CHAPTER XVIII
AT MIDVALE SPRINGS
Polly’s worry about her father’s reduced salary and the unpaid coal bill did not wholly leave her mind, but returned at intervals with ever renewing force. At these times she still wondered if she ought to have gone to live with Uncle Maurice; yet the thought of it brought such terror to her heart that she would resolutely turn from the picture, arguing that the time was past for accepting his offer, and that now, whatever the consequences, she must remain in the home she had chosen. She longed intensely to earn some money to help out the situation, thinking how delightful it would be to put ten dollars into her father’s hand with the astonishing announcement that it was her very own to do with as she pleased. But, realizing her helplessness in this line, she would resolve again and again to eat as little as possible, and as far as she was able to insist on wearing her old clothes, and to protest against spending even precious pennies for the pretty things she so loved to wear. But it was the eating question that troubled her more than the dress, for her healthy appetite often tempted her into indulgences which she would afterwards regret.
One noon she so far forgot herself as to ask for a second helping of strawberry shortcake.
“Why,” exclaimed her father playfully, “if you keep on at this rate, I shall have to charge you more for board!”
Polly looked up, dropped her fork, and covering her face with her hands broke into tears.
“Thistledown!” cried the Doctor.
“You foolish child!” laughed Mrs. Dudley. “You know father was only in fun!”
But Polly sobbed on, nor could she be induced to eat the piece of shortcake she had wanted.
Dr. Dudley and his wife were puzzled, but Polly did not make matters clearer, only refused to finish her dinner, insisting that she had had enough. Her mother coaxed, the Doctor all but commanded, yet she silently kept her trouble in her heart, and went miserably to school.