grasp his arm. +Then she couldn't help it as she saw his face.</p> + +<p>“<i>Joel Pepper!</i>”</p> + +<p>“Yes'm,” said Joel, turning his chubby face +toward her. “I knew I could get up here; it's +just as easy as anything.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Fox set her other hand to the task of +helping him into the dimly lighted hall, much to +Joel's disgust, as he would much have preferred +to enter unassisted. Then she turned her cap-frills +full on him, and said in a tone of great displeasure, +“What <i>is</i> the meaning of all this?”</p> + +<p>“Why, I had to go out, Mrs. Fox.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Oh—I—I—had to.”</p> + +<p>She didn't ask him again, for the matron was +a woman of action, and in all her dealings with +boys had certain methods by which she brought +them to time. So she only set her sharp eyes, +that Dr. Marks' pupils always called “gimlets,” +full upon him. “Go to your room,” was all she +said.</p> + +<p>“Oh Mrs. Fox,” cried Joel, trying dreadfully +to control himself, and twisting his brown hands +in the effort, “I—I—had to go. Really I did.”</p> + +<p>“So you said before. <i>Go to your room.</i>” Then +a second thought struck her. “Was any other +boy with you?” she demanded suddenly.</p> + +<p>Joel gave a sharp cry of distress as he started +down the hall, revolving in his mind how he +would steal down and unlock the door as soon +as the matron had taken herself off.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span></p> + +<p>“Here, stop—come back here! Now answer +me—yes or no—was any other boy with you?” +as Joel stood before her again.</p> + +<p>Joel's stubby black curls dropped so that she +couldn't see his face. As there was no reply +forthcoming, Mrs. Fox took him by the arm. +“You needn't go to your room, Joel,” she said +sharply. “You may go to Coventry.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Mrs. Fox,” Joel burst out, “don't—don't +send me there.”</p> + +<p>“A boy who cannot answer me, is fit only for +Coventry,” said Mrs. Fox with great dignity, +despite the nightcap. “Wait here, Joel. I will +get my candle, and light you down.” She stepped +off to a corner of the hall, where she had set the +candlestick on a table, when startled by the +noise outside. “Now we will go.”</p> + +<p>It was impossible that all this confusion should +not awake some of the boys in the hall; and by +this time there was much turning on pillows, and +leaning on elbows, and many scuttlings out of +bed to listen at doors opened a crack, so that +nearly every one of the occupants, on that particular +hall soon knew that “old Fox” had Joel +Pepper in her clutches, and that he was being +led off somewhere.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span></p> + +<p>And at last Joel let it out himself. “Oh Mrs. +Fox—dear Mrs. Fox, <i>don't</i> make me go to Coventry,” +he roared. He clutched her wrapper, a +big, flowered affair that she wore on such nocturnal +rambles, and held it fast. “I'll be just as +good,” he implored.</p> + +<p>“Coventry is the place for you, Joel Pepper,” +said Mrs. Fox grimly; “so we will start.”</p> + +<p>Meanwhile David, holding his breath till he +saw, in the dim light that always streamed out +from the dormitory hall where the gas was left +turned down at night, that Joel was safely drawn +in to shelter, frantically rushed around to the +big door, in the wild hope that somehow admittance +would be gained. “Joe will come by and +by,” he said to himself, sinking down on the steps.</p> + +<p>“We're done for,” said Tom's voice off in the +distance.</p> + +<p>“Oh Tom, are you there?” cried Davie, +straining his eyes to catch a glimpse.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” Tom poked his head out from a +clump of shrubbery. “Don't you dare to breathe. +I tell you, Dave, our only hope is in staying +here till morning.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed David in dismay.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” echoed Tom in derision. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> +was impossible for him to stop talking, he was +so keyed up. “It's paradise, I'm sure, compared +to being in old Fox's grip.”</p> + +<p>This brought David back to Joel's plight, and +he sighed dismally, and leant his head on his +hands. How long he sat there he couldn't have +told. The first thing he did know, a big hand +was laid on his shoulder, and a bright glare of +light fell full on his face.</p> + +<p>“Oh my soul and body!” cried John, the +watchman, bending over him, “if here ain't one +of th' boys dead asleep on the doorsteps!”</p> + +<p>“Little goose, to sit there!” groaned Tom, +huddling back into his bushes. “Now it's all up +with him. Well, I'll save my skin, for I don't +believe those boys will tell on me.”</p> + +<p>“Coventry” was a small square room in the +extension, containing a bed, a table, and a chair, +where the boys who were refractory were sent. +It was considered a great disgrace to be its inmate. +They were not locked in; but no boy +once put there was ever known to come out unless +bidden by the authorities. And no one, of +course, could speak to them when they emerged +from it to go to recitations, for their lessons must +be learned in the silence of this room. Then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> +back from the class-room the culprit must go to +this hated place, to stay as long as his misdemeanor +might seem to deserve.</p> + +<p>It was so much worse punishment than a flogging +could possibly be, that all Dr. Marks' boys +heard “Coventry” with a chill that stopped many +a prank in mid-air.</p> + +<p>But Joel didn't get into “Coventry” after all, +for at the foot of the stairs, another candle-beam +was advancing; and back of it was the thin, +sharp face of Mr. Harrow, one of the under-teachers.</p> + +<p>“Oh Mr. Harrow,” screamed Joel, breaking +away from the matron, to plunge up to him, +“she's going to put me into Coventry. Oh, +don't make me go there; it will kill my Mamsie, +and Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Hey?” Mr. Harrow came to a sudden stop, +and whirled the candlestick around to get a +better view of things. “What's this, Mrs. Fox? +And <i>Joel Pepper</i>, of all boys!”</p> + +<p>“I know it,” said Mrs. Fox, her candlestick +shaking in an unsteady hand. “Well, you see, +sir, I was going upstairs to see if little Fosdick +had blankets enough; it's turned cold, and you +know he's had a sore throat, and——”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, come to the point, Mrs. Fox,” said the +teacher, bringing her up quickly. Joel clung +desperately to his hand, shaking violently in +every limb.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, sir—well, and I heard a noise outside, +so I bethought me to look, and there was +this boy climbing up the lightning conductor.”</p> + +<p>“Up the lightning conductor?” echoed Mr. +Harrow.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,”—Mrs. Fox's cap-frills trembled +violently as she nodded,—“Joel Pepper was +climbing up the lightning conductor, sir. And +I thought I should have dropped to see him, +sir.”</p> + +<p>The under-teacher turned and surveyed Joel. +“Well, I think, Mrs. Fox,” he said slowly, “if +he's been over that lightning conductor to-night, +we won't put him in Coventry.”</p> + +<p>“He wouldn't answer when I asked him if +any other boys were there,” said the matron, a +dull red spot coming on either cheek.</p> + +<p>“That's bad—very bad,” said Mr. Harrow. +“Well, I'll take Joel under my care. Do you go +to bed, Mrs. Fox.”</p> + +<p>It was all done in a minute. Somehow Mrs. +Fox never quite realized how she was left standing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> +alone. And as there really wasn't anything +else for her to do, she concluded to take the +under-teacher's advice.</p> + +<p>“Now, Joel,”—Mr. Harrow looked down at +his charge,—“you seem to be left for me to +take care of. Well, suppose you come into my +room, and tell me something about this affair.”</p> + +<p>Joel, with his heart full of distress about +David and Tom, now that the immediate cause +of alarm over his being put into “Coventry” +was gone, could scarcely conceal his dismay, as +he followed Mr. Harrow to his room. He soon +found himself on a chair; and the under-teacher, +setting his candlestick down, took an opposite +one.</p> + +<p>“Do you mind telling me all about this little +affair of yours, Joe?” said Mr. Harrow, leading +off easily. His manner, once away from the +presence of the matron, was as different as possible; +and Joel, who had never met him in just +this way, stared in amazement.</p> + +<p>“You see, Joe,” the under-teacher went on, +and he began to play with some pencils on the +table, “it isn't so very long ago, it seems to me, +since I was a boy. And I climbed lightning +conductors too. I really did, Joel.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span></p> + +<p>Joel's black eyes gathered a bright gleam in +their midst.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and at night, too,” said the under-teacher +softly, “though I shouldn't want you to +mention it to the boys. So now, if you wouldn't +mind, Joel, I should really like to hear all about +this business of yours.”</p> + +<p>But Joel twisted his hands, only able to say, +“Oh dear! I can't tell, Mr. Harrow.” His distress +was dreadful to see.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the under-teacher slowly, “perhaps +in the morning you'll feel better able to +tell. I won't press it now. You must get to +bed, Joe,” with a keen look at his face.</p> + +<p>“Oh Mr. Harrow—would you—would you—” +Joel jumped out of his seat, and over to +the under-teacher's chair.</p> + +<p>“Would I what?” asked Mr. Harrow in perplexity, +wishing very much that “Mamsie,” +whom he had seen on her visits to the school, +were there at that identical moment.</p> + +<p>“Would you—oh, might I unlock the—the +back door?” gasped Joel, his black eyes very big +with distress.</p> + +<p>“Unlock the back door?” repeated Mr. Harrow. +Then he paused a moment. “Certainly;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> +I'll go with you.” He got out of his +chair.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, sir,” cried Joel tumbling back, “I'll—I'll +do it alone if I may; please, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, Joel, that can't ever be allowed,” +Mr. Harrow was saying decidedly, when steps +were heard coming down the hall, and there was +John, the watchman, hauling David Pepper along +the dimly lighted hall to the extra gleam of the +under-teacher's room.</p> + +<p>“I found this boy asleep on the steps,” announced +John, coming in with his charge.</p> + +<p>“Why, David Pepper!” exclaimed Mr. Harrow +in astonishment. Then he turned a cold +glance on Joel, who flew over to Davie's side.</p> + +<p>“Joel!” cried David convulsively, and blinking +dreadfully as he came into the light. “Oh, +I'm so glad you're safe—oh, so glad, Joey!” +He hid his face on Joel's arm, and sobbed.</p> + +<p>“You may go, John,” said the under-teacher +to that individual, who kept saying, “I found that +boy asleep on the steps,” over and over, unable +to stop himself. “And don't say anything about +this to any one. I will take care of the matter.”</p> + +<p>“All right, sir,” said John, glad to be relieved +of all responsibility, and touching his cap. “I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> +found that boy asleep on the steps,” he added as +he took himself off.</p> + +<p>“Now, see here.” Mr. Harrow laid his hand +on David's shoulder, ignoring Joel for the time, +and drew him aside. “The whole of this business +must be laid before me, David. So +begin.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Dave!” cried Joel, springing up to him. +“Oh, sir—oh, Mr. Harrow, it was all my fault, +truly it was. David only came after me. Oh +Mr. Harrow, don't make him tell.”</p> + +<p>“You go and sit down in that chair, Joel,” +said Mr. Harrow, pointing to it. So Joel went, +and got on it, twisting miserably.</p> + +<p>“Now, then, David.”</p> + +<p>“You see,” said David, the tears still rolling +down his cheeks, “that—oh dear!—Joel was +gone, and—”</p> + +<p>“How did you know Joel was gone?” interrupted +the under-teacher.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” David caught his breath. “Another +boy told me, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>David hesitated. “Must I tell, sir?” not +trusting himself to look at Joel.</p> + +<p>“Certainly.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span></p> + +<p>“Tom Beresford.”</p> + +<p>“Ugh!” Joel sprang from his chair. “He +hadn't anything to do with it, sir. Tom has been +awfully good. He only told Dave.”</p> + +<p>“Go back to your chair, Joel,” said Mr. Harrow. +“Now, then, David, go on. So you went +out with Beresford to find Joel, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” said David faintly.</p> + +<p>“Any other boy?” asked the under-teacher +quickly.</p> + +<p>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, Tom is waiting out there, I suppose, +now.” Mr. Harrow got out of his chair.</p> + +<p>“He didn't have anything to do with it, sir,” +cried Joel wildly, and flying out of his chair +again, “truly he didn't.”</p> + +<p>“I understand.” Mr. Harrow nodded. “I'm +going to bring him in. Now it isn't necessary to +tell you two boys not to do any talking while I'm +gone.” With that he went over to a corner, +took down a lantern, lighted it, and passed +out.</p> + +<p>When he came back, both Joel and David +knew quite well by Tom's face, that the whole +story was out; and Joel, who understood as well +as any one that Floyd Jenkins never by any possibility<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> +could be a favorite with instructors, any +more than with the boys, unless he changed his +whole tactics, groaned again at thought that he +had made matters worse for him.</p> + +<p>“Now all three of you scatter to bed,” was all +the under-teacher said as he came in with Tom. +“No talking now; get up as softly as you can. +Good night.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="IV_OF_VARIOUS_THINGS" id="IV_OF_VARIOUS_THINGS"></a>IV OF VARIOUS THINGS</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span></p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>nd the next day, the story which flew all +over the yard, how that Joel Pepper was +“put into Coventry” last night, was overtaken +and set right.</p> + +<p>“Huh! there, now you see,” cried Van Whitney, +coming out of his rage. He had cried so +that his eyes were all swollen up, and he was a +sight to behold. Percy, too miserable to say anything, +and wishing he could ever cry when he +felt badly, had slunk out of sight, to bear the +trouble as well as he might. Now he came up +bright and smiling. “Yes, now you see,” he +cried triumphantly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I hope that mean beggar Jenk will be +expelled.” There appeared to be but one voice +about it.</p> + +<p>“Well, he won't,” said Van.</p> + +<p>“Won't? Why not?” The boys crowded +around him on the playground, all games being +deserted for this new excitement. “Why not, +pray tell?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span></p> + +<p>“Of course he will,” said one boy decidedly. +“Dr. Marks never'll keep him after this.”</p> + +<p>“Yes he will too,” roared Van, glad he could +tell the news first, but awfully disappointed that +it must be that Jenkins was to stay, “for Joel +got Dr. Marks to promise there shouldn't anything +be done to Jenk. So there now!”</p> + +<p>“What, not after locking that door! That was +the worst.” The boys, two or three of them, +took up the cry, “'Twas beastly mean.”</p> + +<p>“Contemptible! Just like Jenk!” went all +over the playground.</p> + +<p>“Well, he isn't to go,” repeated Van with a +sigh; “and Joel says he was as bad, because he +went out at night to fight.”</p> + +<p>“Why, he had to; Jenk dared him. And he +couldn't have it out in the dormitory; you know +he couldn't, Whitney,” said one of the boys in +surprise.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear! I know,” said Van helplessly. +“Well, Joel says it's no matter that the racket +was stolen out of his room, and—”</p> + +<p>“No matter!” ejaculated the boys, a whole +crowd of them swarming around him, “well, if +that isn't <i>monstrous</i>!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Joel's afraid that Dr. Marks will expel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> +Jenk,” Percy, very uncomfortable to have Joel +blamed, made haste to say. “Don't you see?”</p> + +<p>“Well, he ought to be turned out,” declared +one boy decidedly. “Never mind, we'll make it +so hot for that Jenk, he'll want to go.”</p> + +<p>“No, you mustn't,” declared Percy, now very +much alarmed. “Oh, no, you mustn't, Hobbs; +because, if you do, Joel won't like it. Oh, he'll +be so angry! He won't like it a bit, I tell you,” +he kept saying.</p> + +<p>The idea of Joel's not liking it, seemed to take +all the fun out of the thing; so Hobbs found himself +saying, “Well, all right, I suppose we've got +to put up with the fellow then. But you know +yourself, Whitney, he's a mean cad.”</p> + +<p>There seemed to be but one opinion about that. +But the fact remained that Jenkins was still to +be one of them, to be treated as well as they +could manage. And for the next few days, Joel +had awfully hard work to be go-between for all +the crowd, and the boy who had made it hard +for him.</p> + +<p>“You'll have to help me out, Tom,” he said +more than once in despair.</p> + +<p>“Pretty hard lines,” said Tom. Then the +color flew all over his face. “I suppose I really<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> +ought, for you know, Pepper, I told you I wanted +at first that you should lose your racket.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind that now, Tom,” said Joel +brightly, and sticking out his brown hand. +“You've been awfully good ever since.”</p> + +<p>“Had to,” grunted Tom, hanging to the hand, +“when I saw how mean the beggar was.”</p> + +<p>“And but for you I should never have found +the racket, at least not in time.” Joel shivered, +remembering the close call he had had from +losing the game.</p> + +<p>Tom shivered too, but for a different cause. +“If I hadn't told him, I'd always have hated +myself,” he thought.</p> + +<p>“Well, Joe, I wouldn't after this give away a +racket. Now you see if you hadn't bestowed +your old one on that ragamuffin in town, you +wouldn't have been in such a scrape.” Tom +tried to turn it off lightly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that made no difference,” Joel made +haste to say, “'cause I could have borrowed another. +But I'd got used to my new one. Besides, +Grandpapa sent it to me to practise with +for this game, and I really couldn't have done +so well without it.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know—I know,” said Tom remorsefully,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> +“and that's what Jenk knew, too, the beggar!”</p> + +<p>“Well, it's all over now,” said Joel merrily, +“so say no more about it.”</p> + +<p>But it wasn't all over with Jenkins; and he resolved +within himself to pay Joel Pepper up sometime, +after the boys had forgotten a little about +this last exploit, if they ever did.</p> + +<p>And that afternoon Joel staid in, foregoing all +the charms of a ball game, to write Mamsie a +complete account of the affair, making light of +the other boys' part in it, and praising up Tom +Beresford to the skies. “And oh, Mamsie,” +Joel wrote over and over, “Dave didn't have +anything to do with it—truly he didn't. And +Mr. Harrow is just bully,” he wrote,—then +scratched it out although it mussed the letter up +dreadfully—“he's fine, he is! And oh, I like +Dr. Marks, ever so much, I do”—till Mrs. +Fisher had a tolerably good idea of the whole +thing.</p> + +<p>“I'm not sorry, Adoniram,” she said, after Dr. +Fisher had read the letter at least twice, and then +looked over his spectacles at her keenly, “that I +agreed with Mr. King that it was best that the +boys should go away to school.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span></p> + +<p>“Now any other woman,” exclaimed the little +doctor admiringly, “would have whimpered right +out, and carried on dreadfully at the least sign +of trouble coming to her boy.”</p> + +<p>“No, I'm not a bit sorry,” repeated Mrs. +Fisher firmly, “for it's going to be the making +of Joel, to teach him to take care of himself. +And I'd trust him anywhere,” she added proudly.</p> + +<p>“So you may; so you may, my dear,” declared +the little doctor gaily. “And I guess, if the truth +were told, that Joel's part in this whole scrape +hasn't been such a very bad one after all.”</p> + +<p>Which came to be the general view when Dr. +Marks' letter arrived, and one from the under-instructor +followed, setting things in the right +light. And although old Mr. King was for going +off directly to interview the master, with +several separate and distinct complaints and criticisms, +he was at last persuaded to give up the +trip and let matters work their course under the +proper guidance at the school.</p> + +<p>“So, Polly, my child,” he said on the following +day, when the letters were all in, “I believe I'll +trust Dr. Marks, after all, to settle the affair. +He seems a very good sort of a man, on the whole, +and I really suppose he knows what to do with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> +a lot of boys; though goodness me! how he can, +passes my comprehension. So I am not going.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Grandpapa!” exclaimed Polly, the color +flooding her cheek, and she seized his hand in a +glad little way.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I really see no necessity for going,” +went on the old gentleman, much as if he were +being urged out of his way to set forth; “so I +shall stay at home. Joel can take care of himself. +I'd trust him anywhere,” he brought up, +using the same words that Mother Fisher had +employed.</p> + +<p>“Wouldn't you, Grandpapa!” cried Polly with +sparkling eyes, and clinging to him.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Polly, my child,” said Grandpapa emphatically, +“because, no matter into what mischief +Joe may get, he always owns up. Goodness +me! Polly, that boy can't go very far wrong, +with such a mother as you've got.”</p> + +<p>Alexia Rhys, running through the wide hall, +came upon the two. “Oh, beg pardon, and may +we girls have Polly?” all in the same breath.</p> + +<p>“Get away with you,” laughed old Mr. King, +who had his own reasons for liking Alexia, “that's +the way you always do, trying to get Polly Pepper +away when we are having a good talk.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” exclaimed Alexia, doing her best +to curb her impatience, and pinching her hands +together, “we did so want—”</p> + +<p>“I can't go now, Alexia,” said Polly, still clinging +to Mr. King's hand.</p> + +<p>Grandpapa sent a keen glance over into Alexia's +face. “I think you better go, Polly,” he said. +“You and I will have our talk later.”</p> + +<p>“Oh goody!” cried Alexia, hopping up and +down. And “Oh Grandpapa!” reproachfully +from Polly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Polly, it's best for you to go with the +girls now,” said old Mr. King, gently relinquishing +her hands, “so run along with you, child.” +And he went into the library.</p> + +<p>“Come right along,” cried Alexia gustily, and +pulling Polly down the hall.</p> + +<p>“There now, you see, you've dragged me away +from Grandpapa,” cried Polly in a vexed way.</p> + +<p>“Well, he said you were to go,” cried Alexia, +perfectly delighted at the result. “Oh, we're to +have such fun! You can't think, Polly Pepper.”</p> + +<p>“Of course he did, when you said the girls +wanted me,” said Polly, half determined, even +then, to run back. “I'd much rather have staid +with him, Alexia.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, you can't, because he said you were to +come; and besides, here are the girls.” And there +they were on the back porch, six or eight of them +in a group.</p> + +<p>“Oh Polly, Polly!” they cried, “are you coming—can +you really go?” swarming around her. +“And do get your hat on,” said Clem Forsythe +“and hurry up.”</p> + +<p>“Where are you going?” asked Polly.</p> + +<p>“The idea! Alexia Rhys, you are a great one +to send after her,” cried Sally Moore. “Not even +to tell her where we are going, or what we want +her for!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I got her here, and that is half of the +battle,” said Alexia, in an injured way; “and +my goodness me! Polly won't hardly speak to +me now; and you may go yourself after her next +time, Sally Moore.”</p> + +<p>“There, girls, don't fight,” said Clem sweetly. +“Polly, we are going out to Silvia Horne's. Mrs. +Horne has just telephoned to see if we'll come +out to supper. Come, hurry up; we want to +catch the next car. She says she'll send somebody +home with us.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, do hurry,” begged the girls, hopping +up and down on anxious feet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span></p> + +<p>“I must ask Mamsie,” said Polly. “Oh, how +perfectly splendid!” running off with a glad remembrance +of lessons all ready for the next day. +“Now how nice it is that Mamsie always made +me get them the first thing,” she reflected as she +sped along.</p> + +<p>Mamsie said “yes,” for she well knew that +Mrs. Horne was a careful person, and when she +promised anything it was always well done. +“But brush your hair, Polly,” she said, “it looks +very untidy flying all over your head.”</p> + +<p>So Polly rushed off to her own room; Alexia, +who didn't dare to trust her out of her sight, at +her heels, to get in the way, and hinder dreadfully +by teasing Polly every minute to “hurry—we'll +lose the train.”</p> + +<p>“Where are you going, Polly?” asked Phronsie, +hearing Alexia's voice; and laying down her doll, +she went into the blue and white room that was +Polly's very own. “Oh, may I go too?” as +Polly ran to the closet to get out her second-best +hat.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” began Alexia.</p> + +<p>“No, Pet,” said Polly, her head in the closet. +“Oh my goodness! where <i>is</i> that hat?”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” exclaimed Alexia, wringing her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span> +hands, “we'll be late and miss the train. Do +hurry, Polly Pepper.”</p> + +<p>“I'll find it, Polly,” said Phronsie, going to the +closet and getting down on her knees, to peer +around.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it wouldn't be on the floor, Phronsie,” +began Polly. “Oh dear me! where <i>can</i> it be?”</p> + +<p>“Here it is,” cried Alexia, “behind the bed.” +And running off, she picked it up, and swung it +over to Polly.</p> + +<p>“Goodness me!” said Polly with a little laugh, +“I remember now, I tossed it on the bed, I +thought. Well, I'm ready now, thank fortune,” +pinning on her hat. “Good-bye, Pet.”</p> + +<p>“I am so very glad it is found, Polly,” said +Phronsie, getting up on tiptoe to pull Polly's hat +straight and get another kiss.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Polly,” called Alexia, flying over +the stairs. “Yes, yes, girls, she's coming! Oh +dear me, Polly, we'll be late!”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="V_AT_SILVIA_HORNES" id="V_AT_SILVIA_HORNES"></a>V AT SILVIA HORNE'S</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span></p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">B</span>ut they weren't—not a bit of it—and had +ten minutes to spare as they came rushing +up to the station platform.</p> + +<p>“Oh, look—look, girls.” Polly Pepper pointed +up to the clock, pushing back the damp rings of +hair from her forehead. “Oh dear me—I'm so +hot!”</p> + +<p>“And so am I,” panted the other girls, dashing +up. One of them sank down on the upper +step, and fanned herself in angry little puffs +with her hat, which she twitched off for that +purpose.</p> + +<p>“Just like you, Alexia,” cried one when she +could get her breath, “you're always scaring us +to death.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm sure I was scared myself, Clem,” +retorted Alexia, propping herself against the +wall. “Oh dear! I can't breathe; I guess I'm +going to die—whew, whew!”</p> + +<p>As Alexia made this statement quite often on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> +similar occasions, the girls heard it with the air +of an old acquaintance, and straightened their +coats and hats, and pulled themselves into shape +generally.</p> + +<p>“Oh my goodness, how you look, Sally! Your +hat is all over your left eye.” Alexia deserted +her wall, and ran over to pull it straight.</p> + +<p>“You let me be,” cried Sally crossly, and twitching +away. “If it hadn't been for you, my hat +would have staid where I put it. I'll fix it myself.” +She pulled out the long pin.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me! now the head has come off,” +she mourned.</p> + +<p>“Oh my goodness! Your face looks the worst—isn't +it sweet!” cried Alexia coolly, who hadn't +heard this last.</p> + +<p>“Don't, Alexia,” cried Polly, “she's lost her +pin.”</p> + +<p>“Misery!” exclaimed Alexia, starting forward, +“oh, where, where—”</p> + +<p>“It isn't the pin,” said Sally, holding that out, +“but the head has flown off.” She jumped off +from the step and began to peer anxiously around +in the dirt, all the girls crowding around and +getting dreadfully in the way.</p> + +<p>“What pin was it, Sally?” asked Polly, poking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> +into a tuft of grass beneath the steps, “your +blue one?”</p> + +<p>“No; it was my best one—oh dear me!” +Sally looked ready to cry, and turned away so +that the girls couldn't see her face.</p> + +<p>“Not the one your aunt gave you, Sally!” +exclaimed Clem.</p> + +<p>“Yes—yes.” Sally sniffed outright now. “Oh +dear! I put it in because—because—we were +going to Silvia's—oh dear me!”</p> + +<p>She gave up now, and sobbed outright.</p> + +<p>“Don't cry, Sally,” begged Polly, deserting her +grass-tuft, to run over to her. “We'll find it.” +Alexia was alternately picking frantically in all +the dust-heaps, and wringing her hands, one eye +on the clock all the while.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, you won't,” whimpered Sally. “It +flew right out of my hand, and it's gone way off—I +know it has—oh dear!” and she sobbed +worse than ever.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps one of those old hens will pick it +up,” suggested Lucy Bennett, pointing across the +way to the station master's garden, where four or +five fowl were busily scratching.</p> + +<p>“Oh—oh!” Sally gave a little scream at +that, and threw herself into Polly Pepper's arms.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> +“My aunt's pin—and she told me—to be careful, +and she won't—won't ever give me anything +else, and now those old hens will eat it. +Oh <i>dear</i> me! what shall I do?”</p> + +<p>“How can you, Lucy, say such perfectly dreadful +things?” cried Polly. “Don't cry, Sally. +Girls, do keep on looking for it as hard as you +can. Sally, do stop.”</p> + +<p>But Sally was beyond stopping. “She told—told +me only to wear it Sundays, and with my +best—best dress. Oh, do give me your handkerchief, +Polly. I've left mine home.”</p> + +<p>So Polly pulled out her clean handkerchief +from her coat pocket, and Sally wiped up her +face, and cried all over it, till it was a damp +little wad; and the girls poked around, and +searched frantically, and Alexia, one eye on the +clock, exclaimed, “Oh, girls, it's time for the +train. Oh misery me! what <i>shall</i> we do?”</p> + +<p>“And here it comes!” Lucy Bennett screamed.</p> + +<p>“Stick on your hat, Sally, you've the pin part. +Come, hurry up!” cried the others. And they all +huddled around her.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can't go,” began Sally.</p> + +<p>“You must,” said Clem; “we've telephoned +back to Mrs. Horne we're coming. Do stick on +your hat, Sally Moore.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span></p> + +<p>Alexia was spinning around, saying over and +over to herself, “I won't stay back—I won't.” +Then, as the train slowly rounded the long curve +and the passengers emerged from the waiting-room, +she rushed up to the knot of girls. “Go +along, Sally Moore, and I'll stay and hunt for +your old pin,” just as some one twitched Sally's +hat from her fingers and clapped it on her head.</p> + +<p>“Oh my goodness me!” Alexia gave a little +scream, and nearly fell backward. “Look—it's +on your own head! Oh, girls, I shall die.” She +pointed tragically up to the hat, then gave a +sudden nip with her long fingers, and brought +out of a knot of ribbon, a gilt, twisted affair with +pink stones. “You had it all the time, Sally +Moore,” and she went into peals of laughter.</p> + +<p>“Well, do stop; everybody's looking,” cried the +rest of the girls, as they raced off to the train, +now at a dead stop. Sally, with her hat crammed +on her head at a worse angle than ever, only +realized that she had the ornament safely clutched +in her hand.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can't help it,” exclaimed Alexia gustily, +and hurrying off to get next to Polly. “Oh dear +me!—whee—<i>whee</i>!” as they all plunged into +the train.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span></p> + +<p>When they arrived at Edgewood, there was a +carriage and a wagonette drawn up by the little +station, and out of the first jumped Silvia, and +following her, a tall, thin girl who seemed to have +a good many bracelets and jingling things.</p> + +<p>“My cousin, Kathleen Briggs. She just came +to-day,” said Silvia, “while I was at school, and +so mother thought it would be nice to have you +girls out to supper, 'cause they're only going to +stay till to-morrow. Oh, it's so fine that you've +come! Well, come and get in. Polly, you're +going in the carriage with Kathleen and me. +Come on.”</p> + +<p>Alexia crowded up close behind.</p> + +<p>“I'm going with Polly Pepper, this time,” announced +Sally, pushing in between; “Alexia always +gets her.”</p> + +<p>“Well, she's my very dearest friend,” said +Alexia coolly, and working her long figure up +close to Polly, as Silvia led her off, “so of course +I always must go with her.”</p> + +<p>“Well, so she is our very dearest friend, too, +Alexia Rhys,” declared Clem, “and we're going +to have her sometimes, ourselves.” And there +they were in a dreadful state, and Silvia's cousin, +the new girl, to see it all!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span></p> + +<p>She jingled her bracelets, and picked at the +long chain dangling from her neck, and stared at +them all.</p> + +<p>“Oh my goodness!” exclaimed Polly Pepper +with very red cheeks. “Alexia, don't—don't,” +she begged.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't care,” said Alexia recklessly, +“the girls are always picking at me because I +will keep next to you, Polly, and you're my very +dearest friend, and——”</p> + +<p>“But Sally had such a fright about her pin,” +said Polly in a low tone. Alexia was crowded +up close and hugging her arm, so no one else +heard.</p> + +<p>“Well, that old pin dropped in the ribbon; she +had it herself all the time, oh dear!” Alexia +nearly went off again at the remembrance.</p> + +<p>“She felt badly, all the same,” said Polly +slowly. She didn't even smile, and Alexia could +feel that the arm was slipping away from her.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” she began, then she dropped +Polly Pepper's arm. “Sally, you may go next,” +she cried suddenly, and she skipped back into +the bunch of the other girls.</p> + +<p>Polly sent her an approving little nod, and she +didn't fail to smile now. Alexia ran over to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> +wagonette, and hopped in, not daring to trust +herself to see Sally Moore's satisfaction ahead in +the coveted seat.</p> + +<p>The other girls jumping in, the wagonette was +soon filled, and away they spun for the two +miles over to the Hornes' beautiful place. And +before long, their respects having been paid to +Mrs. Horne, the whole bevy was up in Silvia's +pretty pink and white room overlooking the lake.</p> + +<p>“I think it's just too lovely for anything here, +Silvia Horne,” exclaimed Sally, whose spirits +were quite recovered now. She had her aunt's +pin all safe, and she had ridden up next to Polly. +“Oh girls, she has a new pincushion and cover.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, a whole new set,” said Silvia carelessly, +as the girls rushed over from the bed where they +were laying their things, to see this new acquisition +to the beautiful room.</p> + +<p>“Well, if I could have such perfectly exquisite +things,” breathed Alexia as they all oh-ed and +ah-ed over the pink ribbons and dainty lace, +“I'd be the very happiest girl.”</p> + +<p>Kathleen Briggs thrust her long figure in among +the bevy. “That toilet set is very pretty,” she +said indifferently and with quite a young-lady +air.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span></p> + +<p>“Very pretty!” repeated Alexia, turning her +pale eyes upon her in astonishment, “well, I +should think it was! It's too perfectly elegant +for anything!”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” Kathleen gave a little laugh. +“It's just nothing to the one I have on my toilet +table at home. Besides, I shall bring home some +Oriental lace, and have a new one: I'm going +around the world to-morrow, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Oh my goodness!” exclaimed Alexia faintly. +And the other girls fell back, and stared respectfully.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Kathleen, delighted at the effect +she had produced. “We start to-morrow, and +we don't know how long we shall be gone. Perhaps +two years. Papa says he'll stay if we want +to; but mamma and I may get tired and come +home.” She jingled her bracelets worse than +ever.</p> + +<p>“They've come to bid us good-bye, you see,” +said Silvia, to break the uncomfortable silence.</p> + +<p>“Oh yes,” said Polly Pepper.</p> + +<p>“Well, if you've got your things off, let's go +out of doors,” proposed Silvia suddenly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, do let's.” The girls drew a long breath +as they raced off.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span></p> + +<p>“I think that Kathleen Briggs is too perfectly +horrid for anything”—Alexia got up close to +Polly as they flew down the stairs—“with her +going round the world, and her sniffing at Silvia's +toilet set.”</p> + +<p>“Hush—hush!” whispered Polly, “she'll hear +you.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't care; and she's going round the +world to-morrow, so what does it signify?” said +Alexia. “Oh, don't go so fast, Polly. You most +made me tumble on my nose.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you mustn't come with me, then, if you +don't keep up,” said Polly, with a merry little +laugh, and hurrying on.</p> + +<p>“I'm going to keep up,” cried Alexia, dashing +after, “but you go so fast,” she grumbled.</p> + +<p>“We're going to have tea out on the lawn,” +announced Silvia in satisfaction, as the bevy +rushed out on the broad west piazza.</p> + +<p>The maids were already busily setting three +little tables, that were growing quite pretty under +their hands.</p> + +<p>“There will be four at each table,” said Silvia. +“Polly's going to sit with Kathleen and me, and +one other girl—I don't know which one yet,” +she said slowly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, choose me.” Alexia worked her way +along eagerly to the front. “I'm her dearest +friend—Polly's, I mean. So you ought to +choose me.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I sha'n't,” declared Silvia. “You +crowded me awfully at Lucy Bennett's party, +and kept close to Polly Pepper all the time.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that's because you would keep Polly +yourself. You crowded and pushed horribly +yourself, you know you did.” Her long face was +quite red now.</p> + +<p>“Well, I had to,” declared Silvia coolly. “At +any rate, you sha'n't have Polly to-day, for I've +quite decided. Clem, you shall have the other +seat at my table.”</p> + +<p>Clem hopped up and down and beat her hands +together in glee. “There, Alexia Rhys!” she +cried in triumph. “Who's got Polly Pepper +now, I'd like to know!”</p> + +<p>Alexia, much discomfited, fell back. “Well, I +think that's a great way to give a party,” she +said, “to get up a fight the first thing.”</p> + +<p>But Silvia and Kathleen had got Polly Pepper +one on each side, and were now racing down to +the lake. “We're going to have a sail,” called +Silvia over her shoulder, so they all followed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> +Alexia among the rest, with no time for anything +else. There was the steam launch waiting for +them.</p> + +<p>“Girls—girls!” Mrs. Horne called to them +from the library, “wait a moment. Mr. and +Mrs. Briggs are going too.”</p> + +<p>“Oh bother!” began Silvia. Then the color +flew into her face, for Kathleen heard.</p> + +<p>“I shall tell my mother what you said,” she +declared.</p> + +<p>“Dear me! no, you mustn't,” begged Silvia in +alarm.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I shall too.” Kathleen's bracelets +jingled worse than ever as she shook them out.</p> + +<p>“Well, I call that real hateful,” broke out +Silvia, a red spot on either cheek, “you know I +didn't mean it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you said it. And if you think it's a +bother to take my mother and father out on +your old launch, I sha'n't stop here and bring +you anything when I come home from around +the world.”</p> + +<p>Silvia trembled. She very much wanted something +from around the world. So she put her +arm about Kathleen. “Oh, make up now,” she +said. “They're coming,” as Mr. and Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> +Briggs advanced down the path. “Promise you +won't tell,” she begged.</p> + +<p>“Yes, do,” said Polly Pepper imploringly.</p> + +<p>So Kathleen promised, and everything became +quite serene, just in time for Mr. and Mrs. Briggs +to have the girls presented to them. And then +they all jumped into the steam launch, and the +men sent her into the lake, and everything was +as merry as could be under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>“I haven't got to go to school to-morrow,” +announced Silvia when they were well off. “Isn't +that too fine for anything, girls?”</p> + +<p>“Dear me! I should say so,” cried Alexia +enviously. “How I wish I could ever stay home! +But aunt is so very dreadful, she makes me go +every single day.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm going to stay home to bid Kathleen +good-bye, you know,” said Silvia.</p> + +<p>“You see we are going around the world,” +announced Mrs. Briggs. She was just like +Kathleen as far as mother and daughter could +be, and she had more jingling things on, besides +a long lace scarf that was catching in everything; +and she carried a white, fluffy parasol in her +hand. “And we've come to bid good-bye to +our relatives before we start. Kathleen, you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> +shouldn't have come out on the water without +your hat,” for the first time noticing her daughter's +bare head.</p> + +<p>“None of the girls have hats on,” said Kathleen, +shaking her long light braids.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't see how their mothers can allow +it,” exclaimed Mrs. Briggs, glancing around +on the group, “but I sha'n't let you, Kathleen. +Dear me! you will ruin your skin. Now you +must come under my parasol.” She moved up +on the seat. “Here, come over here.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I'm not going to,” cried Kathleen with a +grimace. “I can't see anything under that old +thing. Besides, I'm going to stay with the girls.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you must come under my parasol.” A +frown of real anxiety settled on her mother's face. +“You'll thank me by and by for saving your +complexion for you, Kathleen; so come over.”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Kathleen, hanging back, and holding +to Silvia's arm.</p> + +<p>“There's your veil, you know.” Mr. Briggs +hadn't spoken before, but now he edged up to +his wife. “It's in my pocket.”</p> + +<p>“So it is,” cried his wife joyfully, as Mr. +Briggs pulled out a long green tissue veil. “I +am so glad I had you bring it. Now, Kathleen,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> +tie this all over your head; your father will bring +it over to you. And next time, do obey me, and +wear your hat as I've always told you.”</p> + +<p>So Kathleen, not daring to hold back from +this command, but grumbling at every bit of the +process, tied on the veil, and then sat up very +cross and stiff through the rest of the sail.</p> + +<p>“I should rather never go around the world, +if I'd got to be tied up like an old green mummy +every step,” Alexia managed to whisper in Polly's +ear as they hopped out of the launch. And she +was very sweet to Kathleen after that, pitying +her dreadfully.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="VI_THE_ACCIDENT" id="VI_THE_ACCIDENT"></a>VI THE ACCIDENT</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“O</span>h dear me!” exclaimed Clem. They +were all on the cars—the early train—going +home; the governess, a middle-aged person +who looked after the younger Horne children +and who was going in to her sister's to pass the +night, taking care of the party. “Now I've got +to sit up till all hours when I get home, to get +my lessons.”</p> + +<p>Polly Pepper gave a comfortable little wriggle +under her coat. “Isn't it nice Mamsie makes +me get my lessons the first thing, before I play!” +she said to herself for about the fiftieth time.</p> + +<p>“So have I,” cried Lucy Bennett, echoing +Clem's words.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can't,” cried Alexia with a flounce, +“because my aunt won't let me sit up after nine +o'clock; that is, to study. So I have to get up +early in the morning. Oh dear!” with a grimace +at the thought.</p> + +<p>“So do I,” said Amy Garrett. “Dear me!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> +and I'm just as sleepy in the morning as I can +be.”</p> + +<p>Alexia yawned at the very memory of it. +“Well, don't let's talk of it,” she begged. +“Seems as if Miss Salisbury's eyes were all over +me now.”</p> + +<p>“I have Miss Anstice to-morrow,” said Amy, +“and it's the day for her black silk gown.”</p> + +<p>“Horrors!” exclaimed Alexia; and, “How do +you know she'll wear the black silk gown to-morrow, +Amy?” from the other girls.</p> + +<p>“Because she said Professor Mills from the +Institute is to be there to-morrow,” said Amy. +“He gives the art lecture to our class. And you +know the black silk gown will surely go on.”</p> + +<p>“There's no help for you, you poor child,” +cried Alexia, exulting that she never would be +gathered into Miss Anstice's class, and that she +just hated art and all that sort of thing, despite +the efforts of Miss Salisbury's younger sister to +get her interested. “Yes, that black silk gown +will surely be there. Look out now, Amy; all +you girls will catch it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know it,” said Amy with a sigh. “How +I do wish I never'd got into that class!”</p> + +<p>“Well, you know I told you,” said Alexia provokingly;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> +“you'd much better have taken my +advice and kept out of her clutches.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I had,” mourned Amy again.</p> + +<p>“How Miss Anstice can be so horrid—she +isn't a bit like Miss Salisbury,” said Alexia. “I +don't see—”</p> + +<p>“She isn't horrid,” began Polly.</p> + +<p>“Oh Polly!”</p> + +<p>“Well, not always,” said Polly.</p> + +<p>“Well, she is anyway when she has company, +and gets on that black silk gown; just as stiff and +cross and perky and horrid as can be.”</p> + +<p>“She wants you all to show off good,” said +Alexia. “Well, I'm glad enough I'm not in any +of her old classes. I just dote on Miss Salisbury.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Alexia, you worry the life out of her almost,” +said Sally.</p> + +<p>“Can't help it if I do,” said Alexia sweetly. +“I'm very fond of her. And as for Mademoiselle, +she's a dear. Oh, I love Mademoiselle, +too.”</p> + +<p>“Well, she doesn't love you,” cried Clem viciously. +“Dear me! fancy one of the teachers +being fond of Alexia!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you needn't laugh,” said Alexia composedly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> +as the girls giggled; “every single one of +those teachers would feel dreadfully if I left that +school. They would really, and cry their eyes +out.”</p> + +<p>“And tear their hair, I suppose,” said Clem +scornfully.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and tear their—why, what in this world +are we stopping for?” cried Alexia in one breath.</p> + +<p>So everybody else wondered, as the train gradually +slackened speed and came to a standstill. +Everybody who was going in to town to the theatre +or opera, began to look impatient at once.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” cried the girls who were going to +sit up to study, “now isn't this just as hateful as +it can be?”</p> + +<p>“I don't care,” said Alexia, settling comfortably +back, “because I can't study much anyway, +so I'd just as soon sit on this old train an hour.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Alexia!” exclaimed Polly in dismay, with +her heart full at the thought of Mamsie's distress, +and that of dear Grandpapa and Jasper. +Phronsie would be abed anyway by the time the +early train was in, so she couldn't worry. But +all the others—“Oh dear me!” she gasped.</p> + +<p>“Don't look so, Polly,” said Alexia, “we'll start +pretty soon, I guess.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span></p> + +<p>The governess, Miss Baker, came over from +the opposite seat to stand in the aisle. “I think +we'll start soon,” she said. But her eyes looked +worried.</p> + +<p>“What is it—oh, Miss Baker, what is the +reason we're stopping?” cried two or three of +the girls.</p> + +<p>“I don't know,” said the governess.</p> + +<p>A man coming in from outside, where a lot of +gentlemen were pouring out of the cars to investigate, +furnished the information.</p> + +<p>“Driving wheel broken,” he said, being sparing +of words.</p> + +<p>“Oh, can't we go out to see?” cried Alexia, +hopping out of her seat. “Come on,” and she +was prancing down the aisle.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed,” said Miss Baker in displeasure, +“and do you come directly back,” she commanded.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” grumbled Alexia to Sally, who +had tumbled out after her, “she's worse than +Miss Anstice—stiff, precise old thing!” She +came slowly back.</p> + +<p>“That a young lady under my care,” said Miss +Baker, lifting her black gloves in amazement, +“should so far forget herself as to want to run<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> +out on that track with a lot of men! I <i>am</i> astonished.”</p> + +<p>“There's a girl out there,” said Alexia, sinking +into her seat crossly, and peering over Polly +Pepper's head.</p> + +<p>“And there's another,” proclaimed Sally triumphantly.</p> + +<p>“Well, if they've forgotten themselves so far as +to go out there under such circumstances, I shall +not let any young lady in my care do it,” said +Miss Baker emphatically.</p> + +<p>So, swallowing their disappointment at not being +allowed to see all that presented itself, the +girls settled back and made themselves as comfortable +as possible. Meantime almost everybody +else poured out of their car. But it seemed +to Polly Pepper as if she never could keep still in +all this world. And she clasped her hands tightly +together and hoped nobody would speak to her +just yet.</p> + +<p>“Polly,”—Alexia gave a little push, as she +leaned over,—“isn't it perfectly dreadful to be +mewed up here in this way? Say, Polly, do +talk.”</p> + +<p>“Go right away, Alexia.” Polly gave a little +flounce, and sat quite straight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Alexia in astonishment, +and falling back.</p> + +<p>“And I wish you would let me alone,” cried +Polly, quite aghast at herself, but unable to stop.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” Alexia kept saying quite +faintly, and rolling her eyes.</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm glad Polly has made you behave +for once,” said Clem, who never could forgive +Alexia for getting Polly so much to herself.</p> + +<p>Alexia stopped saying, “Oh dear me!” and sat +quite still. Just then Polly turned and saw her +face.</p> + +<p>“Oh Alexia!” she cried, flying at her, when +an awful bump, and then another much worse, +and then a grinding noise, perfectly terrible,—and +everybody who was left in the car, went +tumbling out of their seats.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we're run into!” screamed half a dozen +of the girls. Miss Baker, who had been standing +in the aisle, was down in a heap on the floor.</p> + +<p>“Oh, oh!” Polly had her arms around Alexia +and was hugging her tightly. “Are you hurt?” +as they wriggled out of the bunch of girls into +which they had been precipitated, up to their feet.</p> + +<p>“N—no,” Alexia, tried to say. Instead, she +wobbled over, and laid her head on Polly's arm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span></p> + +<p>“Girls—girls—Miss Baker!” called Polly, not +seeing that lady, in the confusion of the other +passengers, staggering along the aisle, her bonnet +knocked over her eyes, and a girl on either hand +to help her along. “Clem—oh, somebody help +me! Alexia is hurt.” But nobody heard in the +general tumult.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear! Alexia, do open your eyes,” begged +Polly, quite gone now with distress. “And to +think I was so cross to her!” And she turned +quite white.</p> + +<p>“Dear, dear Alexia,” she cried; and because +there was nothing else to do, she leaned over and +dropped a kiss on Alexia's long face, and two +tears dropped down as well.</p> + +<p>Alexia opened her eyes. “That's very nice, +Polly,” she said, “do so some more.”</p> + +<p>“Aren't you ashamed!” cried Polly, the rosy +color coming back to her cheek. And then, remembering, +she hugged Alexia tightly. “Oh, +I'm so glad you're not hurt, Alexia, so very +glad!” she cried gratefully.</p> + +<p>“Ow!” exclaimed Alexia, shrinking back.</p> + +<p>“Oh, now you are hurt,” cried Polly. “Oh +Alexia!” And she turned very white again. +“Tell me where it is.” And just then some of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> +the girls rushed up with the news, corroborated +by the other passengers, that the down express +had run into them,—been signalled, but couldn't +stop in time, etc., etc.,—till Polly thought she +should go wild before the babel could be stopped. +“Don't crowd around so,” she cried hoarsely. +“Alexia is hurt.”</p> + +<p>“Alexia?” The noise, as far as Miss Salisbury's +girls were concerned, stopped at once; and +at last the other passengers were made to understand +how it was. And Alexia, quite faint now, +but having sense enough to hang to Polly Pepper's +hand, was laid across an improvised bed +made of two seats, and a doctor who happened +to be on the train, one of the party going in to +the theatre, came up, and looked her over professionally.</p> + +<p>“It's my arm,” said Alexia, opening her eyes +again; “it was doubled up someway under me. +Oh dear me! I'm so silly to faint.”</p> + +<p>“You're not silly at all,” cried Polly warmly, +and holding her well hand, while her eyes searched +the doctor's face anxiously. “Oh, is it broken?” +they asked, as plainly as possible.</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of it,” said the doctor cheerfully, +feeling it all over again to make quite sure, while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> +Alexia set her teeth together, trying not to show +how very much it hurt. “It's badly strained,—the +ligaments are;—but fortunately no bones +are broken.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” groaned Alexia. “Now why can't +it be broken?”</p> + +<p>“Oh Alexia!” cried Polly. And now the tears +that had been kept back, were rolling down her +cheeks. “I'm so happy, I can't help it,” she +said.</p> + +<p>“And the very idea, Alexia Rhys,” exclaimed +Clem, “to wish your arm had been broken!” and +she gave a little shiver.</p> + +<p>“It hurts just as much,” said Alexia, trying to +sit up straight, and making an awful face, “so +it might as well be. And I've never been in a +railroad accident. But a sprained arm isn't anything +to show; any baby can have that—oh +dear me!”</p> + +<p>“Well, you better lie still,” counselled Miss +Baker tartly. “Dear me! I little thought when +I took charge of you young ladies that any such +thing would occur.”</p> + +<p>“She acts as if she thought we did it on purpose,” +said Alexia, turning her face over to hide +it on Polly's arm again, and wishing her own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> +needn't ache so dreadfully. “Oh dear! such a +time as we've had, Polly Pepper, with those dreadful +Briggses,—I mean Mrs. Briggs,—and now +to be all banged up, and this cross old thing to +see us home! And now I never'll be able to get +through the term, 'cause I'll have to stay at home +with this old arm, and aunt will scold.” She +was quite out of breath with all her woes.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, you will,” cried Polly reassuringly, +“I'll run over every day, and study with you, +Alexia. And you'll soon be all well again. Don't +try to talk now, dear,” and she patted the poor +cheeks, and smoothed her hair. All the while +she was trying to keep down the worry over the +home-circle who would be thrown into the greatest +distress, she knew, if news of the accident +should reach their ears.</p> + +<p>“Can't somebody telephone them?” she cried; +“Oh, Miss Baker”—the doctor had rushed off +to other possible sufferers—“and tell them no +one is hurt;—I mean seriously?”</p> + +<p>“There is,” said the governess, quite calmly; +“a man has been killed.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!”</p> + +<p>“A brakeman,” Miss Baker hastened to add. +“Don't be frightened. None of the passengers.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span></p> + +<p>“Now I know he was brave, and trying to do +something to save us,” cried Polly, with kindling +eyes.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said a passenger, coming up to their +group, “he was running back with a lantern to +signal the train, and he slipped and fell, and the +express went over him. But it stopped just in +time for us.”</p> + +<p>“Oh the poor, poor man!” Polly was quite +gone by this time, and Alexia forgot her pain in +trying to comfort her.</p> + +<p>“But suppose he had children,” cried Polly, +“just suppose it, Alexia.”</p> + +<p>“I don't want to suppose it,” said Alexia, wriggling. +“Ugh! you do say such uncomfortable +things, Polly Pepper.”</p> + +<p>“I know it.” Polly swallowed hard, and held +Alexia's hand tighter than ever. “Well, I won't +talk of it any more.”</p> + +<p>The governess, who had moved away a bit, +now came back with vexation plainly written all +over her face. “I must go and see if there isn't +some way to get a message to Grandpapa King, +Alexia,” said Polly. “I'll be back as soon as I +can.” She dropped a kiss on the nearest cheek.</p> + +<p>“Don't be gone long,” begged Alexia.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span></p> + +<p>“I will go with you,” said the governess, stepping +off after her.</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said Polly, going swiftly down the +aisle, to see below the car steps a crowd of passengers +all in a tumult, and vociferating angrily. +In the midst of them, Polly saw the face of the +doctor who had just fixed Alexia's arm.</p> + +<p>“Oh sir,” she began.</p> + +<p>He looked up, and caught sight of the brown +eyes. “Is the little girl worse?” And he sprang +over toward her.</p> + +<p>Polly, not stopping to think how furious Alexia +would be, who was quite the tallest of their set, +to be designated as a little girl, made haste to +say, “Oh no, sir; but oh, could you tell me how +to let my grandpapa and my mother know we are +safe? Could you, sir?” Poor Polly, who had +held up so bravely, was clasping her hands tightly +together, and the brown eyes were full of tears.</p> + +<p>“Well, you see,” began the doctor, hating to +disappoint her, “it's a difficult matter to get in +communication with them at once. We are only +five miles out, but—”</p> + +<p>“Five miles?” echoed Polly. “Oh then, some +one can go to the nearest station, and telephone, +can't they, sir?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span></p> + +<p>“To be sure; and that's been done. But your +family, little girl—how can we reach them?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can run,” cried Polly happily, “to the +station myself, sir,” and she began to clamber +down the car steps.</p> + +<p>“Come back,” commanded the governess, lifting +her hands in horror. “I never heard of +such a thing. The very idea! What would your +grandfather, Mr. King, say to such a thing, Polly +Pepper?”</p> + +<p>“Mr. who?” cried the doctor. “Stay, little +girl,” seizing her arm. “Mr. who?” he demanded, +looking up to the governess on the car +steps.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Horatio King,” she replied with asperity, +“and you'd better be occupied with something +else, let me tell you, sir, instead of encouraging +his granddaughter to run off on such a wild-goose +errand as this.”</p> + +<p>“I certainly shall take pleasure in performing +the wild-goose errand myself,” he said. “Now +Polly, I'll send the message; don't you worry,” +and he sped off down the track.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="VII_THE_SALISBURY_GIRLS" id="VII_THE_SALISBURY_GIRLS"></a>VII THE SALISBURY GIRLS</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>nd then somebody rushed in, saying, +“We've another locomotive; now we're +going!” And everybody else who was outside +hurried into the cars; the new propelling power +was attached to the other end of the train, and +after a deal of switching, there they were at last—off +on the way home!</p> + +<p>Polly gave a long breath of relief, and clasped +Alexia's hand closely. “Oh, by this time they +know at home it's all right,” she cried.</p> + +<p>The doctor came smilingly down the aisle. +“Well,” he nodded to Polly. “Yes, it's all +right,” he said. “I must really call you Polly +Pepper now, for I know your grandfather, and +Dr. Fisher—well there! indeed I know him.”</p> + +<p>“Do you?” cried Polly with blooming cheeks, +well pleased to find a friend at such a time.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed. I'm fortunate enough to meet +him in hospital work. Now then, how is our +little friend here?” He leaned over, and touched +Alexia's arm lightly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, I'm all right,” she said.</p> + +<p>“That's good,” in a gratified tone. “Now +keep plucky, and you'll get out of this finely.” +Then he sat down on the arm of the seat, and +told such a funny story that no one supposed it +could be the home station when the train came +to a standstill, and he was helping Alexia out.</p> + +<p>“There now—drop Polly's hand, if you +please,” the doctor was saying; “I'll assist you.”