“Yes,” whispered Polly, “but don't you tell her yet till you get it done, Phronsie.”
“I won't,” said Phronsie in the loudest of tones—but putting her mouth close to Polly's ear. “And then she'll be so s'prised, Polly! won't she?”
Just then came Jasper's voice at the door. “Can I come in?”
“Oh, do, Jappy,” cried Polly, rushing along with Phronsie in her arms to open the door. “We're so glad you've got home!”
“So am I,” said Jasper, coming in, his face flushed and his eyes sparkling; “I thought father never would be through downtown, Polly!”
“We're going to learn to draw,” said Percy, over by the table, who wouldn't on any account leave his seat by Ben, though he was awfully tired of sitting still so long, for fear somebody else would hop into it. “Ben's going to teach us.”
“Yes, he is,” put in Van, bounding up to Jasper and pulling at all the buttons on his jacket he could reach, to command attention.
“And us,” said Joel, coming up too. “You forgot us, Van.”
“The whole of us—every single one in this room,” said Van decidedly, “all except Mrs. Pepper.”
“Hulloa!” said Jasper, “that is a class! Well, Professor Ben, you've got to teach me then, for I'm coming too.”