"She looks just as she did the night she took her new shoes to bed," thought Polly; "one hand is over her head, exactly as it was then. Oh, Phronsie! to think that you're to have no party to-morrow," and she turned off with a sigh, went out, and closed the door.
"Percy's here—all right!" cried Jasper, running over the stairs to meet her at the top.
His eyes were gleaming with excitement, and his face was torn and bleeding.
"Are you hurt?" cried Polly, feeling as if the whole family were bound to destruction. "Oh, Jasper! did you fall?"
"Nothing but a scratch. I was fool enough to forget the ledge, and walked off for my pains"—
"Oh, Jasper!" cried Polly, with paling cheeks, "let me bathe it for you, do;" her strength began to return at the thought of action, and she sprang for a basin of water.
"Nonsense. No, Polly!" cried Jasper, with a quick hand detaining her, "it's nothing but a mere scratch, I tell you, but I suppose it looks terribly. I'll go and wash it off. Run and tell his mother that Percy is found."
"Is he all right?" asked Polly fearfully, holding her breath for the answer.
"Sound as a nut," declared Jasper; "we found him streaking it down the locust path; he said he was going to run off to sea."
"Run off to sea!" repeated Polly. "Oh, Jasper!"