Five Little Peppers at School Part 32

And that evening, after Jasper and she had a dance--they were so happy, they couldn't keep still--in the wide hall, Jasper burst out suddenly with a fresh idea.

"Polly," he said, drawing her off to rest on one of the high, carved chairs, "there's one more thing."

"Oh, what is it Jasper?" she cried gaily, with flushed cheeks. "Oh, wasn't that spin just delicious?"

"Wasn't it?" cried Jasper heartily. "Well, now, Polly," flinging himself down on the next chair, "it's just this. Do you know, I don't believe we ought to have our play."

"Not have our play?" Polly peered around to look closely into his face.

"What do you mean, Jasper?"

"You see, Polly, Pick was to take a prominent part, and he ought not to, you know; it will take him from his lessons to rehea.r.s.e and all that. And he's so backward there's a whole lot for him to make up."

"Well, but Pickering will have to give up his part, then," said Polly decidedly, "for we've simply got to have that play, to get the money to help that poor brakeman's family."

Jasper winced. "I know; we must earn it somehow," he said.

"We must earn it by the play," said Polly. "And besides, Jasper, we voted at the club meeting to have it. So there, now," she brought up triumphantly.

"We could vote to rescind that vote," said Jasper.

"Well, we don't want to. Why, Jasper, how that would look on our two record books!" said Polly in surprise, for Jasper was so proud of his club and its records.

"Yes, of course; as our two clubs united that evening, it must go down in both books," said Jasper slowly.

"Yes, of course," a.s.sented Polly happily. "Well, now, you see, Jasper, that we really _can't_ give it up, for we've gone too far. Pickering will have to let some one else take the part of the chief brigand." For the little play was almost all written by Polly's fingers, Jasper filling out certain parts when implored to give advice: and brigands, and highway robberies, and buried treasures, and rescued maidens, and gallant knights, figured generously, in a style to give immense satisfaction.

"And the play is so very splendid!" cried Jasper. "Oh dear me! what ought we to do, Polly?" He buried his face in his hands a moment.

"Pickering must give up his part," said Polly again.

"But, Polly, you know he has been in all our plays," said Jasper. "And he'll feel so badly, and now he's got all this trouble about his lessons on his mind," and Jasper's face fell.

Polly twisted uncomfortably on her chair. "Oh dear me!" she began, "I suppose we must give it up."

"And if we gave it up, not altogether, but put it off till he catches up on his studies," suggested Jasper, "why, he wouldn't be dropped out."

"But the poor brakeman's family, Jasper," said Polly, puzzled that Jasper should forget the object of the play.

"Oh, I didn't mean that we should put off earning the money, Polly,"

cried Jasper, quite horrified at such a thought. "We must do something else, so that we can sell just as many tickets."

"But what will it be?" asked Polly, trying not to feel crushed, and sighing at the disappearance of the beautiful play, for a time at least.

"Well, we could have recitations, for one thing," said Jasper, feeling dreadfully to see Polly's disappointment, and concealing his own, for he had set his heart on the play too.

"Oh dear me!" exclaimed Polly, wrinkling up her face in disdain.

"Jasper, do you know, I am so tired of recitations!"

"So am I," Jasper bobbed his head in sympathy, "but we boys have some new ones, learned for last exhibition, so Pick won't have to take a moment from his lessons. And then we can have music, and you will play, Polly."

"Oh Jasper, I've played so much," said Polly, "they're all tired of hearing me."

"They never would be tired of hearing you, Polly," said Jasper simply.

"Every one of us thinks you play beautifully."

"And tableaux and an operetta take just as much time to rehea.r.s.e," mused Polly, thinking very hard if there wasn't something to keep them from the dreaded recitations.

"And I just loathe an operetta or tableaux," exclaimed Jasper, with such venom that Polly burst out laughing.

"Oh Jasper, if you could see your face!" she cried.

"I shouldn't want to," he laughed too; "but of all insipid things, an operetta is the worst; and tableaux--the way Miss Montague drilled and drilled _and_ drilled us, and then stuck us up like sticks not to move for a half-hour or so, nearly finished me."

"So it did me," confessed Polly. "And besides, it would take a great deal more time to go through all that drilling than to rehea.r.s.e the play."

"Of course it would," said Jasper, "so tableaux, thank fortune, are not to be thought of. I think it will have to be recitations and music, Polly."

"I suppose so," she said with a sigh. "Oh Jasper!" then she sprang off from her chair, and clapped her hands. "I've thought of the very thing.

I believe Mr. Hamilton Dyce would tell some of his funny stories and help out the program."

"Capital!" shouted Jasper; and just at this moment the big front door opened, and the butler ushered in Miss Mary Taylor and Mr. Dyce.

Polly and Jasper rushed up to the visitors, for they were prime favorites with the young people, and precipitated upon them all their woes. The end was, that they both promised beautifully to do whatever was wanted, for Miss Mary Taylor sang delightfully.

"And Pickering is safe, Polly, for I know now he'll go through the last half," cried Jasper as they ran off to study their lessons for the next day.

XVII PHRONSIE

And after that, there was no more trouble about that program, for as luck would have it, the very next day a letter came from Joel, saying that Dr. Marks had given them a holiday of a week on account of the illness of two boys in their dormitory, and, "May I bring home Tom Beresford? He's no-end fine!" and, "Please, Mamsie, let me fetch Sinbad!

Do telegraph 'Yes.'"

And Mother Fisher, after consultation with Mr. King, telegraphed "Yes;"

and wild was the rejoicing over the return of Joel and David and Percy and Van, and Tom; for Mother Fisher was ready to receive with open arms, and very glad silently to watch, one of Joel's friends.

"And to think that Sinbad is coming!" cried Polly, dancing about. "Just think, Phronsie, Joel's dear dog that Dr. Marks let him take to the little cobbler to keep for him!" And she took Phronsie's hand, and they spun around the hall.

"I shall get him a new pink ribbon," declared Phronsie breathlessly, when the spin was over.

"Do," cried Polly. "Dear me! that was a good spin, Phronsie!"

"I should think it was," said Ben. "Goodness me! Polly, Phronsie and you made such a breeze!"

"Didn't we, Pet!" cried Polly, with a last kiss. "Oh Ben and Jasper, to think those boys will be here for our entertainment!"