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+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: ASCII
+
+*** 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.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AT SCHOOL
+
+
+
+
+BOOKS BY
+
+MARGARET SIDNEY
+
+A LITTLE MAID OF CONCORD TOWN
+_Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill_
+
+A LITTLE MAID OF BOSTON TOWN
+_Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill_
+
+
+THE FAMOUS PEPPER BOOKS
+IN ORDER OF PUBLICATION
+
+_Twelve Volumes Illustrated_
+
+FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND HOW THEY GREW
+
+FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS MIDWAY
+
+FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS GROWN UP
+
+PHRONSIE PEPPER
+
+THE STORIES POLLY PEPPER TOLD
+
+THE ADVENTURES OF JOEL PEPPER
+
+FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS ABROAD
+
+FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AT SCHOOL
+
+FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND THEIR FRIENDS
+
+BEN PEPPER
+
+FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS IN THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE
+
+OUR DAVIE PEPPER
+
+
+LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON
+
+
+[Illustration: "TAKE RICKIE: HE BEAT, TOO, AS MUCH AS I."]
+
+
+
+
+FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS
+AT SCHOOL
+
+By
+
+MARGARET SIDNEY
+
+AUTHOR OF "FIVE LITTLE
+PEPPERS ABROAD," "A
+LITTLE MAID OF CONCORD
+TOWN," "SALLY, MRS. TUBBS"
+
+_Illustrated by_
+
+HERMANN HEYER
+
+BOSTON
+
+LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
+
+
+PEPPER
+
+TRADE-MARK
+
+Registered in U. S. Patent Office.
+
+_COPYRIGHT,
+1903, BY
+LOTHROP
+PUBLISHING
+COMPANY._
+
+_ALL RIGHTS
+RESERVED_
+
+_PUBLISHED
+NOV. 1903_
+
+_Fifty-fourth Thousand._
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+The 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.
+
+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 at school, and a right merry time they
+had of it!
+
+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
+
+                                                        MARGARET SIDNEY.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER                                                 PAGE
+
+    I. HARD TIMES FOR JOEL                                 9
+
+   II. THE TENNIS MATCH                                   24
+
+  III. A NARROW ESCAPE                                    35
+
+   IV. OF VARIOUS THINGS                                  49
+
+    V. AT SILVIA HORNE'S                                  60
+
+   VI. THE ACCIDENT                                       75
+
+  VII. THE SALISBURY GIRLS                                89
+
+ VIII. "WE'RE TO HAVE OUR PICNIC!"                       105
+
+   IX. ALL ABOUT THE POOR BRAKEMAN                       121
+
+    X. JOEL AND HIS DOG                                  135
+
+   XI. THE UNITED CLUBS                                  154
+
+  XII. SOME EVERY-DAY FUN                                173
+
+ XIII. THE PICNIC                                        186
+
+  XIV. MISS SALISBURY'S STORY                            206
+
+   XV. THE BROKEN VASE                                   233
+
+  XVI. NEW PLANS                                         247
+
+ XVII. PHRONSIE                                          262
+
+XVIII. TOM'S STORY                                       280
+
+  XIX. THE GRAND ENTERTAINMENT                           300
+
+   XX. THE CORCORAN FAMILY                               322
+
+  XXI. AT THE PLAY                                       346
+
+ XXII. PICKERING DODGE                                   368
+
+XXIII. THE CLEMCY GARDEN PARTY                           389
+
+ XXIV. THE PIECE OF NEWS                                 417
+
+  XXV. "THE VERY PRETTIEST AFFAIR"                       435
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+                                              PAGE
+
+"TAKE RICKIE! HE BEAT TOO, AS MUCH AS I."      _Frontispiece_
+
+AND SHE TOLD THEM THE WHOLE STORY AS
+FAST AS SHE COULD                                        100
+
+JUST THEN SOMETHING SKIMMED OUT FROM
+THE CORNER                                               155
+
+"I NEVER DID REGARD PICNICS AS PLEASANT
+AFFAIRS," GASPED MISS ANSTICE                            206
+
+"SEE, JOEL, I'M ALL FIXED UP NICE," LAUGHED
+PHRONSIE FROM HER PERCH                                  286
+
+"OH, I DO HOPE I SHALL DRAW THE RIGHT
+ONE, JASPER."                                            307
+
+"AND SO WE HAD A LITTLE ENTERTAINMENT,
+AND SOLD THE TICKETS, AND HERE IS OUR GIFT!"             337
+
+THERE STOOD THE LITTLE VASE, PRESENTING
+AS BRAVE AN APPEARANCE AS IN ITS FIRST PERFECTION        412
+
+
+
+
+_Five Little Peppers at School_
+
+
+
+
+I HARD TIMES FOR JOEL
+
+
+"Come on, Pepper." One of the boys rushed down the dormitory hall,
+giving a bang on Joel's door as he passed.
+
+"All right," said Joel a bit crossly, "I'm coming."
+
+"Last bell," came back on the wind.
+
+Joel threw his tennis racket on the bed, and scowled. Just then a flaxen
+head peeped in, and two big eyes stared at him.
+
+"Ugh!"--Joel took one look--"off with you, Jenkins." Jenkins withdrew at
+once.
+
+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.
+
+Jenkins stole out of his room three doors 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.
+
+"Hullo!" A voice behind made him skip.
+
+"Oh, Berry,"--it was a tone of relief,--"it's you."
+
+"Um," said Berry, "what's up now, Jenk?" He tossed back his head, while
+a smile of delight ran all over his face.
+
+"Hush--come here." Jenk had him now within Joel's room and the door
+shut. "We'll have fun with the beggar now."
+
+"Who--Dave?"
+
+"Dave? No. Who wants to haul him over?" cried Jenk in scorn. "You are a
+flat, Berry, if you think that."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Hoh, hoh!" Tom gave a howl of derision, and slapped his knee in pure
+delight. "Tell that to the marines, sonny," he said.
+
+"Hush--old Fox will hear you. Be still, can't you?"--twitching his
+jacket--"and stop your noise."
+
+"I can't help it; you say such very funny things," said Beresford,
+wiping his eyes.
+
+"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.
+
+"Great Scott!" Tom cried with sudden interest, and coming out of his
+amusement. "You won't find it."
+
+"Saw him looking at it just now, before he went to class," cried
+Jenkins, plunging around the room. "Where is the thing?" he fumed.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh! give it to me," cried Jenk, flying at him, and possessing himself
+of the treasure; "it's mine; I told you of it."
+
+"Isn't it a beauty!" declared Berry, his eyes very big and longing.
+
+"Ha, ha--ain't it? Well, Joe won't see this in one spell."
+
+Jenkins gave it a swing over his head, then batted his knee with it.
+
+"What are you going to do, Jenk?" demanded Berry, presently, when he
+could get his mind off from the racket itself.
+
+"Do? Ha, ha! Who says I can't pay the beggar back?" grinned Jenk,
+hopping all over the room, and knocking into things generally.
+
+"Hush--hush," warned Berry, plunging after him; "here's old Fox," which
+brought both boys up breathless in the middle of the floor.
+
+"She's gone by"--a long breath of relief; "and there she goes down the
+stairs," finished Berry.
+
+"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?"
+
+"As if any one could mistake the flap of those slipper-heels on the
+stairs!" said Berry scornfully.
+
+"Well, look out of the window," suggested Jenk suddenly. "She'll go
+across the yard, maybe."
+
+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.
+
+"Give me that," he said, hurrying over to Jenkins.
+
+"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.
+
+"If you don't give me that racket, I'll tell on you," cried Beresford in
+a passion, flying after him.
+
+"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.
+
+"No," said Berry without stopping to think, "I don't."
+
+"Well, then, you better keep still, and hold your tongue," advised Jenk
+angrily.
+
+"Well, what are you going to do with it?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Hullo!" The boy who was rushing along, suddenly turned, to see him
+whistling.
+
+"Oh Jenk, is that you? See here, where's your Caesar?"
+
+"Don't know--gone up the spout," said Jenkins carelessly, and keeping
+well in front of Beresford.
+
+"Well, who has one? You haven't, Berry?" He turned to Tom anxiously.
+
+"Not on your life he hasn't," Jenk answered for him.
+
+"Botheration!" ejaculated the boy. "I've fifty lines to do, else I'm
+shut in from the game. And Simmons has run off with my book."
+
+"Try Joe Pepper's room; he's in math recitation," said Jenk suddenly.
+"He has one, Toppy."
+
+"You're a brick." Toppy flew down the hall, and bolted into Joel's room.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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. 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.
+
+"What's up, Pepper?" A howl that rose above every other sort of din that
+was then in progress, came from Joel's room.
+
+"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.
+
+"What is it?" cried Jenkins, making as if just coming up the stairs.
+"What's all the row about?"
+
+"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.
+
+"What? What's gone, Joe?" They all crowded into the small space, and
+swarmed all over the room.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Is that so?" A half-dozen hands pushed him into the centre of the
+group. "Then you've got to give him fits, Pepper."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Then you know where it is," declared Joel.
+
+"And give it to the beggar," cried several of the boys, with whom
+Jenkins was by no means a favorite.
+
+"Give it to him worse than you did last term, Joe," called some one on
+the edge of the circle closing around the two.
+
+"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."
+
+"He's afraid," said the boy who had advised the more severe pommelling,
+"old 'fraid-cat!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Old Fox would have caught you, if we hadn't rushed you both," cried the
+boys.
+
+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.
+
+Joel looked up, gave a little nod, then broke away from the boys, and
+dashed to Jenkins' door.
+
+"See here,"--he flung the words out,--"you've got to finish sometime
+when Mrs. Fox isn't round."
+
+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.
+
+Quite pleased, Joel withdrew as suddenly as he had come.
+
+Meanwhile, up the stairs, two at a time, came Davie, singing at the
+memory of the special commendation 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!
+
+"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. "_Hush_" he warned.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked David in astonishment, "and where's Joel?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Who?" cried David, not believing his ears.
+
+"Joel--oh dear! it's perfectly awful!"
+
+"Stop saying it's perfectly awful, Bates, and tell me what's the
+matter." Davie felt faintish, and sat down on the shoe-box.
+
+Bates shut the door with a clap, and then came to stand over him,
+letting the whole information out with a rush.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"How I wish he'd had it all out with that beggar!" exploded Bates
+longingly.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh Joel!" screamed Davie at sight of him, and springing from his
+shoe-box. "Are you hurt? Oh Joey!"
+
+"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.
+
+"To steal your new racket that Grandpapa sent you!" echoed David. "Oh
+dear me! who has taken it? Oh Joel!"
+
+"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."
+
+Joel flung down the towel, and pranced to the door.
+
+"No one else," said the boy to whom the head belonged.
+
+"Not me?" asked David longingly. "Can't I come?"
+
+"No--no one but Joe." Joel rushed over the sill tumultuously, deserting
+David and the Bates boy.
+
+"Don't speak a single word," said the boy out in the hall, putting his
+mouth close to Joel's ear, "but move lively."
+
+No need to tell him so. In a minute they were both before the
+housemaid's closet.
+
+"Feel under," whispered the boy, with a sharp eye down the length of the
+hall.
+
+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.
+
+"Take care; keep it down," said the boy in a hurried whisper.
+
+"Oh, oh!" cried Joel, hanging to it in a transport.
+
+"Um," the boy nodded. "Hush, be still. Now skip for your room."
+
+"Beresford," said Joel, his black eyes shining as he paused a breathing
+space before rushing back to Davie, the new racket gripped fast, "if I
+don't pay Jenk for this!"
+
+"Do." Tom grinned all over his face in great delight; "you'll be a
+public benefactor," and he softly beat his hands together.
+
+
+
+
+II THE TENNIS MATCH
+
+
+Joel, 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.
+
+"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."
+
+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!
+
+"Pepper will score high," one after another said as he dropped to the
+ground next to his chums, in the circle around the court.
+
+"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.
+
+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!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+At first Joel's luck seemed to desert him, and he played wild, causing
+much consternation in 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.
+
+"Wake up," cried Paul Sykes, his very particular friend, hoarsely,
+giving him a dig in the ribs. "Don't collapse, Dave."
+
+"Oh!" groaned David, his head sinking lower yet, "I can't look; I simply
+can't. It will kill Joel."
+
+"Stiffen up!" cried Paul. "Joe's all right; he'll come to. _Ha!_"
+
+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.
+
+"You're losing it all," he cried as he stood on his tiptoes. "Hi! Hi!
+Tippety Rippety! Hi! Hi!"
+
+It was Joel's especial yell; and there he was, 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.
+
+"Who is he? Gee Whiz! but that's good form!" declared Vincent Parry, the
+St. Andrew's champion, excitedly.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 trying to quiet them so that the
+game could proceed.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, what is it, Joe?" David flew up to a sitting posture in the middle
+of his bed.
+
+"It isn't Joe. Get up as quick as you can."
+
+David, with a dreadful feeling at his heart, tumbled out of bed. "_Isn't
+Joe!_" he found time to say, with a glance in the darkness over toward
+Joel's bed.
+
+"Hurry up, don't stop to talk." The voice was Tom Beresford's. "Get on
+your clothes."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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 Tom whispered, "Down in the pine grove," sped Davie on
+the very wings of the wind.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"_Joel!_" called David hoarsely, his breath nearly spent as he dashed
+up.
+
+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.
+
+"That was mean, Jenk!" exclaimed Beresford, dashing up in time to see
+it. "You took advantage when Joe was off guard," he cried hotly.
+
+"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."
+
+"All right," said Tom coolly. "Go it, Joe, and pay him up. You've
+several scores to settle now."
+
+"Joel," gasped Davie. "Oh Mamsie!" He could get no further.
+
+Joel's hands, out once more in good fighting trim, wavered again, and
+sank helplessly down to his side.
+
+"Oh dear!" Tom groaned in amazement.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+John, the watchman, being the last person whom any of Dr. Marks' boys
+desired to see when engaged in a midnight prank, Beresford 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Not to such a miserable beggar." Tom at last found his tongue, and
+pointed to Jenk.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Little coward!" exclaimed Tom between his teeth. "Well, we'll have to
+skin it as best we may back. _Here comes John!_"
+
+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."
+
+
+
+
+III A NARROW ESCAPE
+
+
+Joel, in such an emergency, wiped his black eyes and looked up sharply.
+David sank on the upper step.
+
+"Oh, no, Tom," cried Joel, crowding in between Beresford and the door,
+"it can't be. Get out of the way; let me try."
+
+"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.
+
+Joe dropped the doorknob, and whirled off the steps.
+
+"Julius Caesar! where are you going?" began Tom, as Joel disappeared
+around the corner of the dormitory.
+
+"He's gone to see if John is coming, I suppose," said Davie weakly.
+
+Tom, preferring to see for himself, skipped off, and disappeared around
+the angle. "Oh--oh!" was what David heard next, making him fly from his
+step to follow in haste.
+
+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!"
+
+"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.
+
+"It's all up with him now; there's old Fox," groaned Tom, ducking softly
+back over the grass. "Come on, Dave."
+
+But David, with clasped hands and white face, had no thought of
+deserting Joel.
+
+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.
+
+"_Joel Pepper!_"
+
+"Yes'm," said Joel, turning his chubby face toward her. "I knew I could
+get up here; it's just as easy as anything."
+
+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 _is_ the meaning of all this?"
+
+"Why, I had to go out, Mrs. Fox."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Oh--I--I--had to."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"So you said before. _Go to your room._" Then a second thought struck
+her. "Was any other boy with you?" she demanded suddenly.
+
+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.
+
+"Here, stop--come back here! Now answer me--yes or no--was any other boy
+with you?" as Joel stood before her again.
+
+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."
+
+"Oh Mrs. Fox," Joel burst out, "don't--don't send me there."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+And at last Joel let it out himself. "Oh Mrs. Fox--dear Mrs. Fox,
+_don't_ 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.
+
+"Coventry is the place for you, Joel Pepper," said Mrs. Fox grimly; "so
+we will start."
+
+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.
+
+"We're done for," said Tom's voice off in the distance.
+
+"Oh Tom, are you there?" cried Davie, straining his eyes to catch a
+glimpse.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh dear me!" exclaimed David in dismay.
+
+"Oh dear me!" echoed Tom in derision. It 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."
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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 back from the class-room the culprit
+must go to this hated place, to stay as long as his misdemeanor might
+seem to deserve.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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 _Joel
+Pepper_, of all boys!"
+
+"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----"
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Up the lightning conductor?" echoed Mr. Harrow.
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+"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.
+
+"That's bad--very bad," said Mr. Harrow. "Well, I'll take Joel under my
+care. Do you go to bed, Mrs. Fox."
+
+It was all done in a minute. Somehow Mrs. Fox never quite realized how
+she was left standing alone. And as there really wasn't anything else
+for her to do, she concluded to take the under-teacher's advice.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+Joel's black eyes gathered a bright gleam in their midst.
+
+"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."
+
+But Joel twisted his hands, only able to say, "Oh dear! I can't tell,
+Mr. Harrow." His distress was dreadful to see.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh Mr. Harrow--would you--would you--" Joel jumped out of his seat, and
+over to the under-teacher's chair.
+
+"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.
+
+"Would you--oh, might I unlock the--the back door?" gasped Joel, his
+black eyes very big with distress.
+
+"Unlock the back door?" repeated Mr. Harrow. Then he paused a moment.
+"Certainly; I'll go with you." He got out of his chair.
+
+"Oh, no, sir," cried Joel tumbling back, "I'll--I'll do it alone if I
+may; please, sir."
+
+"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.
+
+"I found this boy asleep on the steps," announced John, coming in with
+his charge.
+
+"Why, David Pepper!" exclaimed Mr. Harrow in astonishment. Then he
+turned a cold glance on Joel, who flew over to Davie's side.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"All right, sir," said John, glad to be relieved of all responsibility,
+and touching his cap. "I found that boy asleep on the steps," he added
+as he took himself off.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"You go and sit down in that chair, Joel," said Mr. Harrow, pointing to
+it. So Joel went, and got on it, twisting miserably.
+
+"Now, then, David."
+
+"You see," said David, the tears still rolling down his cheeks,
+"that--oh dear!--Joel was gone, and--"
+
+"How did you know Joel was gone?" interrupted the under-teacher.
+
+"Oh dear!" David caught his breath. "Another boy told me, sir."
+
+"Who?"
+
+David hesitated. "Must I tell, sir?" not trusting himself to look at
+Joel.
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Tom Beresford."
+
+"Ugh!" Joel sprang from his chair. "He hadn't anything to do with it,
+sir. Tom has been awfully good. He only told Dave."
+
+"Go back to your chair, Joel," said Mr. Harrow. "Now, then, David, go
+on. So you went out with Beresford to find Joel, eh?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said David faintly.
+
+"Any other boy?" asked the under-teacher quickly.
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Well, then, Tom is waiting out there, I suppose, now." Mr. Harrow got
+out of his chair.
