as if for dear life, and Jasper tripping up two steps at a
time, in front of them. They turned after reaching the top, down a hall
soft to the foot and brightly lighted.

"Now, Polly," said sister Marian, "I'm going to have you here, right
next to my dressing room; this is your nest, little bird, and I hope
you'll be very happy in it."

And here Mrs. Whitney turned up the gas, and then, just because she
couldn't help it, gathered Polly up in her arms without another word.
Jasper set down the bag on a chair, and came and stood by his sister's
side, looking down at her as she stroked the brown wavy hair on her
bosom.

"It's so nice to have Polly here, sister," he said, and he put his hand
on Mrs. Whitney's neck; and then with the other hand took hold of both
of Polly's chubby ones, who looked up and smiled; and in that smile the
little brown house seemed to hop right out, and bring back in a flash
all the nice times those eight happy weeks had brought him.

"Oh, 'twas so perfectly splendid, sister Marian," he cried, flinging
himself down on the floor by her chair. "You don't know what good times
we had--does she, Polly?" and then he launched out into a perfect
shower of "Don't you remember this?" or "Oh, Polly! you surely haven't
forgotten that!" Mrs. Whitney good naturedly entering into it and
enjoying it all with them, until, warned by the lateness of the hour,
she laughingly reminded Jasper of dinner, and dismissed him to prepare
for it.

When the three boys saw Polly coming in again, they welcomed her with
a cordial shout, for one and all, after careful measurement of her,
had succumbed entirely to Polly; and each was unwilling that the others
should get ahead of him in her regard.

"This is your seat, Polly," said sister Marian, touching the chair next
to her own.

Thereupon a small fight ensued between the little Whitneys, while Jasper
looked decidedly discomfited.

"Let Polly sit next to me," said Van, as if a seat next to him was of
all things most to be desired.

"Oh, no, I want her," said little Dick.

"Pshaw, Dick! you're too young," put in Percy. "You'd spill the bread
and butter all over her."

"I wouldn't either," said little Dick, indignantly, and beginning to
crawl into his seat; "I don't spill bread and butter, now Percy, you
know."

"See here," said Jasper, decidedly, "she's coming up here by father
and me; that is, sister Marian," he finished more politely, "if you're
willing."

All