Polly | Page 8

through, and we must be like the Brewsters or any other unhappy girls whose mothers are no longer with them, and have our resident governess."
"I know you won't like to obey me," continued Helen, looking anxiously round, "but I don't think I'll be hard on you. No, I am sure I shall not be hard on any of you."
"That remains to be proved," said Polly. "I don't think I like that plan. I won't give any answer at present--I'll think about it. Come along, Fly," she nodded to her younger sister, and then, lifting the heavy bottom sash of the window where Helen had been sitting, stepped lightly out, followed by the obedient Firefly.
"I don't want to obey Nell," said the little sister, clasping two of Polly's fingers with her thin, small hand. "If it was you, Poll Parrot, it would be a different thing, but I don't want to obey Nell. I don't think it's fair; she's only my sister, like the rest of them. There's nothing said in the Catechism about obeying sisters. It's only fathers and mothers, and spiritual pastors and masters."
"And all those put in authority over you," proceeded Polly, shaking her fingers free, and facing round on Firefly, in a way which caused that young person to back several inches. "If Helen once gets the authority the Catechism is on her side, not on yours."
"But I needn't promise, need I?" pouted Firefly. "If it was you, it would be different. I always did what you wanted me to do, Polly Perkins."
"Of course you did," responded Polly, in a most contemptuous voice. "Will a duck swim? I led you into mischief--of course you followed. Well, Fly, it rests with yourself. Don't obey our dear, good, gentle Nelly, and you'll have Miss Jenkins here. Won't it be fun to see her squinting at you over her spectacles when she returns your spelling-lessons. Bread and water will be your principal diet most of the week. Well, good-by now; I'm off to baby."
Polly took to her heels, and Firefly stood for a moment or two looking utterly miserable and irresolute on the wide gravel walk in the center of the flower-garden. She felt very much inclined to stamp her feet and to screw up her thin little face into contortions of rage. Even very little girls, however, won't go into paroxysms of anger when there is no one there to see. Firefly's heart was very sore, for Polly, her idol, had spoken to her almost roughly.
"I wish mother wasn't in heaven," she murmured in a grieved little voice, and then she turned and walked back to the house. The nearer she approached the study window the faster grew her footsteps. At last, like a little torrent, she vaulted back into the room, and flung her arms noisily round Helen's neck.
"I'll obey you, darling Nell," she said. "I'd much rather have you than Miss Jenkins."
And then she sobbed aloud, and really shook herself, for she felt still so angry with Polly.
"That's a good little Fly," said Helen, kissing her affectionately in return, and putting her arm round her waist, so as to establish her comfortably on her knee. The other girls were all lying about in different easy attitudes, and Firefly joined in the general talk, and found herself much comforted.
CHAPTER V.
A SAFETY-VALVE.
"Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
"Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something. You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
"I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
It was bed-time, but the girls were tempted by the moonlight night to sit up and look out at the still, sweet beauty, and chatter together.
"How could you be unkind to her?" said Helen, in a voice of dismay. "Polly, dear, do shut that window again, or you will have a sore throat. How could you be unkind to poor little Fly, Poll, when she is so devoted to you?"
"The very reason," said Polly. "She'd never have gone over to you if I hadn't. I saw rebellion in that young 'un's eye--that was why I called her out. I was determined to nip it in the bud."
"But you rebelled yourself?"
"Yes, and I mean to go on rebelling. I am not Fly."
"Well, Polly," said Helen, suppressing a heavy sigh on her own account; "you know I don't want you a bit to obey me. I am not a mistressing sort of girl, and I like to consult you about things, and I want us both to feel more or less as equals.