Part 68

"Yes, Polly, I think you ought," said Mother Fisher.

"Oh dear me! Phronsie can't have only a little bit of it," said Polly.

"I know it. But think, Polly, the boys have to go back to school so soon that even if other people didn't care if it were postponed, they would lose it. Besides, Tom is to be one of the chief people on the program. No, no, Polly, there are others to think of outside of ourselves. You must have your entertainment just as it is planned," Mrs. Fisher brought up very decidedly.

"Well," sighed Polly, "I am glad that Papa Fisher says that Phronsie can hear a little part of it, anyway."

"Yes," said her mother cheerfully, "and Helen Fargo is to sit next to her. Mrs. Fargo is to take her home early, as she has not been very well. So you see, Polly, it will all turn out very good after all."

"But I did so want Phronsie to be there through the whole," mourned Polly.

"So did I," echoed Jasper. Then he caught Mother Fisher's eye. "But, Polly, the boys would lose it then," he added quickly.

"Oh!" cried Polly, "so they would; I keep forgetting that. Dear me! why isn't everything just right, so that they all could hear it?" And she gave a little flounce.

"Everything is just right, Polly," said Mrs. Fisher gravely; "don't let me hear you complain of things that no one can help."

"I didn't mean to complain, Mamsie," said Polly humbly; and she crept up to her, while Jasper looked very much distressed.

"Mother knows you didn't," said Mrs. Fisher, putting her arm around her, "but it's a bad habit, Polly, to be impatient when things don't go rightly. Now run away, both of you," she finished brightly, "and work up your program," and she set a kiss on Polly's rosy cheek.

"Jasper," cried Polly, with happiness once more in her heart as they raced off, "I tell you what we can do. We must change the program, and put those things that Phronsie likes, up first."

"That's so," cried Jasper, well pleased. "Now, what will they be, Polly?"

"Why, Mr. Dyce's story of the dog," said Polly, "for one thing; Phronsie thinks that's perfectly lovely, and always asks him for it when he tells her stories."

"All right," said Jasper. "What next?"

"Why, Tom must sing one of his funny songs."

"Yes, of course. That will please her ever so much," cried Jasper. "Don't you know how she claps her hands when he's rehearsing, Polly?"

"Yes; oh, I wouldn't have her miss that for anything, Jasper," said Polly.

"No, indeed," cried Jasper heartily. "Well, Polly, then what ought to come next? Let's come into the den and fix it up now."

So they ran into the den; and Jasper got out the long program all ready to be pinned up beside the improvised stage, on the evening of the great event, and spread it on the table, Polly meanwhile clearing off the books.

"Let's see." He wrinkled up his brow, running his finger down the whole length. "Now, when I make the new program, Mr. Dyce goes first."

Polly stood quite still at that. "Oh, Jasper, we can't do it--no, never in all this world."

"Why, Polly,"--he turned suddenly--"yes, we can just as easily. See, Polly."

"We can't spoil that lovely program that took you so long to make, for anything," said Polly, in a decisive fashion. "Phronsie wouldn't want it," she added.

"Phronsie isn't to know anything about it," said Jasper, just as decidedly.

"Well, but Jasper, you can't make another; you haven't the time," said Polly in great distress, and wishing she hadn't said anything about the changes. "I didn't think there would have to be a new program made."

"Oh, Polly, I think we'd better have a new one," said Jasper, who was very particular about everything.

"I thought we were going to have changes announced from the stage," said Polly. "Oh, why can't we, Jasper? I'm sure they do that very often."