+
+"He didn't have anything to do with it, sir," cried Joel wildly, and
+flying out of his chair again, "truly he didn't."
+
+"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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+
+IV OF VARIOUS THINGS
+
+
+And 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, I hope that mean beggar Jenk will be expelled." There appeared to
+be but one voice about it.
+
+"Well, he won't," said Van.
+
+"Won't? Why not?" The boys crowded around him on the playground, all
+games being deserted for this new excitement. "Why not, pray tell?"
+
+"Of course he will," said one boy decidedly. "Dr. Marks never'll keep
+him after this."
+
+"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!"
+
+"What, not after locking that door! That was the worst." The boys, two
+or three of them, took up the cry, "'Twas beastly mean."
+
+"Contemptible! Just like Jenk!" went all over the playground.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh dear! I know," said Van helplessly. "Well, Joel says it's no matter
+that the racket was stolen out of his room, and--"
+
+"No matter!" ejaculated the boys, a whole crowd of them swarming around
+him, "well, if that isn't _monstrous_!"
+
+"Oh, Joel's afraid that Dr. Marks will expel Jenk," Percy, very
+uncomfortable to have Joel blamed, made haste to say. "Don't you see?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"You'll have to help me out, Tom," he said more than once in despair.
+
+"Pretty hard lines," said Tom. Then the color flew all over his face. "I
+suppose I really ought, for you know, Pepper, I told you I wanted at
+first that you should lose your racket."
+
+"Never mind that now, Tom," said Joel brightly, and sticking out his
+brown hand. "You've been awfully good ever since."
+
+"Had to," grunted Tom, hanging to the hand, "when I saw how mean the
+beggar was."
+
+"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.
+
+Tom shivered too, but for a different cause. "If I hadn't told him, I'd
+always have hated myself," he thought.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Yes, I know--I know," said Tom remorsefully, "and that's what Jenk
+knew, too, the beggar!"
+
+"Well, it's all over now," said Joel merrily, "so say no more about it."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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 a lot of boys; though goodness me! how
+he can, passes my comprehension. So I am not going."
+
+"Oh Grandpapa!" exclaimed Polly, the color flooding her cheek, and she
+seized his hand in a glad little way.
+
+"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.
+
+"Wouldn't you, Grandpapa!" cried Polly with sparkling eyes, and clinging
+to him.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh dear!" exclaimed Alexia, doing her best to curb her impatience, and
+pinching her hands together, "we did so want--"
+
+"I can't go now, Alexia," said Polly, still clinging to Mr. King's hand.
+
+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."
+
+"Oh goody!" cried Alexia, hopping up and down. And "Oh Grandpapa!"
+reproachfully from Polly.
+
+"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.
+
+"Come right along," cried Alexia gustily, and pulling Polly down the
+hall.
+
+"There now, you see, you've dragged me away from Grandpapa," cried Polly
+in a vexed way.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Where are you going?" asked Polly.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Yes, yes, do hurry," begged the girls, hopping up and down on anxious
+feet.
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh dear me!" began Alexia.
+
+"No, Pet," said Polly, her head in the closet. "Oh my goodness! where
+_is_ that hat?"
+
+"Oh dear!" exclaimed Alexia, wringing her hands, "we'll be late and
+miss the train. Do hurry, Polly Pepper."
+
+"I'll find it, Polly," said Phronsie, going to the closet and getting
+down on her knees, to peer around.
+
+"Oh, it wouldn't be on the floor, Phronsie," began Polly. "Oh dear me!
+where _can_ it be?"
+
+"Here it is," cried Alexia, "behind the bed." And running off, she
+picked it up, and swung it over to Polly.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Come on, Polly," called Alexia, flying over the stairs. "Yes, yes,
+girls, she's coming! Oh dear me, Polly, we'll be late!"
+
+
+
+
+V AT SILVIA HORNE'S
+
+
+But they weren't--not a bit of it--and had ten minutes to spare as they
+came rushing up to the station platform.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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.
+
+"Just like you, Alexia," cried one when she could get her breath,
+"you're always scaring us to death."
+
+"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!"
+
+As Alexia made this statement quite often on 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh dear me! now the head has come off," she mourned.
+
+"Oh my goodness! Your face looks the worst--isn't it sweet!" cried
+Alexia coolly, who hadn't heard this last.
+
+"Don't, Alexia," cried Polly, "she's lost her pin."
+
+"Misery!" exclaimed Alexia, starting forward, "oh, where, where--"
+
+"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.
+
+"What pin was it, Sally?" asked Polly, poking into a tuft of grass
+beneath the steps, "your blue one?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Not the one your aunt gave you, Sally!" exclaimed Clem.
+
+"Yes--yes." Sally sniffed outright now. "Oh dear! I put it in
+because--because--we were going to Silvia's--oh dear me!"
+
+She gave up now, and sobbed outright.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh--oh!" Sally gave a little scream at that, and threw herself into
+Polly Pepper's arms. "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 _dear_ me! what shall I do?"
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+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 _shall_ we do?"
+
+"And here it comes!" Lucy Bennett screamed.
+
+"Stick on your hat, Sally, you've the pin part. Come, hurry up!" cried
+the others. And they all huddled around her.
+
+"Oh, I can't go," began Sally.
+
+"You must," said Clem; "we've telephoned back to Mrs. Horne we're
+coming. Do stick on your hat, Sally Moore."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, I can't help it," exclaimed Alexia gustily, and hurrying off to get
+next to Polly. "Oh dear me!--whee--_whee_!" as they all plunged into the
+train.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Alexia crowded up close behind.
+
+"I'm going with Polly Pepper, this time," announced Sally, pushing in
+between; "Alexia always gets her."
+
+"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."
+
+"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!
+
+She jingled her bracelets, and picked at the long chain dangling from
+her neck, and stared at them all.
+
+"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Polly Pepper with very red cheeks. "Alexia,
+don't--don't," she begged.
+
+"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----"
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+Polly sent her an approving little nod, and she didn't fail to smile
+now. Alexia ran over to the wagonette, and hopped in, not daring to
+trust herself to see Sally Moore's satisfaction ahead in the coveted
+seat.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Alexia faintly. And the other girls fell
+back, and stared respectfully.
+
+"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.
+
+"They've come to bid us good-bye, you see," said Silvia, to break the
+uncomfortable silence.
+
+"Oh yes," said Polly Pepper.
+
+"Well, if you've got your things off, let's go out of doors," proposed
+Silvia suddenly.
+
+"Yes, do let's." The girls drew a long breath as they raced off.
+
+"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."
+
+"Hush--hush!" whispered Polly, "she'll hear you."
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, you mustn't come with me, then, if you don't keep up," said
+Polly, with a merry little laugh, and hurrying on.
+
+"I'm going to keep up," cried Alexia, dashing after, "but you go so
+fast," she grumbled.
+
+"We're going to have tea out on the lawn," announced Silvia in
+satisfaction, as the bevy rushed out on the broad west piazza.
+
+The maids were already busily setting three little tables, that were
+growing quite pretty under their hands.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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!"
+
+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."
+
+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, Alexia among the rest, with no
+time for anything else. There was the steam launch waiting for them.
+
+"Girls--girls!" Mrs. Horne called to them from the library, "wait a
+moment. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs are going too."
+
+"Oh bother!" began Silvia. Then the color flew into her face, for
+Kathleen heard.
+
+"I shall tell my mother what you said," she declared.
+
+"Dear me! no, you mustn't," begged Silvia in alarm.
+
+"Yes, I shall too." Kathleen's bracelets jingled worse than ever as she
+shook them out.
+
+"Well, I call that real hateful," broke out Silvia, a red spot on either
+cheek, "you know I didn't mean it."
+
+"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."
+
+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. Briggs advanced down the path. "Promise you
+won't tell," she begged.
+
+"Yes, do," said Polly Pepper imploringly.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, I'm going to stay home to bid Kathleen good-bye, you know," said
+Silvia.
+
+"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 shouldn't have come out on the water without your hat," for the
+first time noticing her daughter's bare head.
+
+"None of the girls have hats on," said Kathleen, shaking her long light
+braids.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"No," said Kathleen, hanging back, and holding to Silvia's arm.
+
+"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."
+
+"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, 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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+
+
+
+VI THE ACCIDENT
+
+
+"Oh 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."
+
+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.
+
+"So have I," cried Lucy Bennett, echoing Clem's words.
+
+"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.
+
+"So do I," said Amy Garrett. "Dear me! and I'm just as sleepy in the
+morning as I can be."
+
+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."
+
+"I have Miss Anstice to-morrow," said Amy, "and it's the day for her
+black silk gown."
+
+"Horrors!" exclaimed Alexia; and, "How do you know she'll wear the black
+silk gown to-morrow, Amy?" from the other girls.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, I know it," said Amy with a sigh. "How I do wish I never'd got into
+that class!"
+
+"Well, you know I told you," said Alexia provokingly; "you'd much
+better have taken my advice and kept out of her clutches."
+
+"I wish I had," mourned Amy again.
+
+"How Miss Anstice can be so horrid--she isn't a bit like Miss
+Salisbury," said Alexia. "I don't see--"
+
+"She isn't horrid," began Polly.
+
+"Oh Polly!"
+
+"Well, not always," said Polly.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh Alexia, you worry the life out of her almost," said Sally.
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, she doesn't love you," cried Clem viciously. "Dear me! fancy one
+of the teachers being fond of Alexia!"
+
+"Oh, you needn't laugh," said Alexia composedly 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."
+
+"And tear their hair, I suppose," said Clem scornfully.
+
+"Yes, and tear their--why, what in this world are we stopping for?"
+cried Alexia in one breath.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh dear!" cried the girls who were going to sit up to study, "now isn't
+this just as hateful as it can be?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Don't look so, Polly," said Alexia, "we'll start pretty soon, I
+guess."
+
+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.
+
+"What is it--oh, Miss Baker, what is the reason we're stopping?" cried
+two or three of the girls.
+
+"I don't know," said the governess.
+
+A man coming in from outside, where a lot of gentlemen were pouring out
+of the cars to investigate, furnished the information.
+
+"Driving wheel broken," he said, being sparing of words.
+
+"Oh, can't we go out to see?" cried Alexia, hopping out of her seat.
+"Come on," and she was prancing down the aisle.
+
+"No, indeed," said Miss Baker in displeasure, "and do you come directly
+back," she commanded.
+
+"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.
+
+"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
+out on that track with a lot of men! I _am_ astonished."
+
+"There's a girl out there," said Alexia, sinking into her seat crossly,
+and peering over Polly Pepper's head.
+
+"And there's another," proclaimed Sally triumphantly.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Go right away, Alexia." Polly gave a little flounce, and sat quite
+straight.
+
+"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Alexia in astonishment, and falling back.
+
+"And I wish you would let me alone," cried Polly, quite aghast at
+herself, but unable to stop.
+
+"Oh dear me!" Alexia kept saying quite faintly, and rolling her eyes.
+
+"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.
+
+Alexia stopped saying, "Oh dear me!" and sat quite still. Just then
+Polly turned and saw her face.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"N--no," Alexia, tried to say. Instead, she wobbled over, and laid her
+head on Polly's arm.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+Alexia opened her eyes. "That's very nice, Polly," she said, "do so some
+more."
+
+"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.
+
+"Ow!" exclaimed Alexia, shrinking back.
+
+"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 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Not a bit of it," said the doctor cheerfully, feeling it all over again
+to make quite sure, while 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."
+
+"Oh dear!" groaned Alexia. "Now why can't it be broken?"
+
+"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.
+
+"And the very idea, Alexia Rhys," exclaimed Clem, "to wish your arm had
+been broken!" and she gave a little shiver.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"There is," said the governess, quite calmly; "a man has been killed."
+
+"Oh dear!"
+
+"A brakeman," Miss Baker hastened to add. "Don't be frightened. None of
+the passengers."
+
+"Now I know he was brave, and trying to do something to save us," cried
+Polly, with kindling eyes.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh the poor, poor man!" Polly was quite gone by this time, and Alexia
+forgot her pain in trying to comfort her.
+
+"But suppose he had children," cried Polly, "just suppose it, Alexia."
+
+"I don't want to suppose it," said Alexia, wriggling. "Ugh! you do say
+such uncomfortable things, Polly Pepper."
+
+"I know it." Polly swallowed hard, and held Alexia's hand tighter than
+ever. "Well, I won't talk of it any more."
+
+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.
+
+"Don't be gone long," begged Alexia.
+
+"I will go with you," said the governess, stepping off after her.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh sir," she began.
+
+He looked up, and caught sight of the brown eyes. "Is the little girl
+worse?" And he sprang over toward her.
+
+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.
+
+"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--"
+
+"Five miles?" echoed Polly. "Oh then, some one can go to the nearest
+station, and telephone, can't they, sir?"
+
+"To be sure; and that's been done. But your family, little girl--how can
+we reach them?"
+
+"Oh, I can run," cried Polly happily, "to the station myself, sir," and
+she began to clamber down the car steps.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Mr. who?" cried the doctor. "Stay, little girl," seizing her arm. "Mr.
+who?" he demanded, looking up to the governess on the car steps.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+
+
+
+VII THE SALISBURY GIRLS
+
+
+And 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!
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+"Do you?" cried Polly with blooming cheeks, well pleased to find a
+friend at such a time.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, I'm all right," she said.
+
+"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.
+
+"There now--drop Polly's hand, if you please," the doctor was saying;
+"I'll assist you."
+
+"But I don't want to," said Alexia, hanging to it for dear life. "I want
+Polly."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"There they are--there they are!" Polly exclaimed. "Oh, if we could
+hurry and let them 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.
+
+"Jasper--oh, Papa Fisher!" At last Polly was out on the platform where
+she stood on her tiptoes and waved her hand.
+
+"Are you all right?" asked Jasper eagerly, craning his neck to see for
+himself.
+
+"Yes--yes!" cried Polly. And then presently they had her on either hand!
+"Oh, help Alexia," she cried, turning back.
+
+Dr. Fisher took one look through his big glasses. "Well, well, Pennell,"
+he exclaimed, "you here?" and he skipped over to them.
+
+"I really believe so," laughed Dr. Pennell.
+
+"Dear me!" Little Dr. Fisher glanced at Alexia quickly.
+
+"Nothing but sprained," the other doctor said quickly. "Still, it needs
+careful attention."
+
+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 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.
+
+"Oh, wait!" cried Polly in great distress as Thomas was just starting
+off with a dash, "I must speak to him."
+
+"Polly--what is it?" cried Jasper. "Wait, Thomas!" So Thomas pulled up.
+
+"I must--I must," declared Polly. Her foot was on the step, and she was
+soon out.
+
+"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."
+
+"Hey?" The doctor pulled up in his brisk walk. "Oh dear me! what is it?"
+
+"Will you please tell me--do you know who the poor man was who was
+killed?" she gasped.
+
+"Oh Polly," cried Jasper, "was there some one killed?"
+
+"Yes, he was a brakeman, Polly," said Dr. Pennell.
+
+"Oh, I know--but where did he live?" cried Polly, "and had he any
+children?" all in one breath.
+
+"A big family, I understand," said the doctor gravely.
+
+"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?"
+
+"That's all I know about the poor fellow," said the doctor. "The
+conductor told me that."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, you haven't been raging to-night, Alexia," said the little
+doctor, bursting out into a laugh.
+
+"Oh, hush, do," implored Alexia, who wasn't in the slightest degree
+afraid to speak her mind, least of all to Dr. Fisher, whom she liked
+immensely; "they'll all hear us," she brought up in terror.
+
+"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.
+
+"There, now, you see," cried Alexia tragically, and sinking back in her
+chair; "everything's just as bad as can be now."
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, Adoniram." Mother Fisher nodded over Polly's brown head. "She
+ought to have a good night's sleep."
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, goody!" exclaimed Polly, sitting quite straight in Mamsie's lap.
+
+"You are not to talk, Polly, you know," said Dr. Fisher decidedly.
+
+"Oh, we won't--we won't," promised Polly faithfully.
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Perhaps she'll be all right in the morning, father," Jasper hurried to
+say, at sight of Polly's face.
+
+"Oh, I shall--I shall." Polly flashed a bright glance at him.
+"_Please_, Grandpapa, let me go. I haven't been absent this year."
+
+"And it's so awfully hard to make up lessons," said Jasper.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+"I believe so too," cried Polly happily.
+
+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.
+
+"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 turned, and came flying up, too. "Oh,
+tell us all about the awful accident," they screamed. "Tell, Polly, do."
+They swarmed all over her.
+
+"Give me the books," and one girl seized them. "I'll carry them for you,
+Polly."
+
+"And, Polly, not one of the other girls that went out to Silvia Horne's
+is here this morning."
+
+"They may come yet," said Polly; "it's not late."
+
+"Oh, I know; we came early to meet you; well, Silvia isn't here either."
+
+"Oh, she can't come, because of her cousin," said Polly, "and----"
+
+"Well, I don't care whether she ever comes," declared Leslie Fyle. "I
+can't abide that Silvia Horne."
+
+"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!"
+
+A little disagreeable laugh went around.
+
+"Oh, I'll tell you of the accident," said Polly; "come, let's sit down
+on the steps; we've ten minutes yet."
+
+"Yes, do, do," cried the girls. So they huddled 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.
+
+And Polly gave Alexia's love all round, as she had been commissioned to
+do.
+
+"We'll go up to your house to see her," cried Leslie, "perhaps this
+afternoon."
+
+"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."
+
+"I thought you said Alexia was all right."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Polly? is that Polly Pepper?" exclaimed a voice in the hall.
+
+[Illustration: AND SHE TOLD THEM THE WHOLE STORY AS FAST AS SHE
+COULD.]
+
+"Oh, yes, Miss Anstice," cried Polly, hopping up so quickly she nearly
+overthrew some of the bunch of girls.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh dear, dear! to think this should have happened on her black silk
+day!"
+
+"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 the
+horrible beginning of the day, sank into her seat and leaned her head on
+her desk.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Sarah, why couldn't you have kept still?" cried another girl. "If you
+hadn't spoken, Miss Anstice would have gotten over it."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"No, she won't," cried Leslie tragically; "of that you may be sure,
+Polly Pepper."
+
+
+
+
+VIII "WE'RE TO HAVE OUR PICNIC!"
+
+
+And 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, Professor Mills didn't come at all," said Polly. That brought it
+all back about Miss Anstice, and her head drooped suddenly.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, are you worse? is she, Polly?" cried Miss Rhys all in a flutter. "I
+heard her cry, I thought."
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, if you are not worse," said her aunt, slowly turning away.
+
+"No," said Alexia. "Polly Pepper, do get up and shut that door," she
+cried; "slam it, and lock it."
+
+"Oh, no," said Polly, in dismay at the very thought, "I couldn't ever do
+that, Alexia."
+
+"Well, then I will." Alexia threw back the bedclothes with a desperate
+hand, and thrust one foot out.
