“And he can sing,” cried Joel, thinking it best to mention all the accomplishments at once.
“Don't, Joe,” begged Tom, twitching his sleeve.
Polly looked over at Jasper, with sparkling eyes, and the color flew into her cheeks.
“Splendid!” his eyes signalled back.
“What is it?” cried Joel, giving each a sharp glance. “Now you two have secrets; and that's mean, when we've just got home. What is it, Polly?” He ran to her, shaking her arm.
“You'll see in time,” said Polly, shaking him off, to dance away.
“I don't want to know in time,” said Joel, “I want to know now. Mamsie, what is it?”
“I'm sure I haven't the least idea,” said Mother Fisher, who hadn't heard Joel's announcement. “And I think you would do better, Joey, to take care of your guest, and let other things wait.”
“Oh, Tom doesn't want to be fussed over,” said Joel carelessly; yet he went back to the tall boy standing quite still, in the midst of the general hilarity. “That's just the way Ben and Polly used to do in the little brown house,” he grumbled—“always running away, and hiding their old secrets from me, Tom.”
“Well, we had to, if we ever told each other anything,” said Ben coolly. “Joel everlastingly tagged us about, Beresford.”