e breakfast. Oh, mayn't I go just once, mamsie? Nobody'll
see me if I tuck my foot under the piano; and I can sew 'em on
afterwards--there'll be plenty of time. Do, just once, mamsie!"

"No," said Mrs. Pepper firmly, "there isn't any time but now. And piano
playing isn't very nice when you've got to stick your toes under it to
keep your shoes on."

"Well then," grumbled Polly, hopping around in her stocking-feet, "where
is the work-basket, mamsie? Oh--here it is on the window-seat." A rattle
of spools, scissors and necessary utensils showed plainly that Polly had
found it, followed by a jumble of words and despairing ejaculations as
she groped hurriedly under chairs and tables to collect the scattered
contents.

When she got back with a very red face, she found Phronsie, who had
crawled out of bed, sitting down on the floor in her little nightgown
and examining the boot with profound interest.

"I can sew 'em, Polly," she said, holding up her hand for the big needle
that Polly was trying to thread--"I can now truly; let me, Polly, do!"

"Dear no!" said Polly with a little laugh, beginning to be very much
ashamed. "What could you do with your little mites of hands pulling
this big thread through that old leather? There, scamper into bed again;
you'll catch cold out here.

"Tisn't very cold," said Phronsie, tucking up her toes under the
night-gown, but Polly hurried her into bed, where she curled herself
up under the clothes, watching her make a big knot. But the knot
didn't stay; for when Polly drew up the long thread triumphantly to
the end--out it flew, and away the button hopped again as if glad to be
released. And then the thread kinked horribly, and got all twisted up in
disagreeable little snarls that took all Polly's patience to unravel.

"It's because you're in such a hurry," said Mrs. Pepper, who was getting
Phronsie's clothes. And coming over across the room she got down on
one knee, and looked over Polly's shoulder. "There now, let mother see
what's the matter."

"Oh dear," said Polly, resigning the needle with a big sigh, and leaning
back to take a good stretch, followed by Phronsie's sympathizing eyes;
"they never'll be on! And there goes the first bell!" as the loud sounds
under Jane's vigorous ringing pealed up over the stairs. "There won't
be time anyway, now! I wish there wasn't such a thing as shoes in the
world!" And she gave a flounce and sat up straight in front of her
mother.

"Polly!" sa