+
+"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."
+
+"Shall you really?" cried Alexia, fixing her pale eyes on her.
+
+"Yes, indeed I shall," said Polly firmly.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, I hope you wouldn't," said Polly.
+
+"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?"
+
+"I hope you wouldn't do as I wanted you to," said Polly distinctly, "if
+I wanted something that was bad."
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh now, Alexia, you've hurt your arm!" cried Polly; "do keep still,
+else Papa-Doctor won't let me stay in here."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Wouldn't you like me to smooth your hair, Alexia?" asked Polly. "Mamsie
+does that to me when I don't feel good."
+
+"Yes, I should," said Alexia, "like it very much indeed, Polly."
+
+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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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?"
+
+The color in Polly's cheeks went out, and she was glad that she could
+get well behind the pillows.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh yes, they do," said Polly reassuringly, "they're very fond of you,
+most of them are."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+Alexia looked up and smiled. It was next 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.
+
+"I'm coming, Jasper," she called. She could see him below in the wide
+hall.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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 other matters and things that were,
+as he declared, "at loose ends in the whole system." At last they stood
+before the desk.
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"Can't say." The official pulled out his watch, compared it with the big
+clock on the wall, then turned away.
+
+"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.
+
+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 desk,
+copying. "I only know that his name was Jim," he said in a voice to
+match his figure.
+
+"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.
+
+"What was his name--this brakeman's?" demanded Mr. King.
+
+"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.
+
+"I don't doubt that," said old Mr. King hastily. "I don't in the least
+doubt it."
+
+"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----"
+
+"Yes, yes; well, now what I want to know," 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Why, he had one girl who was crazy about music," said the little clerk,
+"and--"
+
+"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Polly. Old Mr. King heard her sigh at his side,
+and he cried, "Well, what else?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Three boys," echoed Mr. King sharply.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"What is your name?" asked Jasper, seeing that his father couldn't
+speak.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 to him, in which the official was nowise included,
+the old gentleman and Polly and Jasper went off down the stairs again.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Nevertheless, on top of all the rest that was worrying her, Polly had a
+sorry enough time, 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, we are all going to tell too, Les; that's what we've come for,"
+cried the others, crowding up.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Miss Salisbury said--" She could hear little scraps of chatter.
+
+"I know--oh, do hurry and tell Polly."
+
+"Oh, and just think, Miss Salisbury----"
+
+"And Miss Anstice--" Then some of them looked around and into Polly's
+face. "Oh my goodness, girls, see Polly Pepper!"
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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
+important, sir, and that you told him to come. He's sitting by the door,
+sir."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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, 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.
+
+
+
+
+IX ALL ABOUT THE POOR BRAKEMAN
+
+
+Mr. 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.
+
+Old Mr. King was asking him for the third time, "You found out all about
+poor Jim's family, eh?"
+
+At last he emerged from his fit of embarrassment enough to reply, "Yes,
+sir."
+
+"Now that is very good," the old gentleman cried approvingly, and wiped
+his face vigorously after his effort, "very good indeed, Mr. Potter."
+
+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.
+
+"You see, sir, there's six of 'em--Jim's children."
+
+"Dear me!" ejaculated old Mr. King.
+
+"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."
+
+"That's bad--very bad," said Mr. King.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"I was just going to ask about that girl, myself," said Grandpapa
+promptly. "Tell us about her, Mr. Potter, if you please."
+
+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 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----"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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
+thus: "Mrs. James Corcoran, 5 Willow Court--third house from Haven
+Street."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"I shall know it, then," cried Polly in great satisfaction.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Oh, just the other end of the town, sir," said Mr. Potter. "I live on
+Acorn Street."
+
+"Acorn Street?" repeated Mr. King, wrinkling his brows, "and where may
+that be, pray tell?"
+
+"It's over at the South End, sir; it runs off from Baker Street and
+Highland Square."
+
+"Oh yes, yes," said the old gentleman, without much more idea than
+before.
+
+"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."
+
+Mr. Potter looked down busily on the carpet, trying not to think how
+tired his feet were, saving some car-fare for their owner.
+
+"Well, now what number?" The old gentleman seeming to desire his whole
+address, that was soon given too,--"23 Acorn Street, South End."
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, I couldn't take it, sir," cried Hiram Potter, greatly distressed.
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, how fine, father!" exclaimed Jasper with kindling eyes. "And then
+the girl that wants to learn to play on the piano."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"And Jasper?" cried Polly, poking up her head from old Mr. King's
+protecting arm; "he must go too, Grandpapa."
+
+"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."
+
+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?"
+
+Jasper, who would have much preferred to go 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"We boys?" cried Pickering faintly. "Oh dear me! Mr. King, we can't do
+anything."
+
+"'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.
+
+Pickering looked over at Jasper in great dismay.
+
+"We might have our club take it up," said Jasper slowly, with a glance
+at Polly for help.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Indeed we don't, Pickering Dodge," cried Polly indignantly, "laugh and
+play and giggle, the very idea!"
+
+"And if you say such dreadful things I'll pitch you out of the
+carriage," cried Jasper in pretended wrath.
+
+"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."
+
+"Take care, and keep your tongue in its place then," said Jasper,
+bursting into a laugh.
+
+"And we work--oh, just dreadfully," declared 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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+Polly turned a cold shoulder to him, and began to talk with Jasper most
+busily about the club of boys.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh Jasper, I can't," cried Polly, wrinkling her brows.
+
+"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."
+
+"Well," said Polly, "I'll try; and what then, Jasper?"
+
+"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?"
+
+"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 _are_ 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."
+
+"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:
+
+"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.
+
+But nobody paid him the slightest attention; so he repeated his remark,
+with no better success.
+
+"I should think you might turn around," at last he said in a dudgeon,
+"and speak to a body once in a while."
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, I do," cried Pickering in a high, wrathful key, "think it's worth
+while too, so there, Jasper King!"
+
+"Oh, he does, I do believe, Jasper," cried Polly, looking at Pickering's
+face.
+
+"Why, of course I do," said Pickering.
+
+"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 _can't_ be!"
+
+"Well, we are, Polly, my child," said old Mr. 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."
+
+
+
+
+X JOEL AND HIS DOG
+
+
+"Now, 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.
+
+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?"
+
+Phronsie gave a sigh, and went patiently on with her work. "Yes, Alexia,
+I'm tired sometimes; but I'm their mother, you see."
+
+"And to comb their hair!" went on Alexia, "Oh dear me! I never could do
+it in all this world, Phronsie. I should want to run and throw them all
+out of the window."
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, I should want to throw every one of those dreadful dolls out of
+the window, Phronsie Pepper!" declared Alexia recklessly.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Does your arm hurt you, Alexia?" asked Phronsie, looking over her dolls
+up to Alexia's face.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Papa Fisher would not like it, Alexia," she said in great disapproval,
+her hair blown about her face, and her cheeks quite pink.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+Phronsie ran unsteadily after her, to call, "Oh Alexia!" in such
+distress that the flying feet turned, and up she came again.
+
+"What is it, Pet?" she cried. "Oh dear me! What shall I do? I must tell
+your mother."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh Alexia, you never could be good like Polly," said Phronsie, standing
+quite still in astonishment.
+
+"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--"
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, they sha'n't hear it, then," declared Alexia decidedly, "so get
+some of them, and 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Are you sure you will like it, Alexia?" she asked, coming up to peer
+into Alexia's face.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh Alexia," cried Phronsie in great excitement, "will you--could you
+get 'The Little Yellow Duck'?"
+
+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.
+
+"She had a blue ribbon on yesterday--Almira did," said Phronsie,
+reflecting. "Now, wouldn't you put on a pink one to-day, Alexia?"
+
+"I surely should," decided Alexia--"that pretty pale pink one that Polly
+gave you last, Phronsie."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.'"
+
+"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 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.
+
+"Well, dear me, how funny!" and Polly rushed in; then burst into a merry
+laugh.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes," said Polly, "I am, and I've been searching for you two all over
+this house."
+
+"Take me, Polly, do." Phronsie laid down Almira carefully on the carpet,
+and hurried over to Polly.
+
+"I guess I will. Now then, all together!" and the three spun off until
+out of breath.
+
+"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.
+
+"Nonsense, no!" declared Alexia, "that spin put new life into me,
+Polly."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Did she, Polly?" cried Alexia, immensely gratified.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+Polly gave her two or three little pats on her back.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Oh Polly!" Alexia came flying in, brush in hand. "You _don't_ really
+mean it!"
+
+"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."
+
+"When--when?" Polly could hear Alexia frantically asking, as she rushed
+back into her room, which was next to Polly's own.
+
+"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!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+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.
+
+"Hold on," called Percy, considerably in the rear; "how you get over the
+ground, Joe!"
+
+"And you're such a snail," observed Joel pleasantly. Nevertheless he
+paused.
+
+"What's that?" pricking up his ears.
+
+"I don't hear anything." Percy came up panting.
+
+"Of course not, when you're puffing like a grampus."
+
+"What's a grampus?" asked Percy irritably.
+
+"I don't know," said Joel honestly.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"You'll get your eyes scratched out, most likely, by an old, cross cat,"
+suggested Percy.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, that dirty thing--faugh! How can you, Joel Pepper!" cried Percy in
+distress.
+
+But Joel didn't even hear him, being occupied in setting the dog on the
+ground to try his paces.
+
+"No, he's not hurt, after all, I guess," he decided, "but look at his
+ribs,--he's half starved."
+
+"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!"
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Joe!" roared two or three voices; but he turned a deaf ear, and got in
+safely; slammed to the door, and then drew a long breath.
+
+"_Whew!_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+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. "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. _Whee!_"
+
+The dog, in seizing the cake, had taken Joel's thumb as well.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+There was a small scuffle; and then the dog, realizing here was a
+master, curled himself on top of some tennis shoes, and looked as if he
+held his breath.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Ugh! stop your looking at me," growled Joel.
+
+"What's the matter with you, anyway?" asked the other boy.
+
+"Get away--nothing," said Joel crossly, and bestowing as much of a kick
+as he dared on the other boy's shin.
+
+"Ow! There is too."
+
+"You're awfully funny," said the first boy, "you haven't spoken a word
+since you sat down."
+
+"Well, I ain't going to talk, if I don't want to," declared Joel. "Do
+stop, Fletcher; everybody's looking."
+
+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.
+
+David looked across in a worried way. "Are you sick, Joe?" he asked.
+
+"No." Joel laughed, and began to eat busily. When he saw that, David
+gave a sigh of relief.
+
+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--"
+
+"Ugh!" cried Joel. "Oh, beg pardon," and his face grew dreadfully red,
+as he tried to get as small as possible on his chair.
+
+"It's a dog I used to own, Joel," said Mr. Harrow, smiling at him. "And
+I taught him tricks, several quite remarkable ones."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 it whole without winking. "Keep
+still now." He slammed to the door again, and was off, his books under
+his arm.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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 "_Ow!_" struck upon his ear, and brought him
+bolt upright in his bed. He pawed wildly around, but Sinbad was nowhere
+to be found.
+
+
+
+
+XI THE UNITED CLUBS
+
+
+The whole dormitory was in an uproar. "_Ow!_ 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.
+
+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.
+
+"Nightmare, I suppose," said the instructor to himself, dashing in.
+
+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.
+
+[Illustration: JUST THEN SOMETHING SKIMMED OUT FROM THE CORNER.]
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"It's Joe Pepper's dog!" cried the whole roomful, nearly tumbling over
+each other.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Do you hear me, Joel Pepper?" thundered the instructor again. "When did
+you get that dog?" This brought Joel to.
+
+"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.
+
+"David," cried the instructor, catching Davie's eye, down by the door,
+"do you know anything about this dog?"
+
+"No, sir," said David, all in a tremble, and wishing he could say
+something to help Joel out.
+
+"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 were thrown. "Got a bit of
+string? No--oh, yes." He pounced on a piece, and came over to Joel and
+the dog.
+
+"What are you going to do, sir?" Joel hung to Sinbad with a tighter grip
+than ever.
+
+"Never mind; it's not for you to question me," said the instructor, with
+great authority.
+
+But Joel edged away. Visions of being expelled from Dr. Marks' school
+swam before his eyes, and he turned very white.
+
+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."
+
+Joel turned at that. "Don't hurt him," he begged. "Don't, please, Mr.
+Parr."
+
+"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.
+
+"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 as he dragged Sinbad off, "I'll--I'll be just as
+good--just till the morning, sir. Oh, _please_, Mr. Parr--I'll study,
+and get my lessons better, I truly will," cried poor Joel, unable to
+promise anything more difficult of performance.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Joel--Joel--oh, Joey!" begged David hoarsely, and running to
+precipitate himself by his side. But Joel only burrowed deeper and
+sobbed on.
+
+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.
+
+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. 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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 hauled
+off. And Joel, with no thought of consequences to himself, plunged
+recklessly on.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes; but what of it?" cried the housemaid airily, leaning on her broom
+a minute.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh my! you outrageous boy!" exclaimed the housemaid, shaking her broom
+at him. "You come right out."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+The master could scarcely conceal his amazement, but he made a brave
+effort at self-control.
+
+"Why, Pepper!" he exclaimed, and there was a good deal of displeasure in
+face and manner; so much so that Joel's knees knocked smartly together,
+and everything swam before his eyes.
+
+"Well, what did you want to see me for, Pepper?" Dr. Marks was
+inquiring, so Joel blurted out, "A dog, sir."
+
+"A _dog_?" 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?"
+
+"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.
+
+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,
+somewhat changed in appearance from its immaculate condition when
+delivered by Dr. Marks to the bearer.
+
+"Yes, sir," Joel was saying, "I'll do it all just as you say, sir." And
+he ran like lightning across the yard.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"He's glad to go, isn't he, Joel?" observed the instructor, to break the
+ice, and make conversation.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Oh, yes, sir--yes!" shouted Joel.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, I'm going to take him home at vacation," announced Joel decidedly.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, I guess he will." Joel was in no wise disturbed by the doubt.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, Jasper," she cried, "can we all get into your den?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, I've always lived here, Alexia," said Jasper with a laugh, "so I
+suppose that is the 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Nonsense!" interrupted Clare, "we want a good time."
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, dear me!" exclaimed Clare, huddling down into his big chair.
+
+"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."
+
+"Get away!" laughed Clare; "that's worse than being put out."
+
+"Oh, I'll sit on you first, and then I'll carry out the pieces
+afterward. Sail on, Prexy, they all want the plan."
+
+"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--"
+
+"Not necessarily," put in Clare.
+
+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.
+
+"Ha, ha! did you ever get left?" giggled Clare, at a safe distance.
+
+"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."
+
+"Good for you, Pickering," cried Alexia, while the laugh went around.
+
+"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."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. President," the girls clapped vigorously.
+
+"So now after I tell you of the object, I want 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.
+
+"Now you tell the rest, Polly," cried Jasper, quite tired out.
+
+"Oh, no, you tell," said Polly, who dearly loved to hear Jasper talk.
+
+"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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"You said you had plans," cried one of the girls.
+
+"Yes--tell on," cried several boys.
+
+"Well, one is, that we have a play," began Jasper.
+
+"Oh--oh!"
+
+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.
+
+"And another," cried the president, doing his best to make himself
+heard.
+
+"Oh, we don't want another," cried Clare, in which the united clubs
+joined.
+
+"Don't you want to hear any other plans?" shouted the president.
+
+"No, no--the play! Put it to vote, do, Jasper--I mean, Mr. President,"
+cried Alexia.
+
+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
+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.
+
+
+
+
+XII SOME EVERY-DAY FUN
+
+
+"It can't rain," cried Polly Pepper, "and it isn't going to. Don't think
+it, girls."
+
+"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.
+
+"Don't look at them," advised Polly. "Come on, girls. I challenge you to
+a race as far as the wicket gate."
+
+Away she dashed, with a bevy at her heels. Alexia, not to be left behind
+staring at the sky, went racing after.
+
+"Wait," she screamed. The racers, however, spent no time attending to
+laggards, but ran on.
+
+Polly dashed ahead, and touched the green wicket gate. "Oh, Polly got
+there first!" Almost immediately came another girl's fingers on it.
+
+"No--I don't think so," panted Polly. "Philena got there just about as
+soon."
+
+"No, you were first," said the girl who plunged up next; "I saw it
+distinctly."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"So do I," chimed in the others.
+
+"Oh dear me! I'm just toasted and fried," declared Alexia. "I never
+_was_ so hot in all my life."
+
+"You shouldn' have run so, Alexia," said Polly reproachfully, patting
+the arm still in its sling. "Oh, how could you!"
+
+"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."
+
+Then she threw herself at full length on the grass, and gazed at her
+meditatively.
+
+"Well, we mustn't have the second race, Philena," said Polly; "because
+if Alexia runs again, it surely will hurt her."
+
+"_Ow!_" 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--"
+
+"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.
+
+"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; _please_ try
+it again, Polly."
+
+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.
+
+Alexia twisted and wriggled, as the pattering 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--_um_!
+I know Polly will win; oh dear! She _must_."
+
+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.
+
+"You did that just splendidly, Cathie," cried Polly breathlessly. "Oh
+dear me, that _was_ a race!"
+
+"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.
+
+"But I didn't," said Polly merrily. "Oh dear! I _am_ so hot."
+
+"Yes, you did," declared Alexia stubbornly.
+
+"Why, Alexia Rhys! I didn't beat, any such a thing," corrected
+Polly--"not a single bit of it."
+
+"Well, who did, then?" demanded Alexia, quite angry to have Polly
+defeated.
+
+"Why, Cathie did," said Polly, smiling over at her.
+
+"What, that old--" then Alexia pulled herself up; but it was too late.
+
+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.
+
+"I'm going to play bean-bags," announced Polly briskly. "Come on, girls.
+See who'll get to the house first."
+
+"I'm going home," said Cathie, hurrying up to wedge herself into the
+group, and speaking to Polly. "Good-bye."
+
+"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.
+
+"Cathie--_Cathie_, wait," but again Cathie beat her on a swift run down
+the avenue.
+
+Alexia stuffed her fingers, regardless of arm in 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!"
+
+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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"You look like a lot of wax figures," said Pickering pleasantly; "just
+about as interesting." Then they saw Polly Pepper's face.
+
+"Oh, what is it?" cried Jasper, starting forward.
+
+Polly tried to speak cheerfully, but the lump in her throat wouldn't let
+her say a word.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh Polly," cried Jasper, gaining her side, "can't we help?" He was
+dreadfully distressed. "Do let us."
+
+Polly shook her head. "No, Jasper, there isn't anything you can do," she
+said brokenly.
+
+Pickering thrust his hands in his pockets, and whistled softly. "Girls
+always get into such rows," he observed.
+
+"Well, I guess we don't get into worse ones 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."
+
+"Then you ought to be perfectly ashamed of yourself, Alexia," declared
+Pickering, not intending to mince matters in the slightest.
+
+"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.