</p> + +<p>“But I don't want to,” said Alexia, hanging to +it for dear life. “I want Polly.”</p> + +<p>“I presume so,” laughed the doctor, “but I +think it's best for me to help you.” Miss Baker +and all the girls crowded up in a bunch. “Easy +there,” he said. “Don't hurry so; there's plenty +of time.” And he got between them and Alexia's +lame arm.</p> + +<p>And there, down by the car steps—Polly +could see him as he waited for the stream of +passengers to get out—was Jasper, his eyes +eagerly searching every face, with an impatience +scarcely to be controlled. And back of him were +Dr. Fisher's big glasses, shining as the little doctor +pranced back and forth, unable to keep still.</p> + +<p>“There they are—there they are!” Polly exclaimed. +“Oh, if we could hurry and let them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> +know we're all right!” But they were wedged +in so, there was nothing to do but to take their +turn and let the passengers in front descend.</p> + +<p>“Jasper—oh, Papa Fisher!” At last Polly +was out on the platform where she stood on her +tiptoes and waved her hand.</p> + +<p>“Are you all right?” asked Jasper eagerly, +craning his neck to see for himself.</p> + +<p>“Yes—yes!” cried Polly. And then presently +they had her on either hand! “Oh, help +Alexia,” she cried, turning back.</p> + +<p>Dr. Fisher took one look through his big glasses. +“Well, well, Pennell,” he exclaimed, “you here?” +and he skipped over to them.</p> + +<p>“I really believe so,” laughed Dr. Pennell.</p> + +<p>“Dear me!” Little Dr. Fisher glanced at +Alexia quickly.</p> + +<p>“Nothing but sprained,” the other doctor said +quickly. “Still, it needs careful attention.”</p> + +<p>And then it came out that Alexia's aunt had +heard a chance word dropped about the accident, +and had run down to Mr. King's in her distress, +so she was there awaiting them; and the fathers +and brothers of the rest of the “Salisbury girls” +took off their charges, much to the relief of the +governess. So presently Jasper had his party all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> +settled in the carriage, Dr. Pennell saying, “Well, +I resign my responsibility about that arm to you, +Dr. Fisher.” He lifted his hat, and was off.</p> + +<p>“Oh, wait!” cried Polly in great distress as +Thomas was just starting off with a dash, “I +must speak to him.”</p> + +<p>“Polly—what is it?” cried Jasper. “Wait, +Thomas!” So Thomas pulled up.</p> + +<p>“I must—I must,” declared Polly. Her foot +was on the step, and she was soon out.</p> + +<p>“I'll go with you,” said Jasper, as she sped +down through the streams of people pouring +along the platform, to thread her way after the +tall figure, Jasper by her side. “Dr. Pennell—oh, +please stop.”</p> + +<p>“Hey?” The doctor pulled up in his brisk +walk. “Oh dear me! what is it?”</p> + +<p>“Will you please tell me—do you know who +the poor man was who was killed?” she gasped.</p> + +<p>“Oh Polly,” cried Jasper, “was there some +one killed?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he was a brakeman, Polly,” said Dr. +Pennell.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know—but where did he live?” cried +Polly, “and had he any children?” all in one +breath.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span></p> + +<p>“A big family, I understand,” said the doctor +gravely.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Polly with a sorry +droop to the bright head, and clasping her hands, +“could you, Dr. Pennell, tell me anything more?”</p> + +<p>“That's all I know about the poor fellow,” +said the doctor. “The conductor told me that.”</p> + +<p>“I'll find out for you to-morrow, Polly,” said +Jasper quickly; “I'll run down to the railroad +office, and get all the news I can.”</p> + +<p>“And I'll go with you,” said Polly, “for I +most know Grandpapa will let me. He was so +very good to us all—that poor man was,” she +mourned.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Polly, there's no doubt of that,” Dr. +Pennell said abruptly. “You and I maybe +wouldn't be standing here if it were not for him.”</p> + +<p>Jasper shivered, and laid hold of Polly's arm. +“Well now, run along and get home,” finished +the doctor cheerily, “and look out for that plucky +little friend of yours, and I'll try and find out, +too, about that brakeman, and we'll talk the +thing over.” So Polly and Jasper raced back +again down over the platform, clambered into the +carriage, and away they went home to Grandpapa +and Mamsie!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span></p> + +<p>And Alexia and her aunt staid all night. And +after the whole story had been gone over and +over, and Grandpapa had held Polly on his knee, +all the time she was not in Mamsie's lap, and +Alexia had had her poor arm taken care of, and +all bandaged up, Dr. Fisher praising her for +being so cool and patient, why then it was nearly +eleven o'clock.</p> + +<p>“Dear me! Polly,” cried Mother Fisher in +dismay, looking over at the clock—they were all +in the library, and all visitors had been denied—“the +very idea! you children must get to bed.”</p> + +<p>“Yes—or you won't be cool and patient to-morrow,” +said Dr. Fisher decidedly, and patting +Alexia's bandages. “Now run off, little girl, and +we'll see you bright as a button in the morning.”</p> + +<p>“I'm not cool and patient,” declared Alexia, +abruptly pulling down, with her well hand, the +little doctor till she could whisper in his ear. +“Oh, aunt does fuss so—you can't think; I'm +a raging wild animal.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you haven't been raging to-night, +Alexia,” said the little doctor, bursting out into a +laugh.</p> + +<p>“Oh, hush, do,” implored Alexia, who wasn't +in the slightest degree afraid to speak her mind,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> +least of all to Dr. Fisher, whom she liked immensely; +“they'll all hear us,” she brought up in +terror.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Alexia?” cried her aunt from the +sofa, where Dr. Fisher had asked her to be +seated, as it was well across the room. “Oh, is +she worse?” she exclaimed, hurrying over nervously.</p> + +<p>“There, now, you see,” cried Alexia tragically, +and sinking back in her chair; “everything's just +as bad as can be now.”</p> + +<p>“Not in the least, Miss Rhys,” the little doctor +said in his cheeriest tones, “only Alexia and I +had a little joke all by ourselves.” And as he +waited coolly for the maiden lady to return to +her seat, she soon found herself back there. Then +he went over to Mamsie, and said something in +a low tone.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Adoniram.” Mother Fisher nodded +over Polly's brown head. “She ought to have a +good night's sleep.”</p> + +<p>“Polly,” said Dr. Fisher, leaning over her, +“it's just this: that aunt of Alexia's—she's a +good enough sort of a woman, I suppose,” +wrinkling his brows in perplexity to find the +right words, “but she certainly does possess the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> +faculty to rile folks +up remarkably well. She sets my teeth on edge; she does +really, wife.” He brought out this confession honestly, although +he hated professionally to say it. “And Alexia—well, +you know, Polly, she ought to be kept quiet to-night. So your +mother and I—we do, don't we, dear?” taking Mamsie's +hand.</p> + +<p>“We certainly do,” said Mrs. Fisher, not waiting for the +whole story to be told, “think it's best for you to have Alexia +with you to-night.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, goody!” exclaimed Polly, sitting quite straight in +Mamsie's lap.</p> + +<p>“You are not to talk, Polly, you know,” said Dr. Fisher +decidedly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we won't—we won't,” promised Polly faithfully.</p> + +<p>“You can have the red room, Polly,” said Mamsie, “because +of the two beds. And now, child, you must both hop +off and get into them as soon as you can, or you'll be sick +to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>So Polly ran off to bid Grandpapa good night. And then +as he held her in his arms, he said, “Well, now, Polly, you +and Jasper and I will take that trip down to the railroad +station to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Grandpapa!” cried Polly, clasping her hands, while +her cheeks turned rosy red, “I am so very glad. We can go +right after school, can't we?”</p> + +<p>“School? Oh, you won't go to school to-morrow,” said old +Mr. King decidedly. “Yes, yes, Mrs. Fisher, in just a minute—Polly +shall go to bed in a minute. No, no, Polly, after such +an excitement, school isn't to be thought of for a day or two.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps she'll be all right in the morning, father,” Jasper +hurried to say, at sight of Polly's face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I shall—I shall.” Polly flashed a bright glance at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> +him. “<i>Please</i>, Grandpapa, let me go. I haven't been absent +this year.”</p> + +<p>“And it's so awfully hard to make up lessons,” said Jasper.</p> + +<p>“Make up lessons? Well, you needn't make them up. Bless +me! Such a scholar as you are, Polly, I guess you'll stand well +enough at the end of the year, without any such trouble. +Quite well enough,” he added with decision.</p> + +<p>Polly's brown head drooped, despite her efforts to look +bravely up into his face. “Good night, Grandpapa,” she said +sadly, and was turning away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh bless me!” exclaimed old Mr. King +hastily, “Polly, see here, my child, well—well, +in the morning perhaps—dear me!—we can +tell then whether it's best for you to go to school +or not. Come, kiss me good night, again.”</p> + +<p>So Polly ran back and gave him two or three +kisses, and then raced off, Jasper having time to +whisper at the door: “I most know, Polly, +father'll let you go; I really and truly believe +he will.”</p> + +<p>“I believe so too,” cried Polly happily.</p> + +<p>And sure enough, he did. For the next morning +Polly ran down to breakfast as merry as a +bee, brown eyes dancing, as if accidents were +never to be thought of; and Grandpapa pinched +her rosy cheek, and said: “Well, Polly, you've +won! Off with you to school.” And Polly +tucked her books under her arm, and raced off +with Jasper, who always went to school with her +as far as their paths went, turning off at the +corner where she hurried off to Miss Salisbury's +select school, to go to his own.</p> + +<p>“Oh, here comes Polly Pepper!” The girls, +some of them waiting for her at the big iron +gate, raced down to meet her. “Oh Polly—Polly.” +At that a group of girls on the steps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> +turned, and came flying up, too. “Oh, tell us +all about the awful accident,” they screamed. +“Tell, Polly, do.” They swarmed all over +her.</p> + +<p>“Give me the books,” and one girl seized +them. “I'll carry them for you, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“And, Polly, not one of the other girls that +went out to Silvia Horne's is here this morning.”</p> + +<p>“They may come yet,” said Polly; “it's not +late.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know; we came early to meet you; +well, Silvia isn't here either.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, she can't come, because of her cousin,” +said Polly, “and——”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't care whether she ever comes,” +declared Leslie Fyle. “I can't abide that Silvia +Horne.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I,” said another girl, “she's so full of +her airs and graces, and always talking about her +fine place at Edgewood. Oh dear me! I'm sick +of Edgewood!”</p> + +<p>A little disagreeable laugh went around.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I'll tell you of the accident,” said Polly; +“come, let's sit down on the steps; we've ten +minutes yet.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, do, do,” cried the girls. So they huddled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> +up together on the big stone steps, Polly in the +middle, and she told them the whole story as +fast as she could. Meantime other girls hurrying +to school, saw them from a distance, and +broke into a run to get there in time.</p> + +<p>And Polly gave Alexia's love all round, as she +had been commissioned to do.</p> + +<p>“We'll go up to your house to see her,” cried +Leslie, “perhaps this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, you mustn't,” said Polly. “I'm +dreadfully sorry, girls, but Papa Fisher says no +one must come yet, till he sends word by me.”</p> + +<p>“I thought you said Alexia was all right.”</p> + +<p>“And if her arm isn't broken I should think we +might see her,” said a big girl on the edge of the +circle discontentedly. She had private reasons +for wishing the interview as soon as possible, as +she and Alexia had quarrelled the day before, +and now it was quite best to ignore all differences, +and make it up.</p> + +<p>“But she's had a great strain, and Papa-Doctor +says it isn't best,” repeated Polly very +distinctly, “so we can't even think of it, Sarah.”</p> + +<p>“Polly? is that Polly Pepper?” exclaimed a +voice in the hall.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="500" height="319" alt="AND SHE TOLD THEM THE WHOLE STORY AS FAST AS SHE COULD." title="AND SHE TOLD THEM THE WHOLE STORY AS FAST AS SHE COULD." /> +<span class="caption">AND SHE TOLD THEM THE WHOLE STORY AS FAST AS SHE COULD.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span>“Oh, yes, Miss Anstice,” cried Polly, hopping +up so quickly she nearly overthrew some of the +bunch of girls.</p> + +<p>Yes, she had on the black silk gown, and +Polly fancied she could hear it crackle, it was so +stiff, as Miss Anstice advanced primly.</p> + +<p>“I hear that there was an accident, Polly +Pepper, last night, which you and some of the +other girls were in. Now, why did you not come +and tell me or sister at once about it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me! do forgive me,” cried poor +Polly, now seeing that she had done a very wrong +thing not to have acquainted Miss Salisbury first +with all the particulars. “I do hope you will +forgive me, Miss Anstice,” she begged over +again.</p> + +<p>“I find it very difficult to overlook it, Polly,” +said Miss Anstice, who was much disturbed by +the note she held in her hand, just delivered, by +which Professor Mills informed her he should be +unable to deliver his address that morning before +her art class. So she added with asperity, “It +would have been quite the proper thing, and +something that would naturally, I should suppose, +suggest itself to a girl brought up as you +have been, Polly, to come at once to the head of +the school with the information.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span></p> + +<p>Polly, feeling that all this reflected on Mamsie +and her home training, had yet nothing to do +but to stand pale and quiet on the steps.</p> + +<p>“She couldn't help it.” The big girl pushed +her way into the inner circle. “We girls all just +made her stop. My! Miss Anstice, it was just a +mob here when we saw Polly coming.”</p> + +<p>“Sarah Miller, you have nothing to say until +I address you.” A little red spot was coming on +either cheek as Miss Anstice turned angrily to +the big girl. “And I shall at once report you to +sister, for improper behavior.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, dear! Well, I wish 'sister' would +fire old black silk,” exclaimed a girl on the edge +of the circle under her breath. “Look at her +now. Isn't she a terror!” and then the big bell +rang, and they all filed in.</p> + +<p>“Now she won't let us have our picnic; she'll +go against it every way she can,” cried a girl who +was out of dangerous earshot. And the terror of +this spread as they all scampered down the hall.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, dear! to think this should have +happened on her black silk day!”</p> + +<p>“No, we won't get it now, you may depend,” +cried ever so many. And poor Polly, with all +this added woe, to make her feel responsible for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> +the horrible beginning of the day, sank into her +seat and leaned her head on her desk.</p> + +<p>The picnic, celebrated as an annual holiday, +was given by Miss Salisbury to the girls, if all +had gone well in the school, and no transgressions +of rules, or any misdemeanor, marred the term. +Miss Anstice never had looked with favor on the +institution, and the girls always felt that she +went out of her way to spy possible insubordination +among the scholars. So they strove not to +get out of her good graces, observing special care +when the “black silk days” came around.</p> + +<p>On this unlucky day, everything seemed against +them; and as Miss Anstice stalked off to sit upon +the platform by “sister” for the opening exercises, +the girls felt it was all up with them, and +a general gloom fell upon the long schoolroom.</p> + +<p>Miss Salisbury's gentle face was turned in surprise +upon them as she scanned the faces. And +then, the general exercises being over, the classes +were called, and she and “sister” were left on +the platform alone.</p> + +<p>“Oh, now she's getting the whole thing!” +groaned Leslie, looking back from the hall, to +peer in. “Old black silk is giving it to her. +Oh, I just hate Miss Anstice!”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span></p> + +<p>“Sarah, why couldn't you have kept still?” +cried another girl. “If you hadn't spoken, Miss +Anstice would have gotten over it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I wasn't going to have Polly Pepper +blamed,” said Sarah sturdily. “If you were +willing to, I wasn't going to stand still and hear +it, when it was our fault she told us first.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, Sarah,” said Polly, “it surely was my +own self that was to blame. I ought to have +run in and told Miss Salisbury first. Well, now, +girls, what shall I do? I've lost that picnic for +you all, for I don't believe she will let us have it +now.”</p> + +<p>“No, she won't,” cried Leslie tragically; “of +that you may be sure, Polly Pepper.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="VIII_WERE_TO_HAVE_OUR_PICNIC" id="VIII_WERE_TO_HAVE_OUR_PICNIC"></a>VIII “WE'RE TO HAVE OUR PICNIC!”</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>nd that afternoon Polly kept back bad +recollections of the gloomy morning at +school as well as she could. She didn't let Alexia +get the least bit of a hint about it, although how +she ever escaped letting her find it out, she never +could quite tell, but rattled on, all the messages +the girls had sent, and every bit of school news +she could think of.</p> + +<p>“Were the other girls who went to Silvia's, at +school?” asked Alexia suddenly, and twitching +up her pillow to get higher in bed, for Dr. Fisher +had said she mustn't get up this first day; and a +hard piece of work Mother Fisher had had to +keep the aunt out of the room.</p> + +<p>“I wouldn't go in,” Mamsie would say; “Dr. +Fisher doesn't wish her to be disturbed. To-morrow, +Miss Rhys.” And it was all done so +quietly that Alexia's aunt would find herself off +down in the library again and busy with a book, +very much to her own surprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span></p> + +<p>“I'll shake 'em up,” Polly cried; and hopping +off from the foot of the bed, she thumped the +pillows, if not with a merry, at least with a vigorous +hand. “There now,” crowding them in +back of Alexia's restless head, “isn't that fine?”</p> + +<p>“I should think it was,” exclaimed Alexia with +a sigh of satisfaction, and giving her long figure +a contented stretch; “you do know just the best +things to do, Polly Pepper. Well, tell on. I +suppose Amy Garrett is perfectly delighted to +cut that old art lecture.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Professor Mills didn't come at all,” said +Polly. That brought it all back about Miss +Anstice, and her head drooped suddenly.</p> + +<p>“Didn't come? oh dear!” And Alexia fell to +laughing so, that she didn't notice Polly's face at +all. But her aunt popping in, she became sober +at once, and ran her head under the bedclothes.</p> + +<p>“Oh, are you worse? is she, Polly?” cried +Miss Rhys all in a flutter. “I heard her cry, I +thought.”</p> + +<p>“No, I was laughing,” said Alexia, pulling up +her face red and shining. “Do go right away, +aunt. Dr. Fisher said Polly was to tell me things.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you are not worse,” said her aunt, +slowly turning away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span></p> + +<p>“No,” said Alexia. “Polly Pepper, do get up +and shut that door,” she cried; “slam it, and +lock it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” said Polly, in dismay at the very +thought, “I couldn't ever do that, Alexia.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then I will.” Alexia threw back the +bedclothes with a desperate hand, and thrust one +foot out.</p> + +<p>“If you do,” said Polly, not moving from +where she sat on the foot of the bed, “I shall go +out of this room, and not come back to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Shall you really?” cried Alexia, fixing her +pale eyes on her.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed I shall,” said Polly firmly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, then I'm not going.” Alexia drew in her +foot, and huddled all the clothes up over her +head. “Polly Pepper,” she said in muffled tones, +“you're a perfectly dreadful creature, and if you'd +gone and sprained your arm in a horrible old +railway accident and were tied in bed, I'd do just +everything you said, I would.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I hope you wouldn't,” said Polly.</p> + +<p>“Hope I wouldn't!” screamed Alexia, flinging +all the clothes away again to stare at Polly out +of very wide eyes. “Whatever do you mean, +Polly Pepper?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span></p> + +<p>“I hope you wouldn't do as I wanted you to,” +said Polly distinctly, “if I wanted something that +was bad.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that's a very different thing,” mumbled +Alexia. “Oh dear me!” She gave a grimace at +a twinge of pain in her arm. “This isn't bad; +I only wanted that door shut.”</p> + +<p>“Oh now, Alexia, you've hurt your arm!” +cried Polly; “do keep still, else Papa-Doctor +won't let me stay in here.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, dear! I'll keep still,” promised +Alexia, making up her mind that horses shouldn't +drag any expression of pain from her after that.</p> + +<p>“I mean, do sit up straight against your pillows; +you've got 'em all mussed up again,” cried +Polly. So she hopped off from the bed, and +thumped them into shape once more.</p> + +<p>“I wish you'd turn 'em over,” said Alexia: +“they're so hot on that side.” So Polly whisked +over the pillows, and patted them straight, and +Alexia sank back against them again.</p> + +<p>“Wouldn't you like me to smooth your hair, +Alexia?” asked Polly. “Mamsie does that to +me when I don't feel good.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I should,” said Alexia, “like it very +much indeed, Polly.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span></p> + +<p>So Polly, feeling quite happy, albeit the remembrance +of the morning still lay deep in her +mind, ran off for the brush and comb. “And +I'm going to braid it all over,” she said with +great satisfaction, “after I've rubbed your head.”</p> + +<p>“Well, now tell on,” said Alexia, as Polly +climbed up back of the pillows, and began to +smooth the long light fluffs of hair, trying to do +it just as Mamsie always did for her. “You say +Professor Mills didn't come—oh dear! and think +of that black silk gown wasted on the girls. Well, +I suppose she was cross as two sticks because he +didn't come, wasn't she, Polly? Oh dear me! +well, I'm glad I wasn't there,” she hurried on, +not waiting for a reply; “I'd rather be in with +this old bundle”—she patted her bandages—“Oh +Polly!” She started up so suddenly that the +brush flew out of Polly's lap and spun away +across the floor. “Take care,” said Polly, “oh, +there goes the comb now,” and she skipped +down, recovered the articles, and jumped up to +her post again. “What is it, Alexia?”</p> + +<p>“Why, I've just thought—you don't suppose +Miss Salisbury will appoint the day for the picnic, +do you, while my arm is lame?”</p> + +<p>The color in Polly's cheeks went out, and she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> +was glad that she could get well behind the +pillows.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, Alexia,” she made herself say, “we +wouldn't ever in all this world have the picnic +till you were well. How could you think it, +Alexia?”</p> + +<p>“I didn't believe you would,” cried Alexia, +much gratified, and huddling down again, without +once seeing Polly's face, “but most of the +girls don't care about me, Polly, and they wouldn't +mind.”</p> + +<p>“Oh yes, they do,” said Polly reassuringly, +“they're very fond of you, most of them are.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Alexia, “I'm not fond of them, +so I don't really expect them to be, Polly. But +I shouldn't like 'em to go off and have that picnic +when I couldn't go. Was anything said about +it, Polly?” she asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>“Miss Salisbury or Miss Anstice didn't say +a word,” said Polly, trembling for the next question. +Just then Mother Fisher looked in with a +smile. “Polly, you are wanted,” she said. +“Grandpapa and Jasper are ready to go to the +railroad station. I'm going to stay with Alexia +and finish her hair just as I do for Polly.”</p> + +<p>Alexia looked up and smiled. It was next<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> +best to having Polly, to have Mrs. Fisher. So +Polly, happy to have a respite from Alexia's questions +about the picnic, and happier still to be +going to find out something about the poor brakeman's +family, flew off from the bed, set a kiss +on Alexia's hot cheek, and another on Mamsie's, +and raced off.</p> + +<p>“I'm coming, Jasper,” she called. She could +see him below in the wide hall.</p> + +<p>“All right, don't hurry so, father isn't ready +yet. Dear me! Polly, you can get ready so +quickly for things!” he said admiringly. And, +in the glow of starting, he couldn't see that Polly's +spirits seemed at a low ebb, and he drew a +long breath as he tried to make himself believe +that what he had noticed at luncheon wasn't +really so at all.</p> + +<p>And Polly, between Grandpapa and Jasper, +tried to make them have such a good time that +really it seemed no walk at all, and they were +all quite surprised when they found themselves +there.</p> + +<p>“We must go up into the superintendent's +room,” said Mr. King. So up the long stairs +they went, the old gentleman grumbling at every +step because there was no elevator, and at all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> +other matters and things that were, as he declared, +“at loose ends in the whole system.” +At last they stood before the desk.</p> + +<p>“Have the goodness,” began old Mr. King to +the official, a short, pompous person who came +up in the absence of the superintendent and now +turned a cold face up to them, “to give me some +information regarding a brakeman who was killed +last night in the accident to the train due here +at 7.45.”</p> + +<p>“Don't know anything about him,” said the +official in the crispest accents. He looked as if +he cared less, and was about to slam down the +window, when Mr. King asked, “Does anybody +in this office know?”</p> + +<p>“Can't say.” The official pulled out his watch, +compared it with the big clock on the wall, then +turned away.</p> + +<p>“Do any of you know who the man was who +was killed last night?” asked the old gentleman, +putting his face quite close to the window, and +speaking in such clear, distinct tones that every +clerk looked up.</p> + +<p>Each man searched all the other faces. No, +they didn't know; except one, a little, thin, +weazen-faced person over in the corner, at a high<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span> +desk, copying. “I only know that his name was +Jim,” he said in a voice to match his figure.</p> + +<p>“Have the goodness to step this way, sir, and +tell me what you do know,” said Mr. King in +such a way that the little man, but with many +glances for the pompous individual, slipped off +from his high stool, to advance to the window +rubbing his hands together deprecatingly. The +other clerks all laid down their pens to see the +interview.</p> + +<p>“What was his name—this brakeman's?” demanded +Mr. King.</p> + +<p>“I don't know, sir,” said the little, thin clerk. +“Jim—that was all I knew him by. I used to +see him of a morning when I was coming to the +office, and he was waiting to take his train. He +was a steady fellow, Jim was,” he added, anxiously +scanning the handsome face beneath the +white hair.</p> + +<p>“I don't doubt that,” said old Mr. King hastily. +“I don't in the least doubt it.”</p> + +<p>“And he wasn't given to drink, sir,” the little, +thin clerk cried abruptly, “although some did +say it who shouldn't; for there were many after +Jim's place. He had an easy run. And——”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes; well, now what I want to know,”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> +said Mr. King interrupting the stream, Polly and +Jasper on either side having a hard time to control +their impatience, “is where this 'Jim,' as you +call him, lived, and what was his last name.”</p> + +<p>“That I don't know, sir,” said the little, thin +clerk. “I only know he had a family, for once +in a while when I had a minute to spare he'd +get to talking about 'em, when we met. Jim +was awful fond of 'em; that any one could +see.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, well, now what would he say?” asked +the old gentleman, trying to hurry matters along. +The pompous official had his eye on the clock. +It might go hard for the little, thin clerk in his +seedy coat, if he took too much time from office +hours.</p> + +<p>“Why, he had one girl who was crazy about +music,” said the little clerk, “and—”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Polly. Old Mr. +King heard her sigh at his side, and he cried, +“Well, what else?”</p> + +<p>“Why, I've heard Jim say more'n once he'd +live on bread and water if he could only give his +daughter a chance. And there were his three +boys.”</p> + +<p>“Three boys,” echoed Mr. King sharply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. I saw 'em round the train once or +twice; they were likely chaps, it seemed to me.” +The little, thin clerk, a bachelor with several +unmarried sisters on his hands for support, sighed +deeply.</p> + +<p>“Well, now,” cried Mr. King, thinking it quite +time to bring the interview to a close, “I'd +take it quite kindly if you'd find out for me all +you can about this Jim. A member of my family +was on the train last night, who but for this +noble brakeman might—might—bless me! +There is my card.” The old gentleman pulled +out one from his cardcase, then fell to wiping his +face violently.</p> + +<p>“What is your name?” asked Jasper, seeing +that his father couldn't speak.</p> + +<p>“Hiram Potter,” said the little clerk. The +pompous official drew near, and looked over his +shoulder at the card. “Oh! why—Mr. King!” +he cried, all the pomposity suddenly gone. “I +beg your pardon; what can I do for you, sir?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing whatever, sir.” Mr. King waved him +away. “Well, now, Mr. Potter, if you'll be so +very good as to get this information for me as +soon as possible and bring it up to my house, I'll +be very much indebted to you.” With a bow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> +to him, in which the official was nowise included, +the old gentleman and Polly and Jasper went off +down the stairs again.</p> + +<p>“Finkle, you're caught this time; you're in a +hole,” the brother officials sang out when the +card had been displayed around the office. “I +wouldn't want to be in your shoes,” said more +than one.</p> + +<p>Finkle tried to brave out the dismay he felt at +having offended the powerful millionaire railroad +director, but he made but a poor show of it. +Meanwhile the little, thin clerk, slipping the +precious card into his seedy coat pocket, clambered +up to his high stool, his mind busy with +plans to unearth all possible information concerning +Jim, the brakeman, as soon as the big +clock up on the wall should let them out of the +office.</p> + +<p>“Polly, my dear,” old Mr. King kept saying, +as they went down the stairs, and he held her +hand very closely, “I think this Potter—a very +good sort of a man he seems to be, too—will +find out all we want to know about Jim. I really +do, Polly; so we won't worry about it, child.”</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, on top of all the rest that was +worrying her, Polly had a sorry enough time,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> +to keep her troubles from showing on her face. +And after dinner, when the bell pealed violently, +she gave a great start and turned quite pale.</p> + +<p>Jasper saw it. “I don't believe it's any bad +news, Polly,” he hastened to say reassuringly, +and longing to comfort, though he couldn't imagine +the reason.</p> + +<p>“Oh, where's Polly?” She heard the girls' +voices out in the hall, and ran out to meet them. +“Oh dear me!” she cried at sight of their faces +that confirmed her worst fears.</p> + +<p>“Yes, oh Polly, it's just as I said,” cried +Leslie Fyle, precipitating herself against Polly. +“Now, girls, keep back; I'm going to tell her +first.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we are all going to tell too, Les; that's +what we've come for,” cried the others, crowding +up.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what is it?” cried Polly, standing quite +still, and feeling as if she never could hold up +her head again now that the picnic was lost +through her.</p> + +<p>“I shall tell, myself,” declared Sarah bluntly. +“I'm the one, it seems, that made all the trouble, +so it really belongs to me, I should think, to be +the first speaker.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span></p> + +<p>Polly folded her hands tightly together, while +the babel went on, feeling that if she didn't hear +the dreaded news soon, she should fly off to +Mamsie.</p> + +<p>“Miss Salisbury said—” She could hear little +scraps of chatter.</p> + +<p>“I know—oh, do hurry and tell Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, and just think, Miss Salisbury——”</p> + +<p>“And Miss Anstice—” Then some of them +looked around and into Polly's face. “Oh my +goodness, girls, see Polly Pepper!”</p> + +<p>With that they all rushed at her, and nobody +told first, for they all shouted it out together: +“Polly, Miss Salisbury has given us our picnic!” +and “Polly, isn't it too splendid!” and “Polly +Pepper, just think how perfectly elegant! Our +picnic, Polly—only think!” till the circle in +the library popped out their heads into the +hall.</p> + +<p>“Jasper,” cried Polly, deserting the bunch of +“Salisbury girls,” to plunge up to him with shining +eyes, “we're to have our picnic; we truly are, +Jasper, and I thought I'd lost it to all the girls.”</p> + +<p>And just then Johnson advanced down the +length of the hall. “It's a person to see you, +sir,” he said to old Mr. King,—“says it's quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> +important, sir, and that you told him to come. +He's sitting by the door, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it's Mr. Potter, I think,” said the old +gentleman; “show him into the library, Johnson. +Polly, my child. Bless me! I don't see how +you stand it with these girls chattering around +you every minute. Now be off with you,” he +cried gaily to the group. He was much pleased +at the success of his plan to find out about the +brakeman, of which he felt quite sure from the +appearance so promptly of the little clerk. “I +have something quite important for Polly to attend +to now; and I really want her to myself +once in a while.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I must go, girls,” said Polly, turning a +blooming countenance on them; “so good night. +We won't have the picnic, you know, till Alexia +is well,” she added decidedly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that's what Miss Salisbury said,” cried +Leslie, turning back. “You see, I saw her after +school—went back for my history—and I was +to tell you that, Polly; only Sarah spoilt it +all.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” said Polly brightly, “it's all +right now, since we are really to have our picnic.” +And then she put her hand in old Mr. King's,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> +quite bubbling over with happiness,—Jasper, just +as jubilant, since Polly was herself again, on the +other side,—to go in and meet the little, thin +clerk, scared at his surroundings, and perched on +the extreme edge of a library chair.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="IX_ALL_ABOUT_THE_POOR_BRAKEMAN" id="IX_ALL_ABOUT_THE_POOR_BRAKEMAN"></a>IX ALL ABOUT THE POOR BRAKEMAN</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">M</span>r. Potter was very miserable indeed +on the edge of his chair, and twirling +his hat dreadfully; and for the first moment after +the handsome old gentleman spoke to him, he +had nothing to say.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. King was asking him for the third +time, “You found out all about poor Jim's +family, eh?”</p> + +<p>At last he emerged from his fit of embarrassment +enough to reply, “Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Now that is very good,” the old gentleman +cried approvingly, and wiped his face vigorously +after his effort, “very good indeed, Mr. Potter.”</p> + +<p>Hiram Potter now followed up his first attempt +to find his voice; and trying to forget the handsome +surroundings that had so abashed him, he +went on now quite glibly.</p> + +<p>“You see, sir, there's six of 'em—Jim's +children.”</p> + +<p>“Dear me!” ejaculated old Mr. King.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, there are.” Mr. Potter's hat began +to twirl uneasily again. “And the wife—she +ain't strong, just got up from rheumatic fever.”</p> + +<p>“That's bad—very bad,” said Mr. King.</p> + +<p>“Those three boys of his are good,” said Mr. +Potter, brightening up a bit in the general gloom; +“and the biggest one says he's going to be a +brakeman just like his father. But the mother +wants 'em all to go to school. You see, that's +what Jim was working for.”</p> + +<p>“And the girl who wanted to play on the +piano?” broke in Polly eagerly. Then she +blushed rosy red. “Oh, forgive me, Grandpapa, +for interrupting,” and she hid her face on old +Mr. King's arm.</p> + +<p>“I was just going to ask about that girl, myself,” +said Grandpapa promptly. “Tell us about +her, Mr. Potter, if you please.”</p> + +<p>Hiram Potter set his hat carefully on the floor +beside his chair. It was his Sunday hat, and +evidently that, with his best clothes which he +had donned in honor of the occasion, were objects +of great care. He scratched his head and +thought deeply. “Well, now, you see, sir,” he +said slowly, “that's almost a hopeless case, and I +wish, as sure as I sit here, that girl hadn't never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> +thought of piano music. But it's born in her, the +mother said; the girl's grandfather was a musician +in the old home in Germany, and so she can't +help it. Why, she's just so crazy about it, +she'll drum all up and down the kitchen table to +make believe that——”</p> + +<p>“Oh Grandpapa!” cried Polly in the greatest +excitement, and hopping up and down by his +side, “that's just as I used to do in the little +brown house,—the very same way, Grandpapa, +you know.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, she did, father,” cried Jasper, bobbing +his head scarcely less excited, just as if old Mr. +King hadn't heard the story many times.</p> + +<p>Mr. Potter, for want of something to do to express +his amazement, picked up his hat, stroked it, +and set it down again, staring with all his might.</p> + +<p>“So you did, Polly; so you did, my child,” +cried Grandpapa, taking her hands in both of +his, and looking down into her shining eyes; +“well, well, to be sure. Now, Jasper, get the +tablet, and write down the address of Jim's +family as quickly as you can, my boy.”</p> + +<p>So Jasper ran over to the library table, and +brought back the tablet and pencil hanging to it; +and pretty soon Jim's home was all described<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> +thus: “Mrs. James Corcoran, 5 Willow Court—third +house from Haven Street.”</p> + +<p>“It's kinder hard to find,” observed Mr. Potter +slowly, “because Willow Court runs into +Haven Street criss-cross, and this number isn't on +the house; it's got rubbed off; but if you follow +up No. 3, and come up carefully, why, there +you'll be where No. 5 was.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” said Mr. King. “Well, you +may describe the house, for I am going down +there to-morrow, and I certainly do not wish to +waste my time walking about.”</p> + +<p>Polly and Jasper looked so very decidedly +“Oh, may we go too?” that the old gentleman +added quickly, “And my young people will accompany +me,” which really left nothing more to +be desired at present.</p> + +<p>“Well, it's a yellow house,” said Mr. Potter, +thinking very hard, “that is, it is in spots, where +the paint is on; and it's low, and runs down to +the back, and sets sideways. But I tell you +how you'll know it. She's got—Mrs. Jim Corcoran +has—the greatest lot of flowers in her +window. They're chock full, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I shall know it, then,” cried Polly in great +satisfaction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span></p> + +<p>“I think there's no danger, sir, but what we +will find the place all right.” Old Mr. King +was fumbling in his pocket in great perplexity. +“It never would do,” he decided, pulling his +hand out. “No, I must contrive to send him +something. Well, now—hem—Mr. Potter,” +he said aloud, “and where do you live? Quite +near, I presume?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, just the other end of the town, sir,” +said Mr. Potter. “I live on Acorn Street.”</p> + +<p>“Acorn Street?” repeated Mr. King, wrinkling +his brows, “and where may that be, pray tell?”</p> + +<p>“It's over at the South End, sir; it runs off +from Baker Street and Highland Square.”</p> + +<p>“Oh yes, yes,” said the old gentleman, without +much more idea than before.</p> + +<p>“I know where it is, father,” said Jasper. +“Dear me! You've had to take a good bit of +time to get all this information, Mr. Potter.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Potter looked down busily on the carpet, +trying not to think how tired his feet were, saving +some car-fare for their owner.</p> + +<p>“Well, now what number?” The old gentleman +seeming to desire his whole address, that +was soon given too,—“23 Acorn Street, South +End.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span></p> + +<p>“And I suppose you have a family?” went on +the old gentleman, determined to find out all +there was to it, now he had commenced.</p> + +<p>The little clerk began to hem and to haw, behind +his hand. “No, sir, I haven't; that is, yes, +I have considerable—I mean my four sisters, +sir; we all live together.”</p> + +<p>“Oh—ah!” replied Mr. King. “Well, now +thank you very much, Mr. Potter; and as your +time is valuable, and should be paid for,”—he +tucked a bill within the nervous hands.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I couldn't take it, sir,” cried Hiram +Potter, greatly distressed.</p> + +<p>“But it's your due. Why, man, I shouldn't +have asked you to take all this trouble, and spend +so much time after I've found you had so far to +go.” Mr. King was really becoming irate now, +so that the little clerk didn't dare to say more. +“Bless me! Say no more—say no more!”</p> + +<p>The little clerk was too much frightened to +think of another word; and finding that the interview +was considered closed, he picked up his +hat, and in some way, he could never remember +how, he soon found himself out of the handsome +house, and skipping off nimbly in the fresh air, +which quite revived him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span></p> + +<p>“I could offer him only a trifle,” old Mr. +King was saying, “only what might repay him for +his trouble and time to-night. But I shall speak +to Fraser about him to-morrow, Jasper. That +agent of mine is, curiously enough, in want of a +clerk just at this time, and I know this little +man can fit in very well, and it will get him +away from that beastly office. Four sisters—oh +my goodness! Well, Fraser must give him +enough to take care of them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, how fine, father!” exclaimed Jasper with +kindling eyes. “And then the girl that wants +to learn to play on the piano.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me, yes!” Old Mr. King burst +into a merry laugh. “I must look after that +little girl, or Polly won't speak to me, I am +afraid. Will you, Polly, my child?” He drew +her close to him, and kissed her blooming cheek.</p> + +<p>“I am so very glad you are going to look out +for her, Grandpapa,” she cried, “because you +know I did feel so dreadfully when I used to +drum on the table in the little brown house,” +she confessed.</p> + +<p>“I know—I know, child.” Grandpapa's face +fell badly, and he held her very close. It always +broke him up to hear the Peppers tell of the hard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> +times in the little brown house, and Polly hastened +to add brightly, “And then you came, Grandpapa +dear, and you made it all just beautiful—oh +Grandpapa!” and she clung to him, unable +to say more.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, so I did—so I did,” cried the old +gentleman delightedly, quite happy again, and +stroking the brown hair. “Well, Polly, my girl, +it isn't anything to the good times we are always +going to have. And to-morrow, you and I must +go down to see after poor Jim's family.”</p> + +<p>“And Jasper?” cried Polly, poking up her +head from old Mr. King's protecting arm; “he +must go too, Grandpapa.”</p> + +<p>“And Jasper? Why, we couldn't do anything +without him, Polly,” said the old gentleman +in such a tone that Jasper threw back his +head very proudly; “of course my boy must go +too.”</p> + +<p>And the next day, Pickering Dodge, who +thought he had some sort of a claim on Jasper +for the afternoon, came running up the steps, +two at a time. And he looked so horribly disappointed, +that old Mr. King said, “Why don't +you take him, Jasper, along with us?”</p> + +<p>Jasper, who would have much preferred to go<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> +alone with his father and Polly, swallowed his +vexation, and said, “All right;” and when he +saw Pickering's delight, he brightened up, and +was glad it all happened in just that way after +all.</p> + +<p>“Now see here,” said old Mr. King suddenly. +They were turning out of Willow Court, after +their visit, and Thomas had a sorry time of it, +managing his horses successfully about the old +tin cans and rubbish, to say nothing of the children +who were congregated in the narrow, ill-smelling +court. “Why don't you boys do something +for those lads in there?” pointing backward +to the little run-down-at-the-heel house +they had just left.</p> + +<p>“We boys?” cried Pickering faintly. “Oh +dear me! Mr. King, we can't do anything.”</p> + +<p>“'Can't' is a bad word to use,” said the old +gentleman gravely, “and I didn't mean that you +all alone should do the work. But get the other +boys interested. I'm sure you can do that. +Phew! Where are the health authorities, I +should like to know, to let such abominations +exist? Thomas, drive as fast as you can, and +get us out of this hole;” and he buried his aristocratic +old face in his handkerchief.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span></p> + +<p>Pickering looked over at Jasper in great dismay.</p> + +<p>“We might have our club take it up,” said +Jasper slowly, with a glance at Polly for help.</p> + +<p>“Yes, why don't you, Jasper?” she cried. +“Now that's what I'm going to propose that our +club of Salisbury girls shall do. We're just finishing +up the work for a poor Southern family.”</p> + +<p>“You've had a bee, haven't you,” asked Pickering, +“or something of that sort? Although I +don't really suppose you do much work,” he +said nonchalantly, “only laugh and play and +giggle, generally.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed we don't, Pickering Dodge,” cried +Polly indignantly, “laugh and play and giggle, +the very idea!”</p> + +<p>“And if you say such dreadful things I'll pitch +you out of the carriage,” cried Jasper in pretended +wrath.</p> + +<p>“Ow! I'll be good. Take off your nippers,” +cried Pickering, cringing back down into his +corner as far as he could. “Goodness me! Jasper, +you're a perfect old tiger.”</p> + +<p>“Take care, and keep your tongue in its place +then,” said Jasper, bursting into a laugh.</p> + +<p>“And we work—oh, just dreadfully,” declared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> +Polly with her most positive air. “We +cut out all the clothes ourselves. We don't want +our mothers to do it; and sew—oh dear me!”</p> + +<p>“You ought to see our house on club day +when Polly has the bee,” said Jasper. “I rather +think you'd say there was something going on +for those poor little Southern darkies.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't see how you can work so for a +lot of disgusting pickaninnies,” said Pickering, +stretching his long figure lazily. “The whole +bunch of them isn't worth one good solid afternoon +of play.”</p> + +<p>Polly turned a cold shoulder to him, and began +to talk with Jasper most busily about the +club of boys.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and oh, Jasper, let's have one meeting +of all you boys with us girls—the two clubs together,” +she cried at last, waxing quite enthusiastic.</p> + +<p>“Yes, let us,” cried Jasper, just as enthusiastic; +“and oh, Polly, I've thought of something. +Let's have a little play—you write it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Jasper, I can't,” cried Polly, wrinkling her +brows.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, Polly, you can,” cried Jasper; “if it's +one half as good as 'The Three Dragons and +the Princess Clotilde,' it will be just fine.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well,” said Polly, “I'll try; and what then, +Jasper?”</p> + +<p>“Why, we'll give it for money—father, may +we, in the drawing-room? And perhaps we'll +make quite a heap to help those boys with. Oh +Polly!” He seized both of her hands and wrung +them tightly. “Oh, may we, father, may we?”</p> + +<p>“Eh—what's that? Oh, yes.” The old gentleman +took down his handkerchief. “Dear me! +what a mercy we are where we can breathe!” as +Thomas whirled them dexterously past a small +square. “What <i>are</i> the health authorities about, +to allow such atrocious old holes? Oh, yes, my +boy, I'm sure I'd be delighted to have you help +along those three lads. And it's really work for +boys. Polly's going to start up something for +the girl.”</p> + +<p>“How perfectly fine!” exclaimed Jasper and +Polly together, now that the consent was really +gained. Then they fell into such a merry chatter +that Pickering, left out in the cold, began to +wriggle dreadfully. At last he broke out:</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think it would be fine too,” trying to +work his head into the conference, where Polly +and Jasper had theirs together buzzing over the +plans.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span></p> + +<p>But nobody paid him the slightest attention; +so he repeated his remark, with no better success.</p> + +<p>“I should think you might turn around,” at +last he said in a dudgeon, “and speak to a body +once in a while.”</p> + +<p>“Why should we?” cried Jasper over his +shoulder. “You don't think it's worth while to +work for any of those people. No, Polly, we'll +let him severely alone.” Then he fell to talking +again, busier than ever.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do,” cried Pickering in a high, wrathful +key, “think it's worth while too, so there, +Jasper King!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he does, I do believe, Jasper,” cried +Polly, looking at Pickering's face.</p> + +<p>“Why, of course I do,” said Pickering.</p> + +<p>“And so we must let him into the plans.” So +Polly turned around to draw Pickering in, and +old Mr. King leaned forward in his seat, and the +committee of ways and means got so very busy +that they didn't even know when Thomas turned +in at the big stone gateway, until Polly looked up +and screamed out, “Why, we are home! Why, +we <i>can't</i> be!”</p> + +<p>“Well, we are, Polly, my child,” said old Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> +King, getting out to help her with his courtliest +air. “We've been gone just three hours and a +half, and a very good afternoon's work it is too. +For Jim's children will care twice as much for +what you young folks are going to do for them +as for anything I may do. Yes, Polly, they +will,” as he saw her face. “And I'm sure if I +were in their places, I'd feel just the same way.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="X_JOEL_AND_HIS_DOG" id="X_JOEL_AND_HIS_DOG"></a>X JOEL AND HIS DOG</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“N</span>ow, children,” hummed Phronsie, pausing +in the midst of combing her doll's flaxen +hair, “you must keep still, and be very good; +then I'll get through pretty soon,” and she bowed +to the several members of her numerous family +set up in a row before her, who were awaiting +their turn for the same attention. Then she took +up the little comb which had dropped to her lap, +and set herself busily to her task again.</p> + +<p>Alexia looked in at the door of the “baby-house,” +as Phronsie's little room devoted to +her family of dolls, was called. “Oh my goodness +me!” she exclaimed, “don't you ever get +tired of everlastingly dressing those dolls, Phronsie?”</p> + +<p>Phronsie gave a sigh, and went patiently on +with her work. “Yes, Alexia, I'm tired sometimes; +but I'm their mother, you see.”</p> + +<p>“And to comb their hair!” went on Alexia, +“Oh dear me! I never could do it in all this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> +world, Phronsie. I should want to run and throw +them all out of the window.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Alexia!” exclaimed Phronsie in horror, +“throw them all out of the window! You couldn't +do that, Alexia.” She tightened her grasp on +the doll in her arms.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I should want to throw every one of +those dreadful dolls out of the window, Phronsie +Pepper!” declared Alexia recklessly.</p> + +<p>“But they are my children,” said Phronsie +very soberly, trying to get all the others waiting +for their hair to be fixed, into her arms too, “and +dear Grandpapa gave them to me, and I love +them, every single one.”</p> + +<p>“Well, now, you see, Phronsie,” said Alexia, +getting down on the floor in front of the doll's +bureau, by Phronsie's side, “you could come out +with me on the piazza and walk around a bit if +it were not for these dreadfully tiresome dolls; +and Polly is at school, and you are through with +your lessons in Mr. King's room. Now how nice +that would be, oh dear me!” Alexia gave a restful +stretch to her long figure. “My!” at a twinge +of pain.</p> + +<p>“Does your arm hurt you, Alexia?” asked +Phronsie, looking over her dolls up to Alexia's face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span></p> + +<p>“Um—maybe,” said Alexia, nursing her arm +hanging in the sling; “it's a bad, horrid old +thing, and I'd like to thump it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don't, Alexia,” begged Phronsie, “that +will make it worse. Please don't, Alexia, do anything +to it.” Then she got up, and went over +with her armful of dolls to the sofa, and laid +them down carefully in a row. “I'll fix your +hair to-morrow, children,” she said; “now I'm +going away for a little bit of a minute,” and +came back. “Let's go down to the piazza,” she +said, holding out her hand.</p> + +<p>“You blessed child, you!” exclaimed Alexia, +seizing her with the well hand, “did you suppose +I'd be such a selfish old pig as to drag you off +from those children of yours?”</p> + +<p>“You are not a selfish old pig, Alexia, and I +like you very much,” said Phronsie gravely, trying +not to hit the arm in the sling, while Alexia +flew up to her feet and whirled around the room +with her. “And, oh, I'm so afraid you'll make +it sick,” she panted. “Do stop.”</p> + +<p>“I just can't, Phronsie,” said Alexia; “I shall +die if I don't do something! Oh, this horrid old +arm!” and she came to a sudden standstill, +Phronsie struggling away to a safe distance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span></p> + +<p>“Papa Fisher would not like it, Alexia,” she +said in great disapproval, her hair blown about +her face, and her cheeks quite pink.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” Alexia, resting the sling in +the other palm, and trying not to scream with +the pain, burst out, “It's so tiresome to be always +thinking that some one won't like things one +does. Phronsie, there's no use in my trying to +be good, because, you see, I never could be. I +just love to do bad things.”</p> + +<p>“Oh no, Alexia,” said Phronsie greatly shocked, +“you don't love to do bad things. Please say +you don't;” and before Alexia could say another +word, the tears poured down the round cheeks, +wetting Phronsie's pinafore. And although she +clasped her hands and tried to stop them, it was +no use.</p> + +<p>“There now, you see,” cried Alexia, quite gone +in remorse. “Oh, what shall I do? I must go +and get Mrs. Fisher,” and she rushed out of the +room.</p> + +<p>Phronsie ran unsteadily after her, to call, “Oh +Alexia!” in such distress that the flying feet +turned, and up she came again.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Pet?” she cried. “Oh dear me! +What shall I do? I must tell your mother.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span></p> + +<p>“I will stop,” said Phronsie, struggling hard +with her tears, “if you only won't tell Mamsie,” +and she wiped her cheeks hard with her pinafore. +“There, see, Alexia,” and tried to smile.</p> + +<p>“Well, now, come back.” Alexia seized her +hand, and dragged her up the stairs. “Now I'm +just going to stay up here with you, if you'll let +me, Phronsie, and try not to do bad things. I +do so want to be good like Polly. You can't +think how I want to,” she cried in a gust, as +she threw herself down on the floor again.</p> + +<p>“Oh Alexia, you never could be good like +Polly,” said Phronsie, standing quite still in +astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Of course not,” said Alexia with a little +laugh, “but I mean—oh, you know what I +mean, Phronsie. I want to be good so that +Polly will say she likes it. Well, come on +now, get your horrible old—I mean, your dolls, +and—”</p> + +<p>“I wish very much you wouldn't call them +dolls, Alexia,” said Phronsie, not offering to sit +down; “they are my children, and I don't think +they like to be called anything else.”</p> + +<p>“Well, they sha'n't hear it, then,” declared +Alexia decidedly, “so get some of them, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> +brush their hair, just as you were doing when I +came in, and I'm going to read aloud to you out +of one of your books, Phronsie.”</p> + +<p>“Oh—oh!” Phronsie clapped her hands in +glee. Next to Polly's stories, which of course +she couldn't have now as Polly was at school, +Phronsie dearly loved to be read to. But she +suddenly grew very sober again.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure you will like it, Alexia?” she +asked, coming up to peer into Alexia's face.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, Pet, to be sure I will,” cried Alexia, +seizing her to half smother her with kisses. +“Why, Phronsie, it will make me very happy +indeed.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if it will really make you happy, Alexia,” +said Phronsie, smoothing down her pinafore in +great satisfaction, “I will get my children.” And +she ran over to the sofa, and came back with an +armful.</p> + +<p>“Now what book?” asked Alexia, forgetting +whether her arm ached or not, and flying to her +feet. “I'm going down to your bookshelf to +get it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Alexia,” cried Phronsie in great excitement, +“will you—could you get 'The Little +Yellow Duck'?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span></p> + +<p>As this was the book Phronsie invariably chose +when asked what she wanted read, Alexia laughed +and spun off, perfectly astonished to find that the +world was not all as blue as an indigo bag. And +when she came back two steps at a time up the +stairs, Phronsie was smiling away, and humming +softly to herself, while the hair-brushing was +going on.</p> + +<p>“She had a blue ribbon on yesterday—Almira +did,” said Phronsie, reflecting. “Now, +wouldn't you put on a pink one to-day, Alexia?”</p> + +<p>“I surely should,” decided Alexia—“that +pretty pale pink one that Polly gave you last, +Phronsie.”</p> + +<p>“I am so very glad you said that one,” said +Phronsie, running over on happy feet for her +ribbon-basket, “because I do love that ribbon +very much, Alexia.”</p> + +<p>“Well, now then,” said Alexia, as Phronsie +began to tie up the pink bow laboriously, “we +must hurry and begin, or we never shall see +what happened to this 'Little Yellow Duck.'”</p> + +<p>“Oh, do hurry, Alexia,” begged Phronsie, as +if she hadn't heard the story on an average of +half a dozen times a week. So Alexia propped +herself up against the wall, and began, and presently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> +it was so still that all any one could hear +was the turning of the leaves and the ticking of +the little French clock on the mantel.</p> + +<p>“Well, dear me, how funny!” and Polly rushed +in; then burst into a merry laugh.</p> + +<p>“Polly Pepper—you home!” Alexia tossed +“The Little Yellow Duck” half across the room, +flew to her feet again, and spun Polly round and +round with her well hand.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Polly, “I am, and I've been searching +for you two all over this house.”</p> + +<p>“Take me, Polly, do.” Phronsie laid down +Almira carefully on the carpet, and hurried over +to Polly.</p> + +<p>“I guess I will. Now then, all together!” and +the three spun off until out of breath.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” Polly stopped suddenly. “I +never thought of your arm, Alexia. Oh, do you +suppose we've hurt it?” It was so very dreadful +to think of, that all the color deserted her cheek.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, no!” declared Alexia, “that spin +put new life into me, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't know,” said Polly critically; +“at any rate, we mustn't do it any more. And +we must tell Papa-Doctor about it as soon as he +gets home.