Part 86

“A very big bundle,” he said, and taking hold of her shoulders he turned her around on--her husband.

So Polly and Phronsie crept in unnoticed after all.

“I wish Ben was here,” said little Davie, capering around the Whitney group, “an' Jappy, I do!”

“Where are they!” asked Polly.

“Don't know,” said Joel, tugging at his shoe-string. “See--aren't these prime!” He held up a shining black shoe, fairly bristling with newness, for Polly to admire.

“Splendid,” she cried heartily; “but where are the boys?”

“They went after you,” said Davie, “after we came home with our shoes.”

“No, they didn't,” contradicted Joel, flatly; and sitting down on the floor he began to tie and untie his new possessions. “When we came home Ben drew us pictures--lots of 'em--don't you know?”

“Oh, yes,” said Davie, nodding his head, “so he did; that was when we all cried 'cause you weren't home, Polly.”

“He drawed me a be-yew-tiful one,” cried Phronsie, holding up her mangy bit; “see, Polly, see!”

“That's the little brown house,” said Davie, looking over her shoulder as Phronsie put it carefully into Polly's hand.

“It's all washed out,” said Polly, smoothing it out, “when you staid out in the rain.”

Phronsie's face grew very grave at that.

“Bad, naughty old rain,” she said, and then she began to cry as hard as she could.

“Oh dear, don't!” cried Polly in dismay, trying her best to stop her, “oh, Phronsie, do stop!” she implored, pointing into the next room whence the sound of happy voices issued, “they'll all hear you!”

But Phronsie in her grief didn't care, but wailed on steadily.

“Who is it anyway?” cried Joel, tired of admiring his precious shoes, and getting up to hear them squeak, “that great big man, you know, Polly, that came in with you?”

“Why, I thought I told you,” said Polly, at her wit's end over Phronsie. “It's Percy and Van's father, Joey!”

“Whockey!” cried Joel, completely stunned, “really and truly, Polly Pepper?”

“Really and truly,” cried Polly, bundling Phronsie up in her arms to lay the little wet cheek against hers.

“Then I'm going to peek,” cried Joel, squeaking across the floor to carry his threat into execution.

“Oh, you mustn't, Joe!” cried Polly, frightened lest he should. “Come right back, or I'll tell mamsie!”

“They're all comin' in, anyway,” cried little Davie, delightedly, and scuttling over to Polly's side.

“And here are the little friends I've heard so much about!” cried Mr. Whitney coming in amongst them. “Oh, you needn't introduce me to Polly--she brought me home!”

“They're all Pepperses,” said Percy, waving his hand, and doing the business up at one stroke.

“Only the best of 'em isn't here,” observed Van, rather ungallantly, “he draws perfectly elegant, papa!”

“I like Polly best, I do!” cried little Dick, tumbling after. “Peppers!” again repeated Mr. Whitney in a puzzled way.

“And here is Mrs. Pepper,” said old Mr. King, pompously drawing her forward, “the children's mother, and--”