besides it is
better for Miss Ainslee that she should go, for the doctor thinks she
cannot get along in the east, and that she must either stop teaching or
go to another climate. She isn't ill exactly, but it is better that
she should not wait till she is. So you see----"

"Oh, I see, but I am sorry all the same," said Molly dolefully.

"And I am tremendously glad," said Polly. "I liked Mr. Perkins very
well, but Miss Ainslee is such an improvement on him. Is she to go out
with us, Aunt Ada?"

"Yes."

"Then that is what Uncle Dick meant when he said it concerned him. He
was thinking how nice it would be to travel all that way with her."

"He's looking further than that," remarked Miss Ada with a smile. "If
things keep on this way I don't believe she will ever come east again
to live, Polly."

"She won't if I can help it," said Uncle Dick from the doorway. "What
do you think of our scheme, Pollywog?" he asked as he caught Polly and
tousled her.

"I think it is grandiferous," replied Polly, squirming out of his
grasp. "But you'd better behave yourself, Mr. Dicky-Pig, or I'll tell
on you."

"Just see how she gets me in her power," said Uncle Dick to his sister.
"I'll not be safe a moment from that wicked child's malicious tales."

"Don't you call me a wicked child," said Polly darting at him. "Now
for your nose."

"Spare me! Spare me!" cried her uncle, putting up both hands. "I'll
be good, Polly; I will indeed, but if you spoil my features, how can
you expect Miss Ainslee ever to like me? If you'll promise to be good
and say nice things about your dear uncle, I'll let you be bridesmaid."

"Oh, Dick, you silly boy!" expostulated his sister. "Don't fill the
child's head with such notions. He hardly knows Miss Ainslee, Polly,
and it will make her so uncomfortable that she will leave, in a month,
if your Uncle Dick keeps up this sort of nonsense."

This hushed up Master Dick and he began to ask Polly such silly
questions as: "What is the result of half a dozen ears of corn and a
pint of Lima beans?"

"You can't add ears and pints," protested Polly stoutly.

"Oh, yes, you can," returned her uncle jauntily. "Luella does it often
and the result is succotash."

Polly made a contemptuous mouth at him.

He laughed and went on. "Here's another. When apples are ten cents a
quart how much are blueberries?"

"Why, why--they're just the same. Aren't they?" Polly appealed to her
Aunt Ada.

"The b