ltuously to Polly in the midst of the group com

loud voice, "now we can't

y an extra amount of hilarity, as he clapped each of the boys smartly on the back.

Percy at his heels, and

ore than you've been saying on the train,-'we can't

of Van, who, instead of occupying the vantage-ground of first arri

all fury at hearing the bustle and excitemen

a nuisance. Fancy such a way to

face very red. "Let me go, Pick," struggling viol

still tighter hold. "Not much, sir, until you sto

s didn't in the least add to his satisfaction. "Well, I wish you'd stayed back in your school," he declared in extreme irritation. And Alexia, running up, only made matters worse by crying out: "Come on, Van, I'm sure

d Van, having freed himself from Pickeri

hurrying after him. "Come, Polly, here's

s, Alexia was about to desert her charge, when Thomas, on t

op it. Why, Polly Pepper was going with

f carriage number one, and putting her to one side as he helped Cathie in, and then Davi

t to go with," cried Alexia, in the greatest dismay, sitting down in her corner to

with a low bow, "I'm sure we

ingle bit, and I'm sure I didn't want to come with you, Alexi

on Alexia, too vexed to stop herself, and turning anything but a swee

," said Pickering. "I'm not

f temper. "Van Whitney, you're sitting all over my coat, and it's my

rted Van, "and I didn't want to

such a fight. O me, I wish I'd let you alon

ring, couldn't say the same, so the carr

had gone on for some minutes, "this is a

Pickering, you can't blame any of us. And I haven't got Polly Pepper; you kn

I'm glad you haven't got her this time,"

xia, decidedly, "when she's my very dearest

ut, for we'll be there in a minute. And then how we'll look, for we're

fight braids flying over her shoulder. "Pickering Dodge, we aren't near Mr. King's yet," she declared, peering

g for some time, and, wedged in between Cathie and Pickering, had been chiefly occupied in twisting his han

readful as it can be, and we can't help it," and she ran her long

as as much as he could do to think about the accident that had summoned Mr. King and Ben away f

imed Alexia, faint

is old woollen cover from the machine till I smile, so I'm going to now,"-which she did with such surprising effect, that Pickering, turnin

se, the occupants tumbled out and ran up the steps in quite good humor, to join the

, her arms around her two boys, was beyond speaking. "You must all stay and have luncheon

r her. "Oh, don't ask me; I can't

er in great surprise,-"it will help to m

y longed for, and that was to stay for the dear little luncheon party she knew Polly's mother had made ready. But

"Oh, no, indeed, you are not, Alexia. Why, you

, I'm going to cry, and I can't get my h

t Alexia found herself in the big dining room, in the midst of the

hat she darted away from Polly and ran over to her mother. "I haven't been cheerful, and I was just as bad a

air, she pulled it out from the table; "hurry and sit down, dear, for those two boys must be very hungry after their jo

oys had already had a midday meal, for it all tasted so good,-why, things began to get a bit more cheery. And Mother Fisher and Mrs

home," she cried, affectionately throwing h

oom," announced Van,

gged up close to her. "You don't know, Va

n, but he crowded

pretty room with the haste of a girl, and turned her face

not looking at her, but dro

sh died from her cheek. "What-" but she couldn't get any farther, for some

med Percy, withdraw

uld beat a retreat. It would be some relief to ha

like Van, only worse, for he didn't

e?" cried their mother. "Oh, do

back to Percy. Then he found his tongue.

fficulty, staring gloomily at the carpet, and thrusting

y, looking desperately first at one and then at the other, "

ried together, and Van whir

mly, "unless you tell me at once what is the ma

d about-"

s," said Percy, coming i

, b

" implored Van, clutching her

ow seemed to have no comfort in his pocke

carriage?" asked Mrs. Whitney, a sorrowfu

ard work not to cry, but he wagged his head from side to

Percy, hastily; "that i

ound each of them. "When we know how happy we ought to be that Jasper is really better, although he

rcy, eagerly. "Oh, we wo

n, "we won't,

e was a small clamor raised downstairs. Where in the

ly," and she drew her off into the library, "they went upstair

ck of the two girls, "and I shall just go up to

to race after him and seize his blouse. "The very i

a small fury, and pulling and kicking violently.

Polly, do help me," for just then Phronsie had run in between the two girls, and

gers fell away, and he held up a dangling end of lace, all frayed and ragged. "You've t