Five Little Peppers at School Part 45

"Oh, Grandpapa!" Polly wished she could go dancing off into the middle of the thoroughfare for a regular spin.

"Take care, Polly," laughed old Mr. King, successfully steering her clear of an ash barrel, "this isn't the best dancing place imaginable."

"Oh, I beg your pardon, Grandpapa," said Polly, trying to sober down, "I didn't mean to; but oh, isn't it perfectly beautiful that Arethusa is going to take music lessons!"

"It is, indeed," said Grandpapa, with a keen glance down at her flushed face. "And it really does seem to be an a.s.sured fact, for Miss Brown is engaged to begin as soon as the family move into their new home."

"Oh--oh!" Polly could get no further.

Jasper, ahead with Pickering Dodge, looked back longingly.

"Oh, I do wish, Grandpapa," said Polly, "that Jasper could walk home with us."

"So do I, Polly," said the old gentleman; "but you see he can't, for then I should have the whole bunch of those chattering creatures around me," and he laughed grimly. "You must tell him all about what we are talking of, as soon as you get home."

"Yes, I will," declared Polly, "the very first thing. Now, Grandpapa, please go on."

"Well, I had told Mrs. Corcoran all about the new house, you know, Polly, before."

"Yes, I know, Grandpapa," said Polly, with a happy little wriggle.

"And so to-day I explained about the bank-book; told her where the money was deposited, and showed her how to use it. By the way, Polly, Jasper made a good speech now, didn't he?" The old gentleman broke off, and fairly glowed with pride.

"Oh, didn't he!" cried Polly, in a burst. "I thought it was too splendid for anything! And he didn't know in the least that he had to do it. He thought you were going to give the bank-book, Grandpapa."

"I know it," chuckled Mr. King. "Well now, Polly, I thought I'd try my boy without warning. Because, you see, that shows what stuff a person is made of to respond at such a time, and he's all right, Jasper is; he came up to the demand nicely."

"It was perfectly elegant!" cried Polly, with glowing cheeks.

"And those two boys--the largest ones--are to begin in the other public school next week," continued the old gentleman.

"Everything begins next week, doesn't it, Grandpapa?" cried Polly.

"It seems so," said Mr. King, with a laugh. "Well, Polly, here we are at our car."

And having the good luck to find it nearly empty, the whole party hopped on, and began the ride back again.

"Now," said Jasper, when they had reached home, "for some comfort," and he drew Polly off into a quiet corner in the library. "Let's have the whole, Polly. You said you'd tell me what you and father were talking of all the way home."

"And so I will," cried Polly, too elated to begin at the right end.

"Well, Jasper, you must know that Arethusa's piano is actually engaged."

"It is!" exclaimed Jasper. "Hurrah!"

"Yes," said Polly, with s.h.i.+ning eyes, "and it's going into the new home the _very_ first thing. Grandpapa promised me that."

"Isn't father good!" cried Jasper, a whole world of affection in his dark eyes.

"Good?" repeated Polly, "he's as good as good can be, Jasper King!"

"Well, what else?" cried Jasper.

"And the boys--the two biggest ones--are going into the other public school, the one nearest their new home, you know."

"Yes, I see," said Jasper, "that's fine. That will bring them in with better boys."

"Yes, and Grandpapa told Mrs. Corcoran all about the money we made at the entertainment, and that he put it in the bank for her this morning.

And he showed her how to use the check-book."

"Polly," said Jasper, very much excited, "what if we girls and boys hadn't done this for those children! Just think, Polly, only suppose it!"

"I know it," cried Polly. "Oh, Jasper!" drawing a long breath. "But then, you see, we did do it."

"Yes," said Jasper, bursting into a laugh, "we surely did, Polly."

XXI AT THE PLAY

"Oh, Cathie!" Polly rushed out to meet the girl that Johnson was just ushering in. "I _am_ so glad you've come!"

A pleased look swept over the girl's face, but she didn't say anything.

"Now come right upstairs; never mind the bag, Johnson will bring that for you."

"I will take it up, Miss," said Johnson, securing it.

"Mamsie is waiting to see you," cried Polly, as they ran over the stairs, Cathie trying to still the excited beating of her heart at the thought that she was really to visit Polly Pepper for three whole days!

"Oh, Mamsie, here she is!"

"I am glad to see you, Cathie," said Mrs. Fisher heartily, taking her cold hand. "Now, you are to have the room right next to Polly's."

"Yes, the same one that Alexia always has when she stays here," said Polly. "See, Cathie," bearing her off down the hall. "Oh, it is so good to get you here," she cried happily. "Well, here we are!"

"You can't think," began Cathie brokenly; then she turned away to the window--"it's so good of you to ask me, Polly Pepper!"

"It's so good of you to come," said Polly merrily, and running over to her. "There, Johnson has brought your bag. Aren't you going to unpack it, Cathie?--that is, I mean"--with a little laugh--"after you've got your hat and jacket off. And then, when your things are all settled, we can go downstairs, and do whatever you like. Perhaps we'll go in the greenhouse."

"Oh, Polly!" exclaimed Cathie, quite forgetting herself, and turning around.

"And can't I help you unpack?" asked Polly, longing to do something.

"No," said Cathie, remembering her plain clothes and lack of the pretty trifles that girls delight in; then seeing Polly's face, she thought better of it. "Yes, you may," she said suddenly.

So Polly unstrapped the bag, and drew out the clothes, all packed very neatly. "Why, Cathie Harrison!" she exclaimed suddenly.