Five Little Peppers Midway

by Margaret Sidney

  V

  AFTER THE PLAY

  It was all over. Phronsie had been swept off, a vision of loveliness,to the cave; the dragons had roared their loudest, and the gallantknight had covered himself with glory in the brilliant rescue of thePrincess; the little page had won the hearts of all the ladies; Mr.King had applauded himself hoarse, especially during the delivery ofthe prologue, when "I cry you mercy, sirs, and ladies fair," rang out;the musical efforts of Polly and Jasper in the "Wait" between the twoacts were over, and the crowded house, in every way possible, hadexpressed itself delighted with all things from beginning to end.

  "Phronsie, Phronsie, they're calling you," whispered Polly excitedly,out in the green room.

  "Come, Princess." The head dragon held out his hand. "Hurry dear! Seethe flowers!"

  "They can't be for me," said Phronsie, standing quite still; "Polly hasdone all the work; they're hers."

  "Nonsense, child!" cried Polly, giving her a gentle push forward. "Goon, and take them."

  "Polly, you come too," begged Phronsie, refusing to stir, and holdingher by the gown.

  "I can't, Phronsie," cried Polly in distress; "don't you see theyhaven't called me. Go on, child, if you love me," she implored.

  Phronsie, not being able to resist this, dropped Polly's gown andfloated before the footlights.

  "Thank you," she said, bowing gravely to the sea of faces, as her handswere filled with roses, "but I shall give these to Polly, because wecouldn't any of us have done it without her." And so she brought themback to put into dismayed Polly's lap.

  "The authors--the authors of the play!" cried a strong voice, privatelyurged on by Mr. King.

  "There, now's your turn," cried Clare to Polly. "And go ahead, olddragon," to Jasper, "make your prettiest bow."

  So the chief dragon led up blushing Polly to the front of the stage, tohear a neat little speech from Mr. Alstyne, thanking them for thepleasure of the evening and congratulating them on its success; and theband played again, the camp chairs were folded up and removed, thegreen-room and stage were deserted, and actors and audience mingled ina gay, confusing throng.

  Phronsie, in her little silver and white gown and gleaming cap, beganto wander among the guests, unconscious that she had not on the redcashmere dress she had worn all day. Groups stopped their conversationto take her into their midst, passing her on at last as one might handover a precious parcel to the next waiting hands. Polly, seeing thatshe was well cared for, gave herself up to the enjoyment of the evening.

  "Well, sir, how did you like it?" asked Jasper, with a small pat onJoel's back.

  "Well enough," said Joel, "but why didn't you make more of it? Youcould have crawled up on top of the cave, and slashed around there; andyou old dragons were just three muffs in the last act. I'd rather havehad Polly in the play; she's twice the go in her.

  "So would we all have preferred Polly," cried Jasper, bursting into alaugh, "but she wouldn't act--she directed everything; she was all theplay, in fact."

  Polly meanwhile was saying to Pickering Dodge, "No, not to-night; youmust dance with one of the other girls."

  "But I don't choose to dance with anybody but you," said Pickering,holding out his hand. "Come, Polly, you can't refuse; they're formingthe Lancers. Hurry!"

  Polly's feet twitched nervously under her white gown, and she longedmore than ever after the excitement she had passed through, to loseherself in the witching music, and the mazy dance. She hesitated a bit,but just then glancing across the room, "Come," she said, "I want youto dance with Ray Simmons. You can't refuse," using his own words; andbefore he was conscious how it was done, he was by Ray's side, andasking for the pleasure of the dance.

  Polly stood quite still and saw them go away and take the last placesin the set, and a sorry little droop fell upon the curves of thelaughing mouth. She was very tired, and the elation that had possessedher over the success of the evening was fast dropping out, now thateverybody was enjoying themselves in their own way, leaving her alone.She felt left out in the cold; and though she fought against it, afaint feeling of regret stole over her for what she had done. Shealmost wished she was standing there by the side of Pickering Dodge,one of the bright group on whom the eyes of the older people were allturned, as they waited for the first figure to begin.

  "Well, Polly"--it was Mr. Alstyne who spoke, and he acted as if he hadcome to stay by her side--"you've covered yourself with glory thisevening."

  "Have I, sir?" asked Polly absently, wishing there had been less of theglory, and a little more fun.

  "Yes, indeed," said Mr. Alstyne, his keen eyes searching her face."Well, now, Polly, your dragons, although not exactly like any livingones extant, made me think of some I saw at the Zoo, in London. Do youwant me to tell you how?"

  "Oh! if you please," cried Polly, her color coming back, and beginningto forget the dance and the dancers.

  "Let us sit down here, then," said Mr. Alstyne, drawing her off to twochairs in a corner, "and you shall have the tale. No pun, Polly, youknow." And he plunged into it at once.

  "Yes, Alstyne has her all right," Mr. King was saying at the furtherend of the drawing-room to Mrs. Pepper; he spied the whole thing;"he'll take care of her, you may depend."

  And two more people had seen; one was Jasper. Nevertheless his partner,Alexia Rhys, thought it necessary to enlighten him.

