human
What you can find in my words to cause such an unseemly outburst, I cannot see,
gpt
I'm under the impression that you led off the amusement yourself, said Mr. King, wiping his eyes.
human
Phronsie, it's all very funny, isn't it?
gpt
Is it really funny? asked Phronsie.
human
Does the lady like it?
gpt
Not particularly, I suspect,
human
And that you can talk with that chit, ignoring me, your cousin's wife, is insufferable. Mrs. Chatterton now arose speedily from the divan, and shook out a flounce or two with great venom.
gpt
I had intended to make you a visit. Now it is quite impossible.
human
As you like, said the old gentleman, also rising, and placing Phronsie on her feet, observing ostentatious care to keep her hand.
gpt
My house is open to you, Eunice, with a wave of his disengaged hand in old-time hospitality,
human
It's rather hard upon a person of sensibility, to come home after a six years' absence, said Cousin Eunice with a pathetic sniff, and once more seeking her vinaigrette in the depths of the silken bag,
gpt
No doubt, no doubt, said the old gentleman hastily,
human
I can imagine such a case, but it has nothing to do with you. Now, if you are going to stay, Eunice, say so at once, and proceed to your room. If not, why you must go, and understand it is no one's fault but your own.
gpt
I want to ask the lady to stay, Grandpapa dear.
human
She doesn't need urging,
gpt
But, Grandpapa dear, she isn't glad about something.
human
No more am I.
gpt
Grandpapa, cried Phronsie, moving off a bit, though not deserting his hand, and standing on her tiptoes,
human
I want her to stay, to see me. Perhaps she hasn't any little girls.
gpt
To see you? cried Mr. King irately.
human
Say no more, child, say no more. She's been abusing you right and left, like a pick-pocket.
gpt
What is a pick-pocket?
human
Oh! a scoundrel who puts his hands into pockets; picks out what doesn't belong to him, in fact.
gpt
That was not nice,
human
Now do you want her to stay?
gpt
Insufferable! repeated Mrs. Chatterton between her teeth,
human
Yes, I do, said Phronsie decidedly,
gpt
I do, Grandpapa. Now I know she hasn't any little girls--if she had little girls, she wouldn't say such very unnice things; I want the poor lady to stay with me.
human
I see your household is in a very chaotic state, Cousin Horatio. Still I will remain a few days, with extreme condescension,
gpt
I make no conditions, said the old gentleman coolly.
human
If you stay, you must accept my household as you find it.
gpt
Come, Marian, said Mrs. Chatterton, holding out her hand to Mrs. Whitney.
human
You may help me to my apartments if you like. I am quite unstrung by all this,
gpt
Has she gone? cried Jasper, hurrying in with Polly running after.
human
It's 'stay,' isn't it, father?
gpt
Yes, said Mr. King grimly,
human
Well, now then, you've a piece of work on your hands about the biggest you ever did yet, Polly Pepper! cried Jasper,
gpt
You cross!
human
Cross as a bear; Marian will fight against the prevailing ill wind, but it will finally blow her down to a state of depression where her best friend wouldn't recognize her, and
gpt
You don't mention me, my boy,
human
And if you, Polly Pepper, don't keep things bright, why, we shall all go to the dogs, said the old gentleman, sobering down.
gpt
So mind you do, and we'll try to bear Cousin Algernon's relict.
human
I will, said Polly stoutly, though
gpt
Give us your hand, then, said Jasper's father, putting out his palm.
human
There! releasing it,
gpt
And give me your hand, Polly, cried Jasper, his own brown hand flying to meet hers.
human
There! and now I'm comfortable too! So it's a compact, and a sure one!
gpt
And I want to give my hand, cried Phronsie, very much aggrieved.
human
Here, Jasper.
gpt
Bless my soul, so you must! cried old Mr. King;
human
And, Phronsie darling, cried Polly in a rapture,
gpt
Now tell our plan, cried Jasper to Polly,
human
Of course it is,
gpt
Well, you know Joel and Davie and Van and Percy are coming home from school next week for the Christmas holidays,
human
Bless me! so they are, said Mr. King.
