"Polly Pepper is the sweetest girl--the very dearest," declared Fanny,
in a passion, over her mother's shoulder, "and you know it, Mamma."
"Well, I won't have you going with her, anyway, nor with any of them,"
answered her mother, shortly.
"Because you can't," echoed Fanny, in her turn, and with a malicious
little laugh. "Don't I know? it's the same old story--those you chase
after, run away from you. You've been chasing, Mamma; you needn't tell
me."
"Oh, Jasper," Polly was saying, "did you really speak to me?"
"Three times," said Jasper, with a laugh, "but you couldn't answer, for
you didn't hear me."
"No," said Polly, "I didn't, Jasper."
"And I shouldn't have spoken, for it isn't, of course, allowed. But I
couldn't help it, Polly, it was so splendid," and his eyes kindled.
"And you didn't seem to breathe or to move."
"I don't feel as if I had done much of either," said Polly, laughing.
"Isn't it good to take a long stretch? And oh, don't you wish we could
run, Jasper?"
He burst into another gay little laugh, as he picked up the rest of the
things. "I thought so, Polly, and you'll want some supper yet. Well,
here is Tom coming back again."
"Indeed I shall, and a big one, Jasper," said Polly, laughing, "for I
am dreadfully hungry."
"Come to supper with us," Jasper said socially over the backs of
several people, in response to Tom Selwyn's furious telegraphing.
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