Pickering indulged in a long laugh.
“And I think it’s a shame,” declared Alexia, with a very injured face, “to have one’s husband go about, and spoil all one’s surprise parties—so there!”
“Then you really do mean to come to Badgertown to live, Alexia?” cried Polly with sparkling eyes. “Oh, you dear! how perfectly delightful!”
“I suppose I’ll have to, Polly,” said Alexia, “as I must be just as near you as I can get. But I do think Badgertown is utterly horrid, and you ought to be ashamed to live out here so far. I’m dying to have that cunning little yellow house on the hill, Polly,” she broke off suddenly, “with the barberry-bushes in front, and we’ve come out here to see it after dinner. Now you know it all; only I was going to ask you to go out and take a walk, and then bring you up there with a flourish, and give you a grand surprise. And now it’s as tame as tame can be.” She shook her linger at Pickering, who bore it like a veteran.
“How’s baby?” asked Polly, when the wraps were off, and they were all seated on the long veranda for a talk.
“He’s the dearest little rat you ever saw,” said Alexia, who couldn’t forgive her boy for not being a girl, whom she could call Polly. “He’s two teeth, and four more coming.”
“Alexia always counts those teeth that are coming with so much gusto,” said Pickering.
“And why shouldn’t I?” cried Alexia. “It would be perfectly horrid if he stopped with two teeth; you know it would yourself, Pickering. And to-day, Polly Pepper, you can’t think”—
“I decidedly object to having my wife called Polly Pepper,” said Jasper, trying to get on a grave look. “Polly Pepper King is all right. But be sure to put on the King.”
“Oh! we girls shall never call her anything else but Polly Pepper—never in all this world, Jasper,” said Alexia carelessly. “Well, you tell what baby did to-day, Pickering. I’m quite tired out with all my trial of getting here, and the disappointment of my surprise spoiled.” She leaned back in the rattan chair, and played with her rings.