+
+"Don't, Alexia, you'll hurt your arm," warned Polly.
+
+"I don't care--I hope I shall," cried Alexia recklessly.
+
+"It's no use to try to stop her," said Jasper, "so let us go up to the
+house, Polly."
+
+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. At this, Philena stopped short. "Girls, that would be too
+dreadful," she gasped, "for anything!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"I don't think that is the way to mend the matter, Amy," said Jasper
+gravely.
+
+"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."
+
+The girls, one and all, turned a cold shoulder to him after this speech.
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"And now, just think how we've initiated her into our club!" said Lucy
+Bennett, with a sigh. "Oh my goodness--look!"
+
+She pointed off down the avenue. All the girls whirled around to stare.
+There were Alexia and Cathie, coming toward them arm in arm.
+
+"Jasper"--Polly turned to him with shining eyes--"see!" Then she broke
+away from them all, and rushed to meet the two girls.
+
+"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.
+
+"I shall say just what I think," declared Pickering flatly.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, good--good!" cried the girls, clapping their hands. "Come on,
+Cathie," said Philena awkwardly, determined to break the ice at once.
+
+"Yes, Cathie, come on," said Amy and Silvia, trying to be very nice.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh Polly, come and play," begged Jasper, pausing with his arms full.
+"Here, Pick, you lazy dog. Help with these bags."
+
+"Can't," said Polly, shaking her head. So Alexia and she curled up in
+one of the hammocks.
+
+"I'm just dying to tell you all about it, Polly Pepper," said Alexia,
+pulling Polly's cheek down to her own.
+
+"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.
+
+"You see," said Alexia, "I knew something desperate had got to be done,
+Polly, for she was crying all over her best silk waist."
+
+"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Polly, aghast.
+
+"Yes; she had sat down on the kitchen step."
+
+"The kitchen step," repeated Polly faintly.
+
+"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 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."
+
+"Oh Alexia!" cried Polly reprovingly.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+
+XIII THE PICNIC
+
+
+The 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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh girls, I _am_ so glad we are going to the Glen!" exclaimed Polly,
+for about the fiftieth time.
+
+"So am I," cried all the others in a chorus.
+
+"Why, you haven't ever been to any other place for your picnic, have
+you, Polly?" cried Jasper, with a laugh.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Dear old Glen!" cried Polly impulsively. "Jasper, it's too bad you boys
+can't all come to our picnics."
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes," said Polly, with a sigh, "it would, Jasper. But Miss Salisbury
+never will in all this world let the boys' school join."
+
+"No, I suppose not," said Jasper, stifling his longing; "well, you must
+tell me about it to-night, the same as always, Polly."
+
+"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."
+
+"All right; I will," said Jasper. "Dear me! do hurry back, Polly. You'll
+be late."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Come on, Polly," screamed Alexia. Everybody had agreed that she should
+have one of 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, _do_ hurry up!"
+
+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."
+
+"Oh bother!" exclaimed Alexia, with a frown. Then she smothered it up
+with a "Come, Polly," very persuasively.
+
+"Can't," said Polly; "I'm going back here." And she moved down to the
+end of the barge.
+
+"Then I'm going back too." Alexia gave a frantic dive to get down from
+the barge.
+
+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."
+
+"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 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.
+
+"You better set down," said the driver, an old man whom Miss Salisbury
+employed every year to superintend the business, "and make yourself
+comfortable."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+But Alexia craned her neck yet more, and called insistently, "Polly--oh,
+Polly!"
+
+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."
+
+"Miss Anstice,"--Alexia formed a sudden bold resolve,--"please come
+here. I want you very much," she said sweetly.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Miss Anstice peered here and there in her nearsighted fashion. "I don't
+see Polly Pepper," she said.
+
+"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!"
+
+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 standing on her tiptoes, said very
+importantly, "Polly Pepper, I want to place you differently."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh Alexia!" exclaimed Polly, quite shocked.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Hush," said Polly.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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--_snap_! as he led the way with a grand flourish, as much better
+than his efforts of former years, as was possible!
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+"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.
+
+Polly looked at her little watch. "In five minutes we must stop. It'll
+be time to get the flowers."
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+"I should say," cried Alexia, unable to find words that would just
+express the case.
+
+There was always one routine to be observed 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.
+
+"Why, my dears!" she exclaimed, quite overcome. "Oh, how pretty! and how
+did you think of it?"
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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."
+
+"This old arm," cried Alexia,--"I'm sick and tired of it."
+
+"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."
+
+"What do you want, Polly?" cried some of the girls, racing up to her.
+
+"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 is in
+it; I must get the ferns I promised to bring home to Phronsie."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+"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.
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Still, they are here," said Miss Anstice; "there is one now," looking
+down at the hem of her gown. "_Ugh!_ 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."
+
+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. 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.
+
+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 rows deep; and those in the front row had to pass
+the things, of course, to the back-row girls.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+Oh dear! was ever anything quite so good in all this world as that feast
+at the "Salisbury picnic!"
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, indeed," answered Polly; "why, where are they?" peering up and
+down the festal, not "board," but tablecloth.
+
+"Don't tell me they are gone," cried the girl, leaning over to look for
+herself.
+
+"I'm afraid they are," said Polly; "oh, I'm so sorry, Agatha!"
+
+"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.
+
+"Why, I've only just gotten through eating bread and butter," said
+Agatha. "I can't eat cake until that's done."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+"Oh, how sweet!" cried Agatha, burying her teeth in the flaky tart.
+
+"I should think it was sour," observed Amy Garrett; "lemons usually
+are."
+
+"Don't try to be clever, Amy child," said Alexia, "it isn't expected at
+a picnic."
+
+"It's never expected where you are," retorted Amy sharply.
+
+"Oh dear, dear! that's pretty good," cried Alexia, nowise disconcerted,
+as she loved a joke just as much at herself as at the expense of any
+one else, while the others burst into a merry laugh.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Hear that, girls!" cried Silvia; "isn't that rich, when Alexia has been
+eating every blessed minute just as fast as she could!"
+
+"I suppose that is what we all have been doing," observed Alexia
+placidly.
+
+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
+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.
+
+"Oh--_ow_! 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.
+
+
+
+
+XIV MISS SALISBURY'S STORY
+
+
+"Oh Miss Anstice!" cried the "Salisbury girls," jumping to their feet.
+
+"_Sister!_" exclaimed Miss Salisbury, dropping her plate, and letting
+all her sweet, peaceful reflections fly to the four winds.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I'll do that," cried Alexia, flying at her with two or three napkins.
+
+"Alexia, keep your seat." Miss Anstice turned on her. "It is quite bad
+enough, without your heedless fingers at work on it."
+
+[Illustration: "I NEVER DID REGARD PICNICS AS PLEASANT AFFAIRS," GASPED
+MISS ANSTICE.]
+
+"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 _can_ be polite," and she threw down the napkins, and turned her back
+on the whole thing.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"Alexia, Alexia!" mourned Polly, and for the first time in Alexia's
+remembrance wringing her hands, "to think you should do such a thing!"
+
+Alexia, seeing Polly wring her hands, felt quite aghast at herself.
+"Polly, don't do that," she begged.
+
+"Oh, I can't help it." And Polly's tears fell fast.
+
+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 Anstice,
+Miss Salisbury herself wiping the linen gown with an old napkin in her
+deft fingers.
+
+"I beg your pardon," cried Alexia gustily, and plunging up unsteadily.
+"I was bad to say such things."
+
+"You were, indeed," assented Miss Anstice tartly. "Sister, that is quite
+enough; the gown cannot possibly be made any better with your incessant
+rubbing."
+
+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."
+
+"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."
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Isn't it!" echoed the girls. "Oh, dear Miss Salisbury, I _am_ 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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, you can't enjoy it _as much_," said one impulsive young voice.
+
+Miss Salisbury smiled indulgently at her. "Well, now, if you are ready,
+girls, I will begin."
+
+"Oh, yes, we are--we are," the bright groups, scattered on the grass at
+her feet, declared.
+
+"To-day I thought I would tell you of my school days when I was as young
+as you," began Miss Salisbury.
+
+"Oh--oh!"
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, go back to your place, Fanny, and you shall hear a little of my
+school life," said Miss Salisbury gently.
+
+"No--no; the whole of it," begged Fanny earnestly, going slowly back.
+
+"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."
+
+"Do sit down, Fanny," cried one of the other girls impatiently; "you are
+hindering it all."
+
+So Fanny flew back to her place, and Miss Salisbury without any more
+interruptions, began:
+
+"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."
+
+"Were you Amelia?" asked Fanny.
+
+"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."
+
+"Yes; sister was very smart," broke in Miss Anstice proudly--"she won't
+tell you that; so I must."
+
+"Oh sister, sister," protested Miss Salisbury.
+
+"Yes, she excelled all the boys and girls."
+
+"Did they have boys at that school?" interrupted Philena, in amazement.
+"Oh, how very nice, Miss Salisbury!"
+
+"I should just love to go to school with boys," declared ever so many of
+the girls ecstatically.
+
+"Why don't you take boys at our school, Miss Salisbury?" asked Silvia
+longingly.
+
+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."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+"And I went to one in the next town until it was thought best for me to
+be sent to boarding school."
+
+"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.
+
+"If you interrupt so much, I never shall finish my story, Anstice," she
+said.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"How many scholars were there, Miss Salisbury?" asked Laura Page, who
+was very exact.
+
+"Fifteen girls," said Miss Salisbury.
+
+"Oh dear me, what a little bit of a school!" exclaimed one girl.
+
+"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."
+
+"Sewing? Oh my goodness me!" exclaimed Alexia. "You didn't have to sew
+at that school, did you, Miss Salisbury?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, don't, Miss Salisbury," screamed the girls. "Ple--ase don't make us
+sew." Some of them jumped to their feet in distress.
+
+"I shall die," declared Alexia tragically, "if we have to sew."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh sister," said Miss Anstice nervously, "don't tell them that story. I
+wouldn't."
+
+"It may help them, to have a leaf out of another young person's life,
+Anstice," said Miss Salisbury, gravely.
+
+"Well, but--"
+
+"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--"
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, she was: there were two boys came in between; then Anstice, then
+Jane, Harriett, Lemuel, and the baby."
+
+"Oh my!" gasped Alexia, tumbling over into Polly Pepper's lap.
+
+"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."
+
+"And did you--did you?" demanded curious Fanny.
+
+"Did she?--oh, girls!" It was Miss Anstice who almost gasped this,
+making every girl turn around.
+
+"Never mind," Miss Salisbury telegraphed over their heads, to "sister,"
+which kept her silent. But she meant to tell sometime.
+
+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 quite pale, and held her breath, while Miss
+Salisbury proceeded.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh sister!" expostulated Miss Anstice.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh Miss Salisbury!" exclaimed Amy Garrett in sorrow, as if the
+disappointment were not forty years in the background.
+
+"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
+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."
+
+"_Sister!_" reproved Miss Anstice. She could not sit still now, but got
+out of her stone chair, and paced up and down.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"I had quite enough money, I could see, to take me home and back on the
+cars, and by the stage."
+
+"The stage?" repeated Alexia faintly.
+
+"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."
+
+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!
+
+"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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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? 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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+A long sigh went through the group. Miss Anstice seemed to have it
+communicated to her, for she quickened her pace nervously.
+
+"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, 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."
+
+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.
+
+There was a smothered chorus of "Oh dears!"
+
+"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.'
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh--oh!" the girls gave a little scream.
+
+"'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."
+
+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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"'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?'
+
+"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."
+
+The "Salisbury girls" shivered in sympathy, and tried to creep up closer
+to her.
+
+"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
+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."
+
+"Oh my goodness me!" exploded Alexia.
+
+"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--"
+
+"Oh Miss Salisbury!" screamed several girls, "I forgot that."
+
+"Don't tell any more," sobbed another--"don't, Miss Salisbury."
+
+"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."
+
+"Sister, if you only _won't_ proceed!" Miss Anstice abruptly leaned over
+the outer fringe of girls.
+
+"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. 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.
+
+"'Sakes alive!' I can hear him now. 'Hain't your folks no sense to let a
+young thing come out in that way?'
+
+"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.
+
+"'They--they didn't let me--I've come from school,' I stammered.
+
+"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."
+
+A long-drawn breath went around the circle.
+
+"'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.
+
+"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.'
+
+"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!
+
+"Well, after a while we got into Cherryfield, along about half-past
+three o'clock."
+
+"Oh dear!" exclaimed the young voices.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.'
+
+"'Oh, no--no,' I cried in terror, unwinding myself from the big cape and
+preparing to descend.
+
+"'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.'
+
+"'She lives at the parsonage--she's th' minister's daughter,' said one
+of the women quietly.
+
+"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!
+
+"I managed to hand back the big cape, and to thank Mr. Cheesewell, then
+stumbled up the little pathway to the parsonage door, feeling every
+step a misery, with all those eyes watching me; and lifting the latch, I
+was at home!
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Girls, if my life was saved in the first place by that old cape, it was
+saved again by one person."
+
+"Your mother," gasped Polly Pepper, with wet, shining eyes.
+
+"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."
+
+"_Don't!_" 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.
+
+"Oh girls," cried Miss Salisbury, with sudden 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+Miss Salisbury paused, and glanced off over the young heads, not
+trusting herself to speak.
+
+"And how did they know at the school where you were?" Fanny broke in
+impulsively.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, well, it all came out rightly after all." Louisa Frink dropped her
+handkerchief in her lap, and gave a little laugh.
+
+"_Came out rightly!_" 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."
+
+"Don't, sister, don't," begged Miss Anstice.
+
+"_Came out rightly_? Girls, nothing can ever come out rightly, unless
+the steps leading up to the end are right."
+
+"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'."
+
+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.
+
+
+
+
+XV THE BROKEN VASE
+
+
+But 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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. 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.
+
+Suddenly an awful clap of thunder reverberated in the sky. The songs
+ended in squeals of dismay, and the laughter died away.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, I'm so afraid of the thunder!" screamed Amy Garrett.
+
+"You goose, it won't hurt you." Lucy Bennett, whom Amy had crouched
+against, gave her a little push.
+
+"It will. It will. My uncle was struck once," said Amy, rebounding from
+the push to grasp Lucy frantically around the neck.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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 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.
+
+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.
+
+"May we all git out and go into your barn?" roared Mr. Kimball, peering
+at them from beneath his dripping hat.
+
+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.
+
+Mr. John Clemcy stepped out,--slender, tall, with white hair and beard,
+both closely cropped. He had a pale, aristocratic face, and a pair of
+singularly stern eyes, which he now bent upon the old stage-driver.
+
+"Brother," remonstrated his sister,--she looked as much like him as
+possible in face and figure,--"do not venture out in this driving
+storm."
+
+"No," said Mr. Clemcy, "I cannot consent to your going into my stable.
+I--"
+
+"'Taint Christian," blurted out the old stage-driver, "to leave human
+bein's out in sech a pickle."
+
+"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."
+
+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, who had tumbled out
+laughingly from the stages despite Miss Salisbury's nervous endeavors to
+quiet them, were now instantly subdued.
+
+"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.
+
+"Hush," whispered Polly back again.
+
+"But I can't breathe; oh, look at that old horror in the ruff.
+Polly--look!" she pinched the arm she grasped.
+
+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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Do you suppose she dresses up like that every day, Silvia?" whispered
+Lucy Bennett, in an awe-struck voice.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Who? What are you talking about?" demanded Silvia, who was very
+matter-of-fact.
+
+"Why, that old man--Mr. Whatever his name is," whispered Lucy.
+
+"Mr. Clemcy? do get names into your head, Lu," said Silvia crossly, who
+wanted to look at things and not be interrupted every minute.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Well, do keep still," said Silvia, trying to twist away her arm, but
+Lucy clung to it.
+
+"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."
+
+"Who?" demanded Silvia sharply.
+
+"Our Miss Salisbury, and--"
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, you do say such perfectly silly things!" declared Silvia,
+smothering the peal of laughter that nearly escaped her.
+
+"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!"
+
+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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Well, you better get up out of that chair," said Lucy presently, and
+picking at Silvia's sleeve.
+
+"I guess I'm not hurting the chair," said Silvia, squinting sideways at
+the high, carved back. "They asked us in here,--at least _he_ did."
+
+"Well, he didn't ask us to sit down," said Lucy triumphantly.
+
+"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."
+
+"Hush!" warned Lucy, "here comes Miss Anstice."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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?"
+
+Mr. John Clemcy followed her. "Do not, I beg," he said quietly, "notice
+it."
+
+"Notice it! after your extreme hospitality--oh! which one of my scholars
+can have forgotten herself enough to touch a thing?"
+
+The groups parted a little, just enough to disclose a shrinking figure.
+It was Lily, whose curious fingers were clasped in distress.
+
+"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.
+
+Mr. John Clemcy then came up to his sister and her visitor. "Your sister
+must not take it so to heart," he said.
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+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 the life of her, Miss Anstice never
+could tell what.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh dear!" Polly Pepper glanced back. "Alexia, this will just about kill
+our dear Miss Salisbury!" she exclaimed.
+
+"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 _ree_cluse that won't know nobody, him nor his sister, an' is
+so hifalutin' smart, a-bustin' out so _po_lite all of a suddint."
+
+
+
+
+XVI NEW PLANS
+
+
+"Polly," said Jasper, "could you come into the den?"
+
+"Why, yes, Jasper," she cried, in surprise at his face. "Oh, has
+anything happened?"
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"It's just this, Polly, I hate to tell you--" He paused, and gloom
+settled worse than ever over his face.
+
+"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."
+
+"Do you really, Polly?" Jasper asked eagerly.
+
+"Yes, I do," said Polly, "unless you had rather tell Mamsie. Perhaps
+that would be best, Jasper."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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!
+
+"Well, Pickering isn't doing well at school," said Jasper, in a burst.
+It was so much better to have it out at once.
+
+"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Polly, in sorrow.
+
+"No, he isn't," said Jasper decidedly; "it grows worse and worse."
+
+"Dear me!" said Polly again.
+
+"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."
+
+All the hateful story was out at last. Polly sprang out of her chair.
+
+"You don't mean--you can't mean, that Pickering will be dropped,
+Jasper?" she cried as she faced him.
+
+"Worse than that," answered Jasper gloomily.
+
+"Worse than dropped!" exclaimed Polly with wide eyes.
+
+"To be dropped a class wouldn't kill Pick; so many boys have had that
+happen, although it is quite bad enough."
+
+"I should think so," breathed Polly.
+
+"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."
+
+"You don't mean that Pickering Dodge will be expelled?" cried Polly in a
+little scream.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Won't he pay attention to what the teachers write to him, Jasper?"
+asked Polly, leaning forward in her big chair to watch him anxiously as
+he paced back and forth.
+
+"No, calls them rubbish, and tears them up; and sometimes he won't even
+read them," said Jasper. "Oh, it's awful, Polly."
