this while Polly had stood quietly watching the group, the big,
handsome table, the bright lights, and the well-trained servants with
a curious feeling at her heart--what were the little-brown-house-people
doing?

"Polly shall decide it," said sister Marian, laughing. "Now, where
will you sit, dear?" she added, looking down on the little quiet figure
beside her.

"Oh, by Jappy, please," said Polly, quickly, as if there could be no
doubt; "and kind Mr. King," she added, smiling at him.

"That's right; that's right, my dear," cried the old gentleman, pleased
beyond measure at her honest choice. And he pulled out her chair, and
waited upon her into it so handsomely that Polly was happy at once;
while Jasper, with a proud toss of his dark, wavy hair, marched up
delightedly, and took the chair on her other side.

And now, in two or three minutes it seemed as if Polly had always been
there; it was the most natural thing in the world that sister Marian
should smile down the table at the bright-faced narrator, who answered
all their numerous questions, and entertained them all with accounts of
Ben's skill, of Phronsie's cunning ways, of the boys who made fun for
all, and above everything else of the dear mother whom they all longed
to help, and of all the sayings and doings in the little brown house. No
wonder that the little boys forgot to eat; and for once never thought of
the attractions of the table. And when, as they left the table at last,
little Dick rushed impulsively up to Polly, and flinging himself into
her arms, declared, "I love you!--and you're my sister!" Nothing more
was needed to make Polly feel at home.

"Yes," said Mrs. Whitney, and nodded to herself in the saying, "it was a
good thing; and a comfort, I believe, has come to this house this day!"

BRAVE WORK AND THE REWARD

And on the very first morrow came Polly's music teacher!

The big drawing-room, with its shaded light and draped furniture, with
its thick soft carpet, on which no foot-fall could be heard, with all
its beauty and loveliness on every side was nothing to Polly's eyes,
only the room that contained the piano!

That was all she saw! And when the teacher came he was simply the Fairy
(an ugly little one, it is true, but still a most powerful being) who
was to unlock its mysteries, and conduct her into Fairyland itself. He
was a homely little Frenchman, with a long, curved nose, and an enormous
black moustache, magnificently waxe