g," he implored, "we'll
be through in a few minutes."

"It takes forever!" said Joel, disappearing within the bedroom door.
Luckily for the secret, Phronsie just then ran a pin sticking up on the
arm of the old chair, into her finger; and Polly, while comforting her,
forgot to question Joel. And then the mother came in, and though she had
ill-concealed hilarity in her voice, she kept chattering and bustling
around with Polly's supper to such an extent that there was no chance
for a word to be got in.

Next morning it seemed as if the "little brown house," would turn inside
out with joy.

"Oh, mammy!" cried Polly, jumping into her arms the first thing, as Dr.
Fisher untied the bandage, "my eyes are new! just the same as if I'd
just got 'em! Don't they look different?" she asked, earnestly, running
to the cracked glass to see for herself.

"No," said Ben, "I hope not; the same brown ones, Polly."

"Well," said Polly, hugging first one and then another, "everybody looks
different through them, anyway."

"Oh," cried Joel, "come out into the kitchen, Polly; it's a great deal
better out there."

"May I?" asked Polly, who was in such a twitter looking at everything
that she didn't know which way to turn.

"Yes," said the doctor, smiling at her.

"Well, then," sang Polly, "come mammy, we'll go first; isn't it just
lovely--oh, MAMMY!" and Polly turned so very pale, and looked as if she
were going to tumble right over, that Mrs. Pepper grasped her arm in
dismay.

"What is it?" she asked, pointing to the corner, while all the children
stood round in the greatest excitement.

"Why," cried Phronsie, "it's a stove--don't you know, Polly?" But Polly
gave one plunge across the room, and before anybody could think, she was
down on her knees with her arms flung right around the big, black thing,
and laughing and crying over it, all in the same breath!

And then they all took hold of hands and danced around it like wild
little things; while Dr. Fisher stole out silently--and Mrs. Pepper
laughed till she wiped her eyes to see them go.

"We aren't ever goin' to have any more burnt bread," sang Polly, all out
of breath.

"Nor your back isn't goin' to break any more," panted Ben, with a very
red face.

"Hooray!" screamed Joel and David, to fill any pause that might occur,
while Phronsie gurgled and laughed at everything just as it came along.
And then they all danced and capered again; all but Polly, who was
down before t