+
+"I should say it was," said Polly slowly. "Very awful indeed, Jasper."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Never mind," said Jasper uneasily.
+
+"And it was splendid of you," cried Polly, the color flying over her
+cheeks. "Oh Jasper, I do believe you can pull him through."
+
+"No, I can't, Polly." Jasper stood quite still. "No one can pull him
+through, but you, Polly."
+
+"I!" exclaimed Polly in amazement. "Why, Jasper King!" and she tumbled
+back a few steps to stare at him. "What _do_ you mean?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, he does care for what you say," contradicted Polly stoutly, "ever
+and ever so much, Jasper."
+
+"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.
+
+"Polly, if Pick is expelled, I--" he couldn't finish it, his voice
+breaking all up.
+
+Polly ran over to lay a hand on his shaking shoulders.
+
+"What can I do, Jasper?" she cried brokenly. "Tell me, and I'll do it,
+every single thing."
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh Jasper!" exclaimed Polly, quite aghast. "I couldn't talk to
+Pickering Dodge. Why, he wouldn't listen to me."
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Think?" repeated Jasper, "why, he'd like it, Polly, and it will be the
+very thing that will help him."
+
+"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--"
+
+"Aunt!" exclaimed Jasper explosively. "Polly, I do believe if he hadn't
+her picking at him all the time, he would try harder."
+
+"Well, his uncle is different," said Polly, her indignation by no means
+dying out.
+
+"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.
+
+"No, I don't believe I could either," confessed Polly.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh Jasper!" cried Polly, quite overcome. "I'll do it, I will."
+
+"Polly!" Jasper seized her hands, and held them fast, his dark eyes
+glowing. "Oh Polly, that's so awfully good of you!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"It's about the play, I suppose," he began, 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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--"
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes," said Polly, "I do, Pickering."
+
+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."
+
+"What is it?" Polly looked at him sharply, and caught her breath.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh Pickering Dodge!" exclaimed Polly in a transport, and seizing his
+hand, it was shaken vigorously.
+
+"There, that's a bargain," declared Pickering solemnly. "I'll get
+through someway. And say, Polly, it was awfully good of you to speak."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Polly," he said, drawing her off to rest on one of the high, carved
+chairs, "there's one more thing."
+
+"Oh, what is it Jasper?" she cried gaily, with flushed cheeks. "Oh,
+wasn't that spin just delicious?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Not have our play?" Polly peered around to look closely into his face.
+"What do you mean, Jasper?"
+
+"You see, Polly, Pick was to take a prominent 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."
+
+"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."
+
+Jasper winced. "I know; we must earn it somehow," he said.
+
+"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.
+
+"We could vote to rescind that vote," said Jasper.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, of course; as our two clubs united that evening, it must go down
+in both books," said Jasper slowly.
+
+"Yes, of course," assented Polly happily. "Well, now, you see, Jasper,
+that we really _can't_ give it up, for we've gone too far. Pickering
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Pickering must give up his part," said Polly again.
+
+"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.
+
+Polly twisted uncomfortably on her chair. "Oh dear me!" she began, "I
+suppose we must give it up."
+
+"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."
+
+"But the poor brakeman's family, Jasper," said Polly, puzzled that
+Jasper should forget the object of the play.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Polly, wrinkling up her face in disdain.
+"Jasper, do you know, I am so tired of recitations!"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh Jasper, I've played so much," said Polly, "they're all tired of
+hearing me."
+
+"They never would be tired of hearing you, Polly," said Jasper simply.
+"Every one of us thinks you play beautifully."
+
+"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.
+
+"And I just loathe an operetta or tableaux," exclaimed Jasper, with such
+venom that Polly burst out laughing.
+
+"Oh Jasper, if you could see your face!" she cried.
+
+"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 _and_ drilled us, and then stuck us up like sticks not to move
+for a half-hour or so, nearly finished me."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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 thing.
+I believe Mr. Hamilton Dyce would tell some of his funny stories and
+help out the program."
+
+"Capital!" shouted Jasper; and just at this moment the big front door
+opened, and the butler ushered in Miss Mary Taylor and Mr. Dyce.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+
+
+
+XVII PHRONSIE
+
+
+And 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.'"
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I shall get him a new pink ribbon," declared Phronsie breathlessly,
+when the spin was over.
+
+"Do," cried Polly. "Dear me! that was a good spin, Phronsie!"
+
+"I should think it was," said Ben. "Goodness me! Polly, Phronsie and you
+made such a breeze!"
+
+"Didn't we, Pet!" cried Polly, with a last kiss. "Oh Ben and Jasper, to
+think those boys will be here for our entertainment!"
+
+"I know Tom is made of the right stuff," Mamsie said proudly to Father
+Fisher, "else my boy would not choose him."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Mamsie!" shouted Joel, his black eyes glowing, and precipitating
+himself into her arms, dog and all, "See Sinbad! See, Mamsie!"
+
+"It's impossible not to see him," said Ben. "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.
+
+"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--"
+
+"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.
+
+"As if I couldn't introduce Tom!" sniffed Percy importantly, quite
+delighted at Joel's social omissions. "I've done it ages ago."
+
+"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.
+
+"I would let her, Joel," said Mother Fisher, "if I were you."
+
+"But he hates a ribbon," said Joel in disgust, "and besides, he'll chew
+it up, Phronsie."
+
+"I don't want him to chew it up, Joel," said Phronsie slowly, and
+pausing in her endeavors. And she looked very sober.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, isn't he _beautiful_!" 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."
+
+And after this excitement had died down, Joel whirled around. "Tom's
+brought his banjo," he announced.
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed Polly.
+
+"And he can sing," cried Joel, thinking it best to mention all the
+accomplishments at once.
+
+"Don't, Joe," begged Tom, twitching his sleeve.
+
+Polly looked over at Jasper, with sparkling eyes, and the color flew
+into her cheeks.
+
+"Splendid!" his eyes signalled back.
+
+"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.
+
+"You'll see in time," said Polly, shaking him off, to dance away.
+
+"I don't want to know in time," said Joel, "I want to know now. Mamsie,
+what is it?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, we had to, if we ever told each other anything," said Ben coolly.
+"Joel everlastingly tagged us about, Beresford."
+
+"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.
+
+"Polly," Jasper was saying, the two now being off in a corner, "how
+fine! Now, perhaps Tom Beresford will sing."
+
+"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."
+
+"If he will do it," said Jasper slowly, not wanting to dampen her
+anticipation, but dreadfully afraid that the new boy might not respond.
+
+"Oh, he'll do it, I do believe," declared Polly confidently; "he must,
+Jasper, help about that poor brakeman's family."
+
+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.
+
+"Instead of yours," said Tom calmly. Then he roared.
+
+"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?"
+
+"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.
+
+At last Joel took to moping, and Ben found him thus in a corner.
+
+"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."
+
+"It's pretty hard," said Joel, trying not to sniffle, "to have a fellow
+you bring home from school turn his back on you."
+
+"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."
+
+"I can't follow him about," said Joel, in a loud tone of disgust. "He's
+twanging his old banjo all the time, and Polly's got him to sing, and
+he's practising up. I wish 'twas smashed."
+
+"What?" said Ben, only half comprehending.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"I don't know about that," said Ben, "you can at least help to get the
+tickets ready."
+
+"Did Polly say so?" demanded Joel, all in a glow. "Say, Ben, did she?"
+advancing on him.
+
+"No, but I do; for Polly asked me to do them; and you know, Joe, how
+busy I am all day."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"All right." Ben had no need to haul him along, as Joel raced on ahead
+up to Ben's room to get the paraphernalia.
+
+"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?"
+
+"No," said Phronsie, "I haven't, Polly," and a look of distress came
+into her face.
+
+"Never mind, Pet," said Polly, her brow clearing, "I'll find him soon."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+She ran up to Joel. "Oh Joey!" she hummed delightedly, "I've found you,"
+and threw herself into his arms.
+
+Joel turned sharply, knife in hand. It was all done in an instant.
+Phronsie exclaimed, "_Oh!_" 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.
+
+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.
+
+"Give her to me," he commanded hoarsely.
+
+"No, no--I'll hold her," persisted Joel, through white lips, and hanging
+to Phronsie.
+
+"Give her to me, and run down for Father Fisher."
+
+"It doesn't hurt much, Joey," said Phronsie, holding up her little arm.
+A small stream of blood was flowing down, and she turned away her head.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Joe couldn't help it," said Ben brokenly.
+
+"I believe that," Mother Fisher said firmly. "Oh Ben, the doctor is
+away."
+
+Ben started. "I'll go down to the office; perhaps he's there."
+
+"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."
+
+"It doesn't ache so _very_ much, Mamsie," said Phronsie, "only I would
+like to lay it down."
+
+"And that is just what we can't do, Phronsie," said Mother Fisher
+decidedly. "All right," to Ben, "now tear it into strips."
+
+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 announcement, which wouldn't
+have been given so abruptly had not each one been so anxious to get
+ahead of the other.
+
+Old Mr. King, not comprehending, had turned sharply in his chair to
+stare at them.
+
+"Hush, boys," warned Polly, hoarsely pointing to him; "is Mamsie with
+her?" She didn't dare to speak Phronsie's name.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Here it is, father," he cried, rushing back and whirling the
+leaves--"why, what?" for he saw Polly's face.
+
+"Oh Jasper--don't," said Polly brokenly.
+
+"Why do you boys rush in, in this manner?" demanded old Mr. King
+testily. "And, Polly, child, what is the matter?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Phronsie hurt!" cried old Mr. King in sharp distress. "Where is she?"
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"But Joel's gone for Dr. Pennell," screamed Percy; "Mrs. Fisher sent
+him."
+
+"He's very good," said Jasper comfortingly. So this is the way they came
+into Ben's room.
+
+"Oh, here's Grandpapa!" cooed Phronsie, trying to get down from Mamsie's
+lap.
+
+"Oh, no, Phronsie," said Mrs. Fisher, "you must sit still; it's better
+for your arm."
+
+"But Grandpapa looks sick," said Phronsie.
+
+"Bless me--oh, you poor lamb, you!" Old Mr. King went unsteadily across
+the room, and knelt down by her side.
+
+"Grandpapa," said Phronsie, stroking his white face, "see, it's all tied
+up high."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"I want Polly," she said presently.
+
+"Stay where you are, Polly," said her mother, who had telegraphed this
+before with her eyes, over Phronsie's yellow hair.
+
+Polly, at the sound of Phronsie's voice, had leaned forward, but now
+stood quite still, clasping her hands tightly together.
+
+"Speak to her, Polly," said Jasper.
+
+But Polly shook her head, unable to utter a sound.
+
+"Polly, you must," said Jasper, for Phronsie was trying to turn in her
+mother's lap, and saying in a worried way, "Where's Polly? I want
+Polly."
+
+"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."
+
+"How funny!" laughed Phronsie. "Polly can't come, but she'll talk across
+the room."
+
+Everything turned black before Polly's eyes; but she began, "Yes, Pet,
+I'm here," very bravely.
+
+"I am so glad you are there, Polly," said Phronsie, easily satisfied.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Why, where--" Phronsie began in a puzzled way.
+
+"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."
+
+"And I like you very much," said Phronsie, wriggling her toes in
+satisfaction.
+
+"I know that; we are famous friends, Phronsie," said the doctor, with
+one of those pleasant smiles of his that showed his white teeth.
+
+"What's famous?" asked Phronsie, keeping her grave eyes on his face.
+
+"Oh, fine; it means first-rate. We are fine friends, aren't we,
+Phronsie?"
+
+"Yes, we are," declared Phronsie, bending forward to see his work the
+better, and taking her eyes from his face.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Thank the Lord!" exclaimed the old gentleman.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"And now, we must find Joel," Polly was saying to Jasper.
+
+
+
+
+XVIII TOM'S STORY
+
+
+Joel 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"It's Phronsie," gasped Joel, and burrowing deeper into the cushion.
+
+"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."
+
+"Go out into the hall, will you, Tom," begged Joel, huddling down,
+unwilling to listen himself, "and see if you can hear anything."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+"_Ugh!_" 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!"
+
+"Joel Pepper!" cried Tom, frightened half out of his wits, and rushing
+to him; "lie down again," laying a firm hand on his shoulder.
+
+"I won't," roared Joel wildly, and shaking him off. "You're keeping
+something from me, Tom."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"It will disturb--them," he said gustily, in between his sobs.
+
+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."
+
+At last Joel rolled over. "Come here, do, 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."
+
+"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!"
+
+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.
+
+Just then in rushed Polly and Jasper, surrounding him, and in a minute,
+"Oh, is Tom sick?"
+
+"No," said Tom, picking himself up grimly, "only Joe's floored me, he
+was so glad to hear the doctor laugh."
+
+"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.
+
+"See here, Beresford, you and I will go down to the library, I think."
+
+"All right," said Tom, allowing himself to be led off, though he would
+much have preferred remaining.
+
+"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.
+
+"I--I--didn't--see--Phronsie coming," wailed Joel afresh.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"And just think, Joey," she cried suddenly, "you were the one who found
+Dr. Pennell. Oh, I should think you'd be so glad!"
+
+"I am glad," said Joel, beginning to feel a ray of comfort.
+
+"And how quickly you brought him, Joe!" said Polly, delighted at the
+effect of her last remark.
+
+"Did I?" said Joel in a surprised way, and roused out of his crying; "I
+thought it was ever so long, Polly."
+
+"I don't see how you ever did it, Joel, in all this world," declared
+Polly positively.
+
+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.
+
+"He was just going out of his door," he announced simply.
+
+"Oh Joey!" gasped Polly. Then she hugged him rapturously. "But you
+caught him."
+
+"Yes, I caught him, and we jumped into his carriage; and that's all."
+
+"But it was something to be always proud of," cried Polly, in a
+transport.
+
+Joel, feeling very glad that there was something to be proud of at all
+in this evening's transactions, sat up quite straight at this, and
+wiped his eyes.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, that feels so good!" said Joel, with a wintry smile, as she sopped
+his red eyelids and poor, swollen nose.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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!
+
+"See, Joel, I'm all fixed up nice," laughed Phronsie from her perch.
+
+[Illustration: "SEE, JOEL, I'M ALL FIXED UP NICE," LAUGHED PHRONSIE FROM
+HER PERCH.]
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Tell stories, do, Polly," begged Van.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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.
+
+"Let her off," said Jasper; "do, boys. I'll tell you one instead," he
+said.
+
+"No, we don't want yours," said Van, not very politely. "We want
+Polly's."
+
+"For shame, Van!" said Percy, who dearly loved to reprove his brother,
+and never allowed the occasion to slip when he could do so.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, I'll tell the story," Polly said, hastily bringing her brown head
+up, while Phronsie began to look troubled.
+
+"I'd like to tell a story," said Tom Beresford slowly, where he sat just
+back of the big rug.
+
+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.
+
+"Yes, I will," promised Tom, nodding at her.
+
+"Well, get down on the rug, then," said Jasper, moving up; "the
+story-teller always has to have a place of honor here."
+
+"That so?" cried Tom; "well, here goes," and he precipitated himself at
+once into the midst of things.
+
+"Ow! get out," cried Van crossly, and giving him a push.
+
+"Oh Vanny!" said Polly reprovingly.
+
+"Well, he's so big and long," grumbled Van, who didn't fancy anybody
+coming between him and Polly.
+
+"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.
+
+"Well, now," said Jasper, "we are ready. So fire ahead, Beresford."
+
+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.
+
+"Well, now, I'm not fine at expressing myself," he began.
+
+"I should think not," put in Joel uncomplimentarily.
+
+"Joe, you beggar, hush up!" said Jasper, with a warning pinch.
+
+"Yes, just sit on that individual, will you, Jasper?" said Tom, over his
+shoulder, "or I never will even begin."
+
+So, Jasper promising to quench all further disturbance on Joel's part,
+the story was taken up.
+
+"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."
+
+"Is it any harder than in any other school, Tom?" asked Mrs. Fisher
+quietly.
+
+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."
+
+"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
+Joey's school," she declared, dreadfully excited, and lifting her face
+to his.
+
+"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."
+
+"She's the matron," said Percy, feeling called upon to explain.
+
+"Oh!" said Phronsie, drawing a long breath, "but I thought Tom said she
+was a fox, Grandpapa."
+
+"That's her name," said Tom, nodding at her; "Jemima Fox--isn't that a
+sweet name, Phronsie?"
+
+"I don't think it is a _very_ sweet one, Tom," said Phronsie, feeling
+quite badly to be obliged to say so.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Phronsie, looking quite grieved.
+
+"But I have something nice to tell you," said Tom quickly, "so I'll
+hurry on, and let the other 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?"
+
+"You must ask Tom," replied Grandpapa, with a little laugh.
+
+"Oh, that's just schoolboy lingo," Tom made haste to say, as his face
+got red.
+
+"What's lingo?" asked Phronsie, more puzzled than before.
+
+"That's--that's--oh, dear!" Tom's face rivalled the firelight by this
+time, for color.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Well, there are lots of chaps at our school," 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."
+
+"Oh, Tom!" exclaimed Polly.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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
+story just as he wants to," which had the effect of smothering Joel's
+speech for the time being.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, Polly's doing it this time," said Jasper; "I'll take him in tow on
+the next offence."
+
+"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.
+
+"Stop him," howled Joel, all restraint thrown to the winds, and shaking
+off Polly's fingers.
+
+Jasper leaned forward. "I'm bound to make you keep the peace, Joe," he
+said, shaking his arm.
+
+"But he's going to tell about things he ought not to," cried Joel, in an
+agony. "Do stop him, Jasper."
+
+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."
+
+That settled the matter; and Joel threw himself down, his face buried
+in Polly's lap, while he stuck his fingers in his ears.
+
+"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."
+
+No one said a word.
+
+"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."
+
+No one spoke; but Tom could feel what might have been said had the
+thoughts all been expressed, and he burst out desperately, "I let that
+cad take Joe's racket."
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"Has he got through? has the beggar finished?" cried Joel lustily.
+
+"Yes," said Polly, in a low voice, "I think he has, Joel."
+
+"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."
+
+"I didn't intend to when I came," said Tom, thinking it necessary to
+tell the whole truth. "I hadn't the courage."
+
+"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."
+
+"Pshaw! that was nothing," said Tom curtly.
+
+"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."
+
+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--"
+
+"Jenk," furnished Joel.
+
+"Yes--er--Jenk, were going to settle it that night?"
+
+"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 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."
+
+"Oh dear me!" breathed Polly indignantly.
+
+"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."
+
+"I see," exclaimed Grandpapa, his eyes shining. "Well, and so you sat up
+and watched the affair."
+
+"I couldn't go to bed, you know," said Tom simply.
+
+"And he would have saved us, Dave and me, if that Jenk hadn't locked the
+door on us when he slipped in."
+
+"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."
+
+Mother Fisher shivered, and leaned over involuntarily toward her boy.
