human
Halloo, Polly! whooped Joel, rushing around an angle in the hall,
gpt
Grandpapa promised me that I might go out with him, to give the supper orders, and all that kind of nonsense.
human
Joel, she began, seizing his jacket with trembling fingers,
gpt
What's up? cried Joel with curiosity;
human
And Phronsie, too,
gpt
Come on, Phron, sang out Joel,
human
Now, Joel, said Polly, closing the door and facing him desperately,
gpt
I should think so, said Joel,
human
I'm not anybody's else. Is that all you brought me up here to say?
gpt
And you can make her happy, or just as miserable as I can't say what,
human
What in the world are you firing at? demanded the boy, visions of certain pranks at school unpleasantly before him.
gpt
Don't shoot over my head, Polly, but keep somewhere near your mark,
human
Mamsie does not want a big wedding, declared Polly, going to the heart of the matter,
gpt
And so it will, cried Joel,
human
I don't want to dance, said Phronsie, standing quite still in the middle of the room. The morning sun shone across her yellow hair, but no light came into the large eyes.
gpt
Polly wants something, first; what is it, Joel?
human
I'm sure I don't know, said Joel, poised on a careless foot, and executing a remarkable pas seul.
gpt
I don't believe she knows herself. Polly is often queer, you know, Phronsie,
human
Tell me, Polly, do,
gpt
Phronsie, said Polly very slowly,
human
Mamsie doesn't want a big party in the evening to see her married, but to have a cunning little company of friends come in the morning, and
gpt
Ugh!
human
It will please Mamsie best, went on Polly, with a cold shoulder to Joel.
gpt
And I never should be happy in all this world to remember that I helped to make my Mamsie unhappy on her wedding day.
human
Oh! make her be married just as she wants to be, Polly, do.
gpt
Now that's what I call mean, cried Joel in a loud, vindictive tone back of Polly,
human
You can't make me say it, Polly Pepper!
gpt
Oh, Phronsie! exclaimed Polly in a rapture, throwing her arms around the child,
human
Mamsie will be so pleased--you can't think. Let us go and tell her; come!
gpt
See here! called Joel, edging up,
human
I haven't anything to say, Polly condescended to give him, without turning her head.
gpt
Come, Phronsie,
human
Wait a minute.
gpt
Well, what is it?
human
I guess I can give up things as well as she can, if I know Mamsie wants me to,
gpt
Mamsie doesn't want any of us to give up anything unless we do it as if we were glad to,
human
I--I wish she wouldn't have the big party,
gpt
I thought you wanted it,
human
I--I don't. I'd rather Mamsie would be happy. O, dear! don't look at me so.
gpt
I'm not looking at you so, said Polly.
human
You acted just as if you had your heart set on the party.
gpt
Well, it isn't. I'll--I'll--if you say party to me again!
human
Joel Pepper! cried Polly, holding him with her brown eyes,
gpt
Yes, said Joel,
human
Oh! oh! oh!