"There is nothing to forgive, my dear."
"I don't know, maybe I've said too much; but I knew you must have lots of presents, and I kept thinking of those people that perhaps you wouldn't thank, and I felt somebody must tell you, and there wasn't anybody else to do it. Then, as I said, I hoped you would like Miss Twining's poems well enough to tell her so. And I just had to come!"
"Polly, I am glad you came!" An unmistakable break in the minister's voice turned Polly's eyes away. "I have been inexcusably thoughtless, not only this time but many a time before. I am grateful that I still have the opportunity to give my thanks to Miss Twining."
"And you can say 'thank you' to the next one!" cried Polly eagerly.
"Yes, I shall always remember—you may be sure of that. I shall not forget my lesson!"
They had reached the door, and Polly shook hands with him and said good-bye.
She went straight to Miss Sterling.
"Well, it's done!" she said soberly, taking her favorite seat.
"What is done?"
"My talk with Mr. Parcell"