+
+"Mamsie," exclaimed Joel, "you don't know what Tom is to me, in that
+school. He's just royal--that's what he is!" with a resounding slap on
+his back.
+
+"And I say so too," declared Mother Fisher, with shining eyes.
+
+"_What_?" 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 _can't_, 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"I feel better now," he said; "that's the way I used to do in the little
+brown house when I liked things."
+
+
+
+
+XIX THE GRAND ENTERTAINMENT
+
+
+"Ought we to, Mamsie?" asked Polly. Jasper and she were in Mrs. Fisher's
+room, and they both waited for the reply anxiously.
+
+"Yes, Polly, I think you ought," said Mother Fisher.
+
+"Oh dear me! Phronsie can't have only a little bit of it," said Polly.
+
+"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.
+
+"Well," sighed Polly, "I am glad that Papa Fisher says that Phronsie can
+hear a little part of it, anyway."
+
+"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."
+
+"But I did so want Phronsie to be there through the whole," mourned
+Polly.
+
+"So did I," echoed Jasper. Then he caught Mother Fisher's eye. "But,
+Polly, the boys would lose it then," he added quickly.
+
+"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.
+
+"Everything is just right, Polly," said Mrs. Fisher gravely; "don't let
+me hear you complain of things that no one can help."
+
+"I didn't mean to complain, Mamsie," said Polly humbly; and she crept up
+to her, while Jasper looked very much distressed.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"That's so," cried Jasper, well pleased. "Now, what will they be,
+Polly?"
+
+"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."
+
+"All right," said Jasper. "What next?"
+
+"Why, Tom must sing one of his funny songs."
+
+"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?"
+
+"Yes; oh, I wouldn't have her miss that for anything, Jasper," said
+Polly.
+
+"No, indeed," cried Jasper heartily. "Well, Polly, then what ought to
+come next? Let's come into the den and fix it up now."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+Polly stood quite still at that. "Oh, Jasper, we can't do it--no, never
+in all this world."
+
+"Why, Polly,"--he turned suddenly--"yes, we can just as easily. See,
+Polly."
+
+"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.
+
+"Phronsie isn't to know anything about it," said Jasper, just as
+decidedly.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, Polly, I think we'd better have a new one," said Jasper, who was
+very particular about everything.
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, that's when the changes come at the last moment," said Jasper
+reluctantly.
+
+"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. _Please_, Jasper."
+That "please, Jasper," won the day.
+
+"All right, Polly," he said. "Well, now let's see what ought to come
+after Tom's song."
+
+"Well, Phronsie is very anxious to hear Pickering's piece; I know,
+because I heard her tell Mamsie so."
+
+"Why, she has heard Pick recite that ever so many times since he learned
+it for our school exhibition," said Jasper.
+
+"And don't you know that's just the very reason why she wants it again?"
+said Polly, with a little laugh.
+
+"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.
+
+"And then," said Polly, running up to look over his shoulder, "Phronsie
+wants dreadfully to hear Tom play on his banjo."
+
+"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."
+
+"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 _anything_."
+
+"Why, we shall have the whole program in if we keep on," said Jasper,
+looking at her in dismay.
+
+"Oh, Jasper, Papa Fisher says that Phronsie may stay in twenty minutes.
+Just think; we can do a lot in twenty minutes."
+
+"But somebody is bound to be late, so we can't begin on time. Nobody
+ever does, Polly."
+
+"We must," said Polly passionately, "begin on time to-morrow night,
+Jasper."
+
+"We'll try," said Jasper, as cheerfully as he could manage.
+
+"And there's your piece. Why, Jasper, Phronsie told me herself that she
+_must_ hear yours."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Well, that's not to be thought of," said Jasper. "Now I tell you how
+we'll fix it, Polly," he said quickly.
+
+"How?" asked Polly gloomily.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, Jasper, what a fine idea!" exclaimed Polly, all her enthusiasm
+returning.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, and I forgot," said Polly, raising her head from her last strip,
+"Phronsie wanted to hear Clare very much indeed."
+
+[Illustration: "OH, I DO HOPE I SHALL DRAW THE RIGHT ONE, JASPER."]
+
+"Well, we should have had the whole program with a vengeance," said
+Jasper, bursting into a laugh. "Well, put him down, Polly."
+
+So "Clare" went down on another strip, and then they were all jumbled up
+in a little Chinese bowl on the bookcase.
+
+"Now, you draw first, Polly," said Jasper.
+
+"Oh, no, let us choose for first draw," said Polly; "that's the way to
+be absolutely right."
+
+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.
+
+"You didn't see?" she asked over her shoulder.
+
+"Not a wink," said Jasper, laughing.
+
+So Polly ran back, and Jasper drew the short one. "There; you have it,
+Polly!" he cried gleefully. "Oh, that's good!"
+
+"Oh, I do hope I shall draw the right one, Jasper," she said, standing
+on tiptoe, her fingers trembling over the bowl.
+
+"They are all of them good," said Jasper encouragingly. So Polly
+suddenly picked out one; and together they read, "Tom."
+
+"Fine!" they shouted.
+
+"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 hadn't
+mentioned that fact before. "Now, Jasper."
+
+"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!"
+
+"They are all of them good," said Polly, laughing at his face.
+
+"Oh, I know, but it is a fearful responsibility," said Jasper, wrinkling
+his brows worse yet. "Well, here goes!"
+
+He plunged his fingers in, and out they came with the strip, "Percy."
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+She stood so long with her hand poised over the Chinese bowl, that
+Jasper finally laughed out. "Oh, Polly, aren't your tiptoes tired?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Do," cried Jasper.
+
+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.
+
+"The deed is done!" exclaimed Jasper. "Now, Polly, let's see who it is."
+
+"Pick!" he shouted.
+
+And "Pickering!" screamed Polly. And they took hold of hands and spun
+round and round the den.
+
+"Oh, dear, we're knocking off your beautiful program," cried Polly,
+pausing in dismay.
+
+"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."
+
+"And only think, if I hadn't chosen him out of that bowl!" cried Polly,
+in dismay at the very thought.
+
+"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.
+
+Mrs. Chatterton had gone to New York for some weeks, but was to return
+to finish her visit at "Cousin Horatio's."
+
+"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!"
+
+"I should think it was!" cried Jasper jubilantly. "Just as perfect as
+can be, Polly."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"What's the row?" asked Tom, plunging up to him in amazement.
+
+"That person." Joel pointed a finger at the carriage. "I must tell
+Polly," and off he darted.
+
+Tom, not feeling at all sure that he ought to wait to see "that person,"
+wheeled about and followed.
+
+"Polly," roared Joel, long before he got to her. "She's come!"
+
+"Has she?" Polly called back, supposing he meant Alexia. "Well, tell her
+to come up here, Joe, in my room."
+
+Joel took the stairs two at a time, Tom waiting below, and dashed into
+the blue and white room without ceremony.
+
+"Polly, you don't understand," he blurted out; "she's come!"
+
+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.
+
+"Why, how funny you look, Joe!" she said. "What is the matter?"
+
+"I guess you'd look funny," said Joel glumly, "if you'd seen Mrs.
+Chatterton."
+
+"_Not Mrs. Chatterton!_" exclaimed Polly aghast; and jumping up, her
+face very pale, and upsetting her box of ribbons, she seized Joel's
+arm.
+
+"Tell me this very minute, Joel Pepper," she commanded, "what do you
+mean?"
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, Joel, Joel!" mourned Polly, releasing his arm to wring her hands.
+"What _shall_ we do?"
+
+"She's an old harpy," declared Joel; "mean, horrid, old thing!"
+
+"Oh, stop, Joel!" cried Polly, quite horrified.
+
+"Well, she is," said Joel vindictively, "to come before we'd got back to
+school."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, Jasper!"
+
+"Polly, did you know? What _can_ 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Well, we must make him forget that she is here," said Polly, swallowing
+her own distress at the change of all the conditions.
+
+"How can we, Polly?" Jasper stopped for a minute and stared at her.
+
+"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."
+
+"If you only will, Polly," cried Jasper, seizing both of her hands, "it
+will be the best piece of work you ever did."
+
+"Oh, I can't do it alone," exclaimed Polly, in consternation. "Never in
+all this world, Jasper, unless you help too."
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, you couldn't be mean, Jasper," declared Polly, in horror at the
+very thought.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+Tom slipped off from his chair and stiffened up.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I've seen the old cat," he cried in smothered wrath to Joel, rushing
+into his room.
+
+Joel sat disconsolately on the edge of his bed, kicking off his heavy
+shoes, to replace with his evening ones.
+
+"Have you?" said Joel grimly. "Well, isn't she a--" then he remembered
+Mamsie, and snapped his lips to.
+
+"'A,'" exclaimed Tom, in smothered wrath, as he closed the door. "She
+isn't 'a' at all, Joe. She's 'the.'"
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+"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!"
+
+"I don't want to," said Joel, with a grimace, "and it's awfully mean in
+you, Tom, to ask me."
+
+"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."
+
+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."
+
+"No," replied Madam Dyce distinctly, "he is infinitely improved; so
+approachable now."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+
+XX THE CORCORAN FAMILY
+
+
+And 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.
+
+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."
+
+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.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Haven't you so?" said Mrs. Sterling, greatly pleased to be the first in
+one of Polly's pleasures.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"It is mine," said Polly, snuggling up to the sofa-blankets.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Why--" Polly sat up quite straight now, and her cheeks turned rosy.
+
+"What is it, my child?" asked Mrs. Sterling.
+
+"Would you--I mean, do you want--oh, Mrs. Sterling, would you like us to
+come here some time to recite something to you?"
+
+Mrs. Sterling turned an eager face on her pillow.
+
+"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?"
+
+"Oh, I am sure they would," cried Polly, "if you would like it, dear
+Mrs. Sterling."
+
+"_Like it!_" 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--"
+
+"Oh!" cried Polly suddenly, "it must be so very dreadful, Mrs.
+Sterling."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Yes, I am sure," said Polly, with a decided nod of her brown head.
+
+"Then why couldn't you hold some of your rehearsals here?" proposed Mrs.
+Sterling.
+
+"Shouldn't we tire you?" asked Polly.
+
+"No, indeed!" declared Mrs. Sterling, with sudden energy, "I could bear
+a menagerie up here, Polly," and she laughed outright.
+
+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.
+
+"I am not surprised at your face, Gibbons," said Mrs. Sterling cheerily,
+"for you have not heard me laugh for many a day."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"We can come, I am almost sure," said Polly, "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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Well, the grand affair was over now, and a greater success than was ever
+hoped for. Now came the enjoyment of presenting the money!
+
+"Grandpapa," said Polly, "we are all here."
+
+"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.
+
+"My! What shall we do with such a lot of boys?" exclaimed Alexia, as
+they all met in the hall.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Come, you two, stop your quarrelling," said Jasper, laughing. "A pretty
+example you'd make to those poor Corcoran children."
+
+"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?"
+
+"Father has the bank-book," announced Jasper; "I saw him put it in his
+pocket, Polly."
+
+Polly gave a little wriggle under her coat. "Oh, Jasper, isn't it just
+too splendid for anything!" she cried.
+
+"I'm going to walk with Polly," announced Clem, seizing Polly's arm,
+"so, Alexia Rhys, I give you fair warning this time."
+
+"Indeed, you're not," declared Alexia stoutly. "Why, I always walk with
+Polly Pepper."
+
+"And that's just the reason why I'm going to to-day," said Clem, hanging
+to Polly's arm for dear life.
+
+"Well, I'm her dearest friend," added Alexia, taking refuge in that
+well-worn statement, "so there now, Clem Forsythe."
+
+"No, you're not," said Clem obstinately; "we're all her dearest friends,
+aren't we, Polly? Say, Polly, aren't we?"
+
+"Hush!" said Jasper. "Father's coming."
+
+"Well, I can't help it. I'm tired of hearing Alexia Rhys everlastingly
+saying that, and pushing us all away from Polly."
+
+"Do hear them go on!" exclaimed Tom Beresford, off on the edge of the
+group. "Does she always have them carrying around like that?"
+
+"Yes," said Joel, "a great deal worse. Oh, they're a lot of giggling
+girls; I hate girls!" he exploded.
+
+"So do I," nodded Tom. "Let's keep clear of the whole lot, and walk by
+ourselves."
+
+"Indeed, we will," declared Joel. "You won't catch me walking with girls
+when I can help it."
+
+"Well, I wonder which of those two will get your sister, Polly, this
+time," said Tom, craning his long neck to see the contest.
+
+"Oh, Alexia, of course," said Joel carelessly; "she always gets her in
+the end."
+
+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.
+
+Tom and Joel burst into a loud laugh, in which the others joined, at the
+crestfallen faces.
+
+"Well, at least you didn't get her, Clem," said Alexia airily, coming
+out of her discomfiture.
+
+"Neither did you," said Clem happily.
+
+"And you are horrid boys to laugh," said Alexia, looking over at the
+two. "But then, all boys are horrid."
+
+"Thank you," said Tom, with his best bow.
+
+"Alexia Rhys, aren't you perfectly ashamed to be fighting with that new
+boy?" cried Clem.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, misery me!" exclaimed Alexia, looking out at the tumble-down
+tenements, and garbage heaps up to the very doors. "Where _are_ we
+going?"
+
+"Did you suppose Jim Corcoran lived in a palace?" asked Pickering
+lazily.
+
+"Well, I didn't suppose anybody lived like that," said Alexia, wrinkling
+up her nose in scorn. "Dear me, look at all those children!"
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, I don't want to see it," exclaimed Alexia, "and I'm not going to
+either," turning her back on it all.
+
+"It goes on just the same," said Pickering.
+
+"Then I am going to look." Alexia whirled around again, and gazed up and
+down the ugly thoroughfare, taking it all in.
+
+"Ugh, how can you!" exclaimed Silvia Horne, in disgust. "I think it's
+very disagreeable to even know that such people live."
+
+"Perhaps 'twould be better to kill 'em off," said Tom Beresford bluntly.
+
+"Ugh, you dreadful boy!" cried Clem Forsythe.
+
+"Who's fighting now with the new boy?" asked Alexia sweetly, tearing off
+her gaze from the street.
+
+"Well, who wouldn't?" retorted Clem, "he's saying such perfectly
+terrible things."
+
+Pickering Dodge gave a short laugh. "Beresford, you're in for it now,"
+he said.
+
+Tom shrugged his shoulders, and turned his back on them.
+
+"What did you bring him home for, Joe?" asked Alexia, leaning over to
+twitch Joel's arm.
+
+"To plague you, Alexia," said Joel, with a twinkle in his black eyes.
+
+"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.
+
+"You don't need to," said Joel coolly, "you can let us alone, Alexia."
+
+"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.
+
+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 debris, Mr. King drew a
+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."
+
+"But it's no worse for us to see it than for the people to live here,
+father," said Jasper quickly.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, Grandpapa," cried Polly, hopping up and down on the broken
+pavement, and "Oh, father!" from Jasper.
+
+"Polly Pepper," exclaimed Alexia, twitching her away, "you came near
+stepping into that old mess of bones and things."
+
+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!"
+
+"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.
+
+The little widow, thanks to Mr. King and 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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Meanwhile the whole Corcoran brood had all gathered about the visitors,
+to rivet their gaze upon them, and wait patiently for further
+developments.
+
+"Polly, you tell her," cried Alexia.
+
+"Yes, Polly, do," cried the other girls.
+
+"Yes, Polly," said Pickering, "you can tell it the best."
+
+"Oh, I never could," said Polly in dismay. "Jasper, you, please."
+
+"No, no, Polly," said Van; "she's the best."
+
+"But Polly doesn't wish to," said Jasper in a low voice.
+
+"All right, then, Jappy, go ahead," said Percy.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+So Jasper, seeing that there was no help for it, but that he was really
+to be the spokesman, plunged in quite bravely.
+
+"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 to their father for being so
+good and kind to the passengers that night of the accident."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Bless me!" exclaimed old Mr. King, fumbling for his handkerchief,
+"don't, my good woman, I beg of you."
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh me! I'm going to cry," exclaimed Alexia, backing off toward the
+door.
+
+"If you do, I'll throw you out," said Joel savagely.
+
+"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."
+
+"Hang on to me," said Joel stoutly, thrusting out his sturdy arm.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Polly, starting forward, knowing how Grandpapa
+detested cats. But Jasper was before her.
+
+"Let me take it, father," and he dexterously brought it off.
+
+"Give it to me," said Polly. "Oh, what is its name?"
+
+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.
+
+"It's lucky enough that Phronsie isn't here," said Jasper in a low
+voice, "for she would never want to leave that cat."
+
+[Illustration: "AND SO WE HAD A LITTLE ENTERTAINMENT, AND SOLD THE
+TICKETS, AND HERE IS OUR GIFT!"]
+
+"Just see Polly Pepper!" exclaimed Alexia, with a grimace. "Why doesn't
+she drop that dirty old cat?"
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, I do," said Arethusa, clasping her small red hands tightly.
+
+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.
+
+"Well, I did, when I was a little girl like you"--Polly bent her rosy
+face very close to Arethusa's--"oh, _dreadfully_; and I used to drum on
+the table to make believe I could play."
+
+"So do I," cried Arethusa, creeping up close to Polly's neck, "an' th'
+boys laugh at me. But I keep doin' it."
+
+"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.
+
+"Not a really and truly piano?" exclaimed Arethusa, lost in amazement.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"You take yourself away," cried old Mr. King, with a laugh. "I'm to have
+Polly to myself on this expedition."
+
+"Well, at any rate, Clem, you haven't Polly," announced Alexia as
+before, running up to her.
+
+"Neither have you," retorted Clem, in the same way.
+
+"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."
+
+"How do you know I want to walk with you?" asked Clem abruptly.
+
+"Oh, but do, you sweet thing you! Come on!" and Alexia dragged her off
+at a smart pace.
+
+"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 _very_ first thing?" She peered
+around into his face anxiously.
+
+"The _very_ first thing," declared the old gentleman. "Take my word for
+it, Polly Pepper, there sha'n't another article get in before it."
+
+"Oh, Grandpapa!" Polly wished she could go dancing off into the middle
+of the thoroughfare for a regular spin.
+
+"Take care, Polly," laughed old Mr. King, successfully steering her
+clear of an ash barrel, "this isn't the best dancing place imaginable."
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh--oh!" Polly could get no further.
+
+Jasper, ahead with Pickering Dodge, looked back longingly.
+
+"Oh, I do wish, Grandpapa," said Polly, "that Jasper could walk home
+with us."
+
+"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."
+
+"Yes, I will," declared Polly, "the very first thing. Now, Grandpapa,
+please go on."
+
+"Well, I had told Mrs. Corcoran all about the new house, you know,
+Polly, before."
+
+"Yes, I know, Grandpapa," said Polly, with a happy little wriggle.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"It was perfectly elegant!" cried Polly, with glowing cheeks.
+
+"And those two boys--the largest ones--are to begin in the other public
+school next week," continued the old gentleman.
