Polly | Page 7

nod or wish.
"I have sent for you, girls," said the Doctor, looking round tenderly at his six motherless daughters, "to say that I have talked over matters with Helen, and for the present at least, I am willing to give her plan a trial. I think she is right when she tells me that if it turns out successful nothing would please your mother more. It entirely depends on yourselves whether it succeeds or fails. If you are agreeable to try it, you can come to me to-morrow at this hour and tell me so. Now good-by, my dears. Helen will explain everything to you. Helen, I shall not be in for early dinner. Good-by, good-by to you all."
The Doctor nodded, looked half-abstractedly at the upturned young faces, pushed his way through the little group, and taking up a parcel of papers and a surgical case which lay near, went straight to his carriage, which was heard immediately afterwards to bowl quickly down the avenue.
The moment he was gone Helen was surrounded by a clamorous group.
"What is it, Nell? oh, do tell us--tell us quickly," said they, one and all.
"I thought Helen looked very important these last few days," said Dolly. "Do tell us what it is, Nell, and what the plan is we are all to agree to."
"It sounds rather nice to be asked to agree to things," said Firefly. "What's the matter, Poll? You look grumpy."
"I think Helen may be allowed to speak," said Polly. "Go on, Nell, out with the budget of news. And you young ones, you had better not interrupt her, for if you do, I'll pay you out by-and-by. Now, Nell. Speak, Nell."
"It's this," said Helen.
She seated herself on the window-ledge, and Polly stood, tall and defiant, at her back. Firefly dropped on her knees in front, and the others lolled about anyhow.
"It's this," she said. "Father would like to carry on our education as much in mother's way as possible. And he says that he is willing, for a time at least, to do without having a resident elderly governess to live with us."
"Oh, good gracious!" exclaimed Polly, "was there ever such an idea thought of?"
"She'd have spectacles," said Dolly.
"And a hooked nose," remarked Katie.
"And she'd be sure to squint, and have false teeth, and I'd hate her," snapped Firefly, putting on her most vindictive face.
"Well, it's what's generally done," said Helen, in her grave, sad, steady, young voice. "You remember the Brewsters when they--they had their great sorrow--how an elderly governess came, and Aunt Maria Cameron has written to father about two already. She speaks of them as treasures; father showed me the letters. He says he supposes it is quite the usual thing, and he asked me what I'd like. Poor father, you see he must be out all day with the sick folks."
"Of course," murmured Polly. "Well, what did you answer him about the old horrors, Nell?"
"One seemed rather nice," said Helen. "She was about forty-five, and had thin grayish hair. Aunt Maria sent her photograph, and said that she was a treasure, and that father ought not to lose an hour in securing her. Her name was Miss Jenkins."
"Jenkins or Jones, I'd have given her sore bones," spitefully improvised Firefly.
"Well, she's not to come," continued Helen, "at least, not at present. For I have persuaded father to let us try the other plan. He says all our relations will be angry with him; of course, he is not likely to care for that. This is what we are to try, girls, if you are agreeable. Father is going to get the very best daily governess from Nettleship to come here every morning. She will stay until after early dinner, and then George will drive her back to town in the pony trap. And then Mr. Masters is to come twice a week, as usual, about our music, and Mr. Danvers for drawing. And Miss Wilson is to stay here most of the day to look after Bunny and Bob. That is a much better arrangement than having a resident governess, is it not?"
"Yes," said three or four voices, but Polly was silent, and Firefly, eagerly watching her face, closed her own resolute lips.
"That is part of father's plan," continued Helen. "But the other, and more important part is this. I am to undertake the housekeeping. Father says he would like Polly to help me a little, but the burden and responsibility of the whole thing rests on me. And also, girls, father says that there must be some one in absolute authority. There must be some one who can settle disputes, and keep things in order, and so he says that unless you are all willing to do what I ask you to do, the scheme must still fall