CHAPTER VIII. SIX YEARS AFTERWARD

e,somethinginPolly'smannermadehimchangehismind,andshakehandswithahearty“I'mverygladtoseeyou,Polly,”addingtohimself,ashelookedatthefaceinthemodestlittlebonnet:“Prettierthanever,byJove!” TherewassomethingmorethanmereprettinessinPolly'sface,thoughTomhadnotlearnedtoseeityet.Theblueeyeswereclearandsteady,thefreshmouthfrankandsweet,thewhitechinwasaveryfirmoneinspiteofthedimple,andthesmoothforeheadunderthelittlecurlshadabroad,benevolentarchwhileallaboutthefacewerethoseunmistakablelinesandcurveswhichcanmakeevenaplaincountenancecomely,bybreathingintoitthebeautyofalovelycharacter.Pollyhadgrownup,butshehadnomorestylenowthaninthedaysoftheroundhatandroughcoat,forshewasallingray,likeayoungQuakeress,withnoornamentbutabluebowatthethroatandanotherinthehair.Yettheplainsuitbecameherexcellently,andoneneverthoughtofthedress,lookingattheactivefigurethatworeit,forthefreedomofherchildhoodgavetoPollythatgoodgift,health,andeverymovementwasfullofthevigor,grace,andease,whichnothingelsecansosurelybestow.Ahappysoulinahealthybodyisararesightinthesedays,whendoctorsflourishandeveryoneisill,andthispleasantunionwasthecharmwhichPollypossessedwithoutknowingit. “Itdoesseemsogoodtohaveyouhereagain,”saidMaud,cuddlingPolly'scoldhand,asshesatatherfeet,whenshewasfairlyestablishedbetweenFannyandMr.Shaw,whileTomleanedonthebackofhismother'schair,andenjoyedtheprospect. “Howdoyougeton?Whendoyoubegin?Whereisyournest?Nowtellallaboutit,”beganFanny,whowasfullofcuriosityaboutthenewplan. “Ishallgetonverywell,Ithink,forI'vegottwelvescholarstobeginwith,allabletopayagoodprice,andIshallgivemyfirstlessononMonday.” “Don'tyoudreadit?”askedFanny. “NotmuchwhyshouldI?”answeredPolly,stoutly. “Well,Idon'tknowit'sanewthing,andmustbealittlebithardatfirst,”stammeredFanny,notlikingtosaythatworkingforone'slivingseemedadreadfulhardshiptoher. “Itwillbetiresome,ofcourse,butIshallgetusedtoitIshallliketheexercise,andthenewpeopleandplacesImustseewillamuseme.Thentheindependencewillbedelightful,andifIcansavealittletohelpKittyalongwith,thatwillbebestofall.” Polly'sfaceshoneasiftheprospectwasfullofpleasureinsteadofwork,andtheheartygoodwillwithwhichsheundertookthenewtask,seemedtodignifyherhumblehopesandplans,andmaketheminterestinginthesightofothers. “Whohaveyougotforpupils?”askedMrs.Shaw,forgettinghernervesforaminute. Pollynamedherlist,andtookasecretsatisfactioninseeingtheimpressionwhichcertainnamesmadeuponherhearers. “HowintheworlddidyougettheDavenportsandtheGreys,mydear?”saidMrs.Shaw,sittingerectinhersurprise. “Mrs.Davenportandmotherarerelations,youknow.” “Younevertoldusthatbefore!”“TheDavenportshavebeenawaysomeyears,andIforgotallaboutthem.ButwhenIwasmakingmyplan,IknewImusthaveagoodnameortwotosetmegoing,soIjustwroteandaskedMrs.D.ifshewouldhelpme.Shecameandsawusandwasverykind,andhasgotthesepupilsforme,likeadear,goodwomanassheis.” “Wheredidyoulearnsomuchworldlywisdom,Polly?”askedMr.Shaw,ashiswifefellbackinherchair,andtookouthersalts,asifthisdiscoveryhadbeentoomuchforher. “Ilearntithere,sir,”answeredPolly,laughing.“Iusedtothinkpatronageandthingsofthatsortverydisagreeableandnotworthhaving,butI'vegotwiser,andtoacertainextentI'mgladtousewhateveradvantagesIhaveinmypower,iftheycanbehonestlygot.” “Whydidn'tyouletushelpyouinthebeginning?Weshouldhavebeenverygladto,I'msure,”putinMrs.Shaw,whoquiteburnedtobeknownasajointpatronesswithMrs.Davenport. “Iknowyouwould,butyouhaveallbeensokindtomeIdidn'twanttotroubleyouwithmylittleplanstillthefirststepsweretaken.Besides,Ididn'tknowasyouwouldliketorecommendmeasateacher,thoughyoulikemewellenoughasplainPolly.” “Mydear,ofcourseIwould,andwewantyoutotakeMaudatonce,andteachheryoursweetsongs.Shehasafinevoice,andisreallysufferingforateacher.” AslightsmilepassedoverPolly'sfaceasshereturnedherthanksforthenewpupil,forsherememberedatimewhenMrs.Shawconsideredher“sweetsongs”quiteunfitforafashionableyounglady'srepertoire.“Whereisyourroom?”askedMaud. “MyoldfriendMissMillshastakenmein,andIamnicelysettled.Motherdidn'tliketheideaofmygoingtoastrangeboarding-house,soMissMillskindlymadeaplaceforme.Youknowsheletsherroomswithoutboard,butsheisgoingtogivememydinners,andI'mtogetmyownbreakfastandtea,quiteindependently.Ilikethatway,andit'sverylittletrouble,myhabitsaresosimpleabowlofbreadandmilknightandmorning,withbakedapplesorsomethingofthatsort,isallIwant,andIcanhaveitwhenIlike.” “Isyourroomcomfortablyfurnished?Can'twelendyouanything,mydear?Aneasy-chairnow,oralittlecouch,sonecessarywhenonecomesintired,”saidMrs.Shaw,takingunusualinterestintheaffair. “Thankyou,butIdon'tneedanything,forIbroughtallsortsofhomecomfortswithme.Oh,Fan,yououghttohaveseenmytriumphalentryintothecity,sittingamongmygoodsandchattels,inafarmer'scart.”Polly'slaughwassoinfectiousthateveryonesmiledandforgottobeshockedatherperformance.“Yes,”sheadded,“IkeptwishingIcouldmeetyou,justtoseeyourhorrifiedfacewhenyousawmesittingonmylittlesofa,withboxesandbundlesallroundme,abird-cageononeside,afishingbasket,withakitten'sheadpoppinginandoutofthehole,ontheotherside,andjollyoldMr.Brown,inhisbluefrock,perchedonakegofapplesinfront.Itwasalovelybrightday,andIenjoyedtherideimmensely,forwehadallsortsofadventures.” “Oh,tellaboutit,”beggedMaud,whenthegenera