human
Have they? oh! have they? cried Mrs. Whitney.
gpt
Oh, Polly! do tell me.
human
I don't see any of them, said Polly, listening eagerly for another cry,
gpt
Do come back, implored Mrs. Whitney;
human
as Polly hurried to her side,
gpt
I will, said Polly,
human
Oh--oh! Percy is so much worse off than Joel, wailed Mrs. Whitney.
gpt
Oh! to do such a thing, Polly!
human
They only meant it in fun, said Polly, swallowing hard the lump in her throat,
gpt
And Van, cried Mrs. Whitney, running on.
human
Oh! my poor, poor boys. Will your mother ever forgive me, Polly?
gpt
Oh, Auntie! don't talk so, said Polly tenderly;
human
I can't go near him, cried Mrs. Whitney in distress,
gpt
Mrs. Chatterton, said Mrs. Whitney, raising her head and looking at the new-comer with as much anger as her gentle face could contain,
human
I really cannot see you in my room to-night. Excuse me, but I am unstrung by all that has occurred. Will you please not come in
gpt
I thought I might sit with you, said Mrs. Chatterton. In the brief interval since the arousing of the household, she had contrived to make a perfect breakfast toilet, and she folded her hands over her handsome gown.
human
Polly might then be with her mother. But if you don't wish me to remain, I will go.
gpt
I do not need you,
human
Auntie, said Polly,
gpt
Polly, you needn't say anything about it, exclaimed Mrs. Whitney, like many other gentle creatures, when roused, becoming unreasonably prejudiced;
human
I cannot bear the sight of that woman. She has been here so long, and is so intensely disagreeable to us all.
gpt
Don't look so, child, said Mrs. Whitney at length,
human
She's sorry for it,
gpt
And father is nearly worn out with her, continued Mrs. Whitney.
human
And now to come parading her attentions upon me, it
gpt
Who--who? Dicky, now that the excitement in Joel's room had died down, had lost his relish for it, and he now pranced into Mrs. Whitney's room.
human
Who, mamma?
gpt
Mrs. Chatterton, said Mrs. Whitney unguardedly.
human
She has disagreeably intruded herself upon me.
gpt
Has she been in here?
human
Yes; asking if she can sit with me,
gpt
And you wouldn't let her?
human
Of course not, Dicky,
gpt
Then I think you did very wrong,
human
Oh, Dick!
gpt
And you don't act like my mother at all, said Dick, standing quite stiffly on his sturdy legs, and gazing at her with disapprobation.
human
Didn't Mrs. Chatterton save my life, he exploded,
gpt
I have yet to find out that is the truth, said Mrs. Whitney, finding her voice.
human
Oh, Dicky, she added, hurt that he should defend another, worst of all, Mrs. Chatterton,
gpt
But I ought to talk about her, persisted Dick.
human
She saved me as much as she could. Because she won't let anybody thank her, I like her more myself. I'm going to stay with her.
gpt
Dick, Dick! called his mother,
human
Dick, I want you to go to Mrs. Chatterton's room, and say that I am sorry I refused her offer to help, and that I would like to have her sit with me. Remember, say I am sorry I refused her offer to help, Dicky.
gpt
Now, you're a brick! he declared impulsively.
human
I'll bring the old lady, and we'll both sit with you.
gpt
How good it is that she sleeps through it all,
human
She looks just as she did the night she took her new shoes to bed, thought Polly;
gpt
Percy's here--all right!
human
Are you hurt? cried Polly, feeling as if the whole family were bound to destruction.
gpt
Oh, Jasper! did you fall?
human
Nothing but a scratch. I was fool enough to forget the ledge, and walked off for my pains
gpt
Oh, Jasper! cried Polly, with paling cheeks,
human
Nonsense. No, Polly! cried Jasper, with a quick hand detaining her,
gpt
Is he all right?
human
Sound as a nut, declared Jasper;
gpt
Run off to sea! repeated Polly.
human
Oh, Jasper!
gpt
Well, he was so frightened, of course he didn't know what to say, replied Jasper.
human
And ashamed, too. He didn't care to show his head at home. I don't know as I blame him, Polly. Well, it's too bad about Phronsie's party, isn't it?
gpt
Yes, said Polly with a sigh, stopping at Mrs. Whitney's door,
human
Still, it's too bad for Phronsie,
gpt
Yes, sir!