CHAPTER V. SCRAPES

uchquestioning,allsheknewofthewalks,thelunches,themeetings,andthenotes.Itwasn'tmuch,andevidentlylessseriousthanMr.Shawexpectedfor,ashelistened,hiseyebrowssmoothedthemselvesout,andmorethanoncehislipstwitchedasifhewantedtolaugh,forafterall,itwasrathercomicaltoseehowtheyoungpeopleapedtheirelders,playingthenew-fashionedgame,quiteunconsciousofitsrealbeauty,power,andsacredness. “Oh,please,sir,don'tblameFanmuch,forshetrulyisn'thalfassillyasTrixandtheother,girls.Shewouldn'tgosleigh-riding,thoughMr.Frankteased,andshewantedtoeversomuch.She'ssorry,Iknow,andwon'tforgetwhatyousayanymore,ifyou'llforgiveherthisonce,”criedPolly,veryearnestly,whenthefoolishlittlestorywastold. “Idon'tseehowIcanhelpit,whenyoupleadsowellforher.Comehere,Fan,andmindthisonethingdropallthisnonsense,andattendtoyourbooks,oroffyougoandCanadaisnojokeinwintertime,letmetellyou.” Ashespoke,Mr.Shawstrokedhissulkydaughter'scheek,hopingtoseesomesignofregretbutFannyfeltinjured,andwouldn'tshowthatshewassorry,sosheonlysaid,pettishly,“IsupposeIcanhavemyflowers,nowthefussisover.” “Theyaregoingstraightbackwheretheycamefrom,withalinefromme,whichwillkeepthatpuppyfromeversendingyouanymore.”Ringingthebell,Mr.Shawdespatchedtheunfortunateposy,andthenturnedtoPolly,saying,kindlybutgravely,“Setthissillychildofmineagoodexampleanddoyourbestforher,won'tyou?” “Me?WhatcanIdo,sir?”askedPolly,lookingready,butquiteignoranthowtobegin. “Makeheraslikeyourselfaspossible,mydearnothingwouldpleasemebetter.Nowgo,andletushearnomoreofthisfolly.” Theywentwithoutaword,andMr.ShawheardnomoreoftheaffairbutpoorPollydid,forFanscoldedher,tillPollythoughtseriouslyofpackingupandgoinghomenextday.Ireallyhaven'tthehearttorelatethedreadfullecturesshegot,thesnubsshesuffered,orthecoldshouldersturneduponherforseveraldaysafterthis.Polly'sheartwasfull,butshetoldnoone,andborehertroublesilently,feelingherfriend'singratitudeandinjusticedeeply. Tomfoundoutwhatthematterwas,andsidedwithPolly,whichproceedingledtoscrapenumbertwo. “Where'sFan?”askedtheyounggentleman,strollingintohissister'sroom,wherePollylayonthesofa,tryingtoforgethertroublesinaninterestingbook. “Downstairs,seeingcompany.” “Whydidn'tyougo,too?” “Idon'tlikeTrix,andIdon'tknowherfineNewYorkfriends.” “Don'twantto,neither,whydon'tyousay?” “Notpolite.” “Whocares?Isay,Polly,comeandhavesomefun.” “I'dratherread.” “Thatisn'tpolite.” Pollylaughed,andturnedapage.Tomwhistledaminute,thensigheddeeply,andputhishandtohisforehead,whichtheblackplasterstilladorned. “Doesyourheadache?”askedPolly. “Awfully.” “Betterliedown,then.” “Can'tI'mfidgety,andwanttobe'amoosed'asPugsays.” “JustwaittillIfinishmychapter,andthenI'llcome,”saidpitifulPolly. “Allright,”returnedtheperjuredboy,whohaddiscoveredthatabrokenheadwassometimesmoreusefulthanawholeone,andexultinginhisbasestratagem,herovedabouttheroom,tillFan'sbureauarrestedhim.Itwascoveredwithallsortsoffinery,forshehaddressedinahurry,andlefteverythingtopsy-turvy.Awell-conductedboywouldhaveletthingsalone,oramoralbrotherwouldhaveputthingstorightsbeingneither,Tomrummagedtohisheartscontent,tillFan'sdrawerslookedasifsomeonehadbeenmakinghayinthem.Hetriedtheeffectofear-rings,ribbons,andcollarswoundupthewatch,thoughitwasn'ttimeburnthisinquisitivenosewithsmelling-saltsdelugedhisgrimyhandkerchiefwithFan'sbestcologneanointedhiscurlycropwithherhair-oilpowderedhisfacewithherviolet-powderandfinishedoffbypinningonabunchoffalseringlets,whichFannytried,tokeepaprofoundsecret.Theravagescommittedbythisbadboyarebeyondthepoweroflanguagetodescribe,asherevelledintheinterestingdrawers,boxes,andcases,whichheldhissister'streasures. Whenthecurlshadbeenputon,withmuchprickingoffingers,andablueribbonadded,laFan,hesurveyedhimselfwithsatisfaction,andconsideredtheeffectsofine,thathewasinspiredtotryastillgreatermetamorphosis.ThedressFanhadtakenofflayonachair,andintoitgotTom,chucklingwithsuppressedlaughter,forPollywasabsorbed,andthebed-curtainshidhisiniquity.Fan'sbestvelvetjacketandhat,erminemuff,andasofa-pillowforpannier,finishedoffthecostume,andtrippingalongwithelbowsout,TomappearedbeforetheamazedPollyjustasthechapterended.Sheenjoyedthejokesoheartily,thatTomforgotconsequences,andproposedgoingdownintotheparlortosurprise,thegirls. “Goodness,no!Fannyneverwouldforgiveusifyoushowedhercurlsandthingstothosepeople.Therearegentlemenamongthem,anditwouldn'tbeproper,”saidPolly,alarmeda