CHAPTER III. POLLY'S TROUBLES

forthe“fussing.”Pollylikedhimforthis,andoftenwantedtospeakofitbutshehadafeelingthatitwouldn'tdo,forinpraisingtheiraffection,shewasreproachingotherswithneglectsosheheldhertongue,andthoughtaboutitallthemore.Grandmawasratherneglected,too,andperhapsthatisthereasonwhyTomandsheweresuchgoodfriends.Shewasevenmoreold-fashionedthanPollybutpeopledidn'tseemtominditsomuchinher,asherdaywassupposedtobeover,andnothingwasexpectedofherbuttokeepoutofeverybody'sway,andtobehandsomelydressedwhensheappeared“beforepeople.”Grandmaledaquiet,solitarylifeinherownrooms,fullofoldfurniture,pictures,books,andrelicsofapastforwhichnoonecaredbutherself.Hersonwentupeveryeveningforalittlecall,wasverykindtoher,andsawthatshewantednothingmoneycouldbuybuthewasabusyman,sointentongettingrichthathehadnotimetoenjoywhathealreadypossessed.Madamnevercomplained,interfered,orsuggestedbuttherewasasadsortofquietudeabouther,awistfullookinherfadedeyes,asifshewantedsomethingwhichmoneycouldnotbuy,andwhenchildrenwerenear,shehoveredaboutthem,evidentlylongingtocuddleandcaressthemasonlygrandmotherscan.Pollyfeltthisandasshemissedthehome-petting,gladlyshowedthatshelikedtoseethequietoldfacebrighten,assheenteredthesolitaryroom,wherefewchildrencame,exceptthephantomsoflittlesonsanddaughters,who,tothemotherlyheartthatlovedthem,neverfadedorgrewup.Pollywishedthechildrenwouldbekindertograndmabutitwasnotforhertotellthemso,althoughittroubledheragooddeal,andshecouldonlytrytomakeupforitbybeingasdutifulandaffectionateasiftheirgrandmawasherown. AnotherthingthatdisturbedPollywasthewantofexercise.Todressupandparadecertainstreetsforanhoureveryday,tostandtalkingindoorways,ordriveoutinafinecarriage,wasnotthesortofexercisesheliked,andFanwouldtakenoother.Indeed,shewassoshocked,whenPolly,oneday,proposedarundownthemall,thatherfriendneverdaredsuggestsuchathingagain.Athome,Pollyranandrode,coastedandskated,jumpedropeandrakedhay,workedinhergardenandrowedherboatsonowondershelongedforsomethingmorelivelythanadailypromenadewithaflockofgiddygirls,whotiltedalonginhigh-heeledboots,andcostumeswhichmadePollyashamedtobeseenwithsomeofthem.Sosheusedtoslipoutalonesometimes,whenFannywasabsorbedinnovels,company,ormillinery,andgetfinebriskwalksroundthepark,ontheunfashionableside,wherethebabiestooktheirairingsorshewentinside,towatchtheboyscoasting,andtowishshecouldcoasttoo,asshedidathome.Sheneverwentfar,andalwayscamebackrosyandgay. Oneafternoon,justbeforedinner,shefeltsotiredofdoingnothing,thatsheslippedoutforarun.Ithadbeenadulldaybutthesunwasvisiblenow,settingbrightlybelowtheclouds.ItwascoldbutstillandPollytrotteddownthesmooth,snow-coveredmallhummingtoherself,andtryingnottofeelhomesick.Thecoasterswereatitwithalltheirmight,andshewatchedthem,tillherlongingtojointhefungrewirresistible.Onthehill,somelittlegirlswereplayingwiththeirsleds,reallittlegirls,inwarmhoodsandcoats,rubberbootsandmittens,andPollyfeltdrawntowardtheminspiteofherfearofFan. “Iwanttogodown,butIdarsn't,it'ssosteep,”saidoneofthese“commonchildren,”asMaudcalledthem. “Ifyou'lllendmeyoursled,andsitinmylap,I'lltakeyoudownallnice,”answeredPolly,inaconfidentialtone. Thelittlegirlstookalookather,seemedsatisfied,andacceptedheroffer.Pollylookedcarefullyroundtoseethatnofashionableeyebeheldtheawfuldeed,andfindingallsafe,settledherfreight,andspunawaydownhill,feelingalloverthedelightsomeexcitementofswiftmotionwhichmakescoastingsuchafavoritepastimewiththemoresensibleportionofthechild-world.Oneafteranother,shetookthelittlegirlsdownthehillanddraggedthemupagain,whiletheyregardedherinthelightofagray-coatedangel,descendedfortheirexpressbenefit.Pollywasjustfinishingoffwithonedelicious“go”allbyherself,whensheheardafamiliarwhistlebehindher,andbeforeshecouldgetoff,upcameTom,lookingasmuchastonishedasifhehadfoundhermounted,onanelephant. “Hullo,Polly!What'llFansaytoyou?”washispolishedsalutation. “Don'tknow,anddon'tcare.CoastingisnoharmIlikeit,a