Part 21 (1/2)

”I guess you never'll know how much you did do,” said Mrs. Pepper. Then looking with a long, keen gaze into the boy's eyes that met her own so frankly and kindly: ”I'll trust him,” she said to herself; ”a boy with those eyes can't help but be good.”

”Her eyes are just the same as Polly's,” thought Jasper, ”just such laughing ones, only Polly's are brown,” and he liked her on the spot.

And then, somehow, the hubbub ceased. Polly went on with her work, and the others separated, and Mrs. Pepper and Jasper had a long talk. When the mother's eyes fell on Phronsie playing around on the floor, she gave the boy a grateful smile that he thought was beautiful.

”Well, I declare,” said Jasper, at last, looking up at the old clock in the corner by the side of the cupboard, ”I'm afraid I'll miss the stage, and then father never'll let me come again. Come, Prince.”

”Oh, don't go,” cried Phronsie, wailing. ”Let doggie stay! Oh, make him stay, mammy!”

”I can't, Phronsie,” said Mrs. Pepper, smiling, ”if he thinks he ought to go.”

”I'll come again,” said Jasper, eagerly, ”if I may, ma'am.”

He looked up at Mrs. Pepper as he stood cap in hand, waiting for the answer.

”I'm sure we should be glad if your father'll be willing,” she added; thinking, proudly, ”My children are an honor to anybody, I'm sure,” as she glanced around on the bright little group she could call her own.

”But be sure, Jasper,” and she laid her hand on his arm as she looked down into his eyes, ”that you father is willing, that's all.”

”Oh, yes, ma'am,” said the boy; ”but he will be, I guess, if he feels well.”

”Then come on Thursday,” said Polly; ”and can't we bake something then, mammy?”

”I'm sure I don't care,” laughed Mrs. Pepper; ”but you won't find much but brown flour and meal to bake with.”

”Well, we can pretend,” said Polly; ”and we can cut the cakes with the heart-shape, and they'll do for anything.

”Oh, I'll come,” laughed Jasper, ready for such lovely fun in the old kitchen; ”look out for me on Thursday, Ben!”

So Jasper and Prince took their leave, all the children accompanying them to the gate; and then after seeing him fairly started on a smart run to catch the stage, Prince scampering at his heels, they all began to sing his praises and to wish for Thursday to come.

But Jasper didn't come! Thursday came and went; a beautiful, bright, sunny day, but with no signs of the merry boy whom all had begun to love, nor of the big black dog. The children had made all the needful preparations with much ostentation and bustle, and were in a state of excited happiness, ready for any gale. But the last hope had to be given up, as the old clock ticked away hour after hour. And at last Polly had to put Phronsie to bed, who wouldn't stop crying enough to eat her supper at the dreadful disappointment.

”He couldn't come, I know,” said both Ben and Polly, standing staunchly up for their new friend; but Joel and David felt that he had broken his word.

”He promised,” said Joel, vindictively.

”I don't believe his father'd let him,” said Polly, wiping away a sly tear; ”I know Jasper'd come, if he could.”

Mrs. Pepper wisely kept her own counsel, simply giving them a kindly caution:

”Don't you go to judging him, children, till you know.”

”Well, he promised,” said Joel, as a settler.

”Aren't you ashamed, Joel,” said his mother, ”to talk about any one whose back is turned? Wait till he tells you the reason himself.”

Joel hung his head, and then began to tease David in the corner, to make up for his disappointment.

The next morning Ben had to go to the store after some more meal. As he was going out rather dismally, the storekeeper, who was also postmaster, called out, ”Oh, halloa, there!”