CHAPTER III. POLLY'S TROUBLES

POLLYsoonfoundthatshewasinanewworld,aworldwherethemannersandcustomsweresodifferentfromthesimplewaysathome,thatshefeltlikeastrangerinastrangeland,andoftenwishedthatshehadnotcome.Inthefirstplace,shehadnothingtodobutloungeandgossip,readnovels,paradethestreets,anddressandbeforeaweekwasgone,shewasasheartilysickofallthis,asahealthypersonwouldbewhoattemptedtoliveonconfectionery.Fannylikedit,becauseshewasusedtoit,andhadneverknownanythingbetterbutPollyhad,andoftenfeltlikealittlewood-birdshutupinagildedcage.Nevertheless,shewasmuchimpressedbytheluxuriesallabouther,enjoyedthem,wishedsheownedthem,andwonderedwhytheShawswerenotahappierfamily.Shewasnotwiseenoughtoknowwherethetroublelayshedidnotattempttosaywhichofthetwoliveswastherightonesheonlyknewwhichshelikedbest,andsupposeditwasmerelyanotherofher“old-fashioned”ways. Fanny'sfriendsdidnotinteresthermuchshewasratherafraidofthem,theyseemedsomucholderandwiserthanherself,eventhoseyoungerinyears.TheytalkedaboutthingsofwhichsheknewnothingandwhenFannytriedtoexplain,shedidn'tfindtheminterestingindeed,someofthemrathershockedandpuzzledhersothegirlsletheralone,beingcivilwhentheymet,butevidentlyfeelingthatshewastoo“odd”tobelongtotheirset.ThensheturnedtoMaudforcompanionship,forherownlittlesisterwasexcellentcompany,andPollylovedherdearly.ButMissMaudwasmuchabsorbedinherownaffairs,forshebelongedtoa“set”alsoandthesemitesoffiveandsixhadtheir“musicals,”theirparties,receptions,andpromenades,aswellastheireldersand,thechiefideaoftheirlittlelivesseemedtobetoapethefashionablefolliestheyshouldhavebeentooinnocenttounderstand.Maudhadhertinycard-case,andpaidcalls,“likemammaandFan”herboxofdaintygloves,herjewel-drawer,hercrimping-pins,asfineandfancifulawardrobeasaParisdoll,andaFrenchmaidtodressher.Pollycouldn'tgetonwithheratfirst,forMauddidn'tseemlikeachild,andoftencorrectedPollyinherconversationandmanners,thoughlittlemademoiselle'sownwereanythingbutperfect.Nowandthen,whenMaudfeltpoorly,orhada“fwactious”turn,forshehad“nerves”aswellasmamma,shewouldgotoPollyto“beamoosed,”forhergentlewaysandkindforbearancesoothedthelittlefineladybetterthananythingelse.Pollyenjoyedthesetimes,andtoldstories,playedgames,orwentoutwalking,justasMaudliked,slowlyandsurelywinningthechild'sheart,andrelievingthewholehouseoftheyoungtyrantwhoruledit. TomsoongotoverstaringatPolly,andatfirstdidnottakemuchnoticeofher,for,inhisopinion,“girlsdidn'tamounttomuch,anyway”and,considering,thestyleofgirlheknewmostabout,Pollyquiteagreedwithhim.Heoccasionallyrefreshedhimselfbyteasingher,toseehowshe'dstandit,andcausedPollymuchanguishofspirit,forsheneverknewwherehewouldtakehernext.Hebouncedoutatherfrombehinddoors,booedatherindarkentries,clutchedherfeetasshewentupstairs,startledherbyshrillwhistlesrightinherear,orsuddentweaksofthehairashepassedherinthestreetandassureastherewascompanytodinner,hefixedhisroundeyesonher,andnevertookthemofftillshewasreducedtoapiteousstateofconfusionanddistress.Sheusedtobeghimnottoplagueherbuthesaidhediditforhergoodshewastooshy,andneededtougheningliketheothergirls.Invainsheprotestedthatshedidn'twanttobeliketheothergirlsinthatrespectheonlylaughedinherface,stuckhisredhairstraightupalloverhishead,andglaredather,tillshefledindismay. YetPollyratherlikedTom,forshesoonsawthathewasneglected,hustledoutoftheway,andlefttogetonprettymuchbyhimself.Sheoftenwonderedwhyhismotherdidn'tpethimasshedidthegirlswhyhisfatherorderedhimaboutasifhewasabornrebel,andtooksolittleinterestinhisonlyson.Fannyconsideredhimabear,andwasashamedofhimbutnevertriedtopolishhimupabitandMaudandhelivedtogetherlikeacatanddogwhodidnotbelongtoa“happyfamily.”GrandmawastheonlyonewhostoodbypooroldTomandPollymorethanoncediscoveredhimdoingsomethingkindforMadam,andseemingverymuchashamedwhenitwasfoundout.Hewasn'trespectfulatallhecalledher“theoldlady,”andtoldherhe“wouldn'tbefussedover”butwhenanythingwasthematter,healwayswentto“theoldlady,”andwasverygrateful