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, what good is it to worry him?” cried +Alexia carelessly. “Well, Polly, tell all the news +about school,” as they hurried downstairs to get +ready for luncheon.</p> + +<p>“We must tell Papa-Doctor everything about +it, Alexia,” said Polly in her most decided fashion, +putting her arm carefully around Alexia's +waist; and with Phronsie hanging to the other +hand, down they went, Polly retailing the last bit +of school news fresh that day.</p> + +<p>“And, oh, Alexia, Miss Salisbury said we are +not to have the picnic until you get quite well; +she said so in the big schoolroom, before us +all.”</p> + +<p>“Did she, Polly?” cried Alexia, immensely +gratified.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she did.” Polly stood on her tiptoes at +the imminent danger of going on her nose, and +pulling the other's down, to get a kiss on the long +sallow cheek. “She said it very distinctly, Alexia, +and all the girls talked about it afterward.”</p> + +<p>“Well, she's a dear old thing,” exclaimed +Alexia, with remorseful little pangs at the memory +of certain episodes at the “Salisbury School,” +“and I shall try—oh, Polly, I'll try so hard to +be nice and please her.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span></p> + +<p>Polly gave her two or three little pats on her +back.</p> + +<p>“And don't you think,” cried Polly, flying off +to brush her hair, and calling back through the +open door, “that the boys are going to have +their club meet with ours. Just think of that!”</p> + +<p>“Oh Polly!” Alexia came flying in, brush in +hand. “You <i>don't</i> really mean it!”</p> + +<p>“I do. Jasper just told me so. Well, hurry, +Alexia, else we'll be late,” warned Polly, brushing +away vigorously. “Yes, Phronsie,”—for +Phronsie had gone off for Jane to put on a clean +apron,—“we're ready now—that is, almost.”</p> + +<p>“When—when?” Polly could hear Alexia +frantically asking, as she rushed back into her +room, which was next to Polly's own.</p> + +<p>“Oh, just as soon as you are able,” called +Polly. “Now don't ask any more questions, +Alexia,” she begged merrily. “Yes, Mamsie, +we're coming!”</p> + +<br /> + +<p>That afternoon, Percy and Joel were rushing +back to school from an errand down to the village, +and hurrying along with an awful feeling +that the half-past-five bell in the big tower on +the playground would strike in a minute.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span></p> + +<p>“Hold on,” called Percy, considerably in the +rear; “how you get over the ground, Joe!”</p> + +<p>“And you're such a snail,” observed Joel +pleasantly. Nevertheless he paused.</p> + +<p>“What's that?” pricking up his ears.</p> + +<p>“I don't hear anything.” Percy came up +panting.</p> + +<p>“Of course not, when you're puffing like a +grampus.”</p> + +<p>“What's a grampus?” asked Percy irritably.</p> + +<p>“I don't know,” said Joel honestly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I wouldn't say words I didn't know +what they meant,” said Percy in a patronizing +tone, and trying not to realize that he was very +hot.</p> + +<p>“Well, do keep still, will you!” roared Joel. +“There, there it is again.” He stooped down, +and peered within a hedge. “Something's crying +in here.”</p> + +<p>“You'll get your eyes scratched out, most +likely, by an old, cross cat,” suggested Percy.</p> + +<p>Joel, who cared very little for that or any +warning, was now on his knees. “Oh whickets!” +he exclaimed, dragging out a small yellow dog, +who, instead of struggling, wormed himself all +up against his rescuer, whining pitifully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span></p> + +<p>“He's hurt,” declared Joel, tossing back his +stubby locks, and patting the dog, who stopped +whining, and licked him all over, as much of his +face and hands as he could reach.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that dirty thing—faugh! How can you, +Joel Pepper!” cried Percy in distress.</p> + +<p>But Joel didn't even hear him, being occupied +in setting the dog on the ground to try his paces.</p> + +<p>“No, he's not hurt, after all, I guess,” he decided, +“but look at his ribs,—he's half starved.”</p> + +<p>“I don't want to look at them,” said Percy, +turning his back, “and you ought to let him +alone; that bell will ring in half a second, Joel +Pepper!”</p> + +<p>“True enough!” cried Joel. “Come on, +Perky,” this being the school name of the older +Whitney, and he picked up the dog, and shot off.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do with that dog?” +yelled Percy after him. But as well talk to the +wind, as Joel arrived hot and breathless at the +big door long before him.</p> + +<p>Luckily for him, none of the boys were about; +and Joel, cramming the dog well under his +jacket, plunged up the stairs, and down the hall +to his room.</p> + +<p>“Joe!” roared two or three voices; but he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> +turned a deaf ear, and got in safely; slammed to +the door, and then drew a long breath.</p> + +<p>“<i>Whew!</i> Almost caught that time,” was all +he had the wind to say. “Well, now, it's good +Dave isn't in, 'cause I can tell him slowly, and +get him used to it.” All this time he was drawing +out his dog from its place of refuge, and putting +it first on the bed, then on the floor, to study +it better.</p> + +<p>It certainly was as far removed from being +even a good-looking dog as possible. Having +never in its life had the good fortune to hear its +pedigree spoken of, it was simply an ill-favored +cur that looked as if it had exchanged the +back yard of a tenement house for the greater +dangers of the open street. Its yellow neck was +marked where a cruel cord had almost worn into +the flesh, and every one of its ribs stuck out as +Joel had said, till they insisted on being counted +by a strict observer.</p> + +<p>Joel threw his arms around the beast. “Oh +dear!” he groaned, “you're starved to death. +What have I got to give you?” He wrinkled his +forehead in great distress. “Oh goody!” He +snatched the dog up, and bore him to the closet, +then pulled down a box from the shelf above.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> +“Mamsie's cake—how prime!” And not stopping +to cut a piece, he broke off a goodly wedge. +“Now then, get in with you,” and he thrust him +deep into one corner, cramming the cake up to +his nose. “Stay there on my side, and don't +get over on Dave's shoes. <i>Whee!</i>”</p> + +<p>The dog, in seizing the cake, had taken Joel's +thumb as well.</p> + +<p>“Let go there,” cried Joel; “well, you can't +swallow my thumb,” as the cake disappeared in +one lump; and he gave a sigh for the plums +with which Mamsie always liberally supplied the +school cakes, now disappearing so fast, as much +as for the nip he had received.</p> + +<p>The dog turned his black, beady eyes sharply +for more cake. When he saw that it wasn't +coming, he licked Joel's thumb; and in his +cramped quarters on top of a heap of shoes and +various other things not exactly classified, he +tried hard to wag his stump of a tail.</p> + +<p>“Whickets! there goes that bell! Now see +here, don't you dare to stir for your life! You've +got to stay in this closet till to-morrow—then +I'll see what to do for you. Lie down, I tell +you.”</p> + +<p>There was a small scuffle; and then the dog,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> +realizing here was a master, curled himself on +top of some tennis shoes, and looked as if he held +his breath.</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Joel, with an approving pat. +“Now don't you yip, even if Dave opens this +door.” Then he shut it carefully, and rushed +off down to the long dining-room to the crowd of +boys.</p> + +<p>Joel ate his supper as rapidly as possible, lost +to the chatter going on around him. He imagined, +in his feverishness, that he heard faint +“yaps” every now and then; and he almost expected +to see everybody lay down knife and fork.</p> + +<p>“What's the matter with you?” He was +aroused by seeing the boy next to him lean forward +to peer into his face. And in a minute he +was conscious that on the other side he was just +as much of an object of attention. He buried +his face in his glass of milk; but when he took it +out, they were staring still the same.</p> + +<p>“Ugh! stop your looking at me,” growled Joel.</p> + +<p>“What's the matter with you, anyway?” asked +the other boy.</p> + +<p>“Get away—nothing,” said Joel crossly, and +bestowing as much of a kick as he dared on the +other boy's shin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span></p> + +<p>“Ow! There is too.”</p> + +<p>“You're awfully funny,” said the first boy, +“you haven't spoken a word since you sat down.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I ain't going to talk, if I don't want +to,” declared Joel. “Do stop, Fletcher; everybody's +looking.”</p> + +<p>But Fletcher wouldn't stop, and Joel had the +satisfaction of seeing the whole table, with the +under-teacher, Mr. Harrow, at the head, making +him, between their mouthfuls, the centre +of observation. The only alleviation of this +misery was that Percy was at another table, and +with his back to him.</p> + +<p>David looked across in a worried way. “Are +you sick, Joe?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“No.” Joel laughed, and began to eat busily. +When he saw that, David gave a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harrow was telling something just then +that seemed of more than common interest, and +the boys, hearing Joel laugh once more, turned +off to listen. “Yes,” said the under-teacher, “it +was a dog that was—”</p> + +<p>“Ugh!” cried Joel. “Oh, beg pardon,” and +his face grew dreadfully red, as he tried to get +as small as possible on his chair.</p> + +<p>“It's a dog I used to own, Joel,” said Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> +Harrow, smiling at him. “And I taught him +tricks, several quite remarkable ones.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” mumbled Joel, taking a big bite of +his biscuit; and for the next quarter of an hour +he was safe, as the funny stories lasted till back +went the chairs, and the evening meal was over.</p> + +<p>To say that Joel's life was an easy one till bedtime, +would be very far from the truth. Strange +to say, David did not go to the closet once. To +be sure, there was a narrow escape that made +Joel's heart leap to his mouth.</p> + +<p>“Let's have Mamsie's cake, Joe, to-night,” +said David in an aside to him. The room was +full of boys; it was just before study hour, and +how to tell David of the dog, was racking Joe's +powers of mind.</p> + +<p>“Ugh!—no, not to-night, Dave.” He was so +very decided that although David was puzzled at +his manner, he gave it up without a question. +And then came study hour when all the boys +must be down in “Long Hall,” and Joel lingered +behind the others. “I'll be down in a minute.” +He flew over to the closet, broke off another generous +wedge of Mamsie's cake, stifling a second +sigh as he thought of the plums. “You haven't +eaten my half yet,” he said as the dog swallowed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> +it whole without winking. “Keep still now.” +He slammed to the door again, and was off, his +books under his arm.</p> + +<p>And after the two boys went up to bed, David +was too tired and sleepy to talk, and hopped +into his bed so quickly that long before Joel was +undressed he was off to dreamland.</p> + +<p>“That's good,—now I haven't got to tell him +till morning.” Joel went over to the other bed +in the corner, and listened to the regular breathing, +then tiptoed softly off to the closet, first +putting out the light. “I know what I'm going +to do.” He got down on all-fours, and put his +hand out softly over the pile of shoes, till he felt +the dog's mangy back. “I'm going to take you +in my bed; you'll smother in here. Now, sir!” +The dog was ready enough to be quiet, only occupied +in licking Joel's hands. So Joel jumped +into his bed, carrying his charge, and huddled +down under the clothes.</p> + +<p>After being quite sure that he was really to +remain in this paradise, the dog began to turn +around and around to find exactly the best position +in which to settle down for the night. +This took him so long, interrupted as the process +was with so many lickings of Joel's brown face,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> +that it looked as if neither would get very much +sleep that night; Joel, not averse to this lengthy +operation, hugging his dog and patting him, to +his complete demoralization just as he was +about to quiet down.</p> + +<p>At last even Joel was tired, and his eyes drooped. +“Now go to sleep”—with a final pat—“I'm +going to call you Sinbad.” Joel, having always +been mightily taken with Sinbad the Sailor, felt +that no other name could be quite good enough +for his new treasure. And Sinbad, realizing that +a call to repose had actually been given, curled +up, in as round a ball as he could, under Joel's +chin, and both were soon sound asleep.</p> + +<p>It was near the middle of the night. Joel had +been dreaming of his old menagerie and circus he +had once in the little brown house, in which there +were not only trained dogs who could do the most +wonderful things,—strange to say, now they were +all of them yellow, and had stumpy tails,—but +animals and reptiles of the most delightful variety, +never seen in any other show on earth; when a +noise, that at once suggested a boy screaming +“<i>Ow!</i>” struck upon his ear, and brought him +bolt upright in his bed. He pawed wildly around, +but Sinbad was nowhere to be found.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XI_THE_UNITED_CLUBS" id="XI_THE_UNITED_CLUBS"></a>XI THE UNITED CLUBS</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he whole dormitory was in an uproar. +“<i>Ow!</i> help—help!” Mr. Harrow, having +gone out after dinner, had retired late, and +was now sound asleep, so another instructor +scaled the stairs, getting there long before Mrs. +Fox, the matron, could put in an appearance.</p> + +<p>In the babel, it was somewhat difficult to locate +the boy who had screamed out. At last, “In +there, Farnham's room,” cried several voices at +once.</p> + +<p>“Nightmare, I suppose,” said the instructor to +himself, dashing in.</p> + +<p>But it was a real thing he soon saw, as a knot +of boys huddled around the bed, where the terrified +occupant still sat, drawing up his knees to +his chin, and screaming all sorts of things, in +which “wild beast” and “cold nose” was all +that could be distinguished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="500" height="315" alt="JUST THEN SOMETHING SKIMMED OUT FROM THE CORNER." title="JUST THEN SOMETHING SKIMMED OUT FROM THE CORNER." /> +<span class="caption">JUST THEN SOMETHING SKIMMED OUT FROM THE CORNER.</span> +</div> + +<p>“Stop this noise!” commanded the instructor, +who had none of Mr. Harrow's pleasant but decided +ways for quelling an incipient riot. So +they bawled on, the boy in bed yelling that he +wouldn't be left alone.</p> + +<p>Just then something skimmed out from the +corner; the boys flew to one side, showing a tendency +to find the door. Even the instructor +jumped. Then he bethought himself to light the +gas, which brought out the fact that there certainly +was an animal in the room, as they could +hear it now under the bed.</p> + +<p>“Boys, be quiet. Mrs. Fox's cat has got up +here, probably,” said the instructor. But the +boy in the bed protested that it wasn't a cat +that had waked him up by thrusting a cold nose +in his face, and jumping on top of him. And +he huddled worse than ever now that it was +under him; yet afraid to step out on the floor.</p> + +<p>Even the instructor did not offer to look under +the bed, when Joel Pepper rushed in, his black +eyes gleaming. “Oh, it's my dog!” he cried.</p> + +<p>“It's Joe Pepper's dog!” cried the whole roomful, +nearly tumbling over each other.</p> + +<p>“And when did you begin to keep a dog, Joel +Pepper?” hurled the instructor at him, too angry +for anything, that he hadn't impressed the boys +with his courage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span></p> + +<p>But Joel was occupied in ramming his body +under the bed as far as possible. “Here, Sinbad,” +and he presently emerged with a very red +face, and Sinbad safely in his arms, who seemed +perfectly delighted to get into his old refuge +again. David had now joined the group, as +much aghast as every other spectator.</p> + +<p>“Do you hear me, Joel Pepper?” thundered +the instructor again. “When did you get that +dog?” This brought Joel to.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I haven't had him long, sir,” he said, +and trembling for Sinbad, as he felt in every +fibre of his being that the beast's fate was sealed, +unless he could win over the irritated teacher. +“He's a poor dog I—I found, sir,” wishing he +could think of the right words, and knowing that +every word he uttered only made matters worse.</p> + +<p>“David,” cried the instructor, catching Davie's +eye, down by the door, “do you know anything +about this dog?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir,” said David, all in a tremble, and +wishing he could say something to help Joel out.</p> + +<p>“Well, now, you wait a minute.” The instructor, +feeling that here was a chance to impress +the boys with his executive ability, looked +about over the table where Farnham's schoolbooks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> +were thrown. “Got a bit of string? No—oh, +yes. “He pounced on a piece, and came +over to Joel and the dog.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do, sir?” Joel hung +to Sinbad with a tighter grip than ever.</p> + +<p>“Never mind; it's not for you to question me,” +said the instructor, with great authority.</p> + +<p>But Joel edged away. Visions of being expelled +from Dr. Marks' school swam before his +eyes, and he turned very white.</p> + +<p>David plunged through the crowd of boys, +absolutely still with the excitement. “Oh Joel,” +he begged hoarsely, “let Mr. Parr do as he +wants to. Mamsie would say so.”</p> + +<p>Joel turned at that. “Don't hurt him,” he +begged. “Don't, please, Mr. Parr.”</p> + +<p>“I shall not hurt him,” said Mr. Parr, putting +the cord about the dog's neck, and holding the +other end, after it was knotted fast. “I am +going to tie him in the area till morning. Here +you, sir,” as Sinbad showed lively intentions +toward his captor's legs, with a backward glance +at his late master.</p> + +<p>“Oh, if you'll let me keep him in my room, Mr. +Parr,” cried Joel, tumbling over to the instructor, +who was executing a series of remarkable steps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> +as he dragged Sinbad off, “I'll—I'll be just as +good—just till the morning, sir. Oh, <i>please</i>, +Mr. Parr—I'll study, and get my lessons better, +I truly will,” cried poor Joel, unable to promise +anything more difficult of performance.</p> + +<p>“You'll have to study better anyway, Joel +Pepper,” said Mr. Parr grimly, as he and Sinbad +disappeared down the stairway. “Every +boy get back to his room,” was the parting +command.</p> + +<p>No need to tell Joel. He dashed through the +ranks, and flung himself into his bed, dragged +up the clothes well over his stubby head, and +cried as if his heart would break.</p> + +<p>“Joel—Joel—oh, Joey!” begged David +hoarsely, and running to precipitate himself by +his side. But Joel only burrowed deeper and +sobbed on.</p> + +<p>And Davie, trying to keep awake, to give possible +comfort, at last tumbled asleep, when Joel +with a flood of fresh sorrow rolled over as near +to the wall as he could get, and tried to hold in +his sobs.</p> + +<p>As soon as he dared the next morning, Joel +hopped over David still asleep, and out of bed; +jumped into his clothes, and ran softly downstairs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> +There in the area was Sinbad, who had +evidently concluded to make the best of it, and +accept the situation, for he was curled up in as +small a compass as possible, and was even attempting +a little sleep.</p> + +<p>“I won't let him see me,” said Joel to himself, +“but as soon as Dr. Marks is up”—and he +glanced over at the master's house for any sign +of things beginning to move for the day—“and +dressed, why, I'll go and ask him—” what, he +didn't dare to say, for Joel hadn't been able, with +all his thinking, to devise any plan whereby +Sinbad could be saved.</p> + +<p>“But perhaps Dr. Marks will know,” he kept +thinking; and after a while the shades were drawn +up at the red brick house across the yard, the +housemaid came out to brush off the steps, and +various other indications showed that the master +was beginning to think of the new day and its +duties.</p> + +<p>Joel plunged across the yard. It was awful, +he knew, to intrude at the master's house before +breakfast. But by that time—oh, dreadful!—Sinbad +would probably be beyond the help of +any rescuing hand, for Mr. Parr would, without +a doubt, deliver him to the garbage man to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> +hauled off. And Joel, with no thought of consequences +to himself, plunged recklessly on.</p> + +<p>“Is Dr. Marks up?” he demanded of the +housemaid, who only stared at him, and went on +with her work of sweeping off the steps. “Is +Dr. Marks up?” cried Joel, his black eyes flashing, +and going halfway up.</p> + +<p>“Yes; but what of it?” cried the housemaid +airily, leaning on her broom a minute.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I must see him,” cried Joel, bounding +into the hall. It was such a cry of distress that +it penetrated far within the house.</p> + +<p>“Oh my! you outrageous boy!” exclaimed the +housemaid, shaking her broom at him. “You +come right out.”</p> + +<p>Meantime a voice said, “What is it?” And +there was Dr. Marks in dressing gown and slippers +looking over the railing at the head of the +stairs.</p> + +<p>“Oh Dr. Marks, Dr. Marks!” Joel, not giving +himself time to think, dashed over the stairs, +to look up into the face under the iron-gray hair.</p> + +<p>The master could scarcely conceal his amazement, +but he made a brave effort at self-control.</p> + +<p>“Why, Pepper!” he exclaimed, and there was +a good deal of displeasure in face and manner; so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> +much so that Joel's knees knocked smartly together, +and everything swam before his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Well, what did you want to see me for, Pepper?” +Dr. Marks was inquiring, so Joel blurted +out, “A dog, sir.”</p> + +<p>“A <i>dog</i>?” repeated Dr. Marks, and now he +showed his amazement and displeasure as well. +“And is this what you have interrupted me to +say, at this unseasonable hour, Joel Pepper?”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Joel, and then he broke right +down, and went flat on the stairs, crying as if his +heart would break. And Mrs. Marks threw on +her pretty blue wrapper in a dreadful tremor, and +rushed out with restoratives; and the housemaid +who shook her broom at Joel, ran on remorseful +feet for a glass of water, and the master's whole +house was in a ferment. But Dr. Marks waved +them all aside. “The boy needs nothing,” he +said. “Come, Joel.” He took his hand, all +grimy and streaked, and looked at his poor, +swollen eyelids and nose, over which the tears +were still falling, and in a minute he had him in +his own private study, with the door shut.</p> + +<p>When he emerged a quarter-hour after, Joel was +actually smiling. He had hold of the master's +hand, and clutched in his other fist was a note,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span> +somewhat changed in appearance from its immaculate +condition when delivered by Dr. Marks +to the bearer.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” Joel was saying, “I'll do it all just +as you say, sir.” And he ran like lightning +across the yard.</p> + +<p>The note put into the instructor's hand, made +him change countenance more than once in the +course of its reading. It simply said, for it was +very short, that the dog was to be delivered to +Joel Pepper, who was to bring it to the master's +house; and although there wasn't a line or even +a word to show any disapproval of his course, +Mr. Parr felt, as he set about obeying it, as if +somehow he had made a little mistake somewhere.</p> + +<p>All Joel thought of, however, was to get possession +of Sinbad. And when once he had the +cord in his hand, he untied it with trembling +fingers, Sinbad, in his transport, hampering the +operation dreadfully by bobbing his head about +in his violent efforts to lick Joel's face and hands, +for he had about given up in despair the idea of +ever seeing him again.</p> + +<p>“He's glad to go, isn't he, Joel?” observed the +instructor, to break the ice, and make conversation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span></p> + +<p>But no such effort was necessary, for Joel +looked up brightly. “Isn't he, sir? Now say +good-bye.” At last the string was loose, and +dangling to the hook in the area wall, and Joel +held the dog up, and stuck out his paw.</p> + +<p>“Good-bye,” said Mr. Parr, laughing as he +took it, and quite relieved to find that relations +were not strained after all, as Joel, hugging his +dog, sped hastily across the yard again to the +master's house.</p> + +<p>Dr. Marks never told how very ugly he found +the dog, but, summoning the man who kept his +garden and lawn in order, he consigned Sinbad +to his care, with another note.</p> + +<p>“Now, Joel,” he said, “you know this payment +comes every week out of your allowance for +this dog's keeping, eh? It is clearly understood, +Joel?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, sir—yes!” shouted Joel.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps we'll be able to find a good home for +him. Well, good-bye, Sinbad,” said the master, +as Sinbad, with the gardener's hand over his eyes, +so that he could not see Joel, was marched off, +Dr. Marks from the veranda charging that the +note be delivered and read before leaving the +dog.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, I'm going to take him home at vacation,” +announced Joel decidedly.</p> + +<p>“Indeed! Well, now, perhaps your grandfather +won't care for him; you must not count +too much upon it, my boy.” All the control in +the world could not keep the master from smiling +now.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I guess he will.” Joel was in no wise +disturbed by the doubt.</p> + +<p>“Well, run along to breakfast with you, Pepper,” +cried Dr. Marks good-humoredly, “and +the next time you come over to see me, don't +bring any more dogs.”</p> + +<p>So Joel, in high good spirits, and thinking how +he would soon run down to the little old cobbler's +where the master had sent the dog, chased +off across the yard once more, and slipped in to +breakfast with a terrible appetite, and a manner +as if nothing especial had happened the preceding +night.</p> + +<p>And all the boys rubbed their eyes, particularly +as Joel and Mr. Parr seemed to be on the +best of terms. And once when something was +said about a dog by Mr. Harrow, who hadn't +heard anything of the midnight tumult in the +dormitory, and was for continuing the account of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> +his trained pet, the other under-teacher and Joel +Pepper indulged in smiles and nods perfectly +mystifying to all the other people at the table, +David included.</p> + +<p>David, when he woke up, which was quite +late, to find Joel gone, had been terribly frightened. +But chancing to look out of the window, +he saw him racing across the yard, and watching +closely, he discovered that he had something in +his arms, and that he turned in to the master's +house.</p> + +<p>“I can't do anything now,” said Davie to himself +in the greatest distress; yet somehow when +he came to think of it, it seemed to be with a +great deal of hope since Dr. Marks was to be +appealed to. And when breakfast-time came, +and with it Joel so blithe and hungry, David fell +to on his own breakfast with a fine appetite.</p> + +<br /> + +<p>All the boys of the club, not one to be reported +absent, presented themselves at Mr. +King's on club night. And all the members of +the “Salisbury School Club” came promptly together, +with one new member, Cathie Harrison, +who, at Polly's suggestion, had been voted in at +the last meeting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span></p> + +<p>Alexia still had her arm in a sling; and indeed +she was quite willing it should remain so, for +she was in constant terror that her aunt, who +had been persuaded to leave her, would insist on +the return home. So Alexia begged off at every +mention of the subject, as Grandpapa King and +Mother Fisher were very glad to have the visit +lengthened. She was as gay as ever, and to-night +was quite in her element; it had been so +long since she had had a good time.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jasper,” she cried, “can we all get into +your den?”</p> + +<p>“I think so,” said Jasper, who had already +settled all that with Polly, counting every member +as coming, in order to make no mistake, +“we're to have the business-meeting in there, +Alexia; and after that, father has invited us in +to the drawing-room.”</p> + +<p>“What richness!” exclaimed Alexia, sinking +into one of the library chairs to pull out her +skirts and play with her rings. “Oh, Jasper +King, I shouldn't think you'd ever in all this +world get used to living in this perfectly exquisite +house.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I've always lived here, Alexia,” said +Jasper with a laugh, “so I suppose that is the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> +reason I'm not overwhelmed now. Oh, here +comes Clare. All right, old fellow, glad you've +come. Now I'll call the meeting to order.” For +Clare was the secretary.</p> + +<p>And the rest of the boys and girls assembling, +the business-meeting was soon begun in the +“den,” Jasper who was the president of the boys' +club, flourishing his gavel in great style.</p> + +<p>“Now we've come together,” announced the +president after the regular business was disposed +of, “to get up a plan by which we can +accomplish something more than merely to have +a good time.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” interrupted Clare, “we want a +good time.”</p> + +<p>“For shame!” Jasper pounded his gavel to +restore order. “And to begin with, it is as well +to announce at once that all unruly members will +be put out,” with a stern glance at the secretary.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear me!” exclaimed Clare, huddling +down into his big chair.</p> + +<p>“Go along, Prex,” said Pickering, coming over +from the other side of the room, “I'll sit on that +old secretary if he makes any more trouble.”</p> + +<p>“Get away!” laughed Clare; “that's worse +than being put out.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, I'll sit on you first, and then I'll carry +out the pieces afterward. Sail on, Prexy, they +all want the plan.”</p> + +<p>“Well”—the president cleared his throat—“hem! +And in order to do good work, why we +had to ask the girls' club to come to this meeting, +and—”</p> + +<p>“Not necessarily,” put in Clare.</p> + +<p>Pickering pounced for him, but instead of sitting +on him, his long figure doubled up in the +big chair, while the secretary slipped neatly out.</p> + +<p>“Ha, ha! did you ever get left?” giggled Clare, +at a safe distance.</p> + +<p>“Many a time, my dear child,” said Pickering +coolly, leaning back restfully, “but never in such +a good seat. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Proceed, +Prexy.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you, Pickering,” cried Alexia, while +the laugh went around.</p> + +<p>“Order!” cried Jasper, pounding away. “Now +that our troublesome secretary is quieted, I will +proceed to say that as we want the plan to succeed, +we invited the Salisbury Club this evening.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Mr. President,” the girls clapped +vigorously.</p> + +<p>“So now after I tell you of the object, I want<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> +you to express your minds about the various +plans that will be laid before you.” Then Jasper +told the story of Jim, the brakeman; and how +Grandpapa and Polly and he had gone to the +poor home, thanks to the little clerk; and how +the three boys who were waiting for education +and the girl who was crazy to take music-lessons, +to say nothing of the two mites of children toddling +around, made the poor widow almost +frantic as she thought of their support; until +some of the girls were sniffling and hunting for +their handkerchiefs, and the boys considerately +turned away and wouldn't look at them.</p> + +<p>“Now you tell the rest, Polly,” cried Jasper, +quite tired out.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, you tell,” said Polly, who dearly +loved to hear Jasper talk.</p> + +<p>“Do, Polly,” and he pushed the hair off from +his forehead. So, as she saw he really wanted +her to, Polly began with shining eyes, and glowing +cheeks, to finish the story.</p> + +<p>And she told how Grandpapa had ordered provisions +and coal for the poor widow enough for +many months to come; and how—oh, wasn't +that perfectly splendid in dear Grandpapa?—he +had promised that the little girl (Arethusa was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span> +her name) should take music-lessons from one of +the teachers in the city. And Polly clasped her +hands and sighed, quite unable to do more.</p> + +<p>“And what do you want us to do?” cried the +secretary forgetting all about losing his seat, to +crowd up to the table. “Say, if that family has +got all that richness, what do you want the club +to do?”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said Polly turning her shining eyes on +him, “there are ever and ever so many things +the boys and that girl will need, and Grandpapa +says that they'll think a great deal more of help, +if some young people take hold of it. And so +I'm sure I should,” she added.</p> + +<p>“It strikes me that I should, too,” declared +Pickering, all his laziness gone. And getting his +long figure out of the chair, he cried, “I move, +Mr. President, that we,”—here he waved his +hands in a sweeping gesture,—“the Salisbury +Club and our club, unite in a plan to do something +for that family.”</p> + +<p>“I second the motion,” the secretary cried out, +much to everybody's surprise, for Polly was all +ready to do it if no one else offered to. So the +vote was carried unanimously amid the greatest +enthusiasm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span></p> + +<p>“Now what shall we do?” cried the president, +jumping to his feet. “Let us strike while the +iron is hot. What shall we do to raise money?”</p> + +<p>“You said you had plans,” cried one of the +girls.</p> + +<p>“Yes—tell on,” cried several boys.</p> + +<p>“Well, one is, that we have a play,” began +Jasper.</p> + +<p>“Oh—oh!”</p> + +<p>Old Mr. King, over his evening paper off in +the library, laid it down, and smiled at the merry +din that reached him even at such a distance.</p> + +<p>“And another,” cried the president, doing his +best to make himself heard.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we don't want another,” cried Clare, in +which the united clubs joined.</p> + +<p>“Don't you want to hear any other plans?” +shouted the president.</p> + +<p>“No, no—the play! Put it to vote, do, Jasper—I +mean, Mr. President,” cried Alexia.</p> + +<p>So the vote was taken, and everybody said, +“Aye,” and as there wasn't a single “No,” why +the “ayes” had it of course. And after that they +talked so long over the general plan, that old Mr. +King at last had to send a very special invitation +to come out to the dining-room. And there was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> +Mother Fisher and Mrs. Whitney and the little +doctor and a most splendid collation! And then +off to the big drawing-room to top off with a +dance, with one or two musicians tucked up by +the grand piano, and Grandpapa smiling in great +satisfaction upon them all.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XII_SOME_EVERY-DAY_FUN" id="XII_SOME_EVERY-DAY_FUN"></a>XII SOME EVERY-DAY FUN</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“I</span>t can't rain,” cried Polly Pepper, “and it +isn't going to. Don't think it, girls.”</p> + +<p>“But it looks just like it,” said Alexia obstinately, +and wrinkling up her brows; “see those +awful, horrid clouds, girls.” She pointed tragically +up to the sky.</p> + +<p>“Don't look at them,” advised Polly. “Come +on, girls. I challenge you to a race as far as the +wicket gate.”</p> + +<p>Away she dashed, with a bevy at her heels. +Alexia, not to be left behind staring at the sky, +went racing after.</p> + +<p>“Wait,” she screamed. The racers, however, +spent no time attending to laggards, but ran on.</p> + +<p>Polly dashed ahead, and touched the green +wicket gate. “Oh, Polly got there first!” Almost +immediately came another girl's fingers on +it.</p> + +<p>“No—I don't think so,” panted Polly. “Philena +got there just about as soon.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, you were first,” said the girl who plunged +up next; “I saw it distinctly.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it was so near that we ought to have +another race to decide it,” declared Polly, with +a little laugh, pushing back the damp rings of +hair from her forehead. “Girls, isn't it lovely +that we have this splendid place where we can +run, and nobody see us?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Alexia, throwing herself down on +the grass; which example was immediately followed +by all the other girls. “I just love this +avenue down to the wicket gate, Polly Pepper.”</p> + +<p>“So do I,” chimed in the others.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me! I'm just toasted and fried,” +declared Alexia. “I never <i>was</i> so hot in all my +life.”</p> + +<p>“You shouldn' have run so, Alexia,” said +Polly reproachfully, patting the arm still in its +sling. “Oh, how could you!”</p> + +<p>“Well, did you suppose I was going to see you +all sprinting off and having such fun, and not +try it too? No, indeed; that's asking too much, +Polly.”</p> + +<p>Then she threw herself at full length on the +grass, and gazed at her meditatively.</p> + +<p>“Well, we mustn't have the second race, Philena,”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> +said Polly; “because if Alexia runs again, +it surely will hurt her.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Ow!</i>” exclaimed Alexia, flouncing up so suddenly +that she nearly overthrew Amy Garrett, +who was sitting next, and who violently protested +against such treatment, “now I won't keep you +back, Polly. Oh dear me! it can't hurt me a +single bit. I'm all ready to take off this horrible +old thing, you know I am, only Dr. Fisher +thought—”</p> + +<p>“He thought it would be safer to keep it on +till after the picnic,” Polly was guilty of interrupting. +“You know he said so, Alexia. No, +we won't run again, girls,” Polly brought up +quite decidedly.</p> + +<p>“Polly, you shall; I won't run—I really +won't; I'll shut my eyes,” and Alexia squinted up +her pale eyes till her face was drawn up in a +knot. “I'll turn my back, I'll do anything if +you'll only race; <i>please</i> try it again, Polly.”</p> + +<p>So Polly, seeing that Alexia really wished it, +dropped a kiss on each of the closed eyes. “Put +your hand over them, and untwist your face +from that funny knot,” she laughed. “Come +on, girls,” and the race began.</p> + +<p>Alexia twisted and wriggled, as the pattering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> +feet and quick breath of the girls when they +neared her resting place, plunged her in dreadful +distress not to look. “Oh dear—um! if I could +just see once; um—<i>um</i>! I know Polly will +win; oh dear! She <i>must</i>.”</p> + +<p>But she didn't. It was Cathie Harrison, the +new girl; that is, new to them, as they hadn't +drawn her into their set, but a few weeks. She +was a tall, thin girl, who got over the ground +amazingly, to touch the green wicket gate certainly +three seconds before Polly Pepper came +flying up.</p> + +<p>“You did that just splendidly, Cathie,” cried +Polly breathlessly. “Oh dear me, that <i>was</i> a +race!”</p> + +<p>“Goodness me!” cried Alexia, her eyes flying +open, “my face never'll get out of that knot in +all this world. My! I feel as if my jaws were +all tied up. Well, Polly, this time you beat for +sure,” she added confidently, as the girls came +running up to throw themselves on the grass +again.</p> + +<p>“But I didn't,” said Polly merrily. “Oh +dear! I <i>am</i> so hot.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you did,” declared Alexia stubbornly.</p> + +<p>“Why, Alexia Rhys! I didn't beat, any such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> +a thing,” corrected Polly—“not a single bit of +it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, who did, then?” demanded Alexia, +quite angry to have Polly defeated.</p> + +<p>“Why, Cathie did,” said Polly, smiling over at +her.</p> + +<p>“What, that old—” then Alexia pulled herself +up; but it was too late.</p> + +<p>A dull red mounted to Cathie's sallow cheek, +that hadn't changed color during all the two +races. She drew a long breath, then got up +slowly to her feet.</p> + +<p>“I'm going to play bean-bags,” announced +Polly briskly. “Come on, girls. See who'll get +to the house first.”</p> + +<p>“I'm going home,” said Cathie, hurrying up to +wedge herself into the group, and speaking to +Polly. “Good-bye.”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Polly, “we're going to play bean-bags. +Come on, Cathie.” She tried to draw +Cathie's hand within her arm, but the girl pulled +herself away. “I must go home—” and she +started off.</p> + +<p>“Cathie—<i>Cathie</i>, wait,” but again Cathie beat +her on a swift run down the avenue.</p> + +<p>Alexia stuffed her fingers, regardless of arm in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> +the sling, or anything, into her mouth, and rolled +over in dreadful distress, face downward on the +grass. The other girls stood in a frightened little +knot, just where they were, without moving, as +Polly came slowly back down the avenue. She +was quite white now. “Oh dear!” groaned Philena, +“look at Polly!”</p> + +<p>Alexia heard it, and stuffed her fingers worse +than ever into her mouth to keep herself from +screaming outright, and wriggled dreadfully. +But no one paid any attention to her. She knew +that Polly had joined the girls now; she could +hear them talking, and Polly was saying, in a +sad little voice, “Yes, I'm afraid she won't ever +come with us again.”</p> + +<p>“She must, she shall!” howled Alexia, rolling +over, and sitting up straight. “Oh Polly, she +shall!” and she wrung her long hands as well +as she could for the arm in the sling.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, I am afraid not, Alexia,” and her +head drooped; no one would have thought for a +moment that it was Polly Pepper speaking.</p> + +<p>And then Amy Garrett said the very worst +thing possible: “And just think of that picnic!” +And after that remark, the whole knot of girls +was plunged into the depths of gloom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span></p> + +<p>Jasper, running down the avenue with Pickering +Dodge at his heels, found them so, and was +transfixed with astonishment. “Well, I declare!” +He burst into a merry laugh.</p> + +<p>“You look like a lot of wax figures,” said +Pickering pleasantly; “just about as interesting.” +Then they saw Polly Pepper's face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what is it?” cried Jasper, starting forward.</p> + +<p>Polly tried to speak cheerfully, but the lump +in her throat wouldn't let her say a word.</p> + +<p>“If you boys must know,” said Alexia, flouncing +up to her feet, “I've been bad and perfectly +horrid to that Harrison girl; and I've upset everything; +and—and—do go right straight away, +both of you, and not stand there staring. I don't +think it's very polite.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Polly,” cried Jasper, gaining her side, +“can't we help?” He was dreadfully distressed. +“Do let us.”</p> + +<p>Polly shook her head. “No, Jasper, there isn't +anything you can do,” she said brokenly.</p> + +<p>Pickering thrust his hands in his pockets, and +whistled softly. “Girls always get into such +rows,” he observed.</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess we don't get into worse ones<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> +than you boys do, nor half as bad,” cried Alexia +crossly, perfectly wild to quarrel with somebody. +“And, besides, this isn't the other girls' fault. +It's all my fight from beginning to end.”</p> + +<p>“Then you ought to be perfectly ashamed of +yourself, Alexia,” declared Pickering, not intending +to mince matters in the slightest.</p> + +<p>“Well, I am,” said Alexia, “just as ashamed +as I can be. Oh dear me! I wish I could cry. +But I'm too bad to cry. Polly Pepper, I'm going +to run after that horrible Harrison girl. Oh +misery! I wish she never had come to the Salisbury +School.” Alexia made a mad rush down +the avenue.</p> + +<p>“Don't, Alexia, you'll hurt your arm,” warned +Polly.</p> + +<p>“I don't care—I hope I shall,” cried Alexia +recklessly.</p> + +<p>“It's no use to try to stop her,” said Jasper, +“so let us go up to the house, Polly.”</p> + +<p>So they started dismally enough, the girls, all +except Polly, going over in sorry fashion how +Cathie Harrison would probably make a fuss +about the little affair—she was doubtless on her +way to Miss Salisbury's now—and then perhaps +there wouldn't be any picnic at all on the morrow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> +At this, Philena stopped short. “Girls, +that would be too dreadful,” she gasped, “for +anything!”</p> + +<p>“Well, it would be just like her,” said Silvia +Horne, “and I wish we never had taken her into +our set. She's an old moping thing, and can't +bear a word.”</p> + +<p>“I wish so too,” declared Amy Garrett positively; +“she doesn't belong with us; and she's +always going to make trouble. And I hope she +won't go to the picnic anyway, if we do have it, +so there.”</p> + +<p>“I don't think that is the way to mend the +matter, Amy,” said Jasper gravely.</p> + +<p>“Hoh, hoh!” exclaimed Pickering, “how you +girls can go on so, I don't see; talking forever +about one thing, instead of just settling it with a +few fisticuffs. That would be comfortable now.”</p> + +<p>The girls, one and all, turned a cold shoulder +to him after this speech.</p> + +<p>“Well, we sha'n't get the picnic now, I know,” +said Philena tragically; “and think of all our +nice things ready. Dear me! our cook made me +the sweetest chocolate cakes, because we were +going to start so early in the morning. Now we'll +have them for dinner, and eat them up ourselves. +We might as well.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span></p> + +<p>“You better not,” advised Pickering. “Take +my advice; you'll get your picnic all right; then +where would you be with your cakes all eaten up?”</p> + +<p>“You don't know Miss Salisbury,” said Sally +Moore gloomily; “nothing would make her so +mad as to have us get up a fuss with a new +scholar. She was so pleased when Polly Pepper +invited that Harrison girl to come to our bee for +that poor family down South.”</p> + +<p>“And now, just think how we've initiated her +into our club!” said Lucy Bennett, with a sigh. +“Oh my goodness—look!”</p> + +<p>She pointed off down the avenue. All the +girls whirled around to stare. There were Alexia +and Cathie, coming toward them arm in arm.</p> + +<p>“Jasper”—Polly turned to him with shining +eyes—“see!” Then she broke away from them +all, and rushed to meet the two girls.</p> + +<p>“There isn't anybody going to say a word,” +announced Alexia, as the three girls came up to +the group, Polly Pepper in the middle, “because, +as I told you, it was all my fight, anyway. So, +Pickering, you needn't get ready to be disagreeable,” +she flashed over at him saucily.</p> + +<p>“I shall say just what I think,” declared Pickering +flatly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span></p> + +<p>“No doubt,” said Alexia sweetly, “but it +won't make a bit of difference. Well, now, +Polly, what shall we do? Do start us on something.”</p> + +<p>“We came, Pick and I,” announced Jasper, +“to ask you girls to have a game of bean-bags. +There's just time before dinner—on the south +lawn, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, good—good!” cried the girls, clapping +their hands. “Come on, Cathie,” said Philena +awkwardly, determined to break the ice at once.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Cathie, come on,” said Amy and Silvia, +trying to be very nice.</p> + +<p>Cathie just got her mouth ready to say, “No, +I thank you,” primly, thought better of it, and +before she quite realized it herself, there she was, +hurrying by a short cut across the grass to the +south lawn.</p> + +<p>“I'm going to stay with Alexia,” said Polly, +when they all reached there, and Jasper flew +over to pull out the bean-bags from their box +under the piazza. “Come on, Alexia, let's you +and I sit in the hammock and watch it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Polly, come and play,” begged Jasper, +pausing with his arms full. “Here, Pick, you +lazy dog. Help with these bags.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span></p> + +<p>“Can't,” said Polly, shaking her head. So +Alexia and she curled up in one of the hammocks.</p> + +<p>“I'm just dying to tell you all about it, Polly +Pepper,” said Alexia, pulling Polly's cheek down +to her own.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Polly happily, “and I can't wait +to hear it; and besides, you can't play bean-bags, +Alexia, with that arm. Well, do go on,” and +Polly was in quite a twitter for the story to begin.</p> + +<p>“You see,” said Alexia, “I knew something +desperate had got to be done, Polly, for she was +crying all over her best silk waist.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Polly, aghast.</p> + +<p>“Yes; she had sat down on the kitchen step.”</p> + +<p>“The kitchen step,” repeated Polly faintly.</p> + +<p>“Yes. I suppose she got beyond caring whether +the cook saw or not, she was feeling so very +badly. Well, there she was, and she didn't +hear me, so I just rushed up, or rather down +upon her, and then I screamed 'Ow!' And she +jumped up, and said, 'Oh, have you hurt your +arm?' And I held on to it hard, and made up +an awful face, oh, as bad as I could, and doubled +up; and the cook came to the door, and said could +she get me anything, and she was going to call<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> +Mrs. Fisher. That would have been terrible.” +Alexia broke off short, and drew a long breath at +her remembrance of the fright this suggestion +had given her. “And Cathie fell right on my +neck with, 'Oh, do forgive me,' and I said 'twas +my fault, and she said, no, she oughtn't to have +got mad, and I said she must hold her tongue.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Alexia!” cried Polly reprovingly.</p> + +<p>“I had to,” said Alexia serenely, “or we +should have gotten into another fight. And she +said she would, and I just took hold of her arm, +and dragged her down here. And I'm tired to +death,” finished Alexia plaintively.</p> + +<p>“Alexia,” exclaimed Polly, cuddling up the +long figure in a way to give perfect satisfaction, +“we must make Cathie Harrison have the best +time that she ever had, at the picnic to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so,” said Alexia resignedly. “Well, +but don't let's think of it now, for I've got you, +Polly, and I want to rest.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XIII_THE_PICNIC" id="XIII_THE_PICNIC"></a>XIII THE PICNIC</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he four barges were to leave the “Salisbury +School” at precisely half-past eight +o'clock the next morning. Miss Salisbury was +always very particular about being prompt, so +woe be to any girl who might be late! There +was great scurrying, therefore, to and fro in the +homes of the day scholars. And the girls hurried +off with maids behind carrying their baskets; or, +as the case might be, big family carriages filled +with groups of girls collected among those of a +set; or in little pony carriages. All this made +the thoroughfares adjacent to the “Salisbury +School” extremely busy places indeed.</p> + +<p>Mother Fisher sent Polly's basket over to the +school, at an early hour, Polly preferring to walk, +several of the girls having called for her. So they +all, with Jasper, who was going as far as the +corner with them, set out amidst a chatter of +merry nonsense.</p> + +<p>“Oh girls, I <i>am</i> so glad we are going to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span> +Glen!” exclaimed Polly, for about the fiftieth +time.</p> + +<p>“So am I,” cried all the others in a chorus.</p> + +<p>“Why, you haven't ever been to any other +place for your picnic, have you, Polly?” cried +Jasper, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“No,” said Polly, “we never have. But suppose +Miss Salisbury had decided to try some +other spot this year; oh, just suppose it, Jasper!” +and her rosy color died down on her cheek. “It +would have been just too dreadful for anything.”</p> + +<p>“We couldn't have had our picnic in any other +place,” declared Rose Harding; “it wouldn't be +the same unless it was at the Glen.”</p> + +<p>“Dear old Glen!” cried Polly impulsively. +“Jasper, it's too bad you boys can't all come to +our picnics.”</p> + +<p>“I know it. It would be no end jolly if we +only could,” said Jasper regretfully, to whom it +was a great grief that the picnic couldn't take in +the two schools.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Polly, with a sigh, “it would, Jasper. +But Miss Salisbury never will in all this +world let the boys' school join.”</p> + +<p>“No, I suppose not,” said Jasper, stifling his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> +longing; “well, you must tell me about it to-night, +the same as always, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will, Jasper,” promised Polly. So he +turned the corner, to go to his school. But presently +he heard rapid footsteps back of him. “Oh +Jasper,” cried Polly, flushed and panting, as he +whirled about, “tell Phronsie I won't forget the +little fern-roots. Be sure, Jasper.”</p> + +<p>“All right; I will,” said Jasper. “Dear me! +do hurry back, Polly. You'll be late.”</p> + +<p>“Oh no, there are oceans of time,” said Polly, +with a little laugh. “I've the tin case in my +picnic basket, Jasper, so they will keep all fresh +and nice.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; do hurry back,” begged Jasper. So +Polly, with a merry nod, raced off to the corner +where the girls were drawn up in a knot, impatiently +waiting for her.</p> + +<p>Every bit of the fuss and parade in getting the +big company started—for all the scholars went to +the annual picnic—was a special delight to the +girls. The only trouble was that the seats were +not all end ones, while the favorite places up by +the driver were necessarily few in each vehicle.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Polly,” screamed Alexia. Everybody +had agreed that she should have one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> +these choice positions because of her lame arm, +which Dr. Fisher had said must be carried in +its sling this day. So there she was, calling lustily +for Polly Pepper, and beating the cushion impatiently +with her well hand. “Oh, <i>do</i> hurry up!”</p> + +<p>Polly, down on the ground in a swarm of girls, +shook her head. “No,” her lips said softly, so +that no one but Alexia, who was leaning over for +that purpose, could possibly hear, “ask Cathie.”</p> + +<p>“Oh bother!” exclaimed Alexia, with a frown. +Then she smothered it up with a “Come, Polly,” +very persuasively.</p> + +<p>“Can't,” said Polly; “I'm going back here.” +And she moved down to the end of the barge.</p> + +<p>“Then I'm going back too.” Alexia gave a +frantic dive to get down from the barge.</p> + +<p>Miss Salisbury saw it; and as she had planned +to give Alexia just that very pleasure of riding +on the front seat, she was naturally somewhat +disturbed. “No, no, my dear,” seeing Alexia's +efforts to get down, “stay where you are.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” Alexia craned her long neck +around the side of the vehicle, to spy Polly's +movements. “I don't want to be mewed up +here,” she cried discontentedly. But Miss Salisbury, +feeling well satisfied with her plan for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> +making Alexia happy, had moved off. And the +babel and tumult waged so high, over the placing +of the big company, all the girls chattering and +laughing at once, that Alexia, call as she might, +began to despair of attracting Polly's attention, +or Cathie's either for that matter.</p> + +<p>“You better set down,” said the driver, an old +man whom Miss Salisbury employed every year +to superintend the business, “and make yourself +comfortable.”</p> + +<p>“But I'm not in the least comfortable,” said +Alexia passionately, “and I don't want to be up +here. I want to get down.”</p> + +<p>“But you can't,”—the old man seemed to +fairly enjoy her dismay,—“'cause she, you +know,” pointing a short square thumb over his +shoulder in the direction of Miss Salisbury, “told +ye to set still. So ye better set.”</p> + +<p>But Alexia craned her neck yet more, and +called insistently, “Polly—oh, Polly!”</p> + +<p>Miss Anstice looked up from the bevy of girls +she was settling in another barge. “Alexia Rhys,” +she said severely, “you must be quiet; it is impossible +to get started unless all you girls are +going to be tractable and obedient.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Anstice,”—Alexia formed a sudden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span> +bold resolve,—“please come here. I want you +very much,” she said sweetly.</p> + +<p>Miss Anstice, pleased to be wanted very much, +or indeed at all, left her work, and went over to +the front barge where Alexia was raging inwardly.</p> + +<p>“Miss Anstice, I need Polly Pepper up next +to me,” said Alexia, “oh, so much. She knows +all about my arm, you know; her father fixed it +for me. Will you please have her come up here? +Then if I should feel worse, she could help +me.”</p> + +<p>Miss Anstice peered here and there in her nearsighted +fashion. “I don't see Polly Pepper,” she +said.</p> + +<p>“There she is; there she is,” cried Alexia, +trembling in every limb, for her plan could not +be said to be a complete success yet, and pointing +eagerly to the end of her barge; “she's the +fourth from the door, Miss Anstice. Oh, how +lovely you are!”</p> + +<p>Miss Anstice, quite overcome to be told she +was lovely, and especially by Alexia, who had +previously given her no reason to suppose that +she entertained any such opinion, went with great +satisfaction down the length of the barge, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> +standing on her tiptoes, said very importantly, +“Polly Pepper, I want to place you differently.”</p> + +<p>So Polly, quite puzzled, but very obedient, +crawled out from her seat, where she was wedged +in between two girls not of her set, who had been +perfectly radiant at their good fortune, and clambering +down the steps, was, almost before she +knew it, installed up on the front row, by Alexia's +side.</p> + +<p>“Oh Polly, what richness!” exclaimed that individual +in smothered accents, as Miss Anstice +stepped off in much importance, and hugging +Polly. “I'm so glad my sling is on, for I never'd +gotten you up here without the old thing,” and +she giggled as she told the story.</p> + +<p>“Oh Alexia!” exclaimed Polly, quite shocked.</p> + +<p>“Well, I may get a relapse in it, you don't +know,” said Alexia coolly, “so you really ought +to be up here. Oh my goodness me! I forgot +this man,” she brought up suddenly. “Do you +suppose he'll tell?” She peered around anxiously +past Polly.</p> + +<p>“Ef you'll set still, I won't tell that teacher,” +said the old man with a twinkle in his eye, “but +ef you get to carryin' on, as I should think you +could ef you set out to, I'll up an' give the whole +thing to her.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, I'll sit as still as a mouse,” promised +Alexia. “Oh Polly, isn't he a horrible old thing!” +in a stage whisper under cover of the noise going +on around them.</p> + +<p>“Hush,” said Polly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm not going to hush,” cried Alexia +recklessly; “I'm going to have a good time at +the picnic to-day, and do just everything I want +to, so there, Polly Pepper!”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said Polly, “then when we get to +the Glen, I shall go off with the other girls, +Alexia,” which had the desired effect. Alexia +curled up into her corner, and hanging to Polly +Pepper's arm, was just like a mouse for quiet. +And off they went; the old man's whip going +crack—<i>snap!</i> as he led the way with a grand +flourish, as much better than his efforts of former +years, as was possible!</p> + +<p>The road led through winding, woodsy paths, +redolent of sweet fern; the girls never tired of +its delights, exclaiming at all the sights and +sounds of country life at all such moments as +were not filled to the brim with the songs that +ran over from their happy hearts. So on and up +they went to the Glen, a precipitous ravine some +fifteen miles out from the city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span></p> + +<p>When the barges finally drew up with another +grand flourish at the entrance, a smooth grassy +plateau shaded by oaks and drooping elms, they +simply poured out a stream of girls from each +conveyance; the old man and his companion drivers +laughing to see them tumble out. “Pretty +quick work, eh, Bill?” said old man Kimball, +“no screaming for first places now.”</p> + +<p>“It's the same beautiful, dear old Glen!” exclaimed +Polly, with kindling eyes and dancing +feet. “Oh Alexia, come on!” and seizing the +well hand, they spun round and round, unable to +keep still, having plenty of company, all the other +girls following suit.</p> + +<p>Polly looked at her little watch. “In five minutes +we must stop. It'll be time to get the +flowers.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, can we?” cried Alexia. “Misery me! +I'm so tired cooped up in that barge, I feel stiff +as a jointed doll, Polly Pepper.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't,” said Polly, dancing away for +dear life. “Oh Alexia, when Miss Salisbury +gives the signal to explore, won't it be just fun!”</p> + +<p>“I should say,” cried Alexia, unable to find +words that would just express the case.</p> + +<p>There was always one routine to be observed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> +in the annual picnic of the “Salisbury School,” +and no one thought for a moment of deviating +from it. The maids collected the baskets taken +from the wagons, and set them in a cool, shady +place among the rocks just within the Glen. The +girls ran hither and thither to collect flowers and +ferns to drape Miss Salisbury's seat of honor, and +one as near like it as possible for Miss Anstice. +These were big crevices in the rocks, that were as +comfortable as chairs, and having backs to them +in the shape of boulders, they were truly luxurious. +Indeed, Miss Salisbury had declared, +when the seats were discovered by Polly Pepper +at the first picnic after she joined the “Salisbury +School,” that she never sat in one more comfortable; +and she was so pleased when she was led to +it and inducted therein, all flower-trimmed with +little vines trailing off, and arching over her head.