CHAPTER VII. GOOD-BY

watchingPollyasshesettledthebowofhercrushedsash,whichTomhadusedasasortofhandlebywhichtoturnandtwisther“IcandotheLancerstip-topbutyouwon'teverwanttodancewithmeanymore,”headded,ashebegantofanhersoviolently,thatherhairflewaboutasifinagaleofwind. “Yes,Iwill.I'dliketoandyoushallputyournamedownhereonthesticksofmyfan.That'stheway,Trixsays,whenyoudon'thaveaball-book.” Lookingmuchgratified,Tomproducedthestumpofalead-pencil,andwrotehisnamewithaflourish,saying,ashegaveitback,“NowI'mgoingtogetSherry,orsomeofthefellowsthatdotheredowawell,soyoucanhavearealgoodgobeforethemusicstops.” OffwentTombutbeforehecouldcatchanyeligiblepartner,Pollywasprovidedwiththebestdancerintheroom.Mr.Sydneyhadseenandheardthewholethingandthoughhehadlaughedquietly,helikedhonestTomandgood-naturedPollyallthebetterfortheirsimplicity.Polly'sfootwaskeepingtimetothelivelymusic,andhereyeswerefixedwistfullyonthesmoothly-glidingcouplesbeforeher,whenMr.Sydneycametoher,saying,inthepleasantyetrespectfulwayshelikedsomuch,“MissPolly,canyougivemeaturn?” “Oh,yesI'mdyingforanother.”AndPollyjumpedup,withbothhandsout,andsuchagratefulface,thatMr.Sydneyresolvedsheshouldhaveasmanyturnsassheliked. ThistimeallwentwellandTom,returningfromanunsuccessfulsearch,wasamazedtobeholdPollycirclinggracefullyabouttheroom,guidedbyamostaccomplishedpartner. “Ah,that'ssomethinglike,”hethought,ashewatchedthebronzebootsretreatingandadvancinginperfecttimetothemusic.“Don'tseehowSydneydoesthesteeringsowellbutitmustbefunand,byJupiter!I'lllearnit!”addedShaw,Jr.,withanemphaticgesturewhichburstthelastbuttonoffhisgloves. PollyenjoyedherselftillthemusicstoppedandbeforeshehadtimetothankMr.Sydneyaswarmlyasshewished,Tomcameuptosay,withhismostlordlyair,“Youdancesplendidly,Polly.Now,youjustshowmeanyoneyoulikethelooksof,andI'llgethimforyou,nomatterwhoheis.” “Idon'twantanyofthegentlementheyaresostiff,anddon'tcaretodancewithmebutIlikethoseboysoverthere,andI'lldancewithanyofthemiftheyarewilling,”saidPolly,afterasurvey. “I'lltrotoutthewholelot.”AndTomgladlybroughtuphisfriends,whoalladmiredPollyimmensely,andwereproudtobechoseninsteadofthe“bigfellows.” TherewasnosittingstillforPollyafterthat,fortheladskepthergoingatagreatpaceandshewassohappy,sheneversaworsuspectedhowmanylittlemanoeuvres,heart-burnings,displaysofvanity,affectation,andnonsenseweregoingonallroundher.Sheloveddancing,andenteredintothegayetyofthescenewithaheartinessthatwaspleasanttosee.Hereyesshone,herfaceglowed,herlipssmiled,andthebrowncurlswavedintheair,asshedanced,withaheartaslightasherfeet. “Areyouenjoyingyourself,Polly?”askedMr.Shaw,wholookedin,nowandthen,toreporttograndmathatallwasgoingwell. “Oh,suchasplendidtime!”criedPolly,withanenthusiasticlittlegesture,asshechassedintothecornerwherehestood. “Sheisaregularbelleamongtheboys,”saidFanny,asshepromenadedby. “TheyaresokindinaskingmeandI'mnotafraidofthem,”explainedPolly,prancing,simplybecauseshecouldn'tkeepstill. “Soyouareafraidoftheyounggentlemen,hey?”andMr.Shawheldherbyonecurl. “AllbutMr.Sydney.Hedon'tputonairsandtalknonsenseand,oh!hedoes'dancelikeanangel,'asTrixsays.” “Papa,Iwishyou'dcomeandwaltzwithme.Fantoldmenottogonearher,'causemyweddwessmakesherpinkonelookuglyandTomwon'tandIwanttodwedfully.” “I'veforgottenhow,Maudie.AskPollyshe'llspinyouroundlikeateetotum.”“Mr.Sydney'snameisdownforthat,”answeredPolly,lookingatherfanwithaprettylittleairofimportance.“ButIguesshewouldn'tmindmytakingpoorMaudinstead.Shehasn'tdancedhardlyany,andI'vehadmorethanmyshare.Woulditbeveryimpropertochangemymind?”AndPollylookedupathertallpartnerwitheyewhichplainlyshowedthatthechangewasasacrifice. “Notabit.Givethelittledearagoodwaltz,andwewilllookon,”answeredMr.Sydney,withanodandsmile. “Thatisarefreshinglittlepieceofnature,”saidMr.Shaw,asPollyandMaudwhirledaway. “Shewillmakeacharminglittlewoman,ifsheisn'tspoilt.” “Nodangerofthat.Shehasgotasensiblemother.” “Ithoughtso.”AndSydneysighed,forhehadlatelylosthisowngoodmother. Whensupperwasannounced,Pollyhappenedtobetalking,ortryingtotalk,tooneofthe“poky”gentlemenwhomFanhadintroduced.HetookMissMiltondown,ofcourse,putherinacorner,andhavingservedhertoadaboficeandonemacaroon,hedevotedhimselftohisownsupperwithsuchinterest,thatPollywouldhavefaredbadly,ifTomhadnotcomeandrescuedher. “I'vebeenlookingeverywhereforyou.Comewithme,anddon'tsitstarvinghere,”saidTom,withascornfullookfromheremptyplatetothatofherrecreantescort,whichwaspiledwithgoodthings. Followingherguide,Pollywastakentothebigchinacloset,openingfromthedining-roomtothek