CHAPTER VII. GOOD-BY

ss,”saidMr.Shaw,pleasedthathisunusualdemonstrationhadproducedsuchaneffect. Thelargestwasaregularhothousebouquet,oftea-rosebuds,scentlessheath,andsmilaxthesecondwasjustahandfulofsweet-peasandmignonette,withafewcheerfulpansies,andonefragrantlittleroseinthemiddlethethird,asmallposyofscarletverbenas,whitefeverfew,andgreenleaves. “Nothardtoguess.ThesmartoneforFan,thesweetoneforPolly,andthegayoneforPug.Now,then,catchhold,girls.”AndTomproceededtodeliverthenosegays,withasmuchgraceascouldbeexpectedfromayouthinanewsuitofclothesandverytightboots. “Thatfinishesyouoffjustright,andisaveryprettyattentionofpapa's.Nowrundown,forthebellhasrungandremember,nottodancetoooften,Fanbeasquietasyoucan,TomandMaud,don'teattoomuchsupper.Grandmawillattendtothings,formypoornerveswon'tallowmetocomedown.” Withthat,Mrs.Shawdismissedthem,andthefourdescendedtoreceivethefirstbatchofvisitors,severallittlegirlswhohadbeenaskedfortheexpresspurposeofkeepingMaudoutofhersister'sway.Tomhadlikewisebeenpropitiated,bybeingallowedtobringhisthreebosomfriends,whowentbytheschool-boynamesofRumple,Sherry,andSpider. “Theywilldotomakeupsets,asgentlemenarescarceandthepartyisforPolly,soImusthavesomeyoungfolksonheraccount,”saidFanny,whensendingoutherinvitations. Ofcourse,theboyscameearly,andstoodaboutincorners,lookingasiftheyhadmorearmsandlegsthantheyknewwhattodowith.Tomdidhisbesttobeagoodhostbutceremonyoppressedhisspirits,andhewasforcedtostrugglemanfullywiththewilddesiretoproposeagameofleap-frog,forthelongdrawing-rooms,clearedfordancing,temptedhimsorely. Pollysatwhereshewastold,andsufferedbashfulagoniesasFanintroducedveryfineyoungladiesandverystiffyounggentlemen,whoallsaidaboutthesamecivilthings,andthenappearedtoforgetallabouther.Whenthefirstdancewascalled,FannycorneredTom,whohadbeendodgingher,forheknewwhatshewanted,andsaid,inanearnestwhisper:“Now,Tom,youmustdancethiswithPolly.Youaretheyounggentlemanofthehouse,andit'sonlyproperthatyoushouldaskyourcompanyfirst.” “Pollydon'tcareformanners.Ihatedancingdon'tknowhow.Letgomyjacket,anddon'tbother,orI'llcutawayaltogether,”growledTom,dauntedbytheawfulprospectofopeningtheballwithPolly. “I'llneverforgiveyouifyoudo.Come,beclever,andhelpme,there'sadear.YouknowwebothweredreadfullyrudetoPolly,andagreedthatwe'dbeaskindandciviltoheraseverwecould.Ishallkeepmyword,andseethatsheisn'tslightedatmyparty,forIwanthertoloveme,andgohomefeelingallright.” ThisartfulspeechmadeanimpressionontherebelliousThomas,whoglancedatPolly'shappyface,rememberedhispromise,and,withagroan,resolvedtodohisduty. “Well,I'lltakeherbutIshallcometogrief,forIdon'tknowanythingaboutyourolddances.” “Yes,youdo.I'vetaughtyouthestepsadozentimes.I'mgoingtobeginwitharedowa,becausethegirlslikeit,andit'sbetterfunthansquaredances.Now,putonyourgloves,andgoandaskPollylikeagentleman.” “Oh,thunder!”mutteredTom.Andhavingsplitthedetestedglovesindraggingthemon,henervedhimselffortheeffort,walkeduptoPolly,madeastiffbow,stuckouthiselbow,andsaid,solemnly,“MayIhavethepleasure,MissMilton?” Hediditasmuchlikethebigfellowsashecould,andexpectedthatPollywouldbeimpressed.Butshewasn'tabitforafterasurprisedlookshelaughedinhisface,andtookhimbythehand,saying,heartily,“Ofcourseyoumaybutdon'tbeagoose,Tommy.” “Well,Fantoldmetobeelegant,soItriedto,”whisperedTom,adding,asheclutchedhispartnerwithasomewhatdesperateair,“Holdontight,andwe'llgetthroughsomehow.” Themusicstruckup,andawaytheywentTomhoppingonewayandPollytheother,inamostungracefulmanner. “Keeptimetothemusic,”gaspedPolly. “Can'tnevercould,”returnedTom. “Keepstepwithme,then,anddon'ttreadonmytoes,”pleadedPolly. “Nevermindkeepbobbing,andwe'llcomerightbyandby,”mutteredTom,givinghisunfortunatepartnerasuddenwhisk,whichnearlylandedbothonthefloor. Buttheydidnot“getrightbyandby”forTom,Inhisfranticeffortstodohisduty,nearlyannihilatedpoorPolly.Hetramped,hebobbed,heskated,hetwirledhertotheright,draggedhertotheleft,backedherupagainstpeopleandfurniture,trodonherfeet,rumpledherdress,andmadeaspectacleofhimselfgenerally.Pollywasmuchdisturbedbutaseveryoneelsewasflyingaboutalso,sheboreitaslongasshecould,knowingthatTomhadmadeamartyrofhimself,andfeelinggratefultohimforthesacrifice. “Oh,dostopnowthisisdreadful!”criedPolly,breathlessly,afterafewwildturns. “Isn'tit?”saidTom,wipinghisredfacewithsuchanairofintenserelief,thatPollyhadnotthehearttoscoldhim,butsaid,“Thankyou,”anddroppedintoachairexhausted. “IknowI'vemadeaguyofmyselfbutFaninsistedonit,forfearyou'dbeoffendedifIdidn'tgothefirstdancewithyou,”saidTom,remorsefully,