Part 43 (2/2)

And one look at Mrs. Selwyn's face, as she read that Round Robin, was enough for Polly! And then to post it.

”Dear me,” said Polly, when that important matter was concluded, ”suppose anything should happen to it now, before it gets there!”

XXV

ON THE _MER DE GLACE_

”Well, we can't all get into one carriage,” said Polly, on the little brick-paved veranda of the hotel, ”so what is the use of fussing, Adela?”

”I don't care,” said Adela, ”I'm going to ride in the same carriage with you, Polly Pepper, so there!” and she ran her arm in Polly's, and held it fast.

Jasper kicked his heel impatiently against one of the pillars where the sweetbrier ran; then he remembered, and stopped suddenly, hoping n.o.body had heard. ”The best way to fix it is to go where we are put,” he said at last, trying to speak pleasantly.

”No, I'm going with Polly,” declared Adela, perversely, holding Polly tighter than ever.

”I'm going with you, Polly,” cried Phronsie, running up gleefully, ”Grandpapa says I may.”

”Well, so am I,” announced Adela, loudly.

Tom Selwyn gave a low whistle, and thrust his hands in his pockets, his great and only comfort on times like these.

”Anything but a greedy girl,” he sniffed in lofty contempt.

Meanwhile the horses were being put in the carriages, the stable men were running hither and thither to look to buckle and strap, and a lot of bustle was going on that at any other time would have claimed the boys. Now it fell flat, as a matter of interest.

”Halloo--k-lup!” The drivers gave the queer call clear down in their throats, and hopped to their places on the three conveyances, and with a rattle and a flourish the horses now spun around the fountain in the little courtyard to come up with a swing to the veranda.

”Now, then,” said Grandpapa, who had been overseeing every detail, ”here we are,” running his eyes over his party; ”that's right,” in great satisfaction. ”I never saw such a family as I have for being prompt on all occasions. Well then, the first thing I have to do is to get you settled in these carriages the right way.”

Adela, at that, snuggled up closer than ever to Polly, and gripped her fast.

”Now, Mrs. Fisher,” said old Mr. King, ”you'll ride with Mrs. Selwyn in the first carriage, and you must take two of the young folks in with you.”

”Oh, let Polly and me go in there!” cried Adela, forgetting her wholesome fear of the stately old gentleman in her anxiety to get her own way.

”Polly is going with me and Phronsie,” said Mr. King. ”Hop in, Adela, child, and one of you boys.”

Tom ducked off the veranda, while Adela, not daring to say another syllable, slowly withdrew her arm from Polly's and mounted the carriage step, with a miserable face.

”Come on, one of you boys,” cried Mr. King, impatiently. ”We should have started a quarter of an hour ago--I don't care which one, only hurry.”

”I can't!” declared Tom, flatly, grinding his heel into the pebbles, and looking into Jasper's face.

”Very well,”--Jasper drew a long breath,--”I must, then.” And without more ado, he got into the first carriage and they rattled off to wait outside the big gate till the procession was ready to start.

Old Mrs. Gray, the parson's wife and the parson, and little Dr. Fisher made the next load, and then Grandpapa, perfectly delighted that he had arranged it all so nicely, with Polly and Phronsie, climbed into the third and last carriage, while Tom swung himself up as a fourth.

<script>