Five Little Peppers and their Friends

g the hollyhock path, "that my poor little girl could go

nly three days ahead. "Phronsie, how perfectly elegant those roses are go

t bliss, then hopped up and down the narrow path. "

d Polly, in

or little girl," said

deal of money, I expect. Why, Grandpapa has told Thomas to buy ever so many flowers. Just think, child, and the oceans we have here!" She waved her hands over to take in not only the old-fashi

appy, Polly. Oh, let's go down to the big gate-p'raps she's there now-a

es in delight over a

very sweetest things, Ph

ing baby ones

egged Phronsie, cl

n to the baby daisies was certainly astonishing, when Phronsie was

pleaded Phronsie, her lip quivering, for

elf away from the fascinating daisies. "Now then, w

ps that her words died away on the air; and Polly, who dearly loved a race over the grass, was letting her

ere was th

e! No wonder you wanted me to try it with you! Why, Pet, have I r

"but oh, Polly, will yo

d her over to the very tree under which Phronsie had fallen asleep. "Here's where I found you the other day, Phron

ppear as she cuddled in Polly's arms. "Don't you believe she will, Polly?

ild?" as

-my poor little girl,

ttle girl, at least any

send ever so many littl

ut not any

er cheeks. "She's my little girl, and I like her. Please let her go, Polly. And maybe she'll come soon, if we only wait for her." It wa

took place there. And it was not until Phronsie had been persuaded to sit straight and have her tears wiped away, because Mamsie wouldn't like t

is-my poor

as withdrawn, and the flapping old shoes were beating a hasty retreat. But Polly was after her, and her hand was on her arm, an

ome, Polly

kin'," said the girl, trying to wriggle a

n't any one going to hurt you.

ie, trying to get hold of the thin litt

name?" aske

the girl,

dear me!"

done no harm. Gran

ho

r sleeves. But Polly saw the long, red welts that were not pleasant to lo

lay with me. I'll let you take Clorinda again, and sh

aking a desperate effort

ave told me who you are, and h

drew a long breath, then burst out, "She's visited me to my house," a

!" echoed Polly. She nearl

udly. "Any harm in that? An' I brung her home again, a

pa," said Polly firmly, a litt

showed instant fight

ng her arm, "I shall call the gardeners,

delightfully conspiring to make her friend remain. "Dear Gr

g no way out of it and wholly bewildered, suff

nda, looked over his spectacles, which he had forgotten to remove as he had just thrown down t

to, and tumbling up over the steps, "and please make her stay, and I'm going to

, holding her closely. "Well, what have we h

Polly, still keeping tight hold

girl," said Grandpapa,

d Phronsie happily, "and she's

xclaimed Mr. King, step

sie c

e girl, pointing with a thumb over at

d the old gentleman perplexedly

ittle white line still around her mouth; "sh

er house!" thundere

enty of times on th' avenoo, an' here, too"-she nodded toward the long French windows-"an' I got as good a right, I guess. An' she let me take her doll, an' I like her. An' we had an orful good time till Gran came

s!" Polly was pointing

'em, it's none o' your business," she screamed at Polly. Old Mr. King had sunk into a chair. Phronsie, in his lap, was so busy in putting her fac

er a breathing space. "Oh, stay! I can

o tetch me," declared Ra

get your mother," Mr. King whispered, smoo

cried gleefully, ho

of Rag's face and manner, and she whimpered miserably. "

King kindly. He even smiled. But the girl had hung

herself over and over, as she scuttled off, and in a very few minutes Mo

vel it, Mrs. Fisher. Here, Phronsie, get up in my lap." He strained her so ti

papa!" she

child?" he said,

randpapa dea

e! I can't talk, child

to look at him anxiously. "Does your head ache? I'll

I want." So Phronsie cuddled up within his arms, feeling quite sure tha

ike her," Phronsie was saying. "Yes

u d

to stay here, Grandpa

, d

one hand and tucked it softly under his ch

hat wicked, ca

Phronsie brought up her head t

gain. Your mother is talking to the little gi

't she, Grandpapa?" cooed Phron

, de

murmur of voices, for Mother Fisher had drawn her group to the further co

o his breast. "There, there, lamb, Oh, I didn't mean

time," said Phronsie, "

papa

't hurt a hair of your blessed

papa," she added decidedly, "but I don't like the place she lived in. And, Grandpapa"-here she drew a long breath-"there was an old

ild?" He held his br

er at the remembrance, and she burrowed deeper within the pr

carcely seemed to

me home, most of the way, and I like her." Phronsie br

was

y. "Wasn't it, Grandpapa

May she? Oh, may she? S

, with a thought of the long welts on t

asked Phronsie, sudde

essly looking up to the vines swinging around the

bird, Grandpapa. I thoug

ead obediently down, and

d by the side of o

conference o

ite line around them, too, like that on Polly's m

d up like a bird out of

, Mamsie, m

isher, "she is going

ss me!" breath

his arms and began to da

now, but I must get Clorinda

alled, as she was flying off, "you mu

stood qui

hronsie scuttled into them like a little rabbit. Mrs. Pe

rting me like Gr

d to forget herself, as she bowed h

Phronsie. "I wish I could see your

w," said Mamsie. "There,

e girl stays

e girl," interr

, she must be washed and

, and is going to f

transport, "and can she have s

nyway, we will fix

ronsie, "and not go back to that un-nice old lady?

ed several things back and forth. One was, "I don't think she is th

pering about?" at

ng to put you in Grandpapa's lap, Phronsie. You

gentleman, "for I really think I need it now. And I

, delighted that her services were really to be called for