  "Just think, Polly's given up her chance with the best dancer in theroom, and sent Pickering Dodge off with that horrid Ray Simmons."

  Jasper pretended not to hear. "This is our figure," he said hastily,and they whirled off, finished it, and were back again.

  "Isn't she a goose?" as he fanned her, and tried to introduce anothersubject.

  "I suppose she best pleases herself," said the boy indifferently. "Whyshould any one else interfere in the matter?"

  "But some one else ought to interfere," cried Alexia, with a littlepout, provoked at his indifference; "that's just the way she does inschool all the time. Oh! I'm vexed at her, I can tell you. She's sosilly--dear me, it's our turn again."

  By the next interim she had forgotten all about Polly and whether shewas having a nice time or the stupidest one imaginable, for Joel, whoheld dancing in great contempt, sauntered up.

  "Aren't you glad now that you didn't find out about the secret?" criedAlexia radiantly. "Oh! you are such a nuisance, Joey," she addedfrankly.

  "Phooh!" exclaimed Joel, "it wasn't worth finding out, that old secret.But it's as good as girls ever get up," he finished with a superciliousair.

  "It was a perfectly splendid play!" cried Alexia, "and much too goodfor a lot of boys. Goodness, Joey, I wouldn't celebrate if you fourwere coming home from school to our house. I'd have the jollificationthe night before you went back."

  "I wouldn't go home if 'twas to your house," declared Joel with equalcandor. "I'd run off to sea, first."

  "Come, come, you two, stop sparring," cried Jasper, holding out hishand; "its our turn again, Alexia. Joel, take yourself off."

  Alexia flashing Joel a bright, making-up smile, dashed off into thefigure.

  "Good-by," said Joel with a smile as cheery, for he really liked herthe best of all Polly's girl friends.

  After the dance, supper was announced, and everybody marched out to thesupper room; the dancers with their partners following.

  "Will you allow me?" Mr. Alstyne seeing the movement, got out of hischair and offered his arm to Polly with a courtly bow.

  "Oh! don't think of me, sir," she began, blushing very hard. "Joel willlook out for me."

  "I much prefer waiting upon Miss Polly Pepper to any other lady in theroom," said Mr. Alstyne, with another bow, courtlier than the first,"since Mrs. Alstyne is provided for. See, Polly, Mr. King is taking herout. And your mother has her cavalier, in Mr. Cabot; and Mrs. Whitneyhas already gone out with Mr. Fairfax. So if you don't accept myservices, I shall be entirely left out in the cold." He stood offeringhis arm, and Polly, laughing merrily, put her hand within it.

  "I
t's very good of you, sir," she said simply, as they fell into stepand joined the procession.

  "I'm afraid if you had trusted to Joel's tender mercies, you would havefared hardly," said Mr. Alstyne, laughing. "Look, Polly, over yonder inthe corner." They were just passing into the supper room, and nowcaught sight of Joel chatting away to a very pretty little creature, inblue and white, as busily and unconcernedly as if he had done that sortof thing for years.

  "Why!" cried Polly quite aghast, "that can't be Joel. He just hatesgirls, you know, Mr. Alstyne, and never goes to parties."

  "He seems to be able to endure it all very well to-night," said hercompanion dryly. "Shall I get you an ice, Miss Polly?"

  "Yes, thank you," said Polly absently, not being able to take her eyesfrom Joel and his friend. At last, by the force of attraction, heturned and looked at her. But instead of showing self-consciousness,his round eyes surveyed her coolly, while he went on talking andlaughing with the little blue-and-white thing.

  "Polly, Polly," exclaimed Alexia Rhys, hurrying up, while Jasper wasstorming the supper table for her, "do look at Joel Pepper! He actuallybrought in a girl to supper!"

  "I see," said Polly, gazing at the two in a fascinated way.

  "On the other hand," said Alexia, sending swift, bird-like glancesaround the supper room, "there are Van and Percy moping off bythemselves as if they hadn't a friend in the world. What a pity; theyused to be so lively at parties."

  Polly wrenched her gaze away from the astonishing sight on which it hadbeen fixed, and following Alexia's glance, took a keen look over at theyoung Whitneys. "Oh! oh! I must go to them," she cried remorsefully."Tell Mr. Alstyne, please, when he comes back, where I am," and withoutanother word she dashed back of some gaily dressed ladies just enteringthe supper room, and was out of the door.

  "If I ever did!" cried Alexia irritably to herself, "see anything soqueer! Now she thinks she must race after those boys. I wish I'd keptstill. Jasper, she's just as funny as ever," as he came up with a plateof salad, and some oysters. "Who?" said the boy; "is this right,Alexia?" offering the plate.

  "Why, Polly," said Alexia; "yes, that's lovely," with a comfortedglance at the plate and its contents. "Oh! she's gone off, Mr.Alstyne," to that gentleman, approaching with Polly's ice. "You can'texpect her to stay for the goodies," beginning to nibble at her own.

