Five Little Peppers Grown Up
Page 22
CHAPTER XXI.
POLLY TRIES TO HELP JASPER.
"I think it was a mean shame," began Dick wrathfully.
"Dick--Dick!" exclaimed his mother gently.
Mr. Whitney tapped his knee with a letter he had just placed within itsenvelope, then threw it on the table. "It's the best job I ever did," hecried jubilantly, "to get Jasper out of that business."
Dick sent his two hands deep within their pockets. "Oh! how can you sayso?" he cried.
"And how can you question what your father does?" exclaimed Mrs.Whitney. "Why, that isn't like you, Dick!" with a face full of reproach.
"Oh! let the boy say what he wants to, Marian," broke in her husbandeasily. "So, Dicky, my lad, you don't think I did just the right thingfor Jasper--eh?"
He leaned back in his chair, and surveyed his young son with a twinklein his eye.
"No, I don't," declared Dick, beginning to rage up and down the room onyoung indignant feet. "I say it's mean to meddle with a fellow'sbusiness. I wouldn't stand it!" he added stoutly.
Mr. Whitney laughed long and loud, despite his wife's shocked, "Dicky,don't, dear!"
"Well, if I didn't know that in a year's time Jasper will come to me andsay, 'I thank you!' I should never have gone through with the job in theworld," said his father, when he came out of his amusement. "It isn'tthe pleasantest piece of work a man could select, 'to meddle,' as youcall it, with another's affairs."
"Jasper never will thank you in the world--never!" exclaimed Dick,cramming his irritated hands deeper in their pockets, and turning on hisfather.
"You see," said his father, nodding easily.
"And you see, papa," cried Dick, turning hastily in front of him,looking so exactly like his father that Mrs. Whitney forgot to chide, inadmiring them both.
"And I think it's too bad," went on Dick. "Everybody pitches intoJasper, and wants him to do things; and Grandpapa is always picking athim. I'd--I'd fight--sometimes," he added.
"Softly--softly there, my boy," said Mr. Whitney; "you'll have plenty ofpractice for all your fighting powers by and by; a fourteen-year-oldchap doesn't know everything."
"Well, I know one thing," declared Dick, more positively, "Grandpapa hasalways been meddling with Jasper, and you know it, papa."
"That's because he expects great things from Jasper, and that he willhold up the King name; we all do," replied his father.
Dick turned on an impatient heel. "And so he would have done, if you'dlet him be a publisher," he declared.
His father laughed again, and leaned out of his chair to pinch his son'sear, but Dick, resenting this indignity, retreated to a safe position,declaring, "And I'm going to be one when I'm through college--so!"
"I THINK IT WAS A MEAN SHAME' BEGAN DICK WRATHFULLY.]
"Mr. King's a-coming down the road, and Mr. Jasper!" screamed Mrs.Higby, coming out suddenly to the porch. "I see 'em from thekeepin'-room window. My! what's the matter with Miss Polly?"
"Nothing," said Polly, opening her eyes; "that is, not much," andsitting up straight. "Are Grandpapa and Jasper really coming?" sheasked.
"Dear me, Polly," exclaimed Mrs. Cabot, before Mrs. Higby could answer,and putting shaking hands on Polly's shoulders, "I never was sofrightened in my life! I thought your arm was worse--and you so nearwell! O, dear! are you sure you are right?" peering around into herface. "Here comes Phronsie with the water--that's good!"
Polly took the glass and smiled up reassuringly into Phronsie's troubledface. "Oh! how good that is, Phronsie," she cried. "There now, I'm allright. Don't let Grandpapa or Jasper know," and she sprang to her feet,while Mrs. Higby hurried off to see if her preparations for dinner wereall right, now that Mr. King had come back a day sooner than he wrote heintended.
"Phronsie, you go and meet them; do, dear," begged Polly; and asPhronsie ran off obediently, Polly walked up and down the porch withhasty steps, holding her hands as tightly locked together as the injuredarm would allow. "Oh! if I only had time to think--but I ought to try,even if I don't say just exactly the right words, for Mr. Marlowe maynot be able to take him back if I wait," and then Grandpapa camehurrying out with, "Where's Polly?" and she was kissed and her cheekspatted--he not seeming to notice anything amiss in her--he was so gladto get back; and through it all, Polly saw only Jasper's face, and,although everything seemed to turn around before her, she made up hermind that she would tell Grandpapa just what she thought, and beg him tochange his mind, the very first instant she could.
And so, before the first greetings of the homecoming were fairly over,Polly, afraid her courage would give out if she waited a moment longer,put her hand on Mr. King's arm. "What is it, dear?" asked the oldgentleman, busy with Phronsie, who hung around his neck, while she triedto tell him everything that had happened during his absence; and hepeered over her shoulder into Polly's face.
"Grandpapa," cried Polly in a tremor, "could you let me talk to you alittle just now? Please, Grandpapa."
"Well, yes, dear, after Phronsie has"--
"Oh! Phronsie will wait," cried Polly, guilty of interrupting; "I knowshe will."
