Five Little Peppers Midway | Page 6

and shook out a flounce or two with great venom. "I had intended to
make you a visit. Now it is quite impossible."
"As you like," said the old gentleman, also rising, and placing Phronsie
on her feet, observing ostentatious care to keep her hand. "My house is
open to you, Eunice," with a wave of his disengaged hand in old-time
hospitality, "but of course you must suit yourself."
"It's rather hard upon a person of sensibility, to come home after a six
years' absence," said Cousin Eunice with a pathetic sniff, and once
more seeking her vinaigrette in the depths of the silken bag, "to meet
only coldness and derision. In fact, it is very hard."
"No doubt, no doubt," said the old gentleman hastily, "I can imagine
such a case, but it has nothing to do with you. Now, if you are going to
stay, Eunice, say so at once, and proceed to your room. If not, why you
must go, and understand it is no one's fault but your own."
He drew himself up and looked long and hard into the thin pale face
before him. Phronsie pulled at his hand.
"I want to ask the lady to stay, Grandpapa dear."
"She doesn't need urging," said old Mr. King quite distinctly, and not
moving a muscle.
"But, Grandpapa dear, she isn't glad about something."
"No more am I."
"Grandpapa," cried Phronsie, moving off a bit, though not deserting his
hand, and standing on her tiptoes, "I want her to stay, to see me.
Perhaps she hasn't any little girls."
"To see you?" cried Mr. King irately. "Say no more, child, say no more.
She's been abusing you right and left, like a pick-pocket."
"What is a pickpocket?" asked Phronsie, getting down from her tiptoes.
"Oh! a scoundrel who puts his hands into pockets; picks out what
doesn't belong to him, in fact."
Phronsie stood quite still, and shook her head gravely at the tall figure.
"That was not nice," she said soberly.
"Now do you want her to stay?" cried the old gentleman.

"Insufferable!" repeated Mrs. Chatterton between her teeth, "to mix me
up with that chit!"
"Yes, I do," said Phronsie decidedly, "I do, Grandpapa. Now I know
she hasn't any little girls--if she had little girls, she wouldn't say such
very unnice things; I want the poor lady to stay with me."
Mrs. Chatterton turned and went abruptly off to the door, hesitated, and
looked back.
"I see your household is in a very chaotic state, Cousin Horatio. Still I
will remain a few days," with extreme condescension, "on condition
that these Peppers are not thrust upon my attention."
"I make no conditions," said the old gentleman coolly. "If you stay, you
must accept my household as you find it."
"Come, Marian," said Mrs. Chatterton, holding out her hand to Mrs.
Whitney. "You may help me to my apartments if you like. I am quite
unstrung by all this," and she swept out without a backward glance.
"Has she gone?" cried Jasper, hurrying in with Polly running after. "It's
'stay,' isn't it, father?" as he saw the old gentleman's face.
"Yes," said Mr. King grimly, "it is 'stay' indeed, Jasper."
"Well, now then, you've a piece of work on your hands about the
biggest you ever did yet, Polly Pepper!" cried Jasper, "to make things
comfortable in this house. I shall be just as cross as can be imagined, to
begin with."
"You cross!" cried Polly.
"Cross as a bear; Marian will fight against the prevailing ill wind, but it
will finally blow her down to a state of depression where her best friend
wouldn't recognize her, and"--
"You don't mention me, my boy," said Mr. King dryly.
Jasper looked into his father's eyes, and they both laughed.
"And if you, Polly Pepper, don't keep things bright, why, we shall all
go to the dogs," said the old gentleman, sobering down. "So mind you
do, and we'll try to bear Cousin Algernon's relict."
"I will," said Polly stoutly, though "relict" sounded very dreadful to
begin with.
"Give us your hand, then," said Jasper's father, putting out his palm.
"There!" releasing it, "now I'm much more comfortable about matters."
"And give me your hand, Polly," cried Jasper, his own brown hand
flying to meet hers. "There! and now I'm comfortable too! So it's a

compact, and a sure one!"
"And I want to give my hand," cried Phronsie, very much aggrieved.
"Here, Jasper."
"Bless my soul, so you must!" cried old Mr. King; "to think we didn't
ask you first. There--and there!"
"And, Phronsie darling," cried Polly in a rapture, "you must promise
with me, after you have with the others. I couldn't ever get along in all
this world without that."
So the ceremony of sealing the