“That’s because you don’t stand still and let her brush your hair as it should be done, I suppose,” said Mrs. Pepper, coolly. So Joel, getting no comfort there, wisely determined to make the best of things, and he wrung his hands together, trying his best to keep still, only interrupting the proceedings by teasing to know when Polly was to get through.
At last it was over. “O dear me!” exclaimed Polly, sinking into the first chair quite exhausted. “I’m so glad I’m through, Joey.”
“So am I,” echoed Joel, jubilantly and beginning to prance about; “now I’m going to do Dave’s hair,” and he made a lunge at the old hair-brush in Polly’s hand.
“No, you’re not,” declared Polly, clinging tightly to it. “You go right away, Joel Pepper; the very idea! Davie’s hair would look just like everything if you brushed it.”
“Oh, I don’t want Joel to do it,” cried David, in terror, and running over to Polly’s side—“don’t let him, Polly.”
“Indeed I shan’t,” said Polly, with vigor, and waving the old hair-brush defiantly. “Now come, Davie, and I’ll fix yours, and then you can all start for dear Mrs. Beebe’s. Phronsie is so good; just look at her!”
There she was in her little chair, as still as a mouse, her eyes fastened on the red-topped shoes stuck out straight before her, and her hands folded in her lap. She had been patted and pulled into shape by Polly, and then told to sit down and wait till the boys were ready. The getting-ready process, when the Pepper children were going out visiting, was always full of delight to Phronsie, who wouldn’t have had one of the many details left out that Polly considered were so important.
“Umph, I can fix it as good as pie,” grunted Joel. Then he capered out into the old kitchen, snapping his fingers. “I don’t care—I don’t want to. Whoopity la, we’re going to spend the day at Mr. Beebe’s shop!”
“Misery me!” exclaimed Polly, in dismay; “do stop, Joe. You’ll muss up your hair dreadfully. Oh, Mamsie, he won’t be fit to be seen,” she wailed.
“Joel,” said Mrs. Pepper, “stop this minute,” as Joel capered by, “and go and sit down in that chair;” she pointed to the other side of the kitchen.