CHAPTER VIII. SIX YEARS AFTERWARD

“WHATdoyouthinkPollyisgoingtodothiswinter?”exclaimedFanny,lookingupfromthelettershehadbeeneagerlyreading. “GoingtodeliverlecturesonWoman'sRights,”saidtheyounggentlemanwhowascarefullyexamininghisluxuriantcropofdecidedlyauburnhair,asheloungedwithbothelbowsonthechimney-piece. “Goingtosethercapforsomeyoungministerandmarryhiminthespring,”addedMrs.Shaw,whosemindranagooddealuponmatch-makingjustnow. “Ithinksheisgoingtostayathome,anddoallthework,'causeservantscostsomuchitwouldbejustlikeher,”observedMaud,whocouldpronouncetheletterRnow. “It'smyopinionsheisgoingtoopenaschool,orsomethingofthatsort,tohelpthosebrothersofhersalong,”saidMr.Shaw,whohadputdownhispaperatthesoundofPolly'sname. “Everyoneofyouwrong,thoughpapacomesnearestthetruth,”criedFanny“sheisgoingtogivemusiclessons,andsupportherself,sothatWillmaygotocollege.Heisthestudiousone,andPollyisveryproudofhim.Ned,theotherbrother,hasabusinesstalent,anddon'tcareforbooks,sohehasgoneoutWest,andwillmakehisownwayanywhere.Pollysayssheisn'tneededathomenow,thefamilyissosmall,andKittycantakeherplacenicelysosheisactuallygoingtoearnherownliving,andhandoverhershareofthefamilyincometoWill.Whatamartyrthatgirldoesmakeofherself,”andFannylookedassolemnasifPollyhadproposedsomeawfulself-sacrifice. “Sheisasensible,brave-heartedgirl,andIrespectherfordoingit,”saidMr.Shaw,emphatically.“Oneneverknowswhatmayhappen,anditdoesnoharmforyoungpeopletolearntobeindependent.” “IfsheisasprettyasshewaslasttimeIsawher,she'llgetpupilsfastenough.Iwouldn'tmindtakinglessonsmyself,”wasthegraciousobservationofShaw,Jr.,asheturnedfromthemirror,withthesoothingcertaintythathisobjectionablehairactuallywasgrowingdarker. “Shewouldn'ttakeyouatanyprice,”saidFanny,rememberingPolly'slookofdisappointmentanddisapprovalwhenshecameonherlastvisitandfoundhimanunmistakabledandy. “Youjustwaitandsee,”wastheplacidreply. “IfPollydoescarryoutherplan,IwishMaudtotakelessonsofherFannycandoasshelikes,butitwouldpleasemeverymuchtohaveoneofmygirlssingasPollysings.Itsuitsoldpeoplebetterthanyouroperathings,andmotherusedtoenjoyitsomuch.” Ashespoke,Mr.Shaw'seyeturnedtowardthecornerofthefirewheregrandmausedtosit.Theeasy-chairwasemptynow,thekindoldfacewasgone,andnothingbutaverytendermemoryremained. “I'dliketolearn,papa,andPollyisasplendidteacher,Iknowshe'salwayssopatient,andmakeseverythingsopleasant.Idohopeshewillgetscholarsenoughtobeginrightaway,”saidMaud. “Whenisshecoming?”askedMrs.Shaw,quitewillingtohelpPolly,butprivatelyresolvingthatMaudshouldbefinishedoffbythemostfashionablemasterinthecity. “Shedoesn'tsay.Shethanksmeforaskingherhere,asusual,butsayssheshallgorighttoworkandhadbetterbeginwithherownlittleroomatonce.Won'titseemstrangetohavePollyintown,andyetnotwithus?” “We'llgethersomehow.Thelittleroomwillcostsomething,andshecanstaywithusjustaswellasnot,evenifshedoesteach.TellherIsayso,”saidMr.Shaw. “Shewon'tcome,Iknowforifsheundertakestobeindependent,she'lldoitinthemostthoroughmanner,”answeredFanny,andMrs.Shawsincerelyhopedshewould.Itwasallverywelltopatronizethelittlemusic-teacher,butitwasnotsopleasanttohavehersettledinthefamily. “IshalldowhatIcanforheramongmyfriends,andIdaresayshewillgetonverywellwithyoungpupilstobeginwith.Ifshestartsright,putshertermshighenough,andgetsafewgoodnamestogivehertheentreintoourfirstfamilies,Idon'tdoubtshewilldonicely,forImustsayPollyhasthemannersofalady,”observedMrs.Shaw. “She'samightytakinglittlebody,andI'mgladshe'stobeintown,thoughI'dlikeitbetterifshedidn'tbotheraboutteaching,butjuststayedhereandenjoyedherself,”saidTom,lazily. “I'venodoubtshewouldfeelhighlyhonoredtobeallowedtodevotehertimetoyouramusementbutshecan'taffordexpensiveluxuries,andshedon'tapproveofflirting,soyouwillhavetolethergoherownway,andrefreshherselfwithsuchglimpsesofyouasherengagementspermit,”answeredFanny,inthesarcastictonewhichwasbecominghabitualtoher. “Youaregettingtobearegularoldmaid,Fanassharpasalemon,andtwiceassour,”returnedTom,lookingdownatherwithanairofcalmsuperiority. “Dobequiet,childrenyouknowIcan'tbearanythinglikecontention.Maud,givememyShetlandshawl,andputacushionatmyback.” AsMaudobeyedhermother,withareprovinglookathererringbrotherandsister,apausefollowed,forwhicheveryoneseemedgrateful.Theyweresittingaboutthefireafterdinner,andalllookedasifalittlesunshinewoulddothemgood.IthadbeenadullNovemberday,butallofasuddenthecloudslifted,andabrightrayshotintotheroom.Everyoneturnedinvoluntarilytowelcomeit,andeveryonecriedout,“Why,Polly!”forthereonthethresholdstoodabright-facedgirl,smilingasiftherewasnosuchthingasNovemberweatherintheworld. “Youdearthing,whendidyoucome?”criedFanny,kissingboththebloomingcheckswithrealaffection,whiletheresthoverednear,waitingforachance. “Icameyesterday,andhavebeengettingmynestinorderbutIcouldn'tkeepawayanylonger,soIranuptosay'Howdoyoudo?'”answeredPolly,inthecheeryvoicethatdidone'sheartgoodtohear. “MyPollyalwaysbringsthesunshinewithher,”andMr.Shawheldouthishandstohislittlefriend,forshewashisfavoritestill. Itwasgoodtoseeherputbotharmsabouthisneck,andgivehimatenderkiss,thatsaidagreatdeal,forgrandmahaddiedsincePollymethimlastandshelongedtocomforthim,seeinghowgrayandoldhehadgrown. IfTomhadhadanythoughtsoffollowinghisfather'sexampl