t to
ask for explanations."

"I hear Jappy," cried Polly, in a glad voice, "and Ben--oh, good!" as
a sound of rushing footsteps was heard over the veranda steps, and down
the long hall.

The door was thrown suddenly open, and Jasper plunged in, his face
flushed with excitement, and after him Ben, looking a little as he did
when Phronsie was lost, while Prince squeezed panting in between the two
boys.

"Has Polly got--" began Jasper.

"Oh, yes, I'm here," cried Polly, springing up to them; "oh, Ben!"

"She has," cried Joel, disentangling himself from the group, "don't you
see, Jappy?"

"She's all home," echoed Phronsie, flying up. "Oh, Ben, do draw me
another little house!"

"And see--see!" cried the little Whitneys, pointing with jubilant
fingers to their papa, "see what she brought!"

Jasper turned around at that--and then rushed forward.

"Oh, brother Mason!"

"Well, Jasper," said Mr. Whitney, a whole wealth of affection beaming on
the boy, "how you have stretched up in six months!"

"Haven't I?" said Jasper, laughing, and drawing himself up to his
fullest height.

"He's a-standin' on tip-toe," said Joel critically, who was hovering
near. "I most know he is!" and he bent down to examine the position of
Jasper's heels.

"Not a bit of it, Joe!" cried Jasper, with a merry laugh, and setting
both feet with a convincing thud on the floor.

"Well, anyway, I'll be just as big," cried Joel, "when I'm thirteen,
so!"

Just then a loud and quick rap on the table made all the children skip,
and stopped everybody's tongue. It came from Mr. King.

"Phronsie," said he, "come here, child. I can't do anything without
you," and held out his hand. Phronsie immediately left Ben, who was
hanging over Polly as if he never meant to let her go out of his sight
again, and went directly over to the old gentleman's side.

"Now, then!" He swung her upon his shoulder, where she perched like a
little bird, gravely surveying the whole group. One little hand stole
around the old gentleman's neck, and patted his cheek softly, which so
pleased him that for a minute or two he stood perfectly still so that
everybody might see it.

"Now, Phronsie, you must tell all these children so that they'll
understand--say everything just as I tell you, mind!"

"I will," said Phronsie, shaking her small head wisely, "every single
thing."

"Well, then, now begin--"

"Well, then, now begin," said Phronsie, looking down on the faces with