They all huddled back, but he made them come forward. “No, it's your affair to-day; I only piloted you down here,” laughing at their discomfiture.
Meanwhile the whole Corcoran brood had all gathered about the visitors, to rivet their gaze upon them, and wait patiently for further developments.
“Polly, you tell her,” cried Alexia.
“Yes, Polly, do,” cried the other girls.
“Yes, Polly,” said Pickering, “you can tell it the best.”
“Oh, I never could,” said Polly in dismay. “Jasper, you, please.”
“No, no, Polly,” said Van; “she's the best.”
“But Polly doesn't wish to,” said Jasper in a low voice.
“All right, then, Jappy, go ahead,” said Percy.
There was a little pause, Mrs. Corcoran filling it up by saying, “I can't ask you to sit down, for there ain't chairs enough,” beginning to wipe off one with her apron. “Here, sir, if you'd please to sit,” taking it over to Mr. King.