+
+"Everything begins next week, doesn't it, Grandpapa?" cried Polly.
+
+"It seems so," said Mr. King, with a laugh. "Well, Polly, here we are at
+our car."
+
+And having the good luck to find it nearly empty, the whole party hopped
+on, and began the ride back again.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"It is!" exclaimed Jasper. "Hurrah!"
+
+"Yes," said Polly, with shining eyes, "and it's going into the new home
+the _very_ first thing. Grandpapa promised me that."
+
+"Isn't father good!" cried Jasper, a whole world of affection in his
+dark eyes.
+
+"Good?" repeated Polly, "he's as good as good can be, Jasper King!"
+
+"Well, what else?" cried Jasper.
+
+"And the boys--the two biggest ones--are going into the other public
+school, the one nearest their new home, you know."
+
+"Yes, I see," said Jasper, "that's fine. That will bring them in with
+better boys."
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+"I know it," cried Polly. "Oh, Jasper!" drawing a long breath. "But
+then, you see, we did do it."
+
+"Yes," said Jasper, bursting into a laugh, "we surely did, Polly."
+
+
+
+
+XXI AT THE PLAY
+
+
+"Oh, Cathie!" Polly rushed out to meet the girl that Johnson was just
+ushering in. "I _am_ so glad you've come!"
+
+A pleased look swept over the girl's face, but she didn't say anything.
+
+"Now come right upstairs; never mind the bag, Johnson will bring that
+for you."
+
+"I will take it up, Miss," said Johnson, securing it.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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 good
+to get you here," she cried happily. "Well, here we are!"
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, Polly!" exclaimed Cathie, quite forgetting herself, and turning
+around.
+
+"And can't I help you unpack?" asked Polly, longing to do something.
+
+"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.
+
+So Polly unstrapped the bag, and drew out the clothes, all packed very
+neatly. "Why, Cathie Harrison!" she exclaimed suddenly.
+
+"What?" asked Cathie, hanging up her jacket in the closet, and putting
+her head around the door.
+
+"Oh, what a lovely thing!" Polly held up a little carved box of Chinese
+workmanship.
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, it needn't," said Polly, with a little laugh. "You must just
+forget all about its being big and splendid."
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+"I know," said Cathie, who had heard the story before. "I wish you'd
+tell it all to me now, Polly."
+
+"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.
+
+But Cathie stopped to look and exclaim so often to herself that she made
+slow progress.
+
+"Shall I make her up a bunch, Miss Mary?" asked old Turner, touching his
+cap respectfully, and looking at the visitor.
+
+"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."
+
+"It shall be as you wish, Miss Mary," said Turner, quite delighted at
+the order.
+
+"And please let it be very nice, Turner," said Polly hastily.
+
+"I will, Miss; don't fear, Miss Mary, I'll have it as nice as possible,"
+as Polly ran off to meet Cathie.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+Polly burst into such a merry peal of laughter, that they neither of
+them heard the rushing feet, until Cathie glanced up. "Oh dear me! there
+they are now!"
+
+"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.
+
+Clare gave her a careless nod, then turned to Polly. "It's to be fine,"
+he said.
+
+"What?" asked Polly wonderingly.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Is that so?" said Jasper. "Clare, we must beat them," and they dashed
+in pursuit.
+
+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.
+
+"Well done," cried Jasper, tossing back the hair from his forehead.
+
+"I didn't know you could run so well," observed Clare, with some show
+of interest in Cathie.
+
+"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."
+
+"Capital! We will," assented Jasper, "but now for father's room."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Grandpapa!" cried Polly, precipitating herself into his arms, "oh, how
+good you are!" which pleased the old gentleman immensely.
+
+"Isn't that no-end fine!" cried Jasper in delight. "Father, we can't
+thank you!"
+
+"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.
+
+"Like it!" cried Polly, lifting her glowing cheeks,--"oh, Grandpapa!"
+
+"Run along with you then, all of you. Clare, be over in time."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"And I've never been to a play, Polly," said Cathie, perfectly
+overwhelmed with it all.
+
+"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 Salisbury herself had come into the
+room, she would have been perfectly satisfied with the diligent
+attention the books were receiving.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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!"
+
+"Sister, pray let us look at this matter--"
+
+"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."
+
+"Sister--pray--pray--"
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Ugh!" shuddered Miss Anstice.
+
+"And anything that holds an influence over them, I must sustain. You
+know that yourself, sister. And it is most important to give them some
+recreations."
+
+"But _picnics!_" Miss Anstice held up her little hands, as if quite
+unequal to any words.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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!
+
+Polly ran on, scarcely conscious that she was called. "Did you not hear
+me?" asked Mrs. Chatterton angrily, coming to her door.
+
+"Oh, I beg pardon," said Polly, really glad ever since that dreadful
+time when Mrs. Chatterton 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"What is it?" asked Polly, coming in. "I shall be so glad to help."
+
+"Help!" repeated Mrs. Chatterton in scorn. She was standing over by her
+toilet table. "You can serve me; come here."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+"Polly!" called Jasper over the stairs, "where are you?"
+
+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.
+
+"_Stupid!_ if you would put heart into your search, it would be easy
+enough to find it."
+
+"_Polly_, where _are_ 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"I didn't mean--" began poor Polly.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, Polly, I thought you were never coming." Then he saw her face.
+
+"That old--" he said under his breath. "Polly, don't ever go into her
+room again. I wouldn't," as they hurried off downstairs.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, Jasper," cried Polly, in alarm, "don't say one word to Grandpapa.
+Promise me you won't, Jasper."
+
+"Well, father is tired of her. She wears on him terribly, Polly," said
+Jasper gloomily.
+
+"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.
+
+"Well, she must have been perfectly terrible to you," said Jasper.
+
+"Polly--Jasper--where are you?" came in old Mr. King's voice.
+
+"Here, father," and "Here, Grandpapa," and Clare running up the steps,
+the little party was soon in the carriage.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, I won't," promised Jasper, "if you don't wish me to."
+
+"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.
+
+Jasper watched her keenly, and drew a long breath when he saw her
+talking and laughing with Grandpapa.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, I can't sit between two boys," cried Cathie, forgetting herself in
+her terror.
+
+"I won't bite you," cried Clare saucily.
+
+"I will see that Clare behaves himself," said Jasper.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 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:
+
+"I should think you might give Cathie and me a chance to talk a little,
+Jasper."
+
+"Oh, I don't want to talk," cried Cathie in terror. "I don't know
+anything to say."
+
+"Well, I do," said Clare, in a dudgeon, "only Jasper goes on in such a
+streak to-night."
+
+"I believe I have been talking you both blue," said Jasper, with a
+laugh.
+
+"You certainly have," said Clare, laughing too.
+
+And then Cathie laughed, and Polly Pepper, looking over, beamed at her,
+for she had begun to be worried.
+
+"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."
+
+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 play; and by the time
+the evening was half over, she was sure that she liked it very much.
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"His manners were perfect before," said a third member of the box party,
+"except they needed thawing out--a bit too icy."
+
+"You are too mild. I should say they were quite frozen. He never seemed
+to me to have any heart."
+
+"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 over for a better view of the King party, "and the best of it
+is that she doesn't know it herself."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"That old sewing thing where they make clothes for the poor little
+darkeys down South?" asked Clare.
+
+"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."
+
+"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 united,
+why in the world the Salisbury Club elected Cathie Harrison into its
+membership.
+
+"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."
+
+"Never visited a girl before!" repeated Clare, in astonishment.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Clare faintly, quite gone in pity.
+
+"And so your father moved to town," he said; and then he knew that he
+had made a terrible mistake.
+
+"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.
+
+"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 for him, I'd have run home from the
+Salisbury School that first week, it was so perfectly awful."
+
+Clare sat quite still. Then he burst out, "Well, now, Cathie, I think it
+was just splendid in you to stick on."
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, they needn't," said Clare indignantly, "because I don't think you
+are a goose at all."
+
+"Those two are getting on quite well," said Jasper to Polly. "I don't
+think we need to worry about Cathie any more."
+
+"And isn't she nice?" asked Polly, in great delight.
+
+"Yes, I think she is, Polly," said Jasper, in a way that gave Polly
+great satisfaction.
+
+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 the scene in Mrs. Chatterton's room; and a
+sorry little feeling crept into her heart.
+
+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."
+
+"Polly," called Cathie softly from the next room, "I did have the most
+beautiful time!"
+
+"Did you?" cried Polly, choking back her sobs. "Oh, I am so glad,
+Cathie!"
+
+"Yes," said Cathie, "I did, Polly, and I'm not afraid of boys now; I
+think they are real nice."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+
+
+
+XXII PICKERING DODGE
+
+
+"Jasper!"
+
+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.
+
+"I want to see you, Jasper."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+Jasper nodded, unable to find any voice. Then he managed to say, "Yes,
+sir."
+
+"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 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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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." 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+He got off from his chair, and leaned on the table heavily.
+
+"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--"
+
+Jasper collapsed on his chair. "And is it 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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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
+them up carefully, repeating several times during the process, "Yes,
+very surprising indeed!"
+
+"And he seems to like to study now," said Jasper, ready to bring forward
+all the nice things that warranted encouragement.
+
+"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."
+
+"May I tell him so?" cried Jasper, almost beside himself with joy. "Oh,
+may I, Mr. Faber?"
+
+"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 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."
+
+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.
+
+"Where is Pick?" rushing up to a knot of boys on a corner of the
+playground, just separating to go home.
+
+"Don't know; what's up, King?"
+
+"Can't stop," said Jasper, flying back to the schoolroom. "I must get
+Pick."
+
+"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.
+
+"Pickering here?"
+
+"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.
+
+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 had
+thrown them, at different angles along the floor.
+
+"Hullo!" cried Jasper, flying in, to stop aghast at this.
+
+"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!"
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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--"
+
+Pickering sprang to his feet. "What do you mean, Jasper?" he cried
+hoarsely, his face white as a sheet.
+
+"Just what I say."
+
+"Say it again."
+
+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.
+
+"Honest?" he broke in, his pale face getting a dull red, and seizing
+Jasper by the shoulders.
+
+"Did I ever tell you anything that wasn't so, Pick?"
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"I'm through," he announced.
+
+"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."
+
+Pickering flung himself off the bed as summarily as he had gone on.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"How you look!" cried Jasper, considering it better to rail at him.
+
+Whereupon Pickering found his way to the long mirror. "I never was a
+beauty," he said.
+
+"And now you are less," laughed Jasper.
+
+"But I'm good," said Pickering solemnly, and flinging himself down to
+his books.
+
+"You can't study with such eyes," cried Jasper, tugging at the book.
+
+"Clear out!"
+
+"I'm not going. Pick, your eyes aren't much bigger than pins."
+
+"But they're sharp--just as pins are. Leave me alone." Pickering
+squirmed all over his chair, but Jasper had the book.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Get out. You better go home."
+
+"I haven't the smallest intention of going," replied Jasper, and
+successfully coming off with a second book.
+
+"Here's for book number three," declared Pickering--but too late. Jasper
+seized the remaining two, tossed them back of him, then squared off.
+
+"Come on for a tussle, old fellow. You're not fit to study--ruin your
+eyes. Come on!" his whole face sparkling.
+
+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.
+
+"I declare, that was a good one," he exclaimed in a glow.
+
+"Particularly so to you," said Jasper ruefully. "You gave me a regular
+bear-hug, you scamp."
+
+"Had to, to pay you up."
+
+"And now you may study," cried Jasper gaily; and snatching his books, he
+ran off.
+
+"Oh, Pick," putting his head in at the door.
+
+"Yes?"
+
+"If the lessons are done, come over this evening, will you?"
+
+"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.
+
+"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 on account of his size, finding it
+somewhat inconvenient to look up, therefore waddled into the street, and
+surveyed the house gravely.
+
+Pickering slammed down the window, leaving the old gentleman to stare as
+long as he saw fit.
+
+"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.
+
+"Jasper knows I can't go in this shape," he cried in a fury. "Great
+Caesar'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.
+
+At last he flung himself into his chair. "If I 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.
+
+"Oh dear me! Jasper," Polly exclaimed about half-past seven, "I don't
+believe Pickering is coming."
+
+"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."
+
+"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?"
+
+"I should think it was," cried Jasper. "Now if he only keeps on, Polly."
+
+"Oh, he must; he will," declared Polly confidently. "Well, we can put
+off toasting marshmallows until to-morrow night."
+
+About this time, Pickering, whose lessons were 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Ow!" exclaimed Pickering, seizing a sofa pillow, to jam it against his
+face.
+
+"What _is_ the matter?" cried Alexia. "Oh, have you a toothache?"
+
+"Worse than that," groaned Pickering behind his pillow.
+
+"Oh, my goodness me!" exclaimed Alexia, tumbling back. "What can it be?"
+
+"You haven't broken your jaw, Pick?" observed Clare. "I can't imagine
+that."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Well, if I ever did!" exclaimed Alexia, quite aghast.
+
+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.
+
+"Well, if I ever did!" exclaimed Alexia again, and sinking into the
+first chair, she raised both hands.
+
+"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.
+
+"Well, I guess you and I, Alexia, might as well go to Polly Pepper's,"
+he said finally.
+
+"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.
+
+"Good idea," said Clare.
+
+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.
+
+"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?"
+
+"I don't want to do anything," pouted Alexia, "only to know what made
+Pickering Dodge act in that funny way."
+
+"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?"
+
+"Oh, I wouldn't wait for him," Alexia burst out, quite exasperated,
+"when he's acted so. And perhaps he'd come with an old sofa pillow
+before his face, if you did."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+In the midst of it, Alexia threw down the chafing-dish spoon, and
+clapped her hands. "Oh, I know!" she exclaimed.
+
+"Oh," cried Polly, looking up from the little pile of nut-meats, "how
+you scared me, Alexia!"
+
+"I know--I know!" exclaimed Alexia again, and nodding to herself wisely.
+
+Jasper threw her a quick glance. It said, "If you know, don't tell,
+Alexia." And she flashed back, "Did you suppose I would?"
+
+"What do you know?" demanded Clare, transferring his attention from
+Jasper to her. "Tell on, Alexia; what do you know?"
+
+"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.
+
+"You don't mean that he thinks Pick will get in without conditions?"
+gasped Clare, dumfounded.
+
+"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."
+
+It was so much for Clare to think of, that he didn't have any words at
+his command.
+
+"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 _did_ put the butter in before. Now I've
+spoilt it," and she threw down the spoon in despair.
+
+"Fish it out," cried Polly, hopping up and seizing the spoon to make
+little dabs at the ball of butter now rapidly lessening.
+
+"But it's melted--that is, almost--oh dear me!" cried Alexia.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Where are they going?" asked Clare, with one eye after them.
+
+"Oh, they have something to talk over, I presume," said Jasper
+carelessly.
+
+"Nonsense! they've all the time every day. Let's go over and see."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"You see you didn't get anything for your pains," said Jasper, bursting
+into a laugh. "You'd much better have staid here."
+
+"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."
+
+"Polly," Alexia was saying in the library behind the portieres, "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."
+
+"Oh, Alexia!" exclaimed Polly, giving her a hug that satisfied even
+Alexia.
+
+"No, I didn't; and I remember how I wanted 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."
+
+
+
+
+XXIII THE CLEMCY GARDEN PARTY
+
+
+"You may go on those errands, Hortense, but first send Polly Pepper to
+me," commanded Mrs. Chatterton sharply.
+
+The French maid paused in the act of hanging up a gown. "I will
+_re_-quest her, Madame. I should not like to send Mees Polly Peppaire."
+
+"_Miss_ 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."
+
+Hortense shrugged her shoulders, and hung up the gown.
+
+"Has Madame any further commands for me?" she asked, coming up to her
+mistress.
+
+"Yes; be sure to get the velvet at Lemaire's, and take back the silk
+kimono. I will send to New York for one."
+
+"Yes, Madame."
+
+"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, _send_ Polly
+Pepper to me."
+
+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.
+
+"It ees not Miss Polly who will be sent for; it ees Madame who will be
+sent out of dees house, _j'ai peur_--ha, ha, ha!"
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+She listened intently. "It can't be possible she would refuse to come.
+Ha! I thought so."
+
+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, "_s'il vous
+plait_, Mees Polly."
+
+"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.
+
+"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, _Town Talk_, lying on the
+table.
+
+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.
+
+"Don't rattle it," cried Mrs. Chatterton, in a thin, high voice.
+
+"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.
+
+"And why don't you read where you are?" cried Mrs. Chatterton. "Begin on
+the first page. I wish to hear that first."
+
+Polly turned the sheet back again, and obeyed. But she hadn't read more
+than a paragraph when she came to a dead stop.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed Mrs. Chatterton passionately. "I command
+you to read that, girl. Do you hear me?"
+
+"I cannot," said Polly, in a low voice. "Mamsie wouldn't like it." But
+it was perfectly distinct, 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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 what Mamsie would never
+approve of. And just as Polly had about decided to slip out, she looked
+up.
+
+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?"
+
+"Read it," said Mrs. Chatterton ungraciously, and sat down in her
+favorite chair.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Put the parcels down," said Mrs. Chatterton, scarcely glancing at her,
+"I cannot attend to you now. Go on, Polly."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Mrs. Fisher has gone out," said Jane, going along the hall.
+
+"Gone out!" repeated Polly, "Oh, where? Do you know, Jane?"
+
+"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."
+
+"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!
+
+"They thought you had gone to the Salisbury School," said Jane, wishing
+she could give some comfort, "for they wanted you awfully to go."
+
+"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--"
+
+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.
+
+"Why, Polly, child!" Mother Fisher's voice was very cheery as she came
+in, Phronsie hurrying after.
+
+"I don't see her," began Phronsie in a puzzled way, and peering on all
+sides. "Where is she, Mamsie?"
+
+Mrs. Fisher went over and laid her hand on 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.
+
+"Is Polly sick?" asked Phronsie, going off to the door obediently, but
+looking back with wondering eyes.
+
+"No, dear, I think not," said Mrs. Fisher. "Run along, dear."
+
+"I am so glad she isn't sick," said Phronsie, as she went slowly off.
+Yet she carried a troubled face.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Hurry up there!" he cried crossly to Battles, who was having a hard
+time anyway getting him into a fresh sailor suit.
+
+"Oh, Dicky--Dicky!" called mamma softly from her room.
+
+"I can't help it, mamma; Battles is slow and poky," he fumed.
+
+"Oh, no, dear," said his mother; "Battles always gets you ready very
+swiftly, as well as nicely."
+
+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."
+
+"Well, I'm not in the least like mamma, Battles; I can't be."
+
+"No, indeed, you ain't. But you can try," said Battles encouragingly.
+
+"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 _awful_ story!"
+
+"Dicky--Dicky!" reproved Mrs. Whitney.
+
+"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 in great
+excitement--"that I could be like you."
