I shall stay
with Phronsie, for of course we wouldn't leave her alone with Matilda,
and all go off for a nice time."
"No, of course not," cried Polly, in horror at the mere thought.
"And she's in such a nice sleep and so warm, that it's a pity to wake
her up," finished Mrs. Fisher.
"O dear me," cried Polly, in distress, "I'd rather stay, Mamsie, and
have you go."
"No," said Mrs. Fisher, firmly, "I shall stay, so that is all there is
about it, Polly. Now run along, child, and tell Matilda to hurry out
too, for she wants to see the sunrise."
Polly still lingered, until her mother looked up in surprise. "Why,
Polly," she said, reprovingly.
"O dear me!" exclaimed Polly, "I didn't mean to disobey, Mamsie, I
really didn't; I'll go." And setting a kiss on Mother Fisher's black
hair, she ran out on unsteady feet, and with all her comfort gone.
When she joined her group it would have been rather hard to distinguish
any of them, as everybody was wrapped up in shawls and rugs, if Jasper
hadn't been a sort of scout in waiting for her and Mrs. Fisher and
Phronsie. And Tom could easily be picked out, for he hung around in
Jasper's wake, and besides, he was so very big.
"Where are they?" asked Jasper, looking down the corridor back of her.
"Oh, Mamsie isn't coming, nor Phronsie either, for she's asleep. And
Mamsie made me come," finished Polly, dismally.
"O dear me," said Jasper, quite gone in sympathy.
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