CHAPTER V. SCRAPES

AFTERbeingunusuallygood,childrenareapttoturnshortroundandrefreshthemselvesbyactinglikeSancho.ForaweekafterTom'smishap,theyoungfolkswerequiteangelic,somuchsothatgrandmasaidshewasafraid“somethingwasgoingtohappentothem.”Thedearoldladyneedn'thavefeltanxious,forsuchexcessivevirtuedoesn'tlastlongenoughtoleadtotranslation,exceptwithlittleprigsinthegoodystory-booksandnosoonerwasTomonhislegsagain,whenthewholepartywentastray,andmuchtribulationwastheconsequence. Itallbeganwith“Polly'sstupidity,”asFansaidafterward.JustasPollyrandowntomeetMr.Shawoneevening,andwashelpinghimoffwithhiscoat,thebellrang,andafinebouquetofhothouseflowerswasleftinPolly'shands,forshenevercouldlearncityways,andopenedthedoorherself. “Hey!what'sthis?MylittlePollyisbeginningearly,afterall,”saidMr.Shaw,laughing,ashewatchedthegirl'sfacedimpleandflush,asshesmeltthelovelynosegay,andglancedatanotehalfhiddenintheheliotrope. Now,ifPollyhadn'tbeen“stupid,”asFansaid,shewouldhavehadherwitsabouther,andletitpassbut,yousee,Pollywasanhonestlittlesoulanditneveroccurredtoherthattherewasanyneedofconcealment,sosheansweredinherstraightforwardway,“Oh,theyain'tforme,sirtheyareforFanfromMr.Frank,Iguess.She'llbesopleased.” “Thatpuppysendsherthingsofthissort,doeshe?”AndMr.Shawlookedfarfrompleasedashepulledoutthenote,andcoollyopenedit. PollyhadherdoubtsaboutFan'sapprovalofthat“sortofthing,”butdarednotsayaword,andstoodthinkinghowsheusedtoshowherfatherthefunnyvalentinestheboyssenther,andhowtheylaughedoverthemtogether.ButMr.Shawdidnotlaughwhenhehadreadthesentimentalversesaccompanyingthebouquet,andhisfacequitescaredPolly,asheasked,angrily,“Howlonghasthisnonsensebeengoingon?” “Indeed,sir,Idon'tknow.Fandoesn'tmeananyharm.IwishIhadn'tsaidanything!”stammeredPolly,rememberingthepromisegiventoFannythedayoftheconcert.Shehadforgottenallaboutitandhadbecomeaccustomedtoseethe“bigboys,”asshecalledMr.Frankandhisfriends,withthegirlsonalloccasions.Now,itsuddenlyoccurredtoherthatMr.Shawdidn'tlikesuchamusements,andhadforbiddenFantoindulgeinthem.“Oh,dear!howmadshewillbe.Well,Ican'thelpit.Girlsshouldn'thavesecretsfromtheirfathers,thentherewouldn'tbeanyfuss,”thoughtPolly,asshewatchedMr.Shawtwistupthepinknoteandpokeitbackamongtheflowerswhichhetookfromher,saying,shortly,“SendFannytomeinthelibrary.” “Nowyou'vedoneit,youstupidthing!”criedFanny,bothangryanddismayed,whenPollydeliveredthemessage. “Why,whatelsecouldIdo?”askedPolly,muchdisturbed. “Lethimthinkthebouquetwasforyouthenthere'dhavebeennotrouble.” “Butthatwouldhavebeendoingalie,whichismostasbadastellingone.” “Don'tbeagoose.You'vegotmeintoascrape,andyououghttohelpmeout.” “IwillifIcanbutIwon'ttellliesforanybody!”criedPolly,gettingexcited. “Nobodywantsyoutojusthold,yourtongue,andletmemanage.” “ThenI'dbetternotgodown,”beganPolly,whenasternvoicefrombelowcalled,likeBluebeard,“Areyoucomingdown?” “Yes,sir,”answeredameekvoiceandFannyclutchedPolly,whispering,“YoumustcomeI'mfrightenedoutofmywitswhenhespeakslikethat.Standbyme,Pollythere'sadear.” “Iwill,”whispered“sisterAnn”anddowntheywentwithflutteringhearts. Mr.Shawstoodontherug,lookingrathergrimthebouquetlayonthetable,andbesideitanote,directedto“FrankMoore,Esq.,”inaverydecidedhand,withafierce-lookingflourishafterthe“Esq.”Pointingtothisimpressiveepistle,Mr.Shawsaid,knittinghisblackeyebrowsashelookedatFanny,“I'mgoingtoputastoptothisnonsenseatonceandifIseeanymoreofit,I'llsendyoutoschoolinaCanadianconvent.” ThisawfulthreatquitetookPolly'sbreathawaybutFannyhadhearditbefore,andhavingatemperofherown,said,pertly,“I'msureIhaven'tdoneanythingsoverydreadful.Ican'thelpitiftheboyssendmephilopenapresents,astheydototheothergirls.” “Therewasnothingaboutphilopenasinthenote.Butthat'snotthequestion.IforbidyoutohaveanythingtodowiththisMoore.He'snotaboy,butafastfellow,andIwon'thavehimabout.Youknewthis,andyetdisobeyedme.” “Ihardlyeverseehim,”beganFanny. “Isthattrue?”askedMr.Shaw,turningsuddenlytoPolly. “Oh,please,sir,don'taskme.IpromisedIwouldn'tthatisFannywilltellyou,”criedPolly,quiteredwithdistressatthepredicamentshewasin. “Nomatteraboutyourpromisetellmeallyouknowofthisabsurdaffair.ItwilldoFannymoregoodthanharm.”AndMr.Shawsatdownlookingmoreamiable,forPolly'sdismaytouchedhim. “MayI?”shewhisperedtoFanny. “Idon'tcare,”answeredFan,lookingbothangryandashamed,asshestoodsullenlytyingknotsinherhandkerchief. SoPollytold,withmuchreluctanceandm