CHAPTER III. POLLY'S TROUBLES

thechilddoitifshelikes,andtakeMaudwithher.Ishouldbegladtohaveoneheartygirlinmyhouse,”interruptedMr.Shaw,andthatwastheendofit. “Thankyou,sir,”saidPolly,gratefully,andnoddedatTom,whotelegraphedback“Allright!”andfelluponhisdinnerwiththeappetiteofayoungwolf. “Oh,yously-boots!you'regettingupaflirtationwithTom,areyou?”whisperedFannytoherfriend,asifmuchamused. “What!”andPollylookedsosurprisedandindignant,thatFannywasashamedofherself,andchangedthesubjectbytellinghermothersheneededsomenewgloves. Pollywasveryquietafterthat,andtheminutedinnerwasover,shelefttheroomtogoandhaveaquiet“think”aboutthewholematter.Beforeshegothalf-wayupstairs,shesawTomcomingafter,andimmediatelysatdowntoguardherfeet.Helaughed,andsaid,asheperchedhimselfonthepostofthebanisters,“Iwon'tgrabyou,honorbright.Ijustwantedtosay,ifyou'llcomeoutto-morrowsometime,we'llhaveagoodcoast.” “No,”saidPolly,“Ican'tcome.” “Whynot?Areyoumad?Ididn'ttell.”AndTomlookedamazedatthechangewhichhadcomeoverher. “Noyoukeptyourword,andstoodbymelikeagoodboy.I'mnotmad,eitherbutIdon'tmeantocoastanymore.Yourmotherdon'tlikeit.” “Thatisn'tthereason,Iknow.Younoddedtomeaftershe'dfreedhermind,andyoumeanttogothen.Come,now,whatisit?” “Ishan'ttellyoubutI'mnotgoing,”wasPolly'sdeterminedanswer. “Well,Ididthinkyouhadmoresensethanmostgirlsbutyouhaven't,andIwouldn'tgiveasixpenceforyou.” “That'spolite,”saidPolly,gettingruffled. “Well,Ihatecowards.” “Iain'tacoward.” “Yes,youare.You'reafraidofwhatfolkswillsayain'tyou,now?” Pollyknewshewas,andheldherpeace,thoughshelongedtospeakbuthowcouldshe? “Ah,Iknewyou'dbackout.”AndTomwalkedawaywithanairofscornthatcutPollytotheheart. “It'stoobad!Justashewasgrowingkindtome,andIwasgoingtohaveagoodtime,it'sallspoiltbyFan'snonsense.Mrs.Shawdon'tlikeit,norgrandmaeither,Idaresay.There'llbeafussifIgo,andFanwillplaguemesoI'llgiveitup,andletTomthinkI'mafraid.Oh,dear!Ineverdidseesuchridiculouspeople.” Pollyshutherdoorhard,andfeltreadytocrywithvexation,thatherpleasureshouldbespoiltbysuchasillyideafor,ofallthesillyfreaksofthisfastage,thatoflittlepeopleplayingatloveisaboutthesilliest.Pollyhadbeentaughtthatitwasaveryseriousandsacredthingand,accordingtohernotions,itwasfarmoreimpropertoflirtwithoneboythantocoastwithadozen.Shehadbeenmuchamazed,onlythedaybefore,tohearMaudsaytohermother,“Mamma,mustIhaveabeau?Thegirlsalldo,andsayIoughttohaveFweddyLovellbutIdon'tlikehimaswellasHawryFiske.” “Oh,yesI'dhavealittlesweetheart,dear,it'ssocunning,”answeredMrs.Shaw.AndMaudannouncedsoonafterthatshewasengagedto“Fweddy,'causeHawryslappedher”whensheproposedthematch. Pollylaughedwiththerestatthetimebutwhenshethoughtofitafterward,andwonderedwhatherownmotherwouldhavesaid,iflittleKittyhadputsuchaquestion,shedidn'tfinditcunningorfunny,butridiculousandunnatural.Shefeltsonowaboutherselfandwhenherfirstpetulancewasover,resolvedtogiveupcoastingandeverythingelse,ratherthanhaveanynonsensewithTom,who,thankstohisneglectededucation,wasasignorantasherselfofthecharmsofthisnewamusementforschool-children.SoPollytriedtoconsoleherselfbyjumpingropeintheback-yard,andplayingtagwithMaudinthedrying-room,whereshelikewisegavelessonsin“nas-gim-nics,”asMaudcalledit,whichdidthatlittlepersongood.Fannycameupsometimestoteachthemanewdancingstep,andmorethanoncewasbetrayedintoagameofromps,forwhichshewasnonetheworse.ButTomturnedacoldshouldertoPolly,andmadeitevident,byhiscavaliermannerthathereallydidn'tthinkher“worthasixpence.” AnotherthingthattroubledPollywasherclothes,for,thoughnoonesaidanything,sheknewtheywereveryplainandnowandthenshewishedthatherblueandmousecoloredmerinoswererathermoretrimmed,hersasheshadbiggerbows,andherlittlerufflesmorelaceonthem.Shesighedforalocket,and,forthefirsttimeinherlife,thoughtseriouslyofturningupherprettycurlsandputtingona“wad.”Shekeptthesediscontentstoherself,however,aftershehadwrittentoaskhermotherifshemighthaveherbestdressal