opinion that Polly would do well to think less of
her "feelings" now and always; but he only said, consulting his watch,--

"It's just one o'clock, ladies; time for respectable people to be in
bed."

Polly said she had never felt such surprise before in her life. She was
afraid she should be sick; for sitting up in the night was always too
much for her.

Dotty said her prayers over again, and fell into a sleep "sweeter than a
nest of nightingales." And with her last waking thought she thanked God
the round red sun was not worn out yet, and the world had not come to an
end.

CHAPTER XI.

CRAZY DUCKLINGS.

When the family came home, Miss Polly had a most doleful story to tell
about Katie's experiment in the watering-trough, the child's illness,
the explosion of the beer, and her own fright and "dreadful feelings."

Mrs. Parlin regretted the loss of the tea-pot; Miss Louise said she had
heard of "witches making tea," and perhaps this was the way they did it.

In return for Miss Whiting's laborious services in taking care of the
children, Mrs. Parlin gave her various articles of food to carry home;
for Polly had one room in Mr. Grant's house, which she was accustomed
to call her home, though she did not stay there very much. Polly sighed
her gratitude, put on her dark bonnet, and said, as she went away,--

"Now, Mrs. Parlin, if it should so happen that you should all go away
again, don't fail to ask me to come and keep house. You have always been
so kind to me that I feel it a privilege to do any such little thing for
you."

But in her heart poor Polly thought it was anything but a "little
thing," and it cost her a great effort to promise to undertake it again.
Mrs. Parlin thanked Miss Polly very politely; but for her part she
thought privately it would be a long while before they would, any of
them, be willing to trust such a nervous person with the care of the
children a second time.

"Good by, all," said Polly, going off with her double-covered basket on
her arm; "remember me to Margaret when you write."

"What a funny thing to say!" remarked Prudy; "how can we remember people
to anybody, or forget them to anybody either?"

"O, it was awful," said Dotty, linking arms with Prudy and walking her
off to the seat in the trees. "Miss Polly scared me so I don't believe I
shall ever be afraid of lightning again!"

Little Flyaway ran after them, holding her nipperkin of milk close to
her bosom, to ke