Part 35 (1/2)
”So Ma her up to sit next to Joel, on her lap When little Davie saw that, ”I wish there was room,” he said softly, ”to hold me, too, Ma her ar fro over to her, to get within the good arh she couldn't sit on her lap, of course, as there were three little Peppers there already; ”I'm sorry I spoke, but I didn't think”
”Didn't think makes ravely; ”so see to it that next time you don't have to make that excuse, Polly child,” and she dropped a kiss on Polly's red cheek
”It's just this way, children,” she went on, slad to work, and every stitch she puts in, she keeps thinking, now that's for Ben and Polly and Joel and David and Phronsie” Mother Pepper's black eyes went lovingly around on all the faces so near her own ”And I keep looking ahead, too, to the ti out into the world and--”
”Oh, we aren't ever going out into the world, Ma to stay in the little brown house forever'n ever”
”Forever'n ever,” echoed Phronsie, folding her hands tightly together; while the two boys vociferously protested that nothing should ever drive them out of the little brown house ”No, not even to live over in Strawberry Hill with nice Mrs Green”
”Well, anye row up so that the little brown house won't be ashamed of us,” said Mrs Pepper, ”and that's what Mother is working for; so don't letabout it Now reain ”Now scaht s and sent her needle cheerily in and out once s were all cleared away, Joel began by drawing Davie off in a corner to whisper mysteriously
”Let him alone, Polly,” said Ben, in a low voice ”Joe'll tell of his own accord, pretty soon”
And sure enough, it wasn't ten one into the bedrooht, when Joel said triu, Dave and ht,” said Ben, coolly ”Polly, I guess I'll ood this week”
”I wish you would, Bensie,” said Polly, well pleased, for Polly dearly loved everything kept mended up, and ”shi+pshape,” as Mrs
Pepper used to say ”I'll spread the paper down so you don't get any mess on the floor” So she ran to the pile of old weekly newspapers her ertown people sent her a copy, as they did once in a while, and flapping one open, she soon had a ”paper carpet,” as she saidout froether with the haan to hum with the noise
”Yes,” said Joel, loudly, ”we do; we know so real fine, Dave and I Don't we, Dave?” with a nip on Davie's little arm
”Ow!” said Davie
”That so?” assented Ben, coolly
”Yes, and we aren't goin' to tell, either,” said Joel, ”not a single word; so there, Ben!” Then he began to whisper as fast as he could to David
”You'll tell, yourself, Joe, without anybody's asking,” said Ben, as Joel began again with: ”It's perfectly splendid, Ben Pepper
And oh, Polly, you don't knoe do; does she, Dave?”
”Polly and I will know pretty soon,” added Ben
”No, you won't, either,” contradicted Joel ”We aren't ever in all this world goin' to tell of the circus I' down the hammer ”You've told it, Joe, just the saed Polly, ”it teases Joel Well, we don't knohat kind of a circus you are going to have, Joey,” she said kindly, ”so we'll be just as much surprised e see it”
”Will you?” cried Joel; ”well, then, Polly, I'd rather tell the whole, if you'll be surprised when you see all the aniuess you will,” said Ben, in a low voice; ”there's no danger in pro that”
”I truly will, Joey,” proin with, Polly, there's going to be a rhodo--What's that you told us about in your story of the circus?”