"Hoity-toity!" exclaimed the old gentleman, well pleased at the onslaught. "Now then, what's the matter, pray tell?"
"I just won't have Cathie Harrison tell him," said Alexia, trying to run up over the stairs. "Let me by, Polly, do," she begged.
"No, indeed," cried Polly, spreading her arms. "It's bad enough to have one of you up there besieging Grandpapa."
"Then I'll run up the back stairs," cried Alexia, turning in a flash.
"Oh, yes, the back stairs!" exclaimed the other girls, following her.
"Oh, do hurry! Polly's coming after us."
But speed as she might, Polly could not overtake the bevy, who, laughing and panting, stood before Mr. King a second ahead of her.
"A pretty good race," said the old gentleman, laughing heartily, "but against you from the first, Polly, my girl."
"Don't listen to them, Grandpapa dear," panted Polly.
"Mayn't she stay at home—mayn't she?"
"Hush, girls," begged Polly. "Oh, Grandpapa dear, don't listen to them.
Aunty told Uncle Mason to write the letter, and you know"—