For the first time in her life, Phronsie said rebelliously, "Oh! I don'twant to wait, Polly. Dear Grandpapa has just got home, and I must tellhim things."
"So you shall, Phronsie," declared old Mr. King, drawing her off beyondPolly's reach. "There, now you and I will get into this quiet corner,"and he sat down and drew Phronsie to his knee. "Now, Pet, so you areglad to get your old Grandpapa home, eh?"
Polly, in an agony at being misunderstood, followed, and withoutstopping to think, she threw her arms around Phronsie and cried, "O,Phronsie! do trust me, dear, and let Grandpapa go. I must see him now!"
Mr. King gave Polly's burning cheeks a keen glance, then he set Phronsieon the floor abruptly. "Phronsie, see, dear, Polly really needs me.Come, child," and he gathered up Polly's hand into his own, and marchedout of the room with her.
"Suppose we go in here," said the old gentleman, "and have our talk,"unceremoniously opening the door of Mrs. Higby's best room as he spoke;"nobody is likely to disturb us here."
Polly, not caring where she went, but with the words she must speakweighing heavily on her mind, followed him unsteadily into the parlor,and while he threw open a blind or two to light up the gloom thatusually hung over Mrs. Higby's best room, she busied herself trying tothink how she should begin.
"There, now, my dear," said Mr. King, coming up to her, and drawing heroff to a big haircloth sofa, standing stiffly against the wall, "we willsit down here, and then we can go over it comfortably together andsettle what is on your mind," he added, feeling immensely gratified atthe impending confidence.
"Grandpapa," cried Polly in desperation, and springing from the sofa,where he had placed her by his side, to stand in front of him, "I don'tknow where to begin. Oh! do help me." She clasped her hands, and stoodthe picture of distress, unable to say another word.
"Why, how can I help you to tell me, child," cried old Mr. King inastonishment, "when I don't know in the least what it is you want tosay?"
"Oh! I know it," cried Polly, twisting her hands, unable to hold themquite still. "O, dear! what shall I do? Grandpapa, it's just"--
"Well, what, my dear?" asked the old gentleman, and taking one of herhands encouragingly. "Are you afraid of me? Why, Polly!"
Polly started at his tone of reproach, and threw her well arm around hisneck, exactly as Phronsie would have done, which so pleased the oldgentleman that it was easier for her to begin again to tell him what wason her mind. But when she had gotten as far as "It's just this"--shestopped again.
"Well, now, Polly," said Mr. King, sitting straight on the sofa, withdispleasure, "I must say, I am surprised at you. I should never thinkthis was you, Polly, never in all the world," which so unnerved her,that she plunged at once into what she had set herself to do, saying themost dreadful thing that was possible.
"O, Grandpapa!" she cried, "do you think it can be right to take Jasperaway from his work?"
"If you could have seen Jasper, the way he was when I found him," saidMr. King, tired at last of vituperating, and coming up to Polly sternly,"you would be glad to have me get him out of the wretched business. Itsmelt so of trade, and everybody was grossly familiar; while that Mr.Marlowe--I have no words for him, Polly. He insulted me."
"Oh!--oh!" cried Polly, with clasped hands and flaming cheeks. "Howcould he, Grandpapa? Jasper has always said he was such a gentleman."
"Jasper's ideas of what a gentleman should be, and mine, are verydifferent," exploded the old gentleman, beginning to walk up and downthe parlor again. "I tell you, Polly, that my boy is sadly changed sincehe went into that contemptible trade."
"But Jasper loves his work," mourned Polly, her color dying down.
"Loves his work? Well, he shouldn't," cried Mr. King in extremeirritation. "It's no sort of a work for him to love, brought up as hehas been. A profession is the only thing for him. Now he studies law"--
"O, Grandpapa!" cried Polly, quite white now, and she precipitatedherself in front of the old gentleman's angry feet, "Jasper just hatesthe law. I know, for he has often said so; and if you do fasten him downall his life to what he don't like, and make him be a lawyer, it willkill him. He'll do it, Grandpapa"--Polly rushed on, regardless of thelightning gleam of anger in the sharp eyes above her; and, although sheknew that after this she should never be the same Polly to him as ofold, she kept on steadily--"because you want him to; he'll do anythingto please you, and make you happy, Grandpapa, and he won't say anything,but it will kill him; it surely will, for he loves his work with Mr.Marlowe so." Then Polly stopped, aghast at the effect of her words.
"And what am I to do now, pray, to please you?" asked old Mr. King, anddrawing off to look at her quite coldly.
"Oh! nothing to please me," cried poor Polly; "only for Jasper. Do lethim go back to Mr. Marlowe, Grandpapa."
"He shall never go back to Mr. Marlowe with my consent," declared theold gentleman stiffly, his anger rising again, "and you have displeasedme very much, Polly Pepper, by all this. Now you may go; and remember,not another word about Jasper and his work. I will arrange everythingconcerning him without interference." And Polly, not knowing how creptout of Mrs. Higby's parlor, and shut the door.
