Polly's First Year at Boarding School Part 29

"What are you going to do with them?" she asked, giving a vigorous, last brush to her wavy hair and straightening her bows.

"They've seen the grounds, haven't they?"

"Bob never has," Lois answered. Then, after a minute of thoughtful silence:

"Polly, what are we going to do with them? Mother and Father are all right but Bob's sure to do something awful, he's such a tease."

"Oh, don't worry about him," laughed Polly; "if the worst comes to the worst, you can take him out of bounds."

In spite of this suggestion, Lois' brows remained puckered and her expression worried. She was not thinking so much about how to amuse Bob.

She was wondering how, now that these two were at last to meet, they would like each other. Suppose they didn't like each other at all!

Dreadful thought; Polly might think Bob too grown up and quiet, and Bob might think her "a silly girl." Lois looked forlorn when she contemplated such an outcome to this meeting.

She still wore a puzzled expression as she waited on the steps a little later, watching for the first sign of the Station Carriage. At three o'clock it came in sight around the first bend of the road. When it reached the porte-cochere, her father was the first to get out and he almost smothered Lois in his big hug.

Big, was the word that described Dr. Farwell, everything about him was big. His broad shoulders, his well shaped hands, his kindly deep set blue eyes, even his voice, which appeared to come from his boots as he asked:

"How is this little daughter of mine?"

"Oh, Daddie, dear, I'm so glad to see you. I'm perfectly fine," Lois answered excitedly and then turned to greet her mother.

"Darling Lois," Mrs. Farwell whispered, kissing her, and:

"Sweetheart mother," Lois whispered back. That was all. Mother and daughter understood each other so well, that there was no need for words.

"Well, don't I get even a how d'ye do?" demanded a laughing voice. And a big hand fell on Lois' shoulder.

"Why, Bobbie-but of course you do, I'm so glad to see you, I could eat you up," she cried.

"Eat this instead, won't you?" said Bob, producing a big white cardboard box. "It's a chocolate cake-it won't be quite so tough. Heppy made it for you, and she said she 'sho' did hope her baby chile would like it.'"

"Bless Heppy's heart, she's a darling, give me the box, you're sure to drop it."

"I like that, after I've carried it all the way here. I've a good mind to feed it to the horse," Bob threatened.

"Hadn't you better take us to the reception-room, dear?" Mrs. Farwell reminded. "We want to say how do you do to Mrs. Baird."

Lois led, dancing every step of the way. At the door of the room she pointed to a cozy group of chairs in the corner. "You wait here," she said, "and I'll go tell her; she's always in her office at this time."

"Thank you, dear, and oh, can't we meet Polly?" asked her mother and Dr.

Farwell added:

"Yes, of course we must meet Roddy's niece."

Lois called back, "I'll get her first, I have Mrs. Baird's permission."

And disappeared down the corridor. On reaching Freshman Lane she knocked at Polly's door.

"Polly, they're here, hurry up."

"Wait a minute, I'm changing my shoes," Polly answered.

But she did not add, for the fourth time:

"Whatever for?"

"Oh, my others needed a s.h.i.+ne."

"Well, hurry up, do. When you're ready come down to the reception hall.

I'll meet you."

And Lois was off again, but instead of returning to her family, she suddenly remembered Mrs. Baird, and went off in search of her.

When Polly reached the reception-room, after deciding the weighty question of shoes, she found Bobbie, all six feet of him, blocking the doorway.

He was standing with his hands behind him, his head thrown back, and his eyes fixed intently on a colored print of Venice that hung to the right of the door.

Dr. Farwell was hidden by the piano. Farther back in the room Mrs.

Farwell was looking out of the window and smiling. She had thrown back her dark brown feather boa, that so nearly matched her eyes, and Polly could see a waterfall of soft cream lace at her neck; her hands were in her lap, and she tapped the floor with one ridiculously tiny foot.

As Polly slowly approached the door she thought, wistfully, "What a darling to have for a mother," and then, "how under the sun will I ever get past Bob. Well, I'm here now and I can't run." And taking her courage in both hands, she walked the rest of the way to the door, and after a nervous little cough, said:

"I beg your pardon."

Bob, startled from his reverie, turned, and seeing her, jumped to one side.

"Oh, I'm sorry! excuse me, I-" In his confusion he backed into the piano stool and sat down suddenly without meaning to.

At the sound, Doctor and Mrs. Farwell both looked up, and the Doctor said:

"Why, Bob, what-?" and then laughed.

Mrs. Farwell took in the situation at a glance, and went over to Polly, who was blus.h.i.+ng violently, with outstretched hand.

"I'm sure you must be Polly," she said. "Lois has written me so much about you, that I know I can't be mistaken."

"How do you do, Mrs. Farwell?" Polly answered shyly. "I am Polly. Lois said to come down, that she'd be here."

"She's looking for Mrs. Baird," Mrs. Farwell explained.

"Do let me present my husband to you."

"So this is Polly?" said the Doctor. "I am delighted to see you, my dear. I used to know Roddy well. You and he were so good to Lois Christmas vacation that I don't know how to thank you enough."

"And this is my son, Bob," Mrs. Farwell continued, without giving Polly a chance to reply.

Bob held out a big hand,

"How do you do Miss Pendleton?"