CHAPTER IX. LESSONS

ablow,fortheyhadjustbegun,andPollyhadn'tthefacetosendinabillforawholequarter,thoughherplansandcalculationsweresadlydisturbedbythefailureofthatsum. Trudginghometodinner,tiredanddisappointed,poorPollyreceivedanotherblow,whichhurthermorethanthelossofallherpupils.Asshewenthurryingalongwithabigmusicbookinonehandandapaperbagofrollsforteaintheother,shesawTomandTrixcoming.Asshewatchedthemwhiletheyslowlyapproached,lookingsogayandhandsomeandhappy,itseemedtoPollyasifallthesunshineandgoodwalkingwasontheirsideofthestreet,allthewintrywindandmudonhers.Longingtoseeafriendlyfaceandreceiveakindword,shecrossedover,meaningtonodandsmileatleast.Trixsawherfirst,andsuddenlybecameabsorbedinthedistanthorizon.Tomapparentlydidnotseeher,forhiseyeswerefixedonafinehorsejustprancingby.Pollythoughtthathehadseenher,andapproachedwithacuriouslittleflutteratherheart,forifTomcuthershefeltthathercupwouldbefull. Ontheycame,Trixintentontheview,Tomstaringatthehandsomehorse,andPolly,withredchecks,expectanteyes,andthebrownbundle,infullsight.Onedreadfulminuteastheycameparallel,andnoonespokeorbowed,thenitwasallover,andPollywenton,feelingasifsomeonehadslappedherintheface.“Shewouldn'thavebelieveditofTomitwasallthedoingsofthathorridTrixwell,shewouldn'ttroublehimanymore,ifhewassuchasnobastobeashamedofherjustbecauseshecarriedbundlesandworkedforherbread.”Sheclutchedthepaperbagfiercelyasshesaidthistoherself,thenhereyesfilled,andherlipstrembled,assheadded,“Howcouldhedoit,beforeher,too?” NowTomwasquiteguiltlessofthisoffence,andhadalwaysnoddedtoPollywhentheymetbutitsohappenedhehadalwaysbeenalonetillnow,andthatwaswhyitcutsodeeply,especiallyasPollyneverhadapprovedofTrix.Beforeshecouldclearhereyesorsteadyherface,agentlemanmether,liftedhishat,smiled,andsaidpleasantly,“Goodmorning,MissPolly,I'mgladtomeetyou.”Then,withasuddenchangeofvoiceandmanner,headded,“IbegpardonisanythingthemattercanIbeofservice?” Itwasveryawkward,butitcouldn'tbehelped,andallPollycoulddowastotellthetruthandmakethebestofit. “It'sverysilly,butithurtsmetobecutbymyoldfriends.Ishallgetusedtoitpresently,Idaresay.” Mr.Sydneyglancedback,recognizedthecouplebehindthem,andturnedroundwithadisgustedexpression.Pollywasfumblingforherhandkerchief,andwithoutawordhetookbothbookandbundlefromher,alittlebitofkindnessthatmeantagooddealjustthen.Pollyfeltit,anditdidhergoodhastilywipingthetraitorouseyes,shelaughedandsaidcheerfully,“There,I'mallrightagainthankyou,don'ttroubleyourselfwithmyparcels.” “Notrouble,Iassureyou,andthisbookremindsmeofwhatIwasabouttosay.Haveyouanhourtospareformylittleniece?Hermotherwantshertobegin,anddesiredmetomaketheinquiry.” “Didshe,really?”andPollylookedupathim,asifshesuspectedhimofinventingthewholething,outofkindness. Mr.Sydneysmiled,andtakinganotefromhispocket,presentedit,saying,withareproachfullook,“Beholdtheproofofmytruth,andneverdoubtagain.” Pollybeggedpardon,readthenotefromthelittlegirl'smother,whichwastohavebeenleftatherroomifshewasabsent,andgavethebeareraverygratefullookassheacceptedthiswelcomeadditiontoherpupils.Wellpleasedatthesuccessofhismission,Sydneyartfullyledtheconversationtomusic,andforatimePollyforgotherwoes,talkingenthusiasticallyonherfavoritetheme.Asshereclaimedherbookandbag,atherowndoor,shesaid,inherhonestway,“Thankyouverymuchfortryingtomakemeforgetmyfoolishlittletroubles.” “Thenletmesayonethingmorethoughappearancesareagainsthim,Idon'tbelieveTomShawsawyou.MissTrixisequaltothatsortofthing,butitisn'tlikeTom,forwithallhisfopperyheisagoodfellowatheart.” AsMr.Sydneysaidthis,Pollyheldoutherhandwithahearty“Thankyouforthat.”Theyoungmanshookthelittlehandinthegraywoollenglove,gaveherexactlythesamebowwhichhedidtheHonorableMrs.Davenport,andwentaway,leavingPollytowalkupstairsandaddressPuttelwiththepeculiarremark,“Youareatruegentleman!sokindtosaythataboutTom.I'llthinkit'sso,anywayandwon'tIteachMinnieinmyverybeststyle!” Puttelpurred,Nickchirpedapprovingly,andPollyateherdinnerwithabetterappetitethanshehadexpected.Butatthebottomofherhearttherewasasorespotstill,andtheafternoonlessonsdraggeddismally.Itwasduskwhenshegothome,andasshesatinthefirelighteatingherbreadandmilk,severaltearsbedewedthelittlerolls,andeventhehomehoneyhadabittertaste. “Nowthiswon'tdo,”shebrokeoutallatonce“thisissillyandwicked,andcan'tbeallowed.I'lltrytheoldplanandputmyselfrightbydoingsomelittlekindnesstosomebody.Nowwhatshallitbe?O,Iknow!Fanisgoingtoapartyto-nightI'llrunupandhelpherdressshelikestohaveme,andIenjoyseeingtheprettythings.Yes,andI'lltakehertwoorthreeclustersofmydaphne,it'ssosweet.” UpgotPolly,andtakingherlittleposy,trottedawaytotheShaws',determinedtobehappyandcontentedinspiteofTrixandhardwork. ShefoundFannyenduringtormentunderthehandsofthehair-dres