</p> + +<p>“Why, my dears!” she exclaimed, quite overcome. +“Oh, how pretty! and how did you think +of it?”</p> + +<p>“It was Polly Pepper who thought of it,” said +a parlor boarder. And Polly, blushing rosy red, +a new girl as she was, was led up, and Miss Salisbury +set a kiss on her round cheek. Polly never +forgot how happy she was that day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span></p> + +<p>And afterward, when the girls were busy in +various little groups, Miss Salisbury had beckoned +Polly to her side where she reposed on her +throne; for it was beautiful and stately enough +for one, and quite worthy of royalty itself.</p> + +<p>“Polly,” said Miss Salisbury, in quite a low +tone only fitted for Polly's ear, “do you think you +could find a seat, like this beautiful one of mine, +for sister? I should really enjoy it so very much +more if sister had one also and she would prize +the attention very much, Polly, from you +girls.”</p> + +<p>So Polly, fired with the laudable desire to find +one exactly like Miss Salisbury's very own, for +“sister,” at last was just so fortunate. So that +was also flower-trimmed, with trailing vines to +finish it off with. And every year, the first thing +the girls did after dancing around a bit to rest +their feet after the long drive, was to set to work +to collect the vines and ferns, and decorate the +two stone seats.</p> + +<p>Then with quite a good deal of pomp and ceremony, +the girls escorted the two teachers to their +thrones, unpacked the little bag of books and +magazines, and arranged some cushions and +shawls about them. And then Miss Salisbury<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> +always said with a sweet smile, “Thank you, my +dears.” And Miss Anstice said the same; although, +try as hard as she would, her smile never +could be sweet like Miss Salisbury's. And then +off the girls would go to “exploring,” as they +called rambling in the Glen, the under-teachers +taking them in charge.</p> + +<p>And now Polly Pepper ran to her hamper, +which she saw in a pile where the baskets had +been heaped by the maids. “There it is,” pointing +to the tag sticking up; “oh, help me,—not +you, Alexia,” as Alexia ran up as usual, to help +forward any undertaking Polly Pepper might have +in mind. “Dear me! you might almost kill your +arm.”</p> + +<p>“This old arm,” cried Alexia,—“I'm sick and +tired of it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you better take care of it,” cried Polly +gaily, “and then it won't be an old arm, but it +will be as good as brand new, Alexia. Oh, one +of the other girls, do come and help me.”</p> + +<p>“What do you want, Polly?” cried some of +the girls, racing up to her.</p> + +<p>“I want to get out my hamper,” said Polly, +pointing to the tag sticking up “high and dry” +amid a stack of baskets. “My tin botany case<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> +is in it; I must get the ferns I promised to bring +home to Phronsie.”</p> + +<p>“You stand away, all of ye.” The old man +Kimball, his horses out of the shafts, and well +taken care of, now drew near, and swept off with +his ample hand the bunch of girls. “Which one +is't? Oh, that ere one with the tag,” answering +his own question. “Well, now, I'll git that for +you jest as easy as rolling off a log. One—two—three—there +she comes!”</p> + +<p>And, one, two, three, and here she did come! +And in a trice Polly had the cover up, and out flew +the little green tin botany case; and within it being +an iron spoon and little trowel, off flew Polly on +happy feet to unearth the treasures that were to +beautify Phronsie's little garden; a bunch of girls +following to see the operation.</p> + +<p>The magazine fell idly to the lap of Miss +Salisbury. She sat dreamily back, resting her +head against the boulder. “Sister,” she said +softly, “this is a happy custom we have started. +I trust nothing will ever prevent our holding our +annual picnic.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Miss Anstice absently. She was +very much interested in a story she had begun, +and she hated to have Miss Salisbury say a word.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> +Although she had on a stiff, immaculate white +gown (for on such a festival as the annual picnic, +she always dressed in white), still she was not in +the same sweet temper that the principal was enjoying, +and she held her thumb and finger in +the place.</p> + +<p>“Yes, the picnic is very good,” she said, feeling +that something was expected of her, “if we +didn't get worms and bugs crawling over the +tablecloth.”</p> + +<p>“Oh sister!” exclaimed Miss Salisbury, quite +shocked; “it is no time to think of worms and +bugs, I'm sure, on such a beautiful occasion as +this.”</p> + +<p>“Still, they are here,” said Miss Anstice; “there +is one now,” looking down at the hem of her +gown. “<i>Ugh!</i> go right away,” slapping her book +at it. Then her thumb and finger flew out, and +she lost her place, and the bug ran away, and +she added somewhat tartly, “For my own taste, +I should really prefer a festival in the schoolroom.”</p> + +<p>When it came to spreading the feast, not one +of the maids was allowed to serve. They could +unpack the hampers, and hand the dishes and +eatables to the girls, and run, and wait, and tend.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> +But no one but the Salisbury girls must lay the +snowy cloth, dress it up with flowers, with little +knots at the corners, concealing the big stones +that kept the tablecloth from flapping in any +chance wind. And then they all took turns in +setting the feast forth, and arranging all the +goodies. And some one had to make the coffee, +with a little coterie to help her. The crotched +sticks were always there just as they had left +them where they hung the kettle over the stone +oven. And old man Kimball set one of the +younger drivers to make the fire—and a rousing +good one it was—where they roasted their corn +and potatoes. And another one brought up the +water from the spring that bubbled up clear and +cold in the rocky ravine, so when all was ready +it was a feast fit for a king, or rather the queen +and her royal subjects.</p> + +<p>And then Miss Salisbury and “sister” were +escorted with all appropriate ceremonies down +from their stone thrones,—and one had the head +and the other the foot of the feast spread on +the grass,—to sit on a stone draped with a shawl, +and to be waited on lovingly by the girls, who +threw themselves down on the ground, surrounding +the snowy cloth. And they sat two or three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> +rows deep; and those in the front row had to +pass the things, of course, to the back-row girls.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you're spilling jelly-cake crumbs all down +my back,” proclaimed Alexia, with a shudder. +“Rose Harding,” looking at the girl just back +of her, “can't you eat over your own lap, pray +tell?”</p> + +<p>“Well, give me your seat then,” suggested Rose, +with another good bite from the crumbly piece +in her hand, “if you don't like what the back-row +girls do.”</p> + +<p>“No, I'm not going to,” said Alexia, “catch +me! but you needn't eat all over my hair. Ugh! +there goes another,” and she squirmed so she +knocked off the things in her neighbor's as well +as her own lap.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me! Keep your feet to yourself, +Alexia Rhys,” said the neighbor; “there goes +my egg in all the dirt—and I'd just gotten it +shelled.”</p> + +<p>“All the easier for the bugs,” observed Alexia +sweetly; “see, they're already appropriating it. +And I guess you'd kick and wriggle if some one +put jelly cake down your back,” returning to her +grievance,—“slippery, slimy jelly cake,” twisting +again at the remembrance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, you needn't kick the things out of my +lap. I didn't put the jelly cake down your back,” +retorted the neighbor, beginning to shell her second +egg.</p> + +<p>Oh dear! was ever anything quite so good in +all this world as that feast at the “Salisbury +picnic!”</p> + +<p>“I didn't suppose those baskets could bring +out so much, nor such perfectly delicious things,” +sighed Polly Pepper, in an interval of rest before +attacking one of Philena's chocolate cakes.</p> + +<p>“Polly, Polly Pepper,” called a girl opposite, +“give me one of your little lemon tarts. You did +bring 'em this year, didn't you?” anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed,” answered Polly; “why, where +are they?” peering up and down the festal, not +“board,” but tablecloth.</p> + +<p>“Don't tell me they are gone,” cried the girl, +leaning over to look for herself.</p> + +<p>“I'm afraid they are,” said Polly; “oh, I'm +so sorry, Agatha!”</p> + +<p>“You should have spoken before, my child,” +said a parlor boarder, who had eaten only three +of Mrs. Fisher's tarts, and adjusting her eyeglasses.</p> + +<p>“Why, I've only just gotten through eating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> +bread and butter,” said Agatha. “I can't eat +cake until that's done.”</p> + +<p>“A foolish waste of time,” observed the parlor +boarder; “bread and butter is for every day; +cake and custards and flummery for high holidays,” +she added with quite an air.</p> + +<p>“Hush up, do,” cried Alexia, who had small +respect for the parlor boarders and their graces, +“and eat what you like, Penelope. I'm going to +ransack this table for a tart for you, Agatha.”</p> + +<p>She sent keen, bird-like glances all up and +down the length of the tablecloth. “Yes, no—yes, +it is.” She pounced upon a lemon tart hiding +under a spray of sweet fern, and handed it +in triumph across. “There you are, Agatha! +now don't say I never did anything for you.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, how sweet!” cried Agatha, burying her +teeth in the flaky tart.</p> + +<p>“I should think it was sour,” observed Amy +Garrett; “lemons usually are.”</p> + +<p>“Don't try to be clever, Amy child,” said +Alexia, “it isn't expected at a picnic.”</p> + +<p>“It's never expected where you are,” retorted +Amy sharply.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, dear! that's pretty good,” cried +Alexia, nowise disconcerted, as she loved a joke<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> +just as much at herself as at the expense of any +one else, while the others burst into a merry +laugh.</p> + +<p>“There's one good thing about Alexia Rhys,” +the “Salisbury girls” had always said, “she can +take any amount of chaff, and not stick her +finger in her eye and whimper.”</p> + +<p>So now she smiled serenely. “Oh dear, dear! +I wish I could eat some more,” she said. “I +haven't tasted your orange jelly, Clem, nor as +much as looked at your French sandwiches, Silvia. +What is the reason one can eat so very +little at a picnic, I wonder?” She drew a long +breath, and regarded them all with a very injured +expression.</p> + +<p>“Hear that, girls!” cried Silvia; “isn't that +rich, when Alexia has been eating every blessed +minute just as fast as she could!”</p> + +<p>“I suppose that is what we all have been doing,” +observed Alexia placidly.</p> + +<p>Miss Salisbury had been a happy observer of +all the fun and nonsense going on around her, +and renewing her youth when she had dearly +loved picnics; but it was not so with Miss Anstice. +At the foot of the festal tablecloth, she +had been viewing from the corners of her eyes the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> +inroads of various specimens of the insect creation +and several other peripatetic creatures that +seemed to belong to no particular species but to +a new order of beings originated for this very +occasion. She had held herself in bravely, although +eating little, being much too busy in keeping +watch of these intruders, who all seemed +bent on running over her food and her person, +to hide in all conceivable folds of her white +gown. And she was now congratulating herself +on the end of the feast, which about this time +should be somewhere in sight, when a goggle-eyed +bug, at least so it seemed to her distraught +vision, pranced with agile steps directly for her +lap, to disappear at once. And it got on to her +nerves.</p> + +<p>“Oh—<i>ow!</i> Take it off.” Miss Anstice let +her plate fly, and skipped to her feet. But looking +out for the goggle-eyed bug, she thought of +little else, and stepped into some more of the +jelly cake—slipped, and precipitated herself into +the middle of the feast.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XIV_MISS_SALISBURYS_STORY" id="XIV_MISS_SALISBURYS_STORY"></a>XIV MISS SALISBURY'S STORY</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“O</span>h Miss Anstice!” cried the “Salisbury +girls,” jumping to their feet.</p> + +<p>“<i>Sister!</i>” exclaimed Miss Salisbury, dropping +her plate, and letting all her sweet, peaceful +reflections fly to the four winds.</p> + +<p>“I never did regard picnics as pleasant affairs,” +gasped Miss Anstice, as the young hands +raised her, “and now they are—quite—quite +detestable.” She looked at her gown, alas! no +longer immaculate.</p> + +<p>“If you could wipe my hands first, young +ladies,” sticking out those members, on which +were plentiful supplies of marmalade and jelly +cake, “I should be much obliged. Never mind +the gown yet,” she added with asperity.</p> + +<p>“I'll do that,” cried Alexia, flying at her with +two or three napkins.</p> + +<p>“Alexia, keep your seat.” Miss Anstice turned +on her. “It is quite bad enough, without your +heedless fingers at work on it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span>”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" width="315" height="500" alt="I NEVER DID REGARD PICNICS AS PLEASANT AFFAIRS" title="I NEVER DID REGARD PICNICS AS PLEASANT AFFAIRS" /> +<span class="caption">“I NEVER DID REGARD PICNICS AS PLEASANT AFFAIRS,” GASPED MISS ANSTICE.</span> +</div> + +<p>“I won't touch the old thing,” declared Alexia, +in a towering passion, and forgetting it was not +one of the girls. “And I may be heedless, but I +<i>can</i> be polite,” and she threw down the napkins, +and turned her back on the whole thing.</p> + +<p>“Alexia!” cried Polly, turning very pale; and, +rushing up to her, she bore her away under the +trees. “Why, Alexia Rhys, you've talked awfully +to Miss Anstice—just think, the sister of +our Miss Salisbury!”</p> + +<p>“Was that old thing a Salisbury?” asked +Alexia, quite unmoved. “I thought it was a +rude creature that didn't know what it was to +have good manners.”</p> + +<p>“Alexia, Alexia!” mourned Polly, and for the +first time in Alexia's remembrance wringing her +hands, “to think you should do such a thing!”</p> + +<p>Alexia, seeing Polly wring her hands, felt quite +aghast at herself. “Polly, don't do that,” she +begged.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can't help it.” And Polly's tears fell +fast.</p> + +<p>Alexia gave her one look, as she stood there +quite still and pale, unable to stop the tears racing +over her cheeks, turned, and fled with long steps +back to the crowd of girls surrounding poor Miss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> +Anstice, Miss Salisbury herself wiping the linen +gown with an old napkin in her deft fingers.</p> + +<p>“I beg your pardon,” cried Alexia gustily, +and plunging up unsteadily. “I was bad to say such +things.”</p> + +<p>“You were, indeed,” assented Miss Anstice +tartly. “Sister, that is quite enough; the gown +cannot possibly be made any better with your +incessant rubbing.”</p> + +<p>Miss Salisbury gave a sigh, and got up from +her knees, and put down the napkin. Then she +looked at Alexia. “She is very sorry, sister,” +she said gently. “I am sure Alexia regrets exceedingly +her hasty speech.”</p> + +<p>“Hasty?” repeated Miss Anstice, with acrimony, +“it was quite impertinent; and I cannot +remember when one of our young ladies has done +such a thing.”</p> + +<p>All the blood in Alexia's body seemed to go to +her sallow cheeks when she heard that. That +she should be the first and only Salisbury girl to +be so bad, quite overcame her, and she looked +around for Polly Pepper to help her out. And +Polly, who had followed her up to the group, +begged, “Do, dear Miss Anstice, forgive her.” +And so did all the girls, even those who did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> +like Alexia one bit, feeling sorry for her now. +Miss Anstice relented enough to say, “Well, we +will say no more about it; I dare say you did not +intend to be impertinent.” And then they all +sat down again, and everybody tried to be as gay +as possible while the feast went on.</p> + +<p>And by the time they sang the “Salisbury +School Songs,”—for they had several very fine +ones, that the different classes had composed,—there +was such a tone of good humor prevailing, +everybody getting so very jolly, that no one looking +on would have supposed for a moment that a +single unpleasant note had been struck. And +Miss Anstice tried not to look at her gown; and +Miss Salisbury had a pretty pink tinge in her +cheeks, and her eyes were blue and serene, without +the tired look that often came into them.</p> + +<p>“Now for the story—oh, that is the best of +all!” exclaimed Polly Pepper, when at last, protesting +that they couldn't eat another morsel, +they all got up from the feast, leaving it to the +maids.</p> + +<p>“Isn't it!” echoed the girls. “Oh, dear Miss +Salisbury, I <i>am</i> so glad it is time for you to tell +it.” All of which pleased Miss Salisbury very +much indeed, for it was the custom at this annual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> +festival to wind up the afternoon with a +story by the principal, when all the girls would +gather at her feet to listen to it, as she sat in +state in her stone chair.</p> + +<p>“Is it?” she cried, the pink tinge on her cheek +getting deeper. “Well, do you know, I think I +enjoy, as much as my girls, the telling of this +annual story.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you can't enjoy it <i>as much</i>,” said one +impulsive young voice.</p> + +<p>Miss Salisbury smiled indulgently at her. +“Well, now, if you are ready, girls, I will begin.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, we are—we are,” the bright groups, +scattered on the grass at her feet, declared.</p> + +<p>“To-day I thought I would tell you of my +school days when I was as young as you,” began +Miss Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“Oh—oh!”</p> + +<p>“Miss Salisbury, I just love you for that!” +exclaimed the impulsive girl, and jumping out of +her seat, she ran around the groups to the stone +chair. “I do, Miss Salisbury, for I did so want +to hear all about when you were a schoolgirl.”</p> + +<p>“Well, go back to your place, Fanny, and you +shall hear a little of my school life,” said Miss +Salisbury gently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span></p> + +<p>“No—no; the whole of it,” begged Fanny +earnestly, going slowly back.</p> + +<p>“My dear child, I could not possibly tell you +the whole,” said Miss Salisbury, smiling; “it +must be one little picture of my school days.”</p> + +<p>“Do sit down, Fanny,” cried one of the other +girls impatiently; “you are hindering it all.”</p> + +<p>So Fanny flew back to her place, and Miss Salisbury +without any more interruptions, began:</p> + +<p>“You see, girls, you must know to begin with, +that our father—sister's and mine—was a +clergyman in a small country parish; and as +there were a great many mouths to feed, and +young, growing minds to feed as well, besides +ours, why there was a great deal of considering +as to ways and means constantly going on at the +parsonage. Well, as I was the eldest, of course +the question came first, what to do with Amelia.”</p> + +<p>“Were you Amelia?” asked Fanny.</p> + +<p>“Yes. Well, after talking it over a great deal,—and +I suspect many sleepless nights spent by +my good father and mother,—it was at last decided +that I should be sent to boarding school; +for I forgot to tell you, I had finished at the +academy.”</p> + +<p>“Yes; sister was very smart,” broke in Miss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> +Anstice proudly—“she won't tell you that; so +I must.”</p> + +<p>“Oh sister, sister,” protested Miss Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she excelled all the boys and girls.”</p> + +<p>“Did they have boys at that school?” interrupted +Philena, in amazement. “Oh, how very +nice, Miss Salisbury!”</p> + +<p>“I should just love to go to school with boys,” +declared ever so many of the girls ecstatically.</p> + +<p>“Why don't you take boys at our school, Miss +Salisbury?” asked Silvia longingly.</p> + +<p>Miss Anstice looked quite horrified at the very +idea; but Miss Salisbury laughed. “It is not +the custom now, my dear, in private schools. In +my day—you must remember that was a long +time ago—there were academies where girls and +boys attended what would be called a high school +now.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!”</p> + +<p>“And I went to one in the next town until it +was thought best for me to be sent to boarding +school.”</p> + +<p>“And she was very smart; she took all the +prizes at the academy, and the principal said—” +Miss Anstice was herself brought up quickly by +her sister.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span></p> + +<p>“If you interrupt so much, I never shall finish +my story, Anstice,” she said.</p> + +<p>“I want the girls to understand this,” said +Miss Anstice with decision. “The principal said +she was the best educated scholar he had ever +seen graduated from Hilltop Academy.”</p> + +<p>“Well, now if you have finished,” said Miss +Salisbury, laughing, “I will proceed. So I was +despatched by my father to a town about thirty +miles away, to a boarding school kept by the +widow of a clergyman who had been a college +classmate. Well, I was sorry to leave all my +young brothers and sisters, you may be sure, +while my mother—girls, I haven't even now forgotten +the pang it cost me to kiss my mother +good-bye.”</p> + +<p>Miss Salisbury stopped suddenly, and let her +gaze wander off to the waving tree-tops; and Miss +Anstice fell into a revery that kept her face +turned away.</p> + +<p>“But it was the only way I could get an education; +and you know I could not be fitted for a +teacher, which was to be my life work, unless I +went; so I stifled all those dreadful feelings which +anticipated my homesickness, and pretty soon I +found myself in the boarding school.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span></p> + +<p>“How many scholars were there, Miss Salisbury?” +asked Laura Page, who was very exact.</p> + +<p>“Fifteen girls,” said Miss Salisbury.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me, what a little bit of a school!” +exclaimed one girl.</p> + +<p>“The schools were not as large in those days,” +said Miss Salisbury. “You must keep in mind +the great difference between that time and this, +my dear. Well, and when I was once there, I +had quite enough to do to keep me from being +homesick, I can assure you, through the day; +because, in addition to lessons, there was the +sewing hour.”</p> + +<p>“Sewing? Oh my goodness me!” exclaimed +Alexia. “You didn't have to sew at that school, +did you, Miss Salisbury?”</p> + +<p>“I surely did,” replied Miss Salisbury, “and +very glad I have been, Alexia, that I learned so +much in that sewing hour. I have seriously +thought, sister and I, of introducing the plan into +our school.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, don't, Miss Salisbury,” screamed the +girls. “Ple—ase don't make us sew.” Some +of them jumped to their feet in distress.</p> + +<p>“I shall die,” declared Alexia tragically, “if we +have to sew.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span></p> + +<p>There was such a general gloom settled over +the entire party that Miss Salisbury hastened to +say, “I don't think, girls, we can do it, because +something else equally important would have to +be given up to make the time.” At which the +faces brightened up.</p> + +<p>“Well, I was only to stay at this school a year,” +went on Miss Salisbury, “because, you see, it was +as much as my father could do to pay for that +time; so it was necessary to use every moment to +advantage. So I studied pretty hard; and I presume +this is one reason why the incident I am +going to tell you about was of such a nature; for +I was over-tired, though that should be no excuse,” +she added hastily.</p> + +<p>“Oh sister,” said Miss Anstice nervously, +“don't tell them that story. I wouldn't.”</p> + +<p>“It may help them, to have a leaf out of another +young person's life, Anstice,” said Miss +Salisbury, gravely.</p> + +<p>“Well, but—”</p> + +<p>“And so, every time when I thought I must +give up and go home, I was so hungry to see my +father and mother, and the little ones—”</p> + +<p>“Was Miss Anstice one of the little ones?” +asked Fanny, with a curious look at the crow's-feet +and faded eyes of the younger Miss Salisbury.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, she was: there were two boys came in +between; then Anstice, then Jane, Harriett, +Lemuel, and the baby.”</p> + +<p>“Oh my!” gasped Alexia, tumbling over into +Polly Pepper's lap.</p> + +<p>“Eight of us; so you see, it would never do +for the one who was having so much money +spent upon her, to waste a single penny of it. +When I once got to teaching, I was to pay it all +back.”</p> + +<p>“And did you—did you?” demanded curious +Fanny.</p> + +<p>“Did she?—oh, girls!” It was Miss Anstice +who almost gasped this, making every girl turn +around.</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” Miss Salisbury telegraphed +over their heads, to “sister,” which kept her +silent. But she meant to tell sometime.</p> + +<p>Polly Pepper, all this time, hadn't moved, but +sat with hands folded in her lap. What if she +had given up and flown home to Mamsie and the +little brown house before Mr. King discovered +her homesickness and brought Phronsie! Supposing +she hadn't gone in the old stagecoach that +day when she first left Badgertown to visit in +Jasper's home! Just supposing it! She turned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span> +quite pale, and held her breath, while Miss Salisbury +proceeded.</p> + +<p>“And now comes the incident that occurred +during that boarding-school year, that I have intended +for some time to tell you girls, because it +may perhaps help you in some experience where +you will need the very quality that I lacked on +that occasion.”</p> + +<p>“Oh sister!” expostulated Miss Anstice.</p> + +<p>“It was a midwinter day, cold and clear and +piercing.” Miss Salisbury shivered a bit, and +drew the shawl put across the back of her stone +seat, closer around her. “Mrs. Ferguson—that +was the name of the principal—had given the +girls a holiday to take them to a neighboring +town; there was to be a concert, I remember, +and some other treats; and the scholars were, as +you would say, 'perfectly wild to go,'” and she +smiled indulgently at her rapt audience. “Well, +I was not going.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Miss Salisbury!” exclaimed Amy Garrett +in sorrow, as if the disappointment were not +forty years in the background.</p> + +<p>“No. I decided it was not best for me to take +the money, although my father had written me +that I could, when the holiday had been planned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> +some time before. And besides, I thought I +could do some extra studying ahead while the +girls were away. Understand, I didn't really +think of doing wrong then; although afterward I +did the wrong thing.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Sister!</i>” reproved Miss Anstice. She could +not sit still now, but got out of her stone chair, +and paced up and down.</p> + +<p>“No; I did not dream that in a little while +after the party had started, I should be so sorely +tempted, and the idea would enter my head to +do the wrong thing. But so it was. I was studying, +I remember, my philosophy lesson for some +days ahead, when suddenly, as plainly as if letters +of light were written down the page, it flashed +upon my mind, 'Why don't I go home to-day? I +can get back to-night, and no one will know it; +at least, not until I am back again, and no harm +done.' And without waiting to think it out, I +clapped to my book, tossed it on the table, and +ran to get my poor little purse out of the bureau +drawer.”</p> + +<p>The girls, in their eagerness not to lose a word, +crowded close to Miss Salisbury's knees, forgetting +that she wasn't a girl with them.</p> + +<p>“I had quite enough money, I could see, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> +take me home and back on the cars, and by the +stage.”</p> + +<p>“The stage?” repeated Alexia faintly.</p> + +<p>“Yes; you must remember that this time of +which I am telling you was many, many years +back. Besides, in some country places, it is still +the only mode of conveyance used.”</p> + +<p>Polly Pepper drew a long breath. Dear old +Badgertown, and Mr. Tisbett's stage. She could +see it now, as it looked when the Five Little Peppers +would run to the windows of the little brown +house to watch it go lumbering by, and to hear +the old stage-driver crack his whip in greeting!</p> + +<p>“The housekeeper had a day off, to go to her +daughter's, so that helped my plan along,” Miss +Salisbury was saying. “Well would it have been +for me if the conditions had been less easy. +But I must hasten. I have told you that I did +not pause to think; that was my trouble in those +days: I acted on impulse often, as schoolgirls are +apt perhaps to do, and so I was not ready to +stand this sudden temptation. I tied on my bonnet, +gathered up my little purse tightly in my +hand; and although the day was cold, the sun +was shining brightly, and my heart was so full of +hope and anticipation that I scarcely thought of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> +what I was doing, as I took a thin little jacket +instead of the warm cloak my mother had made +me for winter wear. I hurried out of the house, +when there was no one to notice me, for the +maids were careless in the housekeeper's absence, +and had slipped off for the moment—at +any rate, they said afterward they never saw me;—so +off I went.</p> + +<p>“I caught the eight o'clock train just in time; +which I considered most fortunate. How often +afterward did I wish I had missed it! And reasoning +within myself as the wheels bore me away, +that it was perfectly right to spend the money to +go home, for my father had been quite willing for +me to take the treat with Mrs. Ferguson and the +others, I settled back in my seat, and tried not +to feel strange at travelling alone.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed the girls, huddling +up closer to Miss Salisbury's knees. Miss Anstice +paced back and forth; it was too late to +stop the story now, and her nervousness could +only be walked off.</p> + +<p>“But I noticed the farther I got from the boarding +school, little doubts would come creeping +into my mind,—first, was it very wise for me +to have set out in this way? then, was it right?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> +And suddenly in a flash, it struck me that I was +doing a very wrong thing, and that, if my father +and my mother knew it, they would be greatly +distressed. And I would have given worlds, if +I had possessed them, to be back at Mrs. Ferguson's, +studying my philosophy lesson. And I +laid my head on the back of the seat before me, +and cried as hard as I could.”</p> + +<p>Amy sniffed into her handkerchief, and two or +three other girls coughed as if they had taken +cold, while no one looked into her neighbor's +face.</p> + +<p>“And a wild idea crossed my mind once, of +rushing up to the conductor and telling him of +my trouble, to ask him if I couldn't get off at the +next station and go back; but a minute's reflection +told me that this was foolish. There was +only the late afternoon train to take me to the +school. I had started, and must go on.”</p> + +<p>A long sigh went through the group. Miss +Anstice seemed to have it communicated to her, +for she quickened her pace nervously.</p> + +<p>“At last, after what seemed an age to me, +though it wasn't really but half an hour since we +started, I made up my mind to bear it as well as +I could; father and mother would forgive me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span> +I was sure, and would make Mrs. Ferguson +overlook it—when I glanced out of the car window. +Little flakes of snow were falling fast. It +struck dismay to my heart. If it kept on like +this,—and after watching it for some moments, +I had no reason to expect otherwise, for it was +of that fine, dry quality that seems destined to +last,—I should not be able to get back to school +that afternoon. Oh dear me! And now I began +to open my heart to all sorts of fears: the train +might be delayed, the stagecoach slow in getting +through to Cherryfield. By this time I was in a +fine state of nerves, and did not dare to think +further.”</p> + +<p>One of the girls stole her hand softly up to +lay it on that of the principal, forgetting that she +had never before dared to do such a thing in +all her life. Miss Salisbury smiled, and closed it +within her own.</p> + +<p>There was a smothered chorus of “Oh dears!”</p> + +<p>“I sat there, my dears, in a misery that saw +nothing of the beauty of that storm, knew nothing, +heard nothing, except the occasional ejaculations +and remarks of the passengers, such as, 'It's +going to be the worst storm of the year,' and +'It's come to stay.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span></p> + +<p>“Suddenly, without a bit of warning, there was +a bumping noise, then the train dragged slowly +on, then stopped. All the passengers jumped up, +except myself. I was too miserable to stir, for I +knew now that I was to pay finely for my wrong-doing +in leaving the school without permission.”</p> + +<p>“Oh—oh!” the girls gave a little scream.</p> + +<p>“'What is it—what is it?' the passengers +one and all cried, and there was great rushing to +the doors, and hopping outside to ascertain the +trouble. I never knew, for I didn't care to +ask. It was enough for me that something had +broken, and the train had stopped; to start again +no one could tell when.”</p> + +<p>The sympathy and excitement now were intense. +One girl sniffed out from behind her +handkerchief, “I—I should have—thought you +would—have died—Miss Salisbury.”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” said Miss Salisbury, with a sigh, “you +will find, Helen, as you grow older, that the only +thing you can do to repair in any way the mischief +you have done, is to keep yourself well under +control, and endure the penalty without wasting +time on your suffering. So I just made up +my mind now to this; and I sat up straight, determined +not to give way, whatever happened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span></p> + +<p>“It was very hard when the impatient passengers +would come back into the car to ask each +other, 'How soon do you suppose we will get to +Mayville?' That was where I was to take the +stage.</p> + +<p>“'Not till night, if we don't start,' one would +answer, trying to be facetious; but I would torture +myself into believing it. At last the conductor +came through, and he met a storm of inquiries, +all asking the same question, 'How soon will we +get to Mayville?'</p> + +<p>“It seemed to me that he was perfectly heartless +in tone and manner, as he pulled out his +watch to consult it. I can never see a big silver +watch to this day, girls, without a shiver.”</p> + +<p>The “Salisbury girls” shivered in sympathy, +and tried to creep up closer to her.</p> + +<p>“Well, the conductor went on to say, that there +was no telling,—the railroad officials never commit +themselves, you know,—they had telegraphed +back to town for another engine (he +didn't mention that, after that, we should be +sidetracked to allow other trains their right of +way), and as soon as they could, why, they +would move. Then he proceeded to move himself +down the aisle in great dignity. Well, my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span> +dears, you must remember that this all happened +long years ago, when accidents to the trains were +very slowly made good. We didn't get into +Mayville until twelve o'clock. If everything had +gone as it should, we ought to have reached there +three hours before.”</p> + +<p>“Oh my goodness me!” exploded Alexia.</p> + +<p>“By this time, the snow had piled up fast. +What promised to be a heavy storm had become +a reality, and it was whirling and drifting dreadfully. +You must remember that I had on my +little thin jacket, instead—”</p> + +<p>“Oh Miss Salisbury!” screamed several girls, +“I forgot that.”</p> + +<p>“Don't tell any more,” sobbed another—“don't, +Miss Salisbury.”</p> + +<p>“I want you to hear this story,” said Miss +Salisbury quietly. “Remember, I did it all +myself. And the saddest part of it is what I +made others suffer; not my own distress.”</p> + +<p>“Sister, if you only <i>won't</i> proceed!” Miss Anstice +abruptly leaned over the outer fringe of girls.</p> + +<p>“I am getting on to the end,” said Miss Salisbury, +with a smile. “Well, girls, I won't prolong +the misery for you. I climbed into that +stage, it seemed to me, more dead than alive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span> +The old stage-driver, showing as much of his +face as his big fur cap drawn well over his ears +would allow, looked at me compassionately.</p> + +<p>“'Sakes alive!' I can hear him now. 'Hain't +your folks no sense to let a young thing come +out in that way?'</p> + +<p>“I was so stiff, all I could think of was, that I +had turned into an icicle, and that I was liable +to break at any minute. But I couldn't let that +criticism pass.</p> + +<p>“'They—they didn't let me—I've come from +school,' I stammered.</p> + +<p>“He looked at me curiously, got up from his +seat, opened a box under it, and twitched out a +big cape, moth-eaten, and well-worn otherwise; +but oh, girls, I never loved anything so much in +all my life as that horrible old article, for it +saved my life.”</p> + +<p>A long-drawn breath went around the circle.</p> + +<p>“'Here, you just get into this as soon as the +next one,' said the stage-driver gruffly, handing +it over to me where I sat on the middle seat. I +needed no command, but fairly huddled myself +within it, wrapping it around and around me. +And then I knew by the time it took to warm me +up, how very cold I had been.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span></p> + +<p>“And every few minutes of the toilsome journey, +for we had to proceed very slowly, the stage-driver +would look back over his shoulder to say, +'Be you gittin' any warmer now?' And I +would say, 'Yes, thank you, a little.'</p> + +<p>“And finally he asked suddenly, 'Do your +folks know you're comin'?' And I answered, +'No,' and I hoped he hadn't heard, and I pulled +the cape up higher around my face, I was so +ashamed. But he had heard, for he whistled; +and oh, girls, that made my head sink lower yet. +Oh my dears, the shame of wrong-doing is so +terrible to bear!</p> + +<p>“Well, after a while we got into Cherryfield, +along about half-past three o'clock.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” exclaimed the young voices.</p> + +<p>“I could just distinguish our church spire +amid the whirling snow; and then a panic seized +me. I must get down at some spot where I +would not be recognized, for oh, I did not want +any one to tell that old stage-driver who I was, +and thus bring discredit upon my father, the +clergyman, for having a daughter who had come +away from school without permission. So I +mumbled out that I was to stop at the Four +Corners: that was a short distance from the +centre of the village, the usual stopping place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span></p> + +<p>“One of the passengers—for I didn't think it +was necessary to prolong the story to describe +the two women who occupied the back seat—leaned +forward and said, 'I hope, Mr. Cheesewell, +you ain't goin' to let that girl get out, half +froze as she's been, in this snowstorm. You'd +ought to go out o' your beat, and carry her +home.'</p> + +<p>“'Oh, no—no,' I cried in terror, unwinding +myself from the big cape and preparing to descend.</p> + +<p>“'Stop there!' roared Mr. Cheesewell at me. +'Did ye s'pose I'd desert that child?' he said to +the two women. 'I'd take her home, ef I knew +where in creation 'twas.'</p> + +<p>“'She lives at the parsonage—she's th' +minister's daughter,' said one of the women +quietly.</p> + +<p>“I sank back in my seat—oh, girls, the bitterness +of that moment!—and as well as I could +for the gathering mist in my eyes, and the blinding +storm without, realized the approach to my +home. But what a home-coming!</p> + +<p>“I managed to hand back the big cape, and to +thank Mr. Cheesewell, then stumbled up the +little pathway to the parsonage door, feeling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span> +every step a misery, with all those eyes watching +me; and lifting the latch, I was at home!</p> + +<p>“Then I fell flat in the entry, and knew nothing +more till I found myself in my own bed, with +my mother's face above me; and beyond her, +there was father.”</p> + +<p>Every girl was sobbing now. No one saw +Miss Anstice, with the tears raining down her +cheeks at the memory that the beautiful prosperity +of all these later years could not blot out.</p> + +<p>“Girls, if my life was saved in the first place +by that old cape, it was saved again by one person.”</p> + +<p>“Your mother,” gasped Polly Pepper, with +wet, shining eyes.</p> + +<p>“No; my mother had gone to a sick parishioner's, +and father was with her. There was no +one but the children at home; the bigger boys +were away. I owe my life really to my sister +Anstice.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Don't</i>!” begged Miss Anstice hoarsely, and +trying to shrink away. The circle of girls whirled +around to see her clasping her slender hands +tightly together, while she kept her face turned +aside.</p> + +<p>“Oh girls,” cried Miss Salisbury, with sudden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> +energy, “if you could only understand what that +sister of mine did for me! I never can tell you. +She kept back her own fright, as the small children +were so scared when they found me lying +there in the entry, for they had all been in the +woodshed picking up some kindlings, and didn't +hear me come in. And she thought at first I +was dead, but she worked over me just as she +thought mother would. You see we hadn't any +near neighbors, so she couldn't call any one. +And at last she piled me all over with blankets +just where I lay, for she couldn't lift me, of +course, and tucked me in tightly; and telling the +children not to cry, but to watch me, she ran a +mile, or floundered rather—for the snow was +now so deep—to the doctor's house.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that was fine!” cried Polly Pepper, with +kindling eyes, and turning her flushed face with +pride on Miss Anstice. When Miss Salisbury +saw that, a happy smile spread over her face, +and she beamed on Polly.</p> + +<p>“And then, you know the rest; for of course, +when I came to myself, the doctor had patched +me up. And once within my father's arms, +with mother holding my hand—why, I was forgiven.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span></p> + +<p>Miss Salisbury paused, and glanced off over +the young heads, not trusting herself to speak.</p> + +<p>“And how did they know at the school where +you were?” Fanny broke in impulsively.</p> + +<p>“Father telegraphed Mrs. Ferguson; and luckily +for me, she and her party were delayed by +the storm in returning to the school, so the message +was handed to her as she left the railroad +station. Otherwise, my absence would have +plunged her in terrible distress.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, it all came out rightly after all.” +Louisa Frink dropped her handkerchief in her +lap, and gave a little laugh.</p> + +<p>“<i>Came out rightly!</i>” repeated Miss Salisbury +sternly, and turning such a glance on Louisa +that she wilted at once. “Yes, if you can forget +that for days the doctor was working to keep me +from brain fever; that it took much of my father's +hard-earned savings to pay him; that it kept me +from school, and lost me the marks I had almost +gained; that, worst of all, it added lines of care +and distress to the faces of my parents; and that +my sister who saved me, barely escaped a long +fit of sickness from her exposure.”</p> + +<p>“Don't, sister, don't,” begged Miss Anstice.</p> + +<p>“<i>Came out rightly?</i> Girls, nothing can ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> +come out rightly, unless the steps leading up to +the end are right.”</p> + +<p>“Ma'am,”—Mr. Kimball suddenly appeared +above the fringe of girls surrounding Miss Salisbury,—“there's +a storm brewin'; it looks as if +'twas comin' to stay. I'm all hitched up, 'n' I +give ye my 'pinion that we'd better be movin'.”</p> + +<p>With that, everybody hopped up, for Mr. +Kimball's “'pinion” was law in such a case. +The picnic party was hastily packed into the +barges,—Polly carrying the little green botany +case with the ferns for Phronsie's garden carefully +on her lap,—and with many backward +glances for the dear Glen, off they went, as fast +as the horses could swing along.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XV_THE_BROKEN_VASE" id="XV_THE_BROKEN_VASE"></a>XV THE BROKEN VASE</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">B</span>ut drive as they might, Mr. Kimball and +his assistants, they couldn't beat that storm +that was brewing. It came up rather slowly, to +be sure, at first, but very persistently. Evidently +the old stage-driver was right. It was “coming +to stay.”</p> + +<p>“Ye see, ma'am, ef we hadn't started when we +did, like enough we couldn't a got home to-night,” +he vouchsafed over his shoulder to Miss Salisbury, +as they rattled on.</p> + +<p>“Dear me!” she exclaimed at thought of her +brood. Those young things were having the best +of times. It was “wildly exciting,” as Clem Forsythe +said, to be packed in; those on the end seats +huddling away from the rain as much as possible, +under cover of the curtains buttoned down fast. +And hilarity ran high. They sang songs; never +quite finishing one, but running shrilly off to +others, which were produced on several different +keys maybe, according to the mood of the singers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> +And as every girl wanted to sing her favorite song, +there were sometimes various compositions being +produced in different quarters of the big stage, +till no one particular melody could be said to have +the right of way. And Miss Salisbury sat in the +midst of the babel, and smiled as much as her +anxiety would allow, at the merriment. And as +it was in this stage, so the other stages were counterparts. +And the gay tunes and merry laughter +floated back all along the cavalcade, mingling +harmoniously with the rainfall.</p> + +<p>Suddenly an awful clap of thunder reverberated +in the sky. The songs ended in squeals of dismay, +and the laughter died away.</p> + +<p>“Oh—oh—we're going to have a thunder +storm!” screamed more than one girl, huddling +up closer to her next neighbor, to clutch her +frantically.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I'm so afraid of the thunder!” screamed +Amy Garrett.</p> + +<p>“You goose, it won't hurt you.” Lucy Bennett, +whom Amy had crouched against, gave her +a little push.</p> + +<p>“It will. It will. My uncle was struck once,” +said Amy, rebounding from the push to grasp +Lucy frantically around the neck.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span></p> + +<p>“You nearly choked me to death,” exclaimed +Lucy, untwisting the nervous hands; “don't get +so scared. Your uncle never was struck by the +thunder, and we haven't had any lightning yet; +so I wouldn't yell till we do.”</p> + +<p>“Well, there it is now,” cried Amy, covering +her eyes. And there it was now, to be sure, in +a blinding flash; to be followed by deeper rolls +of thunder, drowning the screams of the frightened +girls, and the plunging of the horses that +didn't like it much better.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kimball peered out and squinted to the +right and to the left through the blinding storm; +then he turned his horses suddenly off from the +road, into a narrow lane. “Oh, why do you?” +began Miss Salisbury. But this remonstrance +wouldn't have done any good had the old stage-driver +heard it. At the end of the lane, he knew +in a few moments they would all arrive at a big +old fashioned mansion where shelter could not +be refused them under such circumstances. Although,—and +Mr. Kimball shook within himself +at his temerity,—under any other conditions +visitors would not be expected nor welcomed. +For Mr. John Clemcy and his sister, Miss Ophelia, +had never exhibited, since they settled down in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span> +this quiet spot after leaving their English home +many years ago, any apparent desire to make +friends. They were quite sufficient for themselves; +and what with driving about,—which +they did in a big basket phaeton, or behind their +solemn pair of black horses, and the still more +solemn coachman, Isaac, also black,—and in +the care of the large estate and the big brick +mansion, they found ample occupation for their +time and thoughts.</p> + +<p>Up to this big red brick mansion now plunged +Mr. Kimball with as much assurance as if he +were not quaking dreadfully. And the other +stages following suit, the sudden and unusual +uproar brought two faces to the windows, and +then to the door.</p> + +<p>“May we all git out and go into your barn?” +roared Mr. Kimball, peering at them from beneath +his dripping hat.</p> + +<p>There was an awful pause. Mr. Kimball +clutched his old leather reins desperately; and +Miss Salisbury, to whom had come faint rumors +of the chosen isolation of the brother and sister, +felt her heart sink woefully.</p> + +<p>Mr. John Clemcy stepped out,—slender, tall, +with white hair and beard, both closely cropped.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> +He had a pale, aristocratic face, and a pair of +singularly stern eyes, which he now bent upon +the old stage-driver.</p> + +<p>“Brother,” remonstrated his sister,—she +looked as much like him as possible in face and +figure,—“do not venture out in this driving +storm.”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Mr. Clemcy, “I cannot consent to +your going into my stable. I—”</p> + +<p>“'Taint Christian,” blurted out the old stage-driver, +“to leave human bein's out in sech a +pickle.”</p> + +<p>“No, I am aware of that,” said Mr. John +Clemcy, without a change of countenance; “and +so I invite you all to come into my house.” He +threw wide the door. “My sister, Miss Clemcy.”</p> + +<p>Miss Ophelia stepped forward and received +them as if she had specially prepared for their +visit, and with such an air of distinction that it +completely overwhelmed Miss Salisbury, so that +her own manners, always considered quite perfect +by parents and friends of her pupils, paled +considerably in contrast. It was quite like entering +an old baronial hall, as the courtly, aristocratic +host ushered them in; and the girls, not +easily overawed by any change of circumstance,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> +who had tumbled out laughingly from the stages +despite Miss Salisbury's nervous endeavors to +quiet them, were now instantly subdued.</p> + +<p>“Isn't it solemn!” whispered Alexia, hanging +to Polly Pepper, her pale eyes roving over the +armor, and old family portraits almost completely +covering the walls of the wide hall.</p> + +<p>“Hush,” whispered Polly back again.</p> + +<p>“But I can't breathe; oh, look at that old +horror in the ruff. Polly—look!” she pinched +the arm she grasped.</p> + +<p>Meantime, although there were so many girls, +the big red brick mansion seemed quite able to +contain them hospitably, as Mr. and Miss Clemcy +opened door after door into apartments that appeared +to stretch out into greater space beyond. +When at last the company had been distributed, +Miss Salisbury found her voice. “I am pained +to think of all the trouble we are giving you, +Miss Clemcy.”</p> + +<p>“Do not mention it.” Miss Ophelia put up +a slender arm, from which fell off a deep flounce +of rare old lace. The hand that thus came into +view was perfect; and Miss Salisbury, who could +recognize qualities of distinction, fell deeply in +love with the evidences before her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span></p> + +<p>“Do you suppose she dresses up like that every +day, Silvia?” whispered Lucy Bennett, in an +awe-struck voice.</p> + +<p>Silvia, in matters of dress never being willing +to show surprise, preserved her composure. +“That's nothing,” she managed to say indifferently: +“it can't be real, such a lot of it, and +around her neck too.”</p> + +<p>Down into the old colonial kitchen, with its +corner fireplace, wide and roomy, and bricked +to the ceiling, Mr. Clemcy led the way. It was +a big room, and not used for its original purpose; +being filled with cabinets, and shelves on which +reposed some of the most beautiful specimens of +china and various relics and curiosities and mementos +of travel, Miss Salisbury thought she +had ever seen. And she had been about the +world a good bit; having utilized many of her +vacations, and once or twice taking a year off +from her school work, for that purpose. And +being singularly receptive to information, she was +the best of listeners, in an intelligent way, as Mr. +Clemcy moved about from object to object explaining +his collection. He seemed perfectly absorbed +in it, and, as the girls began to notice, in +his listener as well.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span></p> + +<p>Lucy Bennett was frightfully romantic, and +jumped to conclusions at once. “Oh, do you +suppose he will marry her?” she cried under +her breath to Silvia, as the two kept together.</p> + +<p>“Who? What are you talking about?” demanded +Silvia, who was very matter-of-fact.</p> + +<p>“Why, that old man—Mr. Whatever his name +is,” whispered Lucy.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Clemcy? do get names into your head, +Lu,” said Silvia crossly, who wanted to look at +things and not be interrupted every minute.</p> + +<p>“I can't ever remember names, if I do hear +them,” said Lucy, “so what is the use of my +bothering to hear them, Sil?”</p> + +<p>“Well, do keep still,” said Silvia, trying to +twist away her arm, but Lucy clung to it.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can't keep still either, for I'm mortally +afraid he is—that old man, whatever you call +him—going to marry her.”</p> + +<p>“Who?” demanded Silvia sharply.</p> + +<p>“Our Miss Salisbury, and—”</p> + +<p>“Lu Bennett!” Silvia sat down in the first +chair she could find. It was very fortunate that +the other groups were so absorbed that nobody +noticed them.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you do say such perfectly silly things!”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> +declared Silvia, smothering the peal of laughter +that nearly escaped her.</p> + +<p>“Well, it isn't silly,” cried Lucy in an angry +whisper, “and it's going to happen, I know, and +she'll give up our school to Miss Anstice, and +come and live here. Oh my!” She looked ready +to cry on the spot. “Look at them!”</p> + +<p>Now, Silvia had called Lucy Bennett “silly” +hundreds of times, but now as she looked at Mr. +Clemcy and Miss Salisbury, she began to have +an uneasy feeling at her heart. “I won't go +to school to Miss Anstice,” she declared passionately. +Then she began to plan immediately. +“I'll get mother to let me go to boarding +school.”</p> + +<p>“And I'll go with you,” exclaimed Lucy radiantly. +All this was in stage whispers, such a +buzz going on around them that no one else +could possibly catch a word. And so in just +about two minutes, they had their immediate +future all planned.</p> + +<p>“Well, you better get up out of that chair,” +said Lucy presently, and picking at Silvia's sleeve.</p> + +<p>“I guess I'm not hurting the chair,” said Silvia, +squinting sideways at the high, carved back. +“They asked us in here,—at least <i>he</i> did.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, he didn't ask us to sit down,” said Lucy +triumphantly.</p> + +<p>“And if he's going to marry her,” said Silvia, +in a convincing whisper, “I guess I can sit in all +the chairs if I want to.”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” warned Lucy, “here comes Miss +Anstice.”</p> + +<p>Miss Anstice, with her front breadth all stained +with jelly cake and marmalade, was wandering +around, quite subdued. It was pitiful to see how +she always got into the thickest of the groups to +hide her gown, trying to be sociable with the +girls. But the girls not reciprocating, she was +at last taken in tow by Miss Ophelia, who set +about showing her some rare old china, as a +special attention.</p> + +<p>Now, Miss Anstice cared nothing for rare old +china, or indeed, for relics or curiosities of any +sort; but she was very meek on this occasion, +and so she allowed herself to be led about from +shelf to shelf; and though she said nothing, Miss +Ophelia was so enchanted by her own words and +memories, as she described in a fluent and loving +manner their various claims to admiration, that +she thought the younger Miss Salisbury quite a +remarkable person.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span></p> + +<p>“Show her the Lowestoft collection, sister,” +called Mr. John Clemcy, from across the apartment, +and breaking off from his animated discussion +over an old Egyptian vase, in which Miss +Salisbury had carried herself brilliantly.</p> + +<p>“I will, Brother John,” assented Miss Clemcy, +with great affability. “Now here,” and she +opened the door to its cabinet, “is what will interest +you greatly, I think.”</p> + +<p>Suddenly, a crash as of breaking porcelain +struck upon the ear. Every one in the old room +jumped, save the persons who might be supposed +to be the most interested—Mr. Clemcy and his +sister. Their faces did not change.</p> + +<p>Miss Salisbury deserted the Egyptian vase. +“Who,” she demanded, hurrying to the centre +of the apartment, a red spot on either cheek, +“has done this?”</p> + +<p>Mr. John Clemcy followed her. “Do not, I +beg,” he said quietly, “notice it.”</p> + +<p>“Notice it! after your extreme hospitality—oh! +which one of my scholars can have forgotten +herself enough to touch a thing?”</p> + +<p>The groups parted a little, just enough to disclose +a shrinking figure. It was Lily, whose curious +fingers were clasped in distress.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span></p> + +<p>“She is very young,” said Miss Clemcy softly, +as Miss Salisbury detached her from the group, +and passed into another room, crying as if her +heart would break.</p> + +<p>Mr. John Clemcy then came up to his sister +and her visitor. “Your sister must not take it so +to heart,” he said.</p> + +<p>Miss Anstice was worn out by this time, what +with her gown, and now by this terrible thing +that would bring such discredit upon their school; +and besides, it might take ever so much from their +savings to replace, for Lily was poor, and was +a connection, so they perhaps would have to help +her out. She therefore could find no words at +her command, except, “Oh dear me!” and raised +her poor eyes.</p> + +<p>Mr. John Clemcy searched her face intently, +and actually smiled to reassure her. She thought +he was looking at her gown; so she mumbled +faintly, to draw off his attention, “I am afraid +it was very valuable.”</p> + +<p>He didn't tell her it was one of the oldest bits +in his collection; but while Miss Clemcy slipped +off, and quietly picked up every piece of the +broken treasure, he turned the conversation, and +talked rapidly and charmingly upon something,—for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span> +the life of her, Miss Anstice never could +tell what.</p> + +<p>And he was still talking when Miss Salisbury +brought back Lily by the hand, red-eyed and still +sniffling, to stumble over her pleas for pardon. +And then, the storm having abated, there were +instant preparations for departure set in motion. +And Mr. Kimball and his associates helped them +into their vehicles, Miss Clemcy's beautiful old +lace showing off finely on the great porch as +she bade them good-bye.</p> + +<p>“It is real, I guess,” declared Silvia, looking +closely from her seat next to Lucy. “And, oh +dear me, isn't this too horrible, what Lily +Cushing has done?”</p> + +<p>Mr. John Clemcy helped the ladies in, Miss +Anstice putting forth all her powers to enable her +to ascend the steep steps without disclosing the +front breadth of her gown. Despite her best endeavors, +she felt quite sure that the keen eyes of +both brother and sister had discovered every +blemish.</p> + +<p>Miss Salisbury sank back in her seat, as the +barge rolled off, quite in despair; for she knew +quite well that the broken vase was one of the +gems of the collection.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, see the lovely rainbow!” The girls' +spirits rose, now that they were once more on +the move. What was one broken vase, after all? +And they began to laugh and talk once more.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear!” Polly Pepper glanced back. +“Alexia, this will just about kill our dear Miss +Salisbury!” she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm clear beat,” Mr. Kimball was saying +to himself, as nobody paid attention. “You +might knock me over with a feather! To think +o' that old <i>ree</i>cluse that won't know nobody, +him nor his sister, an' is so hifalutin' smart, a-bustin' +out so <i>po</i>lite all of a suddint.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XVI_NEW_PLANS" id="XVI_NEW_PLANS"></a>XVI NEW PLANS</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“P</span>olly,” said Jasper, “could you come into +the den?”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, Jasper,” she cried, in surprise at +his face. “Oh, has anything happened?”</p> + +<p>“No,” he said, but the gloomy look did not +disappear. “Oh Polly, it's too bad to ask,—were +you going to study?” with a glance at her +armful of books.</p> + +<p>“No—that is, I can do them just as well after +dinner.” Polly dropped her books on the hall +chair. “Oh, what is it, Jasper?” running after +him into the den.</p> + +<p>“It's just this, Polly, I hate to tell you—” +He paused, and gloom settled worse than ever +over his face.</p> + +<p>“Jasper,” said Polly quite firmly, and she laid +her hand on his arm, “I really think you ought +to tell me right away what is on your mind.”</p> + +<p>“Do you really, Polly?” Jasper asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do,” said Polly, “unless you had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span> +rather tell Mamsie. Perhaps that would be best, +Jasper.”</p> + +<p>“No, I don't really think it would in this case, +Polly. I will tell you.” So he drew up a chair, +and Polly settled into it, and he perched on the +end of the table.</p> + +<p>“You see, Polly,” he began, “I hate to tell +you, but if I don't, why of course you can't in +the least understand how to help.”</p> + +<p>“No, of course I can't,” said Polly, clasping +her hands together tightly, and trying to wait +patiently for the recital. Oh, what could it be!