Part 6 (1/2)

”Well, I tell you,” said Phronsie, confidentially, setting down a cup that she had polished with great care, ”I'm going to do 'em all to-morrow, for you, Polly--I can truly; let me now, Polly, do.”

”Nonsense!” said Polly, giving a great splash with her mop in the tub, ashamed of her inward repinings. ”Phronsie, you're no bigger than a mouse!”

”Yes, I am,” retorted Phronsie, very indignantly. Her face began to get very red, and she straightened up so suddenly to show Polly just how very big she was that her little head came up against the edge of the tub--over it went! a pile of saucers followed.

”There now,” cried Polly, ”see what you've done!”

”Ow!” whimpered Phronsie, breaking into a subdued roar; ”oh, Polly! it's all running down my back.”

”Is it?” said Polly, bursting out into a laugh; ”never mind, Phronsie, I'll dry you.”

”Dear me, Polly!” said Mrs. Pepper, who had looked up in time to see the tub racing along by itself towards the ”Provision Room” door, a stream of dish-water following in its wake, ”she will be wet clear through; do get off her things, quick.”

”Yes'm,” cried Polly, picking up the tub, and giving two or three quick sops to the floor. ”Here you are, p.u.s.s.y,” grasping Phronsie, crying as she was, and carrying her into the bedroom.

”Oh, dear,” wailed the child, still holding the wet dish towel; ”I won't ever do it again, if you'll only let me do 'em all to-morrow.”

”When you're big and strong,” said Polly, giving her a hug, ”you shall do 'em every day.”

”May I really?” said little Phronsie, blinking through the tears, and looking radiant.

”Yes, truly--every day.”

”Then I'll grow right away, I will,” said Phronsie, bursting out merrily; and she sat down and pulled off the well-worn shoes, into which a big pool of dish-water had run, while Polly went for dry stockings.

”So you shall,” said Polly, coming back, a big piece of gingerbread in her hand; ”and this'll make you grow, Phronsie.”

”O-o-h!” and Phronsie's little white teeth shut down quickly on the comforting morsel. Gingerbread didn't come often enough into the Pepper household to be lightly esteemed.

”Now,” said Mrs. Pepper, when order was restored, the floor washed up brightly, and every cup and platter in place, hobn.o.bbing away to themselves on the shelves of the old corner cupboard, and Polly had come as usual with needle and thread to help mother--Polly was getting so that she could do the plain parts on the coats and jackets, which filled her with pride at the very thought--”now,” said Mrs. Pepper, ”you needn't help me this morning, Polly: I'm getting on pretty smart; but you may just run down to the parson's, and see how he is.”

”Is he sick?” asked Polly, in awe.

To have the parson sick, was something quite different from an ordinary person's illness.

”He's taken with a chill,” said Mrs. Pepper, biting off a thread, ”so Miss Huldy Folsom told me last night, and I'm afraid he's going to have a fever.”

”Oh, dear,” said Polly, in dire distress; ”whatever'd we do, mammy!”

”Don't know, I'm sure,” replied Mrs. Pepper, setting her st.i.tches firmly; ”the Lord'll provide. So you run along, child, and see how he is.”

”Can't Phronsie go?” asked Polly, pausing half-way to the bedroom door.

”Well, yes, I suppose she might,” said Mrs. Pepper, a.s.sentingly.

”No, she can't either,” said Polly, coming back with her sun-bonnet in her hand, and shutting the door carefully after her, ”cause she's fast asleep on the floor.”

”Is she?” said Mrs. Pepper; ”well, she's been running so this morning, she's tired out, I s'pose.”

”And her face is dreadfully red,” continued Polly, tying on her bonnet; ”now, what'll I say, mammy?”

”Well, I should think 'twould be,” said Mrs. Pepper, replying to the first half of Polly's speech; ”she cried so. Well, you just tell Mrs.