Part 60 (1/2)

”I'm getting some more nuts,” she said; ”my candy was perfectly horrid, and everything was spoiled.”

”Yes, I know,” said Polly, coming up close to comfort as much as possible, for Alexia had a very long face on, and looked as if it would take a good deal to cheer her up. ”How can I tell her about that dreadful green floss and those patterns?” said Polly over and over to herself. ”I must wait till we get out on the street.”

But when the two girls were outside the shop, Polly carrying the bundle of nuts tucked under her arm, it was just as bad, and she put it off until the corner was reached down which they must turn to go to Miss Angell's. And worst of all, they were hurrying on so fast the lovely bit of news must be postponed.

”How glad I am, Aunt didn't take it into her head to send me spinning off down there!” observed Alexia, glancing down the long thoroughfare with anything but a pleasant expression on her long face. ”I just hate that Miss Angell's shop. Goodness me! we never could do it, with all this candy to make, and get our Club supper to-night.”

Polly stopped short, and seized Alexia's arm. ”Oh, don't feel badly!” she gasped, and then, thinking, ”It's better to have the whole out at once,”

she finished in one breath, ”Your aunt wants some green floss, Alexia.”

”Well, she shan't have it,” declared Alexia, stopping short, too, and glaring at Polly over her bundle of sugar. ”No, indeed!” and her pale eyes grew very angry. ”The very idea! she's always wanting green floss, every single minute. Come on, Polly Pepper.” She set her face straight ahead and marched on. But not hearing Polly following, she looked over her shoulder, and then ran back. ”Why don't you come on? I shan't get that old green floss”--all in one breath.

”We can get there in a few minutes perhaps,” said Polly, ”Alexia, do let us hurry,” and, turning down the corner, without so much as a glance backward, she went swiftly on, without trusting herself to look down the long street.

”I shan't get that old green floss,” declared Alexia wrathfully, standing quite still on the corner, yet, as Polly kept steadily on, showing no intention of stopping, she pattered after. But she kept saying, every step of the way, ”I shan't get that old green floss, Polly, _wait!_”

But it was not until the door of Miss Angell's shop was reached that the two girls came together.

”It's a hateful mean shame,” exploded Alexia, huddling up her bundle of sugar pa.s.sionately. ”There, I've punched a hole with my thumb; see what you've made me do.”

Polly turned around in dismay, to see a little trail of fine sugar drifting from the package down over Alexia's gown.

”Oh, dear me!” she exclaimed, in dismay. ”I'll help you; stand still, Alexia, do; it's all running out.”

”Well, you made me,” cried Alexia, whirling around and wildly patting the bag in just the wrong places, so that the stream of sugar became now quite big.

”Do stand still, Alexia,” implored Polly; ”here, I'll pinch it up,” She set down her bundle of nuts on the top step, which a lady, not seeing, came out of the shop, and promptly fell over.

”Oh, dear me!” exclaimed Polly, in terror, and running down the steps. ”Did you hurt you? Oh, I'm so sorry!”--clasping her hands and looking the picture of distress. Then she saw it was Mrs. Patterson, a friend of Auntie Whitney's.

”No,” said the lady tartly, getting up to her feet to draw a long breath and gaze up and down the street. ”Why, Polly Pepper!”--bringing her gaze upon the flushed face.

”Are you sure you are not hurt, Mrs. Patterson?” Polly looked at her anxiously. Oh, dear me! how could she be so careless!

”Not a bit of it,” declared that lady, ”but, oh, Polly, do you suppose any one saw me?” and she gazed ruefully up and down the street again.

”I don't believe any one did,” said Polly, peering this way and that.

”Polly, do come; this sugar is all running away,” cried Alexia loudly.

”And do let me brush your gown,” implored Polly, feeling as if everything were going wrong this afternoon.

”Never mind, I'm going directly home, here is the carriage,” said Mrs.

Patterson, as her handsome equipage drew up. ”Don't you worry a bit, Polly Pepper; I'm not in the least hurt,” and off she drove.

”Polly, will you come?” called Alexia, dancing about impatiently on the top step, and clutching the bag of sugar with nervous ringers that didn't help matters any. ”Oh, dear me, do look!”--pointing tragically to the little pile of sweetness at her feet.

”Oh, I do hope she wasn't hurt,” cried Polly, stumbling up over the steps, how, she didn't know.

”Oh, that tiresome Mrs. Patterson! Well, it will do her good to tumble down once in a while,” said Alexia unsympathetically, ”she's so stiff and mighty; and I should think you might pay some attention to me,” she cried, in a loud, injured tone; ”I'm all in a mess with this sugar, and I haven't got any candy, and you made me come clear down to this old shop, and----”