gpt
How time flies, to be sure! Well, go on, Polly.
human
And we ought to do something to celebrate, said Polly,
gpt
To be sure I do, cried the old gentleman heartily.
human
Well, what would you do, Polly child, to show the youngsters we're proud of them, and glad to get them back--hey?
gpt
We want to get up a little play, said Polly,
human
Jasper and I, and act it.
gpt
And have music, cried Jasper.
human
Polly shall play on the piano. The boys will be so delighted to see how she has improved.
gpt
And Jasper will play too, cried Polly eagerly.
human
Oh, Jasper! will you play that concerto, the one you played when Mary Gibbs was here at tea last week? Do, Jasper, do.
gpt
That nearly floored me,
human
No; you said it was Mary's watching you like a lynx--you know you did,
gpt
Never mind, said the old gentleman.
human
What next, Polly? The play is all right.
gpt
I should think it was, cried Jasper.
human
It's the Three Dragons, and the Princess Clotilde.
gpt
Oh, my goodness, exclaimed Mr. King,
human
What a play for Christmas Eve!
gpt
Well, you'll say it's a splendid hit! cried Jasper,
human
So you are intending to honor me, are you? cried his father, vastly pleased to find himself as ever, the central figure in their plans.
gpt
Well, well, I dare say it will all be as fine as can be to welcome these young scapegraces home. What next, Polly?
human
It must be kept a perfect surprise, cried Polly, clasping her hands while the color flew over her face.
gpt
No one must even whisper it to each other, the day before Christmas when the boys get here, for Joel is so very dreadful whenever there is a secret.
human
His capacity certainly is good, said Mr. King dryly.
gpt
We will all be very careful.
human
And Phronsie is to be Princess Clotilde,
gpt
Oh, Jasper! I'm eight years old,
human
Nonsense! What of it--you are the baby of this household. But he set her on her feet nevertheless, one hand still patting the soft yellow waves over her brow.
gpt
Go on, Polly, do, and lay the whole magnificence before father. He will be quite overcome.
human
That would be disastrous, said Mr. King;
gpt
Jasper is to be one of the dragons, announced Polly, quite in her element,
human
Clare has the most 'go' in him,
gpt
Then I think we'll decide now to ask him, said Polly,
human
A dragon without 'go' in him would be most undesirable, I should fancy. Well, what next do you propose to do, Polly?
gpt
Now that we know that you will allow us to have it, cried Polly in a rapture,
human
Polly wrote the most,
gpt
Oh, no, Jasper! I only put in the bits, said Polly.
human
He planned it?--every single bit, Jasper did.
gpt
Well, she thought up the dragons, and the cave, and
human
Oh! that was easy enough, said Polly, guilty of interrupting,
gpt
Oh, now! you are not going to frighten my little girl, cried Mr. King.
human
I protest against the whole thing if you do, and he put out his hand.
gpt
Come, Phronsie,
human
Oh! we are going to show her the boys, and how we dress them up just like dragons, cried Polly,
gpt
N--no, said Phronsie, slowly,
human
They really will be, cried Polly, enchanted at her success,
gpt
Jasper and Ben and Clare; and they will give you a ride, and show you a cave, oh! and perfect quantities of things; you can't think how many!
human
Oh! I don't care if they are true dragons, Polly, I don't, she cried, dreadfully excited.
gpt
Make 'em real big live ones, do; do make them big, and let me ride on their backs.
human
These will be just as real, said Polly comfortingly,
gpt
But I'd really rather have true ones,
human
Now, Phronsie, said Polly, on her knees before the Princess, who was slowly evolving into
gpt
human
as she thrust in another pin, then turned her head critically to view her work,
gpt
I do hope that is right.
human
May I just stretch a wee little bit, Polly, she asked timidly,
gpt
To be sure you may, said Polly, looking into the flushed little face;
human
I'll tell you, you may walk over to the window and back, once; that'll rest you and give me a chance to see what is the matter with that back drapery.