to be sure, our Polly's face was a study to behold. All its old
sunniness was as nothing to the joy that now transfigured it.

"Oh!" she cried, coming out of her rapture a little, and springing over
to Mr. King with Phronsie still in her arms. "Oh, you are the dearest
and best Mr. King I ever saw! but how did you make mammy let her come?"

"Isn't he splendid!" cried Jasper in intense pride, swelling up. "Father
knew how to do it."

But Polly's arms were around the old gentleman's neck, so she didn't
hear. "There, there," he said soothingly, patting her brown, fuzzy head.
Something was going down the old gentleman's neck, that wet his collar,
and made him whisper very tenderly in her ear, "don't give way now,
Polly; Phronsie'll see you."

"I know," gasped Polly, controlling her sobs; "I won't--only--I can't
thank you!"

"Phronsie," said Jasper quickly, "what do you suppose Prince said the
other day?"

"What?" asked Phronsie in intense interest slipping down out of Polly's
arms, and crowding up close to Jasper's side. "What did he, Jasper?"

"Oh-ho, how funny!" laughed Van, while little Dick burst right out,
"Japser!"

"Be still," said Jappy warningly, while Phronsie stood surveying them
all with grave eyes.

"Well, I asked him, 'Don't you want to see Phronsie Pepper, Prince?' And
do you know, he just stood right upon his hind legs, Phronsie, and said:
'Bark! yes, Bark! Bark!'"

"Did he really, Jasper?" cried Phronsie, delighted beyond measure; and
clasping her hands in rapture, "all alone by himself?"

"Yes, all alone by himself," asserted Jasper, vehemently, and winking
furiously to the others to stop their laughing; "he did now, truly,
Phronsie."

"Then mustn't I go and see him now, Jasper? yes, pretty soon now?"

"So you must," cried Jasper, enchanted at his success in amusing; "and
I'll go with you."

"Oh, no," cried Phronsie, shaking her yellow head. "Oh no, Jasper; I
must go by my very own self."

"There Jap, you've caught it," laughed Percy; while the others screamed
at the sight of Jasper's face.

"Oh Phronsie!" cried Polly, turning around at the last words; "how could
you!"

"Don't mind it, Polly," whispered Jasper; "twasn't her fault."

"Phronsie," said Mrs. Whitney, smilingly, stooping over the child,
"would you like to see a little pussy I have for you?"

But the chubby face didn't look up brightly, as usual: and the next
moment, without a bit of warning, Phronsie sprang past them al