</p> + +<p>“Well, Pickering isn't doing well at school,” +said Jasper, in a burst. It was so much better +to have it out at once.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Polly, in sorrow.</p> + +<p>“No, he isn't,” said Jasper decidedly; “it +grows worse and worse.”</p> + +<p>“Dear me!” said Polly again.</p> + +<p>“And now Mr. Faber says there isn't much +hope for him, unless he picks up in the last half. +He called me into his study to tell me that to-day—wants +me to influence him and all that.”</p> + +<p>All the hateful story was out at last. Polly +sprang out of her chair.</p> + +<p>“You don't mean—you can't mean, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span> +Pickering will be dropped, Jasper?” she cried as +she faced him.</p> + +<p>“Worse than that,” answered Jasper gloomily.</p> + +<p>“Worse than dropped!” exclaimed Polly with +wide eyes.</p> + +<p>“To be dropped a class wouldn't kill Pick; so +many boys have had that happen, although it is +quite bad enough.”</p> + +<p>“I should think so,” breathed Polly.</p> + +<p>“But Pick will simply be shot out of the school,” +said Jasper desperately; “there's no use in mincing +matters. Mr. Faber has utterly lost patience; +and the other teachers as well.”</p> + +<p>“You don't mean that Pickering Dodge will +be expelled?” cried Polly in a little scream.</p> + +<p>“Yes.” Jasper nodded his head, unable to +utter another word. Then he sprang off from +the table-end, and walked up and down the +room, as Polly sank back in her chair.</p> + +<p>“You see, it's just this way, Polly,” he cried. +“Pick has had warning after warning—you +know the teachers have a system of sending written +warnings around to the boys when they fall +behind in their work—and he hasn't paid any +attention to them.”</p> + +<p>“Won't he pay attention to what the teachers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span> +write to him, Jasper?” asked Polly, leaning forward +in her big chair to watch him anxiously as +he paced back and forth.</p> + +<p>“No, calls them rubbish, and tears them up; +and sometimes he won't even read them,” said +Jasper. “Oh, it's awful, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“I should say it was,” said Polly slowly. +“Very awful indeed, Jasper.”</p> + +<p>“And the last time he had one from Herr +Frincke about his German, Pick brought it into +the room where a lot of us boys were, and read +it out, with no end of fun over it, and it went +into the scrap-basket; and he hasn't tackled his +grammar a bit better since; only the translations +he's up a trifle on.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, now I know why you wouldn't go to +ride with me for the last week,” cried Polly, +springing out of her chair to rush up to him, +“you've been helping Pickering,” she declared, +with kindling eyes.</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” said Jasper uneasily.</p> + +<p>“And it was splendid of you,” cried Polly, the +color flying over her cheeks. “Oh Jasper, I do +believe you can pull him through.”</p> + +<p>“No, I can't, Polly.” Jasper stood quite still. +“No one can pull him through, but you, Polly.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span></p> + +<p>“I!” exclaimed Polly in amazement. “Why, +Jasper King!” and she tumbled back a few steps +to stare at him. “What <i>do</i> you mean?”</p> + +<p>“It's just this way.” Jasper threw back his +hair from his hot forehead. “Pick doesn't care +a bit for what I say: it's an old story; goes in at +one ear, and out at the other.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he does care for what you say,” contradicted +Polly stoutly, “ever and ever so much, +Jasper.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he's heard it so much; perhaps I've +pounded at him too hard. And then again—” +Jasper paused, turned away a bit, and rushed +back hastily, with vexation written all over his +face. “I must speak it: I can't help him any +more, for somehow Mr. Faber has found it out, +and forbids it; that's one reason of the talk this +morning in his study—says I must influence +him, and all that. That's rubbish; I can't influence +him.” Jasper dashed over to lay his +head on the table on his folded arms.</p> + +<p>“Polly, if Pick is expelled, I—” he couldn't +finish it, his voice breaking all up.</p> + +<p>Polly ran over to lay a hand on his shaking +shoulders.</p> + +<p>“What can I do, Jasper?” she cried brokenly. +“Tell me, and I'll do it, every single thing.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">252</a></span></p> + +<p>“You must talk to him,” said Jasper, raising +his head. It filled Polly with dismay to see his +face. “Get him in here; I'll bring him over +and then clear out of the den.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Jasper!” exclaimed Polly, quite aghast. +“I couldn't talk to Pickering Dodge. Why, he +wouldn't listen to me.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, he would,” declared Jasper eagerly; +“he thinks everything of you, Polly, and if you'll +say the word, it will do more good than anything +else. Do, Polly,” he begged.</p> + +<p>“But, Jasper,” began Polly, a little white line +coming around her mouth, “what would he +think to have me talk to him about his lessons?”</p> + +<p>“Think?” repeated Jasper, “why, he'd like it, +Polly, and it will be the very thing that will help +him.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can't!” cried Polly, twisting her fingers. +Then she broke out passionately, “Oh, he +ought to be ashamed of himself not to study; and +there's that nice Mr. Cabot, and his aunt—”</p> + +<p>“Aunt!” exclaimed Jasper explosively. “Polly, +I do believe if he hadn't her picking at him all +the time, he would try harder.”</p> + +<p>“Well, his uncle is different,” said Polly, her +indignation by no means dying out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">253</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, but it's his aunt who makes the mischief. +Honestly, Polly, I don't believe I could +stand her,” said Jasper, in a loyal burst.</p> + +<p>“No, I don't believe I could either,” confessed +Polly.</p> + +<p>“And you see, when a boy has such a home, +no matter what they give him, why, he doesn't +have the ambition that he would if things were +different. Just think, Polly, not to have one's +own father or mother.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Jasper!” cried Polly, quite overcome. +“I'll do it, I will.”</p> + +<p>“Polly!” Jasper seized her hands, and held +them fast, his dark eyes glowing. “Oh Polly, +that's so awfully good of you!”</p> + +<p>“And you better run right over, and get him +now,” said Polly, speaking very fast, “or I may +run away, I shall get so scared.”</p> + +<p>“You won't run away, I'll be bound,” cried +Jasper, bursting into a merry laugh, and rushing +off with a light heart. And presently, in less +time than one could imagine, though to Polly it +seemed an age, back he came, Pickering with +him, all alive with curiosity to know what Polly +Pepper wanted of him.</p> + +<p>“It's about the play, I suppose,” he began,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">254</a></span> +lolling into an easy-chair; “Jasper wouldn't tell +me what it's all about; only seized me by the ear, +and told me to come on. Draw up your chair, +Jasper, and—why, hullo! where is the chap?” +swinging his long figure around to stare.</p> + +<p>“Pickering,” began Polly; and the den, usually +the pleasantest place in all the house, was now +like a prison, whose walls wouldn't let her breathe, +“I don't know what to say. Oh dear me!” +Poor Polly could get no further, but sat there in +hopeless misery, looking at him.</p> + +<p>“Eh—what? Oh, beg pardon,” exclaimed +Pickering, whirling back in his chair, “but things +are so very queer; first Jasper rushes off like a +lunatic—”</p> + +<p>“And I am worse,” said Polly, at last finding +her tongue. “I don't wonder you think it's +queer, Pickering, but Jasper does so love you, +and it will just kill him if you don't study.” It +was all out now, and in the most dreadful way. +And feeling that she had quite destroyed all hope, +Polly sat up pale and stiff in her chair.</p> + +<p>Pickering threw his long figure out of the easy-chair, +rushed up and down the den with immense +strides, and came back to stand directly in front +of her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">255</a></span></p> + +<p>“Do you mean it, Polly?” His long face was +working badly, and his hands were clenched, +but as they were thrust deep within his pockets, +Polly couldn't see them.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Polly, “I do, Pickering.”</p> + +<p>He stalked off again, but was back once more, +Polly wondering how she could possibly bear to +tell Jasper of her failure, for of course Pickering +was very angry; when he said, “Polly, I want to +tell you something.”</p> + +<p>“What is it?” Polly looked at him sharply, +and caught her breath.</p> + +<p>“I won't drag Jasper down, I tell you, with +me. I'll get through somehow at school. I promise +you that. Here!” He twitched out his right +hand from its pocket, and thrust it out at her.</p> + +<p>“Oh Pickering Dodge!” exclaimed Polly in a +transport, and seizing his hand, it was shaken +vigorously.</p> + +<p>“There, that's a bargain,” declared Pickering +solemnly. “I'll get through someway. And say, +Polly, it was awfully good of you to speak.”</p> + +<p>“It was awfully hard,” said Polly, drawing a +long breath. “Oh, are you sure you are not +vexed, Pickering? Very sure?” And Polly's face +drooped anxiously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span></p> + +<p>“Vexed?” cried Pickering. “I should rather +say not! Polly, I'm lazy and selfish, and good +for nothing; but I couldn't be vexed, for 'twas +awfully hard for you to do.”</p> + +<p>“I guess it was,” said Polly. Then she gave a +little laugh, for it was all bright and jolly again, +and she knew that Pickering would keep his +word.</p> + +<p>And that evening, after Jasper and she had a +dance—they were so happy, they couldn't keep +still—in the wide hall, Jasper burst out suddenly +with a fresh idea.</p> + +<p>“Polly,” he said, drawing her off to rest on +one of the high, carved chairs, “there's one more +thing.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, what is it Jasper?” she cried gaily, with +flushed cheeks. “Oh, wasn't that spin just delicious?”</p> + +<p>“Wasn't it?” cried Jasper heartily. “Well, +now, Polly,” flinging himself down on the next +chair, “it's just this. Do you know, I don't +believe we ought to have our play.”</p> + +<p>“Not have our play?” Polly peered around +to look closely into his face. “What do you +mean, Jasper?”</p> + +<p>“You see, Polly, Pick was to take a prominent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">257</a></span> +part, and he ought not to, you know; it will +take him from his lessons to rehearse and all +that. And he's so backward there's a whole lot +for him to make up.”</p> + +<p>“Well, but Pickering will have to give up his +part, then,” said Polly decidedly, “for we've +simply got to have that play, to get the money to +help that poor brakeman's family.”</p> + +<p>Jasper winced. “I know; we must earn it +somehow,” he said.</p> + +<p>“We must earn it by the play,” said Polly. +“And besides, Jasper, we voted at the club +meeting to have it. So there, now,” she brought +up triumphantly.</p> + +<p>“We could vote to rescind that vote,” said +Jasper.</p> + +<p>“Well, we don't want to. Why, Jasper, how +that would look on our two record books!” said +Polly in surprise, for Jasper was so proud of his +club and its records.</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course; as our two clubs united that +evening, it must go down in both books,” said +Jasper slowly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course,” assented Polly happily. +“Well, now, you see, Jasper, that we really <i>can't</i> +give it up, for we've gone too far. Pickering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">258</a></span> +will have to let some one else take the part of +the chief brigand.” For the little play was almost +all written by Polly's fingers, Jasper filling +out certain parts when implored to give advice: +and brigands, and highway robberies, and buried +treasures, and rescued maidens, and gallant +knights, figured generously, in a style to give +immense satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“And the play is so very splendid!” cried +Jasper. “Oh dear me! what ought we to do, +Polly?” He buried his face in his hands a +moment.</p> + +<p>“Pickering must give up his part,” said Polly +again.</p> + +<p>“But, Polly, you know he has been in all our +plays,” said Jasper. “And he'll feel so badly, +and now he's got all this trouble about his lessons +on his mind,” and Jasper's face fell.</p> + +<p>Polly twisted uncomfortably on her chair. “Oh +dear me!” she began, “I suppose we must give it +up.”</p> + +<p>“And if we gave it up, not altogether, but +put it off till he catches up on his studies,” suggested +Jasper, “why, he wouldn't be dropped +out.”</p> + +<p>“But the poor brakeman's family, Jasper,”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">259</a></span> +said Polly, puzzled that Jasper should forget the +object of the play.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I didn't mean that we should put off +earning the money, Polly,” cried Jasper, quite +horrified at such a thought. “We must do something +else, so that we can sell just as many tickets.”</p> + +<p>“But what will it be?” asked Polly, trying not +to feel crushed, and sighing at the disappearance +of the beautiful play, for a time at least.</p> + +<p>“Well, we could have recitations, for one +thing,” said Jasper, feeling dreadfully to see +Polly's disappointment, and concealing his own, +for he had set his heart on the play too.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Polly, wrinkling up +her face in disdain. “Jasper, do you know, I +am so tired of recitations!”</p> + +<p>“So am I,” Jasper bobbed his head in sympathy, +“but we boys have some new ones, +learned for last exhibition, so Pick won't have +to take a moment from his lessons. And then +we can have music, and you will play, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Jasper, I've played so much,” said +Polly, “they're all tired of hearing me.”</p> + +<p>“They never would be tired of hearing you, +Polly,” said Jasper simply. “Every one of us +thinks you play beautifully.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">260</a></span></p> + +<p>“And tableaux and an operetta take just as +much time to rehearse,” mused Polly, thinking +very hard if there wasn't something to keep +them from the dreaded recitations.</p> + +<p>“And I just loathe an operetta or tableaux,” +exclaimed Jasper, with such venom that Polly +burst out laughing.</p> + +<p>“Oh Jasper, if you could see your face!” she +cried.</p> + +<p>“I shouldn't want to,” he laughed too; “but +of all insipid things, an operetta is the worst; +and tableaux—the way Miss Montague drilled +and drilled <i>and</i> drilled us, and then stuck us up +like sticks not to move for a half-hour or so, +nearly finished me.”</p> + +<p>“So it did me,” confessed Polly. “And besides, +it would take a great deal more time to go +through all that drilling than to rehearse the +play.”</p> + +<p>“Of course it would,” said Jasper, “so tableaux, +thank fortune, are not to be thought of. +I think it will have to be recitations and music, +Polly.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so,” she said with a sigh. “Oh +Jasper!” then she sprang off from her chair, and +clapped her hands. “I've thought of the very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">261</a></span> +thing. I believe Mr. Hamilton Dyce would tell +some of his funny stories and help out the program.”</p> + +<p>“Capital!” shouted Jasper; and just at this +moment the big front door opened, and the +butler ushered in Miss Mary Taylor and Mr. +Dyce.</p> + +<p>Polly and Jasper rushed up to the visitors, for +they were prime favorites with the young people, +and precipitated upon them all their woes. The +end was, that they both promised beautifully to +do whatever was wanted, for Miss Mary Taylor +sang delightfully.</p> + +<p>“And Pickering is safe, Polly, for I know now +he'll go through the last half,” cried Jasper as +they ran off to study their lessons for the next +day.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XVII_PHRONSIE" id="XVII_PHRONSIE"></a>XVII PHRONSIE</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">262</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>nd after that, there was no more trouble +about that program, for as luck would +have it, the very next day a letter came from +Joel, saying that Dr. Marks had given them a +holiday of a week on account of the illness of +two boys in their dormitory, and, “May I bring +home Tom Beresford? He's no-end fine!” and, +“Please, Mamsie, let me fetch Sinbad! Do +telegraph 'Yes.'”</p> + +<p>And Mother Fisher, after consultation with +Mr. King, telegraphed “Yes;” and wild was the +rejoicing over the return of Joel and David and +Percy and Van, and Tom; for Mother Fisher was +ready to receive with open arms, and very glad +silently to watch, one of Joel's friends.</p> + +<p>“And to think that Sinbad is coming!” cried +Polly, dancing about. “Just think, Phronsie, +Joel's dear dog that Dr. Marks let him take to +the little cobbler to keep for him!” And she +took Phronsie's hand, and they spun around the +hall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">263</a></span></p> + +<p>“I shall get him a new pink ribbon,” declared +Phronsie breathlessly, when the spin was over.</p> + +<p>“Do,” cried Polly. “Dear me! that was a +good spin, Phronsie!”</p> + +<p>“I should think it was,” said Ben. “Goodness +me! Polly, Phronsie and you made such a +breeze!”</p> + +<p>“Didn't we, Pet!” cried Polly, with a last +kiss. “Oh Ben and Jasper, to think those boys +will be here for our entertainment!”</p> + +<p>“I know Tom is made of the right stuff,” +Mamsie said proudly to Father Fisher, “else my +boy would not choose him.”</p> + +<p>“That's a fact, wife,” the little doctor responded +heartily. “Joel is all right; may be a bit heedless, +but he has a good head on his shoulders.”</p> + +<p>The five boys bounded into the wide hall that +evening—Joel first; and in his arms, a yellow +dog, by no means handsome, with small, beady +eyes, and a stubby tail that he was violently endeavoring +to wag, under the impression that he +had a good deal of it.</p> + +<p>“Mamsie!” shouted Joel, his black eyes glowing, +and precipitating himself into her arms, dog +and all, “See Sinbad! See, Mamsie!”</p> + +<p>“It's impossible not to see him,” said Ben.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">264</a></span> +“Goodness me, Joe, what a dog!” which luckily +Joel did not hear for the babel going on around. +Besides, there was Phronsie trying to put her +arms around the dog, and telling him about the +pink ribbon which she held in her hand.</p> + +<p>“Joe,” said Dr. Fisher, who had been here, +there, and everywhere in the group, and coming +up to nip Joel's jacket, “introduce your friend. +You're a pretty one, to bring a boy home, +and—”</p> + +<p>“I forgot you, Tom,” shouted Joel, starting +off, still hanging to his dog; “oh, there you are!” +seeing Tom in the midst of the circle, and talking +away to Grandpapa and Polly.</p> + +<p>“As if I couldn't introduce Tom!” sniffed +Percy importantly, quite delighted at Joel's social +omissions. “I've done it ages ago.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Joel, quite relieved. “Oh +Phronsie, Sinbad doesn't want that ribbon on,” +as Phronsie was making violent efforts to get it +around the dog's neck.</p> + +<p>“I would let her, Joel,” said Mother Fisher, +“if I were you.”</p> + +<p>“But he hates a ribbon,” said Joel in disgust, +“and besides, he'll chew it up, Phronsie.”</p> + +<p>“I don't want him to chew it up, Joel,” said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">265</a></span> +Phronsie slowly, and pausing in her endeavors. +And she looked very sober.</p> + +<p>“I'll tell you, Phronsie.” Mrs. Fisher took +the pink satin ribbon that Phronsie had bought +with her own money. “Now, do you want +mother to tie it on?”</p> + +<p>“Do, Mamsie,” begged Phronsie, smoothing +her gown in great satisfaction. And presently +there was a nice little bow standing up on the +back of Sinbad's neck; and as there didn't seem +to be any ends to speak of, there was nothing to +distract his attention from the responsibility of +watching all the people.</p> + +<p>“Oh, isn't he <i>beautiful</i>!” cried Phronsie in a +transport, and hopping up and down to clap her +hands. “Grandpapa dear, do look; and I've +told Princey all about him, and given him a +ribbon too, so he won't feel badly.”</p> + +<p>And after this excitement had died down, Joel +whirled around. “Tom's brought his banjo,” he +announced.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” exclaimed Polly.</p> + +<p>“And he can sing,” cried Joel, thinking it best +to mention all the accomplishments at once.</p> + +<p>“Don't, Joe,” begged Tom, twitching his sleeve.</p> + +<p>Polly looked over at Jasper, with sparkling +eyes, and the color flew into her cheeks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">266</a></span></p> + +<p>“Splendid!” his eyes signalled back.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” cried Joel, giving each a sharp +glance. “Now you two have secrets; and that's +mean, when we've just got home. What is it, +Polly?” He ran to her, shaking her arm.</p> + +<p>“You'll see in time,” said Polly, shaking him +off, to dance away.</p> + +<p>“I don't want to know in time,” said Joel, “I +want to know now. Mamsie, what is it?”</p> + +<p>“I'm sure I haven't the least idea,” said +Mother Fisher, who hadn't heard Joel's announcement. +“And I think you would do better, Joey, +to take care of your guest, and let other things +wait.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Tom doesn't want to be fussed over,” +said Joel carelessly; yet he went back to the tall +boy standing quite still, in the midst of the general +hilarity. “That's just the way Ben and +Polly used to do in the little brown house,” he +grumbled—“always running away, and hiding +their old secrets from me, Tom.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we had to, if we ever told each other +anything,” said Ben coolly. “Joel everlastingly +tagged us about, Beresford.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I had to, if I ever heard anything,” +burst out Joel, with a laugh. “Come on, Tom,” +and he bore him off together with Sinbad.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">267</a></span></p> + +<p>“Polly,” Jasper was saying, the two now being +off in a corner, “how fine! Now, perhaps Tom +Beresford will sing.”</p> + +<p>“And play,” finished Polly, with kindling face. +“Oh Jasper, was anything ever so gorgeous!” +she cried joyfully, for Polly dearly loved high-sounding +words; “and we'll sell a lot more tickets, +because he's new, and people will want to +hear him.”</p> + +<p>“If he will do it,” said Jasper slowly, not wanting +to dampen her anticipation, but dreadfully +afraid that the new boy might not respond.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he'll do it, I do believe,” declared Polly +confidently; “he must, Jasper, help about that +poor brakeman's family.”</p> + +<p>And he did. Tom Beresford evidently made +up his mind, when he went home with Joel, to do +everything straight through that the family asked +him, for he turned out to be the best visitor they +had entertained, and one and all pronounced +him capital. All but Joel himself, who told him +very flatly the second day that he wasn't half as +nice as at school, for he was now running at +everybody's beck and nod.</p> + +<p>“Instead of yours,” said Tom calmly. Then +he roared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">268</a></span></p> + +<p>“Hush up,” cried Joel, very uncomfortable, +and getting very red. “Well, you must acknowledge, +Tom, that I want to see something of you, +else why would I have brought you home, pray +tell?”</p> + +<p>“Nevertheless, I shall do what your sister +Polly and your mother and Jasper and Mr. King +ask me to do,” said Tom composedly, which +was all Joel got for his fuming. And the most +that he saw of Tom after that was a series of +dissolving views, for even Phronsie began to +monopolize him, being very much taken with his +obliging ways.</p> + +<p>At last Joel took to moping, and Ben found +him thus in a corner.</p> + +<p>“See here, old fellow, that's a nice way,—to +come home on a holiday, and have such a face. +I don't wonder you want to sneak in here.”</p> + +<p>“It's pretty hard,” said Joel, trying not to +sniffle, “to have a fellow you bring home from +school turn his back on you.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he couldn't turn his back on you,” said +Ben, wanting very much to laugh, but he restrained +himself, “if you went with him.”</p> + +<p>“I can't follow him about,” said Joel, in a +loud tone of disgust. “He's twanging his old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">269</a></span> +banjo all the time, and Polly's got him to sing, +and he's practising up. I wish 'twas smashed.”</p> + +<p>“What?” said Ben, only half comprehending.</p> + +<p>“Why, his old banjo. I didn't think he'd +play it all the time,” said Joel, who was secretly +very proud of his friend's accomplishments; and +he displayed a very injured countenance.</p> + +<p>“See here, now, Joe,” said Ben, laying a very +decided hand on Joel's jacket, “do you just +drop all this, and come out of your hole. Aren't +you ashamed, Joe! Run along, and find Beresford, +and pitch into whatever he's doing.”</p> + +<p>“I can't do anything for that old concert,” +said Joel, who obeyed enough to come “out of +the old hole,” but stood glancing at Ben with +sharp black eyes.</p> + +<p>“I don't know about that,” said Ben, “you +can at least help to get the tickets ready.”</p> + +<p>“Did Polly say so?” demanded Joel, all in a +glow. “Say, Ben, did she?” advancing on him.</p> + +<p>“No, but I do; for Polly asked me to do them; +and you know, Joe, how busy I am all day.”</p> + +<p>He didn't say “how tired” also, but Joel knew +how Ben was working at Cabot and Van Meter's, +hoping to get into business life the sooner, to +begin to pay Grandpapa back for all his kindness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">270</a></span></p> + +<p>“Ben, if I can help you with those tickets I'll +do it.” Every trace of Joel's grumpiness had +flown to the four winds. “Let me, will you?” +he begged eagerly.</p> + +<p>“All right.” Ben had no need to haul him +along, as Joel raced on ahead up to Ben's room +to get the paraphernalia.</p> + +<p>“I can't think what's become of Joel,” said +Polly, flying down the long hall in great perplexity, +“we want him dreadfully. Have you +seen him, Phronsie?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Phronsie, “I haven't, Polly,” and +a look of distress came into her face.</p> + +<p>“Never mind, Pet,” said Polly, her brow clearing, +“I'll find him soon.”</p> + +<p>But Phronsie watched Polly fly off, with a +troubled face. Then she said to herself, “I +ought to find Joey for Polly,” and started on a +tour of investigation to suit herself.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Ben was giving Joel instructions +about the tickets; and Joel presently was so absorbed +he wouldn't have cared if all the Tom +Beresfords in the world had deserted him, as he +bent over his task, quite elated that he was helping +Polly, and becoming one of the assistants to +make the affair a success.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">271</a></span></p> + +<p>“I guess it's going to be a great thing, Ben,” +he said, looking up a moment from the pink and +yellow pasteboard out of which he was cutting +the tickets.</p> + +<p>“You better believe so,” nodded Ben, hugely +delighted to see Joe's good spirits, when the door +opened, and in popped Phronsie's yellow head.</p> + +<p>She ran up to Joel. “Oh Joey!” she hummed +delightedly, “I've found you,” and threw herself +into his arms.</p> + +<p>Joel turned sharply, knife in hand. It was +all done in an instant. Phronsie exclaimed, +“<i>Oh!</i>” in such a tone that Ben, off in the corner +of the room, whirled around, to see Joel, white as +a sheet, holding Phronsie. “I've killed her,” he +screamed.</p> + +<p>Ben sprang to them. The knife lay on the +table, where Joel had thrown it, a little red tinge +along the tip. Ben couldn't help seeing it as he +dashed by, with a groan.</p> + +<p>“Give her to me,” he commanded hoarsely.</p> + +<p>“No, no—I'll hold her,” persisted Joel, +through white lips, and hanging to Phronsie.</p> + +<p>“Give her to me, and run down for Father +Fisher.”</p> + +<p>“It doesn't hurt much, Joey,” said Phronsie,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">272</a></span> +holding up her little arm. A small stream of +blood was flowing down, and she turned away +her head.</p> + +<p>Joel took one look, and fled with wild eyes. +“I don't believe it's very bad,” Ben made himself +call after him hoarsely. “Now, Phronsie, +you'll sit in my lap—there; and I'll keep this +old cut together as well as I can. We must hold +your arm up, so, child.” Ben made himself talk +as fast as he could to keep Phronsie's eyes on him.</p> + +<p>“I got cut in the little brown house once, +didn't I, Bensie?” said Phronsie, and trying to +creep up further into Ben's lap.</p> + +<p>“You must sit straight, child,” said Ben. Oh, +would Father Fisher and Mamsie ever come! for +the blood, despite all his efforts, was running +down the little arm pretty fast.</p> + +<p>“Why, Ben?” asked Phronsie, with wide eyes, +and wishing that her arm wouldn't ache so, for +now quite a smart pain had set in. “Why, Bensie?” +and thinking if she could be cuddled, it +wouldn't be quite so bad.</p> + +<p>“Why, we must hold your arm up stiff,” said +Ben, just as Mamsie came up to her baby, and +took her in her arms; and then Phronsie didn't +care whether the ache was there or not.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">273</a></span></p> + +<p>“Joe couldn't help it,” said Ben brokenly.</p> + +<p>“I believe that,” Mother Fisher said firmly. +“Oh Ben, the doctor is away.”</p> + +<p>Ben started. “I'll go down to the office; perhaps +he's there.”</p> + +<p>“No; there's no chance. I've sent for Dr. +Pennell. Your father likes him. Now Phronsie”—Mrs. +Fisher set her white lips together +tightly—“you and I and Ben will see to this +arm of yours. Ben, get one of your big handkerchiefs.”</p> + +<p>“It doesn't ache so <i>very</i> much, Mamsie,” said +Phronsie, “only I would like to lay it down.”</p> + +<p>“And that is just what we can't do, Phronsie,” +said Mother Fisher decidedly. “All right,” to +Ben, “now tear it into strips.”</p> + +<p>Old Mr. King was not in the library when +Joel had rushed down with his dreadful news, +but was in Jasper's den, consulting with him +and Polly about the program for the entertainment, +as Polly and Jasper, much to the old +gentleman's delight, never took a step without +going to him for advice. The consequence was +that these three did not hear of the accident till +a little later, when the two Whitney boys dashed +in with pale faces, “Phronsie's hurt,” was their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">274</a></span> +announcement, which wouldn't have been given +so abruptly had not each one been so anxious to +get ahead of the other.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. King, not comprehending, had turned +sharply in his chair to stare at them.</p> + +<p>“Hush, boys,” warned Polly, hoarsely pointing +to him; “is Mamsie with her?” She didn't +dare to speak Phronsie's name.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Van, eager to communicate all +the news, and hoping Percy would not cut in. +But Percy, after Polly's warning, had stood quite +still, afraid to open his mouth.</p> + +<p>Jasper was hunting in one of his drawers for +an old book his father had wished to see. So of +course he hadn't heard a word.</p> + +<p>“Here it is, father,” he cried, rushing back and +whirling the leaves—“why, what?” for he saw +Polly's face.</p> + +<p>“Oh Jasper—don't,” said Polly brokenly.</p> + +<p>“Why do you boys rush in, in this manner?” +demanded old Mr. King testily. “And, Polly, +child, what is the matter?”</p> + +<p>“Grandpapa,” cried Polly, rushing over to +him to put her arms around his neck, “Phronsie +is hurt someway. I don't believe it is much,” +she gasped, while Jasper ran to his other side.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">275</a></span></p> + +<p>“Phronsie hurt!” cried old Mr. King in sharp +distress. “Where is she?”</p> + +<p>Then Percy, seeing it was considered time for +communication of news, struck in boldly; and +between the two, all that was known of Joel's +wild exclamations was put before them. All +this was told along the hall and going over the +stairs; for Grandpapa, holding Polly's hand, with +Jasper hurrying fast behind them, was making +good time up to Ben's room.</p> + +<p>“And Dr. Fisher can't be found,” shouted +Van, afraid that the whole would not be told. +Polly gave a shiver that all her self-control could +not help.</p> + +<p>“But Joel's gone for Dr. Pennell,” screamed +Percy; “Mrs. Fisher sent him.”</p> + +<p>“He's very good,” said Jasper comfortingly. +So this is the way they came into Ben's room.</p> + +<p>“Oh, here's Grandpapa!” cooed Phronsie, trying +to get down from Mamsie's lap.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, Phronsie,” said Mrs. Fisher, “you +must sit still; it's better for your arm.”</p> + +<p>“But Grandpapa looks sick,” said Phronsie.</p> + +<p>“Bless me—oh, you poor lamb, you!” Old +Mr. King went unsteadily across the room, and +knelt down by her side.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">276</a></span></p> + +<p>“Grandpapa,” said Phronsie, stroking his +white face, “see, it's all tied up high.”</p> + +<p>“Sit still, Phronsie,” said Mrs. Fisher, keeping +her fingers on the cut. Would the doctor ever +come? Besides Joel, Thomas and several more +messengers were despatched with orders for Dr. +Pennell and to find Dr. Fisher, with the names +of other doctors if these failed. God would send +some one of them soon, she knew.</p> + +<p>Phronsie obediently sat quite still, although +she longed to show Grandpapa the white bandages +drawn tightly around her arm. And she +smoothed his hair, while he clasped his hands in +her lap.</p> + +<p>“I want Polly,” she said presently.</p> + +<p>“Stay where you are, Polly,” said her mother, +who had telegraphed this before with her eyes, +over Phronsie's yellow hair.</p> + +<p>Polly, at the sound of Phronsie's voice, had +leaned forward, but now stood quite still, clasping +her hands tightly together.</p> + +<p>“Speak to her, Polly,” said Jasper.</p> + +<p>But Polly shook her head, unable to utter a +sound.</p> + +<p>“Polly, you must,” said Jasper, for Phronsie +was trying to turn in her mother's lap, and saying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">277</a></span> +in a worried way, “Where's Polly? I want +Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Polly is over there,” said Mamsie, “but I do +not think it's best for her to come now. But +she'll speak to you, Phronsie.”</p> + +<p>“How funny!” laughed Phronsie. “Polly +can't come, but she'll talk across the room.”</p> + +<p>Everything turned black before Polly's eyes; +but she began, “Yes, Pet, I'm here,” very bravely.</p> + +<p>“I am so glad you are there, Polly,” said +Phronsie, easily satisfied.</p> + +<p>Footsteps rapid and light were heard on the +stairs. Polly and Jasper flew away from the +doorway to let Dr. Pennell, his little case in his +hand, come in.</p> + +<p>“Well, well!” he exclaimed cheerily, “so now +it's Phronsie; I'm coming to her this time,” for +he had often dropped in to call or to dine since +the railway accident.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Phronsie, with a little laugh of +delight, for she very much liked Dr. Pennell. +He always took her on his lap, and told her +stories; and he had a way of tucking certain +little articles in his pockets to have her hunt for +them. So they had gotten on amazingly well.</p> + +<p>“Why, where—” Phronsie began in a puzzled +way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">278</a></span></p> + +<p>“Is Dr. Fisher?” Dr. Pennell finished it for +her, rapidly going on with his work. “Well, he'll +be here soon, I think. And you know he always +likes me to do things when he isn't on hand. So +I've come.”</p> + +<p>“And I like you very much,” said Phronsie, +wriggling her toes in satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“I know that; we are famous friends, Phronsie,” +said the doctor, with one of those pleasant +smiles of his that showed his white teeth.</p> + +<p>“What's famous?” asked Phronsie, keeping +her grave eyes on his face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, fine; it means first-rate. We are fine +friends, aren't we, Phronsie?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we are,” declared Phronsie, bending forward +to see his work the better, and taking her +eyes from his face.</p> + +<p>“There, there, you must sit quite straight. +That's a nice child, Phronsie. And see here! I +must take you sometime in my carriage when I +go on my calls. Will you go, Phronsie?” and +Dr. Pennell smiled again.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will.” Phronsie nodded her yellow +head, while she fastened her eyes on his face. +“I used to go with Papa Fisher when I was at +the little brown house, and I liked it; I did.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">279</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, and now you will go with me,” laughed +Dr. Pennell. “Now, Phronsie, I think you are +fixed up quite nicely,” slipping the various articles +he had used, deftly into his little bag, and +snapping it to.</p> + +<p>“Not a very bad affair,” he said, whirling +around to old Mr. King, drawn deeply within a +big chair, having already telegraphed the same to +Mother Fisher over Phronsie's head.</p> + +<p>“Thank the Lord!” exclaimed the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>“Well, now I'm going to send every one out +of the room,” announced Dr. Pennell, authoritatively. +“Hurry now!” he clapped his hands and +laughed.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. King sat quite still, fully determined +not to obey. But the doctor, looking over him +fixedly, seemed to expect him to leave; and although +he still had that pleasant smile, he didn't +exactly give the impression that his medical +authority could be tampered with. So the old +gentleman found himself outside the door.</p> + +<p>“And now, we must find Joel,” Polly was +saying to Jasper.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XVIII_TOMS_STORY" id="XVIII_TOMS_STORY"></a>XVIII TOM'S STORY</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">280</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">J</span>oel had no cause to complain now that Tom +Beresford did not stick to him, for there he +was hanging over him as he crouched into as +small a heap as possible into a corner of Mamsie's +sofa.</p> + +<p>And there he had been ever since Joel had +rushed in with Dr. Pennell; when, not daring to +trust himself up in Ben's room, he had dashed +for refuge to Mamsie's old sofa.</p> + +<p>Tom had not wasted many words, feeling sure +under similar circumstances he shouldn't like to +be talked to; but he had occasionally patted Joel's +stubby head in a way not to be misunderstood, +and once in a while Joel thrust out a brown hand +which Tom had gripped fast.</p> + +<p>“It's all right, old boy, I verily believe,” Tom +cried with sudden energy, “so brace up; what's +the use of your going to pieces, anyway?”</p> + +<p>“It's Phronsie,” gasped Joel, and burrowing +deeper into the cushion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">281</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, I know it,” said Tom, gulping down +his sorrow, for he had petted Phronsie a good +deal; so he was feeling the blow quite sharply +himself, “but you won't help matters along any, +I tell you, by collapsing.”</p> + +<p>“Go out into the hall, will you, Tom,” begged +Joel, huddling down, unwilling to listen himself, +“and see if you can hear anything.”</p> + +<p>So Tom skipping out into the wide upper hall, +thankful for any action, but dreading the errand, +stole to the foot of the stairs, and craned his ear +to catch the faintest sound from above.</p> + +<p>There was only a little murmur, for Dr. Pennell +was in the midst of operations, and not enough +to report. Thankful that it was no worse, +Tom skipped back. “All's quiet along the +Potomac.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Ugh!</i>” exclaimed Joel, burrowing deeper. +Suddenly he threw himself up straight and regarded +Tom out of flashing eyes. “I've killed +Phronsie,” he cried huskily, “and you know it, +and won't tell me!”</p> + +<p>“Joel Pepper!” cried Tom, frightened half out +of his wits, and rushing to him; “lie down again,” +laying a firm hand on his shoulder.</p> + +<p>“I won't,” roared Joel wildly, and shaking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">282</a></span> +him off. “You're keeping something from me, +Tom.”</p> + +<p>“You're an idiot,” declared Tom, thinking it +quite time to be high-handed, “a first-class, howling +idiot, Pepper, to act so. If you don't believe +me, when I say I haven't anything to keep +back from you, I'll go straight upstairs. Some +one will tell me.”</p> + +<p>“Hurry along,” cried Joel feverishly. But +Tom had gotten no further than the hall, when +Joel howled, “Come back, Tom, I'll try—to—to +bear it.” And Tom flying back, Joel +was buried as far as his face went, in Mamsie's +cushion, sobbing as if his heart would break.</p> + +<p>“It will disturb—them,” he said gustily, in +between his sobs.</p> + +<p>Tom Beresford let him cry on, and thrust his +hands in his pockets, to stalk up and down the +room. He longed to whistle, to give vent to his +feelings; but concluding that wouldn't be understood, +but be considered heartless, he held himself +in check, and counted the slow minutes, for +this was deadly tiresome, and beginning to get +on his nerves. “I shall screech myself before +long, I'm afraid.”</p> + +<p>At last Joel rolled over. “Come here, do,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">283</a></span> +Tom,” and when Tom got there, glad enough to +be of use, Joel pulled him down beside the sofa, +and gripped him as only Joel could. “Do you +mind, Tom? I want to hang on to something.”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed,” said Tom heartily, vastly pleased, +although he was nearly choked. “Now you're +behaving better.” He patted him on the back. +“Hark, Joe! The doctor's laughing!”</p> + +<p>They could hear it distinctly now, and as long +as he lived, Joel thought, he never heard a sweeter +sound. He sprang to his feet, upsetting Tom, +who rolled over on his back to the floor.</p> + +<p>Just then in rushed Polly and Jasper, surrounding +him, and in a minute, “Oh, is Tom sick?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Tom, picking himself up grimly, +“only Joe's floored me, he was so glad to hear +the doctor laugh.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you poor, poor boy!” Polly was mothering +Joel now, just as Mamsie would have done; +and Tom looking on with all his eyes, as he +thought of his own home, with neither mother +nor sister, didn't hear Jasper at first. So Jasper +pulled his arm.</p> + +<p>“See here, Beresford, you and I will go down +to the library, I think.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Tom, allowing himself to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">284</a></span> +led off, though he would much have preferred +remaining.</p> + +<p>“Now, Joel,” said Polly, after they had gone, +and the petting had continued for some minutes, +“you must just be a brave boy, and please +Mamsie, and stop crying,” for Joel had been +unable to stop the tears.</p> + +<p>“I—I—didn't—see—Phronsie coming,” +wailed Joel afresh.</p> + +<p>“Of course you didn't,” said Polly, stroking +his black curls. “Why, Joey Pepper, did you +think for an instant that any one blamed you?” +She leaned over and set some kisses, not disturbing +Joel that some of them fell on his stubby +nose.</p> + +<p>“N-no,” said Joel, through the rain of drops +down his cheeks, “but it was Phronsie, Polly.” +It was no use to try to check him yet, for the +boy's heart was almost broken, and so Polly let +him cry on. But she bestowed little reassuring +pats on his shaking shoulders, all the while +saying the most comforting things she could +think of.</p> + +<p>“And just think, Joey,” she cried suddenly, +“you were the one who found Dr. Pennell. Oh, +I should think you'd be so glad!”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">285</a></span></p> + +<p>“I am glad,” said Joel, beginning to feel a +ray of comfort.</p> + +<p>“And how quickly you brought him, Joe!” +said Polly, delighted at the effect of her last +remark.</p> + +<p>“Did I?” said Joel in a surprised way, and +roused out of his crying; “I thought it was ever +so long, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“I don't see how you ever did it, Joel, in all +this world,” declared Polly positively.</p> + +<p>Joel didn't say that it was because he was a +sprinter at school, he found himself equal to the +job; nor did he think it of enough importance to +mention how many people he had run into, leaving +a great amount of vexation in his rear as he +sped on.</p> + +<p>“He was just going out of his door,” he announced +simply.</p> + +<p>“Oh Joey!” gasped Polly. Then she hugged +him rapturously. “But you caught him.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I caught him, and we jumped into his +carriage; and that's all.”</p> + +<p>“But it was something to be always proud of,” +cried Polly, in a transport.</p> + +<p>Joel, feeling very glad that there was something +to be proud of at all in this evening's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">286</a></span> +transactions, sat up quite straight at this, and +wiped his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Now that's a good boy,” said Polly encouragingly. +“Mamsie will be very glad.” And she +ran over to get a towel, dip it in the water basin, +and bring it back.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that feels so good!” said Joel, with a +wintry smile, as she sopped his red eyelids and +poor, swollen nose.</p> + +<p>“So it must,” said Polly pitifully, “and I'm +going to bring the basin here, and do it some +more.” Which she did; so that by the time +Phronsie was brought downstairs to sleep in Mrs. +Fisher's room, Joel was quite presentable.</p> + +<p>“Here they come!” announced Polly radiantly, +hearing the noise on the stairs, and running back +to set the basin and towel in their places. “Now, +Joey, you can see for yourself that Phronsie is all +right.”</p> + +<p>And there she was, perched on Dr. Pennell's +shoulder, to be sure, and Mamsie hurrying in +to her boy, and everything was just as beautiful +as it could be!</p> + +<p>“See, Joel, I'm all fixed up nice,” laughed +Phronsie from her perch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">287</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 319px;"> +<img src="images/i004.jpg" width="319" height="500" alt="SEE, JOEL, I'M ALL FIXED UP NICE" title="SEE, JOEL, I'M ALL FIXED UP NICE" /> +<span class="caption">SEE, JOEL, I'M ALL FIXED UP NICE, LAUGHED PHRONSIE +FROM HER PERCH.</span> +</div> + +<p>Joel's mouth worked dreadfully, but he saw +Mamsie's eyes, so he piped up bravely, “I'm so +glad, Phronsie.” It sounded very funnily, for it +died away in his throat, and he couldn't have +said another word possibly; but Phronsie was +sleepy, and didn't notice. And then the doctor +said they must go out; so with a last glance at +Phronsie, to be sure that she was all right, Joel +went off, Polly holding his hand.</p> + +<p>The next evening they were all drawn up before +the library fire; Polly on the big rug with +Joel's head in her lap, his eyes fixed on Phronsie, +who was ensconced in an easy-chair, close to +which Grandpapa was sitting.</p> + +<p>“Tell stories, do, Polly,” begged Van.</p> + +<p>“Yes, do, Polly,” said little Dick, who had +spent most of the day in trying to get near to +Phronsie, keeping other people very much occupied +in driving him off, as she had to be very +quiet. “Do, Polly,” he begged.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Polly's tired,” said Jasper, knowing that +she had been with Phronsie all her spare time, +and looking at the brown eyes which were drooping +a bit in the firelight.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, I will,” said Polly, rousing herself, +and feeling that she ought not to be tired, when +Phronsie was getting well so fast, and everything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">288</a></span> +was so beautiful. “I'll tell you one. Let me +see, what shall it be about?” and she leant her +head in her hands to think a bit.</p> + +<p>“Let her off,” said Jasper; “do, boys. I'll +tell you one instead,” he said.</p> + +<p>“No, we don't want yours,” said Van, not +very politely. “We want Polly's.”</p> + +<p>“For shame, Van!” said Percy, who dearly +loved to reprove his brother, and never allowed +the occasion to slip when he could do so.</p> + +<p>“For shame yourself!” retorted Van, flinging +himself down on the rug. “You're everlastingly +teasing Polly to do things when she's tired to +death. So there, Percy Whitney.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I'll tell the story,” Polly said, hastily +bringing her brown head up, while Phronsie began +to look troubled.</p> + +<p>“I'd like to tell a story,” said Tom Beresford +slowly, where he sat just back of the big rug.</p> + +<p>All the young folks turned to regard him, and +Van was just going to say, “Oh, we don't want +yours, Tom,” when Polly leaned forward, “Oh, +will you—will you, Tom?” so eagerly that +Van hadn't the heart to object.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will,” promised Tom, nodding at her.</p> + +<p>“Well, get down on the rug, then,” said Jasper,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">289</a></span> +moving up; “the story-teller always has to +have a place of honor here.”</p> + +<p>“That so?” cried Tom; “well, here goes,” +and he precipitated himself at once into the +midst of things.</p> + +<p>“Ow! get out,” cried Van crossly, and giving +him a push.</p> + +<p>“Oh Vanny!” said Polly reprovingly.</p> + +<p>“Well, he's so big and long,” grumbled Van, +who didn't fancy anybody coming between him +and Polly.</p> + +<p>“I might cut off a piece of my legs,” said +Tom, “to oblige you, I suppose. They are +rather lengthy, and that's a fact,” regarding them +as they stretched out in the firelight. “I'll curl +'em up in a twist like a Turk,” which he did.</p> + +<p>“Well, now,” said Jasper, “we are ready. So +fire ahead, Beresford.”</p> + +<p>Joel, who all this time had been regarding his +friend curiously, having never heard him tell a +story at Dr. Marks' school, couldn't keep his +eyes from him, but regarded him with a fixed +stare, which Tom was careful to avoid, by looking +steadily into the fire.</p> + +<p>“Well, now, I'm not fine at expressing myself,” +he began.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">290</a></span></p> + +<p>“I should think not,” put in Joel uncomplimentarily.</p> + +<p>“Joe, you beggar, hush up!” said Jasper, with +a warning pinch.</p> + +<p>“Yes, just sit on that individual, will you, +Jasper?” said Tom, over his shoulder, “or I +never will even begin.”</p> + +<p>So, Jasper promising to quench all further disturbance +on Joel's part, the story was taken up.</p> + +<p>“I can only tell a plain, unvarnished tale,” +said Tom, “but it's one that ought to be told, +and in this very spot. Perhaps you don't any +of you know, that in Dr. Marks' school it's +awfully hard to be good.”</p> + +<p>“Is it any harder than in any other school, +Tom?” asked Mrs. Fisher quietly.</p> + +<p>Tom turned, to reply: “I don't know, Mrs. +Fisher, because I haven't been at any other +school. But I can't imagine a place where everything +is made so hard for a boy. To begin with, +there is old Fox.”</p> + +<p>“Oh Tom!” exclaimed Phronsie, leaning forward, +whereat old Mr. King laid a warning +hand upon the well arm. “There, there, Phronsie; +sit back, child;” so she obeyed. “But, +Grandpapa, he said there was an old fox at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">291</a></span> +Joey's school,” she declared, dreadfully excited, +and lifting her face to his.</p> + +<p>“Well, and so she is, Phronsie,” declared Tom, +whirling his long body suddenly around, thereby +receiving a dig in the back from Van, who considered +him intruding on his space, “a fox by +name, and a fox by nature; but we'll call her, +for convenience, a person.”</p> + +<p>“She's the matron,” said Percy, feeling called +upon to explain.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said Phronsie, drawing a long breath, +“but I thought Tom said she was a fox, Grandpapa.”</p> + +<p>“That's her name,” said Tom, nodding at her; +“Jemima Fox—isn't that a sweet name, Phronsie?”</p> + +<p>“I don't think it is a <i>very</i> sweet one, Tom,” +said Phronsie, feeling quite badly to be obliged +to say so.</p> + +<p>“I agree with you,” said Tom, while the +others all laughed. “Well, Phronsie, she's just +as far from being nice as her name is.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Phronsie, looking +quite grieved.</p> + +<p>“But I have something nice to tell you,” said +Tom quickly, “so I'll hurry on, and let the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">292</a></span> +personages at Dr. Marks' slide. Well,—but I +want you all to understand, though”—and he +wrinkled up his brows,—“that when a fellow +does real, bang-up, fine things at that school, it +means something. You will, won't you?” He +included them all now in a sweeping glance, +letting his blue eyes rest the longest on Mrs. +Fisher's face; while Phronsie broke in, “What's +bang-up, Grandpapa?”</p> + +<p>“You must ask Tom,” replied Grandpapa, +with a little laugh.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that's just schoolboy lingo,” Tom made +haste to say, as his face got red.</p> + +<p>“What's lingo?” asked Phronsie, more puzzled +than before.</p> + +<p>“That's—that's—oh, dear!” Tom's face +rivalled the firelight by this time, for color.</p> + +<p>“Phronsie, I wouldn't ask any more questions +now,” said Polly gently. “Boys say so many +things; and it isn't necessary to know now. Let's +listen to the story.”</p> + +<p>“I will,” said Phronsie, feeling quite relieved +that it wasn't really incumbent on her to ask for +explanations. So she sat back quietly in her big +chair, while Tom shot Polly a grateful look.</p> + +<p>“Well, there are lots of chaps at our school,”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">293</a></span> +went on Tom—“I suppose there are at all +schools, but at any rate we have them in a big +quantity,—who are mad when they see the +other boys get on.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Tom!” exclaimed Polly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, they are—mad clear through,” declared +Tom positively. “And it's principally in athletics.” +Phronsie made a little movement at this +word, but, remembering that she was not to ask +questions, for Polly had said so, she became quiet +again.</p> + +<p>“They simply can't bear that a boy gets ahead +of 'em; it just knocks 'em all up.” Tom was +rushing on, with head thrown back and gazing +into the fire.</p> + +<p>“Tom,” said Joel, bounding up suddenly to +take his head out of Polly's lap, and to sit quite +straight, “I wouldn't run on like this if I were +you.”</p> + +<p>“You hush up, Pepper,” said Tom coolly. “I +haven't said a word about you. I shall say what +I like. I tell you, it does just knock 'em all up. +I know, for I've been that way myself.”</p> + +<p>This was getting on such dangerous ground, +that Joel opened his mouth to remonstrate, but +Polly put her hand over it. “I'd let Tom tell his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">294</a></span> +story just as he wants to,” which had the effect +of smothering Joel's speech for the time being.</p> + +<p>“I thought, Jasper, you were going to quench +Joe,” observed Tom, who seemed to have the +power to see out of the back of his head, and +now was conscious of the disturbance. “You +don't seem to be much good.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Polly's doing it this time,” said Jasper; +“I'll take him in tow on the next offence.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I have,” declared Tom, “been that way +myself. I'm going to tell you how, and then I'll +feel better about it.” His ruddy face turned +quite pale now, and his eyes shone.</p> + +<p>“Stop him,” howled Joel, all restraint thrown +to the winds, and shaking off Polly's fingers.</p> + +<p>Jasper leaned forward. “I'm bound to make +you keep the peace, Joe,” he said, shaking his +arm.</p> + +<p>“But he's going to tell about things he ought +not to,” cried Joel, in an agony. “Do stop him, +Jasper.”</p> + +<p>Mother Fisher leaned forward, and fastened +her black eyes on Joel's face. “I think Tom +better go on, Joel,” she said. “I want to hear +it.”</p> + +<p>That settled the matter; and Joel threw himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">295</a></span> +down, his face buried in Polly's lap, while he +stuck his fingers in his ears.</p> + +<p>“I'm going to tell you all this story,” Tom +was saying, “because I ought to. You won't +like me very well after it, but it's got to come +out. Well, I might as well mention names now, +since Joe has got to keep still. You can't guess +how he's been tormented by some of those cads, +simply because he's our best tennis player, and +on the football team. They've made things hum +for him!” Tom threw back his head, and +clenched his fist where it lay in his lap. “And +the rest of us boys got mad, especially at one of +them. He was the ringleader, and the biggest +cad and bully of them all.”</p> + +<p>No one said a word.</p> + +<p>“I hate to mention names; it seems awfully +mean.” Tom's face got fiery red again. “And +yet, as you all know, why, it can't be helped. +Jenkins—well there, a fellow would want to be +excused from speaking to him. And yet”—down +fell Tom's head shamefacedly—“I let +him show me how he was going to play a dastardly +trick on Joe, the very day of the tennis +tournament. I did, that's a fact.”</p> + +<p>No one spoke; but Tom could feel what might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">296</a></span> +have been said had the thoughts all been expressed, +and he burst out desperately, “I let +that cad take Joe's racket.”</p> + +<p>A general rustle, as if some speech were coming, +made him forestall it by plunging on, “His beautiful +racket he'd been practising with for this +tournament; and I not only didn't knock the +scoundrel down, but I helped the thing along. I +wouldn't have supposed I could do it. Joe was +to play with Ricketson against Green and me; +and two minutes after it was done, I'd have +given everything to have had it back on Joe's +table. But the boys were pouring up, and it +was hidden.”</p> + +<p>Tom could get no further, but hung his head +for the reaction sure to set in against him by all +this household that had welcomed and entertained +him so handsomely.</p> + +<p>“Has he got through? has the beggar finished?” +cried Joel lustily.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Polly, in a low voice, “I think he +has, Joel.”</p> + +<p>“Then I want to say”—Joel threw himself +over by Tom, his arms around him—“that he's +the biggest fraud to spring such a trap on me, +and plan to get off that yarn here.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">297</a></span></p> + +<p>“I didn't intend to when I came,” said Tom, +thinking it necessary to tell the whole truth. +“I hadn't the courage.”</p> + +<p>“Pity you had now!” retorted Joel. “Oh, you +beggar!” He laid his round cheek against Tom's. +“Mamsie, Grandpapa, Polly,” his black eyes +sweeping the circle, “if I were to tell you all +that this chap has done for me,—why, he took +me to the place where Jenk hid the racket.”</p> + +<p>“Pshaw! that was nothing,” said Tom curtly.</p> + +<p>“Nothing? Well, I got it in time for the tournament. +You saw to that. And when Jenk and +I were having it out in the pine grove that night, +Tom thought he better tell Dave; though I can't +say I thank you for that,” brought up Joel regretfully, +“for I was getting the best of Jenk.”</p> + +<p>Old Mr. King had held himself well in check +up to this point. “How did you know, Tom, +my boy, that Joel and er—this—”</p> + +<p>“Jenk,” furnished Joel.</p> + +<p>“Yes—er—Jenk, were going to settle it that +night?”</p> + +<p>“Why, you see, sir,” Tom, in memory of the +excitement and pride over Joel's prowess, so far +recovered himself as to turn to answer, “Joel +couldn't very well finish it there, for the dormitory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">298</a></span> +got too hot for that sort of thing; although +it would have been rare good sport for all the +fellows to have seen Jenk flat, for he was always +beating other chaps—I mean little ones, not +half his size.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” breathed Polly indignantly.</p> + +<p>“Yes; well, Joe promised Jenk he would finish +it some other time; and Jenk dared him, and +taunted him after the tournament. He was wild +with rage because Joel won; and he lost his head, +or he would have let Joe alone.”</p> + +<p>“I see,” exclaimed Grandpapa, his eyes shining. +“Well, and so you sat up and watched the +affair.”</p> + +<p>“I couldn't go to bed, you know,” said Tom +simply.</p> + +<p>“And he would have saved us, Dave and me, +if that Jenk hadn't locked the door on us when +he slipped in.”</p> + +<p>“Cad!” exclaimed Tom, between his teeth. +“He ought to have been expelled for that. And +then Joe shinned up the conductor—and you +know the rest.”</p> + +<p>Mother Fisher shivered, and leaned over involuntarily +toward her boy.</p> + +<p>“Mamsie,” exclaimed Joel, “you don't know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">299</a></span> +what Tom is to me, in that school. He's just +royal—that's what he is!” with a resounding +slap on his back.</p> + +<p>“And I say so too,” declared Mother Fisher, +with shining eyes.</p> + +<p>“<i>What?</i>” roared Tom, whirling around so +suddenly that Van this time got out of the way +only by rolling entirely off from the rug. “Mrs. +Fisher—you <i>can't</i>, after I've told you this, although +I'm no-end sorry about the racket. I +didn't want to tell,—fought against it, but I had +to.”</p> + +<p>“I stand by what I've said, Tom,” said Mrs. +Fisher, putting out her hand, when Tom immediately +laid his big brown one within it. At this, +Joel howled with delight, which he was unable +to express enough to meet his wishes; so he +plunged off to the middle of the library floor, +and turned a brace of somersaults, coming up +red and shining.</p> + +<p>“I feel better now,” he said; “that's the way +I used to do in the little brown house when I +liked things.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XIX_THE_GRAND_ENTERTAINMENT" id="XIX_THE_GRAND_ENTERTAINMENT"></a>XIX THE GRAND ENTERTAINMENT</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">300</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“O</span>ught we to, Mamsie?” asked Polly. +Jasper and she were in Mrs. Fisher's +room, and they both waited for the reply anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Polly, I think you ought,” said Mother +Fisher.