“Well, Davie’s pushing, too,” grumbled Joel.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to,” said little Davie, but he did want dreadfully to get up close to Mamsie’s neck, and be cuddled.
“Never mind the bonnet, Polly,” said Mrs. Pepper, with a little laugh. “And we mustn’t forget Peletiah,” she said.
“Oh, he won’t play anything,” said Joel, in scorn; “not a single thing, and Polly’s tried and tried.”
“Joel,” said Mrs. Pepper, sternly. That made Joel hang his head in her gown.
“Oh, Mamsie,” cried Polly, radiantly, “you can’t think what a perfectly splendid thing is going to happen, that is, if you will only say yes. Do, Mamsie, do—” and she threw her arms around Mrs. Pepper’s neck.
“How can I until I know what it is,” said Mrs. Pepper, bursting into a merry laugh. “And I think I best take off my bonnet first, Polly; then you can tell me all about it.”
“Oh, so you must,” said Polly, very much ashamed at her thoughtlessness; “let me untie it, Mamsie.”
“No, I’m going to untie my Mamsie’s bonnet,” said Phronsie, with great decision, who always wanted to perform that office when Mrs. Pepper came home.
“Oh, Phronsie,” said Polly, “Mamsie’s so tired this afternoon, you better let me.”