"Jasper," said Polly, her breath coming fast, "oh! you can't think; we are so glad"—But she got no further, for Phronsie, rushing out of Mother Pepper's arms, piped out suddenly:
"Dr. Fisher is coming here to live always and forever, and I'm going to ride in his gig, and Mamsie likes him, and I'm going to call him father; now, Jasper, I told you!"
"I should think you did," exclaimed Ben.
"Whew!" cried Jasper, "that is a piece of news all in one breath. Well, Mrs. Pepper, I'm glad of it, too. I congratulate you." With that, he marched up to her, Phronsie hanging to his arm, and shook her hand heartily.
And in two days everybody in the King set knew that the mother of the five little Peppers was going to be married.
"I should think you'd want to be condoled with, Ben," said Pickering Dodge, clapping him on the shoulder as he rushed down the aisle of the store occupied by Cabot & Van Meter.
"Halloo!" said Ben, "can't stop," rushing past.
"I suppose not," said Pickering carelessly, and striding after, "so
I'll whisper my gentle congratulations in your ear 'on the wing.' But
I'm awfully sorry for you, Ben," he added, as he came up to him.
"You needn't be," said Ben brightly, "we are all as glad as can be."
"Sweet innocent, you don't know a stepfather," said Pickering lugubriously.