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me! Phronsie can't have only a little +bit of it,” said Polly.</p> + +<p>“I know it. But think, Polly, the boys have +to go back to school so soon that even if other +people didn't care if it were postponed, they +would lose it. Besides, Tom is to be one of +the chief people on the program. No, no, Polly, +there are others to think of outside of ourselves. +You must have your entertainment just as it +is planned,” Mrs. Fisher brought up very decidedly.</p> + +<p>“Well,” sighed Polly, “I am glad that Papa +Fisher says that Phronsie can hear a little part of +it, anyway.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">301</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes,” said her mother cheerfully, “and Helen +Fargo is to sit next to her. Mrs. Fargo is to +take her home early, as she has not been very +well. So you see, Polly, it will all turn out very +good after all.”</p> + +<p>“But I did so want Phronsie to be there +through the whole,” mourned Polly.</p> + +<p>“So did I,” echoed Jasper. Then he caught +Mother Fisher's eye. “But, Polly, the boys +would lose it then,” he added quickly.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Polly, “so they would; I keep +forgetting that. Dear me! why isn't everything +just right, so that they all could hear it?” And +she gave a little flounce.</p> + +<p>“Everything is just right, Polly,” said Mrs. +Fisher gravely; “don't let me hear you complain +of things that no one can help.”</p> + +<p>“I didn't mean to complain, Mamsie,” said +Polly humbly; and she crept up to her, while +Jasper looked very much distressed.</p> + +<p>“Mother knows you didn't,” said Mrs. Fisher, +putting her arm around her, “but it's a bad +habit, Polly, to be impatient when things don't +go rightly. Now run away, both of you,” she +finished brightly, “and work up your program,” +and she set a kiss on Polly's rosy cheek.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">302</a></span></p> + +<p>“Jasper,” cried Polly, with happiness once +more in her heart as they raced off, “I tell you +what we can do. We must change the program, +and put those things that Phronsie likes, up +first.”</p> + +<p>“That's so,” cried Jasper, well pleased. “Now, +what will they be, Polly?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Mr. Dyce's story of the dog,” said +Polly, “for one thing; Phronsie thinks that's perfectly +lovely, and always asks him for it when he +tells her stories.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Jasper. “What next?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Tom must sing one of his funny songs.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course. That will please her ever so +much,” cried Jasper. “Don't you know how she +claps her hands when he's rehearsing, Polly?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; oh, I wouldn't have her miss that for +anything, Jasper,” said Polly.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed,” cried Jasper heartily. “Well, +Polly, then what ought to come next? Let's +come into the den and fix it up now.”</p> + +<p>So they ran into the den; and Jasper got out +the long program all ready to be pinned up beside +the improvised stage, on the evening of the +great event, and spread it on the table, Polly +meanwhile clearing off the books.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">303</a></span></p> + +<p>“Let's see.” He wrinkled up his brow, running +his finger down the whole length. “Now, +when I make the new program, Mr. Dyce goes +first.”</p> + +<p>Polly stood quite still at that. “Oh, Jasper, +we can't do it—no, never in all this world.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Polly,”—he turned suddenly—“yes, +we can just as easily. See, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“We can't spoil that lovely program that took +you so long to make, for anything,” said Polly, +in a decisive fashion. “Phronsie wouldn't want +it,” she added.</p> + +<p>“Phronsie isn't to know anything about it,” +said Jasper, just as decidedly.</p> + +<p>“Well, but Jasper, you can't make another; +you haven't the time,” said Polly in great distress, +and wishing she hadn't said anything about the +changes. “I didn't think there would have to +be a new program made.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Polly, I think we'd better have a new +one,” said Jasper, who was very particular about +everything.</p> + +<p>“I thought we were going to have changes +announced from the stage,” said Polly. “Oh, +why can't we, Jasper? I'm sure they do that +very often.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">304</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, that's when the changes come at the +last moment,” said Jasper reluctantly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm sure this is the last moment,” said +Polly. “The entertainment is to-morrow night, +and we've ever so much to do yet. <i>Please</i>, Jasper.” +That “please, Jasper,” won the day.</p> + +<p>“All right, Polly,” he said. “Well, now let's +see what ought to come after Tom's song.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Phronsie is very anxious to hear Pickering's +piece; I know, because I heard her tell +Mamsie so.”</p> + +<p>“Why, she has heard Pick recite that ever so +many times since he learned it for our school exhibition,” +said Jasper.</p> + +<p>“And don't you know that's just the very +reason why she wants it again?” said Polly, +with a little laugh.</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course,” said Jasper, laughing too. +“Well, she must have it then. So down goes +Pick.” He ran to the table drawer and drew out +a big sheet of paper. “First, Mr. Dyce, then +Tom Beresford, then Pickering Dodge,” writing +fast.</p> + +<p>“And then,” said Polly, running up to look +over his shoulder, “Phronsie wants dreadfully to +hear Tom play on his banjo.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">305</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, Polly,”—Jasper threw back his head to +look at her—“I don't believe there'll be time +for all that; you know the music by Miss Taylor +comes first as an overture. We can't change +that.”</p> + +<p>“Why,” exclaimed Polly in dismay, “we must, +Jasper, get Tom's banjo in; and there's Percy's +piece. Phronsie wouldn't miss that for <i>anything</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Why, we shall have the whole program in if we +keep on,” said Jasper, looking at her in dismay.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jasper, Papa Fisher says that Phronsie +may stay in twenty minutes. Just think; we +can do a lot in twenty minutes.”</p> + +<p>“But somebody is bound to be late, so we +can't begin on time. Nobody ever does, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“We must,” said Polly passionately, “begin +on time to-morrow night, Jasper.”</p> + +<p>“We'll try,” said Jasper, as cheerfully as he +could manage.</p> + +<p>“And there's your piece. Why, Jasper, Phronsie +told me herself that she <i>must</i> hear yours.”</p> + +<p>“Well, and so she told me that she'd rather +hear you play your piece,” said Jasper; “but you +and I, Polly, as long as we change the program, +can't come in among the first.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">306</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, of course not,” said Polly. “But, oh, +Jasper,” and she gave a sigh, “it's too bad that +you can't recite yours, for it is most beautiful!” +Polly clasped her hands and sighed again.</p> + +<p>“Well, that's not to be thought of,” said Jasper. +“Now I tell you how we'll fix it, Polly,” +he said quickly.</p> + +<p>“How?” asked Polly gloomily.</p> + +<p>“Why, we have twenty minutes that Phronsie +can stay in. Now, let's mark off all those things +that she wants, except yours and mine, even if +they come beyond the time; and then we'll draw +just those that will get into the twenty minutes.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jasper, what a fine idea!” exclaimed +Polly, all her enthusiasm returning.</p> + +<p>“Well, mark off half of 'em, and I'll write the +others,” said Jasper, tearing off strips from his +big sheet of paper. So Polly and he fell to work; +and presently “Pick,” and “Tom” (“that's for +the song,” said Polly), and “Banjo,” and “Mr. +Dyce,” and “Percy,” went down on the little +strips.</p> + +<p>“Oh, and I forgot,” said Polly, raising her +head from her last strip, “Phronsie wanted to +hear Clare very much indeed.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">307</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/i005.jpg" width="317" height="500" alt="OH, I DO HOPE I SHALL DRAW THE RIGHT ONE, JASPER." title="OH, I DO HOPE I SHALL DRAW THE RIGHT ONE, JASPER." /> +<span class="caption">“OH, I DO HOPE I SHALL DRAW THE RIGHT ONE, JASPER.”</span> +</div> + +<p>“Well, we should have had the whole program +with a vengeance,” said Jasper, bursting into a +laugh. “Well, put him down, Polly.”</p> + +<p>So “Clare” went down on another strip, and +then they were all jumbled up in a little Chinese +bowl on the bookcase.</p> + +<p>“Now, you draw first, Polly,” said Jasper.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, let us choose for first draw,” said +Polly; “that's the way to be absolutely right.”</p> + +<p>So she ran back to the table and tore off two +more strips, one short and the other long, and +fixed them in between her hands.</p> + +<p>“You didn't see?” she asked over her shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Not a wink,” said Jasper, laughing.</p> + +<p>So Polly ran back, and Jasper drew the short +one. “There; you have it, Polly!” he cried +gleefully. “Oh, that's good!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I do hope I shall draw the right one, +Jasper,” she said, standing on tiptoe, her fingers +trembling over the bowl.</p> + +<p>“They are all of them good,” said Jasper encouragingly. +So Polly suddenly picked out one; +and together they read, “Tom.”</p> + +<p>“Fine!” they shouted.</p> + +<p>“Oh, isn't that perfectly splendid?” cried +Polly, “because, you see, Phronsie did so very +much wish to hear Tom sing,” just as if she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">308</a></span> +hadn't mentioned that fact before. “Now, Jasper.”</p> + +<p>“I'm in much the same predicament as you +were,” said Jasper, pausing, his hand over the +bowl. “If I shouldn't choose the right one, +Polly!”</p> + +<p>“They are all of them good,” said Polly, laughing +at his face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know, but it is a fearful responsibility,” +said Jasper, wrinkling his brows worse yet. +“Well, here goes!”</p> + +<p>He plunged his fingers in, and out they came +with the strip, “Percy.”</p> + +<p>“Now, Jasper, you couldn't possibly have chosen +better,” declared Polly, hopping up and down, +“for Phronsie did so want to hear Percy speak. +And it will please Percy so. Oh, I'm so glad!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm thankful I haven't to draw again,” +declared Jasper, “for we can't have but three +pieces beside the overture, you know. So it's +your turn now, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Polly, the color +dying down in her cheek, “if I shouldn't draw +the right one, Jasper King; and it's the last +chance.”</p> + +<p>She stood so long with her hand poised over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">309</a></span> +the Chinese bowl, that Jasper finally laughed out. +“Oh, Polly, aren't your tiptoes tired?”</p> + +<p>“Not half so tired as I am,” said Polly grimly. +“Jasper, I'm going to run across the room, and +then run back and draw suddenly without stopping +to think.”</p> + +<p>“Do,” cried Jasper.</p> + +<p>So Polly ran into the further corner, and came +flying up, to get on her tiptoes, thrust in her fingers, +and bring out the third and last strip.</p> + +<p>“The deed is done!” exclaimed Jasper. +“Now, Polly, let's see who it is.”</p> + +<p>“Pick!” he shouted.</p> + +<p>And “Pickering!” screamed Polly. And they +took hold of hands and spun round and round +the den.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear, we're knocking off your beautiful +program,” cried Polly, pausing in dismay.</p> + +<p>“It hasn't hurt it any—our mad whirl hasn't,” +said Jasper, picking up the long program where +it had slipped off the table to the floor. “Polly, +you can't think how I wanted Pick to be chosen. +It will do him so much good.”</p> + +<p>“And only think, if I hadn't chosen him out +of that bowl!” cried Polly, in dismay at the +very thought.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">310</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, you did, Polly, so it's all right,” said +Jasper. “Now everything is fixed, and it's going +to be the finest affair that ever was,” he added +enthusiastically; “and the best of it is—I can't +help it, Polly—that Mrs. Chatterton isn't to +come back till next week,” he brought up in +great satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Chatterton had gone to New York for +some weeks, but was to return to finish her visit +at “Cousin Horatio's.”</p> + +<p>“And I am so glad too,” confessed Polly, but +feeling as if she oughtn't to say it. “And isn't +everything just beautiful, Jasper!”</p> + +<p>“I should think it was!” cried Jasper jubilantly. +“Just as perfect as can be, Polly.”</p> + +<p>And the next afternoon, when the last preparations +for the grand entertainment were made, and +everybody was rushing off to dress for dinner, a +carriage drove up the winding driveway. There +were big trunks on the rack, and two people inside.</p> + +<p>Joel, racing along the hall with Tom at his +heels, took one look. “Oh, whickets!” he ejaculated, +stopping short, to bring his feet down with +a thud.</p> + +<p>“What's the row?” asked Tom, plunging up +to him in amazement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">311</a></span></p> + +<p>“That person.” Joel pointed a finger at the +carriage. “I must tell Polly,” and off he +darted.</p> + +<p>Tom, not feeling at all sure that he ought to +wait to see “that person,” wheeled about and +followed.</p> + +<p>“Polly,” roared Joel, long before he got to her. +“She's come!”</p> + +<p>“Has she?” Polly called back, supposing he +meant Alexia. “Well, tell her to come up here, +Joe, in my room.”</p> + +<p>Joel took the stairs two at a time, Tom waiting +below, and dashed into the blue and white room +without ceremony.</p> + +<p>“Polly, you don't understand,” he blurted out; +“she's come!”</p> + +<p>Polly had her head bent over a drawer, picking +out some ribbons. At the sound of Joel's voice +she drew it out and looked at him.</p> + +<p>“Why, how funny you look, Joe!” she said. +“What is the matter?”</p> + +<p>“I guess you'd look funny,” said Joel glumly, +“if you'd seen Mrs. Chatterton.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Not Mrs. Chatterton!</i>” exclaimed Polly aghast; +and jumping up, her face very pale, and upsetting +her box of ribbons, she seized Joel's arm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">312</a></span></p> + +<p>“Tell me this very minute, Joel Pepper,” she +commanded, “what do you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Chatterton has just come. I saw her +coming up the drive. There's Johnson now letting +her in.” Joel had it all out now in a burst, +ready to cry at sight of Polly's face, as the bustle +in the hall below and the thin, high voice proclaimed +the worst.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Joel, Joel!” mourned Polly, releasing his +arm to wring her hands. “What <i>shall</i> we do?”</p> + +<p>“She's an old harpy,” declared Joel; “mean, +horrid, old thing!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, stop, Joel!” cried Polly, quite horrified.</p> + +<p>“Well, she is,” said Joel vindictively, “to come +before we'd got back to school.”</p> + +<p>“Well, don't say so,” begged Polly, having +hard work to keep back her own words, crowding +for utterance. “Mamsie wouldn't like it, Joey.”</p> + +<p>Joel, with this thought on his mind, only grumbled +out something so faintly that really Polly +couldn't hear as she ran out into the hall.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jasper!”</p> + +<p>“Polly, did you know? What <i>can</i> we do?” +It was impossible for him to conceal his vexation. +And Polly lost sight of her own discomfiture, in +the attempt to comfort him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">313</a></span></p> + +<p>“And father—it will just make him as miserable +as can be,” said Jasper gloomily. “And +he was so happy over the beautiful time we were +going to have this evening.” He was so vexed +he could do nothing but prance up and down the +hall.</p> + +<p>“Well, we must make him forget that she is +here,” said Polly, swallowing her own distress at +the change of all the conditions.</p> + +<p>“How can we, Polly?” Jasper stopped for a +minute and stared at her.</p> + +<p>“I mean,” said Polly, feeling that it was a very +hopeless case after all, “that we mustn't show +that we mind it, her coming back, and must act as +if we forgot it; and then that will keep him happy +perhaps.”</p> + +<p>“If you only will, Polly,” cried Jasper, seizing +both of her hands, “it will be the best piece of +work you ever did.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can't do it alone,” exclaimed Polly, in +consternation. “Never in all this world, Jasper, +unless you help too.”</p> + +<p>“Then we'll both try our very best,” said Jasper. +“I'm sure I ought to; 'twould be mean +enough to expect you to go at such a task +alone.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">314</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, you couldn't be mean, Jasper,” declared +Polly, in horror at the very thought.</p> + +<p>“Well, I should be if I left you to tackle this +by yourself,” said Jasper, with a grim little laugh. +“So Polly, there's my hand on it. I'll help you.”</p> + +<p>And Polly ran back to pick up her ribbons +and dress for dinner, feeling somehow very happy +after all, that there was something she could do +for dear Grandpapa to help him bear this great +calamity.</p> + +<p>Tom Beresford, meanwhile, withdrew from the +great hall when Johnson ushered in the tall, +stately woman and her French maid, and took +shelter in the library. And Mrs. Whitney, coming +over the stairs, saying, “Well, Cousin Eunice, +did you have a pleasant journey?” in the gentle +voice Tom so loved, gave him the first inkling +of the relationship. But he wrinkled his brows +at Joel's exclamation, and his queer way of rushing +off.</p> + +<p>“You know journeys always tire me, Marian. +So that your question is quite useless. I will sit +in the library a moment to recover myself. Hortense, +go up and prepare my room,” and she +sailed into the apartment, her heavy silk gown +swishing close to Tom's chair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">315</a></span></p> + +<p>“Who is that boy?” she demanded sharply. +Then she put up her lorgnette, and examined +him closely as if of a new and probably dangerous +species.</p> + +<p>Tom slipped off from his chair and stiffened +up.</p> + +<p>“It's one of Joel's friends,” said Mrs. Whitney, +slipping her hand within the tall boy's arm. +“The boys are at home from school for a week.”</p> + +<p>“Joel's friends,” repeated Mrs. Chatterton, paying +scant attention to the rest of the information. +Then she gave a scornful cackle. “Haven't you +gotten over that nonsense yet, Marian?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“No; and I trust I never shall,” replied Mrs. +Whitney with a happy smile. “Now, Cousin +Eunice, as you wish to rest, we will go,” and she +drew Tom off.</p> + +<p>“My boy,” she said, releasing him in the hall, +to give a bright glance up at the stormy, astonished +face above her, “I know you and Joel will +get dressed as rapidly as possible for dinner, for +my father will not want to be annoyed by a lack +of promptness to-night.” She did not say, “because +he will have annoyance enough,” but Tom +guessed it all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">316</a></span></p> + +<p>“I will, Mrs. Whitney,” he promised heartily. +And, thinking he would go to the ends of the +earth for her, to be smiled on like that, he plunged +off over the stairs.</p> + +<p>“I've seen the old cat,” he cried in smothered +wrath to Joel, rushing into his room.</p> + +<p>Joel sat disconsolately on the edge of his bed, +kicking off his heavy shoes, to replace with his +evening ones.</p> + +<p>“Have you?” said Joel grimly. “Well, isn't +she a—” then he remembered Mamsie, and +snapped his lips to.</p> + +<p>“'A,'” exclaimed Tom, in smothered wrath, +as he closed the door. “She isn't 'a' at all, Joe. +She's 'the.'”</p> + +<p>“Well, do be still,” cried Joel, putting on his +best shoes nervously, “or you'll have me saying +something. And she's visiting here; and Mamsie +wouldn't like it. Don't, Tom,” he begged.</p> + +<p>“I won't,” said Tom, with a monstrous effort, +“but—oh dear me!” Then he rushed into his +own room and banged about, getting his best +clothes out.</p> + +<p>“Shut the door,” roared Joel after him, “or +you'll begin to fume, and I can't stand it, Tom; +it will set me off.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">317</a></span></p> + +<p>So Tom shut the door; and with all these +precautions going on over the house, all the +family in due time appeared at dinner, prepared +as best they could be to bear the infliction of +Mrs. Chatterton's return.</p> + +<p>And after the conclusion of the meal, why, +everybody tried to forget it as much as possible, +and give themselves up to the grand affair of +the evening.</p> + +<p>And old Mr. King, who had been consumed +with fear that it would have a disastrous effect +on Polly and Jasper, the chief getters-up of the +entertainment, came out of his fright nicely; for +there they were, as bright and jolly as ever, and +fully equal to any demands upon them. So he +made up his mind that, after all, he could put up +with Cousin Eunice a bit longer, and that the +affair was to be an immense success and the +very finest thing possible.</p> + +<p>And everybody else who was present on the +eventful occasion, said so too! And it seemed +as if Mr. King's spacious drawing-room, famous +for its capacity at all such times, couldn't possibly +have admitted another person to this entertainment +for the benefit of the poor brakeman's +family.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">318</a></span></p> + +<p>And Joel, who wasn't good at recitations, and +who detested all that sort of thing, and Van, for +the same reason, were both in their element as +ticket takers. And the little pink and yellow +squares came in so thick and fast that both boys +had all they could do for a while—which was +saying a good deal—to collect them.</p> + +<p>And everybody said that Miss Mary Taylor +had never played such a beautiful overture—and +she was capable of a good deal along that +line—in all her life; and Phronsie, sitting well +to the front, between old Mr. King and Helen +Fargo, forgot that she ever had a hurt arm, and +that it lay bandaged up in her lap.</p> + +<p>And little Dick, when he could lose sight of +the fact that he wasn't next to Phronsie instead +of Helen Fargo, snuggled up contentedly against +Mother Fisher, and applauded everything straight +through.</p> + +<p>And old Mr. King protested that he was perfectly +satisfied with the whole thing, which was +saying the most that could be expressed for the +quality of the entertainment; and he took particular +pains to applaud Tom Beresford, who +looked very handsome, and acquitted himself +well.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">319</a></span></p> + +<p>“I must,” said Tom to himself, although quaking +inwardly, “for they've all been so good to +me—and for Joel's sake!” So he sang at his +very best. And he played his banjo merrily, and +he was encored and encored; and Joel was as +proud as could be, which did Tom good to see.</p> + +<p>And Percy—well, the tears of joy came into +his mother's eyes, for it wasn't easy for him to +learn pieces, nor in fact to apply himself to study +at all. But no one would have suspected it to +see him now on that stage. And Grandpapa +King was so overjoyed that he called “Bravo—bravo!” +ever so many times, which carried Percy +on triumphantly over the difficult spots where he +had been afraid he should slip.</p> + +<p>“If only his father could hear him!” sighed +Mrs. Whitney in the midst of her joy, longing as +she always did for the time when the father could +finish those trips over the sea, for his business +house.</p> + +<p>Polly had made Jasper consent, which he did +reluctantly, to give his recitation before she +played; insisting that music was really better +for a finale. And she listened with such delight +to the applause that he received—for ever so +many of the audience said it was the gem of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">320</a></span> +whole—that she quite forgot to be nervous about +her own performance; and she played her nocturne +with such a happy heart, thinking over the +lovely evening, and how the money would be, +oh, such a heap to take down on the morrow to +the poor brakeman's home, that Jasper was turning +the last page of her music—and the entertainment +was at an end!</p> + +<p>Polly hopped off from the music stool. There +was a great clapping all over the room, and +Grandpapa called out, “Yes, child, play again,” +so there was nothing for Polly to do but to hop +back again and give them another selection. And +then they clapped harder yet; but Polly shook +her brown head, and rushed off the stage.</p> + +<p>And then, of course, Grandpapa gave them, as +he always did, a fine party to wind up the evening +with. And the camp chairs were folded up and +carried off, and a company of musicians came +into the alcove in the spacious hall, and all +through the beautiful, large apartments festivity +reigned!</p> + +<p>“Look at the old cat,” said Tom in a smothered +aside to Joel, his next neighbor in the “Sir +Roger de Coverley.” “Isn't she a sight!”</p> + +<p>“I don't want to,” said Joel, with a grimace,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">321</a></span> +“and it's awfully mean in you, Tom, to ask +me.”</p> + +<p>“I know it,” said Tom penitently, “but I +can't keep my eyes off from her. How your +grandfather can stand it, Pepper, I don't see.”</p> + +<p>And a good many other people were asking +themselves the same question, Madam Dyce +among the number, to whom Mrs. Chatterton +was just remarking, “Cousin Horatio is certainly +not the same man.”</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Madam Dyce distinctly, “he is +infinitely improved; so approachable now.”</p> + +<p>“You mistake me,” Mrs. Chatterton said angrily, +“I mean there is the greatest change come +over him; it's lamentable, and all brought about +by his inexplicable infatuation over those low-born +Pepper children and their designing mother.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Chatterton,” said Madam Dyce—she +could be quite as stately as Mr. King's cousin, +and as she felt in secure possession of the right +in the case, she was vastly more impressive—“I +am not here to go over this question, nor shall +I discuss it anywhere with you. You know my +mind about it. I only wish I had the Peppers—yes, +every single one of them,” warmed up +the old lady,—“in my house, and that fine +woman, their mother, along with them.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XX_THE_CORCORAN_FAMILY" id="XX_THE_CORCORAN_FAMILY"></a>XX THE CORCORAN FAMILY</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">322</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>nd on the morrow—oh, what a heap of +money there was for the poor brakeman's +family!—four hundred and twelve dollars. For +a good many people had fairly insisted on paying +twice the amount for their tickets; and a +good many more had paid when they couldn't +take tickets at all, going out of town, or for +some other good reason.</p> + +<p>And one old lady, a great friend of the family, +sent for Polly Pepper the week before. And +when Polly appeared before the big lounge,—for +Mrs. Sterling was lifted from her bed to lie +under the sofa-blankets all day,—she said, +“Now, my dear, I want to take some tickets for +that affair of yours. Gibbons, get my check-book.”</p> + +<p>So Gibbons, the maid, brought the check-book, +and drew up the little stand with the writing-case +upon it close to the lounge, and Mrs. Sterling +did a bit of writing; and presently she held out a +long green slip of paper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">323</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Polly, in huge delight, “I've +never had one for my very own self before.” +There it was, “Polly Pepper,” running clear +across its face. And “Oh!” with wide eyes, +when she saw the amount, “twenty-five dollars!”</p> + +<p>“Haven't you so?” said Mrs. Sterling, greatly +pleased to be the first in one of Polly's pleasures.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Polly again, “twenty-five dollars!” +And she threw herself down before the +lounge, and dropped a kiss upon the hand that +had made all this happiness for the brakeman's +poor children.</p> + +<p>“Well now, Polly, tell me all about it,” said +Mrs. Sterling, with a glow at her heart warm +enough to brighten many a long invalid day. +“Gibbons, get a cricket for Miss Mary.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, may I sit here?” begged Polly eagerly, as +Gibbons, placing the little writing-case back into +position, now approached with the cricket; “it's +so cosey on the floor.”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, if you don't wish the cricket,” +said Mrs. Sterling with a little laugh, “and I +remember when I was your age it was my greatest +delight to sit on the floor.”</p> + +<p>“It is mine,” said Polly, snuggling up to the +sofa-blankets.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">324</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Sterling put out her thin hand, and took +Polly's rosy palm. “Now begin, dear,” she said, +with an air of content, and looking down into +the bright face.</p> + +<p>So Polly, realizing that here perhaps was need +for help, quite as much as in the poor brakeman's +home, though in a different way, told the +whole story, how the two clubs, the Salisbury +School Club and the boys' club, had joined together +to help Jim Corcoran's children; how they +had had a big meeting at Jasper's house, and +promised each other to take hold faithfully and +work for that object.</p> + +<p>“We were going to have a little play,” observed +Polly, a bit sorrowfully, “but it was thought +best not, so it will be recitations and music.”</p> + +<p>“Those will be very nice, I am quite sure, +Polly,” said Mrs. Sterling; “how I should love +to hear some of them!” It was her turn to look +sad now.</p> + +<p>“Why—” Polly sat up quite straight now, +and her cheeks turned rosy.</p> + +<p>“What is it, my child?” asked Mrs. Sterling.</p> + +<p>“Would you—I mean, do you want—oh, +Mrs. Sterling, would you like us to come here +some time to recite something to you?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">325</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Sterling turned an eager face on her +pillow.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure, Polly,” a light coming into her +tired eyes, “that you young people would be +willing to come to entertain a dull, sick, old +woman?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I am sure they would,” cried Polly, “if +you would like it, dear Mrs. Sterling.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Like it!</i>” Mrs. Sterling turned her thin face +to the wall for a moment. When she looked +again at Polly, there were tears trickling down +the wasted cheeks. “Polly, you don't know,” +she said brokenly, “how I just long to hear +young voices here in this dreary old house. To +lie here day after day, child—”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Polly suddenly, “it must be so +very dreadful, Mrs. Sterling.”</p> + +<p>“Well, don't let us speak of that,” said Mrs. +Sterling, breaking off quickly her train of thought, +“for the worst isn't the pain and the weakness, +Polly. It's the loneliness, child.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said Polly. Then it all rushed over +her how she might have run in before, and taken +the other girls if she had only known. “But we +will come now, dear Mrs. Sterling,” she said +aloud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">326</a></span></p> + +<p>“Do,” cried Mrs. Sterling, and a faint color +began to show itself on her thin face, “but not +unless you are quite sure that the young people +will like it, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am sure,” said Polly, with a decided +nod of her brown head.</p> + +<p>“Then why couldn't you hold some of your +rehearsals here?” proposed Mrs. Sterling.</p> + +<p>“Shouldn't we tire you?” asked Polly.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed!” declared Mrs. Sterling, with +sudden energy, “I could bear a menagerie up +here, Polly,” and she laughed outright.</p> + +<p>Gibbons, at this unwonted sound, popped her +head in from the adjoining room where she was +busy with her sewing, to gaze in astonishment at +her mistress.</p> + +<p>“I am not surprised at your face, Gibbons,” +said Mrs. Sterling cheerily, “for you have not +heard me laugh for many a day.”</p> + +<p>“No, madam, I haven't,” said Gibbons, “but +I can't help saying I'm rejoiced to hear it now,” +with a glance of approval on Polly Pepper.</p> + +<p>“So, Polly, you see there is no danger of your +bringing me any fatigue, and I should be only +too happy to see you at your next rehearsal.”</p> + +<p>“We can come, I am almost sure,” said Polly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">327</a></span> +“those of us who want to rehearse at all. Some +of us, you see, are quite sure of our pieces: Pickering +Dodge is, for one; he spoke at his last +school exhibition. But I'll tell the others. Oh, +thank you for asking us, Mrs. Sterling.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you for giving your time, dear, to a +dull old woman,” said Mrs. Sterling. “Oh, +must you go?” She clung to her hand. “I +suppose you ought, child.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Polly, “I really ought to go, Mrs. +Sterling. And you are not dull, one single bit, +and I like you very much,” she added as simply +as Phronsie would have said it.</p> + +<p>“Kiss me good-bye, Polly,” said Mrs. Sterling. +So Polly laid her fresh young cheek against the +poor, tired, wasted one; hopped into her jacket, +and was off on happy feet.</p> + +<p>And the others said “Yes,” when they saw +Polly's enthusiasm over the plan of holding +a rehearsal at Mrs. Sterling's; and Jasper proposed, +“Why couldn't we repeat the whole thing +after our grand performance, for her sometime?” +and, before any one could quite tell how, a warm +sympathy had been set in motion for the rich, +lonely old lady in the big, gloomy stone mansion +most of them passed daily on their way to school.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">328</a></span></p> + +<p>Well, the grand affair was over now, and a +greater success than was ever hoped for. Now +came the enjoyment of presenting the money!</p> + +<p>“Grandpapa,” said Polly, “we are all here.”</p> + +<p>“So I perceive,” looking out on the delegation +in the hall. For of course all the two clubs +couldn't go to the presentation, so committees +were chosen to represent them—Polly, Clem, +Alexia, and Silvia, for the Salisbury Club, and +Jasper, Clare, Pickering, and Richard Burnett +for the boys' club; while old Mr. King on his +own account had invited Joel, Percy and Van, +and, of course, Tom Beresford.</p> + +<p>“My! What shall we do with such a lot of +boys?” exclaimed Alexia, as they all met in the +hall.</p> + +<p>“You don't have to do anything at all with +us, Alexia,” retorted Joel, who liked her the best +of any of Polly's friends, and always showed it +by sparring with her on every occasion, “only +let us alone.”</p> + +<p>“Which I shall proceed to do with the greatest +pleasure,” said Alexia. “Goodness me! Joe, +as if I'd be bothered with you tagging on. You're +much worse than before you went away to +school.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">329</a></span></p> + +<p>“Come, you two, stop your quarrelling,” said +Jasper, laughing. “A pretty example you'd +make to those poor Corcoran children.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we sha'n't fight there,” said Alexia +sweetly; “we'll have quite enough to do to see +all that is going on. Oh, Polly, when do you +suppose we can ever start?”</p> + +<p>“Father has the bank-book,” announced Jasper; +“I saw him put it in his pocket, Polly.”</p> + +<p>Polly gave a little wriggle under her coat. +“Oh, Jasper, isn't it just too splendid for anything!” +she cried.</p> + +<p>“I'm going to walk with Polly,” announced +Clem, seizing Polly's arm, “so, Alexia Rhys, I +give you fair warning this time.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, you're not,” declared Alexia stoutly. +“Why, I always walk with Polly Pepper.”</p> + +<p>“And that's just the reason why I'm going to +to-day,” said Clem, hanging to Polly's arm for +dear life.</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm her dearest friend,” added Alexia, +taking refuge in that well-worn statement, “so +there now, Clem Forsythe.”</p> + +<p>“No, you're not,” said Clem obstinately; +“we're all her dearest friends, aren't we, Polly? +Say, Polly, aren't we?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">330</a></span></p> + +<p>“Hush!” said Jasper. “Father's coming.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I can't help it. I'm tired of hearing +Alexia Rhys everlastingly saying that, and pushing +us all away from Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Do hear them go on!” exclaimed Tom Beresford, +off on the edge of the group. “Does she +always have them carrying around like that?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Joel, “a great deal worse. Oh, +they're a lot of giggling girls; I hate girls!” he +exploded.</p> + +<p>“So do I,” nodded Tom. “Let's keep clear +of the whole lot, and walk by ourselves.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, we will,” declared Joel. “You won't +catch me walking with girls when I can help it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I wonder which of those two will get +your sister, Polly, this time,” said Tom, craning +his long neck to see the contest.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Alexia, of course,” said Joel carelessly; +“she always gets her in the end.”</p> + +<p>But Joel was wrong. Neither of the girls carried +off Polly. Old Mr. King marched out of +his reading-room. “Come, Polly, my child, you +and I will walk together,” and he waited on her +handsomely out, and down the walk to the car.</p> + +<p>Tom and Joel burst into a loud laugh, in which +the others joined, at the crestfallen faces.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">331</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, at least you didn't get her, Clem,” said +Alexia airily, coming out of her discomfiture.</p> + +<p>“Neither did you,” said Clem happily.</p> + +<p>“And you are horrid boys to laugh,” said +Alexia, looking over at the two. “But then, all +boys are horrid.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” said Tom, with his best bow.</p> + +<p>“Alexia Rhys, aren't you perfectly ashamed to +be fighting with that new boy?” cried Clem.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Alexia,” said Jasper. “I shall +have to walk with you to keep you in order,” +and the gay procession hurrying after old Mr. +King and Polly, caught up with them turning out +of the big stone gateway.</p> + +<p>And then, what a merry walk they had to the +car! and that being nearly full, they had to wait +for the next one, which luckily had only three +passengers; and Mr. King and his party clambered +on, to ride down through the poor +quarters of the town, to the Corcoran house.</p> + +<p>“Oh, misery me!” exclaimed Alexia, looking +out at the tumble-down tenements, and garbage +heaps up to the very doors. “Where <i>are</i> we +going?”</p> + +<p>“Did you suppose Jim Corcoran lived in a +palace?” asked Pickering lazily.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">332</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, I didn't suppose anybody lived like +that,” said Alexia, wrinkling up her nose in +scorn. “Dear me, look at all those children!”</p> + +<p>“Interesting, aren't they?” said Pickering, with +a pang for the swarm of ragged, dirty little creatures, +but not showing it in the least on his impassive +face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don't want to see it,” exclaimed Alexia, +“and I'm not going to either,” turning her back +on it all.</p> + +<p>“It goes on just the same,” said Pickering.</p> + +<p>“Then I am going to look.” Alexia whirled +around again, and gazed up and down the ugly +thoroughfare, taking it all in.</p> + +<p>“Ugh, how can you!” exclaimed Silvia Horne, +in disgust. “I think it's very disagreeable to +even know that such people live.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps 'twould be better to kill 'em off,” +said Tom Beresford bluntly.</p> + +<p>“Ugh, you dreadful boy!” cried Clem Forsythe.</p> + +<p>“Who's fighting now with the new boy?” +asked Alexia sweetly, tearing off her gaze from +the street.</p> + +<p>“Well, who wouldn't?” retorted Clem, “he's +saying such perfectly terrible things.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">333</a></span></p> + +<p>Pickering Dodge gave a short laugh. “Beresford, +you're in for it now,” he said.</p> + +<p>Tom shrugged his shoulders, and turned his +back on them.</p> + +<p>“What did you bring him home for, Joe?” +asked Alexia, leaning over to twitch Joel's arm.</p> + +<p>“To plague you, Alexia,” said Joel, with a +twinkle in his black eyes.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he doesn't bother me,” said Alexia +serenely. “Clem is having all the trouble now. +Well, we must put up with him, I suppose,” she +said with resignation.</p> + +<p>“You don't need to,” said Joel coolly, “you +can let us alone, Alexia.”</p> + +<p>“But I don't want to let you alone,” said +Alexia; “that's all boys are good for, if they're +in a party, to keep 'em stirred up. Goodness +me, Mr. King and Polly are getting out!” as the +car stopped, and Grandpapa led the way down +the aisle.</p> + +<p>When they arrived at the Corcoran house, +which was achieved by dodging around groups of +untidy women gossiping with their neighbors, +and children playing on the dirty pavements, +with the occasional detour caused by a heap of +old tin cans, and other débris, Mr. King drew a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">334</a></span> +long breath. “I don't know that I ought to have +brought you young people down here. It didn't +strike me so badly before.”</p> + +<p>“But it's no worse for us to see it than for +the people to live here, father,” said Jasper +quickly.</p> + +<p>“That's very true—but faugh!” and the old +gentleman had great difficulty to contain himself. +“Well, thank fortune, the Corcoran family are to +move this week.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Grandpapa,” cried Polly, hopping up and +down on the broken pavement, and “Oh, father!” +from Jasper.</p> + +<p>“Polly Pepper,” exclaimed Alexia, twitching +her away, “you came near stepping into that old +mess of bones and things.”</p> + +<p>Polly didn't even glance at the garbage heap +by the edge of the sidewalk, nor give it a thought. +“Oh, how lovely, Alexia,” she cried, “that they +won't have but a day or two more here!”</p> + +<p>“Well, we are going in,” said Alexia, holding +her tightly, “and I'm glad of it, Polly. Oh, +misery me!” as they followed Mr. King into the +poor little house that Jim the brakeman had +called home.</p> + +<p>The little widow, thanks to Mr. King and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">335</a></span> +several others interested in the welfare of the +brakeman's family, had smartened up considerably, +so that neither she nor her dwelling presented +such a dingy, woe-begone aspect as on the +previous visit. And old Mr. King, being very +glad to see this, still further heartened her up +by exclaiming, “Well, Mrs. Corcoran, you've accomplished +wonders.”</p> + +<p>“I've tried to,” cried the poor woman, “and +I'm sure 'twas no more than I ought to do, and +you being so kind to me and mine, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I've brought some young people to see +you,” said the old gentleman abruptly, who never +could bear to be thanked, and now felt much +worse, as there were several spectators of his +bounty; and he waved his hand toward the +representatives of the two clubs.</p> + +<p>They all huddled back, but he made them +come forward. “No, it's your affair to-day; I +only piloted you down here,” laughing at their +discomfiture.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the whole Corcoran brood had all +gathered about the visitors, to rivet their gaze +upon them, and wait patiently for further developments.</p> + +<p>“Polly, you tell her,” cried Alexia.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">336</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, Polly, do,” cried the other girls.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Polly,” said Pickering, “you can tell it +the best.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I never could,” said Polly in dismay. +“Jasper, you, please.”</p> + +<p>“No, no, Polly,” said Van; “she's the best.”</p> + +<p>“But Polly doesn't wish to,” said Jasper in a +low voice.</p> + +<p>“All right, then, Jappy, go ahead,” said +Percy.</p> + +<p>There was a little pause, Mrs. Corcoran filling +it up by saying, “I can't ask you to sit down, for +there ain't chairs enough,” beginning to wipe off +one with her apron. “Here, sir, if you'd please +to sit,” taking it over to Mr. King.</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” said the old gentleman, accepting +it with his best air. “Now then, Jasper”—he +had handed a small parcel to him under cover +of the chair-wiping—“go ahead, my boy.”</p> + +<p>So Jasper, seeing that there was no help for it, +but that he was really to be the spokesman, +plunged in quite bravely.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Corcoran, some of us girls and boys—we +belong to two clubs, you know,”—waving +his hand over to the representatives—“wanted +to show your boys and girls, that we were grateful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">337</a></span> +to their father for being so good and kind to +the passengers that night of the accident.”</p> + +<p>Here the little widow put the corner of her +apron up to her eye, so Jasper hurried on: “And +we wanted to help them to get an education. +And so we had a little entertainment, and sold +the tickets and here is our gift!” Jasper ended +desperately, thrusting the package out.</p> + +<p>“Take it, Arethusa,” was all Mrs. Corcoran +could say; “and may the Lord bless you all!” +Then she put the apron over her head and +sobbed aloud.</p> + +<p>“Bless me!” exclaimed old Mr. King, fumbling +for his handkerchief, “don't, my good +woman, I beg of you.”</p> + +<p>“And, oh, I do hope you'll learn to play on +the piano,” breathed Polly, as Arethusa took the +package from Jasper, and slid back to lay it in +her mother's hand.</p> + +<p>“Oh me! I'm going to cry,” exclaimed Alexia, +backing off toward the door.</p> + +<p>“If you do, I'll throw you out,” said Joel +savagely.</p> + +<p>“Well, I shall; I feel so sniffly and queer. Oh, +Joel, what shall I do? I shall be disgraced for +life if I cry here.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">338</a></span></p> + +<p>“Hang on to me,” said Joel stoutly, thrusting +out his sturdy arm.</p> + +<p>So Alexia hung on to it, and managed to get +along very well. And one of the children, the +littlest one next to the baby, created a diversion +by bringing up a mangy cat, and laying it on +Mr. King's knees. This saved the situation as +far as crying went, and brought safely away +those who were perilously near the brink of +tears.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Polly, starting forward, +knowing how Grandpapa detested cats. +But Jasper was before her.</p> + +<p>“Let me take it, father,” and he dexterously +brought it off.</p> + +<p>“Give it to me,” said Polly. “Oh, what is its +name?”</p> + +<p>The little thing who seemed to own the cat +toddled over, well pleased, and stuck his finger +in his mouth, which was the extent to which he +could go in conversation. But the other children, +finding the ice now broken, all came up at this +point, to gather around Polly and the cat.</p> + +<p>“It's lucky enough that Phronsie isn't here,” +said Jasper in a low voice, “for she would never +want to leave that cat.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">339</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i006.jpg" width="500" height="307" alt="AND SO WE HAD A LITTLE ENTERTAINMENT, AND SOLD THE TICKETS, AND HERE IS OUR GIFT!" title="AND SO WE HAD A LITTLE ENTERTAINMENT, AND SOLD THE TICKETS, AND HERE IS OUR GIFT!" /> +<span class="caption">“AND SO WE HAD A LITTLE ENTERTAINMENT, AND SOLD THE TICKETS, AND HERE IS OUR GIFT!”</span> +</div> + +<p>“Just see Polly Pepper!” exclaimed Alexia, +with a grimace. “Why doesn't she drop that +dirty old cat?”</p> + +<p>“Because she ought not to,” howled Joel +sturdily. Then he rushed over to Polly; and although +he had small love for cats in general, this +particular one, being extremely ill-favored and lean, +met with his favor. He stroked her poor back.</p> + +<p>Arethusa drew near and gazed into Polly's face; +seeing which, the cat was safely transferred to +Joel, and Polly turned around to the girl.</p> + +<p>“Oh, do you want to learn to play on the +piano?” asked Polly breathlessly, under cover of +the noise going on, for all the other members of +the two clubs now took a hand in it. Even +Percy unbent enough to interview one of the +Corcoran boys.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do,” said Arethusa, clasping her small +red hands tightly.</p> + +<p>Her eyes widened, and her little thin face, +which wasn't a bit pretty, lightened up now in a +way that Polly thought was perfectly beautiful.</p> + +<p>“Well, I did, when I was a little girl like you”—Polly +bent her rosy face very close to Arethusa's—“oh, +<i>dreadfully</i>; and I used to drum on +the table to make believe I could play.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">340</a></span></p> + +<p>“So do I,” cried Arethusa, creeping up close to +Polly's neck, “an' th' boys laugh at me. But I +keep doin' it.”</p> + +<p>“And now, Arethusa, you are really going to +learn to play on the piano.” Polly thrilled all +over at the announcement, just as she had done +when told that she was to take music lessons.</p> + +<p>“Not a really and truly piano?” exclaimed +Arethusa, lost in amazement.</p> + +<p>“Yes, a really and truly piano,” declared Polly +positively. “Just think, Arethusa, you can give +music lessons and help to take care of your +mother.”</p> + +<p>And just then Grandpapa, who had been talking +to Mrs. Corcoran, was saying, “Well, well, +it's time to be going, young people.” And Joel +put the cat down, that immediately ran between +his legs, tripping him up as he turned, thereby +making everybody laugh; and so the exit was +made merrily.</p> + +<p>“Wasn't that fun!” cried Alexia, dancing off +down the broken pavement. “Oh, I forgot, I'm +going to walk home with Polly,” and she flew back.</p> + +<p>“You take yourself away,” cried old Mr. King, +with a laugh. “I'm to have Polly to myself on +this expedition.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">341</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, at any rate, Clem, you haven't Polly,” +announced Alexia as before, running up to her.</p> + +<p>“Neither have you,” retorted Clem, in the +same way.</p> + +<p>“So we will walk together,” said Alexia, coolly +possessing herself of Clem's arm. “Those two +boys can walk with each other; they're just +dying to.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know I want to walk with you?” +asked Clem abruptly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, but do, you sweet thing you! Come +on!” and Alexia dragged her off at a smart pace.</p> + +<p>“Grandpapa,” cried Polly, hopping up and +down by his side, too happy to keep still, while +she clung to his hand just as Phronsie would +have done, “you are going to have the piano +put into the house the very first thing after it is +cleaned and ready—the <i>very</i> first thing?” She +peered around into his face anxiously.</p> + +<p>“The <i>very</i> first thing,” declared the old gentleman. +“Take my word for it, Polly Pepper, +there sha'n't another article get in before it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Grandpapa!” Polly wished she could +go dancing off into the middle of the thoroughfare +for a regular spin.</p> + +<p>“Take care, Polly,” laughed old Mr. King,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">342</a></span> +successfully steering her clear of an ash barrel, +“this isn't the best dancing place imaginable.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I beg your pardon, Grandpapa,” said +Polly, trying to sober down, “I didn't mean to; +but oh, isn't it perfectly beautiful that Arethusa +is going to take music lessons!”</p> + +<p>“It is, indeed,” said Grandpapa, with a keen +glance down at her flushed face. “And it really +does seem to be an assured fact, for Miss Brown +is engaged to begin as soon as the family move +into their new home.”</p> + +<p>“Oh—oh!” Polly could get no further.</p> + +<p>Jasper, ahead with Pickering Dodge, looked +back longingly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I do wish, Grandpapa,” said Polly, +“that Jasper could walk home with us.”</p> + +<p>“So do I, Polly,” said the old gentleman; +“but you see he can't, for then I should have +the whole bunch of those chattering creatures +around me,” and he laughed grimly. “You +must tell him all about what we are talking of, +as soon as you get home.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will,” declared Polly, “the very first +thing. Now, Grandpapa, please go on.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I had told Mrs. Corcoran all about the +new house, you know, Polly, before.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">343</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, I know, Grandpapa,” said Polly, with a +happy little wriggle.</p> + +<p>“And so to-day I explained about the bank-book; +told her where the money was deposited, +and showed her how to use it. By the way, +Polly, Jasper made a good speech now, didn't +he?” The old gentleman broke off, and fairly +glowed with pride.</p> + +<p>“Oh, didn't he!” cried Polly, in a burst. “I +thought it was too splendid for anything! And +he didn't know in the least that he had to do it. +He thought you were going to give the bank-book, +Grandpapa.”</p> + +<p>“I know it,” chuckled Mr. King. “Well now, +Polly, I thought I'd try my boy without warning. +Because, you see, that shows what stuff a person +is made of to respond at such a time, and he's +all right, Jasper is; he came up to the demand +nicely.”</p> + +<p>“It was perfectly elegant!” cried Polly, with +glowing cheeks.</p> + +<p>“And those two boys—the largest ones—are +to begin in the other public school next week,” +continued the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>“Everything begins next week, doesn't it, +Grandpapa?” cried Polly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">344</a></span></p> + +<p>“It seems so,” said Mr. King, with a laugh. +“Well, Polly, here we are at our car.”</p> + +<p>And having the good luck to find it nearly +empty, the whole party hopped on, and began +the ride back again.</p> + +<p>“Now,” said Jasper, when they had reached +home, “for some comfort,” and he drew Polly +off into a quiet corner in the library. “Let's +have the whole, Polly. You said you'd tell me +what you and father were talking of all the way +home.”</p> + +<p>“And so I will,” cried Polly, too elated to +begin at the right end. “Well, Jasper, you must +know that Arethusa's piano is actually engaged.”</p> + +<p>“It is!” exclaimed Jasper. “Hurrah!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Polly, with shining eyes, “and it's +going into the new home the <i>very</i> first thing. +Grandpapa promised me that.”</p> + +<p>“Isn't father good!” cried Jasper, a whole +world of affection in his dark eyes.</p> + +<p>“Good?” repeated Polly, “he's as good as +good can be, Jasper King!”</p> + +<p>“Well, what else?” cried Jasper.</p> + +<p>“And the boys—the two biggest ones—are +going into the other public school, the one nearest +their new home, you know.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">345</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, I see,” said Jasper, “that's fine. That +will bring them in with better boys.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and Grandpapa told Mrs. Corcoran all +about the money we made at the entertainment, +and that he put it in the bank for her this morning. +And he showed her how to use the check-book.”</p> + +<p>“Polly,” said Jasper, very much excited, “what +if we girls and boys hadn't done this for those +children! Just think, Polly, only suppose it!”</p> + +<p>“I know it,” cried Polly. “Oh, Jasper!” +drawing a long breath. “But then, you see, we +did do it.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Jasper, bursting into a laugh, “we +surely did, Polly.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XXI_AT_THE_PLAY" id="XXI_AT_THE_PLAY"></a>XXI AT THE PLAY</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">346</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“O</span>h, Cathie!” Polly rushed out to meet the +girl that Johnson was just ushering in. +“I <i>am</i> so glad you've come!”</p> + +<p>A pleased look swept over the girl's face, but +she didn't say anything.</p> + +<p>“Now come right upstairs; never mind the +bag, Johnson will bring that for you.”</p> + +<p>“I will take it up, Miss,” said Johnson, securing +it.</p> + +<p>“Mamsie is waiting to see you,” cried Polly, +as they ran over the stairs, Cathie trying to still +the excited beating of her heart at the thought +that she was really to visit Polly Pepper for three +whole days! “Oh, Mamsie, here she is!”</p> + +<p>“I am glad to see you, Cathie,” said Mrs. +Fisher heartily, taking her cold hand. “Now, you +are to have the room right next to Polly's.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, the same one that Alexia always has +when she stays here,” said Polly. “See, Cathie,” +bearing her off down the hall. “Oh, it is so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">347</a></span> +good to get you here,” she cried happily. “Well, +here we are!”</p> + +<p>“You can't think,” began Cathie brokenly; +then she turned away to the window—“it's so +good of you to ask me, Polly Pepper!”</p> + +<p>“It's so good of you to come,” said Polly merrily, +and running over to her. “There, Johnson +has brought your bag. Aren't you going to unpack +it, Cathie?—that is, I mean”—with a +little laugh—“after you've got your hat and +jacket off. And then, when your things are all +settled, we can go downstairs, and do whatever +you like. Perhaps we'll go in the greenhouse.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Polly!” exclaimed Cathie, quite forgetting +herself, and turning around.</p> + +<p>“And can't I help you unpack?” asked Polly, +longing to do something.</p> + +<p>“No,” said Cathie, remembering her plain +clothes and lack of the pretty trifles that girls +delight in; then seeing Polly's face, she thought +better of it. “Yes, you may,” she said suddenly.</p> + +<p>So Polly unstrapped the bag, and drew out +the clothes, all packed very neatly. “Why, +Cathie Harrison!” she exclaimed suddenly.</p> + +<p>“What?” asked Cathie, hanging up her jacket<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">348</a></span> +in the closet, and putting her head around the +door.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what a lovely thing!” Polly held up a +little carved box of Chinese workmanship.</p> + +<p>“Isn't it?” cried Cathie, well pleased that she +had anything worthy of notice. “My uncle +brought that from China to my mother when +she was a little girl, and she gave it to me.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it's too lovely for anything,” declared +Polly, running to put it on the toilet table. “I +do think Chinese carvings are so pretty!”</p> + +<p>“Do you?” cried Cathie, well pleased. “My +mother has some really fine ones, I'll show you +sometime, if you'd like to see them, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, I should,” said Polly warmly. So +Cathie, delighted that she really had something +that could interest Polly Pepper, hurried through +her preparations; and then the two went downstairs +arm in arm, and out to the greenhouse.</p> + +<p>“Polly Pepper!” exclaimed Cathie on the +threshold, “I don't think I should ever envy you +living in that perfectly beautiful house, because +it just scares me to set foot in it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it needn't,” said Polly, with a little +laugh. “You must just forget all about its being +big and splendid.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">349</a></span></p> + +<p>“But I can't,” said Cathie, surprised at herself +for being so communicative, “because, you +see, I live in such a little, tucked-up place.”</p> + +<p>“Well, so did I,” said Polly, with a bob of +her brown head, “before we came here to Grandpapa's; +but oh, you can't think how beautiful it +was in the little brown house—you can't begin +to think, Cathie Harrison!”</p> + +<p>“I know,” said Cathie, who had heard the +story before. “I wish you'd tell it all to me +now, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“I couldn't tell it all, if I talked a year, I +guess,” said Polly merrily, “and there is Turner +waiting to speak to me. Come on, Cathie.” +And she ran down the long aisle between the +fragrant blossoms.</p> + +<p>But Cathie stopped to look and exclaim so +often to herself that she made slow progress.</p> + +<p>“Shall I make her up a bunch, Miss Mary?” +asked old Turner, touching his cap respectfully, +and looking at the visitor.</p> + +<p>“Oh, if you please,” cried Polly radiantly; +“and do put some heliotrope in, for Cathie is so +fond of that. And please let her have a bunch +every morning when I have mine, Turner, for +she is to stay three days.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">350</a></span></p> + +<p>“It shall be as you wish, Miss Mary,” said +Turner, quite delighted at the order.</p> + +<p>“And please let it be very nice, Turner,” said +Polly hastily.</p> + +<p>“I will, Miss; don't fear, Miss Mary, I'll have +it as nice as possible,” as Polly ran off to meet +Cathie.</p> + +<p>“I should stay here every single minute I was +at home if I lived here, Polly Pepper,” declared +Cathie. “Oh, oh!” sniffing at each discovery of +a new blossom.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, you wouldn't, Cathie,” contradicted +Polly, with a laugh; “not if you had to get your +lessons, and practise on the piano, and go out +riding and driving, and play with the boys.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” cried Cathie, “I don't care very +much for boys, because, you see, Polly, I never +know what in this world to say to them.”