  "Where is she?" cried Mr. Alstyne, laughing, and sweeping the room withhis brown eyes. "Oh! I see," his glance lighting on the Whitney boys'corner.

  "Yes, she told me to tell you," said Alexia, between her mouthfuls ofsalad and oyster, "where she is," as he started.

  "Oh, Percy and Van!" Polly was whispering hurriedly, "I'm sorry I hurtyour feelings, only it was so very dreadful, you know, to hear you goon so to each other."

  "We didn't mean anything," said Percy, pushing one foot back and forthin an embarrassed way, and looking as if he did not know what to dowith his hands, which confused him more than anything else, as he hadbeen quite sure of them on all previous occasions.

  Van thrust his into his pockets, and seemed on the point of whistling,but remembering where he was, took his lips speedily out of theircurves, and looked the other way.

  Just then Mr. Alstyne came up.

  "Oh!" cried Polly suddenly, the color rushing over her face. "Couldyou, Mr. Alstyne, give that to some one else? Percy and Van are goingto wait upon me."

  "Yes, indeed," said Mr. Alstyne in a flash, "nothing easier;" and hedisappeared as suddenly as he came.

  "Now, boys," said Polly, turning back to them and whispering busily, "Iknow you won't ever say such perfectly dreadful things to each otheragain. And so I'm going to ask you both to get me something to eat,will you?"

  "How do you know we won't?" cried Percy slowly. He was sorry enough forthe episode in the coach, yet couldn't resist the temptation to show hewas not to be driven.

  "Because I shall then have nothing whatever to eat," said Pollymerrily, "for of course I can't take a bit from anybody else afterrefusing Mr. Alstyne's kindness. Don't you see? Oh, Percy! you wouldn'tquite do that?"

  Van laughed. "She's got us, Percy," he said, "quite fast. You know youwon't fight, and I won't again; we both said so a little while back; sowhat's the good of holding out now?"

  Percy drew himself up very slowly and decidedly. "I won't trouble youso again, Polly," holding out his hand. "Now would you like oysters?"all in the same breath.

  "And here's mine," cried Van, extending his brown one. "Can't I bringyou some salad?"

  "Yes, yes," cried Polly gaily, and she released their hands after acordial grasp. "You may bring me everything straight through, boys," asthey rushed off, heads erect, to the crowded supper-table.

  "You've had a good time?" asked Mrs. Pepper slowly, with a keen glanceinto the flushed face and sparkling eyes, as they turned up the gas inPolly's bedroom. "Dear me! it is half-past eleven."

  "Splendid," said Polly, shaking herself free from the white gown andbeginning to braid her hair for the night. "Percy and Van wereperfectly lovely, and Mr. Alstyne was so good to me. And oh! Mamsie,isn't dear Mr. King just the dearest dear, to give all this to theboys? We haven't thanked him half enough."

  "He is indeed," said Mrs. Pepper heartily. "Why, where is Phronsie?"looking around the room.

  "She was right back of you," said Polly. "She wanted to take off herthings herself. Did you ever see such a sweet"--she began, but Mrs.Pepper did not stop to hear, hurrying out to the adjoining room, sharedby the mother and her baby.

  "She isn't here," Polly heard her say in bewildered tones. So Polly,her long hair blown about her face, ran in, brush in hand.

  "Why, where"--she began laughingly.

  "She wouldn't go downstairs, I don't think," said Mrs. Pepper, peeringin all the corners, and even meditating a look under the bed.

  "No, no," cried Polly, "the lights are all turned out," investigatingall possible and impossible nooks that a mouse could creep into. "Wherecan she be? Phronsie--Phronsie!"

  "Well, of course she is downstairs," declared Mrs. Pepper at last,hurrying out of the room.

  "Take a candle, Mamsie, you'll fall," cried Polly, and throwing on herbath wrapper, she seized the light from the mantel and hurried afterher.

  Half-way down she could hear Phronsie's gay little laugh, and catch thewords "Good-night, my dear Grandpapa," and then she came slowly outfrom Mr. King's sitting-room, and softly closed the door.

  "Phronsie!" exclaimed Polly, sitting down on the middle of the stairs,the candle shaking ominously, "how could"--

  "Hush!" said Mrs. Pepper, who had fumbled her way along the hall."Don't say anything. Oh, Phronsie dear, so you went down to bidGrandpapa good-night, did you?"

  Phronsie turned a glance of gentle surprise on her mother, and thenlooked up at Polly.

  "No, not exactly to bid him good-night," she said slowly. "I was afraidhe was sick; I heard him coughing, so I went down."

  "He is quite well, isn't he?" asked Mrs. Pepper. "Here, give me yourhand, child; we must get up to bed."

  "Oh, yes! he is quite really and truly all well," declared Phronsie,breaking into another glad little laugh. "He said he never had such abeautiful time in his life, and he is just as well as he can be. Oh,Polly!" as she picked up her Princess gown and prepared to ascend thestairs, "how funny you look sitting there!"

  "Funny?" said Polly grimly. "I dare say, and I feel funny too,Phronsie."