CHAPTER VII. GOOD-BY

itchen,andhereshefoundajoviallittlepartyfeastingatease.Maudandherbosomfriend,“Gwace,”wereseatedontincake-boxesSherryandSpideradornedtherefrigeratorwhileTomandRumpleforagedfortheparty. “Here'sfun,”saidPolly,asshewasreceivedwithaclashofspoonsandawavingofnapkins. “Youjustperchonthatcracker-keg,andI'llseethatyougetenough,”saidTom,puttingadumbwaiterbeforeher,andissuinghisorderswithafineairofauthority. “Weareabandofrobbersinourcave,andI'mthecaptainandwepitchintothefolkspassingby,andgooutandbringhomeplunder.Now,Rumple,yougoandcarryoffabasketofcake,andI'llwatchheretillKatycomesbywithafreshlotofoystersPollymusthavesome.Sherry,cutintothekitchen,andbringacupofcoffee.Spider,scrapeupthesalad,andpokethedishthroughtheslideformore.Eataway,Polly,andmymenwillbebackwithsuppliesinajiffy.” Suchfunastheyhadinthatclosetsuchdaringrobberiesofjelly-potsandcake-boxessuchsuccessfulraidsintothedining-roomandkitchensuchbaseassaultsuponpoorKatyandthecoloredwaiter,whodidhisbest,butwashelplessinthehandsoftherobberhorde.Averyharmlesslittlerevelfornowinewasallowed,andthegallantbandweresobusyskirmishingtosupplytheladies,thattheyhadnottimetoeattoomuch.Noonemissedthemandwhentheyemerged,thefeastwasover,exceptforafewvoraciousyounggentlemen,whostilllingeredamongtheruins. “That'sthewaytheyalwaysdopokethegirlsincorners,give'emjustonetasteofsomething,andthengoandstufflikepigs,”whisperedTom,withasuperiorair,forgettingcertainprivatebanquetsofhisown,aftercompanyhaddeparted. TherestoftheeveningwastobedevotedtotheGermanand,asPollyknewnothingaboutit,sheestablishedherselfinawindowrecesstowatchthemysteries.Foratimesheenjoyedit,foritwasallnewtoher,andthevariousprettydeviceswereverycharmingbut,byandby,thatbitterweed,envy,croppedupagain,andshecouldnotfeelhappytobeleftoutinthecold,whiletheothergirlsweregettinggaytissue-papersuits,drollbonbons,flowers,ribbons,andallmanneroftastefultriflesinwhichgirlishsoulsdelight.EveryonewasabsorbedMr.SydneywasdancingTomandhisfriendswerediscussingbase-ballonthestairsandMaud'ssethadreturnedtothelibrarytoplay. Pollytriedtoconquerthebadfeelingbutitworriedher,tillsherememberedsomethinghermotheroncesaidtoher,“Whenyoufeeloutofsorts,trytomakesomeoneelsehappy,andyouwillsoonbesoyourself.” “Iwilltryit,”thoughtPolly,andlookedroundtoseewhatshecoulddo.Soundsofstrifeinthelibraryledhertoenter.Maudandtheyoungladiesweresittingonthesofa,talkingabouteachother'sclothes,astheyhadseentheirmammasdo. “Wasyourdressimported?”askedGrace. “Nowasyours?”returnedBlanche. “Yesanditcostoh,eversomuch.” “Idon'tthinkitisasprettyasMaud's.” “MinewasmadeinNewYork,”saidMissShaw,smoothingherskirtscomplacently. “Ican'tdressmuchnow,youknow,'causemamma'sinblackforsomebody,”observedMissAliceLovett,feelingtheimportancewhichafflictionconferreduponherwhenittooktheformofajetnecklace. “Well,Idon'tcareifmydressisn'timportedmycousinhadthreekindsofwineatherpartyso,now,”saidBlanche. “Didshe?”Andallthelittlegirlslookeddeeplyimpressed,tillMaudobserved,withafunnyimitationofherfather'smanner,“Mypapasaiditwasscan-dill-usforsomeofthelittleboysgottipsy,andhadtobetookedhome.Hewouldn'tletushaveanywineandgwandmasaiditwasvewyimpwoperforchildwentodoso.” “Mymothersaysyourmother'scoup,isn'thalfsostylishasours,”putinAlice. “Yes,itis,too.It'salllinedwithgweensilk,andthat'snicerthanoldwedcloth,”criedMaud,rufflinguplikeaninsultedchicken. “Well,mybrotherdon'twearahorridoldcap,andhe'sgotnicehair.Iwouldn'thaveabrotherlikeTom.He'shorridrude,mysistersays,”retortedAlice. “Heisn't.Yourbrotherisapig.” “You'reafib!” “Soareyou!” Here,Iregrettosay,MissShawslappedMissLovett,whopromptlyreturnedthecompliment,andbothbegantocry. Polly,whohadpausedtolistentotheedifyingchat,partedthebelligerents,andfindingthepoorthingstired,cross,andsleepy,yetunabletogohometillsentfor,proposedtoplaygames.Theyoungladiesconsented,and“Pussinthecorner”provedapeacemaker.Presently,incametheboysandbeingexilesfromtheGerman,gladlyjoinedinthegames,whichsoonwerelivelyenoughtowakethesleepiest.“Blind-man's-buff”wasinfullswingwhenMr.Shawpeepedin,andseeingPollyflyingaboutwithband-agedeyes,joinedinthefuntopuzzleher.HegotcaughtdirectlyandgreatmerrimentwascausedbyPolly'sbewilderment,forshecouldn'tguesswhohewas,tillshefeltthebaldspotonhishead. Thisfrolicputeveryoneinsuchspirits,thatPollyforgothertrouble,andthelittlegirlskissedeachothergood-nightasaffectionatelyasifsuchthingsasimportedfrocks,coups,andrivalbrothersdidn'texist“Well,Polly,doyoulikeparties?”askedFanwhenthelastguestwasgone. “Verymuc