</p> + +<p>“That's because you never had any brothers,” +said Polly, feeling how very dreadful such a +state must be. “I can't imagine anything without +Ben and Joel and Davie.”</p> + +<p>“And now you've such a lot of brothers, with +Jasper and all those Whitney boys; oh, Polly, +don't they scare you to death sometimes?”</p> + +<p>Polly burst into such a merry peal of laughter,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">351</a></span> +that they neither of them heard the rushing feet, +until Cathie glanced up. “Oh dear me! there +they are now!”</p> + +<p>“Well, to be sure; we might have known you +were here, Polly,” cried Jasper, dashing up with +Clare. “How do you do, Cathie?” putting out +his hand cordially.</p> + +<p>Clare gave her a careless nod, then turned to +Polly. “It's to be fine,” he said.</p> + +<p>“What?” asked Polly wonderingly.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, old chap.” Jasper gave him a clap +on the back. “Father is going to tell her +himself. Come on, Polly and Cathie, to his +room.”</p> + +<p>“Come, Cathie,” cried Polly. “Let's beat +those boys,” she said, when once out of the +greenhouse. “We're going to race,” she cried +over her shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” said Jasper. “Clare, we must +beat them,” and they dashed in pursuit.</p> + +<p>But they couldn't; the two girls flew over the +lawn, and reached the stone steps just a breathing +space before Jasper and Clare plunged up.</p> + +<p>“Well done,” cried Jasper, tossing back the +hair from his forehead.</p> + +<p>“I didn't know you could run so well,” observed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">352</a></span> +Clare, with some show of interest in +Cathie.</p> + +<p>“Oh, she runs splendidly,” said Polly, with +sparkling eyes. “Let's try a race sometime, Jasper; +we four, down the Long Path, while Cathie's +here.”</p> + +<p>“Capital! We will,” assented Jasper, “but +now for father's room.”</p> + +<p>There sat old Mr. King by his writing table. +“Well, Polly—how do you do, Cathie? I am +glad to see you,” he said, putting out his hand +kindly.</p> + +<p>As well as she could for her terror at being +actually in that stately Mr. King's presence, +Cathie stumbled forward and laid her hand in his.</p> + +<p>“Now, Polly,” said the old gentleman, turning +off to pick up a little envelope lying on the table, +“I thought perhaps you would like to take your +young friend to the play to-night, so I have the +tickets for us five,” with a sweep of his hand over +to the two boys.</p> + +<p>“Grandpapa!” cried Polly, precipitating herself +into his arms, “oh, how good you are!” +which pleased the old gentleman immensely.</p> + +<p>“Isn't that no-end fine!” cried Jasper in delight. +“Father, we can't thank you!”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">353</a></span></p> + +<p>“Say no more, my boy,” cried the old gentleman. +“I'm thanked enough. And so, Polly, +my girl, you like it,” patting her brown hair.</p> + +<p>“Like it!” cried Polly, lifting her glowing +cheeks,—“oh, Grandpapa!”</p> + +<p>“Run along with you then, all of you. Clare, +be over in time.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” cried Clare. “Oh, thank you, Mr. +King, ever so much!” as they all scampered off +to get their lessons for the next day; for going to +a play was always a special treat, on condition +that no studies were neglected.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Cathie,” cried Polly, before she flew into +the window-seat to curl up with her books, her +favorite place for studying her lessons, “Grandpapa +is taking us to the play because you are +here.”</p> + +<p>“And I've never been to a play, Polly,” said +Cathie, perfectly overwhelmed with it all.</p> + +<p>“Haven't you? Oh, I'm so glad—I mean, +I'm glad you're going with us, and that Grandpapa +is to take you to the first one. But, oh +me!” and Polly rushed off to attack her books. +“Now, don't let us speak a single word, Cathie +Harrison,” as Cathie picked out a low rocker for +her choice of a seat; and pretty soon, if Miss<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">354</a></span> +Salisbury herself had come into the room, she +would have been perfectly satisfied with the diligent +attention the books were receiving.</p> + +<p>But Miss Salisbury was not thinking of her +pupils this afternoon. She was at this moment +closeted with Miss Anstice, and going over a +conversation that they frequently held, these past +days, without much variation in the subject or +treatment.</p> + +<p>“If there were anything we could do to repay +him, sister,” said Miss Anstice mournfully, “I'd +do it, and spend my last cent. But what is +there?” Then she paced the floor with her +mincing little steps, now quite nervous and flurried.</p> + +<p>“Sister,” said Miss Salisbury, doing her best +to be quite calm, “it isn't a matter of payment; +for whatever we did, we never could hope to replace +that exquisite little vase. Miss Clemcy had +pointed out to me the fact that it was quite the +gem in his collection.”</p> + +<p>“I know; I thought my heart would stop when +I heard the crash.” Miss Anstice wrung her +little hands together at the memory. “Oh, that +careless Lily!”</p> + +<p>“Sister, pray let us look at this matter—”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">355</a></span></p> + +<p>“I am looking at it. I see nothing but that +vase, smashed to pieces; and I cannot sleep at +night for fear I'll dream how it looked in those +very little bits.”</p> + +<p>“Sister—pray—pray—”</p> + +<p>“And if you want me to tell you what I think +should be done, I'm sure I can't say,” added +Miss Anstice helplessly.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, I must think,” declared Miss +Salisbury, with sudden energy, “for some repayment +must surely be made to him, although they +utterly refused it when you and I called and +broached the subject to them.”</p> + +<p>“It was certainly a most unfortunate day from +beginning to end,” said Miss Anstice, with a suggestion +of tears in her voice, and a shiver at the +remembrance of the front breadth of her gown. +“Sister, I hope and pray that you will never +have another picnic for the school.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot abolish that annual custom, Anstice,” +said Miss Salisbury firmly, “for the girls +get so much enjoyment out of it. They are already +talking about the one to come next year.”</p> + +<p>“Ugh!” shuddered Miss Anstice.</p> + +<p>“And anything that holds an influence over +them, I must sustain. You know that yourself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">356</a></span> +sister. And it is most important to give them +some recreations.”</p> + +<p>“But <i>picnics</i>!” Miss Anstice held up her little +hands, as if quite unequal to any words.</p> + +<p>“And I am very sorry that we were out when +Mr. Clemcy and his sister called yesterday afternoon, +for I am quite sure I could have arranged +matters so that we need not feel under obligations +to them.”</p> + +<p>Miss Anstice, having nothing to say, kept her +private reflections mournfully to herself; and it +being the hour for the boarding pupils to go out +to walk, and her duty to accompany them, the +conference broke up.</p> + +<p>“Polly,” called Mrs. Chatterton, as Polly ran +past her door, her opera glasses Grandpapa had +given her last Christmas in the little plush bag +dangling from her arm, and a happy light in her +eyes. Cathie had gone downstairs, and it was +getting nearly time to set forth for that enchanted +land—the playhouse!</p> + +<p>Polly ran on, scarcely conscious that she was +called. “Did you not hear me?” asked Mrs. +Chatterton angrily, coming to her door.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I beg pardon,” said Polly, really glad +ever since that dreadful time when Mrs. Chatterton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">357</a></span> +was ill, to do anything for her. “For I +never shall forget how naughty I was to her,” +Polly said over to herself now as she turned back.</p> + +<p>“You may well beg my pardon,” said Mrs. +Chatterton, “for of all ill-bred girls, you are certainly +the worst. I want you.” Then she disappeared +within her room.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” asked Polly, coming in. “I +shall be so glad to help.”</p> + +<p>“Help!” repeated Mrs. Chatterton in scorn. +She was standing over by her toilet table. “You +can serve me; come here.”</p> + +<p>The hot blood mounted to Polly's brow. Then +she thought, “Oh, what did I say? That I +would do anything for Mrs. Chatterton if she +would only forgive me for those dreadful words +I said to her.” And she went over and stood by +the toilet table.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you have concluded to come?” observed +Mrs. Chatterton scornfully. “So much the better +it would be if you could always learn what +your place is in this house. There, you see this +lace?” She shook out her flowing sleeve, glad +to display her still finely moulded arm, that had +been one of her chief claims to distinction, even +if nobody but this little country-bred girl saw it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">358</a></span></p> + +<p>Polly looked at the dangling lace, evidently +just torn, with dismay; seeing which, Mrs. Chatterton +broke out sharply, “Get the basket, girl, +over there on the table, and sew it as well as you +can.”</p> + +<p>“Polly!” called Jasper over the stairs, “where +are you?”</p> + +<p>Polly trembled all over as she hurried across +the room to get the sewing basket. Grandpapa +was not ready, she knew; but she always ran +down a little ahead for the fun of the last moments +waiting with Jasper, when old Mr. King +was going to take them out of an evening. And +in the turmoil in her mind, she didn't observe +that Hortense had misplaced the basket, putting +it on the low bookcase, and was still searching +all over the table as directed, when Mrs. Chatterton's +sharp voice filled her with greater dismay.</p> + +<p>“<i>Stupid</i>! if you would put heart into your +search, it would be easy enough to find it.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Polly</i>, where <i>are</i> you!” Polly, in her haste +not to displease Mrs. Chatterton by replying to +Jasper before finding the basket, knocked over +one of the small silver-topped bottles with which +the dressing table seemed to be full, and before +she could rescue it, it fell to the floor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">359</a></span></p> + +<p>“Go out of this room,” commanded Mrs. +Chatterton, with blazing eyes. “I ought to have +known better than to call upon a heavy-handed, +low-born country girl, to do a delicate service.”</p> + +<p>“I didn't mean—” began poor Polly.</p> + +<p>“Go out of this room!” Mrs. Chatterton, +now thoroughly out of temper, so far forgot herself +as to stamp her foot; and Polly, feeling +as if she had lost all chance in her future encounters +with Mrs. Chatterton, of atoning for +past short-comings, went sadly out, to meet, just +beside the door, Jasper, with amazement on his +face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Polly, I thought you were never coming.” +Then he saw her face.</p> + +<p>“That old—” he said under his breath. +“Polly, don't ever go into her room again. I +wouldn't,” as they hurried off downstairs.</p> + +<p>“She won't let me,” said Polly, her head +drooping, and the brightness all gone from her +face. “She won't ever let me go again, I know.”</p> + +<p>“Won't let you? Well, I guess you'll not give +her a chance,” cried Jasper hotly. “Polly, I +do really wish that father would tell her to go +away.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jasper,” cried Polly, in alarm, “don't say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">360</a></span> +one word to Grandpapa. Promise me you won't, +Jasper.”</p> + +<p>“Well, father is tired of her. She wears on +him terribly, Polly,” said Jasper gloomily.</p> + +<p>“I know,” said Polly sadly. “And oh, Jasper, +if you say one word, he will really have her go. +And I was so bad to her, you know,” and the +tears came into Polly's brown eyes.</p> + +<p>“Well, she must have been perfectly terrible to +you,” said Jasper.</p> + +<p>“Polly—Jasper—where are you?” came in +old Mr. King's voice.</p> + +<p>“Here, father,” and “Here, Grandpapa,” and +Clare running up the steps, the little party was +soon in the carriage.</p> + +<p>“Promise me, Jasper, do,” implored Polly, +when Grandpapa was explaining to Cathie about +the great actor they were to see, and Clare was +listening to hear all about it, too.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I won't,” promised Jasper, “if you don't +wish me to.”</p> + +<p>“I really wouldn't have you for all the world,” +declared Polly; and now that this fear was off +from her mind, she began to pick up her old, +bright spirits, so that by the time the carriage +stopped at the theatre, Polly was herself again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">361</a></span></p> + +<p>Jasper watched her keenly, and drew a long +breath when he saw her talking and laughing +with Grandpapa.</p> + +<p>“You are going to sit next to me, Polly,” said +the old gentleman, marshalling his forces when +well within. “And Jasper next. Then, Cathie, +you will have a knight on either side.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I can't sit between two boys,” cried +Cathie, forgetting herself in her terror.</p> + +<p>“I won't bite you,” cried Clare saucily.</p> + +<p>“I will see that Clare behaves himself,” said +Jasper.</p> + +<p>“You'll do nicely, my dear,” said Mr. King +encouragingly to her; then proceeded down the +aisle after the usher. So there was nothing to +do but to obey. And Cathie, who would have +found it a formidable thing to be stranded on +the companionship of one boy, found herself between +two, and Polly Pepper far off, and not the +least able to help.</p> + +<p>“Now, then,” said Jasper, taking up the program, +“I suppose father told you pretty much +all that was necessary to know about Irving. +Well—” And then, without waiting for a reply, +Jasper dashed on about the splendid plays in +which he had seen this wonderful actor, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">362</a></span> +particular one they were to enjoy to-night; and +from that he drifted off to the fine points to be +admired in the big playhouse, with its striking +decorations, making Cathie raise her eyes to +take it all in, until Clare leaned over to say:</p> + +<p>“I should think you might give Cathie and me +a chance to talk a little, Jasper.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don't want to talk,” cried Cathie in +terror. “I don't know anything to say.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I do,” said Clare, in a dudgeon, “only +Jasper goes on in such a streak to-night.”</p> + +<p>“I believe I have been talking you both blue,” +said Jasper, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>“You certainly have,” said Clare, laughing +too.</p> + +<p>And then Cathie laughed, and Polly Pepper, +looking over, beamed at her, for she had begun +to be worried.</p> + +<p>“The best thing in the world,” said old Mr. +King, “was to turn her over to those two boys. +Now, don't give her another thought, Polly; she'll +get on.”</p> + +<p>And she did; so well, that before long, she and +Clare were chatting away merrily; and Cathie +felt it was by no means such a very terrible +experience to be sitting between two boys at a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">363</a></span> +play; and by the time the evening was half over, +she was sure that she liked it very much.</p> + +<p>And Polly beamed at her more than ever, and +Jasper felt quite sure that he had never enjoyed +an evening more than the one at present flying +by so fast. And old Mr. King, so handsome and +stately, showed such evident pride in his young +charges, as he smiled and chatted, that more +than one old friend in the audience commented +on it.</p> + +<p>“Did you ever see such a change in any one?” +asked a dowager, levelling her keen glances from +her box down upon the merry party.</p> + +<p>“Never; it was the one thing needed to make +him quite perfect,” said another one of that set. +“He is approachable now—absolutely fascinating, +so genial and courteous.”</p> + +<p>“His manners were perfect before,” said a +third member of the box party, “except they +needed thawing out—a bit too icy.”</p> + +<p>“You are too mild. I should say they were +quite frozen. He never seemed to me to have +any heart.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it's proved he has,” observed her husband. +“I tell you that little Pepper girl is going +to make a sensation when she comes out,” leaning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">364</a></span> +over for a better view of the King party, “and +the best of it is that she doesn't know it herself.”</p> + +<p>And Clare made up his mind that Cathie Harrison +was an awfully nice girl; and he was real +glad she had moved to town and joined the +Salisbury School. And as he had two cousins +there, they soon waked up a conversation over +them.</p> + +<p>“Only I don't know them much,” said Cathie. +“You see I haven't been at the school long, and +besides, the girls didn't have much to say to me +till Polly Pepper said nice things to me, and then +she asked me to go to the bee.”</p> + +<p>“That old sewing thing where they make +clothes for the poor little darkeys down South?” +asked Clare.</p> + +<p>“Yes; and it's just lovely,” said Cathie, “and +I never supposed I'd be asked. And Polly Pepper +came down to my desk one day, and invited me +to come to the next meeting, and I was so scared, +I couldn't say anything at first; and then Polly +got me into the Salisbury Club.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, I know.” Clare nodded, and wished +he could forget how he had asked one of the +other boys on that evening when the two clubs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">365</a></span> +united, why in the world the Salisbury Club +elected Cathie Harrison into its membership.</p> + +<p>“And then Polly Pepper's mother invited me +to visit her—Polly, I mean—and so here I am”—she +forgot she was talking to a dreaded boy, +and turned her happy face toward him—“and +it's just lovely. I never visited a girl before.”</p> + +<p>“Never visited a girl before!” repeated Clare, +in astonishment.</p> + +<p>“No,” said Cathie. “You see, my father was +a minister, and we lived in the country, and +when I visited anybody, which was only two +or three times in my life, it was to papa's old +aunts.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” exclaimed Clare faintly, quite +gone in pity.</p> + +<p>“And so your father moved to town,” he said; +and then he knew that he had made a terrible +mistake.</p> + +<p>“Now she won't speak a word—perhaps +burst out crying,” he groaned within himself, as +he saw her face. But Cathie sat quite still.</p> + +<p>“My papa died,” she said softly, “and he +told mamma before he went, to take me to town +and have me educated. And one of those old +aunts gave the money. And if it hadn't been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">366</a></span> +for him, I'd have run home from the Salisbury +School that first week, it was so perfectly +awful.”</p> + +<p>Clare sat quite still. Then he burst out, +“Well, now, Cathie, I think it was just splendid +in you to stick on.”</p> + +<p>“Do you?” she cried, quite astonished to think +any one would think she was “just splendid” in +anything. “Why, the girls call me a goose over +and over. And sometimes I lose my temper, because +they don't say it in fun, but they really +mean it.”</p> + +<p>“Well, they needn't,” said Clare indignantly, +“because I don't think you are a goose at all.”</p> + +<p>“Those two are getting on quite well,” said +Jasper to Polly. “I don't think we need to +worry about Cathie any more.”</p> + +<p>“And isn't she nice?” asked Polly, in great +delight.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think she is, Polly,” said Jasper, in a +way that gave Polly great satisfaction.</p> + +<p>But when this delightful evening was all over, +and the good nights had been said, and Mother +Fisher, as was her wont, had come into Polly's +room to help her take off her things, and to say a +few words to Cathie too, Polly began to remember<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">367</a></span> +the scene in Mrs. Chatterton's room; and a +sorry little feeling crept into her heart.</p> + +<p>And when Mamsie had gone out and everything +was quiet, Polly buried her face in her +pillow, and tried not to cry. “I don't believe +she will ever forgive me, or let me help her again.”</p> + +<p>“Polly,” called Cathie softly from the next +room, “I did have the most beautiful time!”</p> + +<p>“Did you?” cried Polly, choking back her +sobs. “Oh, I am so glad, Cathie!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Cathie, “I did, Polly, and I'm +not afraid of boys now; I think they are real +nice.”</p> + +<p>“Aren't they!” cried Polly, “and weren't our +seats fine! Grandpapa didn't want a box to-night, +because we could see the play so much +better from the floor. But we ought to go to +sleep, Cathie, for Mamsie wouldn't like us to +talk. Good night.”</p> + +<p>“Good night,” said Cathie. “A box!” she said +to herself, as she turned on her pillow, “oh, I +should have died to have sat up in one of those. +It was quite magnificent enough where I was.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XXII_PICKERING_DODGE" id="XXII_PICKERING_DODGE"></a>XXII PICKERING DODGE</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">368</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“J</span>asper!”</p> + +<p>Jasper, rushing down the long hall of the +Pemberton School, books in hand, turned to see +Mr. Faber standing in the doorway of his private +room.</p> + +<p>“I want to see you, Jasper.”</p> + +<p>Jasper, with an awful feeling at his heart, +obeyed and went in. “It's all up with Pick,” he +groaned, and sat down in the place indicated on +the other side of the big round table, Mr. Faber +in his accustomed seat, the big leather chair.</p> + +<p>“You remember the conversation I had with +you, Jasper,” he said slowly; and picking up a +paper knife he began playing with it, occasionally +glancing up over his glasses at the boy.</p> + +<p>Jasper nodded, unable to find any voice. Then +he managed to say, “Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Well, now, Jasper, it was rather an unusual +thing to do, to set one lad, as it were, to work +upon another in just that way. For I am sure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">369</a></span> +I haven't forgotten my boyhood, long past as it +is, and I realize that the responsibilities of school +life are heavy enough, without adding to the +burden.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Faber, well pleased with this sentiment, +waited to clear his throat. Jasper, in an agony, +as he saw Pickering Dodge expelled, and all the +dreadful consequences, sat quite still.</p> + +<p>“At the same time, although I disliked to take +you into confidence, making you an assistant in +the work of reclaiming Pickering Dodge from +his idle, aimless state, in which he exhibited such +a total disregard for his lessons, it appeared after +due consideration to be the only thing left to be +done. You understand this, I trust, Jasper.”</p> + +<p>Jasper's reply this time was so low as to be +scarcely audible. But Mr. Faber, taking it for +granted, manipulated the paper knife a few times, +and went on impressively.</p> + +<p>“I am very glad you do, Jasper. I felt sure, +knowing you so well, that my reasons would appeal +to you in the right way. You are Pickering's +best friend among my scholars.”</p> + +<p>“And he is mine,” exploded Jasper, thinking +wildly that it was perhaps not quite too late to +save Pickering. “I've known him always, sir.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">370</a></span> +He was quite to the edge of his chair now, his +dark eyes shining, and his hair tossed back. +“Beg pardon, Mr. Faber, but I can't help it. +Pickering is so fine; he's not like other boys.”</p> + +<p>“No, I believe you.” Mr. Faber smiled grimly +and gave the paper knife another whirl. And +much as Jasper liked him, that smile seemed +wholly unnecessary, and to deal death to his +hopes.</p> + +<p>“He certainly is unlike any other boy in my +school in regard to his studying,” he said. “His +capacity is not wanting, to be sure; there was +never any lack of that. For that reason I was +always hoping to arouse his ambition.”</p> + +<p>“And you can—oh, you can, sir!” cried Jasper +eagerly, although he felt every word he said +to be unwelcome, “if you will only try him a bit +longer. Don't send him off yet, Mr. Faber.”</p> + +<p>He got off from his chair, and leaned on the +table heavily.</p> + +<p>“Don't send him off?” repeated Mr. Faber, +dropping the paper knife, “what is the boy talking +of! Why, Jasper—I've called you in here +to tell you how much Pickering has improved +and—”</p> + +<p>Jasper collapsed on his chair. “And is it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">371</a></span> +possible that you haven't seen it for yourself, +Jasper?” exclaimed Mr. Faber. “Why, every +teacher is quite delighted. Even Mr. Dinsmore—and +he was in favor of at least suspending Pickering +last half—has expressed his opinion that I +did well to give the boy another trial.”</p> + +<p>“I thought—” mumbled Jasper, “I was +afraid.” Then he pulled himself together, and +somehow found himself standing over by Mr. +Faber's chair, unbosoming himself of his fright +and corresponding joy.</p> + +<p>“Pull your chair up nearer, Jasper,” said Mr. +Faber, when, the first transport having worked +off, Jasper seemed better fitted for conversation, +“and we will go over this in a more intelligent +fashion. I am really more pleased than I can +express at the improvement in that boy. As I +said before”—Mr. Faber had long ago thrown +aside the paper knife, and now turned toward +Jasper, his whole attention on the matter in +hand—“Pickering has a fine capacity; take +it all in all, perhaps there is none better in +the whole school. It shows to great advantage +now, because he has regained his place so rapidly +in his classes. It is quite astonishing, Jasper.” +And he took off his glasses and polished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">372</a></span> +them up carefully, repeating several times during +the process, “Yes, very surprising indeed!”</p> + +<p>“And he seems to like to study now,” said +Jasper, ready to bring forward all the nice things +that warranted encouragement.</p> + +<p>“Does he so?” Mr. Faber set his glasses on +his nose, and beamed at him over them. The +boys at the Pemberton School always protested +that this was the only use they could be put +to on the master's countenance. “Well, now, +Jasper, I really believe I am justified in entertaining +a very strong hope of Pickering's future +career. And I see no reason why he should not +be ready for college with you, and without conditions, +if he will only keep his ambition alive +and active, now it is aroused.”</p> + +<p>“May I tell him so?” cried Jasper, almost +beside himself with joy. “Oh, may I, Mr. Faber?”</p> + +<p>“Why, that is what I called you in here for, +Jasper,” said the master. “It seemed so very +much better for him to hear it from a boy, for +I remember my own boyhood, though so very +long since; and the effect will, I feel sure, be +much deeper than if Pickering hears it from me. +He is very tired of this study, Jasper,” and Mr. +Faber glanced around at the four walls, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">373</a></span> +again came that grim smile. “And even to hear +a word of commendation, it might not be so +pleasing to be called in. So away with you. At +the proper time, I shall speak to him myself.”</p> + +<p>Jasper, needing no second bidding, fled precipitately—dashed +in again. “Beg pardon, I'd +forgotten my books.” He seized them from the +table, and made quick time tracking Pickering.</p> + +<p>“Where is Pick?” rushing up to a knot of +boys on a corner of the playground, just separating +to go home.</p> + +<p>“Don't know; what's up, King?”</p> + +<p>“Can't stop,” said Jasper, flying back to the +schoolroom. “I must get Pick.”</p> + +<p>“Dodge has gone,” shouted a boy clearing the +steps, who had heard the last words. So Jasper, +turning again, left school and playground far +behind, to run up the steps of the Cabot mansion.</p> + +<p>“Pickering here?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.” The butler had seen him hurrying +over the stairs to his own room just five minutes +ago. And in less than a minute Jasper was +up in that same place.</p> + +<p>There sat Pickering by his table, his long legs +upon its surface, and his hands thrust into his +pockets. His books sprawled just where he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">374</a></span> +had thrown them, at different angles along the +floor.</p> + +<p>“Hullo!” cried Jasper, flying in, to stop aghast +at this.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you see, Jasper, I'm played out,” said +Pickering. “It isn't any use for me to study, +and there are the plaguey things,” pulling out +one set of fingers to point to the sprawling books. +“I can't catch up. Every teacher looks at me +squint-eyed as if I were a hopeless case, which +I am!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you big dunce!” Jasper clapped his +books on the table with a bang, making Pickering +draw down his long legs, rushed around to +precipitate himself on the rest of the figure in +the chair, when he pommelled him to his heart's +content.</p> + +<p>“If you expect to beat any hope into me, old +boy,” cried Pickering, not caring in the least for +the onslaught, “you'll miss your guess.”</p> + +<p>“I'm hoping to beat sense into you,” cried +Jasper, pounding away, “though it looks almost +impossible now,” he declared, laughing. “Pick, +you've won! Mr. Faber says you've come up in +classes splendidly, and—”</p> + +<p>Pickering sprang to his feet. “What do you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">375</a></span> +mean, Jasper?” he cried hoarsely, his face white +as a sheet.</p> + +<p>“Just what I say.”</p> + +<p>“Say it again.”</p> + +<p>So Jasper went all over it once more, adding +the other things about getting into college and +all that, as much as Pickering would hear.</p> + +<p>“Honest?” he broke in, his pale face getting +a dull red, and seizing Jasper by the shoulders.</p> + +<p>“Did I ever tell you anything that wasn't so, +Pick?”</p> + +<p>“No; but I can't believe it, Jap. It's the first +time in my life I've—I've—” And what incessant +blame could not do, praise achieved. +Pickering rushed to the bed, flung himself face +down upon it, and broke into a torrent of sobs.</p> + +<p>Jasper, who had never seen Pickering cry, had +wild thoughts of rushing for Mrs. Cabot; the +uncle was not at home. But remembering how +little good this could possibly do, he bent all his +energies to stop this unlooked-for flood.</p> + +<p>But he was helpless. Having never given way +in this manner before, Pickering seemed determined +to make a thorough job of it. And it was +not till he was quite exhausted that he rolled +over, wiped his eyes, and looked at Jasper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">376</a></span></p> + +<p>“I'm through,” he announced.</p> + +<p>“I should think you might well be,” retorted +Jasper; “what with scaring me almost to death, +you've made yourself a fright, Pick, and you've +just upset all your chances to study to-day.”</p> + +<p>Pickering flung himself off the bed as summarily +as he had gone on.</p> + +<p>“That's likely, isn't it?” he cried mockingly, +and shamefacedly scrabbling up the books from +the floor. “Now, then,” and he was across the +room, pouring out a basinful of water, to thrust +his swollen face within it.</p> + +<p>“Whew! I never knew it used a chap up so +to cry,” he spluttered. “Goodness me!” He +withdrew his countenance from the towel to regard +Jasper.</p> + +<p>“How you look!” cried Jasper, considering it +better to rail at him.</p> + +<p>Whereupon Pickering found his way to the +long mirror. “I never was a beauty,” he said.</p> + +<p>“And now you are less,” laughed Jasper.</p> + +<p>“But I'm good,” said Pickering solemnly, and +flinging himself down to his books.</p> + +<p>“You can't study with such eyes,” cried Jasper, +tugging at the book.</p> + +<p>“Clear out!”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">377</a></span></p> + +<p>“I'm not going. Pick, your eyes aren't much +bigger than pins.”</p> + +<p>“But they're sharp—just as pins are. Leave +me alone.” Pickering squirmed all over his +chair, but Jasper had the book.</p> + +<p>“Never mind, I'll fly at my history, then,” said +Pickering, possessing himself of another book; +“that's the beauty of it. I'm as backward in +all of my lessons as I am in one. I can strike +in anywhere.”</p> + +<p>“You are not backward in any now,” cried +Jasper in glee, and performing an Indian war +dance around the table. “Forward is the word +henceforth,” he brought up dramatically with +another lunge at Pickering.</p> + +<p>“Get out. You better go home.”</p> + +<p>“I haven't the smallest intention of going,” +replied Jasper, and successfully coming off with +a second book.</p> + +<p>“Here's for book number three,” declared +Pickering—but too late. Jasper seized the remaining +two, tossed them back of him, then +squared off.</p> + +<p>“Come on for a tussle, old fellow. You're +not fit to study—ruin your eyes. Come on!” +his whole face sparkling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">378</a></span></p> + +<p>It was too much. The table was pushed one +side; books and lessons, Mr. Faber and college, +were as things never heard of. And for a good +quarter of an hour, Pickering, whose hours of +exercise had been much scantier of late, was hard +pushed to parry all Jasper's attacks. At the +last, when the little clock on the mantel struck +four, he came out ahead.</p> + +<p>“I declare, that was a good one,” he exclaimed +in a glow.</p> + +<p>“Particularly so to you,” said Jasper ruefully. +“You gave me a regular bear-hug, you scamp.”</p> + +<p>“Had to, to pay you up.”</p> + +<p>“And now you may study,” cried Jasper gaily; +and snatching his books, he ran off.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Pick,” putting his head in at the door.</p> + +<p>“Yes?”</p> + +<p>“If the lessons are done, come over this evening, +will you?”</p> + +<p>“All right.” The last sound of Jasper's feet +on the stairs reached Pickering, when he suddenly +left his chair and flew into the hall.</p> + +<p>“Jap—oh, I say, Jap!” Then he plunged +back into his room to thrust his head out of the +window. “Jap!” he howled, to the consternation +of a fat old gentleman passing beneath, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">379</a></span> +on account of his size, finding it somewhat inconvenient +to look up, therefore waddled into +the street, and surveyed the house gravely.</p> + +<p>Pickering slammed down the window, leaving +the old gentleman to stare as long as he saw fit.</p> + +<p>“I can't go over there to-night, looking like +this.” He pranced up to the mirror again, fuming +every step of the way, and surveyed himself +in dismay. There was some improvement in the +appearance of his countenance, to be sure, but +not by any means enough to please him. His +pale blue eyes were so small, and their surroundings +so swollen, that they reminded him of nothing +so much as those of a small pig he had made +acquaintance with in a visit up in the country. +While his nose, long and usually quite aristocratic-looking, +had resigned all claims to distinction, +and was hopelessly pudgy.</p> + +<p>“Jasper knows I can't go in this shape,” he +cried in a fury. “Great Cæsar's ghost! I never +supposed it banged a fellow up so, to cry just +once!” And the next moments were spent in +sopping his face violently with the wet towel, +which did no good, as it had been plentifully +supplied with that treatment before.</p> + +<p>At last he flung himself into his chair. “If I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">380</a></span> +don't go over, Jap will think I haven't my lessons, +so that's all right. And I won't have them +anyway if I don't tackle them pretty quick. +So here goes!” And presently the only sound to +be heard was the ticking of the little clock, varied +by the turning of his pages, or the rattling of the +paper on which he was working out the problems +for to-morrow.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me! Jasper,” Polly exclaimed about +half-past seven, “I don't believe Pickering is +coming.”</p> + +<p>“He hasn't his lessons, I suppose,” said Jasper. +“You know I told him to come over as soon as +they were done. Well, Polly, we agreed, you +know, to let him alone as to invitations until the +lessons were out of the way, so I won't go over +after him.”</p> + +<p>“I know,” said Polly, “but oh, Jasper, isn't it +just too elegant for anything, to think that Mr. +Faber says it's all right with him?”</p> + +<p>“I should think it was,” cried Jasper. “Now +if he only keeps on, Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he must; he will,” declared Polly confidently. +“Well, we can put off toasting marshmallows +until to-morrow night.”</p> + +<p>About this time, Pickering, whose lessons were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">381</a></span> +all done, for he had, as Mr. Faber had said, “a +fine capacity” to learn, was receiving company +just when he thought he was safe from showing +his face.</p> + +<p>“Let's stop for Pickering Dodge,” proposed +Alexia, Clare having run in for her to go over +to Polly Pepper's, “to toast marshmallows and +have fun generally.”</p> + +<p>“All right; so we can,” cried Clare. So they +turned the corner and went down to the Cabot +mansion, and were let in before the old butler +could be stopped.</p> + +<p>Pickering, whose uncle and aunt were out for +the evening, had felt it safe to throw himself +down on the library sofa. When he saw that +John had forgotten what he told him, not to let +anybody in, he sprang up; but not before Alexia, +rushing in, had cried, “Oh, here you are! Come +on with us to Polly Pepper's!” Clare dashed in +after her.</p> + +<p>“Ow!” exclaimed Pickering, seizing a sofa +pillow, to jam it against his face.</p> + +<p>“What <i>is</i> the matter?” cried Alexia. “Oh, +have you a toothache?”</p> + +<p>“Worse than that,” groaned Pickering behind +his pillow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">382</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, my goodness me!” exclaimed Alexia, +tumbling back. “What can it be?”</p> + +<p>“You haven't broken your jaw, Pick?” observed +Clare. “I can't imagine that.”</p> + +<p>“I'll break yours if you don't go,” said Pickering +savagely, and half smothered, as he tried +to keep the pillow well before the two pairs of +eyes.</p> + +<p>This was a little difficult, as Clare, seeing hopes +of running around the pillow, set himself in motion +to that end. But as Pickering whirled as +fast as he did, there was no great gain.</p> + +<p>“Well, if I ever did!” exclaimed Alexia, quite +aghast.</p> + +<p>And the next moment Pickering, keeping a +little opening at one end of the pillow, saw his +chance; darted out of the door, and flinging +the pillow the length of the hall, raced into his +own room and slammed the door, and they +could hear him lock it.</p> + +<p>“Well, if I ever did!” exclaimed Alexia again, +and sinking into the first chair, she raised both +hands.</p> + +<p>“What's got into the beggar?” cried Clare in +perplexity, and looking out into the hall, as if +some help to the puzzle might be found there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">383</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, I guess you and I, Alexia, might as +well go to Polly Pepper's,” he said finally.</p> + +<p>“And if I ever come after that boy again to +tell him of anything nice that's going to happen, +I miss my guess,” declared Alexia, getting herself +out of her chair, in high dudgeon. “Let's +send Jasper after him; he's the only one who +can manage him,” she cried, as they set forth.</p> + +<p>“Good idea,” said Clare.</p> + +<p>But when Alexia told of their funny reception, +Jasper first stared, then burst out laughing. And +although Alexia teased and teased, she got no +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“It's no use, Alexia,” Jasper said, wiping his +eyes, “you won't get me to tell. So let's set +about having some fun. What shall we do?”</p> + +<p>“I don't want to do anything,” pouted Alexia, +“only to know what made Pickering Dodge act +in that funny way.”</p> + +<p>“And that's just what you won't know, Alexia,” +replied Jasper composedly. “Well, Polly, you +are going to put off toasting the marshmallows, +aren't you, till to-morrow night, when Pick can +probably come?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wouldn't wait for him,” Alexia burst +out, quite exasperated, “when he's acted so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">384</a></span> +And perhaps he'd come with an old sofa pillow +before his face, if you did.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, he won't, Alexia,” said Jasper, going +off into another laugh. But although she teased +again, she got no nearer to the facts. And Polly +proposing that they make candy, the chafing +dish was gotten out; and Alexia, who was quite +an adept in the art, went to work, Jasper cracking +the nuts, and Polly and Clare picking out +the meats.</p> + +<p>And then all the story of Pickering's splendid +advance in the tough work of making up his +lessons came out, Jasper pausing so long to +dilate with kindling eyes upon it, that very few +nuts fell into the dish. So Polly's fingers were +the only ones to achieve much, as Clare gave so +close attention to the story that he was a very +poor helper.</p> + +<p>In the midst of it, Alexia threw down the +chafing-dish spoon, and clapped her hands. +“Oh, I know!” she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” cried Polly, looking up from the little +pile of nut-meats, “how you scared me, Alexia!”</p> + +<p>“I know—I know!” exclaimed Alexia again, +and nodding to herself wisely.</p> + +<p>Jasper threw her a quick glance. It said, “If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">385</a></span> +you know, don't tell, Alexia.” And she flashed +back, “Did you suppose I would?”</p> + +<p>“What do you know?” demanded Clare, +transferring his attention from Jasper to her. +“Tell on, Alexia; what do you know?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, my goodness me! this candy never will +be done in time for those meats,” cried Alexia, +picking up the spoon to stir away for dear life. +And Jasper dashed in on what Mr. Faber said +about Pickering's chances for college; a statement +that completely carried Clare off his feet, +so to speak.</p> + +<p>“You don't mean that he thinks Pick will get +in without conditions?” gasped Clare, dumfounded.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do.” Jasper nodded brightly. “If Pick +will only study; keep it up, you know, I mean +to the end. He surely said it, Clare.”</p> + +<p>It was so much for Clare to think of, that he +didn't have any words at his command.</p> + +<p>“Now isn't that perfectly splendid in Pickering!” +cried Alexia, making the spoon fly merrily. +“Oh dear me! I forgot to put in the butter. +Where—oh, here it is,” and she tossed in a +big piece. “To think that—oh dear me, I +forgot! I <i>did</i> put the butter in before. Now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">386</a></span> +I've spoilt it,” and she threw down the spoon in +despair.</p> + +<p>“Fish it out,” cried Polly, hopping up and +seizing the spoon to make little dabs at the ball +of butter now rapidly lessening.</p> + +<p>“But it's melted—that is, almost—oh dear +me!” cried Alexia.</p> + +<p>“No, it isn't; there, see how big it is.” Polly +landed it deftly on the plate and hopped back to +her nut-meats again.</p> + +<p>“And I should think you'd better shake yourself, +Clare,” said Jasper, over at him. “We +shouldn't have any nuts in this candy if it depended +on you.”</p> + +<p>“You do tell such astounding stories,” cried +Clare, setting to work at once. And Jasper +making as much noise as he could while cracking +his nuts, Alexia's secret was safe.</p> + +<p>But when the candy was set out to cool, and +there was a pause in which the two boys were +occupied by themselves, Alexia pulled Polly off +to a corner.</p> + +<p>“Where are they going?” asked Clare, with +one eye after them.</p> + +<p>“Oh, they have something to talk over, I presume,” +said Jasper carelessly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">387</a></span></p> + +<p>“Nonsense! they've all the time every day. +Let's go over and see.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” said Jasper. “Come on, Clare, and +let's see if the candy is cool.” But Clare didn't +want to see if the candy was cool, nor anything +else but to have his own way. So he proceeded +over to the corner by himself.</p> + +<p>“Oho! You go right away!” cried Alexia, +poking up her head over Polly's shoulder. “You +dreadful boy! Now, Polly, come.” And she +pulled her off into the library.</p> + +<p>“You see you didn't get anything for your +pains,” said Jasper, bursting into a laugh. “You'd +much better have staid here.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I don't want to know, anyway,” said +Clare, taking a sudden interest in the candy. +“I believe it is cold, Jasper; let's look.”</p> + +<p>“Polly,” Alexia was saying in the library behind +the portières, “I know now; because I +did it once myself: it was when you first promised +you'd be a friend to me, and I went home, +and cried for very joy. And I didn't want to +see anybody that night.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Alexia!” exclaimed Polly, giving her a +hug that satisfied even Alexia.</p> + +<p>“No, I didn't; and I remember how I wanted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">388</a></span> +to hold something up to my face. I never thought +of a sofa pillow, and I couldn't have gotten it if I +had thought, 'cause aunt had it crammed against +her back. Oh, my eyes were a sight, Polly, and +my nose was all over my face.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XXIII_THE_CLEMCY_GARDEN_PARTY" id="XXIII_THE_CLEMCY_GARDEN_PARTY"></a>XXIII THE CLEMCY GARDEN PARTY</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">389</a></span></p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“Y</span>ou may go on those errands, Hortense, +but first send Polly Pepper to me,” +commanded Mrs. Chatterton sharply.</p> + +<p>The French maid paused in the act of hanging +up a gown. “I will <i>re</i>-quest her, Madame. I +should not like to send Mees Polly Peppaire.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Miss</i> Polly Pepper!” Mrs. Chatterton was +guilty of stamping her foot. “Are you mad? I +am speaking of Polly Pepper, this country girl, +who is as poor and low-born here in this house, +as if in her little brown house, wherever that +may be.”</p> + +<p>Hortense shrugged her shoulders, and hung up +the gown.</p> + +<p>“Has Madame any further commands for me?” +she asked, coming up to her mistress.</p> + +<p>“Yes; be sure to get the velvet at Lemaire's, +and take back the silk kimono. I will send to +New York for one.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Madame.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">390</a></span></p> + +<p>“That is all—besides the other errands. Now +go.” She dismissed her with a wave of her +shapely hand. “But first, as I bade you, <i>send</i> +Polly Pepper to me.”</p> + +<p>Hortense, with another elevation of her shoulders, +said nothing, till she found herself the other +side of the door. Then she shook her fist at it.</p> + +<p>“It ees not Miss Polly who will be sent for; +it ees Madame who will be sent out of dees +house, <i>j'ai peur</i>—ha, ha, ha!”</p> + +<p>She laughed softly to herself all the way downstairs, +with an insolent little fling to her head, +that boded ill for her mistress's interests.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Mrs. Chatterton was angrily pacing +up and down the room. “What arrant nonsense +a man can be capable of when he is headstrong +to begin with! To think of the elegant +Horatio King, a model for all men, surrounding +himself with this commonplace family. Faugh! +It is easy enough to see what they are all after. +But I shall prevent it. Meanwhile, the only way +to do it is to break the spirit of this Polly Pepper. +Once do that, and I have the task easy to +my hand.”</p> + +<p>She listened intently. “It can't be possible +she would refuse to come. Ha! I thought so.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">391</a></span></p> + +<p>Polly came quietly in. No one to see her face +would have supposed that she had thrown aside +the book she had been waiting weeks to read, so +that lessons and music need not suffer. For she +was really glad when Mrs. Chatterton's French +maid asked her respectfully if she would please +be so good as to step up to her mistress's apartments, +“<i>s'il vous plait</i>, Mees Polly.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed,” cried Polly, springing off from +the window-seat, and forgetting the enchanted +story-land immediately in the rush of delight. +“Oh, I have another chance to try to please her,” +she thought, skimming over the stairs. But she +was careful to restrain her steps on reaching the +room.</p> + +<p>“You may take that paper,” said Mrs. Chatterton, +seating herself in her favorite chair, “and +read to me. You know the things I desire to +hear, or ought to.” She pointed to the society +news, <i>Town Talk</i>, lying on the table.</p> + +<p>Polly took it up, glad to be of the least service, +and whirled it over to get the fashion items, feeling +sure that now she was on the right road to +favor.</p> + +<p>“Don't rattle it,” cried Mrs. Chatterton, in a +thin, high voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">392</a></span></p> + +<p>“I'll try not to,” said Polly, wishing she could +be deft-handed like Mamsie, and doing her best +to get to the inner page quietly.</p> + +<p>“And why don't you read where you are?” +cried Mrs. Chatterton. “Begin on the first page. +I wish to hear that first.”</p> + +<p>Polly turned the sheet back again, and obeyed. +But she hadn't read more than a paragraph +when she came to a dead stop.</p> + +<p>“Go on,” commanded Mrs. Chatterton, her +eyes sparkling. She had forgotten to play with +her rings, being perfectly absorbed in the delicious +morsels of exceedingly unsavory gossip +she was hearing.</p> + +<p>Polly laid the paper in her lap, and her two +hands fell upon it. “Oh, Mrs. Chatterton,” she +cried, the color flying from her cheek, “please +let me read something else to you. Mamsie +wouldn't like me to read this.” The brown eyes +filled with tears, and she leaned forward imploringly.</p> + +<p>“Stuff and nonsense!” exclaimed Mrs. Chatterton +passionately. “I command you to read +that, girl. Do you hear me?”</p> + +<p>“I cannot,” said Polly, in a low voice. “Mamsie +wouldn't like it.” But it was perfectly distinct,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">393</a></span> +and fell upon the angry ears clearly; and +storm as she might, Mrs. Chatterton knew that +the little country maiden would never bend to +her will in this case.</p> + +<p>“I would have you to know that I understand +much better than your mother possibly can, +what is for your good to read. Besides, she will +never know.”</p> + +<p>“Mamsie knows every single thing that we +children do,” cried Polly decidedly, and lifting +her pale face; “and she understands better than +any one else about what we ought to do, for +she is our mother.”</p> + +<p>“What arrant nonsense!” exclaimed Mrs. +Chatterton passionately, and unable to control +herself at the prospect of losing Polly for a reader, +which she couldn't endure, as she thoroughly enjoyed +her services in that line. She got out of +her chair, and paced up and down the long apartment +angrily, saying all sorts of most disagreeable +things, that Polly only half heard, so busy +was she debating in her own mind what she +ought to do. Should she run out of the room, +and leave this dreadful old woman that every +one in the house was tired of? Surely she had +tried enough to please her, but she could not do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">394</a></span> +what Mamsie would never approve of. And just +as Polly had about decided to slip out, she looked +up.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Chatterton, having exhausted her passion, +as it seemed to do no good, was returning +to her seat, with such a dreary step and forlorn +expression that she seemed ten years older. She +really looked very feeble, and Polly broke out +impulsively, “Oh, let me read the other part of +the paper, dear Mrs. Chatterton. May I?”</p> + +<p>“Read it,” said Mrs. Chatterton ungraciously, +and sat down in her favorite chair.</p> + +<p>Polly, scarcely believing her ears, whirled over +the sheet, and determined to read as well as +she possibly could, managed to throw so much +enthusiasm into the fashion hints and social +items, that presently Mrs. Chatterton's eyes were +sparkling again, although she was deprived of +her unsavory morsels.</p> + +<p>And before long she was eagerly telling Polly +to read over certain dictates of the Paris correspondent, +who was laying down the law for +feminine dress, and calling again for the last information +of the movements of members of her +social set, till there could be no question of her +enjoyment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">395</a></span></p> + +<p>Polly, not knowing or caring how long she had +been thus occupied, so long as Mrs. Chatterton +was happy, was only conscious that Hortense +came back from the errands, which occasioned +only a brief pause.</p> + +<p>“Put the parcels down,” said Mrs. Chatterton, +scarcely glancing at her, “I cannot attend to +you now. Go on, Polly.”</p> + +<p>So Polly went on, until the fashionable and +social world had been so thoroughly canvassed +that even Mrs. Chatterton was quite convinced +that she could get no more from the paper.</p> + +<p>“You may go now,” she said, but with a hungry +glance for the first page. Then she tore her +gaze away, and repeated more coldly than ever, +“You may go.”</p> + +<p>Polly ran off, dismayed to find how happy she +was at the release. Her feet, unaccustomed to +sitting still so long, were numb, and little prickles +were running up and down her legs. She hurried +as fast as she could into Mamsie's room, feeling +in need of all the good cheer she could find.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Fisher has gone out,” said Jane, going +along the hall.</p> + +<p>“Gone out!” repeated Polly, “Oh, where? +Do you know, Jane?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">396</a></span></p> + +<p>“I don't exactly know,” said Jane, “but she +took Miss Phronsie; and I think it's shopping +they went for. Mr. King has taken them in the +carriage.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know it is,” cried Polly, and a dreadful +feeling surged through her. Why had she +spent all this time with that horrible old woman, +and lost this precious treat!</p> + +<p>“They thought you had gone to the Salisbury +School,” said Jane, wishing she could give some +comfort, “for they wanted you awfully to go.”</p> + +<p>“And now I've lost it all,” cried Polly at a +white heat—“all this perfectly splendid time +with Grandpapa and Mamsie and Phronsie just +for the sake of a horrible—”</p> + +<p>Then she broke short off, and ran back into +Mamsie's room, and flung herself down by the +bed, just as she used to do by the four-poster in +the bedroom of the little brown house.</p> + +<p>“Why, Polly, child!” Mother Fisher's voice +was very cheery as she came in, Phronsie hurrying +after.</p> + +<p>“I don't see her,” began Phronsie in a puzzled +way, and peering on all sides. “Where is she, +Mamsie?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Fisher went over and laid her hand on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">397</a></span> +Polly's brown head. “Now, Phronsie, you may +run out, that is a good girl.” She leaned over, +and set a kiss on Phronsie's red lips.</p> + +<p>“Is Polly sick?” asked Phronsie, going off to +the door obediently, but looking back with wondering +eyes.</p> + +<p>“No, dear, I think not,” said Mrs. Fisher. +“Run along, dear.”</p> + +<p>“I am so glad she isn't sick,” said Phronsie, as +she went slowly off. Yet she carried a troubled +face.</p> + +<p>“I ought to go and see how Sinbad is,” she +decided, as she went downstairs. This visit was +an everyday performance, to be carefully gone +through with. So she passed out of the big side +doorway, to the veranda.</p> + +<p>“There is Michael now,” she cried joyfully, +espying that individual raking up the west lawn. +So skipping off, she flew over to him. This +caught the attention of little Dick from the +nursery window.</p> + +<p>“Hurry up there!” he cried crossly to Battles, +who was having a hard time anyway getting him +into a fresh sailor suit.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Dicky—Dicky!” called mamma softly +from her room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">398</a></span></p> + +<p>“I can't help it, mamma; Battles is slow and +poky,” he fumed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, dear,” said his mother; “Battles always +gets you ready very swiftly, as well as +nicely.”</p> + +<p>Battles, a comfortable person, turned her +round face with a smile toward the door. “And +if you was more like your mamma, Master Dick, +you'd be through with dressing, and make everything +more pleasant to yourself and to every one +else.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm not in the least like mamma, Battles; +I can't be.”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed, you ain't. But you can try,” said +Battles encouragingly.</p> + +<p>“Why, Battles Whitney!” exclaimed Dick, +whirling around on her. In astonishment, or +any excitement, Dicky invariably gave her the +whole name that he felt she ought to possess; +“Mrs. Mara Battles” not being at all within +his comprehension. “What an <i>awful</i> story!”</p> + +<p>“Dicky—Dicky!” reproved Mrs. Whitney.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can't help it, mamma.” Dick now +escaped from Battles' hands altogether, and fled +into the other room, the comfortable person following. +“She said”—plunging up to her chair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">399</a></span> +in great excitement—“that I could be like +you.”</p> + +<p>“I said you could try to be,” corrected Battles, +smoothing down her apron.</p> + +<p>“And she knows I can't ever be, in all this +world,” declared Dick, shaking his short curls +in decision, and glancing back to see the effect, +“for you're a woman, and I'm always going to +be a man. Why, see how big I am now!” He +squared off, and strutted up and down the little +boudoir.</p> + +<p>“And you'd be bigger if you'd let me fix your +blouse and button it up,” declared Battles, laughing, +and bearing down on him to fasten the band +and tuck in the vest. “And if you were more +like your mother in disposition—that's what I +mean—'twould be a sight comfortabler for you +and every one else. Now, says I, your hair's got +to be brushed.” And she led him back into the +nursery, laughing all the way.</p> + +<p>“What makes you shake so when you laugh, +Battles?” asked Dick suddenly, and ignoring all +references to his disposition.</p> + +<p>“Can't help it,” said Battles, beginning work +on the curls; “that's because there's so much of +me, I suppose,” and she laughed more than ever.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">400</a></span></p> + +<p>“There's so very much of you, Battles,” observed +Dick with a critical look all over her rotund +figure. “What makes it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don't know,” said Battles. “Stand +still, Dicky, and I'll be through all the sooner. +Some folks is big and round, and some folks is +little and scrawny.”</p> + +<p>“What's scrawny?” asked Dick, who always +got as many alleviations by conversation as possible +out of the detested hair-brushing.</p> + +<p>“Why, thin and lean.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, go on, Battles.”</p> + +<p>“And I'm one of the big and round ones,” +said Battles, seeing no occasion in that statement +to abate her cheerfulness. So she laughed +again.</p> + +<p>“I like you big and round, Battles,” cried little +Dick affectionately, and whirling about so +suddenly as to endanger his eye with the comb +doing good execution. And he essayed to put +his arms around her waist, which he was always +hoping to be able to accomplish.</p> + +<p>“That's good,” said Battles, laughing, well +pleased. “But you mustn't jump around so. +There now, in a minute you shall be off.” And +she took up the brush.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">401</a></span></p> + +<p>“I must,” declared Dick, remembering his +sight of Phronsie running across the lawn; “do +hurry, Battles,” he pleaded, which so won her +heart that she abridged part of the brushing, +and let him scamper off.</p> + +<p>Phronsie was kneeling down in front of Sinbad's +kennel.</p> + +<p>“Can't you untie him to-day, Michael?” she +asked, a question she had propounded each +morning since the boys went back to school.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Miss Phronsie, I think I can; he's +wonted now, and the other dogs are accustomed +to him. Besides, I've locked up Jerry since he +fit him.”</p> + +<p>“I know,” said Phronsie sorrowfully; “that +was naughty of Jerry when Sinbad had only +just come.”</p> + +<p>Michael scratched his head. He couldn't tell +her what was on his mind, that Sinbad was +scarcely such a dog as any one would buy, and +therefore his presence was not to be relished by +the high-bred animals already at home on the place.</p> + +<p>“Well, you know, Miss Phronsie,” he said at +last, “it's kinder difficult like, to expect some +dogs to remember their manners; and Jerry ain't +like all the others in that respect.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">402</a></span></p> + +<p>“Please tell him about it,” said Phronsie earnestly, +“how good Prince is to Sinbad, and then +I guess he'll want to be like him.” For Phronsie +had never swerved in her allegiance to Prince +ever since he saved her from the naughty organ +man in the little-brown-house days. And in all +her conversations with the other dogs she invariably +held up Jasper's big black dog, his great +friend and companion since pinafore days, as +their model.</p> + +<p>And just then Dicky ran up breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“Dick,” announced Phronsie excitedly, “Michael +is going to let Sinbad out to-day.” And +she clasped her hands in delight.</p> + +<p>“Jolly!” exclaimed Dick, capering about.</p> + +<p>“Now, Master Dick, you must let the dog +alone,” cried Michael. “It's time to try him +with his freedom a bit. He's chafin' at that +chain.” He looked anxiously at Dick. “Stand +off there, both of you,” and he slipped the +chain off.</p> + +<p>Sinbad gave a little wiggle with his hind legs, +and stretched his yellow body. It was too good +to be true! But it was, though; he was free, and +he shot out from his kennel, which was down in +the gardener's quarters, and quite removed from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">403</a></span> +the other dogs, and fairly tore—his ragged little +tail straight out—across the west lawn.