Part 44 (2/2)

”Oh, Van, if he went with Papa Fisher, how could he? Oh, I know.” Polly clapped her hands. ”They've gone down to see that boy that got his arm hurt on the pond. I verily believe they have.”

”Well, they might have taken us,” said Van again. ”I'd like to have seen him awfully, and now Joel will have him all to himself. I'm going to get something, and I won't let Joel have any of it,” he added vindictively.

”Oh, Vanny!” and Polly went close to him, and put her cheek to his. ”Just think what a dreadful time Joel had out there on the pond,” and she gave a little s.h.i.+ver.

”Hah, hah!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Percy. ”You'd been scared to death, Van, if those boys even winked at you.”

”I wouldn't, either,” declared Van, straightening up.

”Percy--Percy,” said Polly warningly, turning around at him.

”Well, he would,” said Percy uneasily, not looking at her; ”you know he would, Polly.”

”Well, don't say any such thing,” said Polly firmly, ”and perhaps he wouldn't, either.”

”No, I wouldn't,” protested Van stoutly, since Polly reinforced him, ”and you're just as mean as you can be, Percy Whitney, to say so.”

”Boys”--Polly drew away from Van, and sank down on her chair again--”I shan't have anything to say to either of you when you say such dreadful things,” and she folded her hands sorrowfully in her lap and looked straight ahead at the opposite wall.

”Oh, we won't--we won't,” cried both boys, running over to her. ”Polly, we won't”--shaking her arms.

”Well, don't, then,” said Polly. ”Now promise you won't do it again, or else I'm really not going to talk to you.”

So Percy and Van promised, and pretty soon the wide hall resounded with merry peals of laughter.

”Oh, dear me!” exclaimed Polly, jumping to her feet in dismay.

”What's the matter?” cried both boys, tumbling back in astonishment.

”Just look what I've done!” Polly was wringing her hands now, and presented a picture of distress.

”What--what, Polly?” They crowded up to her again.

”Why, I've forgotten I was to go at once to Mrs. Sterling's, and she's been waiting. If Joel comes, send--him--over.” The last words came back in a little shout, for Polly was off.

”Oh, dear me!” exclaimed Percy discontentedly, losing all thought of the attractions in Ben's room, ”now Polly will be gone all the whole afternoon, I 'most know.”

”Let's tag her,” proposed Van cheerfully, not caring to get upstairs first, since Percy wasn't going to race with him, ”I will; come on!”

”No, no,” said Percy, in alarm, ”she won't like that. Think of something else.”

”I've thought of one thing, and you won't do it,” said Van composedly, sitting down on the very chair Polly had left. ”Now it's your turn.”

”But it was no good--that old thing you thought of,” retorted Percy, in disdain; ”no one could do it.”

”I thought it out, anyway,” repeated Van obstinately, ”and you wouldn't do it, so I'm not going to think up anything else till you have thought something, Percy Whitney.”

”Well, you needn't be so cross,” said Percy sourly, and squaring up to his chair.

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