Five Little Peppers Abroad

y, turning his head away from Tom, and then he set hi

t," Dr. Jones nodded to

s told to go. He stood

er!" he b

n it is imperative that you leave this room." Then he turned back to his work

ut, in a dazed condition, trying to make himself as small as possible. Jasper found him a ha

to know that your Gran

ching the b

ed Tom, kicking out his leg

as he could be made." Jasper didn't add that Dr. Jones had asked him to come

there." His face was so drawn that Jasper started, and then looked away over t

orse than ever in his efforts not to show his distress. The only thing he could d

Jasper, still looking o

nes had said the last thing to Jasper as he rushed off with the good news to Tom, "On no

shimmering water. "The doctor doesn't-doesn'

blue eyes distending in anger. "He's my Grandfather. I rat

ything but your Grandfather's life. Dr. Jones said you were not to see him at present." The t

t beastly doctor says?" cried Tom, getting redder and re

a sacrifice," said Jasper calmly. And he stood

re in silence. At last Tom wavered, put out his hand unsteadi

said Jasper, suddenly, overcoming by a

head, and sw

he could muster to his aid. "Come, it's the very thin

man was sick," he said brokenly, and down went his head again, th

r. "But come, Tom, let's walk around the

s in their mouths, came sauntering up.

ead and looked a

one, with a sneer, in which the other

s-come along," said another; "we've wa

ng," declared

mething under his breath, and the first speaker turne

"I'm not coming.

ows; our little boy has got to wait on his Grandpappy. Good-by, kid!" He snapped his f

to walk," he said, drawing a long

Jasper, falling in

quaintance, before the steamer fairly sailed, sat there keeping watch too, in a professional way, the ship's doctor having called him in consultation over the case. And Phronsie, who had been in deep penitence because she had wandered off from the library with another little girl, to gaze over the railing upon the steerage children below, thereby missing P

lapped the stout vessel's side, careless of the battle that had been waged for a life, even then holding by slender threads. And Fanny Vanderburgh, whose grandfather was a contemporary in the old business days in New York with Mr. King, and w

dy there but that stupid Matilda, and she doesn't know or won't tell when Polly will get through reading to that tiresome old man. And they won't let me go

id as brightly as he could: "Mr. Selwyn begs Polly to stay, and won't have any one else read

. "It's a perfect shame. And that horrible old man, he's so

f over the sea,

's a boor. Goodness me-I hope nobody will introduce

I care to go with-at least not in the way I would with her. The Griswolds are well enough to play games with, and all that; b

s just right," sai

xplosively; "oh, how ca

ing just every

ing more to be said or done, Miss Vanderburgh, since Polly has decided the m

o play games," she cried venomously, "for I won't speak to him. He's a perfect boor. 'Twas only yesterday he brushed b

he had formed in his own mind, to do that very thing he was now being warned agai

nd then his Grandfather would snarl and scold like everything. She has the next state-room, you know. I don't see how those Selwyns can aff

that he faced her. It was necessary with a girl like her to state plainly what he had to say, and to keep to it. "I am going to ask Tom Selwyn to play games with all us young peo

are for any one on board but Polly Pepper, and Mamma doesn't want me to mix up much with those Griswolds?" She lowered her voice and glanced over her shoulder. "It would make it so awkward i

om down, and we'll get up a game of shuffle-board at once. He's not needed by his Grandfather now." He didn't

evil, and quite another to find it precipitated upon one. "I-I don't-believe I can play this morning, Mr. Jasper," she beg

us at any time, for, as we begin to-day, we shall keep on. I will set about get

t heels clicking excitedly on the hard floor. "The steward has marked it all for us. I g

king over the gloom on his face; "now we

done in a minute. And the thing that had been worrying him-how to get Tom into good shape, and to keep him there-seemed fixed in the best way possible. But Tom wouldn't go. Nothing that Jasper coul

, and then with her hand in Polly's, she would sit motionless till the reading was over. Mamsie, whose fingers could not be idle, although the big mending basket was left at home, would be over on the sofa, sewing busily; and little Dr. Fisher would run in and out, and beaming at them all through his spectacles, would cry cheerily, "Well, I declare, you have the most comfortable place on the whole boat, Mr. Selwyn." Or Dr. Jones, whom Polly thought, next to Papa Fis

epper, who had left him, seeing he had such good company about him, and had now skipped up with

ly Pepper, do

thought she had n

ded old Mr. Selwyn, bringing his

s-only a little,

u play backgammon, of course." He didn't wait for her to answer, but finished, "These people here drive me almost crazy, asking me how I feel, a

steamer rug with

I do play backgammon, Mr. Selwyn, and it will be fine to have a game."

n the sofa pillows tucked up at his back. "I believ

am," he

n board," cried Polly. "There it is ov

t forward, and his sharp little eyes sparkled, as Polly th

n on the sofa by the old gentleman's side to watch the game. Suddenly he glanced up, caught sig

him, making good time down the stairs. "I can't go chasin

eeling it impossible to elude such a pursuer

nd watch the game. Do, it'll be the best

d Tom, "he w

clared Jasper, eagerly feeling this minute as

girl-Miss Pepper-" Tom corrected himself

said Jasper, just as e

er all you'

in his most savage fashion; "always have