But Polly's arms were around the old gentleman's neck, so she didn't hear. “There, there,” he said soothingly, patting her brown, fuzzy head. Something was going down the old gentleman's neck, that wet his collar, and made him whisper very tenderly in her ear, “don't give way now, Polly; Phronsie'll see you.”
“I know,” gasped Polly, controlling her sobs; “I won't—only—I can't thank you!”
“Phronsie,” said Jasper quickly, “what do you suppose Prince said the other day?”
“What?” asked Phronsie in intense interest slipping down out of Polly's arms, and crowding up close to Jasper's side. “What did he, Jasper?”
“Oh-ho, how funny!” laughed Van, while little Dick burst right out, “Japser!”
“Be still,” said Jappy warningly, while Phronsie stood surveying them all with grave eyes.
“Well, I asked him, 'Don't you want to see Phronsie Pepper, Prince?' And do you know, he just stood right upon his hind legs, Phronsie, and said: 'Bark! yes, Bark! Bark!'”
“Did he really, Jasper?” cried Phronsie, delighted beyond measure; and clasping her hands in rapture, “all alone by himself?”
“Yes, all alone by himself,” asserted Jasper, vehemently, and winking furiously to the others to stop their laughing; “he did now, truly, Phronsie.”
“Then mustn't I go and see him now, Jasper? yes, pretty soon now?”