“And Ben's learning,” said Polly, swelling with pride, as she sat down by her mother, and began to sew rapidly, “so that he'll be a big man right off! Oh, dear,” as a thought made her needle pause a minute in its quick flying in and out.
“What is it, Polly?” Mrs. Pepper looked keenly at the troubled face and downcast eyes.
“Why—” began Polly, and then she finished very slowly, “I shan't know anything, and Ben'll be ashamed of me.
“Yes, you will!” cried Mrs. Pepper, energetically, “you keep on trying, and the Lord'll send some way; don't you go to bothering your head about it now, Polly—it'll come when it's time.”
“Will it?” asked Polly, doubtfully, taking up her needle again.
“Yes, indeed!” cried Mrs. Pepper, briskly; “come fly at your sewing; that's your learning now.”
“So 'tis,” said Polly, with a little laugh. “Now let's see which'll get their seam done first, mamsie?”
And now letters flew thick and fast from the city to the little brown house, and back again, warming Jasper's heart, and filling the tedious months of that winter with more of jollity and fun than the lad ever enjoyed before; and never was fun and jollity more needed than now; for Mr. King, having nothing to do, and each year finding himself less inclined to exercise any thoughtful energy for others, began to look at life something in the light of a serious bore, and accordingly made it decidedly disagreeable for all around him, and particularly for Jasper who was his constant companion. But the boy was looking forward to summer, and so held on bravely.
“I do verily believe, Polly,” he wrote, “that Badgertown'll see the gayest times it ever knew! Sister Marian wants to go, so that's all right. Now, hurrah for a good time—it's surely coming!”
But alas! for Jasper! as spring advanced, his father took a decided aversion to Hingham, Badgertown, and all other places that could be mentioned in that vicinity.