“I want to hear all about what happened yesterday in Mr. Atkins’ store,” she said, “and I am going to take you two children to drive, and then, David, you can tell me the story on the way.”
“Oh, Miss Parrott,” cried Polly, dismayed at Davie’s frantic clutch on her hand, “I have to take Mamsie’s shoes for Mr. Beebe to mend.” Yet her eyes sparkled at the very thought of riding in that Parrott grand coach!
“Run across then with them,” said Miss Parrott. “Come, David, you and I will get into the carriage, and Polly will join us.”
“I’ll take the shoes over to Mr. Beebe,” cried Davie frantically, and he reached for Polly’s bundle.
“No, David,” said Miss Parrott, “Polly must do it. You come with me.” And there he was, his little hand in hers, on the way to the coach waiting around the corner, and Polly flying across the street to the little shoe-shop just as frantic to get back to him.
“Now then, we can be quite comfortable,” said Miss Parrott, having them all settled in the big stately old coach, the order to drive given to the coachman, who matched up in dignity to the coach and the Parrott estate, “and you shall give me the whole story. Begin at the beginning, David.”
CHAPTER XIV
IN THE PARROTT PLAYROOM
MISS PARROTT looked the two children over carefully. Then her glance rested on David. He sat tucked up in the corner of the green-leather seat, as far away from the keen dark eyes as he could get, his hand tightly clasped in Polly’s.
“Now then,” said Miss Parrott, the investigation being over, “you must tell me everything about it. I was unable to get a satisfactory account at Atkins’ store. Begin, little boy.”
Davie gave a sob, and ducked farther back into his corner. This was so much worse than being waylaid for a recital of his adventure by the ordinary run of Badgertown citizens, that he couldn’t conceal his dismay. To think of being fastened up in the Parrott coach and made to tell of what was now a perfectly hateful thing since he was to be petted and praised for his part in it, made him sob again; and he flung himself up against Polly and hid his burning face on her shoulder.