"I wish I were dead now,
Or else in my bed now,
I'd cover my head now,
And have a good cry."
"Is this what you call a hospitable welcome?" asked a sudden voice.
Polly raised her head in surprise, and saw Molly standing in the
doorway, with a smile on her face and a great bundle in her hand.
Polly sprang up and threw her arms around her friend excitedly.
"Oh, Molly Hapgood! where did you come from? I never, never was so
glad to see anybody in all my life."
"If that's a fact," said Molly coolly, "why didn't you come down-
stairs to meet me, and not make me hunt for you, all over the
house?"
"How could I meet you, when I didn't know you were coming?"
demanded Polly.
"Didn't you?" asked Molly, surprised in her turn. "Why, your
mother just stopped at our house and told me that she had to go
away for a few days, and you wanted me to come and stay with you
till she came back. She said you'd tell me all about it."
"Isn't that just like her!" exclaimed Polly rapturously. "And
you're going to stay here all the time? How perfectly splendid!"
"Where's she gone?" asked Molly, as she unpacked her brown paper
Saratoga.
"Uncle Charlie, in New York, is so ill they've sent for mamma and
Aunt Jane," answered Polly, with sudden seriousness, "and they
don't know anything more than that.
Pages:
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103