"All right," said Jasper. "Just imagine Phronsie's eyes when she sees that production. Candace, you've surpassed yourself."
"You go 'long!" exclaimed Candace, in delight, and bestowing a gentle pat of deprecation on his shoulder, "'tain't like what I could do; but la! well, you send de bressed chile along, and mabbe she'll like it."
"Jasper, we'll stop at Helen's now," said Polly as the two hurried by the tall iron fence, that, lined with its thick hedge, shut out the Fargo estate from vulgar eyes, "and get Phronsie; she'll be ready to come home now; it's nearly luncheon time."
"All right," said Jasper; so the two ran over the carriage drive to a side door by which the King family always had entree.
"Is Phronsie ready to come home?" asked Polly of the maid. "Tell her to hurry and get her things on; we'll wait here. Oh, Jasper!" turning to him, "why couldn't we have the club next week, Wednesday night?"
"Miss Mary," said the maid, interrupting, "what do you mean? I haven't seen Miss Phronsie to-day."
Polly whirled around on the step and looked at her.
"Oh! she's upstairs in the nursery, playing with Helen, I suppose.
Please ask her to hurry, Hannah."
"No, she isn't, Miss Mary," said Hannah. "I've been sweeping the nursery this morning; just got through." She pointed to her broom and dustpan that she had set in a convenient corner, as proof of her statement.
"Well, she's with Helen somewhere," said Polly, a little impatiently.