had just conquered.

"Phronsie," she called, with a merry little laugh, "where--"

"Hush!" said Mr. King, warningly, and then just because he couldn't
explain there without waking Phronsie up, he took hold of Polly's two
shoulders and marched her into the next room, where he carefully closed
the door, and told her the whole thing, using his own discretion about
the very narrow escape she had passed through. He told enough, however,
for Polly to see what had been so near them; and she stood there so
quietly, alternately paling and flushing as he proceeded, till at last,
when he finished, Mr. King was frightened almost to death at the sight
of her face.

"Oh, goodness me, Polly!" he said, striding up to her, and then fumbling
around on the table to find a glass of water, "you are not going to
faint, are you? Phronsie's all well now, she isn't hurt in the least, I
assure you; I assure you--where is a glass of water! Marian ought to see
that there's some here--that stupid Jane!" and in utter bewilderment
he was fussing here and there, knocking down so many things in general,
that the noise soon brought Polly to, with a little gasp.

"Oh, don't mind me, dear Mr. King--I'm--all well."

"So you are," said the old gentleman, setting up a toilet bottle that he
had knocked over, "so you are; I didn't think you'd go and tumble over,
Polly, I really didn't," and he beamed admiringly down on her.

And then Polly crept away to Mrs. Whitney's side where she threw herself
down on the floor, to watch the little sleeping figure. Her hand was
gathered up, into the kind one that held Phronsie's; and there they
watched and watched and waited.

"Oh, dear," said Phronsie, suddenly, turning over with a little sigh,
and bobbing up her head to look at Polly; "I'm so hungry! I haven't had
anything to eat in ever an' ever so long, Polly!" and she gazed at her
with a very injured countenance.

"So you must be," said Mrs. Whitney, kissing the flushed little face.
"Polly must ring the bell for Jane to bring this little bird some
crumbs.

"Can I have a great many?" asked Phronsie, lifting her eyes, with the
dewy look of sleep still lingering in them, "as many as two birdies?"

"Yes, dear," said Mrs. Whitney, laughing; "I think as many as three
little birdies could eat, Phronsie."

"Oh," said Phronsie, and leaned back satisfied, while Polly gave the
order, which was presently followed by Jane with a well-filled tray.

"Now," said Jappy,