“I’m so glad she saw me a-ridin’,” the eager voice went on. “I’ve wanted to an’ wanted to, till it seemed ’s if I couldn’t stan’ it. An’ now I’m in an’ goin’!” She sighed delightedly.
“Haven’t you ever been in an automobile before?” was Polly’s somewhat surprised question.
The small head shook vigorously. “How’d yer s’pose I’d git in?” she scorned. “Ther’ ain’t none of ’em stop, ’cept the grocery boy an’ the water-pipe man an’ such, an’ they say, ‘You let me ketch yer in that car, an’ I’ll hand yer over t’ the p’lice—now d’ yer hear!’ An’ you bet I ain’t goin’ t’ take no such chances ’s that! Johnny Hurley did, one day, whopped right in over the door, an’ the man give him a lickin’, ’cause he was his cousin—my, didn’t he! Johnny couldn’t set down straight all day.” Presently there came another outburst. “Oh, wouldn’t Dolly Merrifield like this!—Do you know Dolly?” Polly shook her head.
“Oh, you oughter! Say”—the brightness faded from the little face—“wouldn’t you’ve took her to ride ’stead o’ me if you’d known her? I guess I’d oughter let Dolly go—I didn’t think. Honest, I didn’t! But I guess I’d oughter.” She sighed heavily at this prodding of conscience.
“Oh, you needn’t worry about that!” comforted Polly. “We can take Dolly another time, you know. Tell me about her. Who is she?”
“Why, she’s Dolly Merrifield! An’—oh, she’s the sweetest little thing you ever saw! She’s got the littlest legs—just like our baby’s! An’ she don’t never walk! She don’t never stand up! An’ she don’t cry nor nothin’, ’cept when the lady didn’t come to take her to ride—then she did, good an’ hard. Oh, that lady’s just as mean! I wish she had to sit in a chair all day long, ’ithout anything to do, an’ be all alone, an’ never go to ride in all her life—so there!”
The animated face had grown red and scowly during the utterance of this bitter wish. Now it unexpectedly broke into a delighted grin.
“Did yer honest mean for sure you’d take Dolly to ride?”
“Yes, ‘honest, for sure,’” laughed Polly.
“Well, I hope the lady’ll see her,” the child resumed. “She goes to ride every day—two or three times a day! She used to be real pretty; but I don’t take no stock in her now—her a-promisin’ Dolly—an’ Dolly a-waitin’ an’ a-waitin’—an’ her never comin’! Dolly wored her eyes out watchin’ for her—Mis’ Edmonson said she had. Oh, I jus’ hope she will see Dolly when you take her—then I guess!” The small head was brought down decidedly.