+
+"I said you could try to be," corrected Battles, smoothing down her
+apron.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"What makes you shake so when you laugh, Battles?" asked Dick suddenly,
+and ignoring all references to his disposition.
+
+"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.
+
+"There's so very much of you, Battles," observed Dick with a critical
+look all over her rotund figure. "What makes it?"
+
+"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."
+
+"What's scrawny?" asked Dick, who always got as many alleviations by
+conversation as possible out of the detested hair-brushing.
+
+"Why, thin and lean."
+
+"Oh, well, go on, Battles."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+Phronsie was kneeling down in front of Sinbad's kennel.
+
+"Can't you untie him to-day, Michael?" she asked, a question she had
+propounded each morning since the boys went back to school.
+
+"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."
+
+"I know," said Phronsie sorrowfully; "that was naughty of Jerry when
+Sinbad had only just come."
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+And just then Dicky ran up breathlessly.
+
+"Dick," announced Phronsie excitedly, "Michael is going to let Sinbad
+out to-day." And she clasped her hands in delight.
+
+"Jolly!" exclaimed Dick, capering about.
+
+"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.
+
+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 the other dogs, and fairly tore--his ragged
+little tail straight out--across the west lawn.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, Michael!" cried Phronsie in the greatest distress, "make Dicky come
+back."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+Sinbad was in Phronsie's lap, who sat on the grass, holding him tightly.
+
+"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.
+
+"The dog is all right, ma'am," said Michael, "'twas only play; I s'pose
+Master Joel has raced with him."
+
+"'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."
+
+"Not to-day, Dicky," said Mrs. Whitney, looking him all over anxiously.
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+This episode absorbing all their attention, nobody heard or saw Alexia
+Rhys, running lightly up over the terrace. "Oh, my! what _are_ you
+doing? And where's Polly?" she asked of Mrs. Whitney.
+
+It being soon told, Alexia, who evidently had some exciting piece of
+news for Polly, ran into the house.
+
+"Polly," she called. "Oh, Polly Pepper, where _are_ you?" running over
+the stairs at the same time.
+
+But Polly, as we have seen, was not in her room.
+
+"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."
+
+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?"
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Where _have_ 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.
+
+"Then tell me, do, Alexia," begged Polly, scarcely less wrought up.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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!"
+
+Polly Pepper sat down on the shoe-box, quite gone in surprise.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Don't, Anstice," begged Miss Salisbury, nervous to the last degree,
+since even the support of "sister" was to be withdrawn. "It was the
+least I could do, to please him--after what has happened."
+
+"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."
+
+"Put it on for this visit, sister," advised Miss Salisbury, with a
+healthy disapproval of superstitions, "and break the charm."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, don't look at her," advised Alexia calmly; "for my part, I never
+do, unless I can't help it."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+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 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.
+
+"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!"
+
+Being unable to solve the puzzle, it afforded him plenty of occupation
+to work away at it.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+Mr. Clemcy lifted this, and took it off carefully. There stood the
+little vase, presenting as brave an appearance as in its first
+perfection.
+
+[Illustration: THERE STOOD THE LITTLE VASE, PRESENTING AS BRAVE AN
+APPEARANCE AS IN ITS FIRST PERFECTION.]
+
+Miss Salisbury uttered no exclamation, but preserved her composure by a
+violent effort.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I couldn't help it, sister," she said. "I've been so worried about that
+vase. _You_ don't know, because you are always so calm; and then to see
+it standing there--it quite took away my breath."
+
+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 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.
+
+"He's a dear," exclaimed Lucy Bennett, "only I'm mortally afraid of
+him."
+
+"Well, I'm not," proclaimed Alexia.
+
+The idea of Alexia being in any state that would suggest fear, being so
+funny, the girls burst out laughing.
+
+"Well, we sha'n't any of us feel like laughing much in a little while,"
+said Clem dolefully.
+
+"What is the matter?" cried a dozen voices.
+
+"Matter enough," replied Clem. "I've said so before, and now I know it's
+coming. Just look at that."
+
+She pushed aside the swaying branches of the sweetbrier, and pointed
+tragically. "I don't see anything," said one or two of the girls.
+
+"_There!_" "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 subjects,
+being able to respond very intelligently.
+
+"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.
+
+A whole chorus of "No--no!" burst upon this speech.
+
+"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.
+
+"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?"
+
+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."
+
+And the rest of that beautiful afternoon, with 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.
+
+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.
+
+"Now we will be comfortable together," said Miss Ophelia, the maid
+bringing her special little pot of tea.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+
+
+
+XXIV THE PIECE OF NEWS
+
+
+"Pepper, you're wanted!" Dick Furness banged into Joel's room, then out
+again, adding two words, "Harrow--immediately."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+But his voice and manner were not without a touch of sadness on this
+occasion that softened the speech itself.
+
+"Joel, my boy," Mr. Harrow began, "you know I have often had you down
+here to urge on those lessons of yours."
+
+"Yes, sir," said Joel, wondering now at the voice and manner.
+
+"Well, now to-day, I am instructed by the master to send for you for a
+different reason. Can you not guess?"
+
+"No, sir," said Joel, comfortable in the way things had been going on,
+and wholly unable to imagine the blow about to fall.
+
+"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, _without reason_--you are not to go to
+Moose Island to-morrow."
+
+Even then Joel did not comprehend. So Mr. Harrow repeated it distinctly.
+
+"_What!_" roared Joel. In his excitement he cleared the space between
+them, and gained Mr. Harrow's side. "_Not go to Moose Island, Mr.
+Harrow_?" his black eyes widening, and his face working fearfully.
+
+"No," said Mr. Harrow, drawing a long breath, "you are not to go; so Dr.
+Marks says."
+
+"But I _must_ go," cried Joel, quite gone in passion.
+
+"'Must' is a singular word to use here, Joel," observed Mr. Harrow
+sternly.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Joel,"--Mr. Harrow was speaking--"be a man, and bear this as _you_ can.
+You've had your chances for study, and not taken them. It is a case of
+_must_ 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."
+
+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.
+
+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
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+"I'm not going," said Joel, without raising his head.
+
+David ran around his chair to look at him from the further side, then
+peered under the bunch of curls Joel was hanging to.
+
+"What's--what's the matter, Joe?" he gasped, clutching the table.
+
+"Dr. Marks says I'm not to go," said Joel, telling the whole at once.
+
+"_Dr. Marks said you were not to go!_" repeated David. "Why, Joel,
+why?" he demanded in a gasp.
+
+"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.
+
+"Then _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.
+
+"Dave--_Dave_!" he yelled, running out into the hall, in the face of a
+stream of boys coming up from gymnasium practice.
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"Er--oh!" exclaimed Mr. Harrow, startled out of his usual composure, and
+turning quickly to face Joel. "Oh, it's you, Pepper!" which by no means
+lifted him out of his depression.
+
+"Dave says he won't go without me. You must make him," said Joel, in his
+intensity forgetting his manners.
+
+"To Moose Island?" asked Mr. Harrow.
+
+Joel nodded. He couldn't yet bring himself to speak the name.
+
+"All right; I will, Joe." Mr. Harrow grasped the brown hand hanging by
+Joel's side.
+
+"Really?" said Joel, swallowing hard.
+
+"Really. Run back to your books, and trust me."
+
+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.
+
+"I can study better so," he said, and holding on for dear life.
+
+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."
+
+No answer.
+
+"Joe!" They ran in and shook his shoulders. "Moose Island!" they
+screamed, and the excitement with which the whole school was charged was
+echoing it through the length of the dormitory.
+
+"Go away," cried Joel at them, "or I'll fire something at you," as they
+swarmed around his chair.
+
+"Fire your old grammar," suggested one, trying to twitch away his book;
+and another pulled the chair out from under him.
+
+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.
+
+And in ten minutes the news was all over the playground and in all the
+corridors, "Joe Pepper isn't going to Moose Island."
+
+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.
+
+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."
+
+"Well, he needn't," said Joel, "for it's perfectly true. I'm not going."
+
+Percy tried to speak; but what with running, and his astonishment, his
+tongue flapped up idly against the roof of his mouth.
+
+"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.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+Dr. Marks paced up and down his study floor, his head bent, his hands
+folded behind him.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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 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."
+
+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.
+
+"See there!" Joel proudly shook it at him. "Read it, Dave."
+
+So David seized it, and blinked in amazement.
+
+"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?"
+
+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."
+
+Tom Beresford rushed in without the formality of a knock, and gloomily
+threw himself on the bed. "Poor Joe!" was written all over his long
+face.
+
+"Oh, you needn't, Tom," said Joel gaily, and prancing up and down the
+room, "pity me, because I won't have it."
+
+"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.
+
+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.
+
+"I'd much rather stay back with you, Joe," Tom was saying.
+
+"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.
+
+"Great Caesar'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.
+
+"Joe Pepper!" He got off from the bed.
+
+"Isn't it great!" cried Joel. "Give me my note, Tom."
+
+"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!"
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+And then all was bustle and confusion enough, as how could it be helped
+with all those boys getting off on such an expedition?
+
+And Joel was the brightest of them all, here, there, and everywhere! You
+never would have guessed that he wasn't the leading spirit in the whole
+expedition, and its bright particular star!
+
+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.
+
+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!
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh, my dear, I suppose I ought not to stop you, for you are going to
+school."
+
+"Oh, it doesn't matter," said Alexia indifferently; "I'm late anyway.
+What is it, Miss Seymour?"
+
+"I want to congratulate you--I _must_ congratulate you," exclaimed old
+Miss Seymour, with an excited little cackle. "I really must, Alexia."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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."
+
+"'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?"
+
+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
+_can't_ be!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh, how could she go and get engaged!" she exclaimed aloud.
+
+"You haven't asked who the man is," said Miss Seymour in surprise.
+
+"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.
+
+"Eh--what?" exclaimed the little old lady quickly.
+
+"Never mind. It doesn't signify who the man is. It doesn't signify about
+anything," said Alexia wildly, "as long as Miss Salisbury is going to
+get married and give up our school."
+
+"Oh, I don't suppose the school will be given up," said Miss Seymour.
+
+"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!"
+
+"Why, I suppose the other one will keep it, of course; and it will go on
+just the same as it did before."
+
+"Oh dear me! The idea of Miss Anstice keeping that school!" With all her
+misery, Alexia couldn't help bursting into a laugh.
+
+"Miss Anstice?"
+
+"Yes; if you knew her as we girls do, Miss Seymour, you never'd say she
+could run that school."
+
+"I never said she could."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"Who do you think is engaged to Mr. John Clemcy?" she asked, looking up
+at the tall girl.
+
+"Why, our Miss Salisbury," answered Alexia, ready to cry, "I suppose.
+That's what you said."
+
+"Oh, no, I didn't," said the little old lady. "It's Miss Anstice
+Salisbury."
+
+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.
+
+And they could tell her something more.
+
+"Miss Wilcox is going to be the assistant teacher," cried Amy Garrett.
+
+"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."
+
+Alexia worked her way to Polly Pepper and clung to her.
+
+"Oh, Alexia, you've got here!" cried Polly delightedly. "And only think,
+we can keep our Miss Salisbury after all."
+
+
+
+
+XXV "THE VERY PRETTIEST AFFAIR"
+
+
+And 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.
+
+"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 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."
+
+"Oh, Alexia," cried Clem, "think of all those perfectly elegant old
+family portraits!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"And, oh, just think of Miss Anstice's engagement ring!" exclaimed
+another girl. "Oh my, on her little thin finger!"
+
+"It's awful old-fashioned," cried Silvia, "set in silver. But then, it's
+big, and a _very_ pure stone, my mother says; and quite shows that the
+family must have been something, for it is an heirloom."
+
+"Oh, do stop about family and heirlooms," cried Alexia impatiently; "the
+main thing is that our Miss Salisbury isn't going to desert us."
+
+"Miss Anstice is; oh, goody!" Amy Garrett hopped up and down and softly
+beat her hands while she finished the sentence.
+
+"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."
+
+"Of course you haven't," assented Clem coolly. "You've worried her life
+nearly out of her."
+
+"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."
+
+"Because you're forever having your own way," said Clem; "I'll tell
+you."
+
+"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."
+
+Polly Pepper ran over across the room to slip her arm within Alexia's,
+and give her a little approving pat.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"Hush now, do be quiet, Clem, if you can," cried Alexia, to pay up old
+scores.
+
+"I guess I'm not making as much noise as some other people," said Clem,
+with a wry face.
+
+"Well, Polly's going to begin; and as she's chairman, we've all got to
+be still as mice. Hush!"
+
+"I think," said Polly, "the best way would be, instead of wasting so
+much time in talking, and--"
+
+"Getting into a hubbub," interpolated Alexia.
+
+"Who's talking now," cried Clem triumphantly, "and making a noise?"
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, Polly, how fine!--just the thing."
+
+"I'll get the paper."
+
+"And the pencils." The ring was in a hubbub; Alexia, as usual, the first
+to hop out of her place.
+
+"Sit down, girls," said Polly as chairman. So they all flew back again.
+
+"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."
+
+"Who jumped first of all?" exclaimed Clem, bursting into a laugh.
+
+"Well, I'm back again, anyhow," said Alexia coolly, and folding her
+hands in her lap.
+
+"I'll appoint Lucy Bennett and Silvia Horne to get the paper and
+pencils," said Polly. "They are on my desk, girls."
+
+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.
+
+"We must all tear it up into strips," said the chairman, and, beginning
+on a sheet, "Lucy, you can be giving around the pencils."
+
+And presently the whole committee was racking its brains over this
+terribly important question thrust upon them.
+
+"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.
+
+"Ugh! do be still." Lucy, on the other side, nudged her. "I can't think,
+if anybody speaks a word."
+
+"And fit in well with those old portraits," said Clem, with a look at
+Alexia.
+
+"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."
+
+"Ugh! do hush," cried the girls.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"My list is done." Amy Garrett pinched hers into a little three-cornered
+note, and threw it into Polly's lap.
+
+"And mine--and mine." They all came in fast in a small white shower.
+
+"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.
+
+"Oh dear me!" The chairman unfolded the first strip, and began to read.
+"A piano--why, girls, Miss Anstice can't play."
+
+"Well, it would look nice in that great big drawing-room," said Clem,
+letting herself out with a very red face.
+
+"Oh, my! you wrote _a piano_!" Alexia went over backward suddenly to
+lie flat on the floor and laugh. "Besides, there is one in that house."
+
+"An old thing!" exclaimed Clem in disdain.
+
+"Well, let's see; here's something nice"--Polly ran along the list--"a
+handsome chair, a desk, a cabinet. Those are fine!"
+
+"Clem has gone into the furniture business, I should think," said
+Philena.
+
+"And a cabinet!" exclaimed Amy Garrett, "when that house is just full of
+'em."
+
+"Oh, I mean a jewel cabinet, or something of that sort," explained Clem
+hastily.
+
+"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.
+
+"Well, Chairman--Polly, I mean"--Alexia flew into position--"what's the
+next list?"
+
+"This is quite different," said Polly, unrolling it; "some handsome
+lace, a fan, a lorgnette, a bracelet."
+
+"It's easy enough to see that's Silvia's," said Alexia--"all that finery
+and furbelows."
+
+"Well, it's not fair to tell what you think and guess," said Silvia, a
+pink spot coming on either check.
+
+"'Twouldn't make any difference, my guessing; we all know it's yours,
+Silvia," said Alexia, coolly.
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+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.
+
+"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.
+
+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 bride going forth from the Salisbury
+School. The watch and chain was the only gift to be thought of.
+
+"And she wears that great big old-fashioned thing," declared Silvia;
+"looks like a turnip--oh, oh!"
+
+"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."
+
+"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."
+
+"Do--oh, do!" The whole ring came together in a bunch, as the girls all
+crowded around Polly.
+
+"Alexia!" Then Polly turned and gave a loving little pat on the long
+back.
+
+"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."
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+"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.
+
+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!
+
+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?"
+
+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?"
+
+"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."
+
+"We should _love_ to do it," cried Polly warmly. "May we go now, dear
+Miss Salisbury?"
+
+"Yes," said Miss Salisbury, very much pleased; "she is in the red
+parlor."
+
+So the committee filed into the red parlor. There sat Miss Anstice,
+and--oh dear me!--Mr. John Clemcy!
+
+There was no time to retreat; for Miss Salisbury, 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.
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+"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."
+
+"Oh, that could never be!" cried Mr. Clemcy.
+
+"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
+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!"
+
+She threw the chain around her neck; and laid the little watch gently
+against her cheek.
+
+"Oh!" It was Alexia who pressed forward. "You'll forgive us all, won't
+you, Miss Anstice, if we didn't love you enough?"
+
+"When I want to forgive, I'll look at my dear watch," said Miss Anstice
+brightly, and smiling on them all.
+
+"'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."
+
+"And the red rose in her belt," said Clem.
+
+"And her diamond ring," added Silvia.
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, and now there's the wedding!" exclaimed Amy Garrett, clasping her
+hands, "oh!"
+
+"What richness!" finished Alexia.
+
+And everybody said it was "the very prettiest 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.
+
+"And what a lovely thought to get those boys from the Pemberton School
+for ushers, with Jasper King as their leader!"
+
+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.
+
+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.
+
+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 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.
+
+Miss Ophelia Clemcy blossomed out from her retirement, and became quite
+voluble, in the front pew before the wedding procession arrived.
+
+"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?"
+
+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 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.
+
+"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.
+
+"Yes, and didn't Alexia make an awful blunder with her paper of rice!"
+said Clem sweetly.
+
+"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."
+
+"Well, you needn't have spilt it all over Miss Anstice's bonnet," said
+Philena, laughing.
+
+"Mrs. Clemcy's, you mean," corrected Jasper.
+
+"Oh dear me! I never shall get used to her new name," declared Philena.
+
+"And I think I got my rice deposited as well as some of the rest of you
+girls," declared Alexia airily.
+
+"Mine struck Mr. Clemcy full in the eye," said Silvia; "then I ducked
+behind Polly Pepper."
+
+"Oh, that was a great way to do!" exclaimed Jasper.
+
+"Oh, I saw her," said Polly, with a little laugh, "and I jumped away;
+and Mr. Clemcy saw her, too."
+
+"Horrors!" cried Silvia. "Did he? Oh, I'm frightened to death! What did
+he look like, Polly?"
+
+"Oh, he laughed," said Polly.
+
+Just then came a ring at the doorbell, sharp and sudden.
+
+"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."
+
+"A telegram, sir." Johnson held out a long yellow envelope to Mr. King.
+
+"It's for Mrs. Fisher," said the old gentleman.
+
+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.
+
+"Oh--the boys!" gasped Polly. "Jasper, do 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!
+
+"David took first prize classics. I'm picking up a bit. JOEL PEPPER."
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: Page 115, last paragraph, added the word "it".
+
+"and bring up to my house"    "and bring it up to my house"]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Five Little Peppers at School, by Margaret Sidney
+
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