Polly

he?" said Polly to her

t she seemed in trouble about something. You know how reserved she i

alant tone, flinging up the sash of the bed-room win

the moonlight night to sit up and look out at

, dear, do shut that window again, or you will have a sore throat. How cou

ou if I hadn't. I saw rebellion in that young 'un's eye-that wa

rebelled

to go on rebellin

, and I want us both to feel more or less as equals. Still father says there are quite two years between us, and that the scheme cannot be worked at all unless some one is distinctly at the he

me! Why, the robin's nest might be discovered by some one else, and my grubs and chrysalides wo

You know I am willing to agr

ekest and mildest of mortals. Now,

ck eyes beg

always, and obey you in every single thing, if only I have this safety-valve. Let me expend myself upon the housekeeping, and I'll be as good, better than gold. I'll help you, and be your right hand, Nell; and I'll obey you in th

you, and father said himself you were to help me in the house. But

t, and that's why I'm so certain I shall succeed splendidly. Look here, Nell,

e not," s

ring father round. Now, shall

her brothers and sisters by the very meek way

sh bread? I ate half a pot yesterday on three or four slices of hot bread f

ee with you, Polly?" said Helen, looking u

le bread-and-butter then, dear?" proc

r. But you never like

, Helen," answered Polly, in a

d wondered what Polly meant. But the young lady herself munched her stale bread with the most immovable of faces, and even held up the slice for H

w dreadful you

mean?" said P

her back on her, said in the gentlest of voices, "What would you like me to do this morning,

bedience was far worse for the others than open rebellion. "I thought you wanted to see father, Polly.

y to forget her role of the meek,

in her natural voice, and for a moment later

d somewhat neglected person of his second daugh

Polly, do you w

ve me the money instead of her, and let me pay for everything, and buy the food. I am awfully interested in eggs an

u, Polly?" said

chin and raised her childish

m fourteen in body-I'm twenty in mind-and as

where the hem was torn, and where the body gaped open for want of sufficient hooks, "looks just the costume I shou

, and the sugar, and the citron, and raisins, and allspice, and nutme

of body have to be attended to; one of them requires one thing, one quite another. For instance, the dinner which would be admirably suited to you would kill baby, and might not be best for Firefly, who is not strong, and has to be dieted in a particular way. I make it a rule that servants' wages and all articles consumed in the house are paid for weekly. Whoever housek

peak like that; but you know you told Helen that yo

, I meant you to help her a little. Helen is two year

ossed h

s long learning her lessons. Try my French be

e-or your neatness,

sighed

. There, I can't waste another minute of my time with you now. Come to