Part 34

"Did she, Polly?" cried Alexia, immensely gratified.

"Yes, she did." Polly stood on her tiptoes at the imminent danger of going on her nose, and pulling the other's down, to get a kiss on the long sallow cheek. "She said it very distinctly, Alexia, and all the girls talked about it afterward."

"Well, she's a dear old thing," exclaimed Alexia, with remorseful little pangs at the memory of certain episodes at the 'Salisbury School,' "and I shall try--oh, Polly, I'll try so hard to be nice and please her."

Polly gave her two or three little pats on her back.

"And don't you think," cried Polly, flying off to brush her hair, and calling back through the open door, "that the boys are going to have their club meet with ours. Just think of that!"

"Oh Polly!" Alexia came flying in, brush in hand. "You don't really mean it!"

"I do. Jasper just told me so. Well, hurry, Alexia, else we'll be late," warned Polly, brushing away vigorously. "Yes, Phronsie,"--for Phronsie had gone off for Jane to put on a clean apron,--"we're ready now--that is, almost."

"When--when?" Polly could hear Alexia frantically asking, as she rushed back into her room, which was next to Polly's own.

"Oh, just as soon as you are able," called Polly. "Now don't ask any more questions, Alexia," she begged merrily. "Yes, Mamsie, we're coming!"

* * * * *

That afternoon, Percy and Joel were rushing back to school from an errand down to the village, and hurrying along with an awful feeling that the half-past-five bell in the big tower on the playground would strike in a minute.

"Hold on," called Percy, considerably in the rear; "how you get over the ground, Joe!"

"And you're such a snail," observed Joel pleasantly. Nevertheless he paused.

"What's that?" pricking up his ears.

"I don't hear anything." Percy came up panting.

"Of course not, when you're puffing like a grampus."

"What's a grampus?" asked Percy irritably.

"I don't know," said Joel honestly.

"Well, I wouldn't say words I didn't know what they meant," said Percy in a patronizing tone, and trying not to realize that he was very hot.

"Well, do keep still, will you!" roared Joel. "There, there it is again." He stooped down, and peered within a hedge. "Something's crying in here."

"You'll get your eyes scratched out, most likely, by an old, cross cat," suggested Percy.

Joel, who cared very little for that or any warning, was now on his knees. "Oh whickets!" he exclaimed, dragging out a small yellow dog, who, instead of struggling, wormed himself all up against his rescuer, whining pitifully.

"He's hurt," declared Joel, tossing back his stubby locks, and patting the dog, who stopped whining, and licked him all over, as much of his face and hands as he could reach.

"Oh, that dirty thing--faugh! How can you, Joel Pepper!" cried Percy in distress.

But Joel didn't even hear him, being occupied in setting the dog on the ground to try his paces.

"No, he's not hurt, after all, I guess," he decided, "but look at his ribs,--he's half starved."

"I don't want to look at them," said Percy, turning his back, "and you ought to let him alone; that bell will ring in half a second, Joel Pepper!"

"True enough!" cried Joel. "Come on, Perky," this being the school name of the older Whitney, and he picked up the dog, and shot off.