"OH, WHY DID I SPEAK?" CRIED POLLY OVER AND OVER.]
"Polly!" somebody called, as she hurried on unsteady feet over thestairs to her own little room that she had begged under the farmhouseeaves. But she didn't even answer, only rushed on, and locked the doorbehind her. Then she threw herself on her knees by the bed, and buriedher face in her hands. This was worse than the day so long ago when shesat in the old rocking-chair in the little brown house, with eyes boundclosely to shut out all outside things; and all of them had been afraidshe was going to be blind. For now she felt sure that she had spoiledwhatever chance there might have been for Jasper. "Oh! why did Ispeak--why did I?" she cried, over and over in her distress, as sheburied her face deeper yet in Mrs. Higby's gay patch bedquilt.
After a while--Polly never could tell how long she had staidthere--somebody rapped at the door. It was Phronsie; and she cried in agrieved little voice, "Polly, are you here? I've been under theapple-trees--and just everywhere for you. Do let me in."
"I can't now, Pet," cried Polly, trying not to let her voice soundchoked with tears; "you run away, dear; Polly will let you in by andby."
"Are you sick, Polly?" cried Phronsie anxiously, and kneeling down toput her mouth to the keyhole.
"No, not a bit," said Polly hastily, and trying to speak cheerfully.
"Really, Polly?"
"Really and truly, Phronsie; there, run away, dear, if you love me."
Phronsie, at this, unwillingly crept off, and still Polly knelt on, withthe wild remorse tugging at her heart that she had been the one toinjure Jasper's prospects for life.
And then the dinner-bell rang, and Polly, who was never known to be lateat a meal, heard Mrs. Higby come out into the hall again, and shake thebig bell till it seemed to fill the whole farmhouse with its noise.
"Oh! I can't go down--I can't!" moaned poor Polly to herself, quite lostto everything but the dreadful distress at the mischief she had wrought.And then Phronsie came again, this time imploring, with tears--for Pollyfelt quite sure that she could hear her crying--that Polly would onlyopen the door, "and let me see you just once, Polly!"
And even Mrs. Cabot came, and Polly thought she should go wild to haveher stand outside there and beg and insist that Polly should come downto them all.
"ARE YOU SICK, POLLY?" CRIED PHRONSIE ANXIOUSLY.]
"I don't want any dinner," said Polly over and over. "I just must bealone a little while," and at last she spoke quickly to Mrs. Cabot'spersistent pleadings, "Have the goodness, Mrs. Cabot, not to call meagain." And then she was sorry the minute she had spoken the words, andshe opened her door a little crack to call after Mrs. Cabot, as shesailed downstairs in great displeasure, "Oh! do forgive me, dear Mrs.Cabot, for speaking so. I am very sorry, but I cannot come down justyet."
"I shall send you up your dinner, then," said Mrs. Cabot, only halfappeased, and pausing on the stairs.
"No, no!" begged Polly, and she seemed so distressed at the merethought, that Mrs. Cabot unwillingly let her have her way about it.
It was in the middle of the afternoon, and Polly, exhausted by weeping,had fallen asleep just where she was, on her knees by the bed, her headon the gay bedquilt, when a low knock on the door startled her and madeher rub her eyes and listen.
"Polly," said a voice--it was Jasper's--"won't you undo the door? I wantto speak to you."
"O, Jasper!" cried Polly, springing to her feet, and running over to thedoor, "I can't; don't ask me--not just yet."
"I won't ask you again," said Jasper, "if you don't wish it, Polly."
His voice showed his disappointment, and Polly, full of dismay at thetrouble she had made for him, couldn't find it in her heart to cause himthis new worry.
"You won't want to speak to me, Jasper," she cried, unlocking the doorwith trembling fingers, "when you know what I have done."
"What, Polly?" he cried, trying not to show how he felt at sight of theswollen eyelids and downcast face. Meanwhile he drew her out gently intothe hall. "There, let us sit down here," pausing before the widewindow-seat; "it's quiet here, and nobody will be likely to come here."He waited till Polly sat down, then made a place for himself beside her.
"Jasper," cried Polly, lifting her brown eyes, now filling with tearsagain, "you can't think what I've done. I've ruined your whole life foryou!"
"How, Polly?" Jasper's face grew pale to his lips. "Oh! do tell me atonce," yet he seemed to be afraid of what she was about to say.
"O, Jasper! I thought perhaps I could help you. I never knew till thismorning, just before you came, that you had lost your place. Mrs. Cabothad a letter from her husband, and she told me. And I spoke to Grandpapaand begged him to let you go back, and, O, Jasper!" here Polly's tears,despite all her efforts to keep them back, fell in a shower, "you can'tguess how dreadfully Grandpapa feels, and he says--oh! he says that youare to study law, and never, never go back to Mr. Marlowe."
"Is that all?" exclaimed Jasper in such a tone of relief that Pollysprang to her feet and stared at him through dry eyes.
"All?" she gasped. "O, Jasper! I thought you loved your work."