CHAPTER VII. GOOD-BY

hbutIdon'tthinkitwouldbegoodformetogotomany,”answeredPolly,slowly. “Whynot?” “Ishouldn'tenjoythemifIdidn'thaveafinedress,anddanceallthetime,andbeadmired,andalltherestofit.” “Ididn'tknowyoucaredforsuchthings,”criedFanny,surprised. “NeitherdidItillto-nightbutIdoandasIcan'thave'em,it'sluckyI'mgoinghometomorrow.” “Oh,dear!Soyouare!WhatshallIdowithoutmy'sweetP.,'asSydneycallsyou?”sighedFanny,bearingPollyawaytobecuddled. Everyoneechoedtheexclamationnextdayandmanylovingeyesfollowedthelittlefigureinthedrabfrockasitwentquietlyabout,doingforthelasttimethesmallserviceswhichwouldhelptomakeitsabsencekeenlyfelt.Pollywastogodirectlyafteranearlydinner,andhavingpackedhertrunk,allbutonetray,shewastoldtogoandtakearunwhilegrandmafinished.PollysuspectedthatsomepleasantsurprisewasgoingtobeputinforFandidn'toffertogowithher,Maudkeptdodgingaboutwithsomethingunderherapron,andTomhadjustwhiskedintohismother'sroominamysteriousmanner.SoPollytookthehintandwentaway,rejoicinginthethoughtoftheunknowntreasuresshewastocarryhome. Mr.Shawhadnotsaidheshouldcomehomesoearly,butPollythoughthemight,andwenttomeethim.Mr.Shawdidn'texpecttoseePolly,forhehadleftherverybusy,andnowalightsnowwasfallingbut,asheturnedintothemalltherewastheroundhat,andunderitthebrightface,lookingalltherosierforbeingpowderedwithsnow-flakes,asPollycamerunningtomeethim. “Therewon'tbeanyonetohelptheoldgentlemansafelyhometo-morrow,”hesaid,asPollytookhishandinbothherswithanaffectionatesqueeze. “Yes,therewillseeifthereisn't,”criedPolly,noddingandsmiling,forFanhadconfidedtoherthatshemeanttotryitafterherfriendhadgone. “I'mgladofit.But,mydear,Iwantyoutopromisethatyouwillcomeandmakeusavisiteverywinter,agoodlongone,”saidMr.Shaw,pattingthebluemittensfoldedroundhishand. “Iftheycansparemefromhome,I'dlovetocomedearly.” “Theymustlendyouforalittlewhile,becauseyoudousallgood,andweneedyou.” “DoI?Idon'tseehowbutI'mgladtohearyousayso,”criedPolly,muchtouched. “Ican'ttellyouhow,exactlybutyoubroughtsomethingintomyhousethatmakesitwarmerandpleasanter,andwon'tquitevanish,Ihope,whenyougoaway,mychild.” PollyhadneverheardMr.Shawspeaklikethatbefore,anddidn'tknowwhattosay,shefeltsoproudandhappyatthisproofofthetruthofhermother'swords,whenshesaidthat“evenalittlegirlcouldexertaninfluence,anddosomegoodinthisbig,busyworld.”Sheonlygaveherfriendagratefullooksweeterthananywords,andtheywentontogether,handinhand,throughthe“soft-fallingsnow.” IfPollycouldhaveseenwhatwentintothattoptray,shewouldhavebeenentirelyovercomeforFannyhadtoldgrandmaaboutthepoorlittlepresentsshehadoncelaughedat,andtheyhadalllaidtheirheadstogethertoprovidesomethingreallyfineandappropriateforeverymemberoftheMiltonfamily.Suchamineofriches!andsomuchgood-will,affection,andkindlyforethoughtwaspackedawayinthetemptingbundles,thatnoonecouldfeeloffended,butwouldfindanunusualcharmabouttheprettygiftsthatmadethemdoublywelcome.IonlyknowthatifPollyhadsuspectedthatalittlewatchwastickingawayinalittlecase,withhernameonit,insidethattrunk,shenevercouldhaveleftitlockedasgrandmaadvised,orhaveeatenherdinnersoquietly.Asitwas,herheartwasveryfull,andthetearsrosetohereyesmorethanonce,everyonewassokind,andsosorrytohavehergo. Tomdidn'tneedanyurgingtoplayescortnowandbothFanandMaudinsistedongoingtoo.Mrs.Shawforgothernerves,andputupsomeginger-breadwithherownhandsMr.ShawkissedPollyasifshehadbeenhisdearestdaughterandgrandmaheldherclose,whisperinginatremuloustone,“Mylittlecomfort,comeagainsoon”whileKatywavedherapronfromthenurserywindow,crying,astheydrove,away,“Thesaintsblessye,MissPolly,dear,andsindyethebestoflucks!” ButthecrowningjokeofallwasTom'sgood-by,for,whenPollywasfairlysettledinthecar,thelast“Allaboard!”uttered,andthetraininmotion,Tomsuddenlyproducedaknobbylittlebundle,andthrustingitinatthewindow,whilehehungoninsomebreakneckfashion,said,withadrollmixtureoffunandfeelinginhisface,“It'shorridbutyouwantedit,soIputitintomakeyoulaugh.Good-by,Pollygood-by,good-by!” Thelastadieuwasatriflehusky,andTomvanishedasitwasuttered,leavingPollytolaughoverhispartingsouvenirtillthetearsrandownhercheeks.Itwasapaperbagofpeanuts,andpokeddownattheverybottomaphotographofTom.Itwas“horrid,”forhelookedasiftakenbyaflashoflightning,soblack,wild,andstaringwasitbutPollylikedit,andwhenevershefeltalittlepensiveatpartingwithherfriends,shetookapeanut,orapeepatTom'sfunnypicture,whichmadehermerryagain. Sotheshortjourneycameblithelytoanend,andinthetwilightshesawagroupoflovingfacesatthedoorofahumblelittlehouse,whichwasmorebeautifulthananypalaceinhereyes,foritwashome.