CHAPTER XVII. PLAYING GRANDMOTHER

ughtIwasrippingbonnets,anddidn'thearaword.” “Whichlookedmostpleased?”askedTom,investigatingthekitchenboilerwithdeepinterest. “Well,'pearstomePollydidshetalkedmost,andlookedfunnyandveryhappyallthetime.Fanlaughedagooddeal,butIguessPollyistheloveress,”repliedMaud,afteramoment'sreflection. “Holdyourtongueshe'scoming!”andTombegantopumpasifthehousewasonfire. DowncamePolly,withheightenedcolor,brighteyes,andnotasingleegg.Tomtookaquicklookatheroverhisshoulder,andpausedasifthefirewassuddenlyextinguished.SomethinginhisfacemadePollyfeelalittleguilty,soshefelltogratingnutmeg,withavigorwhichmaderedcheeksthemostnaturalthinginlife.Maud,thetraitor,satdemurelyatwork,lookingverylikewhatTomhadcalledher,amagpiewithmischiefinitshead.Pollyfeltachangeintheatmosphere,butmerelythoughtTomwastired,soshegraciouslydismissedhimwithastickofcinnamon,asshehadnothingelsejustthentolayupontheshrine.“Fan'sgotthebooksandmapsyouwanted.Goandrestnow.I'mmuchobligedhere'syourwages,Bridget.” “Goodlucktoyourmesses,”answeredTom,ashewalkedawaymeditativelycrunchinghiscinnamon,andlookingasifhedidnotfinditasspicyasusual.Hegothisbooks,butdidnotreadthemfor,shuttinghimselfupinthelittleroomcalled“Tom'sden,”hejustsatdownandbrooded. Whenhecamedowntobreakfastthenextmorning,hewasgreetedwithageneral“Happybirthday,Tom!”andathisplacelaygiftsfromeverymemberofthefamilynotascostlyasformerly,perhaps,butinfinitelydearer,astokensofthelovethathadoutlivedthechange,andonlygrownthewarmerforthetestofmisfortune.Inhispresentstateofmind,Tomfeltasifhedidnotdeserveablessedthingsowheneveryoneexertedthemselvestomakeitahappydayforhim,heunderstoodwhatitmeans“tobenearlykilledwithkindness,”andsternlyresolvedtobeanhonortohisfamily,orperishintheattempt.EveningbroughtPollytowhatshecalleda“festivetea,”andwhentheygatheredroundthetable,anothergiftappeared,which,thoughnotofasentimentalnature,touchedTommorethanalltherest.Itwasamostdelectablecake,withanosegayatop,androunditonthesnowyfrostingthereranapinkinscription,justasithadbeeneveryyearsinceTomcouldremember. “Name,age,anddate,likeanicewhitetombstone,”observedMaud,complacently,atwhichfunerealremark,Mrs.Shaw,whowasdowninhonoroftheday,droppedhernapkin,anddemandedhersalts. “Whosedoingisthat?”askedTom,surveyingthegiftwithsatisfactionforitrecalledthehappierbirthdays,whichseemedveryfarawaynow. “Ididn'tknowwhattogiveyou,foryou'vegoteverythingamanwants,andIwasindespairtillIrememberedthatdeargrandmaalwaysmadeyoualittlecakelikethat,andthatyouoncesaiditwouldn'tbeahappybirthdaywithoutit.SoItriedtomakeitjustlikehers,andIdohopeitwillproveagood,sweet,plummyone.” “Thankyou,”wasallTomsaid,ashesmiledatthegiver,butPollyknewthatherpresenthadpleasedhimmorethanthemosteleganttrifleshecouldhavemade. “Itoughttobegood,foryoubeatitupyourself,Tom,”cried,Maud.“Itwassofunnytoseeyouworkingaway,andneverguessingwhothecakewasfor.Iperfectlytrembledeverytimeyouopenedyourmouth,forfearyou'dasksomequestionaboutit.ThatwasthereasonPollypreachedandIkepttalkingwhenshewasgone.” “VerystupidofmebutIforgotallaboutto-day.SupposewecutitIdon'tseemtocareforanythingelse,”saidTom,feelingnoappetite,butboundtodojusticetothatcake,ifhefellavictimtohisgratitude. “Ihopetheplumswon'tallbeatthebottom,”saidPolly,assherosetodothehonorsofthecake,byuniversalappointment. “I'vehadagoodmanyatthetopalready,youknow,”answeredTom,watchingtheoperationwithasmuchinterestasifhehadfaithintheomen. Cuttingcarefully,sliceafterslicefellaparteachfirmanddark,spicyandrich,underthefrostyrimeaboveandlayingaspeciallylargepieceinoneofgrandma'squaintlittlechinaplates,PollyaddedtheflowersandhandedittoTom,withalookthatsaidagooddeal,for,seeingthatherememberedhersermon,shewasgladtofindthatherallegoryheldgood,inonesenseatleast.Tom'sfacebrightenedashetookit,andafteraninspectionwhichamusedtheothersverymuchhelookedup,saying,withanairofrelief,“PlumsallthroughI'mgladIhadahandinit,butPollydeservesthecredit,andmustweartheposy,”andturningtoher,heputtheroseintoherhairwithmoregallantrythantaste,forathornprickedherhead,theleavestickledherear,andtheflowerwasupsidedown. Fannylaughedathiswantofskill,butPollywouldn'thaveitaltered,andeverybodyfelltoeatingcake,asifindigestionwasoneofthelostarts.Theyhadalivelytea,andweregettingonfamouslyafterward,whentwoletterswerebroughtforTom,whoglancedatone,andretiredratherprecipitatelytohisden,leavingMaudconsumedwithcuriosity,andtheoldergirlsslightlyexcited,forFanthoughtsherecognizedthehandwritingonone,andPolly,ontheother. Onehalfanhourandthenanotherelapsed,andTomdidnotreturn.Mr.Shawwentout,Mrs.ShawretiredtoherroomescortedbyMaud,andthetwogirlssattogetherwonderingifanythingdreadfulhadhappened.Allofasuddenavoicecalled,“Polly!”andthatyoungladystartedoutofherchair,asifthesoundhadbeenathunder-clap. “Dorun!I'mperfectlyfaintingtoknowwhatthematteris,”saidFan. “You'dbettergo,”beganPolly,wishingtoobey,yetfeelingalittleshy. “Hedon'twantmebesides,Icouldn'tsayawordformyselfifthatletterwasfromSydney,”criedFanny,hustlingherfriendtowardsthedoor,inagreatflutter. Pollywentwithoutanotherword,butsheworeacuriouslyanxiouslook,andstoppedonthethresholdoftheden,asifalittleafraidofitsoccupant.Tomwassittinginhisfavoriteattitude,astrideofachair,withhisarmsfoldedandhischinonthetoprailnotanelegantposture,buttheonlyoneinwhich,hesaid,hecouldthinkwell. “Didyouwantme,Tom?” “Yes.Comein,please,anddon'tlookscaredIonlywanttoshowyouapresentI'vehad,andaskyouradviceaboutacceptingit.” “Why,Tom,youlookasifyouhadbeenknockeddown!”exclaimedPolly,forgettingallaboutherself,asshesawhisfacewhenheroseandturnedtomeether. “IhaveregularlyflooredbutI'mu