Part 22 (1/2)

But at last it was cut; and they all holding their breath, gazed awe-struck, while Polly drew out the mysterious missive.

”What does it say?” gasped Mrs. Pepper.

”Dear Miss Polly,” began both Ben and Polly in a breath. ”Let Polly read,” said Joel, who couldn't hear in the confusion.

”Well, go on Polly,” said Ben; ”hurry!”

”Dear Miss Polly, I was so sorry I couldn't come on Thursday--”

”Oh, it's Jasper! it's Jasper!” cried all the children in a breath.

”I told you so!” cried Ben and Polly, perfectly delighted to find their friend vindicated fully--”there! Joey Pepper!”

”Well, I don't care,” cried Joe, nothing daunted, ”he didn't come, anyway--do go on, Polly.”

”I was so sorry I couldn't come--” began Polly.

”You read that,” said Joel.

”I know it,” said Polly, ”but it's just lovely; 'on Thursday; but my father was sick, and I couldn't leave him. If you don't mind I'll come again--I mean I'll come some other day, if it's just as convenient for you, for I do so want the baking, and the nice time. I forgot to say that I had a cold, to,' (here Jasper had evidently had a struggle in his mind whether there should be two o's or one, and he had at last decided it, by crossing out one) but my father is willing I should come when I get well. Give my love to all, and especially remember me respectfully to your mother. Your friend,

”JASPER ELYOT KING.”

”Oh, lovely! lovely!” cried Polly, flying around with the letter in her hand; ”so he is coming!”

Ben was just as wild as she was, for no one knew but Polly just how the new friend had stepped into his heart. Phronsie went to sleep happy, hugging ”Baby.”

”And don't you think, Baby, dear,” she whispered sleepily, and Polly heard her say as she was tucking her in, ”that Jasper is really comin'; really--and the big, be-you-ti-ful doggie, too!”

PHRONSIE PAYS A DEBT OF GRAt.i.tUDE

”And now I tell you,” said Polly, the next day, ”let's make Jasper something; can't we, ma?”

”Oh, do! do!” cried all the other children, ”let's; but what'll it be, Polly?”

”I don't know about this,” interrupted Mrs. Pepper; ”I don't see how you could get anything to him if you could make it.”

”Oh, we could, mamsie,” said Polly, eagerly, running up to her; ”for Ben knows; and he says we can do it.”

”Oh, well, if Ben and you have had your heads together, I suppose it's all right,” laughed Mrs. Pepper, ”but I don't see how you can do it.”

”Well, we can, mother, truly,” put in Ben. ”I'll tell you how, and you'll say it'll be splendid. You see Deacon Blodgett's goin' over to Hingham, to-morrow; I heard him tell Miss Blodgett so; and he goes right past the hotel; and we can do it up real nice--and it'll please Jasper so--do, mammy!”

”And it's real dull there, Jasper says,” put in Polly, persuasively; ”and just think, mammy, no brothers and sisters!” And Polly looked around on the others.

After that there was no need to say anything more; her mother would have consented to almost any plan then.

”Well, go on, children,” she said; ”you may do it; I don't see but what you can get 'em there well enough; but I'm sure I don't know what you can make.”

”Can't we,” said Polly--and she knelt down by her mother's side and put her face in between the sewing in Mrs. Pepper's lap, and the eyes bent kindly down on her--”make some little cakes, real cakes I mean? now don't say no, mammy!” she said, alarmed, for she saw a ”no” slowly coming in the eyes above her, as Mrs. Pepper began to shake her head.