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he'll run back to Joel at school,” cried +Dick, who had heard Joel say he must be tied +at first when everything was strange; and he +started on a mad run after him.</p> + +<p>“You stay still,” roared Michael; “that dog +is only stretchin' his legs. He'll come back.” +But as well tell the north wind to stop blowing. +Dicky's blouse puffed out with the breeze, as his +small legs executed fine speed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Michael!” cried Phronsie in the greatest +distress, “make Dicky come back.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he'll come back,” said Michael reassuringly, +though he quaked inwardly. And so +Dicky did. But it was now a matter of Sinbad +chasing him; for as Michael had said, the dog, +after stretching his legs as the mad rush across +the lawn enabled him to do, now was very much +pleased to return for a little petting at the hands +of those people who had given him every reason +to expect that he should receive it; and supposing, +from Dick's chase after him, that a race was +agreeable, he set forth; his ears, as ragged as his +tail, pricked up in the fullest enjoyment of the +occasion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">404</a></span></p> + +<p>But Dick saw nothing in it to enjoy. And exerting +all his strength to keep ahead, which he +couldn't do as well for the reason that he was +screaming fearfully, Sinbad came up with him +easily. Dicky, turning his head in mad terror at +that instant, stumbled and fell. Sinbad, unable +to stop at short notice, or rather no notice at all, +rolled over with him in a heap.</p> + +<p>This brought all the stable-boys to the scene, +besides Mrs. Whitney who had seen some of the +affair from her window; and finally, when everything +was beginning to be calmed down, Battles +reached the lawn.</p> + +<p>Sinbad was in Phronsie's lap, who sat on the +grass, holding him tightly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Phronsie!” gasped Mrs. Whitney at that. +“Michael, do take him away,” as she fled by to +Dick. One of the stable-boys was brushing off +the grime from his sailor suit.</p> + +<p>“The dog is all right, ma'am,” said Michael, +'twas only play; I s'pose Master Joel has +raced with him.”</p> + +<p>“'Twas only play,” repeated little Dick, who, +now that he found himself whole, was surprised +the idea hadn't occurred to him before. “Hoh! +I'm not hurt, and I'm going to race with him +again.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">405</a></span></p> + +<p>“Not to-day, Dicky,” said Mrs. Whitney, looking +him all over anxiously.</p> + +<p>“He's all right, ma'am,” declared Michael; +“they just rolled over together, 'cause, you see, +ma'am, the dog couldn't stop, he was a-goin' so +fast, when the youngster turned right in his face.”</p> + +<p>And Dick, to prove his soundness of body and +restoration of mind, ran up to Phronsie, and +flung himself down on the grass by her side.</p> + +<p>Sinbad received him as a most pleasant acquaintance, +cocked up his ragged ears, and tried +to wag his poor little scrubby tail, never quite +getting it into his head that it wasn't long and +graceful. And then he set upon the task of licking +Dick's hands all over, and as much of his +face as was possible to compass.</p> + +<p>“See that now,” cried Michael triumphantly, +pointing, “that dog mayn't be handsome, but he +hain't got a bad bone in his body, if he does +look like the Evil One hisself.”</p> + +<p>This episode absorbing all their attention, nobody +heard or saw Alexia Rhys, running lightly +up over the terrace. “Oh, my! what <i>are</i> you +doing? And where's Polly?” she asked of +Mrs. Whitney.</p> + +<p>It being soon told, Alexia, who evidently had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">406</a></span> +some exciting piece of news for Polly, ran into +the house.</p> + +<p>“Polly,” she called. “Oh, Polly Pepper, where +<i>are</i> you?” running over the stairs at the same +time.</p> + +<p>But Polly, as we have seen, was not in her +room.</p> + +<p>“Now then,” Mother Fisher said at sound of +Alexia's voice, “as we've finished our talk, Polly, +why, you must run down and see her.”</p> + +<p>But Polly clung to her mother's neck. “Do +you think I ought to go next Saturday morning +out shopping, Mamsie, after I've been so +naughty?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, you ought,” cried Mrs. Fisher, in +her most decisive fashion. “Dear me! that +would be very dreadful, Polly, after we put it +off for you, when we thought you had gone +down to the Salisbury School. Why, we couldn't +get along without you, Polly.”</p> + +<p>So Polly, with a happy feeling at her heart +that she was really needed to make the shopping +trip a success, and best of all for the long talk +with Mamsie, that had set many things right, +ran down to meet Alexia, brimming over with +her important news.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">407</a></span></p> + +<p>“Where <i>have</i> you been?” demanded Alexia, +just on the point of rushing out of Polly's room +in despair. “I've looked everywhere for you, +even in the shoe-box.” And without waiting for +a reply, she dragged Polly back. “Oh, you +can't possibly guess!” her pale eyes gleaming +with excitement.</p> + +<p>“Then tell me, do, Alexia,” begged Polly, +scarcely less wrought up.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Polly, the most elegant thing imaginable!” +Alexia dearly loved to spin out her exciting news +as long as possible, driving the girls almost frantic +by such methods.</p> + +<p>“Well, if you are not going to tell me, I might +as well go back again, up in Mamsie's room,” +declared Polly, working herself free from the +long arms, and starting for the door.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I'll tell, Polly—I'll tell,” cried Alexia, +plunging after. “Miss Salisbury says—I've just +been up to the school after my German grammar—that +Mr. John Clemcy and Miss Ophelia have +invited the whole Salisbury School out there for +next Saturday afternoon. Think of it, after that +smashed vase, Polly Pepper!”</p> + +<p>Polly Pepper sat down on the shoe-box, quite +gone in surprise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">408</a></span></p> + +<p>It was as Alexia had said: a most surprising +thing, when one took into consideration how +much Mr. John Clemcy had suffered from the +carelessness of a Salisbury pupil on the occasion +of the accidental visit. But evidently one of his +reasons—though by no means the only one—was +his wish to salve the feelings of the gentlewomen, +who were constantly endeavoring to show +him their overwhelming sorrow, and trying to +make all possible reparation for the loss of the +vase.</p> + +<p>And he had stated his desire so forcibly on +one of the many visits to the school that seemed +to be necessary after the accident, that Miss +Salisbury was unable to refuse the invitation, +although it nearly threw her, self-contained as +she usually was, into a panic at the very idea.</p> + +<p>“But why did you promise, sister?” Miss +Anstice turned on her on the withdrawal of the +gentleman, whose English composure of face and +bearing was now, in its victory, especially trying +to bear. “I am surprised at you. Something +dreadful will surely happen.”</p> + +<p>“Don't, Anstice,” begged Miss Salisbury, nervous +to the last degree, since even the support of +“sister” was to be withdrawn. “It was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">409</a></span> +least I could do, to please him—after what has +happened.”</p> + +<p>“Well, something will surely happen,” mourned +Miss Anstice. “You know how unfortunate it +has been from the very beginning. I've never +been able to look at that gown since, although it +has been washed till every stain is removed.”</p> + +<p>“Put it on for this visit, sister,” advised Miss +Salisbury, with a healthy disapproval of superstitions, +“and break the charm.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, never!” Miss Anstice raised her slender +hands. “I wouldn't run such a chance as to +wear that gown for all the world. It will be unlucky +enough, you will see, without that, sister.”</p> + +<p>But as far as anybody could see, everything +was perfectly harmonious and successful on the +following Saturday afternoon. To begin with, +the weather was perfect; although at extremely +short intervals Miss Anstice kept reminding her +sister that a tremendous shower might be expected +when the expedition was once under way.</p> + +<p>The girls, when they received their invitation +Monday morning from Miss Salisbury in the +long schoolroom, were, to state it figuratively, +“taken off their feet” in surprise, with the exception +of those fortunate enough to have caught<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">410</a></span> +snatches of the news always sure to travel fast +when set going by Alexia; and wild was the rejoicing, +when they could forget the broken vase, +at the prospect of another expedition under Miss +Salisbury's guidance.</p> + +<p>“If Miss Anstice only weren't going!” sighed +Clem. “She is such a fussy old thing. It spoils +everybody's fun just to look at her.”</p> + +<p>“Well, don't look at her,” advised Alexia +calmly; “for my part, I never do, unless I can't +help it.”</p> + +<p>“How are you going to help it,” cried Amy +Garrett dismally, “when you are in her classes? +Oh dear! I do wish Miss Salisbury would get rid +of her as a teacher, and let Miss Wilcox take her +place.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Wilcox is just gay!” exclaimed Silvia. +“Well, don't let's talk of that old frump any +more. Goodness me! here she comes,” as Miss +Anstice advanced down the long hall, where the +girls were discussing the wonderful invitation +after school.</p> + +<p>And as the day was perfect, so the spirits of +the “Salisbury girls” were at their highest. And +Mr. Kimball and his associates drove them over +in the same big barges, the veteran leader not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">411</a></span> +recovering from the surprise into which he had +been thrown by this afternoon party given to +the Salisbury School by Mr. Clemcy and his +sister.</p> + +<p>“Of all things in this world, this is th' cap-sheaf,” +he muttered several times on the way. +“A good ten year or more, those English folks +have been drawin' back in them pretty grounds, +an' offendin' every one; an' now, to get a passel +o' girls to run over an' stomp 'em all down!”</p> + +<p>Being unable to solve the puzzle, it afforded +him plenty of occupation to work away at it.</p> + +<p>Mr. Clemcy and Miss Ophelia, caring as little +for the opinion of the stage-driver as for the +rest of the world, received the visitors on the +broad stone piazza, whose pillars ran the length +of the house, and up to the roof, affording a wide +gallery above. It was all entwined with English +ivy and creepers taken from the homestead in +Devonshire, and brought away when the death +of the old mother made it impossible for life to +be sustained by Miss Ophelia unless wrenched +up from the roots where clustered so many memories. +So Brother John decided to make that +wrench, and to make it complete. So here they +were.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">412</a></span></p> + +<p>“I didn't know it was so pretty,” cried Clem, +after the ladies had been welcomed with the +most gracious, old-time hospitality, and the +schoolgirls tumbled out of the barges to throng +up. “It rained so when we were here before, +we couldn't see anything.”</p> + +<p>“Pretty?” repeated Alexia, comprehending it +all in swift, bird-like glances. “It's perfectly +beautiful!” She turned, and Mr. Clemcy, who +was regarding her, smiled, and they struck up a +friendship on the spot.</p> + +<p>“Miss Salisbury, allow me.” Mr. Clemcy was +leading her off. Miss Anstice, not trusting the +ill-fated white gown, rustled after in the black +silk one, with Miss Ophelia, down the wide hall, +open at the end, with vistas of broad fields beyond, +where the host paused. “Let the young +ladies come,” he said; and the girls trooped after, +to crowd around the elder people.</p> + +<p>Amongst the palms and bookcases, with which +the broad hall was lined, was a pedestal, whose +top was half covered with a soft, filmy cloth.</p> + +<p>Mr. Clemcy lifted this, and took it off carefully. +There stood the little vase, presenting +as brave an appearance as in its first perfection.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 313px;"> +<img src="images/i007.jpg" width="313" height="500" alt="THERE STOOD THE LITTLE VASE" title="THERE STOOD THE LITTLE VASE, PRESENTING AS BRAVE AN +APPEARANCE AS IN ITS FIRST PERFECTION." /> +<span class="caption">THERE STOOD THE LITTLE VASE, PRESENTING AS BRAVE AN +APPEARANCE AS IN ITS FIRST PERFECTION.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">413</a></span>Miss Salisbury uttered no exclamation, but preserved +her composure by a violent effort.</p> + +<p>“I flatter myself on my ability to repair my +broken collection,” began Mr. Clemcy, when a +loud exclamation from the girls in front startled +every one. Miss Anstice, on the first shock, had +been unable to find that composure that was +always “sister's” envied possession; so despite +the environment of the black silk gown, she gave +it up, and sank gradually to the ground.</p> + +<p>“I told you so,” cried Clem, in a hoarse whisper +to her nearest neighbors; “she always spoils +everybody's fun,” as Miss Anstice, at the host's +suggestion, his sister being rendered incapable +of action at this sudden emergency, was put to +rest in one of the pretty chintz-covered rooms +above, till such time as she could recover herself +enough to join them below.</p> + +<p>“I couldn't help it, sister,” she said. “I've +been so worried about that vase. <i>You</i> don't +know, because you are always so calm; and then +to see it standing there—it quite took away my +breath.”</p> + +<p>Oh, the delights of the rose-garden! in which +every variety of the old-fashioned rose seemed to +have had a place lovingly assigned to it. Sweetbrier<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">414</a></span> +clambered over the walls of the gardener's +cottage, the stables, and charming summer-houses, +into which the girls ran with delight. For Mr. +Clemcy had said they were to go everywhere and +enjoy everything without restraint.</p> + +<p>“He's a dear,” exclaimed Lucy Bennett, “only +I'm mortally afraid of him.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm not,” proclaimed Alexia.</p> + +<p>The idea of Alexia being in any state that +would suggest fear, being so funny, the girls +burst out laughing.</p> + +<p>“Well, we sha'n't any of us feel like laughing +much in a little while,” said Clem dolefully.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter?” cried a dozen voices.</p> + +<p>“Matter enough,” replied Clem. “I've said +so before, and now I know it's coming. Just +look at that.”</p> + +<p>She pushed aside the swaying branches of the +sweetbrier, and pointed tragically. “I don't see +anything,” said one or two of the girls.</p> + +<p>“<i>There</i>!” “There” meant Mr. Clemcy and +Miss Salisbury passing down the rose-walk, the +broad central path. He was evidently showing +her some treasured variety and descanting on +it; the principal of the Salisbury School from +her wide knowledge of roses, as well as of other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">415</a></span> +subjects, being able to respond very intelligently.</p> + +<p>“Oh, can't you see? You stupid things!” +cried Clem. “He's going to marry our Miss +Salisbury, and then she'll give up our school; +and—and—” She turned away, and threw +herself off in a corner.</p> + +<p>A whole chorus of “No—no!” burst upon +this speech.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” cried Alexia, quite horrified. “Polly, +do stop them; Miss Salisbury is turning around; +and she's been worried quite enough over that +dreadful Miss Anstice,” which had the effect of +reducing the girls to quiet.</p> + +<p>“But it isn't so,” cried the girls in frantic +whispers, “what Clem says.” And those who +were not sure of themselves huddled down on +the summer-house floor. “Say, Alexia, you don't +think so, do you?”</p> + +<p>But Alexia would give them no comfort, but +wisely seizing Polly's arm, departed with her. +“I shall say something that I'll be sorry for,” +she declared, “if I stay another moment longer. +For, Polly Pepper, I do really believe that it's +true, what Clem says.”</p> + +<p>And the rest of that beautiful afternoon, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">416</a></span> +rambles over the wide estate, and tea with berries +and cream on the terraces, was a dream, scarcely +comprehended by the “Salisbury girls,” who +were strangely quiet and well-behaved. For this +Miss Salisbury was thankful.</p> + +<p>And presently Miss Anstice, coming down in +the wake of Miss Ophelia, was put carefully into +a comfortable chair on the stone veranda, where +she sat pale and quiet, Miss Clemcy assiduously +devoting herself to her, and drawing up a little +table to her side for her berries and cream and tea.</p> + +<p>“Now we will be comfortable together,” said +Miss Ophelia, the maid bringing her special little +pot of tea.</p> + +<p>“I am so mortified, my dear Miss Clemcy,” +began Miss Anstice, her little hands nervously +working, “to have given way;” all of which she +had said over and over to her hostess in the +chintz-covered room. “And you are so kind to +overlook it so beautifully.”</p> + +<p>“It is impossible to blame one of your delicate +sensibility,” said Miss Ophelia; with her healthy +English composure, quite in her element to have +some one to fuss over, and to make comfortable +in her own way. “Now, then, I trust that tea +is quite right,” handing her a cup.</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XXIV_THE_PIECE_OF_NEWS" id="XXIV_THE_PIECE_OF_NEWS"></a>XXIV THE PIECE OF NEWS</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">417</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“P</span>epper, you're wanted!” Dick Furness +banged into Joel's room, then out again, +adding two words, “Harrow—immediately.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Joel, whistling on; all his +thoughts upon “Moose Island” and the expedition +there on the morrow. And he ran lightly +down to the second floor, and into the under-teacher's +room.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harrow was waiting for him; and pushing +aside some books, for he never seemed to be +quite free from them even for a moment, he motioned +Joel to a seat.</p> + +<p>Joel, whose pulses were throbbing with the +liveliest expectations, didn't bother his head with +what otherwise might have struck him as somewhat +queer in the under-teacher's manner. For +the thing in hand was what Joel principally gave +himself to. And as that clearly could be nothing +else than the “Moose Island expedition,” it naturally +followed that Mr. Harrow had to speak +twice before he could gain his attention.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">418</a></span></p> + +<p>But when it was gained, there was not the +slightest possible chance of misunderstanding +what the under-teacher was saying, for it was +the habit of this instructor to come directly to +the point without unnecessary circumlocution.</p> + +<p>But his voice and manner were not without a +touch of sadness on this occasion that softened +the speech itself.</p> + +<p>“Joel, my boy,” Mr. Harrow began, “you +know I have often had you down here to urge +on those lessons of yours.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” said Joel, wondering now at the +voice and manner.</p> + +<p>“Well, now to-day, I am instructed by the +master to send for you for a different reason. +Can you not guess?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir,” said Joel, comfortable in the way +things had been going on, and wholly unable to +imagine the blow about to fall.</p> + +<p>“I wish you had guessed it, Joel,” said Mr. +Harrow, moving uneasily in his chair, “for then +you would have made my task easier. Joel, +Dr. Marks says, on account of your falling behind +in your lessons, without reason—understand +this, Joel, <i>without reason</i>—you are not to +go to Moose Island to-morrow.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">419</a></span></p> + +<p>Even then Joel did not comprehend. So Mr. +Harrow repeated it distinctly.</p> + +<p>“<i>What!</i>” roared Joel. In his excitement he +cleared the space between them, and gained Mr. +Harrow's side. “<i>Not go to Moose Island, Mr. +Harrow?</i>” his black eyes widening, and his face +working fearfully.</p> + +<p>“No,” said Mr. Harrow, drawing a long +breath, “you are not to go; so Dr. Marks says.”</p> + +<p>“But I <i>must</i> go,” cried Joel, quite gone in +passion.</p> + +<p>“'Must' is a singular word to use here, Joel,” +observed Mr. Harrow sternly.</p> + +<p>“But I—oh, Mr. Harrow, do see if you can't +help me to go.” Joel squirmed all over, and +even clutched the under-teacher's arm piteously.</p> + +<p>“Alas, Joel! it is beyond my power.” Mr. +Harrow shook his head. He didn't think it necessary +to state that he had already used every +argument he could employ to induce Dr. Marks +to change his mind. “Some strong pressure +must be brought to bear upon Pepper, or he +will amount to nothing but an athletic lad. He +must see the value of study,” the master had +responded, and signified that the interview was +ended, and his command was to be carried out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">420</a></span></p> + +<p>“Joel,”—Mr. Harrow was speaking—“be a +man, and bear this as <i>you</i> can. You've had your +chances for study, and not taken them. It is a +case of <i>must</i> now. Remember, Dr. Marks is doing +this in love to you. He has got to fit you +out as well as he can in this school, to take that +place in life that your mother wants you to fill. +Don't waste a moment on vain regrets, but buckle +to your studies now.”</p> + +<p>It was a long speech for the under-teacher, +and he had a hard time getting through with it. +At its end, Joel, half dazed with his misfortune, +but with a feeling that as a man, Dr. Marks and +Mr. Harrow had treated him, hurried back to +his room, dragged his chair up to the table, and +pushing off the untidy collection of rackets, tennis +balls, boxing gloves, and other implements of +his gymnasium work and his recreation hours, +lent his whole heart with a new impulse to his +task.</p> + +<p>Somehow he did not feel like crying, as had +often been the case with previous trials. “He +said, 'Be a man,'” Joel kept repeating over and +over to himself, while the words of his lesson +swam before his eyes. “And so I will; and he +said, Dr. Marks had got to make me as Mamsie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">421</a></span> +wanted me to be,” repeated Joel to himself, +taking a shorter cut with the idea. “And so I +will be.” And he leaned his elbows on the +table, bent his head over his book, and clutching +his stubby crop by both hands and holding +on tightly, he was soon lost to his misfortune +and the outside world.</p> + +<p>“Hullo!” David stood still in amazement at +Joel's unusual attitude over his lesson. Then he +reflected that he was making up extra work, to +be free for the holiday on the morrow. Notwithstanding +the need of quiet, David was so +full of it that he couldn't refrain from saying +jubilantly, “Oh, what a great time we'll have +to-morrow, Joe!” giving him a pound on the +back.</p> + +<p>“I'm not going,” said Joel, without raising his +head.</p> + +<p>David ran around his chair to look at him +from the further side, then peered under the +bunch of curls Joel was hanging to.</p> + +<p>“What's—what's the matter, Joe?” he gasped, +clutching the table.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Marks says I'm not to go,” said Joel, +telling the whole at once.</p> + +<p>“<i>Dr. Marks said you were not to go!</i>” repeated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">422</a></span> +David. “Why, Joel, why?” he demanded +in a gasp.</p> + +<p>“I haven't studied; I'm way behind. Let me +alone,” cried Joel. “I've got a perfect lot to +make up,” and he clutched harder than ever at +his hair.</p> + +<p>“Then <i>I</i> shall not go,” declared David, and +rushing out of the room he was gone before Joel +could fly from his chair; which he did, upsetting +it after him.</p> + +<p>“Dave—<i>Dave!</i>” he yelled, running out into +the hall, in the face of a stream of boys coming +up from gymnasium practice.</p> + +<p>“What's up, Pepper?” But he went through +their ranks like a shot. Nevertheless David was +nowhere to be seen, as he had taken some short +cut, and was lost in the crowd.</p> + +<p>Joel bent his steps to the under-teacher's +room, knocked, and in his excitement thought he +heard, “Come in.” And with small ceremony +he precipitated himself upon Mr. Harrow, who +seemed to be lost in a revery, his back to him, +leaning his elbow on the mantel, and his head +upon his hand.</p> + +<p>“Er—oh!” exclaimed Mr. Harrow, startled +out of his usual composure, and turning quickly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">423</a></span> +to face Joel. “Oh, it's you, Pepper!” which by +no means lifted him out of his depression.</p> + +<p>“Dave says he won't go without me. You +must make him,” said Joel, in his intensity forgetting +his manners.</p> + +<p>“To Moose Island?” asked Mr. Harrow.</p> + +<p>Joel nodded. He couldn't yet bring himself +to speak the name.</p> + +<p>“All right; I will, Joe.” Mr. Harrow grasped +the brown hand hanging by Joel's side.</p> + +<p>“Really?” said Joel, swallowing hard.</p> + +<p>“Really. Run back to your books, and trust +me.”</p> + +<p>So Joel dashed back, not minding the alluring +cries from several chums, “Come on—just +time for a game before supper,” and was back +before his table in the same attitude, and hanging +to his hair.</p> + +<p>“I can study better so,” he said, and holding +on for dear life.</p> + +<p>One or two boys glanced in. “Come out of +this hole,” they cried. “No need to study for +to-morrow. Gee whiz! just think of Moose +Island, Joe.”</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>“Joe!” They ran in and shook his shoulders.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">424</a></span> +“Moose Island!” they screamed, and the excitement +with which the whole school was charged +was echoing it through the length of the dormitory.</p> + +<p>“Go away,” cried Joel at them, “or I'll fire +something at you,” as they swarmed around his +chair.</p> + +<p>“Fire your old grammar,” suggested one, trying +to twitch away his book; and another pulled +the chair out from under him.</p> + +<p>Joel sprawled a moment on the floor; then +he sprang up, hanging to his book, and faced +them. “I'm not going. Clear out.” And in a +moment the room was as still as if an invasion +had never taken place. In their astonishment +they forgot to utter a word.</p> + +<p>And in ten minutes the news was all over the +playground and in all the corridors, “Joe Pepper +isn't going to Moose Island.”</p> + +<p>If they had said that the corner stone of the +dormitory was shaky, the amazement would not +have been so great in some quarters; and the +story was not believed until they had it from +Joe himself. Then amazement changed to grief. +Not to have Joe Pepper along, was to do away +with half the fun.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">425</a></span></p> + +<p>Percy ran up to him in the greatest excitement +just before supper. “What is it, Joe?” +he cried. “The fellows are trying to say that +you're not going to Moose Island.” He was red +with running, and panted dreadfully. “And Van +is giving it to Red Hiller for telling such a whopper.”</p> + +<p>“Well, he needn't,” said Joel, “for it's perfectly +true. I'm not going.”</p> + +<p>Percy tried to speak; but what with running, +and his astonishment, his tongue flapped up idly +against the roof of his mouth.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Marks won't let me,” said Joel, not +mincing matters. “I've got to study; so there's +an end of it.” But when Davie came in, a +woe begone figure, for Mr. Harrow had kept his +promise, then was Joel's hardest time. And he +clenched his brown hands to keep the tears back +then, for David gave way to such a flood in the +bitterness of his grief to go without Joel, that for +a time, Joel was in danger of utterly losing his +own self-control.</p> + +<p>“I'm confounded glad.” It was Jenk who +said it to his small following; and hearing it, +Tom Beresford blazed at him. “If you weren't +quite so small, I'd knock you down.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">426</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, I am glad,”—Jenk put a goodly distance +between himself and Tom, notwithstanding +Tom's disgust at the idea of touching him—“for +Pepper is so high and mighty, it's time he +was taken down,” but a chorus of yells made +him beat a retreat.</p> + +<p>Dr. Marks paced up and down his study floor, +his head bent, his hands folded behind him.</p> + +<p>“It was the only way. No ordinary course +could be taken with Pepper. It had come to +be imperative. It will make a man of him.” +He stepped to the desk and wrote a few words, +slipped them into an envelope, sealed and addressed +it.</p> + +<p>“Joanna!” He went to the door and summoned +a maid, the same one who had shaken +her broom at Joel when he rushed in with the +dog. “Take this over to the North Dormitory +as quickly as possible.” It seemed to be especially +necessary that haste be observed; and Dr. +Marks, usually so collected, hurried to the window +to assure himself that his command was +obeyed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Fox took the note as Joanna handed it +in, and sent it up at once, as those were the +orders from the master. It arrived just at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">427</a></span> +moment when Joel was at the end of his self-mastery. +He tore it open. “My boy, knowing +you as I do, I feel sure that you will be brave +in bearing this. It will help you to conquer +your dislike for study and make a man of you. +Affectionately yours, H. L. Marks.”</p> + +<p>Joel swung the note up over his head, and +there was such a glad ring to his voice that +David was too astonished to cry.</p> + +<p>“See there!” Joel proudly shook it at him. +“Read it, Dave.”</p> + +<p>So David seized it, and blinked in amazement.</p> + +<p>“Dr. Marks has written to me,” said Joel importantly, +just as if David hadn't the note before +him. “And he says, 'Be a man,' just as Mr. +Harrow said, and, 'affectionately yours.' Now, +what do you think of that, Dave Pepper?”</p> + +<p>David was so lost in the honor that had come +to Joel, that the grief that he was feeling in the +thought of the expedition to be made to Moose +Island to-morrow without Joel, began to pale. +He smiled and lifted his eyes, lately so wet with +tears. “Mamsie would like that note, Joe.”</p> + +<p>Tom Beresford rushed in without the formality +of a knock, and gloomily threw himself on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">428</a></span> +the bed. “Poor Joe!” was written all over his +long face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you needn't, Tom,” said Joel gaily, and +prancing up and down the room, “pity me, because +I won't have it.”</p> + +<p>“It's pity for myself as well,” said Tom lugubriously, +and cramming the pillow-end into +his mouth. “What's a fellow to do without you, +Joe?” suddenly shying the pillow at Joel.</p> + +<p>Joe caught it and shied it back, then twitched +the master's note out of David's hand. “Read +it, Tom,” he cried, with sparkling eyes.</p> + +<p>“I'd much rather stay back with you, Joe,” +Tom was saying.</p> + +<p>“Well, you won't,” retorted Joel. “Dave +tried that on, but it was no good. Read it, I +tell you.” So Tom sat up on the bed, and spread +Dr. Marks' note on his knee.</p> + +<p>“Great Cæsar's ghost! It's from the master +himself! And what does he say?” Tom rubbed +his eyes violently, stared, and rushed over the +few sentences pellmell; then returned to take +them slowly to be sure of their meaning.</p> + +<p>“Joe Pepper!” He got off from the bed.</p> + +<p>“Isn't it great!” cried Joel. “Give me my +note, Tom.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">429</a></span></p> + +<p>“I should say so!” cried Tom, bobbing his +head. “I shouldn't in the least mind being kept +back from a few things, to get a note like that. +Think of it, Joe, from Dr. Marks!”</p> + +<p>“I know it,” cried Joel, in huge satisfaction. +“Well, now, you must take yourself off, Tom; +I've got to study like a Trojan.” He ran to the +closet, and came back with his arms full of +books.</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Tom, shooting out. Then +he shot back, gave Joel a pat—by no means a +light one;—“Success to you, old fellow!” and +was off, this time for good.</p> + +<p>And Davie dreamed that night that Joel took +first prize in everything straight through; and +that he himself was sailing, sailing, over an interminable +sea (going to Moose Island probably), +under a ban never to come back to Dr. Marks' +school. And the first thing he knew, Joel was +pounding him and calling lustily, “Get up, +Dave; you know you are to start early.”</p> + +<p>And then all was bustle and confusion enough, +as how could it be helped with all those boys +getting off on such an expedition?</p> + +<p>And Joel was the brightest of them all, here, +there, and everywhere! You never would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">430</a></span> +guessed that he wasn't the leading spirit in the +whole expedition, and its bright particular star!</p> + +<p>And he ran down to the big stone gate to see +them off. And the boys wondered; but there +was no chance to pity him, with such a face. +There was only pity for themselves.</p> + +<p>And somebody started, “Three cheers for Joe +Pepper!” It wasn't the under-teacher, but he +joined with a right good will; and the whole +crowd took it up, as Joel ran back to tackle +his books, pinching Dr. Marks' letter in his +pocket, to make sure it really was there!</p> + +<p>Just about this time, Alexia Rhys was rushing +to school. She was late, for everything had +gone wrong that morning from the very beginning. +And of course Polly Pepper had started +for school, when Alexia called for her; and feeling +as if nothing mattered now, the corner was +reached despairingly, when she heard her name +called.</p> + +<p>It was an old lady who was a friend of her +aunt's, and Alexia paused involuntarily, then ran +across the street to see what was wanted.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my dear, I suppose I ought not to stop +you, for you are going to school.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it doesn't matter,” said Alexia indifferently;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">431</a></span> +“I'm late anyway. What is it, Miss +Seymour?”</p> + +<p>“I want to congratulate you—I <i>must</i> congratulate +you,” exclaimed old Miss Seymour, +with an excited little cackle. “I really must, +Alexia.”</p> + +<p>Alexia ran over in her mind everything for +which she could, by any possibility, be congratulated; +and finding nothing, she said, “What +for?” quite abruptly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my dear! Haven't you heard?” Old +Miss Seymour put her jewelled fingers on the +girl's shoulder. She had gathered up her dressy +morning robe in her hand, and hastened down +her front steps at the first glimpse of Alexia +across the way.</p> + +<p>Alexia knew of old the roundabout way pursued +by her aunt's friend in her narrations. Besides, +she cared very little anyway for this bit of +old women's gossip. So she said carelessly, “No, +I'm sure I haven't; and I don't believe it's +much anyway, Miss Seymour.”</p> + +<p>“'Much anyway?' oh, my dear!” Old Miss +Seymour held up both hands. “Well, what +would you say if you should be told that your +teacher was going to be married?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">432</a></span></p> + +<p>Alexia staggered backward and put up both +hands. “Oh, don't, Miss Seymour,” she cried, +the fears she had been lighting so many weeks +now come true. Then she burst out passionately, +“Oh, it isn't true—it <i>can't</i> be!”</p> + +<p>“Well, but it is,” cried Miss Seymour positively. +“I had it not ten minutes since from a +very intimate friend; and as you were the first +Salisbury girl I saw, why, I wanted to congratulate +you, of course, as soon as I could.”</p> + +<p>“Salisbury girl!” Alexia groaned as she +thought how they should never have that title +applied to them any more; for of course the +beautiful school was doomed. “And where +shall we all go?” she cried to herself in despair.</p> + +<p>“Oh, how could she go and get engaged!” +she exclaimed aloud.</p> + +<p>“You haven't asked who the man is,” said +Miss Seymour in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know—I know,” said Alexia miserably; +“it's Mr. John Clemcy. Oh, if we hadn't +had that old picnic!” she burst out.</p> + +<p>“Eh—what?” exclaimed the little old lady +quickly.</p> + +<p>“Never mind. It doesn't signify who the man +is. It doesn't signify about anything,” said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">433</a></span> +Alexia wildly, “as long as Miss Salisbury is +going to get married and give up our school.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don't suppose the school will be given +up,” said Miss Seymour.</p> + +<p>“What? Why, of course it will be. How +can she keep it after she is married?” cried +Alexia impatiently. She longed to say, “you +goose you!”</p> + +<p>“Why, I suppose the other one will keep it, +of course; and it will go on just the same as it +did before.”</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me! The idea of Miss Anstice +keeping that school!” With all her misery, +Alexia couldn't help bursting into a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Miss Anstice?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; if you knew her as we girls do, Miss Seymour, +you never'd say she could run that school.”</p> + +<p>“I never said she could.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, you did,” Alexia was guilty of contradicting. +“You said distinctly that when Miss +Salisbury was married, you supposed Miss Anstice +would keep it on just the same.”</p> + +<p>Little old Miss Seymour took three or four +steps down the pavement, then turned and trotted +back, the dressy morning robe still gathered in +her hand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">434</a></span></p> + +<p>“Who do you think is engaged to Mr. John +Clemcy?” she asked, looking up at the tall girl.</p> + +<p>“Why, our Miss Salisbury,” answered Alexia, +ready to cry, “I suppose. That's what you +said.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, I didn't,” said the little old lady. +“It's Miss Anstice Salisbury.”</p> + +<p>Alexia gave her one look; then took some flying +steps across the street, and away down to +the Salisbury School. She met a stream of +girls in the front hall; and as soon as she saw +their faces, she knew that her news was all old.</p> + +<p>And they could tell her something more.</p> + +<p>“Miss Wilcox is going to be the assistant +teacher,” cried Amy Garrett.</p> + +<p>“And Miss Salisbury announced it; why were +you late, Alexia?” it was a perfect buzz around +her ears. “And then she dismissed school; and +we're all going down to the drawing-room now, +to congratulate Miss Anstice.”</p> + +<p>Alexia worked her way to Polly Pepper and +clung to her.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Alexia, you've got here!” cried Polly +delightedly. “And only think, we can keep our +Miss Salisbury after all.”</p> + + + +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="XXV_THE_VERY_PRETTIEST_AFFAIR" id="XXV_THE_VERY_PRETTIEST_AFFAIR"></a>XXV “THE VERY PRETTIEST AFFAIR”</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">435</a></span></p> + + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>nd Mr. John Clemcy, having put off any +inclination to marry till so late in life, was, +now that he had made his choice, in a ferment to +hurry its consummation. And Miss Ophelia, +who was still to keep the house and run the old-fashioned +flower garden to suit herself—thus +losing none of her honors—and being in her +element, as has been stated, with some one “to +fuss over” (her self-contained brother not yielding +her sufficient occupation in that line), begged +that the wedding might take place soon. So +there was really no reason on earth why it should +not be celebrated, and Miss Wilcox be installed +as assistant, and thus all things be in running +order for the new year at the Salisbury School.</p> + +<p>“And they say he has heaps of money—Mr. +Clemcy has,” cried Alexia, in the midst of the +excitement of the next few days, when everybody +was trying to adjust themselves to this new condition +of affairs. A lot of the girls were up in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">436</a></span> +Polly Pepper's room. “And it's an awful old +family back of him in England,” she went on, +“though for my part, I'd rather have something +to do with making my name myself.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Alexia,” cried Clem, “think of all those +perfectly elegant old family portraits!”</p> + +<p>“Mouldy old things!” exclaimed Alexia, who +had small reverence for such things. “I should +be ashamed of them, if I were Mr. John Clemcy +and his sister. They don't look as if they knew +anything to begin with; and such arms and +hands, and impossible necks! Oh my! It quite +gives me a turn to look at them.”</p> + +<p>“We are quite distinguished—the Salisbury +School is,” said Silvia, with an elegant manner, +and a toss of her head. “My mother says it +will be splendid capital to Miss Salisbury to have +such a connection.”</p> + +<p>“And, oh, just think of Miss Anstice's engagement +ring!” exclaimed another girl. “Oh my, +on her little thin finger!”</p> + +<p>“It's awful old-fashioned,” cried Silvia, “set +in silver. But then, it's big, and a <i>very</i> pure +stone, my mother says; and quite shows that +the family must have been something, for it is +an heirloom.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">437</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, do stop about family and heirlooms,” +cried Alexia impatiently; “the main thing is that +our Miss Salisbury isn't going to desert us.”</p> + +<p>“Miss Anstice is; oh, goody!” Amy Garrett +hopped up and down and softly beat her hands +while she finished the sentence.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” Alexia turned on her suddenly. +“Now, Amy, and the rest of you girls, I think +we ought to stop this nonsense about Miss Anstice; +she's going, and I, maybe, haven't treated +her just rightly.”</p> + +<p>“Of course you haven't,” assented Clem coolly. +“You've worried her life nearly out of her.”</p> + +<p>“And oh, dear me! I'm sorry now,”—said +Alexia, not minding in the least what Clem was +saying. “I wonder why it is that I'm forever +being sorry about things.”</p> + +<p>“Because you're forever having your own +way,” said Clem; “I'll tell you.”</p> + +<p>“And so I'm going to be nice to her now,” +said Alexia, with a perfectly composed glance at +Clem. “Let's all be, girls. I mean, behind +her back.”</p> + +<p>Polly Pepper ran over across the room to slip +her arm within Alexia's, and give her a little +approving pat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">438</a></span></p> + +<p>“It will be so strange not to make fun of her,” +observed Amy Garrett, “but I suppose we can't +now, anyway, that she is to be Mrs. John Clemcy.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. John Clemcy, indeed!” exclaimed Alexia, +standing very tall. “She was just as nice before, +as sister of our Miss Salisbury, I'd have you to +know, girls.”</p> + +<p>“Well, now what are we to give her as a wedding +present?” said Polly Pepper. “You know +we, as the committee, ought to talk it over at +once. Let's sit down on the floor in a ring and +begin.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Alexia; “now all flop.” And setting +the example, she got down on the floor; and the +girls tumbling after, the ring was soon formed.</p> + +<p>“Hush now, do be quiet, Clem, if you can,” +cried Alexia, to pay up old scores.</p> + +<p>“I guess I'm not making as much noise as +some other people,” said Clem, with a wry face.</p> + +<p>“Well, Polly's going to begin; and as she's +chairman, we've all got to be still as mice. +Hush!”</p> + +<p>“I think,” said Polly, “the best way would be, +instead of wasting so much time in talking, +and—”</p> + +<p>“Getting into a hubbub,” interpolated Alexia.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">439</a></span></p> + +<p>“Who's talking now,” cried Clem triumphantly, +“and making a noise?”</p> + +<p>“Getting in confusion,” finished Polly, “would +be, for us each to write out the things that Miss +Anstice might like, on a piece of paper, without +showing it to any of the other girls; then pass +them in to me, and I'll read them aloud. And +perhaps we'll choose something out of all the +lists.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Polly, how fine!—just the thing.”</p> + +<p>“I'll get the paper.”</p> + +<p>“And the pencils.” The ring was in a hubbub; +Alexia, as usual, the first to hop out of her +place.</p> + +<p>“Sit down, girls,” said Polly as chairman. So +they all flew back again.</p> + +<p>“There, you see now,” said Alexia, huddling +expeditiously into her place next to Polly, “how +no one can stir till the chairman tells us to.”</p> + +<p>“Who jumped first of all?” exclaimed Clem, +bursting into a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Well, I'm back again, anyhow,” said Alexia +coolly, and folding her hands in her lap.</p> + +<p>“I'll appoint Lucy Bennett and Silvia Horne +to get the paper and pencils,” said Polly. “They +are on my desk, girls.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">440</a></span></p> + +<p>Alexia smothered the sigh at her failure to be +one of the girls to perform this delightful task; +but the paper being brought, she soon forgot her +disappointment, in having something to do.</p> + +<p>“We must all tear it up into strips,” said the +chairman, and, beginning on a sheet, “Lucy, +you can be giving around the pencils.”</p> + +<p>And presently the whole committee was racking +its brains over this terribly important question +thrust upon them.</p> + +<p>“It must be something that will always reflect +credit on the Salisbury School,” observed Alexia, +leaning her chin on her hand while she played +with her pencil.</p> + +<p>“Ugh! do be still.” Lucy, on the other side, +nudged her. “I can't think, if anybody speaks +a word.”</p> + +<p>“And fit in well with those old portraits,” said +Clem, with a look at Alexia.</p> + +<p>“Well, I hope and pray that we won't give her +anything old. I want it spick, span, new; and +to be absolutely up-to-date.” Alexia took her +chin out of her hand, and sat up decidedly. +“The idea of matching up those mouldy old +portraits!—and that house just bursting with +antiques.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">441</a></span></p> + +<p>“Ugh! do hush,” cried the girls.</p> + +<p>“And write what you want to, Alexia, on your +own slip, and keep still,” said Silvia, wrinkling +her brows; “you just put something out of my +head; and it was perfectly splendid.”</p> + +<p>“But I can't think of a thing that would be +good enough,” grumbled Alexia, “for the Salisbury +School to give. Oh dear me!” and she regarded +enviously the other pencils scribbling +away.</p> + +<p>“My list is done.” Amy Garrett pinched hers +into a little three-cornered note, and threw it +into Polly's lap.</p> + +<p>“And mine—and mine.” They all came in +fast in a small white shower.</p> + +<p>“Oh my goodness!” exclaimed Alexia, much +alarmed that she would be left out altogether. +“Wait, Chairman—I mean, Polly,” and she +began scribbling away for dear life.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me!” The chairman unfolded the +first strip, and began to read. “A piano—why, +girls, Miss Anstice can't play.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it would look nice in that great big +drawing-room,” said Clem, letting herself out +with a very red face.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my! you wrote <i>a piano</i>!” Alexia went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">442</a></span> +over backward suddenly to lie flat on the floor +and laugh. “Besides, there is one in that +house.”</p> + +<p>“An old thing!” exclaimed Clem in disdain.</p> + +<p>“Well, let's see; here's something nice”—Polly +ran along the list—“a handsome chair, a +desk, a cabinet. Those are fine!”</p> + +<p>“Clem has gone into the furniture business, I +should think,” said Philena.</p> + +<p>“And a cabinet!” exclaimed Amy Garrett, +“when that house is just full of 'em.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I mean a jewel cabinet, or something of +that sort,” explained Clem hastily.</p> + +<p>“That's not bad,” announced Silvia, “for I +suppose he'll give her all the rest of those heirlooms; +great strings of pearls probably he's got, +and everything else. Dear me, don't I wish we +girls could see them!” and she lost herself in admiration +over the fabulous Clemcy jewels.</p> + +<p>“Well, Chairman—Polly, I mean”—Alexia +flew into position—“what's the next list?”</p> + +<p>“This is quite different,” said Polly, unrolling +it; “some handsome lace, a fan, a lorgnette, a +bracelet.”</p> + +<p>“It's easy enough to see that's Silvia's,” said +Alexia—“all that finery and furbelows.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">443</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, it's not fair to tell what you think and +guess,” said Silvia, a pink spot coming on either +check.</p> + +<p>“'Twouldn't make any difference, my guessing; +we all know it's yours, Silvia,” said Alexia, coolly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I think that's a lovely list,” said Amy, +with sparkling eyes, “and I for one would be +willing to vote for any of those things.”</p> + +<p>“My mother says we better give her something +to wear,” said Silvia, smoothing down her +gown. “Miss Anstice likes nice things; and that +great big house is running over with everything +to furnish with.”</p> + +<p>Polly was reading the third list, so somebody +pulled Alexia's arm and stopped her. “A watch +and chain—that's all there is on this list,” announced +Polly.</p> + +<p>“Oh!”—there was a chorus of voices—“that's +it—that's it!” and “Why didn't I think +of that?” until the whole ring was in a tumult +again.</p> + +<p>It was no matter what was on the other lists. +The chairman read them over faithfully, but the +items fell upon dull ears. They might make +suitable tributes for other brides; there was but +one mind about the present for this particular<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">444</a></span> +bride going forth from the Salisbury School. +The watch and chain was the only gift to be +thought of.</p> + +<p>“And she wears that great big old-fashioned +thing,” declared Silvia; “looks like a turnip—oh, +oh!”</p> + +<p>“And I do believe that's always made her so +impressive and scarey whenever she got into that +black silk gown,” said Amy Garrett. “I never +thought of it before; but it was that horrible old +watch and chain.”</p> + +<p>“Girls,” said the chairman, “I do really believe +that it would be the very best thing that we +could possibly give her. And now I'm going to +tell who it was who chose it.”</p> + +<p>“Do—oh, do!” The whole ring came together +in a bunch, as the girls all crowded around +Polly.</p> + +<p>“Alexia!” Then Polly turned and gave a loving +little pat on the long back.</p> + +<p>“Don't,” said Alexia, shrinking away from the +shower of congratulations on having made the +best choice, and thought of the very thing that +was likely to unite the whole school on a gift. +“It's nothing. I couldn't help but write it. It +was the only thing I thought of.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">445</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well; it was just as clever in you as could +be, so there now!” Clem nodded over at her, +and buried all animosity at once.</p> + +<p>“And think how nice it will be, when it's all +engraved inside the case with what we want to +say,” said Polly, with shining eyes.</p> + +<p>“And a great big monogram outside,” said +Silvia, with enthusiasm, “and one of those +twisted chains—oh, how fine!” She shook out +her silver bracelets till they jingled all her enthusiasm; +and the entire committee joining, +the vote was taken to propose to the rest of the +“Salisbury girls,” on the morrow, the gift of a +watch and chain to the future Mrs. John Clemcy.</p> + +<p>And the watch and chain was unanimously +chosen by the “Salisbury girls” as the gift of all +gifts they wanted to bestow upon their teacher on +her wedding day; and they all insisted that Polly +Pepper should write the inscription; so there +it was, engraved beautifully on the inner side of +the case: “Anstice Salisbury, with the loving regard +of her pupils.” And there was a beautiful +big monogram on the outside; and the long chain +was double and twisted, and so handsome that +Silvia's mother protested she hadn't a word to +say but the very highest praise!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">446</a></span></p> + +<p>Oh, and the presentation of it came about +quite differently from what was expected, after +all. For the gift was to be sent with a little +note, representing the whole school, and written, +as was quite proper, by Polly Pepper, the chairman +of the committee. But Miss Salisbury, to +whom the precious parcel had been intrusted, +said suddenly, “Why don't you give it to her +yourselves, girls?”</p> + +<p>It was, of course, the place of the chairman of +the committee to speak. So Polly said, “Oh, +would she like to have us, Miss Salisbury?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, my dears. I know she would. She feels +badly to go and leave you all, you know,” and +there were tears in the blue eyes that always +looked so kindly on them. “And it would be a +very lovely thing for you to do, if you would +like to.”</p> + +<p>“We should <i>love</i> to do it,” cried Polly warmly. +“May we go now, dear Miss Salisbury?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Miss Salisbury, very much pleased; +“she is in the red parlor.”</p> + +<p>So the committee filed into the red parlor. +There sat Miss Anstice, and—oh dear me!—Mr. +John Clemcy!</p> + +<p>There was no time to retreat; for Miss Salisbury,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">447</a></span> +not having heard Mr. Clemcy come in, +was at the rear of the procession of girls. “Here, +my dears—Anstice, the girls particularly want +to see you—oh!” and then she saw Mr. John +Clemcy.</p> + +<p>Miss Anstice, who seemed to have dropped all +her nervousness lately, saved the situation by +coming forward and greeting them warmly; and +when Mr. John Clemcy saw how it was, he went +gallantly to the rescue, and was so easy and +genial, and matter-of-course, that the committee +presently felt as if a good part of their lives had +been passed in making presentations, and that +they were quite up to that sort of thing.</p> + +<p>And Polly made a neat little speech as she +handed her the packet; and Miss Anstice's eyes +filled with tears of genuine regret at leaving them, +and of delight at the gift.</p> + +<p>“Girls, do you know”—could it be Miss +Anstice who was talking with so much feeling in +her voice?—“I used to imagine that you didn't +love me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that could never be!” cried Mr. Clemcy.</p> + +<p>“And I got so worried and cross over it. But +now I know you did, and that I was simply +tired; for I never could teach like sister,”—she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">448</a></span> +cast her a loving glance—“and I didn't really +love my work. And, do you know, the thing +I've longed for all my life was a watch and +chain like this? Oh girls, I shall love it always!”</p> + +<p>She threw the chain around her neck; and laid +the little watch gently against her cheek.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” It was Alexia who pressed forward. +“You'll forgive us all, won't you, Miss Anstice, +if we didn't love you enough?”</p> + +<p>“When I want to forgive, I'll look at my dear +watch,” said Miss Anstice brightly, and smiling +on them all.</p> + +<p>“'Twas that horrible old black silk gown +that made her so,” exclaimed Alexia, as they all +tumbled off down the hall in the greatest excitement. +“You see how sweet she is now, in that +white one.”</p> + +<p>“And the red rose in her belt,” said Clem.</p> + +<p>“And her diamond ring,” added Silvia.</p> + +<p>“And we're different, too,” said Clem. “Maybe +we wouldn't love to teach a lot of girls any +better either, if we had to.”</p> + +<p>“Well, and now there's the wedding!” exclaimed +Amy Garrett, clasping her hands, “oh!”</p> + +<p>“What richness!” finished Alexia.</p> + +<p>And everybody said it was “the very prettiest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">449</a></span> +affair; and so picturesque!” “And those dear +Salisbury girls—how sweet they looked, to be +sure!” Why, St. John's blossomed out like a +veritable garden, just with that blooming company +of girls; to say nothing of the exquisite +flowers, and ropes of laurel, and palms, and the +broad white satin ribbons to divide the favored +ones from the mere acquaintances.</p> + +<p>“And what a lovely thought to get those boys +from the Pemberton School for ushers, with +Jasper King as their leader!”</p> + +<p>They all made such a bright, youthful picture, +to be followed by the chosen eight of the “Salisbury +girls,” the very committee who presented +the gift to the bride-elect. There they were in +their simple white gowns and big white hats.</p> + +<p>And then came the little assistant teacher of +the Salisbury School, in her pearl gray robe; +singularly enough, not half so much embarrassed +as she had often been in walking down the long +schoolroom before the girls.</p> + +<p>And Mr. John Clemcy never thought of such +a thing as embarrassment at all; but stood up in +his straightforward, manly, English composure, +to take his vows that bound him to the little +school-teacher. And Miss Salisbury, fairly resplendent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">450</a></span> +in her black velvet gown, had down +deep within her heart a childlike satisfaction in +it all. “Dear Anstice was happy,” and somehow +the outlook for the future, with Miss Wilcox for +assistant teacher, was restful for one whose heart +and soul were bound up in her pupils' advancement.</p> + +<p>Miss Ophelia Clemcy blossomed out from +her retirement, and became quite voluble, in +the front pew before the wedding procession +arrived.</p> + +<p>“You see, it was foreordained to be,” she +announced, as she had before declared several +times to the principal of the Salisbury School. +“The first moment he saw her, Brother John was +fully convinced that here was a creature of the +greatest sensibility, and altogether charming. +And, my dear Miss Salisbury, I am only commonplace +and practical, you know; so it is all as +it should be, and suits me perfectly. And we will +always keep the anniversary of that picnic, that +blessed day, won't we?”</p> + +<p>And old Mr. King invited the eight ushers +from the Pemberton School and the committee +from the Salisbury School to a little supper to +top off the wedding festivities. And Grandpapa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">451</a></span> +sat at the head of the table, with Mother Fisher +at the other end, and Dr. Fisher and Mrs. Whitney +opposite in the centre. And there were wedding +toasts and little speeches; and everybody +got very jolly and festive. And the little doctor +looked down to the table end where he could see +his wife's eyes. “It reminds me very much of +our own wedding day, wife,” his glance said. +And she smiled back in such a way as to fill +him with great content.</p> + +<p>“And wasn't that reception in the school parlors +too perfectly beautiful for anything!” cried +Polly Pepper, in a lull, for about the fiftieth +time the remark had been made.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and didn't Alexia make an awful blunder +with her paper of rice!” said Clem sweetly.</p> + +<p>“I can't help it,” said Alexia, nowise disturbed; +“the old paper burst, and I had to put +it in my handkerchief. You couldn't expect me, +girls, to keep my wits after that.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you needn't have spilt it all over Miss +Anstice's bonnet,” said Philena, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Clemcy's, you mean,” corrected Jasper.</p> + +<p>“Oh dear me! I never shall get used to her +new name,” declared Philena.</p> + +<p>“And I think I got my rice deposited as well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">452</a></span> +as some of the rest of you girls,” declared Alexia +airily.</p> + +<p>“Mine struck Mr. Clemcy full in the eye,” +said Silvia; “then I ducked behind Polly Pepper.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that was a great way to do!” exclaimed +Jasper.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I saw her,” said Polly, with a little +laugh, “and I jumped away; and Mr. Clemcy +saw her, too.”</p> + +<p>“Horrors!” cried Silvia. “Did he? Oh, I'm +frightened to death! What did he look like, +Polly?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he laughed,” said Polly.</p> + +<p>Just then came a ring at the doorbell, sharp +and sudden.</p> + +<p>“What is going to happen?” cried Polly, her +face like a rose. “Everything has been beautiful +to-day; and now I just know something perfectly +lovely is coming to finish off with.”</p> + +<p>“A telegram, sir.” Johnson held out a long +yellow envelope to Mr. King.</p> + +<p>“It's for Mrs. Fisher,” said the old gentleman.</p> + +<p>So the yellow envelope went down the table-length, +the color going out of Polly's cheek; and +she didn't dare to look at Mamsie's eyes.</p> + +<p>“Oh—the boys!” gasped Polly. “Jasper, do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">453</a></span> +you suppose?”—What, she didn't finish; for +Mother Fisher just then cried out, and passed +the yellow sheet to the little doctor. “Read it +aloud,” was all she said. But how her black +eyes shone!</p> + +<p>“David took first prize classics. I'm picking +up a bit. <span class="smcap">Joel Pepper</span>.”</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + +<div class="trans-note">Transcriber's Note: Page 115, last paragraph. Added the word “it”. +<br> +“and bring up to my house” “and bring it up to my house” +</div> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 316px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="316" height="500" alt="cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> +<div class="figright" style="width: 308px;"> +<img src="images/bcover.jpg" width="308" height="500" alt="bcover" title="Back Cover" /> +</div> + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Five Little Peppers at School, by Margaret Sidney + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AT SCHOOL *** + +***** This file should be named 26122-h.htm or 26122-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/1/2/26122/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Marcia Brooks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from scans of public domain material +produced by Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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